274 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

She needed to recuperate from her injuries and couldn't afford to be a burden to Yan Zhao. She also didn't feel at ease letting Yan Zhao navigate the demon realm alone, which necessitated her partnering with Lei Shuang, Jiang Ying, and others. Yan Zhao obediently nodded, "Alright." Moments later, Yan Zhao emerged alone into the blood mist, adeptly traversing the vast chasm of the Nine Nether lands on her sword. In no time, she reached the surface. The miasma of demonic energy still rampaged on the ground as Yan Zhao retraced her steps. She cast the movement spell with all her might and, within half a day, arrived at the edge of the demonic fog. To quickly assist Yan Zhao, Lei Shuang and the others hadn’t retreated far. They sat in meditation on stones, forming a triangular protective formation to shield against the extreme yin energy, allowing Feng Jin some relief. Feng Jin's constitution was somewhat weak; she focused intently on resisting the yin energy, while Lei Shuang’s attention was mostly on Jiang Ying, occasionally giving her sidelong glances. Though vigilant, her concentration was noticeably not as sharp as Jiang Ying’s. Jiang Ying was the first to notice Yan Zhao, swiftly opening her eyes and standing to gaze into the distance. Lei Shuang and Feng Jin soon detected something too; they turned their heads to see Yan Zhao quickly approaching through the thick fog. "Young Master!" Jiang Ying rushed to Yan Zhao, urgently asking, "Is the seal broken?" Yan Zhao nodded, "It's broken, but she hasn't woken yet. She's still unconscious." Though she's unconscious, having broken the seal was certainly good news. Jiang Ying, along with Lei Shuang and Feng Jin behind her, simultaneously let out a breath of relief, "That's good." Yan Zhao’s arms were empty, with no trace of the spirit fox, and Ren Qingyue was not following behind. Feng Jin looked puzzled, "Young Master, where's Miss Ren?" "Elder sister was injured," Yan Zhao replied. She proceeded to recount in detail the events that had occurred beneath the Nine Nether lands. Feng Jin slowly furrowed her brow, while Lei Shuang immediately expressed her outrage, "Celestial beings!" Jiang Ying also lowered her voice, "Truly lingering like a ghost!" The last time, a celestial lord ambushed Nangong Yin, resulting in her being sealed. Now, the celestial realm had dispatched people to assassinate Yan Zhao, revealing their intentions without a doubt. "Too bad the demon master is injured and can't immediately lead an attack on the celestial realm," Lei Shuang grumbled, clenching her fists tightly, "It's infuriating!" Although Jiang Ying and Feng Jin were angry as well, their emotions weren't as intense as Lei Shuang's. Feng Jin inquired of Yan Zhao, "What does the Young Master intend?" Among those present, Yan Zhao could trust them all, so she laid out her thoughts, "I plan to return to Nianqing Mountain first." Lei Shuang, though angry, hadn’t lost her reason and was the first to respond, "We are too few to act against them now." Though the leaders called Yan Zhao their Young Master, very few would heed her commands. Most of the demons were indifferent unless Nangong Yin, strong and commanding, forced their submission. They respected her enough to obey; Yan Zhao, even as her daughter, lacked that authority. They preferred to mind their own business. They were grateful the journey to the Nine Nether had faced no obstacles; that was fortunate enough. "Young Master's judgment is wise," Jiang Ying agreed, "Nianqing Mountain is more suitable for recuperation. Once the demon master awakens, everything will be resolved." With Lei Shuang and Jiang Ying agreeing, holding the majority, Feng Jin had to concur. They set out immediately, cautious after the earlier ambush, Yan Zhao disguised herself whenever possible, avoiding delays by declining any invitations from those they met along the way. Traveling day and night for nearly a month, they finally arrived in the Great Demon Hán Líng's territory. Once they crossed these lands, they would soon reach the gateway to the Misty Demon Ravine. With a token from the Hán Líng Lord, they passed through without hindrance. However, traveling through the territory, they felt an odd tension in the air. This strange feeling peaked as they neared the border of the land. They encountered a squad of demon soldiers en route. Behind the soldiers, a group of bound, raggedy-looking creatures—clearly members of the demon tribes—was being taken to the lord's manor. Lei Shuang turned and looked at them, perplexed, "Why are so many of the demon tribes here in the demon realm?" Moreover, these captured demon folk seemed average in strength, likely just commoners among their kind. Why were they here in the demon realm? An idea sparked in Yan Zhao, considering her elder sister's transformation into a small fox, a trait seen in Bai Jin, Tu Shan Yu, and others, indicating they were likely from the demon tribes. As they approached the border, they saw even more of these demon tribe members. All appeared disheveled and worn, as if fleeing turmoil. Another group headed their way, prompting Yan Zhao to pause and instruct Feng Jin, "Go find out what's happening." Feng Jin received the order, hurried to engage the others. The lead soldier, upon seeing Yan Zhao’s token, promptly relayed the current events. Soon, Feng Jin returned, her face grim and her brow furrowed tightly. Curiosity piqued, Lei Shuang asked, "Why the expression? What happened?" Though Jiang Ying didn't voice her curiosity like Lei Shuang, her eyes clearly showed interest. Feng Jin took a deep breath, seemingly to steady herself. She spoke, detailing the information they had gathered, "Young Master, significant changes have occurred in the demon world—the Fox Emperor was assassinated, the Crown Prince rebelled, the Fox Empress is trapped in the inner palace, and Princess Bai Jin is missing." Chapter 299 Lei Shuang and Jiang Ying were momentarily stunned, followed by Lei Shuang's shocked exclamation, "What?!" As Jiang Ying frowned, Yan Zhao needed a moment to process the magnitude of Feng Jin's words. She remembered the serene scenes she had witnessed the last time in the demon world. The demon realm was a warm, prosperous place, harmonious and bustling but with doors unbarred even at night. Yan Zhao recalled the Fox Empress as an impressively magnanimous and gentle elder. Bai Jin, though capricious and seemingly scatterbrained, was loyal. While Yan Zhao didn’t particularly like her, she didn’t dislike her either. Barely a year, almost two, had passed since she and her elder sister left the demon realm. How could such unforeseen chaos erupt so swiftly? Swoosh— Ren Qingyue appeared behind Yan Zhao, her face pale but her expression urgent. She instinctively raised her voice, "What did you say, repeat it?!" Caught off guard by Ren Qingyue's sudden appearance, Feng Jin was momentarily stunned, struggling to grasp the situation. Ren Qingyue, seeing Feng Jin's silence, immediately stepped forward, disregarding formalities to demand loudly, "Feng Jin, answer me!" Feng Jin quickly recomposed herself and repeated the earlier statement. All those opposing the Crown Prince and supporting the Fox Empress were ruthlessly pursued by Tu Shan Yu. Most fled to the human world, with some escaping to the demon realm. Ren Qingyue felt a void in her heart, ears buzzing as two lines echoed back and forth: The Fox Emperor was assassinated, the Fox Empress trapped in the palace. The Fox Empress certainly didn't anticipate the Emperor’s sudden death, nor could she expect her son's rebellion. A thief within one's family often delivers the sharpest betrayal. Yan Zhao, observing Ren Qingyue’s silhouette, mused internally: So it seems one can hear outside from within the soul bead; otherwise, why did her elder sister suddenly come out? Ren Qingyue staggered, almost collapsing. Yan Zhao's quick reflexes steadied her immediately. In the next moment, Ren Qingyue coughed up blood from turmoil-induced distress. Startled, Yan Zhao cried, "Elder sister!" Feng Jin and the others' faces changed instantly, "Miss Ren!" Ren Qingyue shook her head slightly, gripping Yan Zhao's arm for support. Their joined hands were damp with cold sweat. Yan Zhao turned to her, concern evident in her eyes, "Elder sister, your injuries..." Ren Qingyue closed her eyes and took a deep breath before reopening them. She signaled Yan Zhao to stop talking, then said, "Ah Zhao, I must go to the demon realm." Yan Zhao was perplexed. Although Ren Qingyue was a demon tribe member, she had lived among humans for over a thousand years. The turmoil in the demon realm shouldn't particularly concern her personally. She asked, "Why?" Ren Qingyue realized she hadn’t revealed her identity to Yan Zhao. Thus, she clutched Yan Zhao’s hand tightly and, with difficulty, stated, "The Fox Emperor and Empress are my parents." Yan Zhao was stunned. The other three had already speculated, given that Ren Qingyue's identity as an ancient nine-tailed fox was no secret and the news of the Fox Emperor and Empress’s lost young daughter had circulated widely. It was an easy connection to make. Jiang Ying's expression turned serious, "With Miss Ren’s injuries, it may be difficult to safeguard herself if she goes to the demon realm." Ren Qingyue's eyes filled with pain, "But I can't just sit by and do nothing while the Fox Empress is in danger." With the Fox Emperor dead and the Empress in peril, she felt compelled to return to the demon realm to find a way to rescue her. No matter what, she had to go. Lei Shuang hesitated to speak, while Feng Jin wished to persuade her otherwise. But Yan Zhao interjected, "I’ll accompany Elder Sister." Ren Qingyue, caught in the turmoil of recent shocks, worried and deeply saddened, found herself at a loss for words. She simply responded to Yan Zhao, "Ah Zhao, thank you." Yan Zhao, raised with the belief that it's only right to express gratitude when receiving help, didn't find Ren Qingyue's thanks unusual. She nodded naturally, "Mm." Lei Shuang and Jiang Ying exchanged a glance before Jiang Ying spoke up, "In that case, let's set off as soon as possible." Understanding the underlying meaning in Jiang Ying’s words, Ren Qingyue was surprised, "You all..." Jiang Ying answered before she could finish, "We serve as protectors under the Demon Lord. Now that the Demon Lord is gravely injured and unconscious, it’s natural we follow the Young Master." Jiang Ying's decision also represented Lei Shuang and Feng Jin; Nangong Yin's three trusted aides always moved together. Ren Qingyue was deeply moved and expressed her gratitude to Jiang Ying and the others as well. As they set off again, Ren Qingyue was in no condition to travel alone and also didn't want to stay alone in Yan Yuanqing's cave, so she transformed into a small fox, nestling in Yan Zhao's arms as they traveled. Leaving behind the Hán Líng territory, their path led to Hán Míng Hill, connected to the Nether Sea, the only way to reach the Misty Demon Ravine. The last time they were here, they had encountered Yin Thunder Heaven, and Yan Zhao had the misfortune of being struck by lightning. Fortunately, their luck was better today. Although the sky remained overcast, no thunderclouds gathered. It was a good day to travel. Pointing to the gathering clouds, Lei Shuang informed Yan Zhao, "We’ll ascend through there. Crossing the clouds, you’ll see a massive swirling vortex—it's the entrance to the Nether Sea." Yan Zhao nodded, carefully securing the small fox in her arms, and took flight on her sword. The journey through the passage from the demon realm to the Misty Demon Ravine was not as smooth as before; Yan Zhao struggled against strong resistance despite her best efforts. This resistance continuously drained the spiritual energy from her core, and by the time she emerged from the void tunnel into the Nether Sea, her cultivation had been somewhat diminished. The sense of weakening was more pronounced than enhancement, making Yan Zhao acutely aware of the presence of the rules at play. Holding onto the small fox, she sailed over the coastline and landed back on solid ground. The previously empty Nether Sea was now scattered with numerous members of the demon tribes. Groups gathered by the sea, resting to recover their strength as they prepared to pass through the void tunnel to seek refuge in the demon realm. Yan Zhao's sudden appearance drew immediate attention. Those sitting by the coast for rest turned in unison to look her way. As soon as Yan Zhao touched down, a familiar figure sprang forward from the crowd. "Yan Zhao!" A voice called her name, instantly recognizable. Yan Zhao paused, with the little fox in her arms lifting its head, peering towards the voice. She saw a figure cloaked in shabby clothing, hair in disarray, resembling a vagabond more than a destitute soul. Covered in ash and soot, only the eyes shone brightly from the smudged face, reminiscent of a bedraggled stray cat.