275 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

Yan Zhao stared intently, trying to recognize the person before her, but failed. This person rushed forward, pushing aside the hair obscuring her face, and exclaimed with excitement, "You don't recognize me? I'm Bai Jin!" Yan Zhao was momentarily stunned, then suddenly realized. This was none other than the "missing" princess of the demon clan, Bai Jin. In her arms, the little fox suddenly perked up, leapt out of Yan Zhao's embrace, and transformed into human form with a shift of her body. Bai Jin's eyes lit up: "Cousin!" Ren Qingyue looked anxious, and couldn't wait to speak: "Bai Jin, how is the Fox Queen? What happened? Why are you here?" "Cousin, waa waa waa waa!" Bai Jin kept calling Ren Qingyue cousin, and before she could say anything, she burst into tears. Ren Qingyue was worried and became even more so seeing Bai Jin's distress. But the more anxious Ren Qingyue appeared, the more agitated Bai Jin became, unable to utter a word. “Don't rush,” Ren Qingyue said, holding Bai Jin's arm and trying to speak in a less intimidating manner. "Take your time and explain everything clearly." Thankfully, Bai Jin calmed down a bit, took a deep breath, and then said: “Not long after you left, Uncle moved from the palace to Qing Shuang Residence for a peaceful recovery. Recently, assassins suddenly appeared there, and Uncle was killed.” “My cousin seemed to have gone mad, suddenly blaming Aunt for Uncle's murder, and even poisoned her wine during the mourning!” Bai Jin recounted, still visibly shaken, her face shifting between pale and flushed as she sobbed: “Aunt devised a plan to send me out of the palace to find you, Cousin. You must save Aunt!” Escaping from the demon realm, she intended to follow the Fox Queen's instructions to find Ren Qingyue among humans. But with pursuers hot on her heels, she fled in desperation, only to end up near the demon realm's entrance without realizing it. Unexpectedly, she encountered Ren Qingyue by chance at the Sea of the Underworld. When Bai Jin revealed her identity, the surrounding refugees were stunned, quickly gathering around. "Princess!" The refugees fell to their knees, shouting in unison, "Please, save us!" Bai Jin was taken aback, never having faced such a situation. Despite her noble status in the demon clan, she held no real power and usually kept away from tribal affairs. With so many demon tribe members suddenly kneeling and pleading for her protection, she was at a loss and didn't know how to respond. Frightened and helpless, she could only turn to Ren Qingyue as her lifeline, exclaiming with teary eyes, "Don't kneel to me, kneel to my cousin instead. She's the daughter of the Qingqiu Emperor!" Ren Qingyue was thrust into the spotlight by Bai Jin, leaving the demon refugees stunned. Yet, many of them had seen Ren Qingyue with the Fox Emperor and Fox Queen before and knew of their close relationship, so Bai Jin’s testimony quickly convinced them. Without further ado, they turned to kneel and hailed, "Princess!" Ren Qingyue witnessed this, her expression complex, yet she offered no further denial. Given the circumstances, there was no need to hide her identity anymore. She deeply regretted not revealing her true self to her parents during her last visit to the demon realm. Who could have predicted such drastic changes? The Fox Emperor assassinated, and the Fox Queen poisoned and imprisoned by Tu Shan Yu, her life hanging by a thread, with no certainty if they would ever reunite. Ren Qingyue was overwhelmed with regret. Amid her daze, a sudden change occurred. From the bustling crowd, several shadowy figures sprang forth, brimming with killing intent. Bai Jin cried out in alarm, "Cousin, watch out!" These were the black-clad assassins who had been chasing her! They had tracked her here despite her attempts to shake them off! They must have discovered Ren Qingyue's identity as the Qingqiu Emperor's daughter and decided to strike! Bai Jin regretted it deeply; she should not have revealed her cousin's identity in public. Just as danger was imminent, Ren Qingyue swayed unsteadily, but with her severe injuries, she couldn't muster the inner strength to dodge. She thought there was no escaping this calamity when, unexpectedly, the sharp blades missed her entirely and instead slashed past, heading for Yan Zhao behind her. "!" Ren Qingyue's face turned ashen. Boom— Blood erupted like mist in the air, and the black shadows were sent flying back. Only one shadow remained unmoved, impaled by a blood spear through the chest, suspended in midair. On the other end of the spear was Nangong Yin, her expression cold and murderous, "Who gave you the nerve?" The scene fell into a brief silence, as if time had stopped. Everyone stood frozen, unable to react in the blink of an eye. It wasn't until the splatter of blood fell upon those nearby, that the expressions of the demon tribe members finally changed. In a flash, the mysterious attackers were all annihilated, leaving only one hanging on Nangong Yin's spear, barely alive. Ren Qingyue's shock made her heart race; her emotions surged wildly, and she almost stumbled. Fortunately, Bai Jin was there to support her arm, allowing her to stay upright. Yan Zhao's eyes widened in surprise at the person who suddenly appeared before her. Nangong Yin stood like a towering tree, her shadow elongated on the ground by the sunlight, casting a silhouette in front of Yan Zhao. As the blood spear retracted, the body on its tip fell to the ground with a dull thud, echoing in everyone’s ears like a heavy hammer on their hearts. This was the infamous Nangong Yin, the long-rumored ruthless demon lord known for her blood debts. Witnessing this scene, the demon tribe members backed away, leaving a large empty space around them. Nangong Yin stowed her spear and slowly turned around. Her eyes met Yan Zhao's across the empty distance. Nangong Yin was a woman of few words, her complex emotions hidden in her deep, quiet eyes, leaving Yan Zhao only able to discern her aloof demeanor. But this time, she chose not to remain silent. She softly called out, “Zhao’er, are you frightened?” Yan Zhao shook her head, “No.” Nangong Yin acted as if nothing else mattered, walking toward her. It wasn’t until Nangong Yin was closer that Yan Zhao snapped back to reality and asked, "Ayin, is your injury better now?" Nangong Yin's icy expression softened suddenly, and a light smile graced her lips, “Not completely healed, but it’s not a problem.” “That’s good,” Yan Zhao said, pausing to add, “You still need to rest. I can make medicine. Just tell me what you need, and if I can’t do it, my master can teach me.” Nangong Yin couldn’t help but smile, “Alright.” No one among the demon refugees dared to speak, save for Bai Jin by Ren Qingyue’s side, who looked at Nangong Yin in shock. She whispered to Ren Qingyue, "Cousin, what’s going on? Yan Zhao knows Nangong Yin?" She vividly remembered when the Immortal's abode was discovered years ago, and when the cultivators encountered Nangong Yin deep within. Ren Qingyue had confronted Nangong Yin, fiercely protecting Yan Zhao from harm. How did things change so much in a few years that Yan Zhao and Nangong Yin were now so familiar with each other, to the point Nangong Yin personally saved Yan Zhao’s life? Bai Jin found it unbelievable. Ren Qingyue came back to her senses and whispered to Bai Jin, “They’re mother and daughter.” “…” Bai Jin turned her gaze to Ren Qingyue, slowly forming a question mark “?” Ren Qingyue clarified, “A’Zhao is the daughter of Senior Nangong and my master.” Bai Jin fell silent. This silence might have lasted a long time, or perhaps just a fleeting moment. During that period, Bai Jin felt her consciousness collapse and rebuild, plunging her into a state of bewilderment from the inside out. At one point, she suddenly burst out, “What?!!” Ren Qingyue nodded plainly, indicating that Bai Jin hadn’t misheard. Bai Jin was utterly bewildered. Meanwhile, Nangong Yin had reached Yan Zhao, her blood spear disappearing into thin air, and the hand previously used to kill reached out towards Yan Zhao. Yan Zhao remained still, allowing Nangong Yin’s hand to approach. Just before touching her cheek, Nangong Yin's hand stopped mid-air. Yan Zhao’s eyes shone brightly as she looked at Nangong Yin, her gaze clear and pure, showing not the slightest hint of fear or disgust. Seeing Nangong Yin’s hand pause in mid-air, Yan Zhao’s eyes fluttered. Suddenly, like a little puppy, she leaned forward. Her cheek first touched Nangong Yin’s fingers, then pressed into her palm, and finally, she tilted her head to rest in Nangong Yin's hand. The hand gently caressing her cheek trembled ever so slightly, imperceptibly. “Zhao’er,” Nangong Yin’s voice quivered, unexpectedly tinged with a stifled sob, “after all these years, do you blame me?” Should she blame Nangong Yin for not knowing of her daughter's existence, for leaving Yan Zhao lonely and unsupported in the Cloud-Clearing Sect for three centuries. If only she had known earlier... But life rarely goes as wished, twists of fate bringing about endless regrets. Yan Zhao’s eyes sparkled with bewilderment: “Why would I blame Ayin?” “I…” Nangong Yin’s throat tightened, unable to continue. Yan Zhao’s eyes curved into crescent moons: “Having two mothers—isn't that something to be happy about?” Although Yan Yuqing had yet to awaken, the reunion with Nangong Yin filled the void of regret from the past three hundred years, making her life feel complete at last. From the moment she left the Cloud-Clearing Sect and met her senior sister, who had transformed into a little fox, the wheel of fate had begun to turn. Meeting her senior sister was the turning point for everything to change for the better. For three hundred years, Yan Zhao had so little, and so she cherished everything and everyone now in her life with gratitude. She grasped Nangong Yin’s hand in return, a bright and warm smile spreading across her face: “I love Mother, and I love Ayin too.” Nangong Yin’s heart trembled, unable to restrain herself any longer, she opened her arms and embraced Yan Zhao tightly. Lei Shuang, Feng Jin, and Jiang Ying passed through the void passageway and arrived at the Mist Demon Rift on their search for Yan Zhao. In the distance, they saw this scene. “It’s the Demon Lord! She’s awake!” Lei Shuang was so overcome with emotion she had tears in her eyes. She was ready to rush over but was held back by Jiang Ying: “What’s the rush? Wait a moment!” Lei Shuang was puzzled: “Wait for what?” Jiang Ying looked at her with exasperation: “You pig-headed fool, it’s a mother-daughter reunion, why would you intrude on that?” Lei Shuang was initially upset at being called a "pig-headed fool" by Jiang Ying, but after the explanation, realized she was actually right. She scratched the back of her head awkwardly, grinning sheepishly: “Madam is absolutely right.” Now it was Jiang Ying’s turn to be mildly dumbfounded, a blush quickly rising to her cheeks. Nearby, Feng Jin’s mouth twitched slightly, and she discreetly moved three yards away, distancing herself from the two. Once Nangong Yin calmed down and released Yan Zhao, Feng Jin seized the opportunity to step forward and greet both the Demon Lord and the young mistress. Nangong Yin, without looking away, instructed coldly, “Investigate who these people are.” Feng Jin obeyed, finding the fallen black-clad individuals nearby and scrutinizing their identities thoroughly. Soon, she returned, holding several jade pendants. “Demon Lord.” Feng Jin offered the pendants with both hands. “We found these on them.” Nangong Yin took the pendants, giving them a cursory glance before concluding, “They're from the celestial realm.” At this moment, Yan Zhao spoke up: “Like this one?” She withdrew a jade pendant from her bosom. It was left behind by the shadows that had ambushed her in the chasm of the Nine Netherworlds. Nangong Yin’s expression turned icy as she asked Yan Zhao, “Where did this come from?” Yan Zhao recounted the incident to Nangong Yin and pointed to Ren Qingyue, adding, “It was these people who injured my senior sister.”