Perhaps influenced by Wen Fufu, Su Qingyi had also become particularly fond of lounging in the courtyard, basking in the sun with scriptbooks in her arms over the past six months, engrossed in romantic tales of love and passion.
But Little Fox still didn’t understand what love was.
Lately, Su Qingyi had been pondering what love meant for the Monster Clan. It seemed they were more inclined towards instinct. She often compared it to herself; whenever Jiang Huai appeared in the courtyard, her heart would undoubtedly race, but her mind would always be filled with thoughts of licking that guy’s face with her tongue, simply because his scent was pleasant and she wanted to get closer.
As for Dual Cultivation, she had always considered it. However, the obsession wasn’t that strong. Perhaps if one day Jiang Huai, out of boredom, wanted to Dual Cultivate with her, and if he managed to coax her into a good mood that day, she would obediently agree. If she had a choice, she would prefer to be on top.
Humans and Monsters were different. For Monsters, being on top was a significant matter, signifying her greater authority. Hmph, based on Su Qingyi’s observations over these past few days, Jiang Huai didn’t seem to mind being pinned down at all. Instead, he particularly enjoyed it. He just loved seeing Wanwan or Fufu’s cheeks flush and their eyes become hazy.
Although Su Qingyi appeared carefree on the surface, her thoughts were actually very sensitive and delicate. She could probably sense that even if something happened between her and Jiang Huai, Wen Wanwan would likely just smile it off. This was because Wen Wanwan always placed herself in a very low position in front of Jiang Huai, like water that nourishes all things without contending. Yet, it was precisely this that earned her Jiang Huai’s deepest affection.
Hmph, she had known for a long time that Jiang Huai was a scoundrel. While spouting that pure love was supreme, he simultaneously and tirelessly seduced all sorts of women. Hmph, a pretentious man.
“Please, please agree with me, you’re the best, Jiang Huai Gege, good brother, help Little Fox…” Su Qingyi straightened her waist, allowing Jiang Huai’s palm to touch her more fully and warmly. Jiang Huai angrily pinched her, then withdrew his hand, looking into Su Qingyi’s eyes, “I’ll help you this time, but do you plan to pester me from now on?”
Su Qingyi nodded vigorously.
“Didn’t you say you would study Talismans and Formations properly to revitalize the Fox Clan?”
“Ah, the Fox Clan and the Snake Clan aren’t at war, so it won’t be a loss for the Fox Clan even if I don’t learn them. Let them work hard. After toiling for so many years, it’s time for Little Fox to enjoy a good life!”
“…” Jiang Huai looked into Su Qingyi’s eyes and hesitated for a moment, “Fine, it’s your business how you explain it to your Mother. But I’m telling you upfront, I can pretend to be more intimate with you, but don’t even think about things like having a bunch of little foxes.”
“Don’t worry, I don’t want to have little foxes,” Su Qingyi tilted her head up and winked at him, “Should we collect the payment first?”
“Huh?”
Just as Jiang Huai expressed his confusion, Su Qingyi had already moved in front of him, squatting down. She tucked a strand of her jet-black hair behind her ear, her delicate pink lips parted slightly, as if hesitating whether to delicately lick him or swallow him whole in one go. Unfortunately, before she could deliberate for too long, Jiang Huai yanked her fox tail and pulled her out of the water.
“Ouch, ouch, ouch,” Su Qingyi complained, flicking her tail against Jiang Huai’s chest. She heard Jiang Huai sigh in exasperation, “I don’t need your payment.”
“Ew… It’s okay, I knew you’d say that,” Su Qingyi blinked at him innocently, then let out a giggle, “My attitude is my business, whether you want it or not is yours. Humph, if you don’t want it, then don’t.”
Su Qingyi was leisurely enjoying herself, but Wen Wanwan, who had been obediently listening to their entire conversation, suddenly asked a rather inexplicable question, “I remember Senior Brother Jiang Huai told me last time…”
“What?” Jiang Huai was startled.
“That Qingyi tastes really good,” Wen Wanwan blinked her eyes innocently, then looked at Su Qingyi. Su Qingyi was taken aback for a moment, then hugged her chest with both hands and retreated to the bath edge, on the verge of tears, “Sister Wanwan, no… It’ll swell up for several days if I activate it…”
Wen Wanwan let out a chuckle.
“It’s nothing, just saying it, don’t be scared,” Wen Wanwan shook her head innocently, then sighed lightly, “I wish I had fox clan bloodline too.”
“Hmm?” Jiang Huai looked at her, puzzled. He saw Wen Wanwan tiptoe and lean towards his ear. She lowered her voice and whispered word by word, “This way… Senior Brother Jiang Huai can hold Wanwan’s tail… and… also…”
Lately, Wanwan had a particular fondness for speaking extremely suggestive things in a deadpan tone, only to be severely bullied by Jiang Huai until her legs trembled. Jiang Huai’s head was already swimming just listening to her, but as Wen Wanwan spoke, a slender, snow-white leg emerged from the water, its ankle resting on his shoulder. Her body leaned forward slightly, pressing closer, and her delicate pink tongue lightly licked his neck.
To make it easier for Jiang Huai to bully her, she even had to stand on tiptoe underwater.
Su Qingyi was not joking with Jiang Huai.
Her Mother was indeed coming and was already on her way. Less than a day and a half after she had spoken, a silver ray of light appeared in the distance – the Fox Emperor, Su Qiang, arriving on her sword.
There had always been a clear boundary between the Monster Clan and the Human Clan, and they rarely appeared in each other’s territories. Fortunately, Jiang Huai had already informed the Sect Master of Tian Xuan Sect, Li Qiushan, that a distinguished guest from the Monster Clan would be arriving in the next couple of days and that Li Qiushan need not worry, as he would handle the hospitality.
Su Qingyi had long been waiting at the foot of the mountain to welcome her. When Su Qiang sensed her presence and arrived before her, Su Qingyi was composing herself, trying to regain her cold and aloof expression. She had been acting quite wild and foolish in Wen Wanwan’s courtyard these past few days. Now, clad in a purple dress, she had once again assumed the demeanor of the Grand Princess of the Fox Clan that Jiang Huai had first encountered.
Su Qiang’s gaze fell upon her face. After a mere moment, she slightly raised her eyes, “Your cultivation level has not changed.”
“This…” Su Qingyi immediately looked like a little girl caught not doing her homework, her fox tail drooping, her face full of guilt. She cautiously looked up at Su Qiang, and in an instant, she sensed that Su Qiang had refined the drop of Nine-tailed Fox Clan Essence Blood she had given her before leaving. Su Qiang now possessed the Nine-tailed Fox Clan bloodline, although she had only manifested one tail to avoid being too conspicuous.
Today, Su Qiang was wearing a dress with a distinctive style from the Western Region. The orange bandeau top was adorned with silver chains and jewelry. Below it, her slender and well-proportioned waist was exposed, and even her delicate pink belly button was visible. Her lower half was a hip-hugging long skirt with cross-slits in the front, revealing large expanses of her fair, slender, snow-white leg skin. Her ice-and-snow like lotus feet were bare, stepping directly onto the ground. Her eyes were calm and serene, exuding an air of nobility.
After all, she had ruled the Fox Clan for hundreds of years, and the entire clan had to act according to her wishes. Now, she simply stood there, a natural aura of imposing dignity radiating from her. Su Qingyi, standing by her side, softly said, “Mother, please come to my residence first. Let’s walk a little slower, and we can talk about some things quietly…”
As she spoke, she took out a white shawl and gently draped it over her mother, softly saying, “The Eastern Region is different from our Western Region. It’s not good to wear such light clothing.”
Su Qiang glanced at her sideways but said nothing. Today, Su Qingyi was wearing a gorgeous and dignified purple palace dress. Even her hairpins were of human style, giving her the air of a cold and aloof young lady from the Human Clan. If not for her fluffy fox tail, Su Qiang might have felt some unfamiliarity.
In the past, Su Qingyi’s eyes were always filled with melancholy. Now, her brow was gentle and clear, with a hint of languor. Su Qiang felt slightly relieved about this, as it at least indicated that she was doing well in the Eastern Region and had not been bullied.
A moment later, Su Qingyi completely revealed her plan to Su Qiang in a whisper.
Su Qiang listened, stunned, and slowed her steps. She asked, “You mean… he also has the Nine-tailed Fox Clan bloodline?”
“Yes, last time he gave Mother a drop of Nine-tailed Fox Clan Essence Blood, so naturally he kept a drop for himself but secretly hid it from us. He refined it himself after returning to the Eastern Region. But luckily, Little Fox is intelligent enough to have guessed early on, so I followed him to the Eastern Region. Now, after months of Little Fox’s persistent efforts, I’m about to seduce him into bed. When the time comes and I take his essence, it will take root and sprout in Little Fox’s belly. Then, our Fox Clan… will have a continuation of the Nine-tailed Fox Clan bloodline!”
Su Qingyi became more and more dramatic as she spoke, walking several steps ahead without noticing anything unusual. Su Qiang, however, stopped and looked at the cheerful and lively Su Qingyi before her. She was momentarily stunned before slowly reaching out and gently pinching her cheek.
“Eh? Mother?” Su Qingyi looked at her, puzzled.
“You…” Su Qiang hesitated to speak.
She had watched Su Qingyi grow up and knew that Su Qingyi had shouldered the future of the Fox Clan since childhood. Therefore, even though Su Qingyi always pretended to be cold and strong in front of her, never showing any softness or timidity, Su Qiang distinctly remembered that she had almost never seen such a spark in Su Qingyi’s eyes.
But the Su Qingyi before her now was completely different from her past self.
The two continued walking along the mountain path. Su Qiang hesitated for a long while before softly asking, “Do you want him to be your husband?”
To avoid causing trouble for Jiang Huai, Su Qingyi immediately shook her head like a rattle drum, “I don’t want to. That guy has so many Dao Companions, and they’re all so obedient to him. Besides, he’s too overbearing. Our Fox Clan looks for men who are obedient to women. That guy is not obedient at all. If he were to become my husband in the future, who knows how he’d bully me.”
“Then you still want to borrow his seed?”
“This is all for the future of our Fox Clan! It’s just having a few little foxes; Qingyi doesn’t mind. It’s just a little grievance. Qingyi came to the Eastern Region for this very purpose! It’s just that humans talk about morality and propriety, and they like to talk about feelings, moonlit dates and such. Little Fox took a long time to understand what it meant, and now I’m almost about to get him into bed. Mother, give me a few more years at most, and I guarantee Qingyi will return to the Fox Clan with a pregnant belly.”
Su Qiang tried to speak several times but stopped. Su Qingyi, however, seemed completely oblivious to the absurdity in her words and was enjoying her dramatic act. Su Qiang gently pinched her tail, “You are the Grand Princess of the Fox Clan, not a breeding sow for continuing the bloodline. How can you be so shameless and lose your dignity? Since you don’t like it, then you don’t have to force yourself. Now that the Fox Clan and the Snake Clan are on good terms and working together, what if the Nine-tailed Fox Clan bloodline doesn’t continue?”
Su Qingyi was slightly stunned and looked up into Su Qiang’s eyes.
This was completely different from what she had expected. Her body tensed slightly. She watched Su Qiang lean closer, her forehead touching hers, and softly say, “You are my only daughter, the continuation of my life… You never had to work so hard.”
Su Qingyi held her breath, looking into Su Qiang’s eyes, and heard her softly say, “You are still young; you don’t understand what it means to be a mother. The Fox Clan doesn’t need you to do these things. Even if the bloodline needs to continue, it should be me.”
“With my Ninth Realm cultivation, if I directly propose Dual Cultivation with him, my virgin essence can at least improve his cultivation by a few minor realms. He has no reason to refuse.”
“No, it’s not… That’s wrong… No, no, no, no… No, Mother, no… Ah, hey… No, it’s impossible!” Su Qingyi’s words became jumbled. After a long while, she finally organized her thoughts and grabbed Su Qiang’s hand, “Absolutely not!”
Su Qiang looked at Su Qingyi before her, confused. Su Qingyi stammered for a long time before finally speaking, “That, that guy is very difficult to handle. He, he also really dislikes children. Before, when he Dual Cultivated with his Dao Companions, they deliberately avoided conception through Daoist magic. It, it has to be with feelings…”
“As long as his cultivation does not reach the Eighth Realm, once the Fox Clan’s Enchantment Art is triggered, he will obediently offer his seed,” Su Qiang replied calmly. But Su Qingyi became even more anxious, her fox tail swaying incessantly, “No, definitely not, Mother, absolutely not!”
Su Qingyi’s eyes were on the verge of tears.
She didn’t want to suddenly have a younger brother or sister. What if she had a sister in the future, and her sister called Jiang Huai “Daddy”? What would she call Jiang Huai then? Wouldn’t that be like picking up a rock only to drop it on her own foot?
This was too hellish, too hellish. Su Qingyi frantically tried to use her brain, attempting to dissuade Su Qiang from making a fatal mistake.
