Hua Hong stood to the side, arms crossed, her expression twitching as she looked at the two tangled figures on the ground.
Chang Sheng and Chang Wu, however, were eyeing Bai Shuo with great interest, noting her delicate appearance and lively eyes. “Young clan leader, could this be the friend you’ve been visiting all these years?” Chang Sheng clicked his tongue. “Such a lovely young lady. No wonder our young clan leader has been so eager to descend the mountain.”
A cold glare fell upon Mu Jiu, who shivered and leaped three feet back, quickly distancing himself from Bai Shuo. “Elder, this-this young lady here is Bai Shuo!” he stammered loudly.
At the mention of “Bai Shuo,” the elders’ smiles froze, and they took two steps back in deference.
“My apologies, my apologies,” they said, bowing to Bai Shuo. Then, exchanging wary glances, they turned to Fan Yue, their wrinkled faces growing even more crinkled with worry. “A misunderstanding, Hall Master—we had no idea she was your future consort. We hope the Hall Master will forgive us.”
No denial came from within the hall. Unable to resist, Bai Shuo glanced at Fan Yue, and whether it was her imagination or not, it seemed that the icy look in his eyes had softened.
Chang Sheng looked sharply at Mu Jiu. “Young clan leader, the clan leader has ordered us to bring you back to the mountain.”
“I’m not going!” Mu Jiu darted behind Tian Huo, brimming with defiance. “I left on my own merit, and I’m not going back.”
“Marriage is a sacred duty, arranged by the clan leader. It’s not a matter to take lightly,” Chang Wu said sternly.
“Ah, so you were fleeing an arranged marriage!” Bai Shuo laughed. “No wonder they’ve come all this way to drag you back.”
“Oh, those nine or ten vixen brides they picked out? Anyone who wants them can have them—I’m not marrying!” Mu Jiu replied, clearly exasperated.
Bai Shuo stared at him, astonished, then gave him a thumbs-up. “You foxes marry in bunches?”
“Today, you’re coming back with us, whether you like it or not,” Chang Wu and Chang Sheng said, moving to seize him.
With a swift motion, Hua Hong’s Flaming Staff struck out, forcing the elders to retreat in surprise.
Stunned, Chang Sheng and Chang Wu exchanged wary glances before addressing Hua Hong. “The Flaming Staff! Lord Tian Huo, what are you doing?”
Mu Jiu’s eyes lit up. “My…!”
Just as he opened his mouth, Hua Hong stepped aside, her expression calm. “A slip of the hand. Please, carry on.”
Mu Jiu’s excitement deflated instantly. He looked at Hua Hong, his eyes reddening with disappointment.
Hua Hong avoided his gaze, her expression shifting uncomfortably.
“Young clan leader, stop dawdling. Continuing the fox lineage is your duty to the clan,” Chang Sheng and Chang Wu said impatiently, reaching out again. But once more, they were blocked by Hua Hong’s staff.
Chang Sheng, losing his patience, looked at Hua Hong. “Lord Tian Huo, another ‘slip of the hand’?”
“Perfectly timed, neither too fast nor too slow,” Hua Hong replied, glancing at Mu Jiu. “He doesn’t want to go. Didn’t you hear?”
“Little flower…” Mu Jiu muttered softly.
“Shut up.”
“Oh.”
“Does Hao Yue Hall intend to interfere in the private affairs of our fox clan?” Chang Sheng turned to Fan Yue with a steely expression.
This wasn’t just about taking Mu Jiu back; it was now a formal challenge from the entire fox clan of Jing You Mountain.
The hall fell silent. Fan Yue lowered his gaze and replied, “I believe my stance on the matter has been made clear. If the Flaming Staff isn’t enough, my Severing Chain can reinforce my answer.”
He raised his hand, summoning the silver chain. Chang Sheng hurriedly took several steps back.
“No need for that, Hall Master. The young clan leader is still young, and the marriage can wait a few years,” Chang Sheng stammered.
No one could blame Chang Sheng for being cautious; Fan Yue was a demi-god. If he truly took action, the two elder foxes wouldn’t stand a chance. They had already invoked the name of their clan leader, Chang Mei, and Fan Yue didn’t care. It wasn’t their fault that the Hall Master of Hao Yue was so stubbornly keeping Mu Jiu.
“Very well, young clan leader,” Chang Sheng said with resignation. “If you’re determined not to return to Jing You Mountain, so be it.” Extending his hand, he continued, “But at the very least, return the clan treasure you took. If you hadn’t secretly stolen our most precious artifact, the clan leader would not have sent us all the way to the Far North to find you.”
Hua Hong frowned, looking at Mu Jiu. “What did you take? Give it back.”
Mu Jiu’s face fell. “Can’t return it. It’s gone.”
“Gone?!” Chang Sheng’s expression grew frantic, his whiskers trembling. “You little scoundrel! That was the divine fig wine, capable of granting three thousand years of cultivation! It was meant for the future clan leader’s consort! How could it just be gone?!”
No one noticed the strange look on Hua Hong’s face as she heard this.
Bai Shuo clicked her tongue, “Fox, did you drink that precious stuff all by yourself?”
Mu Jiu shook his head vigorously.
“So what happened to it?” Chang Sheng demanded anxiously.
“Well… it seems… possibly… maybe…” Hua Hong’s voice suddenly sounded from within the hall. She finally admitted, though with diminishing confidence, “I may have accidentally drunk it.”
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