In the Fox Clan, Zhi Yao knew quite a few people, and they were all followers of Xie Qinzhou.
Unfortunately, Zhi Yao looked around for a long time but didn't see a single fox.
So she decided to go down.
As she descended the cliff, Zhi Yao noticed a strange phenomenon.
While this place was called a forest, it wasn't entirely accurate. There was a very high mountain here, and on top of it was something like a manor. When she reached the entrance of the manor, Zhi Yao discovered that both inside and outside were festooned with decorations and red ornaments.
It looked as if... as if a wedding was about to be held.
Zhi Yao frowned, suddenly feeling hesitant to enter.
For some reason, she felt that all these preparations might be for her.
As Zhi Yao wavered and hesitated, she suddenly caught a whiff of her Mother's scent.
She immediately became alert, concentrating to determine the source of the scent.
But the scent was very faint and disappeared in an instant.
Well, since she had come this far, she might as well go in. After all, you can't catch a tiger without entering its den.
With this mindset, Zhi Yao strode in quickly.
As she entered the large manor gates, Zhi Yao saw several small foxes at the entrance, seemingly cubs.
They looked about two or three hundred years old, with little spiritual power, unable to transform into human form.
She didn't recognize these foxes, but when they saw Zhi Yao, their expressions were calm.
In fact...
They called out to Zhi Yao, "Clan Leader's wife, you've arrived."
Clan Leader's wife?!
These four words startled Zhi Yao. What Clan Leader's wife? She wasn't any Clan Leader's wife.
And the Clan Leader...
She remembered that the Clan Leader was tens of thousands of years old! He was the oldest fox in the clan, how could he possibly have this kind of relationship with her?
Almost instinctively, Zhi Yao blurted out, "What Clan Leader's wife? Don't call me that!"
The little foxes quickly ran to Zhi Yao's side, laughing as they said, "My lady, don't be shy! Your wedding banquet with the Clan Leader will be held in a few days. You'll be the Clan Leader's wife sooner or later, so why be embarrassed if we call you that in advance?"
Zhi Yao: "..."
She really was embarrassed!
Because she wasn't the Clan Leader's wife at all!
"Our Clan Leader Xie is indeed very thoughtful. After so many years, I heard this is the first joyous event in the Fox Clan in nearly a hundred years! Moreover, he even invited back the most noble Nine-Tailed Red Fox to be the witness for the wedding."
Wait... Clan Leader Xie?
And the Nine-Tailed Red Fox?! Mother?!
She immediately became alert and looked at the little foxes, asking, "Do you know where the Nine-Tailed Red Fox is?"
These little foxes were young and didn't know that Zhi Yao was the child of Zhi Yi. As fellow members of the Fox Clan, they could naturally see through each other's true forms at a glance. They had already seen that Zhi Yao was a white fox, not a red fox.
So, of course, they didn't think in that direction.
The little foxes shook their heads upon hearing her question, "We're not sure either. That day, the great Nine-Tailed Red Fox just hurriedly recorded a video, we didn't even get a clear look at her appearance. But judging from her figure, the Nine-Tailed Red Fox is an extremely beautiful fox."
Fox?!
Mother hadn't appeared in her fox form for a very, very long time. Only when she was injured or her spiritual power was depleted would she appear in her original form.
Thinking of this, Zhi Yao became increasingly worried.
What on earth had Xie Qinzhou done to Mother!
And the Clan Leader they mentioned...
"The Clan Leader you're talking about is Xie Qinzhou?"
When Zhi Yao said this, the little foxes were very surprised, "You don't know? A while ago, the old Clan Leader passed away. After the Fox Clan's selection process, Xie Qinzhou, now known as Clan Leader Xie, stood out and gained our unanimous approval."
"Speaking of which, Clan Leader Xie is truly a young talent. Despite his young age, his spiritual power is already more profound than some of the old elders in the clan. This is really remarkable! Remarkable indeed!"
This... how could this be possible?!
No one knew Xie Qinzhou's situation better than Zhi Yao!
He had almost been incapacitated by Pei Chiyao before...
Zhi Yao remained silent for three seconds, suddenly remembering what Yan Mu had said.
Could it be... he really took Mother's spiritual power...
Thinking of this, Zhi Yao felt awful. She immediately rushed in, moving as fast as if she were flying.
"Xie Qinzhou, get out here!"
"Xie Qinzhou!"
The manor was too large, and Zhi Yao had no idea where Xie Qinzhou was.
"Xie Qinzhou, what have you done to my Mother?!"
Zhi Yao shouted three times and was about to shout again when suddenly, she felt a chill behind her. The next moment, Zhi Yao's lips were covered from behind.
"Shh, don't be so noisy."
This voice was...
She whirled around, meeting Xie Qinzhou's golden eyes, glowing brilliantly in the sunlight.
Their eyes met, and Xie Qinzhou's lips curled into a somewhat mischievous smile, "I didn't expect you to come so quickly."
Zhi Yao looked at Xie Qinzhou coldly, "Xie Qinzhou, surely you must know how important my Mother is to my Father? What are you trying to do by bringing my Mother here?! Doing this will only enrage my Father and put the entire Fox Clan in danger! I advise you to release my Mother immediately!"
Hearing this, Xie Qinzhou not only didn't show any fear but smiled even more enigmatically, "Is that so? Have you seen the situation here?"
Zhi Yao was a bit confused.
"What?"
"Look."
As Xie Qinzhou's words fell, rustling sounds came from the bushes. Zhi Yao immediately became alert, looking around.
However... what happened next was beyond Zhi Yao's expectations.
From the bushes emerged one, two, three...
Many, many little foxes. They all looked very small, much smaller than the foxes at the entrance, only a few decades old, some even just a few years old.
How... how could there be so many little foxes?!
"Are you certain you want to let the Wolf Tribe attack our Fox Clan? Times have changed, Zhi Yao. Look carefully—here are so many of your own kind. They are all your family. As a Nine-Tailed Red Fox, the most noble existence in the Fox Clan, enjoying the respect and love of the clan, you should be protecting us. Moreover, you are also a descendant of the Nine-Tailed Red Fox. You too should be doing your part for the Fox Clan."
"Instead of... bringing disaster upon the Fox Clan."
This is simply absurd!
"What exactly do you want to do?!"
"Nothing much. Since your Mother is unwilling to stay with the Fox Clan to help us multiply and prosper, I'll just steal all of her spiritual power! And take her place!"
Spiritual power...
"Surprised, aren't you? Hahaha! Come to think of it, I should thank an acquaintance of yours for this!"
