Chapter 6: Vixen, You Don’t Want Your Crush on Master to Be Exposed, Do You?

Stepping out of Chu Huaizhou’s residence, Leng Qingqiu’s attire was pristine, her demeanor shifting from unrestrained fervor back to icy composure.
She lowered her eyes, fastening the last two clasps near her collarbone, her flushed earlobes cooling.
It was as if nothing had happened inside, as if they were pure and innocent.
Yet, beneath the white gauze, faint creases still held the lingering warmth of sandalwood from her closeness with Chu Huaizhou.

With a wave of her jade hand, the multiple arrays she’d set up vanished instantly, showcasing her mastery of formations.
Even the Array Hall Master of the Ten Thousand Laws Sect, renowned for encompassing all techniques, would be stunned by her effortless handling of complex, layered arrays, hailing her as a prodigy.

“Hm… why’d Qingqiu set up so many arrays, meow? The human needs protection, sure, but I’m enough. No need for arrays, meow.”
Bai Li reached the arrays, her pink paw pads lightly touching their edges, puzzled by Leng Qingqiu’s actions.

She was about to lead the two others she’d met on her way back through the arrays when the temperature plummeted.
It was high noon in summer, the hottest time, yet a chill made her shiver.
Wrapping her nine tails around herself, Bai Li looked up and, as expected, saw Leng Qingqiu.

“Senior Sister~ We sensed Bai Li’s aura leaving Master’s place and guessed he woke up, so we rushed over.”
Chu Huaizhou’s second disciple, Xia Baiqian, clasped her hands behind her back, hopping toward Leng Qingqiu, tilting her head.
“Didn’t expect you to beat us here. How’d you get here so fast? Got some special way to track Master?”

Leng Qingqiu snorted coldly.
Who’d be friendly after being interrupted at a critical moment?

Seeing no one spoke, Bai Li’s golden slit-pupil eyes darted between them, and she cleared her throat.
“Uh, listen, meow, the human… meow!”
[Shut up.]

Bai Li was about to say their master had been struck by lightning, lay unconscious for a month, and woke up with amnesia.
A sharp rebuke in her mind made her jump, her nine tails shooting straight up, nearly standing at attention.
But as a Great Vehicle stage demonic beast, she recovered quickly—only for another message to hit.
[Don’t tell them Master lost his memory.]

“What’s wrong, Little Bai Li? Did something happen to Master?”
Xia Baiqian, seeing Bai Li’s startled reaction, grew concerned.

Hmph, Leng Qingqiu, that wretched woman, daring to threaten me?
Does she think I’m weak just because I keep my juvenile form around the human? Has she forgotten I’m a ruler of the demon realm?
She says don’t tell? I’ll tell!

Bai Li raised her head, amplifying her voice with spiritual power to ensure the two heard clearly.
But before she could speak, Leng Qingqiu’s icy voice rang again.
[If you dare, I’ll tell them you’re in love with Master and sneak beside him every night for… unsavory acts.]

The soft words struck Bai Li’s heart like thunder.
Her eyes met Leng Qingqiu’s, wide and round, like a child caught misbehaving, instinctively stepping back.
How… how did she know my secret?!
I hid it so carefully, only acting when he was asleep…

Fine, Bai Li admitted, as the human’s eldest disciple ruling an entire dynasty, Leng Qingqiu had some skill.
Hmph, fine, I won’t tell. It’s not like I really wanted to. And you’re such a faker, Leng Qingqiu.
Muttering inwardly, Bai Li imagined pummeling her.
Just imagining—she wasn’t built for combat.
In breaking arrays, illusions, or escaping, she was world-class. Anything else? Average at best.

Outmatched, poor Bai Li could only submit to Leng Qingqiu’s authority.
“It’s nothing, meow. I just meant the human just woke up and is tired. Maybe we shouldn’t bother him.”
With that, she trotted toward Chu Huaizhou’s residence on her four little legs.
“I’m heading back. You sisters chat.”

Hmph, can’t beat Leng Qingqiu? She’d dodge her instead.
She’d stick by the human—let’s see who dares bully her then!
Wait… the human can’t protect her now. Fine, she’d protect him.

Leng Qingqiu coldly watched Bai Li pass, snorting softly and looking away without a word.
Bai Li was easy to handle—she’d let her stay by Master for now. The two junior sisters were the real issue.

Chu Huaizhou, spying from the window, saw everything.
Though far, his Golden Core-enhanced senses, paired with a far-sight spell, let him see clearly.
From his observation, his beloved Xia Baiqian hadn’t changed much.
Still adorably lively, nimble, and endearing.
And there was Bai Li, as familiar as ever.
But where was his third disciple, Meng Yinlu? Was she busy?

“Human! I’m back, meow~”
Bai Li used a spell to open the door, spotted Chu Huaizhou, and scampered over, plastering herself to his face like a face-hugger.
Chu Huaizhou yanked the white-furred fox off, sticking out his tongue in mock disgust.
“Pfft, pfft, your fur got in my mouth!”

“You dare complain about me? Weren’t you the one always pawing my tails, meow?”
Bai Li’s grievances from Leng Qingqiu vanished, replaced by indignation.
She raised her paws, lightly smacking his cheeks with a pat-pat sound.

About to unleash a flurry of slaps, her sensitive nose caught an odd scent.
Sniff sniff—
Bai Li’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, her attacking paws lowering.
“Hold on, human. What happened in here with Qingqiu, meow?”
“Why do I smell her on you? How’re your scents mixed, meow?”

Before being flung out by Leng Qingqiu, she’d caught a strange aura on her—similar to a female animal in heat.
Now, Chu Huaizhou carried that scent, and it was intertwined with his.
Odd. Normally, spending time together might leave a faint trace, not a blend.
Why was this happening? Did Leng Qingqiu like the human too? No way—they’re master and disciple.
Truly… not meow, fox-baffling.