Winter of the sixteenth year of Changning.

Snowflakes fell in a flurry, landing on the dark blue tiles of the Northern Yan palace, leaving patches of white.

Standing under the eaves, Yu Liang unconsciously breathed out a couple of breaths, rubbed his hands and stamped his feet. Just as he was about to find a warm place to hide, he saw a person striding into the Taiji Hall.

The newcomer wore a fitted brocade robe with a black background and gold patterns. He was tall and imposing, and his official boots crunched as they stepped on the snow.

He had a high, straight nose and well-defined features, especially his sharp phoenix eyes, which were upturned at the corners and reflected a pair of heterochromatic golden pupils. Reflected in the candlelight, they appeared even more eerie and chilling.

Yu Liang hurriedly opened the umbrella and went over to hand over the cloak: "Commander, what is the matter that the Emperor summoned you in the middle of the night?"

Shao Linyuan took the cloak, fastened it himself, and said nonchalantly, "Half a month ago, the demon hunters of Changning Division mobilized as a whole and hunted down a nine-tailed male fox at the foot of Wanyao Mountain. The Emperor took a liking to it and insisted on taking it into the harem as a concubine."

"But the male fox refused and injured many demon hunters who came to tame him. Now he is locked in the Qiwu Palace. The emperor dares not approach him, so he wants me to go... to help train him."

"Huh?" Yu Liang, a trusted confidant of Shao Linyuan for many years, looked displeased upon hearing this: "You went on official business to another place and only came back once every six months. You didn't even get a day's rest at your own residence before he summoned you to the palace, just for... this trivial matter?"

"Whoever catches the fox can train it, what's it to you?"

As they spoke, the two had already left the courtyard of the Taiji Hall, but just to be on the safe side, Yu Liang still kept his voice very low.

She kept complaining: "You are the commander of Changning Division, the most outstanding demon hunter in the world, what does he take you for? A tool to raise his concubines?"

Shao Linyuan's eyes also showed some displeasure, but he didn't show it so obviously. He simply said, "We are all serving the Emperor, there is no distinction between high and low, noble and lowly. Give me the umbrella."

Yu Liang was taken aback: "You...aren't you going back to the manor?"

"I won't go back." Shao Linyuan sighed, trying to hide the weariness in his eyes, and said, "His Majesty is urging me urgently, so I will go to Qiwu Palace tonight."

After saying that, he took Yu Liang's umbrella and strode away.

Qiwu Palace is located at the easternmost part of the palace, not far from the emperor's bedroom. Shao Linyuan took the token and went there directly.

Upon entering the palace, after dismissing two palace maids, one could see a beautiful woman bound by golden chains on a vermilion wedding bed.

This is a fox that was suppressed by a demon hunter's magical artifact and can no longer maintain its complete human form.

Her hands were clasped together, bound to the headboard by a golden chain artifact. Her long, white hair was disheveled and spilled onto the pillow, and on her head were two snow-white fox ears.

The downy fur at the tips of its ears still had a faint red tinge, and the three white fox tails peeking out from behind also had red tips.

A distinctive vermilion Qiankun seal between his brows revealed his unique identity; he appeared to be a rare breed of nine-tailed fox.

At this moment, his eyes were covered with a red cloth, and his mouth was completely sealed with a white cloth. Golden demon-suppressing magic swirled around him, forcing him to frown. Even his red clothes became loose and disheveled due to the struggle.

A section of his bloodied calf was slightly exposed, the red and white stains making his already fair skin appear even more like snow.

What a handsome male fox!

When Shao Linyuan first saw Si Jin, he was surprised, but the fox's injuries and the magic surrounding her made him feel even more sorry for her.

Commander Shao's eyes sharpened, and he abruptly drew his sword from his waist—

She shattered all the spells binding Si Jin, and then her fox tail unleashed a crimson spell that hurled the guarding eunuch outside, leaving him with a mouthful of blood.

The eunuch struggled to his feet, tears welling in his eyes, and tried to plead with Shao Linyuan: "Commander Shao, this beast... he's truly outrageous, you must..."

But Commander Shao sheathed his sword and uttered only four simple words: "Shut up, hold it in."