Chapter 78 Immortal Venerable, your fox keeps meowing, is it hungry?

Ling Shu found her tone unpleasant and disliked what she said. She also felt that Zhuang Jinfu was being too controlling, and since she disliked being restricted, she didn't respond and continued pushing Zhuang Jinfu out the door.

“You’re not deaf, Ling Shu.” Zhuang Jinfu stood in front of the door with his arms crossed, determined to get an answer.

“Zhao Chi is my friend, I know what I’m doing.” Ling Shu didn’t know where her anger came from.

Zhuang Jinfu actually had no leverage over Ling Shu. As soon as Zhao Chi appeared, she felt that her position in Ling Shu's heart was in jeopardy. She never believed that love could make a person feel secure. This thing is invisible and intangible, hidden only in a heart. Separated by a layer of flesh, who knows who is in that heart or what they care about?

Therefore, whenever Ling Shu makes a major decision in her love life, Zhuang Jinfu will try to intimidate her with her power and intimidate her with her status as an immortal, attempting to gain a sense of control. However, Ling Shu is not afraid of power. She challenges and resists at every turn. If she compromises, there will only be one reason: she will pretend to be a snake and then find another way out.

Zhuang Jinfu had no way to deal with Ling Shu, and his possessiveness often got the better of him.

Why didn't you answer me?

"Hey, Master, don't worry about it."

The word "Master" made Zhuang Jinfu feel suffocated. Yes, she was her master, not anyone else.

Zhang Qiu kept a close eye on Zhuang Jinfu's movements. After all, she was a distinguished guest from the upper realm, so he dared not neglect her. Seeing that the master and disciple both seemed displeased, he kindly came over and asked, "What's wrong?"

She interrupted just in time. Zhuang Jinfu flicked her sleeves and walked away gracefully. "City Lord, to the granary." Zhang Qiu, without suspicion, followed her.

Ling Shu was confused. Why was he angry? Forget it, it was more important to explain things to Zhao Chi. She shouldn't sacrifice anything more for him. She knew perfectly well that Zhao Chi was a rascal; was it really worth sacrificing so much for her? She couldn't afford it.

Ling Shu pleaded earnestly, "Zhao Chi, we are only destined to be friends. I will never like you in this lifetime, so why do you have to make these sacrifices for me?"

Zhao Chiping lay there, not daring to move. The acupuncture needles from the physician were still in her body. She said calmly, "I did it voluntarily. It has nothing to do with you."

"How can it be none of my business? Now everyone knows that you ended up like this because you helped me. I can't be heartless. Seeing you suffer while I sit comfortably in my high position, what kind of person am I?"

Zhao Chi didn't refute, because the doctor had instructed her not to get angry. Having experienced a near-death chase before, she was afraid. She was most afraid of dying. She slowly said, "What? Do you feel guilty towards me?"

Ling Shu really wanted to slap her. Wasn't this moral blackmail? "Hey, Zhao Chi, what you're saying is really annoying."

"..."

"Um."

After saying that, Zhao Chi was like a gemstone that had lost its luster, rough and dull, just like the dark tone of her black clothes. Her eyes were empty as she looked at the curtain, and her face was ashen. Ling Shu had a vague premonition that once she let her go, she would fall into darkness forever.

"Don't you have anything you care about in this world?"

"Yes." Zhao Chi turned his head to look at him. "You."

"But I've never had any feelings for you."

Zhao Chi smiled and said, "I've always known."

Ling Shu looked troubled. She didn't know how to handle this kind of emotional problem. She simply thought that she couldn't let someone continue down the wrong path. She had no intention of hurting him, so she had to be honest, no matter how cruel it was. A white lie might offer temporary comfort, but the moment the lie was exposed would be the most devastating blow. Zhao Chi couldn't take the blow anymore.

Zhao Chi smiled gently: "Does my relationship make things difficult for you? I'm sorry, I only wanted to help you as much as possible. I didn't expect that my current situation would make things so difficult for you. You don't need to feel any burden towards me. Just consider it as a way of repaying the kindness you showed me when I was at my wit's end. That's all."

Ling Shu couldn't bear to see a beautiful woman suffer. She saw Zhuang Jinfu like this, and she saw Zhao Chi like this too. Seeing this, she felt her heart soften again, and her tone softened: "Zhao Chi, you are not allowed to do this again. Don't sacrifice anything for me. It's not good for you."

Zhao Chi: "You're telling me, wouldn't you also go through fire and water for someone you like, and help her without considering the consequences?"

That was right...

"It's my choice, what's it to you?"

"What if it's a Celestial Venerable telling you not to do it?"

"..." I will still do it. But Ling Shu didn't say this aloud. Instead, she said, "Then I won't do it."

Zhao Chi was stunned, and after thinking for a while, he said, "Then I won't be able to do it either." No, she could still do it, she could do it secretly, but she just regretted that she hadn't hidden it well this time and had bad luck in letting Li Chang find out.

Ling Shu seemed to be able to read minds, and laughed, "Don't you dare hide somewhere and help me secretly."

Zhao Chi replied nonchalantly, "How could that be? I value my life."

Ling Shu took it seriously, thinking that this burden was finally lifted, but she was afraid that Zhao Chi would do some kind of stupid deal or something else. She wanted her to stay by her side, thinking that she could keep an eye on her if she could see her. She would ask Li Chang later if she was willing to stay, otherwise the three of them together would be extremely awkward.

"You mean what you say. Don't leave yet. You haven't slept for so many days, I'm really afraid you'll die out there."

Zhao Chi was pleasantly surprised and asked, "Really?"

Ling Shu said to her earnestly, "I'll go find my master and see if I can remove the restrictions on your body."

"No need..." Zhao Chi had barely finished speaking when Ling Shu had already run out. Zhao Chi wondered if it was because his face looked so bad that she was afraid to stay any longer. Thinking about all the nights he had stayed up, it was no wonder his face looked bad. Sigh, he didn't even have the courage to look in the mirror.

Ling Shu feared that if they delayed any longer, Zhao Chi would die, so she hurriedly ran to find Zhuang Jinfu.

Zhuang Jinfu inspected the granary and then the people's houses to see if they were sturdy. Most of the common people's houses were made of mud and brick walls with tiled roofs, which probably couldn't withstand the earth's tremors. Wang Lifu also sent some people over, and Zhuang Jinfu instructed them to draw wall-strengthening talismans and distribute them.

Ling Shu finally found Zhuang Jinfu, who was almost buried in a pile of talismans, among a group of cultivators. "Master, please save Zhao Chi."

Zhuang Jinfu's expression was displeased: "Save her?"

Ling Shu didn't understand what was bothering her, so she ignored it and put on a flattering smile: "Yes, people will die if they don't sleep. She's a poor girl without a mother."

Zhuang Jinfu remained silent, picked up his brush, dipped it in cinnabar, and calmly began writing the talisman that Ling Shu had interrupted halfway through.

Ling Shu realized she had acted rashly and waited patiently for her to finish the last stroke. "She's like this because of me. I'm really afraid she'll do something foolish again. I've kept her here. You're so powerful, please save her, okay?"

"Hmm." Zhuang Jinfu put down his pen and stood up.

"So there really is still hope for her!"

Even now, they're still trying to get information out of her. Zhuang Jinfu: "...Transfer the restrictions within her body to a tree. The tree will remain still and can still help the realm master sleep peacefully. However, this kind of substitution violates the contract between her and the realm master, so we need to inform the realm master and not deceive him."

"Then I'll go and tell them."

"You don't have enough face."

"Then who will go... I'll trouble Master."

"Is 'trouble' enough for me?"

"What does that beautiful, ethereal, and graceful Immortal Venerable Qingxi want me to do?"

Zhuang Jinfu tapped Ling Shu's forehead, and Ling Shu's limbs felt lighter, her body shrank continuously, and she turned into a sleek red fox.

"I don't want to turn into a fox!" How can she get close to Zhuang Jinfu if she turns into a fox? She'll just get a furry paw at him, and she won't be able to hug this fragrant beauty! (Ｔ▽Ｔ)

Zhuang Jinfu's lips curled into a slight smile as he bent down and hugged the fox in his arms, his beautiful hands stroking the fine fox fur.

Hmm...it feels so good.

Ling Shu was held in the arms of her beautiful master, who was soft and fragrant in her embrace. When she opened her eyes, she saw... she saw... Ling Shu almost had a nosebleed.

"Becoming a fox wouldn't be so bad..."

Zhuang Jinfu carried the fox into Zhao Chi's room. Zhao Chi was being served medicine by A Cong, a maid from the city lord's mansion. She was very uncomfortable with it and said, "I can do it myself, I can do it myself." A Cong saw that Zhao Chi's complexion was not good, as if she was terminally ill. She was worried that Zhao Chi would not live much longer and took good care of her.

Without saying a word, Zhuang Jinfu cast a spell to move the restriction within her body to a tree in the courtyard. Zhao Chi asked, "Where is Ling Shu? Immortal Venerable, did you make Ling Shu pay some price..." Before he could finish speaking, the spell to remove the restriction was completed, and Zhao Chi closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

The fox in her arms nuzzled Zhuang Jinfu's shoulder with its head, then raised its head and licked her cheek: "Thank you for saving my friend, Master, you are so kind."

Zhuang Jinfu accepted the praise without any qualms and went to the Tongxuan Secret Realm. The Jade Realm Master of the Tongxuan Secret Realm was an easy-going person and agreed after only a few words. However, the fox in his arms suffered a bit of "torture" from his love.

The Jade Realm Master's eyes lit up when she saw the fox: "Wow! A fox demon! Give Auntie a kiss!!!"

"Immortal Lord! How did you know I like foxes?!"

Zhuang Jinfu let go, allowing the Jade Realm Master to take him in. The fox cub, with a bewildered expression, complained to his master, "Women who like foxes are so scary..."

Zhuang Jinfu chuckled: "Am I scary too?"

——

After returning from the Tongxuan Secret Realm, Zhao Chi was still asleep. Li Chang kept watch over her from time to time. When she did, she would reach under Zhao Chi's nose to check her breathing. Feeling her steady, warm breath, Miss Li breathed a sigh of relief: "She's still alive! She's still alive!"

Zhuang Jinfu is still following up on all aspects of the relocation of people from the city to avoid disaster. The wall-strengthening talismans are still being made and distributed as they are made. Life is the most important thing, but without houses, where will the people live when they return after avoiding disaster?

As soon as the aristocratic families heard the news of the distribution of the wall-strengthening talismans, they rushed to get them. They even used money to lure poor people who were short of money to queue up multiple times to receive them, and then sold them at high prices.

Upon learning of this situation, Zhang Qiu raided several places where people were profiting from the chaos, and changed the distribution method to go door-to-door. This temporarily improved the chaotic atmosphere, but people's hearts were no longer what they used to be, and corruption, bribery, and oppression of the people continued to occur, and chaos persisted. However, she was extremely patient. Despite being overwhelmed with work, she still smiled and said, "Catching one corrupt official is one thing. When it comes to getting things done, it always ends in a rush and amidst disagreements. As long as the result is good, that's good."

Ling Shu hadn't been transformed back into human form by Zhuang Jinfu yet, and she inwardly complained that her master was too wicked. He even took her to the bathroom when she was taking a bath, and then undressed in front of her. Who could resist a beautiful woman taking a bath, especially since this beautiful woman was the one she loved? The fox cub lay on the ground to the side, biting its tail with suppressed resentment, and making "woof woof woof" fox noises.

The person in the bathtub was leisurely soaking in the tub, even taking a nap, completely ignoring the fox's cries. A maid knocked on the door, and Zhuang Jinfu woke up. "Come in," she said, as she entered to bring wine. Ling Shu was still whimpering. The maid asked, "Immortal, your fox keeps crying, is it hungry? Should we take it out to feed it?"

Zhuang Jinfu picked up the glass, drank a glass of grape wine, and said, "No need, I'll feed you."

The maidservant acknowledged and withdrew, recalling what had been in the room. There was no meat there. What was the immortal lord feeding him?