Jiu Yuanqing stood calmly atop the tree with a cold expression.

He still had the face of a middle-aged man, but the otherworldly and dignified demeanor he exuded was different from the ones he had shown to Yin Huan on previous occasions.

His indifferent and aloof face resembled that of a sage untouched by worldly affairs, utterly calm and serene. His unfathomable pupils were like a deep-sea cavern, looking down upon everything.

It was deathly silent, without a single ripple.

Seeing the matchmaker launch an attack, he closed his eyes slightly, snorted coldly, and swept his long arm lightly. The golden light floating on the ground suddenly flashed, and a net of golden light suddenly surged out of the ground, instantly blocking the matchmaker's attack.

"Ah—" The matchmaker had just placed her hands on the golden net when she suddenly let out a roar. Her sharp claws were instantly scorched black by the burning heat of the golden net.

The matchmaker let out a painful roar and abruptly withdrew both hands.

She looked up and stared directly at the person at the top of the tree: "Who are you?"

Her voice was ethereal and elusive, emanating from all directions, carrying a captivating allure. Even at this moment, the matchmaker was still employing the innate charm of a vixen.

It must be said that the matchmaker's charm was profound; every word she uttered carried an irresistible magic.

Jiu Yuanqing raised his eyes and said coldly, "Unrepentant."

A soft hum instantly dispelled the seductive, enchanting sounds in her ears.

"retreat."

With a deep shout, Jiu Yuanqing uttered the word "retreat," which suddenly shot out from his chest. Then, as if on command, the word "retreat" rushed towards Hong Niang.

The matchmaker's eyes widened, and a look of panic flashed across her charming face. She turned and ran away.

But the word "retreat" behind them seemed to have eyes, whipping up a whirlwind and relentlessly pursuing them. A moment later, a chilling scream suddenly rang out from the bushes, echoing through the night sky.

The agonizing cries echoed in the moonlight, and after a while, silence returned.

Jiu Yuanqing stared straight ahead at the end of the road, and only after the commotion there had completely disappeared did he leap down from the treetop.

He frowned, stared ahead for a while, then waved his hand to wipe away the golden marks on the ground before turning around and heading towards the city.

His high popularity vanished the moment he turned around, and even his walking posture inexplicably became down-to-earth.

Jiu Yuanqing wiped his forehead twice, as if he was feeling worried, his sword-like eyebrows furrowed, and he sighed.

Ugh, I'm so tired.

Why does Nv Hui have to catch foxes for no reason? She beats the young one, and now the old one is coming... She's just naturally prone to getting into trouble. Can't she just stay put and go back to the deep mountains and forests to settle down?

This time, it was fortunate that he noticed something was wrong in advance. If he hadn't been there, Nv Hui would definitely have been in big trouble today.

This matchmaker, despite having only seven tails, is far more powerful than a genuine nine-tailed fox. This wicked fox fell into the demon's lair more than two thousand years ago, becoming a true demon, ruthless and incredibly evil.

But it's strange. Wasn't this vixen supposed to be sealed away under a Buddhist temple by the Zhenyi Sect? How did she escape? Not only did she escape, but she even brought out a whole litter of fox cubs and offspring.

Forget it, these things are not his concern. He just needs to take good care of Nv Hui.

Going back to the point, what exactly did Tengshe extract from Nuwa's blood essence, and why was the reborn Nuwa so unruly?

Completely baffled. We can only find out what's going on when Tengshe appears.

As Jiu Yuanqing returned to the city, crows cawed in the quiet woods. Under the gloomy shade of the trees, black mist suddenly spread, and then a fiery red seven-tailed fox appeared out of thin air on the ground.

The fox trembled, her chest rising and falling slowly. After a moment, her eyes snapped open, and she sprang to her feet. She glanced at the end of the night, and seeing no movement ahead, she revealed her human form.

The matchmaker leaned against a tree with one hand, rubbing her chest and exhaling slowly.

After the pain in his chest subsided, he said viciously, "Damn it, they ruined my substitute."

The matchmaker was furious. Over a thousand years, she had only managed to create three substitutes, but today, in a single encounter, without even a chance to fight, one of them was destroyed.

However, although the substitute was destroyed, she was secretly relieved that she had a substitute. If it weren't for the substitute taking the hit for her, she would probably have been annihilated.

The matchmaker gently closed her eyes, a thoughtful look flashing in them.

Words speak louder than words... Who exactly is this villain? I've never heard of him in the underworld before.

After weighing her options, the matchmaker decisively abandoned her hatred and prepared to heal her wounds first. The little fox's life force was still intact, so it should be out of immediate danger. They could discuss other matters after the wounds healed.

——

The city at night is colorful, with dazzling neon lights adorning the entire city. People seem to have poured out of their homes, and the sidewalks are crowded with pedestrians.

The summer heat was intense, even at night the air was thick with heat. On the bustling street, Silver Ring waddled slowly forward, swishing its tail, its round eyes curiously looking around.

Going back to the point, this was the first time Silver Ring had experienced a city night since her tribulation. The city's nightlife made Silver Ring slightly uneasy.

While there were many people on the street during the day, there wasn't a crowd like this at night. Yin Huan seriously suspected that city dwellers had reversed their daytime and nighttime attire.

Walking down a small street, Silver Ring's nose twitched, her eyes suddenly widened, and her tail tip turned, instinctively heading towards the fragrance wafting in the air.

"Ahui, what smells so good?" Yinhuan sniffed and craned her neck to look ahead.

"barbecue."

Ah Hui followed closely behind Yin Huan. Whenever Yin Huan stopped to look around, he would curiously lower his head and peek under her skirt, which almost dragged on the ground. He wanted to see where she had hidden her tail. How could he not see it at all while she was walking?

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