After hearing Zhang Nu’s words, Liu Hai and Zhao Yang naturally nodded. They both understood clearly who mattered more to them—Ling Xi or Patron Fu. Ling Xi was their companion, while Patron Fu was just a temporary acquaintance.
“Don’t worry, Zhang Nu. Don’t you know us by now? We’ll keep this matter thoroughly under wraps.”
Only then did Zhang Nu breathe a sigh of relief and nod. He turned and opened the door.
Just as expected, standing outside were the furious Patron Fu and Madam Fu. Madam Fu still seemed deeply disturbed by her encounter with Ling Xi, hiding behind Patron Fu and refusing to come forward.
Zhang Nu had no idea how to explain things to them, so he decided to play dumb. “Patron Fu, Madam Fu, what brings you here? Did something happen?”
The moment Madam Fu heard this, she knew he was feigning ignorance. Zhang Nu and Ling Xi were companions—how could he not know Ling Xi was a YaoGuai?
“Ling Xi is a YaoGuai—don’t tell me you didn’t know? Are you still pretending? How many YaoGuais are among you? Why have you YaoGuais come to the Fu residence at all?”
Zhang Nu’s gaze turned sharp as he looked at her.
“Madam Fu, you can’t say things like that. How are all of us YaoGuais now? If you don’t have evidence, don’t make baseless accusations. And besides, weren’t we helping you just this morning? Why the sudden shift? Why are you trying to turn against us now?”
Madam Fu realized Zhang Nu likely had meant to help them earlier. But, Ling Xi being a YaoGuai—that much was undeniably true. She had personally confirmed it.
“Ling Xi is a YaoGuai. Are you really planning to keep covering for her? If you weren’t YaoGuais, too, why would you be traveling with one? What are your intentions?”
Zhang Nu could tell that Madam Fu was acting out of pure fear. Trying to reason with her now would be pointless—she wouldn’t hear a word of it. Instead, it would be better to address Patron Fu directly.
“Patron Fu, are you really going to let your wife interrogate us like this? Surely you remember the reason we met in the first place—don’t you know the truth in your heart?”
Patron Fu looked conflicted. He did believe that Zhang Nu and the others were human. They’d never done anything suspicious, and everything seemed to support their goodwill.
Perhaps all this was just Madam Fu’s own misunderstanding.
“My dear, calm down. Let’s sit and talk this through.”
“There may be some misunderstanding here. Zhang Nu and the others are skilled cultivators—they’ve never done anything to harm us.”
But as soon as she heard that, Madam Fu shot a sharp glare at her husband. “You’re taking their side now? You don’t believe me?”
“Where is Ling Xi? Bring her out right now. I’ll show you with your own eyes what she really is!”
Zhang Nu didn’t bother trying to deny it. What would be the point? Madam Fu was too caught up in fear and hatred to let it go.
Instead of wasting time arguing, he might as well tell the truth. It wasn’t like Ling Xi had ever done anything evil.
“There’s no need. Ling Xi is a YaoGuai. She’s a nine-tailed fox spirit, and after years of cultivation, she’s on the path to becoming an immortal.”
Madam Fu’s face twisted as she turned to glare at her husband. “See? I told you! Ling Xi is a YaoGuai—why didn’t you believe me? If she’s a YaoGuai, then why are you all consorting with her?!”
Zhang Nu cut her off before she could say more. “Madam Fu, please calm down. Let me explain.”
“Ling Xi has never done anything evil. She’s always walked the path of justice alongside us. And even though she’s a YaoGuai, she’s never wavered from her beliefs. Sometimes, Ling Xi is more upright than many humans. She sees the world more clearly and acts more righteously than most people I know.”
Madam Fu fell silent at that.
Maybe—just maybe—things really were as Zhang Nu said. But she didn’t want to understand it. Her heart was filled with hatred toward YaoGuais. If not for YaoGuais, her father wouldn’t have died.
She knew Ling Xi had done nothing wrong. But she simply couldn’t stand the idea of a YaoGuai living in this world.