The Aloof Immortal Venerable is Pregnant with My Fox Cub - Chapter 86

Chapter 86

The sky was faintly lit, and a gentle autumn rain was falling as Cang Ran and Huazhao left the city. There were few pedestrians on the road.

The rain was fine as silk, and the autumn chill was setting in. Now that Cang Ran had calmed down, despite having news of the spiritual medicine, she was genuinely worried about Tan Qingxuan and the cub. She didn’t want to leave with Huazhao so quickly.

Cang Ran stopped, turned her head, and said, “I want to go back and find Qingqing first.”

Huazhao held onto her arm tightly, “You can’t go to her. Venerable Qingxuan has profound cultivation. She knows I have a grudge with her junior sister and will definitely not spare me.”

Cang Ran frowned, “I told her I wouldn’t let her kill you.”

Huazhao hooked her arm over Cang Ran’s shoulder, “Why are you always so trusting of human cultivators? Does she mean she won’t kill you just because she said so? You have no idea how terrifying she is and how many demons she has slain with her sword.”

Cang Ran said earnestly, “She is inherently a very good person, not as scary as you think, and she is very reasonable.”

Huazhao got goosebumps all over. When Tan Qingxuan was two hundred years old, she went out from the Grand Mystic Sect for training and killed the Giant Tiger King who was causing havoc in the human world with one sword stroke. All the tiger clan members who had taken human lives were purged.

The Blood Mist Lion, the number one demon at the time, tried to take revenge for the Giant Tiger King but was also killed by Tan Qingxuan and forced to retreat to the Demon World, never daring to leave again.

In less than three years, Tan Qingxuan became famous in the cultivation world, rightfully earning the title “Venerable Qingxuan.” Later, the demonic forces also tried to blunt her sharp edge but were severely wounded by Tan Qingxuan, who single-handedly defeated ten of their great protectors. For all these years, just one Tan Qingxuan was enough to keep both the demon and demonic races gasping for breath day and night.

Such a person, who could be called the darling of the Heavenly Dao, still hadn’t ascended after five hundred years. Wasn’t that terrifying enough?

Huazhao was silent for a long time before finally spitting out a sentence, “You can’t relax your guard just because you’ve slept with her. She is far more terrifying than you imagine. If she wants to kill you, a hundred of you wouldn’t be her match.”

Cang Ran said firmly, “She won’t kill me. I need to go back and find Qingqing. After I explain things to her, I’ll go to the Ancient Demon Emperor’s relic with you.”

Huazhao held onto her while suspiciously checking her pulse, “Did Tan Qingxuan cast a love curse on you? Why are you so devoted to her?”

Cang Ran insisted, “No curse. I just like her.”

Huazhao finished checking her pulse and indeed found no love curse. She was speechless. Tan Qingxuan is really something! She was so good at dual cultivation, too. Cang Ran was completely smitten and couldn’t bear to be apart from her all day.

She was used to it, though. From the moment she first met Cang Ran, Cang Ran had been like this: always thinking about Qingqing, either writing letters to her or being sad that she didn’t write back.

Huazhao had no choice but to instruct her, “Then you can only tell her that you are going to retrieve the Red Moon Sacred Orchid. You absolutely cannot tell her you are with me, and you cannot let her follow you.”

Cang Ran agreed readily, “Okay.”

Huazhao was about to give Cang Ran other instructions when she suddenly felt a cold, sharp light flash past. With a “clash,” a long sword was drawn, and its sword energy struck right at Huazhao’s face, sending a chill from head to toe down her spine.

Several newly grown, snow-white down feathers were struck down by the sword energy. Huazhao avoided the attack, pulled out her crane bone flute, and placed her lips on the cold flute, preparing to play the soul-chilling, mind-stealing melody.

Cang Ran placed one hand on Huazhao’s crane bone flute, met Tan Qingxuan’s ink-black eyes that shone like cold stars, and shielded Tan Qingxuan. She turned and said, “Stop fighting, Huazhao. Venerable has come for me. I need to talk to her.”

Huazhao knew she couldn’t beat Tan Qingxuan either. She put away her crane bone flute, the hem of her skirt shredded in several places by the sword energy. She looked gloomily at her lost feathers and waved her hand, “Hurry up and talk.”

Tan Qingxuan put away her long sword, her robes billowing. She had originally thought Cang Ran was being coerced and had to leave her. She had rushed all the way, only to see the two demons involved with each other again. Cang Ran was not injured, and there wasn’t a hint of reluctance on her face.

Tan Qingxuan gave Cang Ran a cold glance, turned around, and walked away.

Cang Ran quickly chased after her, hugging Tan Qingxuan from behind and wrapping her arms around Tan Qingxuan’s waist, “Where are you going?”

Tan Qingxuan pushed Cang Ran’s hands away and said faintly, “Back to the Grand Mystic Sect.”

Cang Ran clung to her again, preventing her from leaving so quickly, “Are you going back alone? Where are Elder Qu and the others? Why didn’t they come with you?”

Tan Qingxuan’s long, thick eyelashes were damp with raindrops. Her expression grew colder, and she didn’t reply to Cang Ran for a moment.

It was still raining outside. Cang Ran noticed Tan Qingxuan’s clothes were soaked with the icy rain and hurriedly pulled Tan Qingxuan under the eaves of the city wall to take shelter. She then used spiritual energy to dry Tan Qingxuan’s clothes.

The tightly falling raindrops hit the small puddles at their feet, making a dull sound, which made her feel as tangled as a ball of yarn.

Seeing Tan Qingxuan’s expression growing colder, Cang Ran quickly whispered an explanation, “Huazhao told me there’s an Ancient Demon Emperor’s relic where I can get the Red Moon Sacred Orchid. She was afraid you’d kill her, so she wouldn’t let me tell you. But I was just about to go back and tell you. I didn’t expect you to arrive so quickly.”

Tan Qingxuan looked at Cang Ran’s fox ears, which were wet with rain and drooping like a dejected puppy. Her expression remained somewhat aloof, “I shouldn’t have come?”

Cang Ran quickly shook her head, her clear eyes filled with nervousness, “It’s my fault.”

Tan Qingxuan’s eyelashes fluttered twice. Remembering that Cang Ran had also planned to leave without saying goodbye last time, her lips tightened even more. She didn’t respond to Cang Ran’s words.

Cang Ran clenched her fingers inside her sleeve and anxiously admitted her mistake, “Next time, I will definitely tell you first. This situation was a bit special. Please go back to the Grand Mystic Sect first. You still have the cub in your belly. I will come back once I’m done.”

Tan Qingxuan now wished Cang Ran was still the timid little fox she was before, instead of being so audacious, daring to venture out alone everywhere.

Before they had a child, she didn’t mind if Cang Ran was reckless; she could handle the consequences for her. But now they had a child, and the child hadn’t even been born. Cang Ran was going to such a dangerous place. If she came back alive, it would be fine, but if she died, would she have to raise the little fox cub alone?

If the little fox cub grew up later and asked where its fox mother went, and what its fox mother looked like, how should she answer the child? By relying on paintings for remembrance?

A flicker of disappointment crossed Tan Qingxuan’s eyes. She lowered her gaze and said, “Do you no longer want me and the cub?”

Cang Ran immediately said anxiously, “No, Qingqing. I want you and the cub to be well.”

Tan Qingxuan fixed her eyes on her, “The Ancient Demon Emperor’s relic. Relying on you and that bird demon, how many lives do you think you have to survive?”

But she couldn’t let Tan Qingxuan join her in danger either. Cang Ran bit her lip and said, “I should be able to handle it. Don’t worry, I will come back alive.”

Cang Ran trembled when facing her, yet repeatedly snatched survival from the jaws of death. Does this fox really think she can manage again? How long had it been since the burn wounds on her tail and hands healed? Now she had forgotten the pain again.

Tan Qingxuan asked, “What if you can’t? What will happen to me and the cub?”

Cang Ran hesitated for a long time. What if she couldn’t come back alive?

She couldn’t be this lucky every time. It was impossible for all the good things in the world to happen to her. The fact that she could meet a beautiful wife and have a cub was already better than many people in this world. She had no regrets.

Tears welled up in Cang Ran’s eyes. She lowered her head and said, “I will come back alive. If I can’t, then just pretend you never met me. The cub doesn’t need to know it had such a useless mother.”

Cultivators can live for a long time. Tan Qingxuan hadn’t been with her for long. She probably wouldn’t love her that deeply. Compared to Tan Qingxuan’s hundreds of years of cultivation, she hadn’t even occupied a year of her time. How deep could the feelings be? She would be forgotten quickly.

Their cub couldn’t go without that medicine. If the cub’s development was poor and it was born frail and sickly, unable to compare to ordinary children, she wouldn’t be worthy of being the child’s mother.

Tan Qingxuan had intended to dispel Cang Ran’s thoughts, but she never expected Cang Ran to say such heartless words—to pretend she had never met her. How could Cang Ran say such a thing so easily?

A stagnant pain arose in Tan Qingxuan’s chest. Her eyelashes trembled, “You intruded into my karma. You were the one who saved me, who wanted to dual cultivate with me, and who made me pregnant with your child. Doesn’t saying such a thing now feel too late?”

Cang Ran felt even more remorseful, “But I truly like you. I’m sorry. I didn’t know I would make you pregnant with the cub. I wish I was the one carrying the cub.”

Tan Qingxuan slightly frowned and pulled Cang Ran into her embrace, “And now? Do you think I don’t love you enough?”

Cang Ran hesitated for a second, then immediately shook her head, “No.”

Tan Qingxuan saw the hesitation in her eyes and sighed softly in her heart, “That’s what you think deep down. You can just say it without hesitation. I remember you asked me if I also liked you. I said yes then, and it is still yes today.”

Cang Ran stared blankly at Tan Qingxuan. She hadn’t expected Tan Qingxuan to choose her so resolutely.

Tan Qingxuan gently stroked her cheek, her eyes tender, “I don’t often say I like you, not because I don’t like you, but because I believe feelings should be in the heart, not necessarily on the lips. Is it because I’ve been neglectful in expressing it that you feel insecure, right?”

Tears misted Cang Ran’s eyes, “I’m sorry, Qingqing. I always feel like I’m not important to you. Maybe without me, you could live a better life.”

Tan Qingxuan held Cang Ran tightly and said dearly, “You are more important to me than anyone else. You are not dispensable. No one can replace you. You must discuss things with me when something happens. You have me and the cub now. You must think thrice before acting.”

Cang Ran inhaled Tan Qingxuan’s clean, faint sandalwood scent. Never had she felt more secure than at this moment. All her uncertainties, self-deprecation, and sadness were firmly held by someone. It turned out there really was someone in this world who loved her so tolerantly.

Cang Ran wiped away her tears and held Tan Qingxuan’s hand, “Qingqing, let’s go together then.”

Her beloved fox is only two hundred years old. It might take a while longer for her to truly mature. She still needs to take better care of her.

Tan Qingxuan gently used her fingertips to wipe away the tears that hadn’t fallen from Cang Ran’s eyes. Her cool voice was very gentle, “Mhm, don’t cry.”

Cang Ran felt like she was being babied by this tone. She had previously thought Tan Qingxuan would definitely not be good at taking care of a child, but now she realized Tan Qingxuan was quite adept at it. She herself was turning into the useless mother.

Cang Ran’s cheeks flushed. She held Tan Qingxuan’s wrist, not letting Tan Qingxuan wipe for her, “I’ll wipe it myself a couple more times. Don’t use that tone to coax me. I’m not a baby.”

A smile rippled in Tan Qingxuan’s eyes, “You’re the Fox Great King.”

The blush on Cang Ran’s cheeks instantly darted to the tips of her ears, burning hot enough to steam. Her eyes were slightly evasive, “Let’s go find the little bird demon.”

Huazhao, who was leaning against the other side of the city wall, was nearly asleep. She had thought she only had to wait for a moment, but the two of them kept dragging on, never-ending. Tan Qingxuan had even set up a sound-insulating array within three feet of herself, so she couldn’t hear anything.

Rainy days naturally made the little bird sleepy. She couldn’t help but transform into her bird form and tuck her head in to sleep.

When she woke up groggily, Cang Ran and Tan Qingxuan were standing in front of her. Cang Ran patted her bird wings, “Let’s go. We’ll go together. I’ve told Venerable, and she won’t kill you.”

Huazhao woke up and felt like the world was changing. Standing in front of her, the two of them made the bird feel a little scared.

Tan Qingxuan held the Divine Sword, which emanated cold light, in her hand. She looked very much like someone who would kill a bird.

Wait a minute, the Divine Sword! Didn’t the fox retrieve this Divine Sword from the Divine Sword Tomb secret realm? Did she just give it to Tan Qingxuan?

What a disappointment! The lovesick fox demon couldn’t hold onto a single bit of good fortune she gained. She gave everything to Tan Qingxuan.

Seeing the little fat chick not moving, Cang Ran couldn’t help but poke her with a finger, “Why aren’t you awake yet? Wake up quickly.”

Huazhao spread her wings and pecked Cang Ran’s hand twice. She transformed back into her human form, brushed off the silk shawl on her brocade dress, and stayed further away from Tan Qingxuan. She tentatively asked, “We are going to the Demon World. Does Venerable really want to come with us?”

Tan Qingxuan slightly nodded, “Mhm, I’ll go with A’ran.”

Huazhao was quite helpless, “The items in the Ancient Demon Emperor’s relic are meant for demons. There’s nothing suitable for the Immortal Sects.”

Cang Ran took over the conversation and said directly, “Venerable and I are only taking the Red Moon Sacred Orchid. No one is competing with you for anything else. Stop testing us. We’ll leave once we take it.”

Huazhao was delighted inside but said cheerfully on the surface, “Oh, we are just taking what we need, after all. Ran Ran and I are good friends. If Venerable is interested, please come along. I’ve always had no objections. If we encounter danger, we’ll have to rely on Venerable for rescue.”

Cang Ran had never seen a bird change its tune so quickly. Before, she had said not to tell Tan Qingxuan. Now, she was flip-flopping too fast. If Cang Ran hadn’t explained herself quickly enough, the little bird would have almost twisted the truth, making it seem like Cang Ran had deliberately kept Tan Qingxuan from going.

Cang Ran couldn’t help but transmit her thoughts to Huazhao, “You naughty little bird.”

Huazhao transmitted back, “The feeling is mutual.” The bad fox insisted on bringing an outsider. Couldn’t she change her tune to trick her a little?

Huazhao said to the two of them, “The Ancient Demon Emperor’s relic is in the Penglai Mountain Range. For Venerable to enter the Demon World, she needs to conceal her presence, and the Divine Sword must be hidden, too. Otherwise, it might be troublesome if other demons discover it.”

Concealing her aura was very simple for Tan Qingxuan. When she was in the Azure Wave Mountain Range, where Cang Ran was, she had disguised herself as a mortal. It was difficult for demons to distinguish whether she was a cultivator, so the chances of being discovered would be much lower.

After Tan Qingxuan nodded in agreement, Huazhao led the two of them to the teleportation array leading to the Penglai Mountain Range. The teleportation array was under an ancient vine tree. Dense vines hung down, obscuring the array below.

Huazhao shook her wings, fanning the dust off the mechanism on the side. After filling it with a large bag full of top-grade spirit stones, the teleportation array mechanism slowly began to operate.

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