Let me Touch your Tail

Chapter 173

Her heart skipped a heavy beat, then quickly picked up pace.
Blood surged rapidly, flowing through her entire body in mere moments.

Ren Qingyue locked eyes with Yan Zhao for a brief moment, her mind going completely blank. Yan Zhao's sudden appearance caught her completely off guard. Although she had sensed it before, now that they were face-to-face, Ren Qingyue still found it absurd.
Why on earth did Yan Zhao come to Qingqiu?

Despite her confusion, deep down, she couldn't suppress the joy that bubbled up, or rather, the thrill.
"Get inside quickly!" Ren Qingyue snapped back to reality. Her first instinct was to prevent Yan Zhao from being discovered by the Fox Queen, so she hurriedly ushered her inside. "Close the window!"

Yan Zhao obeyed, flipping through the window and into the room. Ren Qingyue brushed past her and swiftly shut the window. At the same time, with a flick of her wrist, she pulled out several soundproofing talismans and stuck them onto the door and windows.
Once the room was sealed, Ren Qingyue turned to face Yan Zhao.

Seeing her standing calmly in the center of the room, looking perfectly at ease, Ren Qingyue still felt a lingering sense of unease. "Why did you come here?" she asked.

"To see you, Senior Sister," Yan Zhao replied.

Ren Qingyue took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She spoke as evenly as possible, "Didn't I ask you to return to the sect with Master Yaoshenzi?"

Yan Zhao's eyes darted around as she recalled the excuse Yaoshenzi had instructed her to give. "It was Master who brought me here."

"Master Yaoshenzi?" Ren Qingyue was utterly surprised. "Why would he bring you to Qingqiu?"

Yan Zhao then relayed to Ren Qingyue that Yaoshenzi had been concerned about potential troubles caused by the Fox Emperor and others during the journey, so he had brought her along to secretly escort them.

Ren Qingyue was both startled and touched. "So that's why."

How could she possibly scold her now?
Yet, Yan Zhao had sneaked into the demon palace to be by her side. What if the Fox Queen found out and misunderstood? What would they do then?
Ren Qingyue pressed Yan Zhao, "If that's the case, where is Master Yaoshenzi now?"

Yan Zhao blinked. "I don't know."

"You don't know?"

Yan Zhao answered honestly, "After Master sent me to the demon palace, he left."

Ren Qingyue: "..."

She knew better than to expect anything from either this master or his disciple!

Far away in the night, Yaoshenzi sneezed loudly.
"Who's cursing me?"

He muttered as he rubbed his nose, but didn't pay it much mind.
After brushing some dust off his sleeve, he turned to leave, glancing back one last time.
His work here was done, and he would disappear with his deeds left unsung.

"Dear disciple, this is as far as I can help you," he murmured to himself.

In the side hall of Qingyao Palace, Ren Qingyue and Yan Zhao stood facing each other in awkward silence.
There was no way out of this situation now.
With Yaoshenzi gone, she had no chance of sneaking Yan Zhao out of the demon palace unnoticed.
The only option left was to let Yan Zhao stay for the night. Tomorrow, Ren Qingyue would take her to see the Fox Queen and apologize for everything.

Rubbing her temples in frustration, Ren Qingyue realized she wasn't ready to see Yan Zhao again.
Though it had only been six months since their separation, she had thought of Yan Zhao every day. When she saw two women kissing in the streets of Fox City earlier that day, it stirred her heart in a way that made her recognize that her long-buried feelings had only grown stronger.