Chapter 374: Chapter 374 - 373: Favoritism

Yan Ran was previously somewhat arrogant in her words and actions, and everyone was already displeased with her.

However, because she was female, and females were precious, even though they disliked her, no one would say anything.

Only females would openly challenge other females.

But if Yan Ran showed disrespect towards the Beast God, she would be ostracized by all the clansmen, and could even be expelled from the Fire Fox Clan.

Su Muyao, now having become Yan Ran, naturally understood the clan’s rules.

Su Muyao smiled lightly and said, "Naturally, I shall dance."

Since she was now Yan Ran, she had to adhere to the rules of the Fire Fox Clan.

Su Muyao lifted her skirt and stepped onto the open space beside the bonfire.

She tapped the ground with her toes, stretched her arms, and began to dance.

She wore Bone Bells on her hands, which at that moment emitted a gentle chime, a clear and bright sound accompanying her movements.

As she twirled, the bonfire reflected on her skirt seemed to ignite a flame, spinning with fiery brilliance.

Her waist was as flexible as if wrapped in moonlight, and as her arms extended, the Bone Bells emanated a clear sound that overshadowed the crackling of the bonfire.

The Fire Fox Clan Beastmen stared in amazement at Yan Ran’s dance moves; they had never seen her dance like this before and felt it was incredibly beautiful.

They held their breath, watching her toes step on the edge of the bonfire with each step seemingly treading on flowing flames, as if she was weaving the starry sky into her dance steps, so lively and dazzling.

At this moment, Sang Yao watched her, momentarily dazed, as something repressed in his heart seemed to break through its shackles.

The Fox King’s fox eyes seemed to ripple deeply, and no one knew his emotions at this moment.

He simply watched her quietly, as if through her, he saw some images from the river of time.

If his peach blossom bonds were with her, he wouldn’t resist.

It’s just that some things must ultimately be experienced; it is the arrangement of fate.

No one can interfere.

On the last spin, she stopped her dance, raised her brows, and looked at Cui Shan, saying, "Cousin, you asked me to dance, and I did."

At this moment, a jealous look flashed in Cui Shan’s eyes.

She hadn’t expected Yan Ran to dance so well; she had thought she was the best dancer, but Yan Ran had surpassed her, leaving her unwilling to accept it.

Moreover, she had originally calculated everything so that Yan Ran would fall into the valley and die while picking wild fruits, yet she unexpectedly survived.

Cui Shan turned to look at Lin Ye beside her, only to see Lin Ye gazing at Yan Ran with bright eyes.

With a spiteful look in her eyes, Cui Shan stared at Yan Ran and said, "No, you’re not Yan Ran. Yan Ran was not like this before; you must be an imposter."

Cui Shan now, out of jealousy, wanted to make things difficult for Yan Ran.

In the past, just a bit of provocation would drive Yan Ran insane.

Su Muyao, however, was not the previous Yan Ran, a brainless fool who would go mad at a few provocation words.

She folded her arms, raised an eyebrow at Cui Shan, and said, "Oh? Cousin, why do you say that?"

"I practiced day and night for today’s ritual dance, my Beast Husband can testify for me."

"What’s wrong, my cousin can’t handle being outdone by me."

"Cousin says I am an impostor, what evidence do you have?"

"Don’t forget the Fox King is here, don’t expect you can defame me at will."

Su Muyao leisurely looked at Cui Shan, then glanced at Lin Ye beside her.

She realized Lin Ye was staring at her with infatuated eyes, which made Su Muyao very uncomfortable.

The previous Yan Ran liked Lin Ye, but she did not.

She wished to leave here as soon as possible.

Upon hearing the words "Fox King," Cui Shan shuddered a bit and looked towards the Fox King, saying, "Ancestor, I didn’t wrongfully accuse her; she’s different from before, like she’s possessed."

The Fox King’s pressure subtly released, and just a touch of it was unbearable for Cui Shan.

With a "bang," she fell to her knees.

"Ancestor!"

Cui Shan exclaimed in shock, somewhat apprehensive.

Fear gushed out from her bones.

Afraid that just an anger from the ancestor would bring death.

Cui Shan’s parents hurriedly knelt down to plead for her, "Please, Ancestor, calm your anger, it was our fault for inadequate guidance."

Cui Shan’s mother gave her a slap on the head, "How dare you disrespect the Ancestor."

To dare to spout nonsense at such a moment, it was all because she was spoiled by them.

They knew Cui Shan had never gotten along well with Yan Ran since childhood, especially when it came to matters involving Lin Ye, and this could often lead to fights between the two cousins.

"Hurry and kowtow to the Ancestor."

Cui Shan turned pale from fright and repeatedly kowtowed.

The Fox King’s tail gently moved, and a force directly fell on Cui Shan.

"Ah..."

Cui Shan screamed out in pain as all her abilities, including spiritual power, were entirely abolished.

She was now reduced to nothing.

All the Fox Clan members’ faces changed drastically, unable to believe the scene before them.

Clan disputes, even among females, usually went unchecked by the ancestor, but today, why did he intervene?

Could it be because during the ritual today, the ancestor felt Cui Shan was too arrogant?

The Fox King calmly said, "Cui Shan, you harmed a fellow female, pushing her off a cliff, thus punished; do you accept?"

Cui Shan shivered, only now realizing that the ancestor knew about her harming Yan Ran.

Even if the ancestor was in seclusion, with his abilities, he could know everything.

Cui Shan murmured, "I’m sorry, Ancestor, I was wrong, please spare my life."

Cui Shan was now reverted to her true body, lay helplessly on the ground, her voice weakened to the extreme.

Yet she continued to beg for mercy in terror.

Lin Ye then withdrew his gaze from Yan Ran, but he felt the ancestor’s gaze sweep over him as a warning.

Lin Ye had to gather all his thoughts.

"You and Lin Ye are to be confined for a month, not allowed to step out of your rooms."

"Yes."

Su Muyao looked up at the Fox King; she could sense he was protecting her, and even favoring her.

This feeling stirred her spirit.

It felt as if punishing them was to serve herself.

Also, a month would be entirely sufficient, by then she should have already left this world.

...

After the ritual ceremony, the Fox King departed again to resume his seclusion, and Su Muyao and Sang Yao returned to their own dwelling.

Sang Yao didn’t rest but began weaving.

Su Muyao looked at him and said, "Sang Yao, aren’t you tired? It’s already late, get some rest."

Sang Yao replied, "I’m not tired, I want to finish weaving this cloth."

He wanted to use the silk he produced to weave fabric and make garments for her, his silk was invulnerable, able to provide protection.

She was so kind to him; he felt he had nothing to offer her but wanted to do this.

Su Muyao listened to the weaving machine’s sound, examined it, and then used a charcoal pencil on wood to draw a redesigned weaving machine beside it.

"Sang Yao, look, I’ve redesigned the weaving machine; this model will increase efficiency and speed."

Sang Yao, having tirelessly produced and woven silk, seemed pitiful to Su Muyao, so she thought of making things easier for him.

Perhaps due to his Golden Silkworm heritage, the silk he produced was extremely precious, hence his daily silk output was not much.

Fortunately, over the past month, she had nursed his physical health well.

Sang Yao looked at the weaving machine drawn on the board; just one look, and he knew it was better.

His heart seemed to ripple again as he looked deeply at Su Muyao.

He didn’t know what she was exactly like, could only imagine her through her gaze.

So gentle and beautiful she seemed, often making him feel she was like the Beast God incarnate, beyond an earthly Beastman.

"What’s wrong, is there something on my face?"

"No, it’s just that Wife, you seem to have many secrets."

Before, it was reluctantly that he called Yan Ran "wife," but now he willingly addressed her.

It was as if an uncontrollable crush that he dared not express openly.