Chapter 10: The Tsundere Fox

"Pull out all her fingernails," Xuanyuan Yu said expressionlessly. His tone was so casual and indifferent that everyone present thought they had misheard him.

Watching Hanbing flash toward her, Princess Qingwu trembled and retreated in fear. "How dare you! Do not come any closer, or I shall have my Imperial Father annihilate your Xuanxue Kingdom!" Poor Princess Qingwu had no idea what kind of person she had just offended.

The Xuanxue Kingdom, located in the very center of the Aoshuang Continent, was the most powerful nation on the continent—without equal. Even if the other four kingdoms were to join forces, they might not be able to defeat the Xuanxue Kingdom, let alone a mere Fire Cloud Kingdom. One had to admit, this princess was truly foolish and naive.

Ignoring Qingwu’s threats, Hanbing remained indifferent. Xuanyuan Yu, however, was tending to Nuoxue’s paws with a pained expression. He retrieved a small medicine bottle from his sleeve and sprinkled some powder onto her paws. Nuoxue looked up at him, puzzled. Her paws felt cool and the pain had vanished entirely; before her very eyes, the wounds were healing. How magical! It was almost like the alchemy she had practiced while cultivating immortality.

"It is merely a fox. Does the Fire Cloud Kingdom not have the means to compensate you for it?" The Emperor of Dongyan’s face grew grim. He had not expected Xuanyuan Yu to ruin diplomatic relations with the Fire Cloud Kingdom over a little fox.

Xuanyuan Yu chuckled softly while stroking the little fox, though the smile never reached his eyes. "Oh, is that so? This fox of mine is a heaven-sent celestial beast capable of human speech. Do you truly believe your pathetic Fire Cloud Kingdom could afford such a price?"

Beside him, the little fox nodded in total agreement. That’s right; I am a noble-blooded Nine-Tailed Snow Fox. There is only one of me in this world, let alone in this foreign realm. I possess a bloodline passed down from the ancient era!

Following Xuanyuan Yu’s command without a moment's hesitation, Hanbing moved with lightning speed and plucked out all ten of Qingwu's fingernails. Before the princess even had a chance to scream in pain, she was struck unconscious and tossed onto the ground. Hanbing then used his profound energy to flash back to Xuanyuan Yu’s side.

Nuoxue made a face at Qingwu and turned her backside toward her. That’s what you get for bullying me; now you know the price of crossing me! She then happily hopped onto Xuanyuan Yu’s shoulder, rubbing her face against his neck to act cute. Master, you are the best!

Xuanyuan Yu clearly enjoyed the little fox’s affectionate display; she was growing ever closer to his heart.

The Emperor of Dongyan, his breathing ragged and his face flushed with fury, waved a hand dismissively. "Someone, take the princess away and have the imperial physicians attend to her." She was nothing but a nuisance who failed at everything. By then, Xuanyuan Yu and his entourage had already departed.

"Your Majesty, what should we do now? Must we really follow the princess's words and attack the Xuanxue Kingdom? Our military strength is insufficient to defeat them. Please, Your Majesty, reconsider," pleaded Wang Zhibo, the Prime Minister of the Fire Cloud Kingdom.

The other ministers understood the gravity of the situation and knelt in unison. "Please, Your Majesty, reconsider!" War was never a trivial matter; it would exhaust the people and drain the treasury. If they were to engage in such a conflict, the nation might end up becoming a vassal state to the Xuanxue Kingdom.

"Enough. I have my own plans. You may all leave," the Emperor of Dongyan said, rubbing his temples with an expression of profound exhaustion. A perfectly good marriage alliance had fallen apart over a mere fox. He feared that once word of this spread, the Fire Cloud Kingdom would become a laughingstock. That fox could not be allowed to live. As this thought crossed his mind, his expression grew even darker. With a single strike of his palm, he shattered one of the dragon heads on his throne into dust.

"Prepare the carriage. I fear there will be complications tonight," Xuanyuan Yu said, gazing up at the pitch-black night sky. The once-bright moon was obscured by a blood-red mist, making the night appear increasingly ominous.

"Understood."

Hanbing and Lieyan vanished in a flicker.