The unrestrained way Bai Yu stared at the Sovereign Lord made it impossible for the latter not to take notice.
Bai Qingyue smiled coldly and flung the fox cub, also known as Bai Yu, straight into a thorny bush.
The former second-in-command expertly somersaulted in the air, shape-shifting into a human form in the process. He narrowly avoided getting his behind pricked by thorns.
The moment Bai Yu was about to sigh in relief, the Sovereign Lord granted him an icy glare, making him hold back his breath.
"Due to your wretched existence, fortune turned sharply in my favour. Thus, I found myself contemplating whether it would be wiser to spare you a trip to the realm of the dead. Do not make me reconsider this benevolence." said Bai Qingyue.
Bai Yu sank to his knees, bowing deeply before the Sovereign Lord. "My Lord is as just as he is wise. This incompetent servant wronged Her Ladyship with his carelessness. Please forgive this servant. It shall not happen again."
"Cease your grovelling. I cannot bother to deal with you while my wife has been left unattended." Bai Qingyue declared icily.
All three of the fox god's subjects looked towards the cabin, blinking in confusion as they thought to themselves, 'Isn't Her Ladyship merely sleeping? What sort of tending does she require?'
"There is one thing this servant wishes to say before My Lord departs." Bai Yu kept bowing, hiding the small smile plastered upon his face.
'His Lordship won't get rid of me. I'm still needed!' he grew thrilled at the prospect. As long as he was needed, he wouldn't be so easily discarded.
"What is it?" Bai Qingyue asked with a gloomy face, the air around him began to prickle with energy.
"The long expected tournament that My Lord has desired for Her Ladyship to participate in will begin today. If you'd allow, this servant will be more than happy to act as your fox spirit disguise once again."
Bai Yu raised his face to steal a peek. Faced with the Sovereign Lord's dangerous gaze, he finished his speech while stuttering. "... S-so that My Lord may stay by Her Ladyship's side as she battles the human cultivators."
Bai Qingyue stood there with his hands behind his back, wearing his black robe elegantly. He didn't say anything in reply. Only his pupils narrowed into slits, catching a sharp glint.
"How could Her Ladyship be expected to battle when she has been preoccupied all night? She must be fatigued!" Xiao An Hua interjected.
"Sister, hold your tongue!" Xiao An Fei hissed, smacking her sister over the back of her head.
"Ouch! Was that really necessary?" Xiao An Hua locked her sister with a scathing glare as they began to bicker.
Bai Qingyue shot the twins a pointed look that silenced them instantly. He turned his back to his subordinates and directed his gaze towards the cabin.
"My wife needs her rest," he said.
"Then, is it alright for Her Ladyship to be disqualified?" inquired Bai Yu.
"I shall go in her stead."
"Oh."
The fox gods stared stupefied at their Sovereign Lord's back, their mouths hanging slightly open.
'How far is His Lordship willing to go for Her Ladyship? She totally has him whipped!'
Bai Qingyue cleared his throat. "Bai Yu, deliver yourself to the Punishment Hall to be crippled a hundred times over. You may return once you have finished repenting."
"Yes, My Lord," said Bai Yu, tasting bitterness in his mouth. It was the lesser evil, he thought, trying to encourage himself. 'It could have been worse. He could have killed me on the spot."
Turning his head to address the fox twin goddesses, Bai Qingyue said, "One of you, stay and attend my wife. The other will go and supervise Bai Yu's punishment."
Xiao An Fei took a step forward and demurely bobbed her head. "It will honour This servant to stay with Her Ladyship."
Suddenly, Li Meirong's soft whisper could be heard from inside the cabin as she called out the Sovereign Lord's fake name.
A human might not have been able to hear such a low sound. But then again, none of the individuals present were, in fact, human.
Bai Qingyue vanished into thin air. All that was left in his spot was a rolling ball of dust.
A few moments later, the three foxes turned to stare at each other, re-learning how to breathe again.
"Well now, you got off lucky." Xiao An Hua smirked at Bai Yu.
"Absolutely," said Bai Yu, scratching the back of his head. He began to fix his loose hair into an unkempt braid. "His Lordship must be in a very good mood today."