Chapter 80: When the Upper Beam Is Crooked, the Lower Beam Is Slanted—Two Clans’ Protection

“Do you think wailing and making a scene will solve anything? Hurry up and contact your chieftain!”

As soon as the words fell, the minds of the wolf clan members seemed to shrink with dread. Had they misheard? This young man was telling them to contact their chieftain. Wasn’t this the sort of situation where the witnesses should be silenced, a cover-up arranged, all to make it look like nothing happened? This didn’t follow the usual script at all.

“Uh, sir, if I’m not mistaken, are you telling us to contact the chieftain and report this matter?” one of the Silver Moon Wolf Clan members asked cautiously. They couldn’t just die without understanding why, could they?

“What else?” Ling Tian shrugged, his reply light and unconcerned.

Hearing this confirmation, the wolf clan members hesitated no longer and began to contact their clan:

“Waaah, something terrible has happened! The Sixth Young Lord has been killed!”

“Yes, it’s horrible, he died with his eyes open—tell the chieftain at once, we’re at the Fox Clan’s place!”

“That’s right, hurry!”

The members of the Fox Clan, witnessing this, were quite unsettled. What in the world was going on? Was this human youth trying to shift the blame, or was he an agent sent by another race to destroy them? Yet the clan chief’s own daughter had just dismounted from his side—surely he wasn’t a villain. Still, his actions left them completely at a loss.

“Xian’er, this… Chief!” Fox Qing had intended to ask Fox Xian’er what was happening, but when she turned around, she saw Fox Shuxuan. She could only call out to her chief.

At the sound, everyone realized the clan chief was present and hurriedly saluted.

“Mother, Xian’er missed you so much!” Seeing her mother, Fox Xian’er felt she ought to do something, lest she face a harsh reckoning later. After all, she had rescued someone on her own initiative, without her mother’s consent.

With that, she threw her arms around Fox Shuxuan’s leg, acting cute and spoiled.

“I’ll deal with you later!” Fox Shuxuan glared at her daughter indulgently, but was clearly happy to see her safe. Hearing this, Fox Xian’er moved aside—her mother had more pressing matters to attend to.

“We did not know such honored guests would visit. Forgive our rudeness,” Fox Shuxuan said, sweeping her gaze over those mounted on the dragon eagle, pausing especially on Luo Changsheng, and saluted them with poise.

These people were of distinguished status; her actions were entirely appropriate.

“You’re too kind,” Ling Tian replied with a wave of his hand, though he regarded Fox Shuxuan with greater respect. For a woman to lead the Fox Clan through years of hardship at the bottom rung of society couldn’t have been easy. Yet under her leadership, the Fox Clan was orderly, even thriving.

They had even established a protective barrier for their clan, which showed her concern for her people. The barrier couldn’t stop truly powerful beings, but it could keep lesser threats at bay. As for the tributes they paid, there was little she could do.

Fox Shuxuan was about to say more when a cold snort interrupted her and a burly figure appeared.

“Fox Clan Chief, it’s been years and your cultivation hasn’t improved, but your courage certainly has—to the point you dare murder my son!”

Hearing the message, Wolf Tyrant could not sit still. He had arrived alone, crossing the distance in a single stride.

“Oh? Shouldn’t you ask first what your son has done?” Fox Shuxuan frowned slightly at Wolf Tyrant’s accusation. If she could avoid meeting him, she certainly would.

“What could he have done, if not been seduced by you foxes? If you hadn’t tempted him, would he have caused such trouble? Why doesn’t he cause trouble among other races?” Wolf Tyrant sneered, his eyes full of disdain, as if the Fox Clan existed solely for his amusement. He coveted the Fox Clan, but with so many powerful clans with similar designs, he knew wiping them out in one stroke was impossible.

“What do you want, then?” Fox Shuxuan, after a moment of silence, did not waste words on him but got straight to the point. With Ling Tian present, she trusted he had a plan, otherwise he wouldn’t have acted so boldly. There was no need for pointless arguing—just get to the heart of the matter.

Wolf Tyrant’s game was clear: he wanted to shift the blame entirely onto the Fox Clan, laying the groundwork for demanding compensation later. She was curious to see what nonsense he would spew next.

“This is a grave matter. Why don’t you come with me and discuss it for a few years…” Wolf Tyrant eyed Fox Shuxuan, who was more alluring and mature than the other foxes. Time had only made her more beautiful. He had lusted after her for ages, as had many others, but she was always prudent, and he had never had the chance. Now, with this opportunity before him, how could he let it slip?

“You…” Fox Xian’er’s face darkened with fury; she knew exactly what Wolf Tyrant was insinuating. Did it really take years to discuss such a matter? He was blatantly…

She was about to curse him outright. The other foxes looked equally grim—this was an outrage! To think he would try to humiliate their chief!

“Tch, no wonder that fellow earlier behaved so badly—the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Ling Tian, who had been overlooked by Wolf Tyrant, could no longer keep silent.

“And who are you? Did I ask for your opinion?” Wolf Tyrant frowned, surprised that a human youth would dare to speak out at such a moment.

Already in a foul mood, was this boy trying to court death? With that thought, he gathered his energy and struck at Ling Tian.

“How arrogant!” Luo Changsheng snorted coldly, not even lifting a finger as he blocked the attack. Without pausing, he counterattacked, and though Wolf Tyrant tried to defend himself, his cultivation was no match for Luo Changsheng’s. Knocked to the ground, he looked utterly wretched.

“And who might you be? Why are you interfering in the affairs of our demon clans? Isn’t that a bit inappropriate?” Wolf Tyrant asked, hunched and wary. He could spin this as friendly assistance, but it could also be called collusion with humans to persecute demons. If the story spread, the Fox Clan would be finished in these lands.

He didn’t believe Fox Shuxuan would dare go that far—she wasn’t that foolish, was she? Then again, desperate foxes might do desperate things. At worst, he could lower his demands for compensation.

Thinking this, his expression softened. He turned to Fox Shuxuan: “This is a matter between our demon clans. Let us resolve it ourselves. As for compensation, that can be arranged. You wouldn’t want the entire demon world to turn against you, would you?”

“Who said I was getting involved?” Before Fox Shuxuan could speak, Ling Tian smiled, his tone calm. In this situation, he wouldn’t use his own name to shield the Fox Clan—but that didn’t mean he couldn’t call upon other powers.

“I, of the Phoenix Clan, hereby declare that from this day forward, the Fox Clan is under our protection. Any who oppose them, oppose the Phoenix Clan!”

“I, of the White Tiger Clan, likewise declare that the Fox Clan is under our protection. Any who oppose them, oppose the White Tiger Clan!”

Hu Yuning and Huang Yu stepped forward in unison, producing the official seals of their clans and making their declarations with solemnity. For their two great clans, protecting the Fox Clan was a trivial matter. No one would dare trouble such a clan under the aegis of these top factions. Moreover, Ling Tian’s assistance—his status—made it worthwhile and hardly difficult.

Wolf Tyrant was stunned. What had the Fox Clan offered for such protection from two top clans? He was reluctant to believe it, but the seals they presented were genuine. He felt a chill in his heart—he had stumbled into a disaster.

The Fox Clan members were slow to recover from their shock, but soon were overjoyed. With the protection of these two mighty clans, no one would dare bully them again!

Fox Shuxuan gazed deeply at Ling Tian; she hadn’t expected him to achieve this. Still, she was cautious, already considering what they would have to pay in return. She would ask about it later.

Ling Tian looked at the deflated Wolf Tyrant and spoke in a low voice, “Still not leaving? Do you want me to send you on your way?”