Chapter 672: Master Hou Madam Went To the Sky Bridge Again To Set Up a Stall
Chapter 672: This is a Misunderstanding
As Hou Yirong's gaze met Qin Ruan's, he remained composed and nodded calmly. Qin Ruan chuckled softly, her red lips curving into a mysterious smile. "Young Master Fu, you're quite calculating." She chose not to hide her feelings and tore off the pretense. Her smile didn't reach her eyes.
Hou Yirong maintained his calm and composure, meeting her fiery gaze. He spoke calmly, "A powerful figure emerged in the metaphysical world of the capital, dominating over many Daoists. She operates discreetly and has significant connections with sects like Yuxing Sect, Maoshan Sect, and Changsheng Sect."
"I did some research before and only found out about Madam Hou's extraordinary strength today, with so many guests present. Accidental physical contact can be inevitable. I hope Madam Hou won't blame me."
Upon hearing Fu Yinru's words, Hou Yirong immediately understood. Hou Yirong knew that his contact with Qin Ruan would implicate her. He happened to shake hands with Qin Ruan, which led to physical contact. On her way back, Qin Ruan had an accident, and it was highly likely that the Fu family had a hand in it.
Hou Yirong kicked the nearby tea table in anger, causing a loud bang, and the tea set on the table shook. His eyes filled with killing intent, he sneered, "Impressive, truly impressive. The Fu family has quite some skills!" He had fallen into the Fu family's calculations, and they even went as far as inviting Master Ling Xuzi.
Hou Yirong was seething with rage, and everyone present dared not speak out. Hou Qiang, who had followed Qin Ruan in, knew that his master was genuinely furious. He stepped forward and advised in a low voice, "Second Young Master, Third Young Master is waiting for Madam at home. Let's resolve this quickly."
Hou Yirong's eyes emitted a fierce gaze as he sneered at Hou Qiang, "Why are you being so talkative?" Hou Qiang lowered his head and took a few steps back. He understood that the Second Young Master knew what he was doing.
Fu Yueyuan tried to explain, "Second Young Master, today's event has many guests, and Yirong might have made an unintentional mistake." As he spoke, he pretended to wipe non-existent sweat from his forehead.
Hou Yirong pointed at himself, "Do I look like a fool to you?" Fu Yueyuan had his eyes slightly opened, making it difficult for him to respond.
Hou Yirong pointed at Fu Yinru "I'll remember this debt, the Fu family!" Fu Yin's brows furrowed deeply as he spoke in a low voice, "Second Young Master, the Fu family doesn't want to create enmity with the Hou family." To Hou Yirong's ears, this was equivalent to nonsense. He coldly snorted, sitting on the armrest of the sofa Qin Ruan was on.
Fu Yinru walked up to Qin Ruan, "Third Madam, I'll take full responsibility for today's events. I vouch for my own integrity that I didn't intentionally involve you in this. Even though I know you have a distinguished background, you're ultimately a pregnant woman. Even if my methods are not praiseworthy, I wouldn't stoop so low."
Qin Ruan's calm gaze turned icy, exuding hostility and a chilling aura, not hiding her anger. She wasn't buying it at all and mocked, "You'll take responsibility? If something really happened to me and my child, your entire Fu family couldn't bear the consequences!" In this lifetime, she was determined to protect her child, and anyone who dared to harm them would face her wrath.
Fu Yinru pursed his lips, his facial expression growing stern, "Third Madam the Fu family is new to the city and has an unstable foundation. It wouldn't be foolish enough to offend the Hou family intentionally. I accidentally learned of your identity, and today, seeing your emotional state, I instinctively reached out to shake your hand."
Qin Ruan snorted softly, "I don't care whether you did it intentionally or not. The fact that you didn't tell me afterward can't be erased with just a few words." She was determined to get to the bottom of this.
Fu Yinru let out a sigh, calmly asking, "Third Madam, do you have any suggestions?" With a faint smile tugging at her lips and a dangerous glint in her deep eyes, Qin Ruan replied indifferently, "How about offering your life in atonement?"
Fu Yueyuan exclaimed, "Third Madam!" Qin Ruan rubbed her temple lightly, narrowing her eyes with annoyance. She stared at Fu Yueyuan and said with a touch of disdain, "Why are you shouting so loudly?" This time, Fu Yueyuan was truly anxious. Ignoring the presence of the Hou family members, he confessed, "Third Madam, when we first learned that a skilled practitioner resided in the city, the Fu family intended to have them examine Fu Yinru's body. Later, when we found out that you were from the Hou family, we kept postponing it. The Fu family sought your assistance; how could we plot behind your back? I implore you to spare us."
Qin Ruan raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Mr. Fu, I was just joking. Compared to the actions of your eldest son, my joke is quite insignificant, isn't it?" Fu Yueyuan gazed at her emotionless face, still not entirely reassured. He gritted his teeth and said, "If Yinru has done wrong, he must take responsibility. The marriage between the Fu and Xiao families will proceed as planned."
Confused by how they had come to discussing the marriage between the Fu and Xiao families, Qin Ruan furrowed her brow. She stated firmly, "It's not my concern." Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of the fox spirit trying to sneak away from the room. Her gaze turned cold as she exclaimed, "Little sprite, where do you think you're going?"
Before the fox spirit's foot could hit the ground after taking a step, it froze in place. Turning back to Qin Ruan, she met her icy gaze. Clutching her disheveled hair in front of her, the fox spirit nervously stammered, "I, I was just going for a walk."
Qin Ruan's anger surged, and with a cold glint in her eyes, she declared to everyone in the room, "If the matter isn't clarified, no one is leaving this room today!" Hearing this, Hou Qiang immediately instructed his subordinates to guard the door.
The fox spirit, witnessing this, stamped her foot and glared at Qin Ruan, her voice full of fury, "I already said it wasn't me! Who knows which seductive fox bewitched you? Why are you blaming me for no reason?"
Qin Ruan's eyes turned even colder as she retorted, her tone sharp, "There's your scent left at the scene. You say it wasn't you, and it suddenly becomes true? Who can vouch for you?" The fox spirit ground her teeth
and said defensively, "It's simply impossible. I didn't leave this place all day."
Qin Ruan countered, "Then explain to me why traces of your presence were at the scene where the fox illusion trapped me and caused a near-disaster?"
"I, I don't know..." The fox spirit's argument trailed off as if she remembered something, and then suddenly stopped. Muttering to herself, she added, "Could it be him..."
Qin Ruan's eyes darkened, her tone harsh, "Who is he?"
"Oh! What a lively scene. Did I arrive at an inopportune time?" The familiar opening statement echoed in everyone's ears. The people in the room turned their gazes towards the young man leaning against the doorframe.
Coming into view, his features weren't extraordinary, more on the mild side. A bright smile lit up his face, exuding a sunny and cheerful demeanor. Seeing the newcomer, Qin Ruan looked puzzled. She recognized him; he was her elder brother's classmate, Hu Yiyuan. He wasn't a local of the city; he was born in Liaodong and came to the city through his father's connections to study. His family had a long-standing tradition of practicing martial arts.
"little sister Ruan is here too." Hu Yiyuan greeted Qin Ruan amiably. "Big Brother Hu." Qin Ruan's attitude wasn't particularly close, but it wasn't distant either.
Straightening his posture, Hu Yiyuan strolled confidently into the room. The smile in his eyes faded when he spotted the fox spirit. Fu Yueyuan didn't recognize Hu Yiyuan, and his casual attire didn't seem fit for attending a party. He questioned, "Who are you, and who let you in?"
Hu Yiyuan's dark eyes turned to Fu Yueyuan. "I'm here to fetch my disobedient little pet." He pointed towards the fox spirit with a casual manner, as if he were walking in his own backyard.
"Hu Yiyuan, I'm about to be skinned alive, and you show up now?" Seeing him, the fox spirit seemed to regain some confidence, scampering behind him. Witnessing this, Qin Ruan sighed and rubbed her forehead, realizing the situation was becoming increasingly complex.
The Hu family had a generational tradition of practicing martial arts. Previously, Ling Xuzi had mentioned that the fox spirit was a family immortal. Now, with Hu Yiyuan's appearance, it became apparent that this fox spirit was under his care. However, his family's fox immortal had ended up by Fu Yinru's side, stealthily siphoning off his yang energy.
Hu Yiyuan fixed a chilling gaze on the fox spirit, sarcastically saying, "Is it that hard to find a man? You don't even bother to put on clothes!" The fox spirit's eyes shimmered with moisture as she retorted, "No, I didn't do it. They're bullying me!" She pointed towards all the people present in the room. With her pitiable appearance, her body exposed and trembling, she seemed like a victim in every way.
Hu Yiyuan knew her too well. He rolled his eyes at her and said, "What did you do?" The fox spirit clutched her fingers and whispered meekly, "I secretly absorbed human yang energy."
Hu Yiyuan scoffed, "You're hopeless." Undeterred by his scolding, the fox spirit reached out with her bare arms and hugged Hu Yiyuan's waist. She complained with a touch of grievance, "Who told you to disappear for so long? I couldn't find you."
Hu Yiyuan didn't mind her nakedness; he just pulled her out from behind him. Judging from Qin Ruan's expression, he knew that this fox spirit's wrongdoing was far from limited to merely absorbing yang energy. With the fox spirit in hand, he walked up to Qin Ruan, saying, "little sister Ruan, has my little Hu Ying offended you?" Her straightforward temperament couldn't help but make Qin Ruan regard Hu Yiyuan in a new light. She narrowed her eyes and replied, "She nearly killed me, along with the child in my belly."
Hu Yiyuan's eyes darkened, and he said with a sigh, "I knew she was up to no good." He then turned to the fox spirit and scolded, "Didn't I tell you not to cause trouble?"
The fox spirit pouted, her eyes watery, "But Master, you've been gone for so long..."
Hu Yiyuan shook his head helplessly and turned back to Qin Ruan. "I apologize for my pet's actions. I'll make sure she doesn't bother you again."
Qin Ruan nodded, her gaze softening slightly. "Thank you for handling the situation."
Hu Yiyuan grinned, his mood seemingly unaffected by the turmoil in the room. "No problem, little sister Ruan. It's always interesting to clean up after my pet's messes."
Amidst the chaos, his casual attitude managed to ease some of the tension in the room. It was as if his presence brought a breath of fresh air into the suffocating atmosphere.
As Hu Yiyuan continued to interact with the people in the room, it became clear that he was well-acquainted with various individuals, including some influential figures. His carefree and affable demeanor made him approachable to anyone, despite the unusual circumstances.
In the end, with Hu Yiyuan's intervention, the tense situation gradually calmed down. The fox spirit, now properly clothed and well-behaved, didn't dare to cause any more trouble. As Qin Ruan observed the interactions between Hu Yiyuan and the fox spirit, she couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity and warmth in their relationship.
By the time the gathering came to an end, the misunderstandings had been cleared up, and the accusations against the fox spirit were dropped. Qin Ruan was relieved that the situation had been resolved without further complications.
As she left the venue with Hou Yirong, she couldn't help but ask him, "Do you know Hu Yiyuan well?"
Hou Yirong nodded, a hint of respect in his eyes. "Yes, he's a remarkable person. Despite his carefree appearance, he's quite skilled and knowledgeable in various areas. His presence can often defuse tense situations, as you've witnessed today."
Qin Ruan smiled, appreciating the unexpected ally they had in Hu Yiyuan. "Indeed, he seems like a person worth knowing."
As they walked together, Qin Ruan couldn't help but feel that her life had taken an unexpected turn. The events of the day had brought her into contact with a range of characters, each with their own stories and mysteries. And in the midst of it all, she felt a renewed determination to protect herself and her child, no matter what challenges lay ahead.
