Chapter 1224: Treasure Revealed

Zu An wasn't concerned; he was no longer the same person he had been when he first transmigrated.

In his previous life, he couldn't comprehend why famous wealthy entrepreneurs claimed they didn't notice the beauty of the women around them, dismissing it as mere pretense. Now, however, he understood it was their honest truth. Surrounded by beautiful women, physical beauty ceased to be a significant factor for them; instead, they valued other qualities more.

Zu An was much the same now. Surrounded by numerous confidantes, all renowned beauties, and with Daji, the most stunning woman in fox history, Tu Shan Yu's beauty, though considerable, didn't stir any particular emotions in him. Instead, he found himself pondering another question: Was the fat Taoist priest merely a charlatan, or had he genuinely come to provide a warning? But if it was a warning, he and his companions didn't know the man. Furthermore, given that the matter concerned the King of Qingqiu, did the Taoist truly possess the influence to know such details in advance? What was his true motive?

Having seen numerous "death-seeking experts" in movies during his past life, he naturally wouldn't overlook any suspicious detail. It was still prudent to be cautious today; he preferred to believe the divination of "bloodshed disaster" rather than dismiss it.

They soon entered the Qingqiu Kingdom's royal palace. While it paled significantly in comparison to the human imperial palace, it was far more opulent than the austere dwellings of the serpent tribe. It seemed that the presence of fox women drew many merchants from afar, fostering commercial prosperity.

The Qingqiu Royal Palace boasted a distinctive style. Its architecture evoked classical Japanese aesthetics, while the interiors were lavishly decorated with gold, featuring numerous oval carvings that reminded him of the Western Regions from his past life.

Upon entering the palace, a maid helped Tu Shan Yu remove her cloak, instantly revealing her exquisite, graceful, and slender figure—one that seemed to fit perfectly in a hand.

"Sister, are you going to the royal court at the Demon Emperor's summons?" Tu Shan Yu charmingly drew closer, naturally linking arms with Yu Yanluo.

Yu Yanluo was slightly unaccustomed to such closeness but found it awkward to push her away. She replied, "Yes, the Serpent Tribe is quite a distance from the royal court, so we must set out early. By the way, aren't you going as well?"

"I don't want to go either, but I have no choice," Tu Shan Yu said with a pained expression. "I still have some matters to attend to in the kingdom, so I might have to delay my departure by a day."

Yu Yanluo let out a faint sigh. "That's truly a shame; I had hoped we could travel together."

Those behind them couldn't stop rolling their eyes. It was clear neither woman truly wished to travel with the other, yet they feigned sisterly affection. Both Yun Jianyue and Yan Xuehen privately admitted they couldn't manage such a display of social interaction.

"It's perfectly fine; Big Sister can familiarize herself with the royal court first. When I arrive, I'll still come to you for guidance," Tu Shan Yu said with a grin. She then glanced at Yan and Yun, unable to help but exclaim, "The Serpent Tribe truly is blessed with exceptional people and beautiful landscapes, to have produced so many stunning maidens!"

Although both women wore veils, their allure remained undiminished; if anything, it only enhanced their mystique.

"They are my friends, though not from the Serpent Tribe," Yu Yanluo stated concisely, and Tu Shan Yu refrained from asking further questions. She secretly mused about the women's identities, but even with her vivid imagination, it was difficult for her to conceive that they were two of humanity's top Grandmasters.

The group then proceeded into the grand hall, where a banquet had already been laid out. As everyone took their seats, the fox women in the palace murmured in surprise, observing how Yu Yanluo and the other two women thoughtfully included Zu An, allowing him to sit with them. After all, this was a matriarchal country where men were subordinate to women. However, Zu An was tall and handsome, leaving a favorable impression on many fox women, who raised no objections.

"These are all renowned dishes from Qingqiu," Tu Shan Yu said with a smile, gesturing for them to partake. "I specially had the kitchen prepare them, hoping to leave you with a wonderful memory."

The group exchanged worried glances, each concerned that the dishes might have been tampered with. At their peak, Yun Jianyue and Yan Xuehen would have had nothing to fear, but in their current state of severe injury and weakness, it was far too risky.

Zu An discreetly transmitted a message using his primeval energy: "It's alright; I'll try it first." With his current constitution, he was immune to all poisons. Any toxins in the food wouldn't harm him, and he would be able to detect them and give an early warning. He then nonchalantly sampled every dish.

The women, though initially concerned, knew he wasn't reckless. Since he was proceeding with such confidence, they held their tongues. The fox maidens and attendants nearby exchanged glances, their expressions suggesting, "This man is quite handsome, but why does he eat like a starving ghost? What a waste of such good looks."

Tu Shan Yu pursed her lips and smiled. "This young master truly possesses an impressive spirit." She, of course, knew their concerns and had originally planned to eat first to alleviate their suspicions. Unbeknownst to her, her praise immediately triggered the women's concern about a potential "love calamity" for Zu An. Yan Xuehen and Yun Zhongyue shot a meaningful glance at Yu Yanluo.

Yu Yanluo naturally understood their implication. Unwilling to let the conversation linger on Zu An, she deftly steered it to other topics, discussing the customs and traditions of their two tribes, their past friendship, and potential future collaborations.

Zu An was content to relax, indulging in the feast before him. He had to admit, the chef at the Qingqiu Royal Palace was truly exceptional; the dishes were a perfect blend of color, aroma, and flavor. There was one peculiar detail, however: every dish on the table seemed to feature chicken. There was Crystal Lotus Chicken, Pearl Chicken Balls, Fried Tomato Chicken Strips, Beauty Chicken Liver, Hibiscus Chicken Slices, Crispy Chicken Cutlets, Imperial Concubine Chicken Wings, Eight-Treasure Whole Chicken, Chicken Mince Dumplings, Shredded Chicken Crisps, and Chicken Blood Porridge... Zu An had never conceived that chicken could be prepared in so many different ways. It seemed Qingqiu was truly a chicken's purgatory.

The conversation at the banquet was lively and engaging, and time passed unnoticed. Tu Shan Yu then seized the opportunity to invite them to stay the night in the palace. The women, whose relaxed demeanor had begun to return, immediately tensed up. "It's coming!" they thought.

Yu Yanluo secretly chuckled, watching Yun Jianyue and Yan Xuehen exchange such frantic winks that their eyelids seemed to cramp. The longer she spent with them, the more she realized they resembled two young girls rather than the formidable Grandmasters everyone feared.

She politely declined. "That won't be necessary. I have attendants waiting outside, and they would worry if they didn't hear from me for too long. Moreover, we must depart for the royal court early tomorrow morning, so we wouldn't want to trouble the King."

Tu Shan Yu smiled. "That's easily arranged. I'll send someone to settle your subordinates, Big Sister. Lately, some incidents have occurred in Qingqiu, and there's a night curfew in the city. If you go out now, you likely won't even find an inn. There are plenty of rooms in the royal palace, and it would be far more comfortable for you to stay here than at an inn outside."

The women privately thought that it was precisely in this "fox den" that they would be least able to rest.

Zu An secretly transmitted a message: "Ask her what has been happening in the kingdom recently." The women nodded with satisfaction, seemingly quite pleased that he adhered to "male virtues" and refrained from conversing with other women. Yan Xuehen then voiced their collective inquiry.

Tu Shan Yu explained, "Recently, rumors have spread from unknown sources claiming that a great treasure will appear in Qingqiu Mountain, drawing experts from various tribes. That's why I've been compelled to remain here for a few extra days before departing for the royal court."

"A great treasure?" the group mused, deep in thought.

"It's all just hearsay," Tu Shan Yu said, looking at them. "If there truly were a great treasure, wouldn't our Qingqiu Kingdom already know about it? We would have unearthed it long ago. To me, esteemed guests like yourselves are the most precious treasures."

Although they recognized her words as praise, the fat Taoist priest's divination kept them wary, leaving them with a sense that she harbored ulterior motives. Just as they were about to decline, Tu Shan Yu added, "I overheard you mentioning Qinghuo flowers. There aren't many left in the kingdom, but there might be a small amount in the royal palace. I'll have someone check, and it should be delivered to you by tomorrow morning. If you were to leave, given my current busy schedule, I might not be able to locate you, which would be quite impolite."

The group exchanged glances. *Fine,* they thought, *if she's using that as bait, then we'll just have to stay one night.*

However, a problem arose when it came to room assignments. The royal palace was predominantly occupied by women, so Yu Yanluo and the other women could stay without issue. Zu An, however, being a man, found himself in an awkward position.