This scholar is a bit cruel

Chapter 378 The Fox Clan and the Snake Clan

"boom!"

On this day, a loud noise suddenly erupted at the entrance to the usually quiet Snake Valley.

Rocks flew everywhere, and the mountainside collapsed!
Then, the entire Snake Valley seemed to turn over, suddenly shaking and trembling!

The once sunny sky suddenly changed color, and the valley was covered in frost.

At the entrance, the snake-like guards hiding underground, in lakes, caves, and other places were all frozen solid the next second, while they were issuing warnings in panic.

The sounds of enemy attack echoed throughout the entire valley.

The snake clan's experts were visibly shaken and all mobilized.

However, when they rushed to the entrance of Snake Valley, the battle was already over, leaving only the corpses of the snake clan guards scattered all over the ground.

Two of the young leaders, who were being groomed by the snake clan, were now stiff and decapitated.

For the next two weeks, bad news kept coming back from outside every few days.

Members of the snake clan who were out training, cultivating, or visiting relatives and friends were all killed, and their heads were deliberately thrown at the entrance of Snake Valley.

The Snake Valley leaders were furious, but they all seemed to know what had happened. Instead of sending anyone to investigate the murderer, they immediately ordered all the snake clan members who were still outside to return to Snake Valley.

Experts and troops were stationed at the entrance to Snake Valley.

The entire Snake Valley was shrouded in an atmosphere of fear and oppression.

At this moment, an urgent meeting is being held in the palace atop the cliffs of Snake Valley.

The high-ranking members of the Serpent Clan gathered here.

The Serpent Queen sat on her throne on the high platform, her face cold and solemn, her scarlet eyes filled with worry.

"Damn it! Those bastards from the Divine Rat Cave and Blackwater Pool, they used to be like brothers to us, but now they don't even reply to our letters..."

"What's even more infuriating is that Snow Jade Palace not only refused to send troops to help us, but also sent a message asking His Majesty to personally lead troops to the capital to quell the rebellion! Don't they know that our snake clan is facing a life-or-death crisis?"

"Hmph, those fire wolves have always been cold-blooded and only care about themselves. Now they are probably abandoned by everyone and can hardly protect themselves."

"Sigh, back then, the Wolf King issued a message, confidently stating that the bloodline of the Fox Clan's royal family had been completely wiped out. I never expected that they would suddenly reappear now, and I heard that they are the purest Nine-Tailed Divine Fox bloodline in nearly a thousand years. The Immortal Tree, which had been dead for a thousand years, has even blossomed and borne fruit again!"

"His Majesty!"

An elderly snake-man with white hair and beard said with a pained expression, "If we don't make a decision now, there will be no more chances! Our clansmen have suffered heavy casualties these past few days, and we can't wait any longer!"

Another elder from the snake clan sighed, "They're probably in dire straits themselves right now, so they're unlikely to send troops to rescue us. We can only rely on ourselves now."

"According to the news brought by Lin'er, twelve of the eighteen vassal states have publicly sworn to follow the fox princess, help her to fight against the wolf clan, and assist her in restoring her kingdom."

"At first, everyone was watching and observing, but when that sacred tree that connects to immortality mysteriously blossomed and bore fruit, and the Eagle Clan, Bear Clan, and Deer Clan publicly swore an oath, other clans all began to follow suit..."

"Just two days ago, the dog clan, which had the best relationship with the wolf clan through a marriage alliance, suddenly killed the wolf princess and general, and publicly declared their loyalty to that fox princess..."

"Hmph, in the end, it was because that Fire Wolf King failed his tribulation, otherwise, those old guys wouldn't have chosen sides so quickly..."

The high-ranking members of the Serpent Clan expressed their opinions one after another.

At this moment, the snake queen, who was sitting on the high platform, spoke in a cold voice: "As far as I know, the fox clan's ancestor who failed to transcend the tribulation a thousand years ago and should have passed away long ago has not died, but has suddenly returned from another continent."

Upon hearing this, all the high-ranking members of the snake clan were filled with shock.

"Your Majesty, is this news true?"

Several elders of the snake clan paled and hurriedly asked.

The Serpent Queen nodded silently.

Seeing the Queen's certainty, the hearts of the snake clan elders and other high-ranking members plummeted into an abyss.

If they had held onto a sliver of hope at the beginning, now they are utterly despondent.

"Is my snake clan truly destined to be wiped out...?"

An elder let out a long, hoarse sigh.

The other clan members all turned pale.

An atmosphere of despair and sorrow enveloped the entire hall.

At this moment, the Snake Queen spoke in a cold voice: "I have decided to set off tomorrow to personally surrender to that Fox Princess."

These words shocked all the members.

"Your Majesty, you mustn't! You can't go! When the Fire Wolves of the Underground Cave rebelled, our Snake Clan was one of the first to speak out, and we even helped the Fire Wolves kill many Fox Clan soldiers. With such deep-seated hatred, how could they accept our surrender?"

The other members quickly tried to persuade him.

The Serpent Queen smiled faintly: "If I don't go, who will? Do you think I'll just stand by and watch my serpent clan's thousands of years of heritage be destroyed in an instant?"

"His Majesty!"

"I have made my decision; there is no need for further discussion!"

The Serpent Queen rose from her throne, her crimson eyes fixed on the Serpent Clan's high-ranking officials below, her face filled with coldness and resolve: "Second Uncle, Seventh Uncle, all ministers, heed my command! If the other side refuses, or if I am unable to return, immediately have the First Princess ascend the throne and prepare for a desperate battle! My Serpent Clan, even if we are to die, will not die a cowardly death!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The clan members all accepted the order in unison, displaying an air of fearlessness in the face of death.

Evening. In a secluded chamber somewhere in the palace, the pool water is clear and shrouded in mist.

In the center of the pool, within the heart of a giant lotus flower, Bai Meixue, dressed in a white dress, sat quietly cultivating with her eyes closed.

At that moment, the stone door slowly opened, and a dark figure silently walked in.

The room, which was originally warm and spring-like, was instantly chilled to freezing point by the cold aura emanating from the newcomer.

The person who came was none other than Yin Ning, the second princess of the snake clan, who was also Bai Meixue's other body.

I'm leaving tomorrow.

Yin Ning's scarlet eyes stared at "herself" in the center of the pool, her gaze as cold and piercing as ever, her tone equally chilling. After a moment of silence, she said, "She probably won't come back."

Bai Meixue slowly opened her eyes inside the lotus flower and looked at her.

Yin Ning's face remained expressionless, as if she were talking about something unrelated to herself: "My mother and I are going to the enemy's territory. If we don't return in five days, you will marry him and swear your vows before the statue of the Holy Ancestor. After the wedding night, you can leave. I have already told Xiao Qi that she will leave with you."

"Take care of her."

After speaking, she remained silent for a moment before preparing to leave.

Bai Meixue spoke up: "You were focused on cultivation, so why did you choose to go there to die?"

Yin Ning stopped and paused, then turned to look at her and said, "If the Bai family were facing a life-or-death situation, what would you choose? I am indeed focused on cultivation, but the blood flowing in my veins is that of the snake clan, and this is my responsibility."

After saying that, she looked at her deeply again and said, "You are me, continue to live on in my place."

The room fell silent.

The chilling aura disappeared after she left.

Bai Meixue remained quiet within the lotus for a moment, then slowly closed her eyes and continued her cultivation.

Time passed quickly.

For the next five days, the entire Snake Valley was deathly silent, and all the snake clan members were immersed in an atmosphere of unease and fear.

On the evening of the fifth day.

Just as the high-ranking members of the snake clan were filled with grief and despair, preparing to enthrone the eldest princess and fight a decisive battle against the fox clan, news suddenly arrived that the queen and the second princess had returned!

They're back safe and sound!

At the same time, they also brought back good news.

"That fox princess is willing to accept our surrender and will forgive our snake clan's past betrayals."

An elder who accompanied the Queen and the Second Princess said excitedly.

But he also had some doubts: "When we went there, we didn't see the fox princess with the bloodline of the nine-tailed divine fox. She just told us to send troops to assist the bear clan, and... and also told the fox elder to send his regards to the second princess."

"Greetings to the Second Princess?"

Everyone was stunned when they heard this.

Their queen went with the second princess, so why did they only greet the second princess?

"Could it be that the Second Princess knows that fox princess?"

Everyone speculated.

Princess Yin Ning maintained her cold expression, but her eyes were filled with deep doubt.

Along the way, her mother had asked her many times, but she really couldn't remember.

"Perhaps you encountered her by chance when you were out there training?"

The Queen speculated.

Yin Ning had no answer.

Over the years, she has traveled and met many people, but the fox princess could not possibly have contacted her with her true identity, or even with her true appearance.

How could she possibly remember?

"Never mind, the truth will come out eventually."

"Our snake clan has weathered this crisis."

The weight on the Queen's heart was finally lifted.

Yin Ning returned to the secret room and frowned in thought for a long time. Seeing that she had no clue, she stopped thinking about it.

She decided to deal with the immediate problem first.

She summoned the steward and ordered, "Prepare for the wedding. Two days later, they will hold the wedding ceremony."

Word spread quickly.

"Two days later?"

In a palace covered in ice and snow, a clear, cold voice murmured.

She wore a snow-white fox fur coat, and her exquisite face, a blend of purity and charm, was as cold and aloof as snow. The red dot between her brows shimmered with a scarlet and eerie light.

(End of this chapter)