The talks ultimately ended with the two sides successfully brought together.
Feeling that he had completed the task assigned by his superiors, Wu Lin secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said to Li Ling, "True Lord, we shall take our leave as well."
Li Ling said, "Please do."
After Wu Lin left, Mu Qingsi looked at Li Ling and asked, "Husband, why did you say that just now?"
Li Ling said, "Wu Lin hunted wild geese all day, only to have one peck his eyes out in the end. He has no idea what this demon is really like."
Mu Qingsi said, "Do you mean that Hu Lao wasn't pleased with that fox pelt?"
Li Ling said, "This demon is deeply calculating. Living on the Gathering Grotto Continent, Wu Lin is accustomed to the affairs of the Demon Race, yet he made the mistake of taking things for granted.
"In truth, this is a fox who cares deeply for his own race and harbors great ambitions."
Mu Qingsi was genuinely surprised by Li Ling's assessment.
Li Ling said, "Wait here for a moment. I'll project my soul and take a look."
As he spoke, his body trembled slightly. His soul had already left it, roaming abroad by day in a spirit soul form that ordinary people could scarcely perceive.
Hu Lao left the guesthouse and boarded his carriage, heading to a market elsewhere to conduct his business.
As the chief steward of Partridge Ridge, he had practical duties to attend to. His stated purpose for this visit was still to purchase various supplies for his king in the mountains.
Several women dressed as serving maids rode in the carriage. All had fox ears, long tails, and fur around their necks, marking them as spirit monsters whose transformations were incomplete.