It had taken the Sovereign Fox Lord less than a second to appear behind the Xiao twins, faster than they could have possibly comprehended.

The pair of fox goddesses spun around to prostrate themselves upon the ground, grovelling at his feet.

"Sire." They squeaked in unison.

The Fox Lord dismissed the grovelling foxes with a simple wave, while using his other hand to seize the wiggling sack that was dragging behind them. He plucked the sack high into the air with the edge of his ivory fingers, and stared at it with undisguised, dangerous amusement glittering in his phoenix eyes.

Bai Yu shifted inside the sack as he barked out curses. "You fiendish females! No wonder you have not been able to find a mate! Who would want to marry such conniving- Oh, Sire! You're… you're here..." he all but stuttered, his flaming rage deflating instantly.

There was a hint of anger in the Fox Lord's voice as he asked, "Dare I ask the reason for your recent uncouth behaviour?"

'There are plenty of reasons, of course, but I cannot name any of them!' Bai Yu thought as he wordlessly mourned his current predicament. Would this be the end of him?

Those bloody twins were far more clever than Bai Yu had originally given them credit for! He had travelled so far away that he had been certain about his success in disappearing for at least a century or so. He planned to vanish at least until His Lordship's wrath would ease a little, enough for his life to be preserved.

Needless to say, that plan had been reduced to ashes. The Xiao twins must have been experts at tracking, since they had found him in less than a single bloody day!

"I was captured and stuffed in a bag, Sire." Bai Yu's squeaky voice was heard at length, his words coming out as a mumble.

Bai Qingyue raised a single eyebrow, one corner of his lips twitching ever so slightly. "I am well aware. I planned to send you on a journey to visit Old Lady Meng and drink her bowl of soup in the Netherworld."

The sack began to tremble in Bai Qingyue's grip.

"You must be wondering how it was possible for your whereabouts to be discovered so easily." Bai Qingyue continued speaking. He narrowed his eyes, exuding a faint coldness. "You see, after the incident with the Huli Jing Matron's escape, I do not take risks with anyone anymore. Do not think to escape again. I will track you wherever you may roam."

"Yes, Sire…" Bai Yu muttered defeatedly.

If he was bound to drink the Broth of Oblivion from Meng Po's cold undead hands, he would do so without begging for his life. The former Second in command reasoned with himself, holding on to the last shred of his dignity.

"We have brought back Bai Yu, as His Lordship requested. Please be lenient with our punishment," announced Xiao An Hua, finding the opportune moment to speak. She pressed her small snout to the ground between several herb stalks as the scene played out before her. Her sister promptly imitated her actions.

Observing his subordinates' reactions, Bai Qingyue let out an ominous chuckle.

The trio of subordinates cowered in fright. A bone piercing chill crawled up their spine.

At times like these, when the Sovereign Fox Lord laughed, the unfortunate souls around him, more often than not, ended up getting instantly dismembered. The victims of the Fox Lord's violence were often torn limb from limb, their bodies never able to receive a proper burial, and their souls suffering in agony for countless eons before being given the mercy of reincarnation.

Although it was a known fact that the Fox Lord had rarely butchered his own people, his subordinates had also been aware that such an action was not beyond their Lord to act upon. This knowledge had them shaking in fear and praying to all that is good and holy for this to not be their own fate.