Raj found Tie Fan's worried eyes darting toward him, her fingers anxiously twisting the corner of her sleeve. She clearly feared he might be displeased with the small mess she and Tie Chui had caused earlier. Seeing that look — that mixture of devotion, nervousness, and earnest love — Raj couldn't help but chuckle.
"How could that be!" he said, laughing openly. "Back in my old days, collecting protection fees was practically my dream job! If we protect them, how can we not collect a little? Even the landlord doesn't have extra grain!"
Tie Fan froze for half a breath, then her beautiful eyes softened into shimmering relief. "My husband is so good…" she whispered, almost melting against him. Now that her love for Raj had consumed her completely, every small shift in his tone affected her heart like ripples across a lake.
Raj wrapped an arm firmly around her slender waist, leaning to whisper in her ear, "Sweetie baby… don't obsess over my expressions. As long as you are happy, just do what you like. If trouble comes knocking, your husband is here to carry it."
The sincerity in his voice broke down the last of Tie Fan's anxiety. Her breath trembled; she looked up, eyes bright with affection. "My husband… you really are too good…"
She knew exactly what he was doing — soothing her heart, afraid that she'd exhaust herself by caring too deeply. And indeed, her love for him had grown so intense she sometimes feared it would smother him. Yet he only embraced her tighter.
"Our hearts are connected," Raj said, tapping her perked-up buttocks with a playful firmness. "No more worrying about this or that. That's not like my little sweetie."
"Mmm—!" Tie Fan nodded vigorously, her smile blooming like jade peonies in spring.
Tie Chui rolled her eyes from behind but couldn't hide the fond smile tugging at her lips. And so the three of them, laughing and teasing, descended toward the large market situated below…
THE MARKET OF THE OLD FOX KING
From above, Raj saw a vast sprawl of ancient tiles, green-brick streets, carved eaves, and banners fluttering with foreign characters. Humans and demons walked shoulder to shoulder — merchants, travelers, fox spirits, goat demons, wandering scholars, snake monsters, and even a few monks. The crowd surged like a tide, lively and chaotic, the marketplace humming with prosperity.
"This is the market under the Old Fox King's rule," Tie Fan explained after the trio landed lightly from the clouds. Unlike her sister Tie Chui — who was already twisting her head in every direction — Tie Fan stayed close to Raj, arm linked with his.
"This place has existed for over two hundred years. After the Old Fox King established the rule that humans and demons may not fight here, peace took root. Every year, trade caravans from all nations travel thousands of miles to sell goods here. It is the largest market within a thousand miles."
Raj observed the unusual crowd, the monster vendors with human assistants, the human merchants haggling boldly with giant lizards wearing scholar hats. It was a bizarre yet harmonious sight that made his modern mind twitch with contradiction.
"This old fox really isn't simple," he muttered. "He understands perfectly that without rules, nothing prospers. And those merchants… they certainly know how to make profit off demons. Marx really was right."
"Who is this 'Marx'?" Tie Fan asked curiously. "What did he say that earns your praise, husband?"
Raj laughed. "Marx is a great man. He once said: if merchants earn fifty percent profit, they'll take risks; if they earn one hundred percent, they'll dare to trample on all the world's laws; and if they earn three hundred percent, they'll dare to commit any crime — even at the risk of death."
Tie Fan blinked thoughtfully. "Listening to you say that… yes, it really seems like that. The first merchants who came here were more dangerous than criminals. Just looking at them gave ordinary little demons nightmares. But once rules stabilized, other merchants came too. Only the dangerous ones still dominate trade."
Her explanation made Raj smile. Even in the demon world, capitalism reigned supreme.
After a while strolling, Raj pointed toward a teahouse with hanging lanterns and wooden plaques. "Alright, you don't have to accompany me. Go have fun with Tie Chui. After you finish shopping, come back to this teahouse."
"Okay, husband," Tie Fan leaned into him and hugged him softly before pulling Tie Chui toward the rouge shop. "We'll be back soon!"
Raj watched them disappear into the crowd and shook his head fondly. "Still a woman after all." With that, he stepped into the Seven Stars Immortal Residence.
The moment Raj entered, a sharp-eyed waiter rushed over with a bright smile. "My lord, you look unfamiliar! Is this your first visit?"
"Yes." Raj headed straight for the stairs. "What do you recommend here?"
The waiter scampered ahead. "Our specialty is Jade Fox Immortal Pot Tea—"
"Jade Immortal Fox Tea?" Raj raised an eyebrow. "Picked by fox girls?"
"How would we dare!" the waiter cried. "The 'pot' refers to teapots once used by fox immortals! Drinking the tea prolongs life; smelling it cures all diseases!"
Raj sighed. "I thought it was fox tea, plucked by some fox girls biting the leaves…" What disappointment. But oh well, tea was tea. "Bring two pots of your best, and a few signature snacks."
The waiter dashed off. Raj turned, about to sit, when a teasing voice drifted from the side.
"This brother looks unfamiliar. You don't seem like a regular." Raj glanced toward the speaker — a handsome young man, delicate features bordering on beautiful.
"Are you talking to me?" Raj asked.
"If not you, should I talk to the sky?" The youth rolled his eyes with a practiced charm.
Raj gave the slightest shrug. "I'm just shopping with my two wives." He turned his gaze toward the window, refusing to be dragged into random conversation.
"You're rude!" the youth snapped.
Raj ignored him.
The youth huffed and boldly carried his teapot to Raj's table, plopping down with the confidence of someone accustomed to being adored. "Now you're ignoring me on purpose!"
Still no response.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!" The youth waved a slender, jade-like hand before Raj's eyes.
Raj sighed. "First — I don't talk to people who hide their heads and show their tails. Second — I don't have a good impression of foxes. I prefer chaste women, thank you."
"You—!! You rascal!!" the youth sputtered, voice suddenly trembling.
The disguise broke. She was a woman — not just any woman, but stunningly beautiful, the kind of beauty only fox clans possessed. Her eyes filled instantly with wounded grievance.
As the pampered daughter of the Fox King, she had been praised for her beauty her whole life. Every man she met fawned over her. Yet today, not only was she ignored… she was indirectly scolded as unchaste.
Face crumpling, she turned and fled in tears.
Raj sipped his tea calmly. "Too dramatic…"
But trouble had already begun to brew.
Inside the Fox King's mansion
The Old Fox King leisurely sipped spirit tea while a trembling little demon reported news.
"My lord, Princess Duan's husband is truly powerful! I was there when he killed the Bull Demon King! In the blink of an eye — minced meat!"
The Old Fox King stroked his beard. "Do you have a portrait?"
The little demon smugly presented a scroll. "Already prepared!"
Upon seeing Raj's charming face in the painting, the Old Fox King nodded. "Truly a rare talent. That Princess Duan has found herself a powerful backer… This will be troublesome."
He, like all fox kings before him, knew the ancient prophecy that the Big Dipper would reverse once in a hundred years, offering his clan a chance to rise. But this hope required the Banana Leaf Fan held by Tie Fan.
He had originally planned to snatch it… but with Princess Duan guarded by the Bull Demon King, things were difficult. Now the bull was dead — but the one who killed him was even more dangerous.
Just as he was deep in thought, a white glow materialized beside him. His daughter — the Jade-Faced Fox Demon — appeared, eyes brimming with tears.
His heart almost cracked. He had raised her like a treasure of heaven and earth, spoiling her to the skies. Now seeing her like this…
"Good child, who bullied you?" he asked, voice trembling with paternal rage. "Tell Father — I'll take revenge!"
"Father…" she sobbed. "A man said he hates foxes… that he only likes chaste women… Wuu… Is he saying I'm unclean…?"
The Old Fox King slammed the table. "WHO DARES SLANDER MY PRECIOUS DAUGHTER?!"
But before she could answer, the little demon unrolled Raj's portrait again. The girl pointed at it, her voice cracking:
"It's him!"
The Old Fox King froze.
The tea cup slipped from his fingers. He quickly dismissed everyone, leaving only himself and his daughter.
"Good girl… are you sure it was this man?"
"Yes! Even if he turns to ashes, I'll recognize him!" she cried.
"Tell Father what happened," the Old Fox King said solemnly.
She recounted the entire incident — the teahouse, her attempt to strike conversation, Raj's dismissal, his cold remarks, and her humiliation.
The Old Fox King listened, falling into a deep, complicated silence.
His daughter wasn't just offended.
She was in love.
If a random man insulted her, she wouldn't cry. She wouldn't care. But since it was someone she had taken a liking to — someone who rejected her beauty outright — her wounded pride turned into heartbreak.
The Old Fox King rubbed his temples.
"This is bad… This is very bad…"
But perhaps… also good.
Since his daughter had feelings for Raj, perhaps he could use that to get the Banana Leaf Fan. Yet at the same time, the idea of his precious daughter liking another man — worse, a man who disliked foxes — filled his chest with sour fire.
Nevertheless, he put on an act.
"That man insulted you? Good girl, wait here. I'll personally chop off his head!"
"FATHER NO!!" she screamed, clutching his sleeve in panic. "You can beat him! You can scold him! But don't kill him!!"
The Old Fox King almost laughed.
Sure enough… trapped in love.
He felt both delighted and bitter. A father of thousands of years reduced to worrying about his daughter's crush. If Raj were weaker, he'd kill him without hesitation. If Raj were equal, he'd fight him to the death. But Raj was stronger — far stronger — and that made everything messy.
The Old Fox King sighed deeply…