Noticing that the conversation had taken a turn for the worse, Bai Zhang's brows drew into a subtle frown. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, contemplating any possible ways to assist his son.
There was the sect's upcoming tournament...
"The Forgotten Waters sect has a once-a-century tournament, and it is nearing," he mentioned. "Usually, the sect allows inner disciples, skilled in combat, to spar against each other. The winner is sent on to a championship tournament against allied, prominent and righteous sects. Such an opportunity would be ideal for Li Meirong, had she any knowledge of martial arts. I fear it would be… inappropriate to make her battle without at least a decade's training. Why not head back to the clan, and I shall train my daughter-in-law. By the time you return within a few years, she should have progressed her cultivation a bit further."
"Absolutely not!" Bai Qingyue exclaimed, thumping a paw on his chair.
He had only recently left her for a short while, and his wife had already managed to attract vermin!
"My wife is not useless. She has her own special merits and will be more than qualified to attend the tournament," he added haughtily. He would make sure of it – the faster, the better. "I refuse to wait thousands of years for her to turn into an immortal."
"…" Bai Zhang despaired silently. His son was certainly deluding himself.
Li Meirong had neither the innate foundation nor the passion for spiritual cultivation, and in the short amount of time she had lived in the sect, she had not once shown displeasure in her servant's position. Not once had she complained, nor had she aspired to reach the inner disciples' classes as many other servants attempted to do.
No, she seemed all too content with her life. It was a miracle that she even managed to reach the second stage of cultivation, and even that was due to Bai Qingyue's trickery, his attempt to defy heavenly rules.
Honestly, Bai Zhang was unsure whether to sympathize with Bai Qingyue or Li Meirong. It deemed that even between a fortuitous, fated couple, there were still many issues left unresolved.
Still, he could recognise a dead end when he reached it, and so Bai Zhang promptly initiated his spiritual energy transfer to his son.
Aware that Li Meirong may return at any given moment, Bai Zhang masked his appearance once more. He took on the same human appearance he had been using for years, and then summoned a recliner with a mere tap of his fingers. He positioned the chair near Bai Qingyue and sat as close as possible to the fox cub. Bai Zhang placed his palm on the silver-furred back of his son and focused on the circulation of his qi as he transferred his cultivated energy to Bai Qingyue.
Bai Qingyue absorbed the power from the qi transfer in comfort, his spiritual essence rejuvenated further with every passing second. It may be a difficult process to receive godly qi from a stranger, but the qi of his own father was absorbed effortlessly. His immortal core sucked in the onslaught of power until he felt almost intoxicated by it.
The small, adorable cub vanished entirely. Bai Qingyue's fox form took on a shimmering glow the moment enough energy had been transferred to him, and his body reshaped itself into that of a stunningly beautiful man. His animal eyes transformed into seductive, slightly narrowed ones with upturned outer corners; his dark snout shifted to a high-bridged, straight nose; the small, furry hind legs morphed into long, smooth, muscular limbs.
Bai Qingyue's fox-like ears and tails remained hidden, allowing him to pass as a full human with only his starch hair and luminous eyes marking his non-human heritage.
The corners of his thin lips tilted upwards into a subtle smile, silver strands of flowing hair falling into his face and cloaking his golden eyes. Revitalized, and able to feel a tremendous amount of energy swimming just beneath the surface of his skin, Bai Qingyue's contempt towards his father lessened significantly. He may have been a terrible Sovereign Lord, but as a father, he had assisted him in his time of need.
The feeling of a silken cloth draping over his shoulders had Bai Qingyue turning, greeted by the sight of a black outer garment of some sort covering his exposed back. Bai Zhang's face was significantly paler than it had been, and his breathing much heavier.
For the person providing the energy in a transfer, the effects were much harder to handle; Bai Zhang would need to rest, and cultivate, to recuperate properly.
Bai Zhang summoned a stack of robes, the same sort as the garments belonging to the disciples of the sect.
"Dress yourself," he told his son. "Your wife will be returning soon." The reminder had Bai Qingyue ceasing his disdainful frown at the garments, and he relented to the necessity brought about by circumstance.
He sighed as he garbed himself in the sect robes. The sleeves were long and wide, with an open, cross-collar shirt and a matching sash to secure the separate pieces. Once clothed, Bai Qingyue donned the black outer garment over the top.
It was not long before they settled again, as though nothing grand had occurred. Father and son stared at each other from equal height, standing side by side.
"Will you tell my daughter-in-law of her identity today?" Bai Zhang asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Averting his gaze as he thought, Bai Qingyue swept his hair back and contemplated his next course of action. He had grown tired of pretending to be 'Snowball', yet he had an uncomfortable feeling that Li Meirong would not jump happily into his arms upon learning the truth.
The woman's thoughts were… difficult to perceive, at times. He would prefer to acquire information first, and then admit his identity when certain he would succeed in his endeavour.
"I shall speak with her tonight, and should all go well, inform her by tomorrow."
Bai Zhang nodded, understanding and sympathetic.
Seeing Bai Qingyue's human form bearing such a striking resemblance to his own had Bai Zhang feeling certain that his child had received the best of both families from which he had been born.
He had the domineering presence of a Sovereign Lord, yet his features also held the seductive softness from his mother's side. With such a handsome face and peerless bearing, Little Qingyue should have no trouble gaining his wife's affections, though Bai Zhang did agree with his son's concerns – there were exceptions to everything.
They may be gods, their appearance and status the dream of almost every mortal, but there were still those select stubborn few who refused the courtship of a Bai Clan member when they met their fated person. The curse only affected their clan, which made the foxes desperate to keep their partner's feelings for themselves.
After all, there was nothing worse than being eternally caught in a one-sided love affair.
The father and son pair continued conversing, trading important information. Bai Qingyue kept his answers brief, but he nonetheless replied to all his father's questions about the clan.
Amidst their discussion, a gentle knock sounded from the entrance to the chamber. Bai Qingyue's heart began to race, and he held a hand to his chest as if to still the organ, grasping his robes.
Li Meirong materialized directly outside the Grandmaster's study, carrying a platter with a tea service and a plate of pastries. Unable to directly access the room due to the barrier, despite the teleportation stone, she tapped her dainty fingers against the door, and waited.