Chapter 1179: Young Master Lei
Bai Jiumeng was wearing a mask, so outsiders couldn't discern her expression at that moment. However, the doubt in her tone was remarkably obvious.
The man naturally also caught the doubt in Bai Jiumeng's voice. Based on his judgment, he believed Bai Jiumeng wasn't feigning ignorance but genuinely unaware of the situation.
Since the other party was unaware, it meant they hadn't deliberately intended to bring outsiders into Snow Fox Mountain. Realizing this, the man's grim expression softened slightly.
Furthermore, though the man couldn't see Bai Jiumeng's face, her height, build, and voice evoked a sense of familiarity, though he couldn't quite place who it was that felt so familiar.
The man didn't waste time pondering it. Since the other person was clearly from his own White Fox Clan, it was plausible he had encountered them before. Feeling a sense of déjà vu about this person was truly nothing strange and there was no need to spend time tracing its origins, as that wasn't his immediate task.
"It seems you've been away from Snow Fox Mountain for quite some time, and thus are unaware that our rules have changed. You're right, outsiders used to be able to enter Snow Fox Mountain with a clan member's guarantee, but that's no longer the case. A while ago, the patriarch issued an order strictly prohibiting any outsiders from entering Snow Fox Mountain. Therefore, these two cannot enter Snow Fox Mountain; they must leave immediately."
Although Bai Jiumeng gave the man a sense of familiarity, he didn't waver. Instead, he immediately issued an order for them to leave, his vigilance towards Bai Xue and Luo Xue not diminishing in the slightest.
Upon hearing the man's words, Bai Jiumeng's mood immediately soured. Bai Xue and Luo Xue had traveled such a great distance to accompany her to Snow Fox Mountain, only to be turned away right after arriving. How Bai Xue and Luo Xue would feel was one thing, but she, for her part, simply could not accept this outcome.
Bai Jiumeng said in a low voice, her tone clearly displeased. The man's brows furrowed. His expression, which had just softened, turned grim once more upon hearing Bai Jiumeng's words.
"They might be your friends, but whether they are friends to all of Snow Fox Mountain, I cannot say. What I do know is that you don't represent Snow Fox Mountain. The entire New Beginning Realm is in turmoil right now, and our Snow Fox Mountain is also a target for many forces seeking to annex us. If these two are not friends of Snow Fox Mountain, but rather spies sent by enemies, and I disregard the rules to let them in, wouldn't that bring ruin upon our entire Snow Fox Mountain?"
The man responded coldly, his words sharp and showing no intention of yielding.
"You!"
Bai Jiumeng was left speechless by the man's retort, a surge of annoyance welling up within her. As a Demon King, to be rendered speechless by a mere minor demon—how could she not feel a shred of anger?
Though a flicker of anger burned within her, accompanied by a sense of being wronged, Bai Jiumeng had no intention of striking the man. One reason was that he was of the same clan; another was that his words, from his perspective, were not entirely unreasonable, making his concerns perfectly rational.
"Handsome sir," Bai Xue began, "we are certainly not the spies you speak of. It's true we are Jiumeng's friends, but we also wish to become friends with the entire White Fox Clan, so you needn't worry about us bringing harm to Snow Fox Mountain. If you can't make the decision on this matter, you can report it to your superiors and see what they have to say."
Seeing Bai Jiumeng at a loss for words after the man's retort, Bai Xue immediately opened her mouth with a seductive smile, seamlessly taking over. Her voice was alluring and enchanting, causing the man's heart to flutter and his grim expression to noticeably improve.
However, the man suddenly seemed to recall something. His expression changed again, his gaze fixing on Bai Xue. This time, his face didn't turn grim; instead, it contorted in shock.
Bai Xue saw the man staring at her with a shocked expression. She initially thought he had realized and was stunned by the powerful allure in her voice, but that wasn't the case. What truly shocked the man was something else entirely.
"Did you just say 'Jiumeng'? " the man asked. "Are you referring to Bai Jiumeng of our White Fox Clan?"
Bai Xue considered his question for a moment, then nodded simply and directly at the man. She felt there was nothing to hide, and since Bai Jiumeng had already returned to Snow Fox Mountain, concealment was pointless, so she chose to admit it outright.
Seeing Bai Xue nod, the man seemed to guess something, and with a look of astonishment, he turned his gaze back to Bai Jiumeng.
"Could it be. . . could you be. . ."
Before the man could finish his sentence, Bai Jiumeng took off her mask, revealing a stunning, peerless face that defied belief.
"That's right, I am Bai Jiumeng."
The man was already dumbfounded the moment Bai Jiumeng removed her mask. As for Bai Jiumeng's verbal confirmation, the man, still reeling in shock, didn't register a single word.
However, the man quickly snapped out of his shock and, in front of Bai Jiumeng and the other two, conjured a Communication Talisman.
At this moment, the man finally understood why he had felt a sense of familiarity towards Bai Jiumeng while she was masked. It was because Bai Jiumeng was widely recognized as the White Fox Clan's most beautiful woman, and he had been fortunate enough to see her twice within the clan. Thus, he had a certain impression of her height, figure, and voice, but he had never truly interacted with her. Therefore, he recognized Bai Jiumeng, but Bai Jiumeng did not know him.
The man conjured the Communication Talisman, a scene all three — Bai Xue, Luo Xue, and Bai Jiumeng — witnessed. Yet, none of them stopped him, for in the current situation, the man informing his superiors via the Communication Talisman was precisely what they wished to see. Otherwise, the man would likely insist on Bai Xue and Luo Xue leaving Snow Fox Mountain.
After casting the Communication Talisman, the man's emotions gradually stabilized. He no longer coldly urged Bai Xue and Luo Xue to leave. He remained silent, merely gazing intently at Bai Jiumeng, though his eyes held not admiration, but an indescribable strangeness.
"Jiumeng," Bai Xue whispered, "the way he's looking at you is a bit off. It seems a lot has happened here since you left Snow Fox Mountain that you might not know about, so you should be careful."
Bai Xue noticed the man's strange gaze, and, worried Bai Jiumeng might suffer, couldn't help but whisper a warning to her.
Bai Jiumeng nodded slightly upon hearing this. Her expression also turned serious, losing the relaxed ease she had felt upon first entering Snow Fox Mountain.
Shortly after the man sent out his Communication Talisman, several streaks of green light rapidly shot from the distance, stopping in front of Bai Xue and the two others in a blink of an eye. Leading them was a man who appeared to be around Bai Jiumeng's age.
This man's appearance and build were entirely ordinary. In terms of looks alone, he was far inferior to the handsome gatekeeper. Yet, sometimes looks aren't everything. When the good-looking gatekeeper saw this ordinary-looking man appear, he quickly bowed and retreated to the back, his attitude extremely respectful. The others who had arrived with this man also maintained a certain distance, not out of disdain, but out of reverence.
"Jiumeng, you're finally back! If you hadn't returned soon, I was preparing to go down the mountain myself to find you!"
The man leading the group spoke to Bai Jiumeng with an excited expression. The smile had already appeared on his face as he rushed over, and when he arrived and saw that Bai Jiumeng had indeed returned, his smile immediately grew wider and his emotions became even more agitated.
Bai Jiumeng's brow furrowed slightly. While her face didn't explicitly show disgust, the slight frown was enough to indicate that she didn't hold much affection for the man before her.
"Come, come, let's leave this place first. We can discuss other matters in detail once we're back at your home."
Before Bai Jiumeng could speak, the man, full of excitement, spoke again, as if every word he didn't say to Bai Jiumeng would be a great loss.
Bai Jiumeng had intended to refuse, but considering that she indeed needed someone to explain the situation, and the man had also mentioned going back to *her* home, not *his*, she did not reject his suggestion.
"Alright. However, these two friends from outside our clan have shown me great kindness. I specifically invited them to be guests on Snow Fox Mountain this time, and I wish to take them back with me."
Bai Jiumeng glanced at Bai Xue and Luo Xue, then turned her gaze back to the man and spoke.
The man, who had been full of excited smiles, heard Bai Jiumeng's words and his grin immediately lessened. He swept a glance over Bai Xue and Luo Xue, then gritted his teeth, making a decision in his heart.
"Alright," he said. "Normally, such a thing is absolutely forbidden, as our Snow Fox Mountain now strictly prohibits any outsiders from entering. But since they are your friends, Jiumeng, I will make an exception and bring them in!"
No sooner had the man's words fallen than the gatekeeper's expression changed, and he quickly spoke up.
"Young Master Lei. . ."
The gatekeeper had barely uttered the words "Young Master Lei" when he was cut off by the man's icy voice.
"I will report this matter to the patriarch. You needn't worry about it. Even if the patriarch does hold it against me, I, Bai Lei, will bear the responsibility alone; it will not implicate you."
Young Master Bai Lei, when addressing the gatekeeper, was far from the gentle demeanor he showed towards Bai Jiumeng. Not only was his face devoid of any smile, but he also directly issued orders to the gatekeeper in an icy tone.
Seeing that Bai Lei had spoken so definitively, the gatekeeper naturally dared not utter another word, quickly agreeing and then falling silent.
Bai Lei turned around and once again fixed his gaze on Bai Jiumeng, his face instantly resuming its excited and brilliant smile. The speed of his facial change was astonishing.
"Let's go, Jiumeng. Your parents will surely be overjoyed to see you back!"
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