Deep in the warm southern basins of the Demon Lands lay Ten-Thousand-Flower Valley. Even in the middle of winter, warm underground springs kept the valley green and blooming with red spirit-orchids and sweet peach trees.
At the top of the highest crystal pavilion in the valley reclined Su Meiniang, the Matriarch of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan. She was a Rank 6 Mid Golden Core powerhouse, and for the past three hundred years, she had held an iron grip over every luxury trade in the Southern Demon Lands. If a Wolf-Chief wanted a silk robe, he bought it from her. If a Boar-Lord wanted healing herbs or sweet wine, he paid her ten times what it was worth.
Behind her silk couch, nine long, snow-white fox tails swayed slowly through the air like soft clouds.
Right now, however, those nine white tails were bristling with anger.
“Read that ledger again, Little Red,” Su Meiniang said, her voice sweet as honey on the outside but cold as ice underneath. She crushed a jade teacup into white powder between two manicured fingers. “Tell me how much silver the northern tribes spent in our shops this month.”
At the foot of the stairs, a young three-tailed fox steward named Hu Xiaohong shivered and held up a thin account book.
