Chapter 31: “Want More?”

The little fox forcibly occupied the spot Yan Zhao had left for Bi Lan. Bi Lan couldn’t very well argue with a fox.

In terms of closeness, Bi Lan was probably far less important to Yan Zhao than this fox.

I might not even count as Junior Sister Yan’s friend, Bi Lan thought.

Yan Zhao had rolled over to the inside and didn’t open her eyes again. Naturally, she wouldn’t “seek justice” on Bi Lan’s behalf.

Bi Lan sighed helplessly, glancing at the little fox sleeping sprawled out without a care. She reached out to touch the fox’s head.

The little fox didn’t much like being touched on the head by her. It turned its head away, dodging her hand, and even snuggled a little closer to Yan Zhao.

“Clever little thing.”

Bi Lan gave her assessment and then let it be.

She turned, walked over to the low table, and found a prayer mat to sit on.

She centered herself, returning to the origin, and began meditating, drawing in spiritual qi.

After Bi Lan had entered a state of deep meditation, the little fox secretly lifted an eyelid, glancing in her direction.

Seeing that Bi Lan had honestly started cultivating, it closed its eyes and continued sleeping, without the slightest sense of guilt.

Yan Zhao slept soundly, tossing and turning randomly in the night. Her hand reached over and touched the fluffy little fox, and she naturally scooped it into her arms, holding it tight.

As if that wasn’t enough, a moment later, she leaned her head over and rested it against the fox.

Who knows what delicious things appeared in her dreams, but she kept smacking her lips and licking them. Drool dripped from the corner of her mouth, soaking the fox’s fur.

The little fox: “…”

Disgusted but speechless.

Fortunately, the night was only a few hours long. It could endure.

Day broke. It was another clear, bright blue sky.

Morning light streamed through the clouds, bathing the land, then pierced through the window, shining into the small room within the relay station.

Halfway through the Mao hour (approx. 6-7 AM), Bi Lan opened her eyes.

She stood up, glanced at Yan Zhao and the little fox sleeping in each other’s arms on the bed, and gently tiptoed out, pushing the door open.

Naturally, Yan Zhao didn’t notice a thing. But as the door opened and closed, the little fox’s ears twitched.

Once the door was shut, it opened its eyes and extricated itself from Yan Zhao’s embrace, letting out a long yawn.

On its back, a patch of fur was soaked and matted from someone’s drool, forming a fist-sized depression.

The little fox shook out its fur. The matted patch wouldn’t fluff back up.

Left with no choice, it cast a Dust-Cleansing Spell on itself. Once its fur was fluffy and pristine again, it was satisfied.

About the time it takes an incense stick to burn passed. Light footsteps echoed from outside the door. Judging by the rhythm, Bi Lan had likely returned.

Sure enough, the door was pushed open shortly after.

Bi Lan entered, carrying a food tray. It held spirit food provided by the relay station for cultivators who hadn’t yet achieved Fasting.

The little fox’s eyes grew wary: Junior Sister Bi really does have ulterior motives toward Yan Zhao.

The aroma of the spirit food on the tray wafted over. Yan Zhao’s nostrils twitched, and she woke instantly.

She sat up abruptly, just in time to see Bi Lan setting the tray down.

Hearing the movement, Bi Lan turned her head to see Yan Zhao staring fixedly at the food tray on the table, eyes filled with longing.

Like a little dog who had never had a full meal.

Bi Lan was amused by the thought that surfaced in her mind. She beckoned to Yan Zhao: “Junior Sister Yan, come have something to eat?”

Yan Zhao didn’t speak, but her actions were swift and decisive.

Bi Lan’s words had just fallen when Yan Zhao was already off the bed, sitting down on the opposite prayer mat at the table.

Her hand reached out to grab the food.

Halfway there, the little fox intercepted it.

“…”

Yan Zhao and the little fox stared at each other, eyes wide.

One hand kept pushing forward, while the other tugged her sleeve back.

Neither was willing to back down or compromise, locked in a stalemate.

So her hand seemed suspended in mid-air, unable to move for a long moment.

Bi Lan couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

This little fox was truly clever; it even understood human rituals and etiquette.

At other times, it indulged Yan Zhao completely. Only when it came to eating was it firm, insisting that Yan Zhao learn to use chopsticks.

Bi Lan sided with the little fox in this. She picked up the chopsticks next to the tray and cooperatively handed them to Yan Zhao.

Yan Zhao: “…”

One against two, her odds weren’t great.

So, reluctantly, she took the chopsticks Bi Lan offered.

Only then did the little fox let go.

Yan Zhao pouted, her cheeks puffing out in a sulk, burying her head in frustration.

But being angry didn’t stop her from eating.

Yan Zhao focused single-mindedly on her meal. Bi Lan sat beside her, propping her head on one hand and watching her eat.

Yan Zhao was clumsy with the chopsticks. Sometimes she managed to spear the food, sometimes she didn’t.

Whenever something slipped from the tips of her chopsticks, a look of utter frustration immediately appeared on her face.

Then she would doggedly redouble her efforts.

In the past, Bi Lan hadn’t noticed. But now, observing closely from up close, she realized Yan Zhao wasn’t without emotion. It was just that her emotions didn’t spread far, nor did they affect others.

She was quiet and peaceful, making no fuss, seemingly isolated from the world around her.

For her first three hundred years, she had only herself. But now, she had this little fox, too.

As Yan Zhao ate, she even used the chopsticks she wasn’t very good with to pick up a few pieces of meat and share them with the little fox.

As for Bi Lan, she didn’t even consider it.

Bi Lan couldn’t help but smile wryly.

When the meal was over, Yan Zhao put down her chopsticks. She heard Bi Lan say, “Junior Sister Yan, do you have any plans or arrangements for what comes next?”

The little fox poked its little head out from under Yan Zhao’s arm, curious to hear what Bi Lan would say.

Yan Zhao tilted her head and answered, “No.”

“In that case,” Bi Lan had already anticipated her answer and took the initiative to propose, “Word is that an Immortal’s Cave Abode has appeared on Mount Yuliang. I’d like to go take a look; maybe we can find some opportunities. If Junior Sister Yan has no other plans, why not come along?”

Last time she’d invited Yan Zhao, Yan Zhao had refused without hesitation. She wondered if, now that they were a little closer, Yan Zhao’s answer might change.

The little fox’s eyes flickered.

This was an opportunity. Though Bi Lan had ulterior motives, with it watching, it wouldn’t let her try anything funny.

Yan Zhao thought it over seriously for a moment, then asked, “Is there food inside the Immortal’s Cave Abode?”

“…”

The little fox and Bi Lan fell silent simultaneously. This child must be a starving ghost reincarnated.

Bi Lan recalled the first time she met Yan Zhao, how Yan Zhao had built a fire in the woods, set up a pot, and boiled those things. She replied hesitantly, “Perhaps there is?”

So Yan Zhao answered, “Okay.”

Bi Lan felt a bit helpless. But at the same time, she seemed to have grasped the key to getting along with Yan Zhao.

Yan Zhao, her hair a mess like a wild bird’s nest, made to head straight out the door.

Bi Lan stopped her: “Junior Sister Yan, wait. Aren’t you going to comb your hair?”

“Comb my hair?” Yan Zhao’s eyes showed confusion. “Why comb hair?”

Bi Lan was momentarily speechless, a trace of bewilderment rising in her own mind.

The past two days when she’d seen Yan Zhao, she had been neatly groomed and had even changed into clean, tidy clothes.

Behind Yan Zhao, the little fox pressed a paw to its forehead: Careless!

Bi Lan couldn’t figure it out, so she put the matter aside for now.

She took a wooden comb from her sleeve and said to Yan Zhao, “Junior Sister, please sit for a moment. I’ll help you put up your hair.”

Yan Zhao didn’t understand, but she complied. Obediently, she sat down on the prayer mat, perfectly still.

Bi Lan gathered Yan Zhao’s hair, untied the hair tie that had already loosened at the end, and carefully combed it with the wooden comb.

Yan Zhao’s hair only looked messy. In truth, it was very smooth, fine, and soft. A light pass of the comb was enough to make it perfectly neat.

The little fox watched from the side, thinking: Being uncharacteristically attentive—there must be an ulterior motive.

Naturally, Yan Zhao’s hair needed combing. Since it couldn’t do it itself, it had no choice but to let Bi Lan curry favor.

While Bi Lan busied herself, Yan Zhao sat there feeling a bit bored. She took out her map to see where Mount Yuliang was.

In a moment of carelessness, the demon core Tushan Yu had given her last night fell out and rolled right up to the little fox’s feet.

“Ah.” Yan Zhao exclaimed, immediately moving to pick it up.

Her sudden movement caught Bi Lan off guard; Bi Lan was still holding her hair.

Thus, Yan Zhao’s hair was pulled, causing her pain. She plopped back down onto the prayer mat.

Bi Lan was startled: “Junior Sister Yan, are you alright?”

Yan Zhao didn’t answer her. She got up again to retrieve the demon core.

Meanwhile, the little fox looked down at the demon core that had rolled to its feet.

It was a Water-Attribute Demon Core. A ray of sunlight streamed through the window, penetrating the core and casting a brilliant Indigo-blue luster.

It looked to be of no low tier—likely a Fourth Tier Demon Core, produced by a Golden Core Stage Spirit Beast.

Talk about a pillow delivered just as you’re feeling drowsy.

She had been previously injured by Immortal Venerable Daoling, a cultivator of the Mahayana Realm, and later ambushed by assassins, severely depleting her vital energy. The spiritual qi outside her sect was too thin, so her injuries had never healed.

She had a single Ice Spiritual Root; what she lacked most was Water-Attribute spiritual qi.

Yan Zhao reached the fox and was about to bend down.

Chomp! The little fox gulped down the demon core that had landed right before its mouth.

Yan Zhao: “Huh?”

Her fox had eaten her demon core.

Yan Zhao was utterly shocked. That was a Fourth Tier Demon Core!

Eaten by the fox, just like that!

“Spit it out, quick!”

Yan Zhao grabbed the little fox and tried to pry its mouth open.

The little fox’s mouth fell open, its little tongue lolling out.

There was no trace of the demon core left.

Yan Zhao: “…”

A laugh sounded from behind her. Bi Lan truly couldn’t hold it in anymore; she couldn’t stop laughing.

Ever since she’d known Yan Zhao, it had always been Yan Zhao snatching other people’s food. When had she ever been the one robbed?

She never expected this. Indeed, every creature meets its match.

The little fox felt offended. It shook its head, forcefully breaking free from Yan Zhao’s hands.

So what if I ate one of your demon cores? What are you gonna do about it?

Yan Zhao crouched on the floor in silence for a long time.

The little fox met her gaze, head held high, feeling absolutely no guilt.

Bi Lan thought Yan Zhao was upset and spoke up to ease the atmosphere: “There should be plenty of demon beasts inside the Immortal Ruins. We can just hunt some more then.”

Yan Zhao, however, said, “So you like eating these.”

This was naturally directed at the fox.

She had panicked earlier, fearing that the little fox swallowing the demon core might harm it. But looking now, it seemed to be fine.

The little fox blinked.

Yan Zhao then took out her last demon core and asked, “Want more?”

This one was a Fire-Attribute core, incompatible with the Water attribute. The little fox turned its head away, indicating it didn’t need it.

Yan Zhao put the fire demon core back into her pocket and walked back to Bi Lan.

She sat back down properly, letting Bi Lan continue combing her hair.

Bi Lan, however, cast a thoughtful glance at the little fox.

She hadn’t reacted before, but now that she thought about it, it was indeed strange.

That was a Fourth Tier Demon Core! For an ordinary demon beast, swallowing a demon core exceeding its own cultivation level could easily cause bodily rejection and backlash. Yet the little fox had eaten it without any adverse effects at all. Truly bizarre.

However, Bi Lan didn’t dwell on it for too long.

After all, she had personally witnessed Yan Zhao eating random things. So, if the spirit pet she raised was a bit strange, wasn’t that also fairly normal?

After helping Yan Zhao comb her hair, it was still not yet the Si hour (approx. 9-11 AM).

Just as they were leaving the relay station, a sudden clamor arose.

They saw a small troop of men aggressively thundering down the main street, passing right by the relay station entrance.

The man leading them had a bruised and swollen face. Although his appearance was somewhat distorted, Yan Zhao still recognized him. It was the profiteer from yesterday, the one who had tried to deceive her with a tampered demon core.

Yan Zhao stopped in her tracks, her nose twitching.

These people… they had demon cores on them, too.