Chapter 9: “This Fox Stays.”

Thanks to Yan Zhao, Ren Qingyue experienced crawling through a dog hole for the first time in her life.

Yan Zhao swiftly scrambled through the opening and arrived outside the storehouse.

The storehouse door was secured with an iron lock. Yan Zhao tried pushing and pulling it, but it didn’t budge.

Peering through the crack in the door, she saw several large vats lined up on the left side of the room, with over a hundred wine jars stacked nearby. On the right side were countless burlap sacks piled high, and several blackened slabs of dried meat hung from the ceiling beam.

Without a doubt, this was the bandit stronghold’s granary.

A small skylight had been installed on the right side of the roof, but it was even smaller than the dog hole. Yan Zhao measured it with her eyes and grimaced. “Can’t fit through that.”

Little Fox poked her head out from Yan Zhao’s collar, thinking to herself: Black Sky Tyrant isn’t even in there anyway.

Yan Zhao’s chin was tickled by the fox’s fur. Suddenly, she fished Little Fox out of her pocket and ran her hand over her from head to tail.

Little Fox’s fur instantly puffed up: What are you doing?!

Yan Zhao grinned brightly. “I can’t get in, but you can. I’m not greedy—just go grab me those few pieces of dried meat.”

Little Fox: “???”

Yan Zhao counted on her fingers: “One, two, three… there are twenty pieces. Go get them, and we’ll split it eighty-twenty.”

Little Fox was incredulous, her emerald-like eyes widening: You want me to help you steal? And an eighty-twenty split?!

She didn’t answer, but Yan Zhao took that as a yes. She skillfully climbed onto the roof, edged close to the skylight, then grabbed Little Fox by the tail and lowered her inside, setting her down on the ceiling beam.

Little Fox: “…”

It seemed that if she didn’t go get the meat, Yan Zhao wouldn’t let her back up.

What a humiliation!

The fox was so furious her teeth itched.

The bandits were gradually starting to return. Although Yan Zhao’s hiding spot was concealed, she couldn’t stay long for fear of being discovered. She poked her head through the skylight and urged, “Hurry up!”

Little Fox swiftly snatched up two pieces of meat, trying to convince herself: The bandits’ food was stolen anyway!

Yan Zhao waited a moment, then her eyes suddenly lit up.

A furry tail-tip appeared beneath the skylight, swishing left and right.

Yan Zhao grabbed her by the tail and pulled her out. Glancing at the fox’s haul, she wasn’t very satisfied. “Only two pieces?”

Little Fox rolled her eyes: Take it or leave it.

Yan Zhao was about to try the same trick again when the fox suddenly jumped onto her back, grabbed the hem of her robe in her teeth, and pulled her down from the roof.

A bandit heard a noise. “What was that sound?!”

Yan Zhao, clutching the fox, hid in the shadow of the eaves and kept silent.

The bandits looked around but found nothing. “Probably just rats.”

Yan Zhao stowed the two pieces of cured meat. She hid for a while longer, waiting until the bandits’ suspicions faded, before stealthily skirting the fence to relocate.

Her next target was the kitchen.

The sky was gradually darkening. On the mountaintop, the distant sunset was still visible.

The eastern sky was a hazy, greyish blue, while the west blazed bright with fiery evening clouds. A distinct dividing line appeared between heaven and earth.

The transition between day and night was when visibility was poorest, and the best time to fish in troubled waters.

Smoke curled from the kitchen chimney. The bandits had set up a long table in the yard, and dozens of them were gathered around eating dinner in a boisterous, lively atmosphere.

Yan Zhao crouched outside the kitchen window, secretly peeking inside.

“Is it ready yet? Why’s it so slow today? Usually, the Boss has had three rounds of drinks by now. Hurry up and get it ready so I can take it to her!” The speaker was a young girl, leaning on the counter and urging the food along.

The girl was also dressed like a bandit, but far more neatly than the men outside in the yard. Her beautiful hair was combed perfectly, she had bright eyes and white teeth, and she wore a pendant of red crystal around her neck.

A beast fang dangled on either side of the pendant, lending a touch of wild, untamed strength to her pretty appearance.

The cooks behind the stove quickened their pace, not offended but cheerfully teasing her. “We know you care about our Head Chief, but you can’t be so biased!”

“Exactly!” another cook chimed in. “We had two thieves sneak up the mountain today! They claimed to be immortals from the Fuyun Sect. Pah! Immortals aren’t that shifty-eyed. They must’ve learned some swindling tricks somewhere, injured several of our brothers, and that’s why we’re so busy we haven’t even eaten yet!”

The girl’s interest perked up at this. “I heard those two thieves were pretty tough? So, who finally subdued them in the end?”

The cooks burst out laughing. “Look at you, acting all smug. Asking a question you already know the answer to—aren’t you just fishing for compliments? You’re amazing, girl! Been learning from the Boss for less than a year, and your archery’s good enough to graduate!”

The girl laughed along, a faint blush coloring her round cheeks. She grinned and feigned modesty. “It’s all because the Boss is a great teacher.”

The head cook separately prepared two portions of food, packing them into an extra-large food box. As he worked, he sighed in admiration. “Have to say, the girls in our stronghold are one smarter than the other!”

Little Fox rested her head on the windowsill. Watching the harmonious atmosphere inside, a trace of confusion appeared in her eyes.

Once the food box was ready, the girl thanked the cooks. She hefted the box in one hand, grabbed a jar of wine in the other, and hurried off toward the main tent with swift, forceful strides.

Her frame was small, but her strength was considerable.

As she passed through the yard, the men whistled and catcalled: “Girl, don’t just deliver to the Boss, we’re starving too!”

Before the words finished, Smack! The wine bowl in his hand was pierced by an arrow shot from out of nowhere.

The arrowhead embedded itself half an inch into the table’s edge, its shaft still vibrating. It was less than a foot from his chest.

The surrounding laughter abruptly cut off. Everyone turned their heads in unison.

The girl’s lips twitched, wanting to smile. She felt sweetness in her heart, but also thought that person’s handling of things was just a little extreme. She sidestepped slightly to block the light shining from the main tent, and said to the men whose courage was amplified by drink: “I suggest you all drink a little less.”

The man sobered up considerably, his face instantly turning pale. He scrambled to his feet, and with a thud, dropped to his knees facing the main tent. “I was wrong! I was wrong! I’ll never drink again!”

The girl wasted no more time, and carried the food box quickly into the main tent.

The cooks came out with the food. They also pulled the kneeling man to his feet, patting him on the shoulder: “You’re pretty bold, huh? Stirring up trouble with the Tai Sui himself? Tired of living?”

The man knew he’d made a grave mistake, but could only swallow his grievances.

“It’s fine!” everyone comforted him. “You just can’t leave the mountain for the next half year. Wash our socks for a month, and we’ll put in a good word for you!”

The people around him echoed the suggestion, laughing uproariously.

The man glared furiously. “Get lost! Kicking a man when he’s down—are we even brothers?!”

“Hahahaha!!!”

Dinner began in the yard, and the lively atmosphere quickly returned. The previous incident hadn’t left much of an impression.

Yan Zhao stared at the pots on the stove, gulping down saliva.

Seeing that no one would likely enter the kitchen for a while, she pushed open the kitchen window, stepped onto the sill, and nimbly flipped inside.

Little Fox felt despair settle in.

Having experienced her methods a few times now, she could roughly guess what Yan Zhao was about to do.

Sure enough, Yan Zhao sidled up to the stove and lifted one of the lids.

Inside the pot was a stew of pork bones, the meat cooked until it fell off the bone. A thick, rich broth filled the pot halfway, its aroma wafting into the air.

The fox’s nose twitched instinctively.

Utterly unconcerned with manners, Yan Zhao reached in and grabbed a piece of meat.

She took a bite, so fragrant she nearly swallowed her own tongue along with it.

“This is amazing.” Yan Zhao gave it the highest praise. “Better than grilled fish.”

Saying this, she tore off a piece and offered it to Little Fox. “Want to try?”

A battle raged in the fox’s heart.

Surprised, Yan Zhao asked, “Really not eating? Don’t regret it!”

She started to pull her hand back.

Suddenly, the fox darted her neck forward and snatched the meat from Yan Zhao’s hand.

Yan Zhao’s eyes curved in delight. “Knew you couldn’t resist!”

The meat dangling from her mouth, Little Fox sank into a brief silence.

“…”

What had she just done?

Her mouth moved slightly, the rich juices dripping onto her tongue.

So delicious.

By the time she came to her senses, Yan Zhao had already finished every last drop of the broth from the pot.

Footsteps sounded outside the kitchen. A cook was coming in to get more dishes. There was no time to escape back through the window.

Yan Zhao quickly clapped the lid back on the pot, turned, and ducked under the stove, covering herself with firewood.

The cook added two dishes to his tray, then set about ladling soup. Lifting the lid, he found nothing inside.

Wondering if the pot had sprung a leak, he bent down to check and found several bones, gnawed completely clean, on the floor.

The truth was glaringly obvious: a giant rat had gotten into the kitchen.

It had stolen the entire pot’s contents!

The cook unleashed a torrent of curses: “Who’s this rotten scoundrel?! You better not let me catch you!”

Little Fox buried her head in shame. From the corner of her eye, she saw Yan Zhao’s utterly nonchalant expression, followed by her licking her lips with satisfaction. A wave of fury washed over Little Fox.

Baring her teeth, Chomp!

Yan Zhao suddenly winced in pain, but didn’t dare make a sound.

Once the cook had carried the dishes out, Yan Zhao flipped out the window and hid in the shadows behind the building.

Finally free, she pulled Little Fox from her robes and held her up, pointing a finger at her nose: “You ungrateful fox! I feed you, I take care of you, and you bite me?”

She pulled open her collar. A clear imprint of teeth was visible where her neck met her shoulder.

The skin wasn’t broken, but it was already bruising.

The fox turned her head away, exuding pure defiance.

Yan Zhao’s mind whirred: “Are you mad because you think I hogged all the good stuff and didn’t give you enough?”

The fox was stunned.

“You can’t calculate it that way!” Yan Zhao reasoned with the fox. “At the speed you eat, we would have been caught ages ago!”

Little Fox: “…”

As they spoke, a sudden shriek came from the kitchen behind them.

A small, dark shape squeezed through a gap in the window lattice. Its foot slipped, and by a stroke of rotten luck, it dropped right onto Yan Zhao’s head.

Yan Zhao flinched, grabbing it by the tail.

At the same moment, the window flew open. A pair of bright, sparkling eyes looked down, meeting Yan Zhao’s gaze directly.

The girl cried out in alarm: “Who are you?!”

Yan Zhao blinked, said nothing, and tossed the wriggling rat back inside.

The rat landed on the girl’s shoulder.

“AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!”

Yan Zhao scrambled to her feet and ran.

Every bandit in the stronghold was alerted and swarmed after her in pursuit.

Suddenly, a sharp whistle ripped through the air behind her. A bamboo arrow came flying, crossing several yards in an instant to close in on Yan Zhao.

The fox’s head poked out from Yan Zhao’s shoulder. She blew a breath at the incoming arrow.

A chill spread, freezing the arrowhead solid in a block of ice.

The bamboo arrow struck Yan Zhao, but inflicted no real damage. It felt like being hit by a small pebble in the back.

Inside the main tent, the archer lowered their longbow and raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

·

An incense stick’s time later, Yan Zhao was bound tightly and escorted to the main tent.

The main tent was swept clean and brightly lit. Unexpectedly, the person sitting in the seat of honor was a woman.

A woman with heroic features, her hair cut short to her ears, leaving only a single braid at the back.

The young girl who had discovered Yan Zhao was currently complaining to the woman: “Boss, this little thief came out of who-knows-where! She stole our things, and even threw a rat at me! You have to teach her a good lesson!”

The woman seated above wore clothing sewn from wolf pelts, a bow resting at her side. Though she examined Yan Zhao with a scrutinizing gaze, a faint smile played at the corner of her mouth.

After the girl beside her finished, she asked, “What did she steal?”

The girl pouted: “Two pieces of meat are missing from the storehouse. And she stole a whole pot of soup.”

The woman almost laughed.

She asked Yan Zhao, “Are you also a disciple of the Fuyun Sect?”

Although the original color of Yan Zhao’s clothes was almost unrecognizable, they were still cut in the standard Fuyun Sect disciple robe style. Yet, Yan Zhao was different from the other two Fuyun Sect disciples she had met today.

Not only was her appearance disheveled, but her methods of doing things were also baffling.

To sneak into the stronghold silently showed considerable skill, yet all she’d stolen were two pieces of meat and a pot of soup.

Yan Zhao just scowled. No matter what the woman asked, she didn’t say a single word.

“Could she be mute?” the woman mused, resting her chin on her hand. She instructed the girl beside her, “Ah Ling, go see what she’s hiding in her clothes.”

Yan Zhao’s expression finally changed. She twisted and turned, trying to avoid being touched.

Seeing her uncooperative, the nearby bandits held her down, pinning her limbs so she couldn’t move.

The girl called Ah Ling walked up to Yan Zhao, first shooting her a glare. The memory of the rat still made her shudder.

Yan Zhao frowned, her face dark and sullen.

Ah Ling reached out to feel Yan Zhao’s pocket, but to her surprise, she touched something alive.

“Ahh!!”

Startled, the furry, warm sensation rekindled her unease.

The woman above asked her, “What is it?”

Ah Ling shook her head: “I don’t know!”

The woman shot a glance at a nearby henchman. The man understood, and forcefully yanked open Yan Zhao’s lapels.

In front of everyone’s eyes, a fox tail fell out from within Yan Zhao’s clothes.

Ah Ling froze.

The bandit pulling at Yan Zhao’s clothes suddenly grunted in pain, releasing Yan Zhao and stumbling back several steps.

He looked down. Two distinct puncture wounds marked his palm.

He’d been bitten by the fox.

The little fox could hide no longer. She simply jumped out of Yan Zhao’s arms, all her fur standing on end as she shielded Yan Zhao behind her.

Ah Ling finally recovered. Surprised, she exclaimed, “A fox?”

Yan Zhao violently broke free from those holding her and lunged forward to hug the little fox.

The woman above watched this scene with intrigued amusement. After a moment, she snapped her fingers and proposed: “How about this? I won’t hold your theft against you. I can even let you leave. However…”

“This fox stays.”