It seemed the old man could sense Yun Qingxue’s skepticism, so he quickly explained, “Your Majesty, Flower King, please do not doubt. This is indeed a descendant of our Six-Tailed Flower Foxes, and a rare anomaly within our clan!
This child was born with pure fur and possesses ten tails. If properly nurtured, it will surely achieve greatness in the future!”
“So… you’re suggesting I take this little one with me?” Yun Qingxue raised an eyebrow in response.
“Yes,” the old man admitted frankly. “Back then, we risked everything to hide it from discovery. Even after death, our spirits lingered here, all in the hope of finding a trustworthy person to take this child away—so that the last trace of our Six-Tailed Flower Fox bloodline may endure!”
Yun Qingxue carefully examined the little fox in the old man’s hands.
It was tiny, adorable, and had been sleeping peacefully all this time.
“Please, Your Majesty, take this child with you!” The old man knelt again, holding the fox out to her.
Yun Qingxue frowned in hesitation. Her master had sent her here for training, and many unknowns still lay ahead. Protecting Daisi, who had no magical abilities, was already a distraction. Adding this harmless, soft little creature to the mix…
She feared she might fail to keep it safe. If anything happened to the last remnant of their bloodline under her care, her conscience would never be at peace.
“Elder, it’s not that I refuse, but I was sent here with no guarantee of my own safety or future. I worry I may fail in fulfilling your trust,” Yun Qingxue said bluntly.
“Ah!” The old man sighed. “Your Majesty, do not worry. If this child does not survive, it will simply be fate—a sign that the heavens have decreed the end of our Six-Tailed Flower Fox lineage. We spirits would never blame you. Instead, we would be eternally grateful for your kindness today!”
“Then… very well.” Since he had put it that way, Yun Qingxue felt it would be too heartless to refuse.
“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your boundless mercy! In our next lives, we shall repay you even if it means weaving grass into rings!” The old man kowtowed fervently, and the others followed suit.
Yun Qingxue bent down and reached out to take the little fox, but the old man still held on.
She paused in surprise.
The old man gazed at the creature in his arms and said, “The outside world is fraught with danger. Once this child leaves here, it will rely entirely on Your Majesty’s protection. Therefore, I hope you will form a contract with it. If fate allows it to remain by your side, let it serve you in gratitude!”
“Elder, are you certain? Once the contract is made, this little one will be bound to me as its master for life, never to betray me!” Yun Qingxue frowned. The thought of binding their last descendant as her servant left a bitter taste in her heart.
“We are certain,” the old man affirmed.
As he spoke, Yun Qingxue glanced around and saw the spirits of the entire Flower Fox clan watching her intently.
“Very well.” She nodded slowly. Drawing from her past experience of contracting with the water tribe’s A’Dai, she stepped forward and effortlessly formed the pact with the little fox.
Once the ritual was complete, a petal-shaped mark appeared on the snow-white fur between the fox’s brows. As the bond settled, the sleeping creature slowly opened its eyes.
They were round, dark, and beautiful—like glistening grapes—filled with an innocent, dewy charm.
“Li’er, from now on, you shall follow Her Majesty the Flower King. Be obedient and serve her well.”
Seeing the fox awaken, the old man gazed at it with deep affection but spoke in a solemn tone.
The little fox blinked its moist eyes at him and licked his slightly rough hand with its tiny tongue.
The old man stroked its head lovingly and murmured, “Live well… live well.”
“Whimper~” The fox let out a soft cry.
Taking a deep breath, the old man steeled himself and handed the fox to Yun Qingxue, refusing to look at its pitiful expression. “It’s getting late, Your Majesty. Please take Liuli and leave now.”
“Let me out!!!” Just as the old man finished speaking, the imposter Yun Qingxue had earlier trapped in a vine cage suddenly screamed through tears.
“Ah!” The old man turned to Yun Qingxue. “Your Majesty, please release her… so she may bid farewell to her child.”
Surprise flickered in Yun Qingxue’s eyes. She hadn’t realized the first imposter was actually the little fox’s parent!
With a wave of her hand, she dispelled the vines. The three Six-Tailed Foxes trapped in the cage had reverted to their true forms—a graceful woman, a handsome middle-aged man, and a young boy of about twelve.
The three approached, and the woman took the little fox from Yun Qingxue’s hands. She pressed her face against its fur, murmuring tearfully, “Li’er, my Li’er!!!”
“Ah…” The old man sighed again, his eyes glistening. He turned to Yun Qingxue and presented a transparent, egg-sized pearl retrieved earlier from the tree hollow. “This is a treasure of our Six-Tailed Fox clan. Today, I gift it to Your Majesty, hoping it may aid you in the future.”
Yun Qingxue accepted it with both hands. The old man then turned to the weeping family and said, “It is time.”
Hearing this, the woman clenched her teeth, held back her tears, and handed the little fox back to Yun Qingxue. Kneeling, she pleaded, “Your Majesty, I beg you to protect my child’s life. In my next life, I shall repay you even if it means serving as your beast of burden!”
The heart-wrenching scene of parting made Yun Qingxue’s heart ache. “I promise you—as long as I, Yun Qingxue, live, this little one will live as well.”
Hearing her vow, the family kowtowed deeply.
“Now, it is time. Your Majesty, you must leave.”
The old man pointed the way. “Return to the cave entrance where you came in, but take the middle path this time—it leads to the exit of the Demon Mountain Caverns. However, the middle path is guarded by the Black Python clan. Be cautious!”
Yun Qingxue looked down at the whimpering little creature in her arms, its eyes still glistening with tears. Suddenly, she bowed deeply to the assembled spirits of the Six-Tailed Flower Fox clan—a final farewell on behalf of the fox and its kin.
Rising, she turned and strode away without looking back. In her arms, the snow-white fox continued to whimper softly…
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