Chapter 31: The Peculiar Lesson of the Little Fox-Girl

On Qingluan Peak, in the gentle morning light, the early birds chirped crisply, beginning their daily hunt for insects.

Beautiful butterflies flitted through the trees, hovering over blooming flowers, diligently working alongside the industrious bees.

While these small creatures quietly went about their tasks, hundreds of outer disciples of the Qingluan Sect also embarked on their day of cultivation.

With such a large number of cultivators, each pursuing a different Dao and wielding unique weapons, the outer disciple residences were exceptionally lively this morning.

Amidst the fervent, self-disciplined cultivation of these outer disciples, a certain little fox-girl, about to join their ranks, also began her day of learning.

However, unlike the typical cultivation lessons of other outer disciples, her curriculum was a peculiar subject: ‘learning to speak.’

This subject was already strange enough in the world of cultivation, but even stranger was the little fox-girl’s attitude towards it.

It was widely known that while cultivation was a revered profession, it was also incredibly arduous.

One could say that for an ordinary person, reaching the ‘Qi Condensation stage’ was already a monumental success.

Perhaps many might not fully grasp the significance of this.

To put it another way, entering the ‘Qi Condensation stage’ was akin to passing the civil service examination in the mundane world.

Described in this manner, most would surely understand the immense value of reaching the ‘Qi Condensation stage’ in cultivation.

This was because the path of cultivation was fraught with hardship, exhaustion, and considerable expense (for sustenance).

Therefore, the disciples of the Qingluan Sect, if not all, then at least 90% of them, approached their cultivation with unwavering self-discipline.

Yet, within this highly disciplined environment, the little fox-girl’s learning attitude at this moment was utterly lackadaisical. In fact, one might even describe her as ‘forced’ to learn.

As for why she was considered ‘forced’…

It was because the little fox-girl, Xiao Xixi, was currently cradled in the arms of a gentle older sister from next door, who was speaking to her softly.

“Little Xi, this master remembers you could already speak yesterday. Why, would this master like to help you recall it now?”

Feeling the waves of warmth emanating from behind her, the soft, tender touch, and the faint, elusive scent of orchids drifting into her nostrils, Xiao Xixi would usually have found this quite enjoyable.

But upon hearing the content of the other party’s incredibly gentle words, and recalling the scene from last night’s ‘teaching’ session, Xiao Xixi felt like crying without tears.

‘So, this can be interpreted as a threat, right?’

‘It’s absolutely a threat, isn’t it?’

‘Right?’

‘Right!’

‘Xixixi!!!’

****

After a small internal complaint, Xiao Xixi soon felt a soft, slender jade hand, smooth as white porcelain, caress her cheek.

The bones of this hand were distinct, and while the index and middle fingers had no nails, they felt remarkably long against Xiao Xixi’s delicate skin.

As she felt the smooth little hand slowly move across her cheek, the cool touch quickly brought Xiao Xixi back to yesterday.

It was exactly this situation, she recalled, that had preceded the ‘South Barbarian Invasion’ by this jade hand, leaving her head in a daze, after which she had suddenly learned to speak.

Remembering that experience from yesterday, and glancing at Senior Sister Bai Luozhu, who was still silently observing from the side, Xiao Xixi shuddered.

Recalling the uncontrollable movements and whimpering sounds she had made after being ‘pulled out’, Xiao Xixi, desperate to avoid another social death, felt the movement of the small hand.

The next moment, she bit down firmly on her pearly white teeth, her pink lips sealing tightly, and her tiny head began to shake rapidly like a rattle drum.

Her silvery-white hair danced with the motion of her head, and in the morning light, she looked like a tiny, adorable fairy.

However, cuteness often proved useless.

Just like now, as she felt the ‘evil’ hand on her cheek continue to draw closer, Xiao Xixi realized that she probably couldn’t escape without an explanation.

Yet, at that moment, a massive problem suddenly dawned on her.

How exactly was she supposed to explain this ‘reward’ incident?

She had a terrible feeling that no matter what she said, having been discovered in that situation, it was a dead end anyway.

‘Damn it! So, what am I supposed to say now?’

‘Am I supposed to recount the entire mental journey of ‘rewarding’ myself?’

‘Wuwuwu, compared to that kind of social death, I’d rather endure another ‘South Barbarian Invasion’!’

Just as Xiao Xixi, speechless with shame, was about to face the ‘South Barbarian Invasion’ of grammar lessons, a sudden, distinct ‘grumble’ echoed through the room.

Upon hearing the sound, Xiao Xixi, who was already suffering a social death, felt the flush on her palm-sized face deepen, spreading all the way to her delicate, cute earlobes.

This subtle change, of course, was observed clearly by Su Mei, who was holding her.

In truth, just moments before, seeing Xiao Xixi, the little fox, curl into a ball in her arms out of shame, Su Mei knew that the ‘no perversion’ lesson had taken effect.

While she greatly enjoyed teasing… or rather, teaching Xiao Xixi ‘how to speak,’ she couldn’t possibly conduct ‘mouth-insertion’ lessons in front of her eldest disciple, Bai Luozhu.

Su Mei had been wondering how to conclude the situation when she hadn’t expected the little girl to proactively provide an opening.

However, witnessing the little girl’s soft, pearly-white earlobes gradually redden, and recalling the sweet, sticky taste from the ‘dual… *cough cough*… cultivation’ last night, Su Mei felt an urge to take a bite.

Fortunately, as a peak master, Su Mei remembered her eldest disciple was present. To maintain her image as a dignified and aloof master, and also not to frighten the little fox-girl, she relied on her formidable composure as a late-stage Golden Core expert.

Swiftly, she suppressed the impulse within her. After silently reciting the ‘Heart-Clearing Incantation’ ten times, she managed to restrain her body’s unconscious urge to lick her lips, returning to her usual gentle master persona.

Having accomplished all of this in a single second, Su Mei then subtly turned her hand, and a massive bowl instantly appeared in her grasp.

The bowl was many times larger than the delicate white hand supporting it, yet it rested steadily in her palm. Inside, various meat dishes were arranged, and from above, veiled by the rich broth, they presented an unexpected aesthetic appeal.

After a night of cultivation, the hungry Xiao Xixi, smelling the aroma, instinctively looked towards it. She then realized that this serving bowl was surprisingly familiar.

‘Isn’t this the same ‘big bowl’ Senior Sister Bai Luozhu used to feed me ‘traditional medicine’?’

Looking at this large bowl, which was considerably smaller than yesterday’s ‘washbasin,’ she found herself surprisingly thinking it wasn’t so big after all. Perhaps it was due to the contrast.

Smelling the incredibly tempting aroma of the food, Xiao Xixi instinctively reached out her small hands. Yet, just before touching the bowl, as if remembering something, her little hands recoiled as if shocked by electricity.

Seeing this, Su Mei and Bai Luozhu were both puzzled. Why was she so hungry, yet refusing to eat?

Somewhat perplexed, Su Mei quickly offered the food to Xiao Xixi again. However, the little girl turned her head away, displaying a stubborn expression that declared, ‘No matter how you tempt me, I will not yield.’

Su Mei noticed a faint trace of moisture at the corners of the little girl’s tightly closed cherry lips. She was certain the little girl genuinely wanted to eat, but why wouldn’t she?

Just as a curious Su Mei was about to ask, her eldest disciple, Bai Luozhu, who usually remained silent, spoke first.

“Little Junior Sister, why aren’t you eating?”

Hearing Bai Luozhu’s clear voice, tinged with a hint of ‘aloof CEO,’ Xiao Xixi replied, on the verge of tears.

“Xixi~ (Fox-speak), I xi… xi want… to eat xi, but… xi I xi… have no… money xi!” (I want to eat too, but I have no money.)

Though the mix of languages was quite complex, Su Mei quickly understood the gist after mentally removing the ‘xixi’s.

Seeing the little one’s pitiful expression, Su Mei instinctively used the hand not holding the bowl to gently pat Xiao Xixi’s head. Then, as if an idea struck her, she chuckled playfully.

“Little Xi, because you just showed us such a beautiful sight, this meal is on me, master!”