The woman smiled smugly, walked up to the baby, squatted down, and looked at the infant with curiosity.

At that moment, the child was also looking at her with wide, curious eyes. After a while, the child suddenly chuckled and reached out his chubby little hand to grab the woman's long black hair.

The woman's eyes softened instantly. She carefully picked up the baby, stood up, looked at the infant in her arms, and asked softly, "Who are you? Do you know why they abandoned you here? They are so cruel. Aren't they afraid you'll be eaten by wild animals?"

The baby started babbling and cooing. He was only three months old, so how could he possibly speak?

The woman smiled and said, "You're such a good girl, you hardly ever cry. I heard from my grandmother that human children are completely different from us nine-tailed foxes. When they're first born, all they know is to cry... Since they don't want you anymore, how about I take you? I'll raise you..."

She started walking deeper into the woods, pondering as she went, "Let me give you a name first... um... hmm... how about... how about Bai Ling, like the lark in the tree!"

She walked briskly, occasionally encountering a few ferocious beasts in the places she passed. All the beasts fled in panic as if the woman were some kind of fierce demon.

The woman walked on, then suddenly stopped. She hesitated and muttered to herself, "But I can't take you back to Fox Plains. Grandmother will definitely not allow me to leave you here..."

The baby in the swaddling clothes stared at her with wide, clear eyes, its mouth slightly open, making soft purring sounds.

The woman frowned deeply, stood still and pondered for a long time, then her eyes suddenly lit up. She skipped and hopped into the depths of the forest, humming a folk song as she went. Her clear voice carried far through the woods, ethereal and clear, like a mountain spring flowing gently.