Shao Linyuan grinned and stood up, attempting to retrieve a medicine box left behind by a former palace maid from a wooden shelf.

Xiao Yao, however, added fuel to the fire, her eyes widening: "Oh, sir, he's a jerk, he's leaving."

Si Jin naturally understood Shao Linyuan's intention. After tapping the tiger's head on the leader's head, she lowered her head and... *swish*

She tore a piece of her sleeve and slowly wiped the bloodstains from her calf, making "whimpering" sounds as she did so.

It was as if she was comforting herself, or as if she was crying out in pain; her ears were twitching, and she looked extremely aggrieved.

Whether it was a misperception or not, Shao Linyuan, who was drawn over by the sound, felt that the fox's eyes had reddened a bit more, and the tears hanging at the corners of its eyes were about to fall, as if it was about to cry.

He originally lived in his hometown, but he was captured and trapped in the treacherous palace where the concubines schemed against each other.

Shao Linyuan sighed, and finally mustered up the courage to step forward, squat down in front of Si Jin, open the medicine box, and gently grasp the boy's hand that was holding his clothes.

In an instant, the fingernail grew longer and pierced Shao Linyuan's palm, drawing out specks of blood.

But Shao Linyuan maintained his perfect smile and explained, "I'll do it."

The little fox slightly raised its eyes, stared at him warily for a while, and only after confirming that he meant no harm did it release its grip, sit on the couch, and adopt an arrogant attitude of "being served at your beck and call".

The wound on his leg was caused by a demon-catching weapon. Due to the lack of timely treatment, the skin has become ulcerated and oozing pus, requiring thorough cleaning.

While he was dealing with it, the fox's cries kept echoing in his ears, sounding like weeping, making Shao Linyuan feel restless and anxious.

It looks like a newly formed fox demon, unable to speak or even use its claws properly. How could it possibly harm anyone? Is it worth the entire Changning Division mobilizing to capture it?

Are these good-for-nothings arresting him to maintain world peace, or to get promoted themselves?

Shao Linyuan was unaware that he had embarked on a path of self-destruction. After finally finishing bandaging himself, he breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and asked, "Does it still hurt?"

Si Jin shook her head and replied in a fox-like cry.

"Waaah" (You wicked humans!)

"Eek, eek" (This is a really good way to play the game of giving a sweet treat after a beating.)

"Hmph!" After saying that, she turned her head away and refused to look at Shao Linyuan.

For some reason, I find it... kind of cute?

A newly formed fox demon should be easy to train, right? But for some reason, Shao Linyuan just didn't want to train the fox for the old emperor.

He couldn't quite define the emotion he was feeling, so he could only lower his head and tend to the wound on his palm.

But at this moment, Si Jin turned her head, took his hand again, stared at the wound on his palm for a while, and then gently licked it twice.

When he looked up again, the wounds were gone; the fox was healing him.

Shao Linyuan was puzzled when he heard Si Jin mumble something.

"Waaaaah" (But I won't repay kindness with enmity, you can go now.)

Shao Linyuan was the most outstanding demon hunter, so he could naturally understand what he meant, but he was still somewhat...worried.

The palace maids and eunuchs guarding him did not seem to be kind people. How could such a simple little demon survive?

Just then, he saw that Si Jin had already extinguished the candle, lay down on the couch, glanced at him, and let out two soft moans.

Shao Linyuan didn't understand the meaning of those two sounds, but he still symbolically wished him goodnight and said goodbye.

At night, to prevent any accidents, he stayed in the side room.

When I couldn't sleep, I flipped through a book interpreting fox language and was shocked to realize that Si Jin's last words were—

"If you're not leaving, then stay here and let me absorb your yang energy."