Tang Nian was the fastest to transform among Xiang Liu Li of the same age, and even among all races, she was far ahead.
This led to her always imagining herself as an adult when listening to her master talk about the outside world.
Master said that people outside the community raise animals, and they like the best-looking animals the most, even those that don't look like humans.
Although her master only said it once, she kept it in mind.
She also wants to have a pet of her own.
However, what Tang Nian didn't know was that her master was referring to animals that hadn't developed sentience, not those that hadn't taken human form.
She was a little ferocious beast who had never left her tribe and was well protected by her family. How could she know these complicated matters? Her master didn't say much either, so Tang Nian foolishly thought that the so-called pets were those who had to sign a contract.
She was familiar with this; she had heard it before—the uncles and elders who had returned from their trials often gathered together to talk about contracts.
This must be it!
It seems that my uncles and aunts also have their own small animals.
Tang Nian has always firmly believed this.
To this end, she secretly slipped into the clan's library and found a book covered in a thick layer of dust in a corner on the top floor.
Unexpectedly, she was able to use it as soon as she left the tribe.
But clearly, the fox in front of him didn't want to.
A flash of white light appeared, and the white fox transformed into a boy who looked about eight or nine years old. Dressed in white, with a serious face, he resembled a little deity from an ancient book illustration.
His left arm was raised halfway in front of his chest, and there was a cut on his white clothes from a sharp weapon. The blood that had seeped out earlier looked like plum blossoms on the white clothes.
The boy was looking down at his rapidly recovering arm.
Tang Nian was stunned.
This fox is so beautiful... Ugh, how can it transform into human form!
And her pet...
Regardless, he's so handsome, he has to be my pet!
We can't let someone else take him away!
"No," the little boy refused with a stern face, but his chubby little face lacked any real authority.
"I revived you, so you're mine now!"
Tang Nian pouted, her big, bright eyes wide open, as if tears would well up if the person in front of her rejected her again.
But in the little boy's eyes, this was just a mischievous little monster.
But ironically, she still saved him.
"I am the young patriarch of the Xiangliu clan! If you agree, I will give you anything! I can avenge you!"
The boy's eyes flashed, but he still refused, saying, "That won't do either."
Suddenly, the sound of a large bell drifted down from Mount Kunlun, a sound Tang Nian had never heard before.
The little boy's body trembled, and he was about to turn around and leave, but Tang Nian grabbed his arm tightly and wouldn't let go.
"You're not allowed to leave until you agree to my terms!"
The boy couldn't help but feel a headache coming on, but what bothered him even more was the incessant ringing of bells coming down from the Kunlun Mountains.
"Then take me away from here to a place where I can't hear the bells."
Tang Nian rubbed her ears, also finding the bell ringing a bit noisy. Of course, she was even more excited that the fox in front of her was willing to walk with her.
"Okay! Let's go there!"
Tang Nian raised her hand and pointed to the patch of green in the snow.
The boy's expression changed slightly: "Are you sure?"
Tang Nian nodded vigorously, grabbed the boy's hand, and ran eastward.
The farther away from Kunlun Mountain, the fainter the bell tolled. By the time the two children reached the border of Qingqiu, they could no longer hear it.
When she arrived, Tang Nian realized that it was not what she had imagined.
Before me stood a row of willow trees, behind which lay a peach grove. Despite the bright sun, the mist in the grove lingered, obscuring the path for those outside.
Tang Nian slowly stopped, and carefully extended a finger forward. Unsurprisingly, she encountered a soft barrier that dented when she poked it, but she couldn't break through it.
A faint blue light appeared in his palm, but he suddenly remembered that it was someone else's territory, and he couldn't help but feel discouraged, withdrawing his power.
She squatted on the ground, looking at the distinct boundary between white and green, her hand still tightly holding the boy's, feeling somewhat dejected.
"Do you think we can go in?" she asked the boy pitifully.
The boy was silent for a moment, then asked softly, "Do you really want to go in?"
Seeing the affirmation in Tang Nian's eyes, he sighed, grasped Tang Nian's hand in return, and stepped inside.
Tang Nian followed Lou Mu, and the barrier unexpectedly disappeared.
In an instant, the scenery in front of me changed completely.
Sunlight filters through the gaps in the peach grove, casting dappled shadows that illuminate the entire grove like a dream. A gentle breeze rustles the peach petals, causing them to fall to the ground like a pink floral carpet.
There were many birds among the peach branches, probably attracted by the sea of flowers. They hopped and frolicked on the branches, singing happily from time to time.
Tang Nian couldn't help but lick her lips.
"These birds are not to be eaten."
The boy who had been watching Tang Nian closely quickly spoke up.
Tang Nian glanced at her with annoyance. Did she look like such a glutton?
Besides, everyone eats cooked meat now, so she wouldn't touch raw meat.
A fresh and pleasant scent filled the air, which invigorated people and brightened their mood.
Lou Mu turned his head and raised his index finger to his lips.
Tang Nian understood, nodded slightly, shrank back, and covered her mouth with both hands.
After receiving Tang Nian's reply, the two walked deeper into the peach blossom forest.
The boy wasn't looking where he was going; he was only focused on looking up at the branches hidden by the peach blossoms.
Tang Nian tried to look up, but couldn't see anything.
What are you looking at?
"Don't speak if you don't want to be discovered."
After walking for an unknown amount of time, they finally saw the end of the peach blossom forest, but the boy turned around and walked towards the bamboo forest on the other side.
Tang Nian looked outside and thought she had entered a paradise, nestled against the mountains and by the water.
"Qingqiu foxes have always preferred quiet places, and their dwellings are scattered far apart."
The boy explained in a low voice, leading Tang Nian through the bamboo forest, finally stopping in front of a small house deep in the bamboo grove.
He pushed open the door, and Tang Nian couldn't help but raise her hand and wave it in front of her nose.
There was a smell of dust.
The whole bamboo house was covered with a thin layer of dust, but the boy didn't care and walked in with ease.
"Come in, I'll take you out later."
"Why?"
"This is not a place for you."
Tang Nian glared angrily at the boy in front of her. She should have just told him not to let her in. Now that she was already here, he was trying to drive her away.
You have to give me a reason!
Tang Nian put her hands on her hips, but then realized that wouldn't do, so she plopped down on a chair that hadn't been wiped clean yet.
"To repay your life-saving grace," the boy said calmly.
"No, I only accept a contract between you and me."
The boy couldn't understand why the little beast in front of him was so stubborn. He really didn't want to dwell on this topic, so he had to quickly find a new one.
"You said you are the young clan leader of Xiangliu?"
Tang Nian nodded proudly.
"Then can you tell me what your Xiangliu tribe is like?"
Once the topic came up, Tang Nian immediately started talking non-stop.
The boy showed no impatience whatsoever, and listened quietly.
Suddenly, Tang Nian's voice disappeared.
The boy looked up in confusion: "Why did you stop talking?"
Tang Nian frowned, her eyes full of vigilance: "You're trying to trick me! You still say you're not a fox from Qingqiu."
"I'm not lying to you," the boy said, somewhat helplessly. "Have you ever heard of the foxes of Kunlun Mountain?"
"certainly."
How could Tang Nian not know about the Kunlun Fox Fairy, a race that exists only in legends?
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