Jiang Mengxin was feeling a bit annoyed.
The little fox girl had been whimpering and crying for nearly one hour already!
It wasn’t exactly loud. It just felt like a mosquito buzzing in her ear—on and on, making it impossible to get any peaceful sleep.
“Can you stop crying?”
“……That’s so mean,” Su Mumu pouted, her eyes red. “You bully me and then won’t even let me vent.”
“Haven’t you vented enough? It’s already been one hour,” Jiang Mengxin said, sounding exasperated.
This fox was not only stupid but also a total crybaby. She was completely over it.
“Tail,” Jiang Mengxin muttered, reaching out a hand.
Immediately, the fluffy fox tail obediently coiled into her palm. Jiang Mengxin gave it a gentle inspection.
The fur was smooth, and the base of the tail wasn’t injured. Besides, she hadn’t used that much strength earlier. ‘Is she really this sensitive?’
“Ears up,” Jiang Mengxin added.
Su Mumu let out a soft, resentful “Hmph.” It sounded like a protest, yet it was laced with fear. Her fox ears slowly stood upright.
Jiang Mengxin inspected them again. This time, her touch was much gentler. Since the little fox girl was being so well-behaved, there was no need to keep disciplining her.
She extended her tail when told and pricked up her ears when ordered. Look at how obedient she was.
“Fine, you’re perfectly healthy. Stop crying; it’s noisy,” Jiang Mengxin said curtly.
“I know… *sniffle*,” Su Mumu whispered, occasionally sobbing.
Her fox ears drooped listlessly again. Anyone could tell the little fox girl was in a terrible mood.
“No more crying, do you hear me?” Jiang Mengxin reiterated.
“I get it already… *sniffle, sniffle*.” The sound of Su Mumu’s occasional sobbing was particularly distinct in the cave.
“……Dammit.” Jiang Mengxin’s expression darkened. “Are you doing this on purpose?”
She had actually realized it a while ago. Aside from being stupid and a crybaby, this little fox was also a bit of a brat. She always found a way to show a bit of a rebellious streak just to provoke people.
If you’re going to act like this, who else would I mess with but you?
“Keep being noisy and you can just wait for death,” Jiang Mengxin threatened.
Sure enough, the little fox girl went silent instantly, even sucking back her tears.
Jiang Mengxin lay down a bit further away. “Don’t touch me. You’re a bit smelly.”
“That’s your fault…” Su Mumu grumbled under her breath. If Jiang Mengxin hadn’t insisted on causing trouble, how could she have lost control like that?
Su Mumu sniffled but couldn’t smell anything strange. Aside from feeling a bit uncomfortable in her heart, her body should at least be odorless. That hateful Jiang Mengxin was just trying to insult a fox.
“What did you say? Say it again,” Jiang Mengxin’s voice drifted over.
“Uh…” Su Mumu’s expression shifted rapidly, and her tone immediately softened. “I said I’ll listen to Sister Jiang. I’ll go wherever you want me to go and I won’t cause any trouble.”
“Mm, that’s more like it.” Jiang Mengxin seemed satisfied.
Having successfully tamed the fox, she felt much more at ease. Before long, a light snoring sound could be heard.
Su Mumu, however, was preoccupied with heavy thoughts and couldn’t sleep. The pile of firewood beside her was nearly burnt out, and the cold air from outside the cave was creeping in. It was chilly.
‘Sigh! My mood is even chillier.’
What should she do next? Was she really going to become Jiang Mengxin’s fox toy? Would she be taken back to the Changsheng immortal sect to face punishment?
A bad end…
Just thinking about it was unbearable. That kind of ending was simply too awful! She absolutely did not want that!
Su Mumu wore a miserable expression. After everything that had happened today, she was aching all over.
Her little bottom felt like it was swollen from being slapped, the base of her tail was sore, her ears were uncomfortable, and the muscles in her legs were throbbing painfully.
Because of this, she was currently sleeping on her side. This was the only way to effectively protect her bottom and tail.
But after a long period of thinking, Su Mumu discovered an unavoidable problem—Jiang Mengxin had no intention of untying the immortal binding rope!
She wouldn’t listen to anything. Su Mumu couldn’t lie her way out, and threats didn’t work. If she showed even a hint of wanting to resist, she would be disciplined!
‘Sniffle.’
Why hadn’t Su Mumu noticed that Jiang Mengxin was such a sadist before? It was terrifying.
‘Well, maybe it’s just her personality?’ Once Jiang Mengxin’s temper flared up, there was no telling what she might do.
‘Forget it. I should just sleep… The more I think about it, the worse I feel.’
That night, Su Mumu was physically and mentally exhausted. She fell asleep quickly. However, her sleep experience was terrible… because she was having another nightmare!
***
In the dream, Su Mumu was standing in a shallow pool of water, surrounded by endless vines and ancient stone walls. Various birds and beasts were carved into the stone.
In front of her sat an incredibly massive stone statue. The outer layer of the stone was peeling off, but the general shape was still recognizable.
‘Is it a fox?’
But it had nine tails. It was a bit strange.
‘Where am I? Why am I having another weird dream?’
Su Mumu looked down and clenched her hand into a fist. The realistic sensation of her skin and the sound of the wind and snow falling by her ears felt so vivid. This was a very hardcore dream.
[Little one, you seem to be in trouble?]
‘Who’s talking?’
Su Mumu looked around in a panic. But aside from the stone walls and vines, there were no other living creatures.
She even looked down at her feet soaking in the water; the bottom of the pool was clear, with nothing strange hidden there.
[I am here.]
‘Where?’
[In front of you.]
‘In front of me?’
Su Mumu fixed her gaze on the enormous fox statue. She was a bit dazed.
[I have exhausted one-fourth of my lifespan to divine the future, and I have finally waited for you. Are you willing to accept everything of the Moon god race?]
‘What divination? What Moon god race? What are you talking about? I don’t understand a word.’
[Very well. I will only ask one thing: do you wish to escape your current situation?]
‘I do! Can you help me?’
[If you are willing to accept the fate of the Moon god race, I am willing to consume another one-fourth of my lifespan to act once, bypassing space-time rules, the physical system, and the will of the great dao to ensure your escape.]
Su Mumu blinked.
‘Wow, this dream is pretty hardcore! Just listen to that terminology; it sounds so high-end and powerful.’
[This is not a dream.]
The nine-tailed fox statue trembled slightly, and stone fragments began to fall violently amidst clouds of dust. The vibration coming from the ground was eerily realistic.
Su Mumu nearly slipped for a moment. Somehow, the faint fragrance in the air, the cold water beneath her feet, and even the burning pain in her rear were all too real!
Yes, the base of her tail and her ears were still aching!
[There is no more time. One cannot stay in the Nightmare world for long. If I do not act now, I must leave.]
‘Then act! Help me escape! I’ll pay any price!’
*Rumble—*
The massive nine-tailed statue in front of her cracked inch by inch and collapsed.
[Very well! I shall act.]
Su Mumu snapped her eyes open. Her breathing was rapid, and her whole body felt cold. She felt a lingering sense of terror, as if she had just survived a disaster.
‘What’s going on? Why have I been having nightmares so often lately?’
Cold sweat dripped from her forehead and into her eyes, making them sting. Su Mumu reached out a hand and gently wiped the sweat away.
‘Phew! That’s better. I can go back to sleep now.’
Just as Su Mumu closed her eyes again—
Wait!
She snapped her eyes open again, her pupils nearly bulging out.
She tried moving her hand, and that fair, tender little hand reached out in front of her. She moved her feet, finding she could pose them however she liked.
‘This isn’t right!’
Su Mumu figured this had to be another dream, so she pinched her cheek hard and pulled. The result was…
The pain nearly made her scream for her mother! Fortunately, she restrained herself at the last second and didn’t wake Jiang Mengxin.
‘I… I’ve been saved.’