Despair

• Chapter 4: Despair

Pei Xuanyin couldn't understand why, after her sister left, the fox in her arms seemed to lose all its spirit and lay limp, as if it had lost its soul.

Xiao Bai in Jingzhe looked at her master's appearance, nodded her little head, and thought, surely it's just too much surprise.

"Xiao bai... my dignity..." Su Mu felt utterly despairing. He hadn't even reached Foundation Establishment yet, and his spiritual consciousness hadn't formed, so when he conversed with Xiao Bai in Jingzhe, it was through "consciousness". Thus, he couldn't hear his own voice, only Xiao Bai's soft and tender voice. This made him consistently overlook the fact that Xiao Bai was a vixen.

Xiao Bai, meanwhile, was covering her mouth and giggling while tugging on pure white strands of hair. Her equally fluffy big tail wagged happily behind her.

She was increasingly looking forward to meeting her master. Xiao Bai could take on a human form only because she absorbed the divine power of a remnant soul. She had now merged with Jingzhe and wondered when her master could take on a human form.

As soon as Su Mu reached Foundation Establishment, Jingzhe would fully recover, and with the help of Jingzhe's mysticism, Xiao Bai could go out for a breath of fresh air. Looking around at the empty, pure white space, Xiao Bai sighed slightly.

But then, seeing Su Mu still crying through the spiritual screen, she suddenly felt much better. No matter what, as long as she could stay by her master's side, that was enough.

Pei Xuanyin had to go to the main hall for a meeting, so she placed Su Mu in a room in the courtyard.

"Be good, little fox. I have to see my sister. Stay here for a while, and I'll play with you when I get back." With that, she left as lightly as a breeze, clearly in a good mood.

Su Mu weakly lifted his pink eyes and glared at her retreating figure. Who cares if you play with me!

But then, Su Mu lightly jumped off the half-collapsed bed, shook his tail, and looked around. Seeing no one, he prepared to "escape."

After all, he was somewhat apprehensive about someone who was nearly at the Transformation stage. Although he wouldn't be harmed, Su Mu wasn't truly interested in being anyone's pet.

So, after easily prying open the door with his little paws, Su Mu climbed onto the roof in a few steps, ready to sneak away.

The Empress, sitting in the main hall, tapping her fingers on the table while listening to ministers report on the success and failures of the demon-slaying plan, suddenly paused. She looked with interest in the direction where Su Mu was located.

"Trying to run?" The Empress smiled slightly, causing the ministers present to be taken aback. The Empress rarely showed expressions. This kind of smile only occasionally appeared when she was with Pei Xuanyin.

Standing up, the Empress said, "Minister Fu, you preside over the meeting. Report the results to me afterwards."

Left Prime Minister Fu Shenxing bowed, "Yes, Your Majesty." Although unsure why the Empress suddenly left, Fu Shenxing complied.

After all, the Empress should have stayed in the new capital to handle post-ascension matters but chose to personally participate in the demon-slaying campaign to relieve the people's suffering. These small matters could be dealt with by the ministers.

After sneaking out of the courtyard, Su Mu found a hidden alley and walked towards a less populated area. With Xiaobai's guidance to avoid danger, he could definitely survive. Finding a place to elevate his cultivation was crucial. It was terrifying enough to encounter a half-step Transformation expert right after leaving the forest!

Speaking of which, the person who forced him to self-destruct his Nascent Soul seemed to be a half-step Transformation as well. Zhou Si of Dao Xuan Mountain. Narrowing his pink eyes, Su Mu transformed all his grief and indignation into hatred towards Zhou Si.

Zhou Si was a genius, in the literal sense. Foundation Establishment at seven, Core Formation at ten, Nascent Soul at seventeen, and half-step Transformation at twenty-eight. He was on par with his senior brother.

Even though the hope was slim, if he ever recovered his cultivation, he would definitely seek revenge for the stolen wife! Huh? Why for a stolen wife? Su Mu was distraught, his little claws cracking the tiles.

He began to comfort himself. If he could accept a change in race, then changing gender wasn't a big deal!

But thinking more carefully, it was true that surviving this ordeal was already a great fortune. Yet how could he face his senior sister like this? Just the thought of it was terrifying.

Lost in thought, Su Mu accidentally bumped into someone's foot. Su Mu quickly raised his paws to apologize. But then his head felt heavy. Wait a minute, I'm walking on the roof, how could I bump into someone's foot?

Su Mu looked up blankly, and the Empress's playful face came into view.

Oh no! Caught!

Su Mu turned around and jumped, trying to escape, but the familiar sensation overwhelmed his brain again.

"Yip yip~" Bad woman, let me go!

The Empress grabbed Su Mu's tail, ignoring his kicking little legs. She stared at the bell hanging around his neck and said, "Huh, is she owned? Did Xuanyin catch someone else's pet?"

But then, a faint golden sensing array appeared in her palm. Feeling the same source of energy from Su Mu and the bell, she exclaimed, "This is a spiritual artifact?"

She then switched from grabbing his tail to holding the fur on the back of Su Mu's neck, meeting his pink pupils filled with three parts shame, two parts defiance, and five parts helplessness. How could a fox have such rich emotions?

Damn woman! Su Mu struggled futilely, then gave up, letting his limbs dangle and his body sway in the air.

The Empress retracted her smile and narrowed her eyes, "You understand me, carry a spiritual artifact, could you be a descendant of the demon king from Ten Mile Swamp?"

Su Mu was stunned but then shook his head, waving his little front paws in protest, yipping.

What Ten Mile Swamp? He really wanted to retort.

But thinking of this woman's terrifying cultivation, he decided to comply.

His front paws made a gesture of supplication, smiling with bright canine teeth and wide pink eyes that looked smart.

Damn, what am I doing! But now that I've acted cute, she should let me go, right?

The Empress, half-smiling, scratched Su Mu's armpit, making him struggle again.

Sadist! Someone save me!

Then the Empress said, "Since Xuanyin likes you, I can't let you go. Otherwise, she'd be sad."

Su Mu mentally ranted, What does her sadness have to do with me! Let me go! I'll come back for revenge when I'm stronger!

Marking the Empress down in his grudge list, Su Mu's triumphant expression nearly overflowed. I'm very vengeful!

The Empress calmly said, "Even if I let you go, you wouldn't get far. Leyang is now infested with demons, and a little demon like you wouldn't even be a snack for them."

Su Mu waved his little front paws angrily, yipping: "Yip! Yip yip yip! Yip yip!" I have Xiao Bai; I don't need your concern!

Jingzhe also swayed with his words, showing confidence.

The Empress looked back in the direction she came from, then stopped holding him by the neck, and in a gesture of respect, held the lightweight fox in her hands, saying, "You can make a request. As long as it's not excessive, I can grant it."

Su Mu was momentarily stunned, then realized this was a great opportunity. A half-step Transformation expert's resources would be vast. He needed resources badly!

But he still waved his tail, pretended to be profound, and nodded at the Empress, pointing towards the courtyard, indicating to go back.

The Empress felt speechless, expecting more bargaining. But, well, this way Xuanyin would have a companion.

Holding Su Mu in her arms, a flash of spiritual light, and they disappeared from where they stood.

To be continued...