Master...Master!?

• Chapter 7: Master… Master!?

Pheww.. this marks the last chapter for toady!

Please enjoy ~~

---

The Empress and Pei Xuanyin walked together to the cushioned chairs, with Su Mu floating along in the air, still restrained.

Despite being furious, Su Mu could only simmer in silence due to his limited strength.

Pei Xuanyin's eyes gleamed mischievously as she watched her sister handle the fierce little fox. "Long live my sister!"

The cabin was filled with an array of spiritual fruits, and the transparent dome above shimmered with array patterns, allowing a view of the stars above the sea of clouds. Even in broad daylight, the stars were bright and twinkling. (Don't ask me how it was possible)

The vast starry sky captivated Su Mu's eyes, reflecting the stars in his pink pupils, making him look adorably dazed.

Finally, the Empress's amusement subsided a bit. She grabbed Su Mu by the scruff of his neck and cradled him in her arms, saying, "It is said that those stars are also home to cultivators and great demons. The starry sea is vast and boundless, nurturing countless lives. We are merely a tiny, insignificant part of it."

Su Mu nodded his little head. The world was indeed vast; he had never even left Qingzhou, let alone ventured to the distant stars.

Pei Xuanyin leaned in again, giggling as she stroked Su Mu's back, feeling the softness under her palm. "The fox must be from beyond the stars. After all, there's no way something this cute could come from Tianxuan Continent!"

Su Mu pouted, thinking, "Flatterer." But clearly, he enjoyed the compliment.

The Empress, bored, conjured a light blue diamond-shaped crystal in her palm.

A spiritual stone! Su Mu's droopy ears perked up, remembering the Empress's promise. His eyes lit up instantly.

He tapped the Empress's hand, pointing at himself and then at the spiritual stone in the Empress's hand with his little paw.

The Empress smiled playfully. "Do you want this?"

Su Mu stretched out his little paw, "Yip,yip,yip!" Don't forget, you promised I could ask for anything!

The Empress crossed her legs. "It's not impossible to get a spiritual stone..."

Su Mu's pink eyes squinted. The Empress agreeing so easily? Something's not right.

"But..."

Yip,yip! I knew it! Wicked woman!

"My mouth feels a bit bland; I want to eat some Frost Grapes~"

Bear it! For the spiritual stone, do it!

Su Mu sprang from the Empress's lap like the wind, dashing to the table. However, the plate was a bit large, and his short paws couldn't lift it. He could only balance the plate of grapes on his head, wobbling over to the Empress.

"I'm thirsty..."

Su Mu fetched a glass bottle filled with osmanthus tea.

"It's a bit stuffy..."

Su Mu scurried to the window, using his little head to push open the shutters.

"My shoulders are sore from handling official business..."

Su Mu jumped up and down, using his little paws to massage shoulders, and stepping on her back to relieve the tension...

Pei Xuanyin's eyes sparkled, ready to write a book dedicated to her sister: "A Thousand Ways to Handle a Fox."

She then glanced at her storage bag, grinning at the thought of the thousands of spiritual stones inside...

After a while, the Empress finally fell silent.

Yawning, the Empress stood up. "Xuanyin, I worked through the night handling official business, I'm tired and need to sleep." When alone with Pei Xuanyin, she never referred to herself as "I."

"Yip,yip!" Su Mu's pink eyes filled with anticipation, watching the Empress. Finally, the Empress tossed the spiritual stone to Su Mu. "You did well; this is your reward."

Su Mu joyfully jumped up, hugging the spiritual stone and rubbing it against his face. "Spiritual stone, I love you~"

Wait! Just one? Su Mu froze. He quickly ran to the Empress's feet, tugging at her skirt with his little paw.

"What's the matter?" the Empress asked with a smile.

"Yip,yip,yip,yip!" Su Mu was anxious. After all that work, you're only giving me one stone? Are you kidding me?

While indignantly protesting, Su Mu carved a 'ten thousand' on the wooden floor with his claw.

I served you personally, isn't asking for ten thousand stones reasonable?

The Empress crouched down, gently smoothing the fur on Su Mu's forehead, looking at the mark there.

Su Mu eagerly glanced at the Empress's storage bag, his eyes wide.

The Empress shook her head, disdainfully saying, "Tsk, you're only worth this much."

You're only worth this much~

You're only worth this much~

…

Feeling cheapened, the little fox's liver felt inflamed, his eyes welling up, making his pink pupils even more lustrous.

Trembling, he carved "bullying too much" on the floor.

The Empress shook her head. "I'm not bullying anyone; I'm bullying a fox."

Su Mu painfully clutched his little heart, wobbling and falling to the floor, staring blankly at the starry dome. He looked utterly broken.

The merciless Empress continued, "Hmm, don't you want it? Then give me back that one too."

Su Mu jolted, flipping upright, clutching the spiritual stone tightly, glaring at the Empress warily.

The Empress chuckled, "Hmm… how about this: if you call me 'Master,' I'll give you another one. For every time you call me, I'll give you one, just for today~"

Ma... Master?! Dream on, keep dreaming, such a shameful title! Hmph!

Deep breath, Su Mu, stay strong! There must be a way! For the spiritual stone!

Su Mu stiffly pointed to his throat, clearly indicating that as a fox, he couldn't speak.

The Empress still smiled brightly, pointing to the 'ten thousand' on the floor. "You can write it out~"

Pei Xuanyin watched her sister's increasing smiles and couldn't help but gaze tenderly at Su Mu.

…

Not long after, Su Mu, seething with immense resentment, stormed out with a large bag.

Only the Empress and Pei Xuanyin remained in the cabin, surrounded by the word "Master" carved all over the floor.

The Empress picked up a grape, putting it in her mouth. Hmm, very sweet. She was growing more fond of the little temperamental fox. After all, even her sister didn't know that she always loved fluffy things, not just those murderous spirit tools.

The Empress tossed a small array plate to Pei Xuanyin.

Pei Xuanyin curiously asked, "What is it, sister... a recording stone?"

Infusing a bit of spiritual power, Pei Xuanyin's eyes lit up at the content it displayed.

On the screen, the little fox bashfully bowed according to the Empress's instructions, then closed his pink eyes and began to carve the word "Master" on the floor...

…

Su Mu sulked, staring at the pile of spiritual stones in front of him, his expression dark.

Xiao Bai anxiously asked, "Master, are you alright~"

Su Mu jolted, roaring in his mind, "Shut up! From now on, never mention that word again!"

Recalling the moment he sold his dignity, Su Mu felt breathless. But, for the spiritual stones, boo-hoo!

Gazing at the stones he both loved and now hated, he was on the verge of tears.

Xiao Bai curiously asked, "But Master is Master, what else should I call you if not Master..."

Su Mu: "..."

Sometimes silence speaks louder than words....

To be continued...