Volume 1, Chapter 7 – The Fox Demon’s Scent
She was a fox demon.
The moment Song Shiyuan laid eyes on her, the girl's demonic nature was unmistakable. Yet, there was something off—her aura was weak, almost flickering like a candle in the wind. It seemed she had just undergone her transformation.
Perhaps she hadn't even reached her initial estrus period yet.
An inexperienced, naive fox demon. Song Shiyuan assessed her cultivation level, likely just at the single-tailed stage, equivalent to a human Qi Refinement cultivator. She posed no threat at all.
It was surprising to find such a feeble fox demon lurking within the Fox Monarch's palace. Fox demons were known for their striking beauty, and while this young girl was still a novice, she already possessed a captivating allure.
In fact, Song Shiyuan couldn't help but think that the only woman who could rival this young fox demon in looks was her own master, Sword Venerable Qingzhi of the Lingxiao Sword Sect. Even the previously elegant and alluring mature fox demon seemed to pale in comparison.
Just then, the young fox demon lifted her misty fox eyes, making her even more endearing. She looked like a child who had done something wrong, trembling in fear as she awaited Song Shiyuan's judgment. Those beautiful, anxious eyes tugged at Song Shiyuan's heartstrings.
A beautiful, weak, and timid fox demon.
Was she another concubine raised in the Fox Monarch's palace? But her attire suggested otherwise—more like that of a laundry maid.
"...Sister?"
The young fox demon's voice was tentative, trembling slightly as she spoke.
"Next time, don't sneak around behind others, especially sword practitioners; it's very dangerous," Song Shiyuan replied, sheathing her soulbound sword.
"Wu...1"
"Ah Xi… Ah Xi just wanted to bring Sister a quilt, nothing else," the timid fox demon confessed shyly.
"Quilt?" Song Shiyuan's gaze shifted to the blanket clutched in the young demon's hands.
"Yes, yes!! Ah Xi just received it and washed it very carefully!"
"I even used fragrant immortal grass dew!"
The young fox demon beamed, her face lighting up with hope. "I hope the beautiful sister likes it."
Her focus was entirely on Song Shiyuan as she offered the bedding as if it were a treasure. Oblivious to her surroundings, the bedding became her sole world, blocking her view.
She stood among the flowers in the courtyard, completely unaware that her clothes were caught on the thorns of a nearby plant.
Then, with a sudden ripping sound, the young fox demon lost her balance. Clutching the bedding tightly, she stumbled toward Song Shiyuan, panic in her eyes.
"Careful!"
Song Shiyuan instinctively lunged forward.
The ground was strewn with flower branches she had just cut. If the fragile little fox demon fell onto them, that delicate face would surely suffer.
Without a second thought, the young Sword Sect disciple caught the tumbling fox demon just in time.
The trembling creature landed softly in her embrace, burying her small face into the warm fabric.
A subtle, triumphant smile curled at the corners of the fox demon's mouth, hidden from the sword cultivator's view.
"You… are you alright?"
Song Shiyuan's frown deepened, oblivious to the fox demon's delight.
Her muscles tightened instinctively as she held the petite figure.
At that moment, she understood the allure of the phrase "a fox demon's body is fragrant and soft," often whispered in the novels she had read.
It was no wonder the scholars and sword cultivators in those stories fell prey to their charms.
Who could resist such a delicate, fragrant little thing nestled so closely?
But Song Shiyuan was a normal female cultivator, uninterested in women2, and yet here she was, enveloping the frail fox demon in her arms.
The young fox demon continued to tremble from fear, her petite form almost fragile against Song Shiyuan's strength.
"Are you alright?" Song Shiyuan asked again, her voice softening.
As she lowered her gaze, she found herself staring into the fox demon's pure, innocent face.
"Wu..."
At that moment, the young fox demon raised her head, their eyes locking.
A youthful charm sparkled in those enchanting fox eyes; her cheeks flushed with shyness and a hint of bewilderment.
They were so close that Song Shiyuan could feel the rapid thump of the little demon's heart, a stark contrast to her delicate appearance.
"Sister…"
The inexperienced fox demon said innocently, "Sister, you smell so good."
Song Shiyuan frowned. "You… do you know what you're saying?"
Suddenly, a refreshing scent wafted through the air, reminiscent of sweet mountain bamboo.
The fragrance enveloped her senses, spreading warmth throughout her body.
Song Shiyuan felt her heartbeat quicken, her breath growing heavier.
To her shock, the pure yang sword energy dormant within her stirred to life, boiling with a newfound intensity.
Even her soulbound sword, which had been resting in her dantian3, began to pulse with excitement.
If she hadn't controlled it in time, the sword might have shot out, drawn to the enchanting presence of the young fox demon before her.
The urge was undeniable, a primal desire igniting within her.
"You! What are you doing?"
Song Shiyuan's voice sliced through the air, her eyes wide with shock as she instinctively pushed the frail fox demon away.
"Wu!!!"
The young fox demon stumbled back, unable to withstand the force of the strong sword cultivator. She hit the ground with a soft thud, her teary eyes locking onto Song Shiyuan, confusion swirling within them.
Rubbing her bruised backside, she looked utterly lost, tears trickling down her cheeks.
At that moment, Song Shiyuan's reprimanding words caught in her throat. Here she was, a pure yang sword cultivator trained by a peerless sword celestial, yet faced with a sight that melted her resolve.
She remembered the tales whispered by her sect elders—the romantic entanglements and passionate histories between pure yang sword cultivators and fox demons.
As realization dawned, her heart raced. The young fox demon had unleashed her pheromones, intoxicating and alluring. Just as Song Shiyuan's pure yang energy could attract and subdue the yin-natured fox demon, the fox's pheromones stirred her desires. It was like something out of the erotic novels she had secretly read—an aphrodisiac in its purest form.
"You…" Song Shiyuan gritted her teeth, trying to hold onto her authority. "Using pheromones on a sword cultivator is a dangerous act; didn't you know that?"
"Huh?" The young fox demon blinked, her watery eyes wide with innocence, genuinely perplexed.
Frustration bubbled within Song Shiyuan, but as she stared into those naive eyes, she felt her anger wane. It was like trying to punch cotton; the young fox demon was so inexperienced, so innocent—perhaps she truly didn't understand the implications of her actions.
"Forget it… don't get close to me!" Song Shiyuan exclaimed, quickly backing away from the young fox demon.
"Go back; you don't know anything! Don't approach sword cultivators casually!"
With that, she dashed into the room, slamming the door behind her. Breathing heavily, she clutched her chest, her heart racing.
She focused her spiritual energy, trying to calm the heat that surged through her body.
Outside, the young fox demon stood bewildered and helpless, confusion etched across her face.
[Looks like you had a bad start, host.]
The system chimed in, clearly enjoying the moment.
Lu Zhuxin raised her hand and gently touched a special meridian acupoint on her neck—the "Rain Dew Point." This was a unique feature of fox demons.
"Isn't this how fox demons use their pheromones?" Lu Zhuxin whispered.
[Host, do you understand the meaning of "too much is as bad as too little"? The amount just released was a lethal dose.]
"It's fine," Lu Zhuxin replied, a knowing smile on her lips.
"A newly transformed, inexperienced, naive fox demon, encountering her first crush and unable to control her innate desires—so she leaked her pheromones."
"It all seems natural and reasonable."