Volume 1, Chapter 17 – Dog Chain

"So, which aspect of fox demons would sister like to learn about first?"

The little fox demon raised her hands, fingers intertwined and pressed against her chest, brimming with eagerness.

"Shall we start with the history of the fox demon clan?"

"Or perhaps their living habits?"

"Or…"

Her innocent smile was accompanied by her fingertips resting teasingly at the neckline of her dress.

"Or perhaps… we start by understanding a fox demon's body?"

Song Shiyuan lowered her gaze slightly, her eyes darkening.

She swallowed hard.

Was this little fox demon genuinely oblivious to her implications?

Or was this simply how fox demons behaved?

Could even a newly transformed, naive little fox demon instinctively make such a suggestive gesture?

"What's wrong, sister? Weren't you going to ask me questions?" The little fox demon tilted her head, her confusion apparent in the silence.

"Nothing." Song Shiyuan smiled, albeit with an edge of uncertainty. "We have plenty of time."

The sun poured down warmly, casting a golden hue over the bustling Fox Palace.

Pavilions and towers stood closely together, each exuding its own charm.

The small, pure white fox demon trotted along the paved bluestone path, a faint blush adorning her stunningly beautiful face.

"Sister~ Sister~~! Over there is the Fox Palace's alchemy room. Very few alchemists belong to the fox clan, so most of our pills are procured through special channels."

"Sister~~ Sister~~! If we keep walking that way, we'll reach the library! Inside are precious books collected by the Fox Monarch during her battles alongside the Demon Sovereigns, seizing them from various forces. It's said there are many secret cultivation manuals hidden within~~!"

Song Shiyuan's expression grew peculiar.

Her initial goal had been to extract information about the Fox Palace from this little fox demon.

But after revealing her intentions, the little fox demon had eagerly whisked her away, transforming the outing into something akin to a date.

Although Song Shiyuan had already roamed the accessible areas, she had done so alone.

At that time, she was unaware of what lay behind the sealed doors and denied entry to the sealed-off areas of the palace.

Yet, this little fox demon was an unexpected source of knowledge, offering insights she had longed to uncover.

However…

Song Shiyuan glanced at the little fox demon, who was merrily skipping ahead, chattering non-stop.

This was how a girl her age should be—innocent, lively, and undeniably cute.

Even if she was a bit noisy.

Gone was the timid and cowardly girl from before. In her vibrant state, the little fox demon was far more endearing.

As the chatter continued, Song Shiyuan found her gaze lingering on the little fox demon.

Having such a lively guide was a refreshing change from aimlessly wandering.

"Sister~! Look there!"

The little fox demon tugged at Song Shiyuan's hand, pointing excitedly toward a magnificent hall ahead.

Song Shiyuan followed her gaze, and the sight of the hall sent a shiver down her spine.

Standing at the heart of the Fox Palace, it exuded an indescribable aura of oppression, demanding awe and respect from all who beheld it.

"What place is that?" Song Shiyuan asked, her brow furrowing slightly.

"That's the Fox Monarch's residence!" the little fox demon replied eagerly.

"Usually, the Fox Monarch is in seclusion, cultivating in the back hall.

If there are guests, she receives them in the front hall.

But if the Fox Monarch summons you, you'll need to go straight to the back hall."

Song Shiyuan nodded, her expression blank.

In her mind, she marked a big X over that area, vowing to stay away unless absolutely necessary.

Fortunately, the dungeon where her Sword Sect brothers were imprisoned lay in the opposite direction from the Fox Monarch's residence.

I wonder where Brother Shixuan is now?

Is he still in the Fox Palace?

Since learning from the little fox demon that the sword practitioner shared her surname, Song Shiyuan hadn't been able to uncover any further details.

The little fox demon didn't know much either.

As a result, Song Shiyuan remained uncertain if that sword practitioner named Song was indeed Song Shixuan.

Yet, no news could also be considered good news, she rationalized.

As they continued walking, she suddenly halted, her expression shifting to one of discomfort.

"What's wrong, Shiyuan sister?" The little fox demon noticed the change and rushed to her side, worry etched on her face.

"Are you feeling unwell?"

"Um…" Song Shiyuan managed a helpless smile, gesturing to the collar around her neck. "I've reached my limit."

She had strayed too far from her courtyard, triggering the restriction on the collar, which began to tighten slowly, choking her.

"Ah!" The little fox demon's face lit up with a sudden realization.

"Ah Xi's really sorry, Sister Shiyuan! It's all Ah Xi's fault for rambling on and forgetting something so important."

Song Shiyuan looked at the tearful, self-condemning little fox demon and felt a wave of helplessness wash over her.

How could a fox demon be such a crybaby?

"I'm fine," she reassured gently.

"Let Ah Xi help you, sister," the little fox demon insisted, her voice earnest.

"Help me with what?" Song Shiyuan asked, puzzled.

Without waiting for an answer, the little fox demon stepped closer, her small hand curling around Song Shiyuan's neck, leaning in with an intimacy that caught her off guard.

Startled, Song Shiyuan instinctively backed off.

The little fox demon's visage blurred with the familiar image from her dreams.

For a fleeting moment, reality and fantasy intertwined, leaving Song Shiyuan breathless.

A rich, intoxicating scent enveloped her, warm air brushing against her neck, followed by a soft, moist touch.

This sensation, once confined to her dreams, now coursed through her veins, causing her body to tremble uncontrollably.

The little fox demon hugged her, pressing her lips lightly against the collar of Song Shiyuan.

"Little fox demon, you…"

The act was undeniably ambiguous, dyeing Song Shiyuan's cheeks flush as her steady breathing faltered.

Yet, as if sensing her discomfort, the little fox demon released her after a brief kiss, stepping back quickly.

"Feeling better, sister?" she asked, her eyebrows arched in delight.

"This collar restricts movement, but if it receives a fox demon's scent mark, it can temporarily lift the restriction," she explained.

"But that means you can't stray too far from Ah Xi, and you'll need to re-mark it regularly. Otherwise, the collar will still choke your neck."

Song Shiyuan's eyes widened in surprise. Earlier, she had been anxious about the collar's restrictions, but she hadn't anticipated that this little fox demon would possess a solution.

Her gaze shifted towards the fox demon, thoughts racing through her mind.

This collar was akin to a chain around a pet's neck.

The other end was either tethered to a doghouse or held firmly by its owner.

Song Shiyuan lacked the power to break the restraints imposed by the Fox Monarch.

Yet, the little fox demon before her was both naïve and weak.

When the moment came, controlling this adorable, foolish fox demon would prove far easier than breaking the restrictions.

"I'm fine now," she chuckled, her eyes narrowing slightly to conceal her true intentions. "Let's continue."

"Mm-hmm! There are so many more places I want to take sister to!" the little fox demon exclaimed, blissfully unaware of the shift in Song Shiyuan's demeanor.

After walking for a while, Song Shiyuan suddenly frowned.

"Wait——!!"

A familiar aura had emerged within her perception.

"This aura is…"

If her senses were accurate, it belonged to a sword practitioner!

Beyond herself and her brothers, there were indeed other sword practitioners in the Fox Palace!

Who could it be? Could it be Brother Shixuan?!