A New World, A New Life

The sun was setting, casting an orange hue across the sky. The moon was faintly visible, though not yet shining brightly. The air carried the light warmth of the spring season, signaling the world's transition.

Hai Long, now inhabiting another body, sat on a bamboo bed. She felt deeply uncomfortable, mainly because the body she had taken over was that of a girl. Despite gaining control of the body, she couldn't get used to the sensations—the different walking posture, the long hair, or the small chest. Her male mind and instincts resisted, making her discomfort all the more acute. Yet, she had no choice but to adjust. If the neighbors noticed the child behaving oddly, they might believe she was possessed by a ghost.

However, that wasn't her greatest fear. The real concern was the drastic change in her appearance. Her hair had turned pink, her skin now had an ethereal glow, and the addition of fox ears and a tail made her undeniably inhuman. She feared that if the villagers saw her, they would think she was a demon or beast and try to kill her.

She considered running away, but without the memories of this body's previous owner, her options were limited. A five-year-old child wouldn't have much understanding of the world, so she couldn't rely on any useful knowledge. She didn't know the name of the child, her parents, or even the area she was in. Still, she knew one thing: staying would be dangerous unless her appearance returned to normal.

If her body could somehow revert to its original state, she wouldn't need to run away. She could explain her sudden recovery to the neighbors by claiming she had eaten herbs near the house, which healed her scratches and restored her health. After all, this was a cultivation world, where strange phenomena were not uncommon. She assumed the villagers were familiar with cultivators, and there might even be some living among them.

Another thing that made her uncomfortable was the house itself. As a modern person, she was used to the comforts of daily life—three meals a day, spacious rooms, mobile phones, laptops, and a comfortable bed. Here, there was none of that. The room was small, there was no electricity, and the bed was a simple bamboo structure. Even sitting on it made her rear ache slightly.

The thought of adjusting to such a primitive lifestyle made her head throb. She couldn't help but feel frustrated by the lack of modern conveniences. Yet, there was no other option for now.

When it came time to sleep, her unfamiliarity with the body made lying down awkward. She had to carefully bend herself onto the bed, the stiffness of her movements a clear reminder of her new form. Despite her discomfort, exhaustion eventually overtook her, and she slowly drifted into sleep.

Unknown to her, her body began to revert to its original state. Her hair returned to its natural black color, the glow of her skin faded, and the fox ears and tail disappeared entirely. Her body regained a normal human appearance, though it now radiated vitality and health.

Even though her body contained the powerful bloodline of the nine-tailed fox, she was unable to access its full potential. As a result, her body reverted to a state of dormancy regarding its bloodline abilities. However, her blood color remained unique, a shimmering gold with faint traces of pink—a reflection of Zhāng Mèihú's own blood color, marking the connection between them.

Suddenly, the door to the small house creaked open. A man, likely in his mid-sixties, stepped inside cautiously, his weathered face filled with a mixture of curiosity and concern. He glanced around briefly before moving toward the small room where the girl was sleeping.

As his gaze fell on her, he froze. The girl's body, once frail and riddled with signs of hardship, now appeared healthy and vibrant. Her cheeks held a faint color, and she no longer bore the scars or signs of malnourishment that had plagued her just the day before. He frowned in confusion, wondering how such a drastic change could occur overnight.

Despite his doubts, he decided not to wake her. Quietly, he placed some food in the kitchen—a humble offering of what little he could spare. This man, her neighbor, had been watching over the girl in her solitude, sharing what food he could to ensure she survived. He glanced at her one last time before softly closing the door behind him, leaving the girl to rest in peace.

When she woke up, she made her way to the kitchen, hoping to find something to eat. To her surprise, she saw food placed on the counter. She froze, her mind racing. Who put this here? She was sure there hadn't been any food before. A chill ran down her spine as she wondered how it appeared.

After a moment, she recalled something—the girl's memory was limited, but she understood one thing. She was only five, and without help, she wouldn't have survived. Most likely, the neighbor brought it. That thought made her feel both relieved and uncomfortable at the same time. She had no idea who the kind person was, but it seemed like a routine. The neighbor had likely been bringing her food every day.

Despite feeling awkward, she shrugged it off and decided to eat. She opened the small pack, revealing some brown bread and what appeared to be a leaf curry. The combination made her uneasy, but hunger soon overpowered her discomfort. She took a bite of the bread, which, though plain and lacking sweetness, was edible. She dipped the bread into the curry and ate it all, filling her stomach. The meal wasn't much, but it was enough to satisfy her for now.

Then she suddenly remembered that when the neighbor comes inside, they mostly saw her when she sleeps. The thought of whether the neighbors would see her new form made her tremble, She was no longer human; now she had become a fox,but she frowned when another thought crossed his mind. If the neighbors see her fox body, one might cry loudly, making others aware or even trying to harm her while she sleeps. If not, she was thinking of going out to call someone, hoping that if he woke her up, she could escape. It seemed most likely that the neighbors would act out in both ways. So what was happening? Was something happening to his body again or was he returning to his previous self?

Excitement surged through her as she got up and looked at the clay plate with water. When she saw her body returning, it brought her joy. Her ears were missing, her eyes turn black and her hair had returned to black, even though its length hadn't decreased. Her hands went back to her buttocks, searching for her tails, but they were also missing, which filled her with uncontrollable joy.

She didn't understand what had happened to his body, but it made her happy, and her fear had vanished. She moved to the side where the food was and ate happily and fully.

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