Chapter 5: Setbacks and Hardships

Although Nuoxue had lived for a thousand years, it was deep in the remote mountains where hardly anyone, let alone demons, spoke to her. In the 21st century, most demons no longer practiced cultivation; the bright lights and decadent streets of the world caused them to lose themselves. This explained why Nuoxue, despite her maturity, remained innocent.

“So the little fox has awakened. Are you hungry? I’ll have someone bring you some food,” Xuanyuan Yu said as he reached out to pick up Nuoxue. To those outside, he ordered, “Bring a plate of fresh meat.”

Xuanyuan Yu smiled. For some reason, whenever he saw this little fox, his mood inexplicably lifted.

Nuoxue squinted her eyes, enjoying the cold emanating from Xuanyuan Yu, and generously allowed him to stroke her pure white fur.

“Little fox, why aren’t you afraid of me?” he asked.

“Squeak, squeak,” she replied. Why should I be afraid of you?

“The chill on me is so intense. Aren’t you afraid of being frozen?” Xuanyuan Yu placed Nuoxue back on the bed. Even his guards could be injured by his icy aura, so why wasn’t this little fox affected? She even seemed to enjoy it. Curious, he asked, “Do you really like the cold from me?”

“Squeak, squeak! I like it, I really like it.” Nuoxue raised her paw and pointed to Xuanyuan Yu’s arms, indicating she wanted to be held.

Xuanyuan Yu smiled and said, “You want me to hold you?”

The little fox nodded and leapt gracefully into his arms. So cool and refreshing.

Looking at this tiny fox, no bigger than the palm of a hand, her flawless white fur, her large, sparkling eyes, small frame, and her human-like understanding, Xuanyuan Yu thought that although he hadn’t found any unusual objects this time, gaining this adorable little fox surely meant life wouldn’t be dull.

Perhaps his fate was sealed; life and death mattered little. One should live freely and unrestrained. If every day was spent worrying about death’s arrival, what joy would remain in life?

Nuoxue, simple by nature but not foolish, sensed the change in atmosphere. There was some sadness, but more than that, a fierce determination.

She noticed Xuanyuan Yu’s gloom was caused by poisoning and wished to comfort him. She nudged his head gently with her moist nose, saying, “Squeak, squeak.”

Nuoxue promised, once her spiritual power recovered, she would help detoxify him, so he should not be sad. After all, he was her pillar of support and must not fall.

Xuanyuan Yu patted Nuoxue’s head, feeling deeply comforted. This little fox could even console him—he really had found a treasure. This fox understood human emotions; calling her a celestial beast was no exaggeration.

Nuoxue obediently lowered her ears and licked his hand, then gently touched his forehead with the pads of her paws.

“Squeak, squeak,” she said, “Don’t be sad. I will definitely cure you. Trust me, a fox who has lived a thousand years.”

She pointed to her shrunken little belly with her front paws. “Squeak, squeak,” she cried, “I’m hungry. I want to eat.”

“Heh,” Xuanyuan Yu laughed and told Han Bing to check why the food hadn’t arrived yet. Then he teased Nuoxue, “You little glutton.”

Han Bing’s efficiency was impressive. Soon the table was laden with exquisite dishes. The aroma moved Nuoxue to the verge of tears. She hadn’t eaten in three days; as a fox who had lost her spiritual power, it was a miracle she hadn’t starved to death.

Watching the restless little fox in his arms, Xuanyuan Yu chuckled. Seeing the sparkle at the corner of her mouth, he found her utterly adorable. That glimmer was probably drool.

But Nuoxue didn’t care about being cute. Food was the greatest joy in the world. As the saying goes, missing one meal makes you hungry; three days without food and she was nearly at death’s door. She scratched hard with her paws, but no matter how much she struggled in Xuanyuan Yu’s embrace, she couldn’t reach the food. She cried out—she wanted to eat! The delicious dishes were before her eyes, but she could only look, not taste. Was this what her master meant by setbacks and hardships?