Su Qinglanâs breath came out heavy. Her cheeks were burning red, and her fists were trembling. All the dazzling beauty, all the charm of that fox, all those shining tails...every single good point she had thought about him dropped straight into the pit. No, lower than the pit. Straight to the minus points.
Her veins popped as his mocking voice still rang in her ears. Fat female... lowly female... greatest achievement of my life...
"Greatest achievement, my ass!" she muttered furiously.
Before her brain could catch up, her body had already moved. The heavy stone pan in her hand swished through the air with all her anger packed into it.
BANG!
The pan landed squarely on his beautiful jade-like head.
Plop!
The great six-tailed fox toppled over like a sack of potatoes. He hit the ground face-first, his fan flying out of his hand. A loud thud echoed through the clearing.
And then... silence. Not even a twitch.
Su Qinglan froze.
Even Hu Yan froze.
The tigerâs golden eyes went wide. He had been ready to fight Rong Ye himself, but his female suddenly swung a pan and dropped the arrogant fox like it was nothing.
"You..." Hu Yanâs lips parted, but no words came out.
Su Qinglan stared at the sprawled figure on the ground. The once-arrogant fox was lying like a dead log, his tail spread around him like fallen banners.
Her jaw dropped. "Ah...? I... I didnât mean to hit that hard..."
Her face paled. "Wait. He... heâs not dead, right?"
Panic crawled into her chest. She rushed forward. Her hands hovered over his back, not daring to touch. "Hey... hey, fox, wake up... Donât pretend... I know youâre faking..."
But Rong Ye didnât move. Didnât utter a sound or even a groan.
"Damn it!" Su Qinglan hissed. She nudged him with the tip of her foot. Still nothing. She nudged harder, rolling him slightly. His beautiful face was pressed against the dirt, looking ashen.
Su Qinglanâs eyes watered. "No, no, no... Donât tell me I killed him..."
She looked back at Hu Yan with wide eyes and trembling lips. "Hu Yan... did I just kill someone?!"
Her voice cracked at the end, filled with panic.
Hu Yanâs chest tightened. For a moment, he had no words. His usually cold face softened, just slightly, as he looked at her teary eyes.
His deep voice rumbled low, almost comforting. "Then we will bury him."
Su Qinglan: "..."
Her tears froze in her eyes.
On the other hand, the foxâs ear twitched. Just the faintest flick.
Su Qinglan didnât notice, but Hu Yanâs sharp golden eyes narrowed instantly. That sly fox was playing dead!
Hu Yanâs big hand closed firmly around her wrist. "Letâs go," he said coldly. "Even if something happens to him, no one will blame you. It was just a shameless fox provoking a female. It doesnât matter if you accidentally killed him."
Su Qinglan: "..."
She blinked at him in shock. This tiger was already dragging her away from the scene, like they really had just committed murder.
Her lips twitched. "Waitâshouldnât we at least check again..."
But Hu Yanâs grip only tightened. "No need." His face was dark. "Donât waste tears on trash."
And before she knew it, she was practically being hauled away by the five-striped tiger.
Behind them...a pitiful groan echoed.
"Uhh... ahhh... I... Iâm dying..."
Su Qinglan froze and whipped her head back.
The fox, who had been sprawled face-first in the dirt, now rolled over dramatically, clutching his head. His violet hair was a mess, his tail limp like wilted grass. He looked like the very picture of tragedy.
"You canât... leave me here..." His voice trembled pitifully. "I... Iâm dizzy... I canât see... Iâm dying..."
Rong Ye then pressed his forehead to the ground and whimpered, "Female... you have to take responsibility. You injured me. If you abandon me now, Iâll... Iâll crawl to the Beast God Temple and demand justice! Hic... ah, such a pitiful fox life... ended so young..."
Su Qinglanâs lips twitched violently.
But before she could snap, Rong Ye added, his eyes glinting slyly beneath the mess of hair, "Of course..." If you take care of me, I wonât go. Cook for me four times a day. Morning, noon, evening, and a midnight snack. Then this young master will forgive you."
Su Qinglan: "..."
Hu Yan: "..."
The tigerâs face turned black. His fists clenched. "Rong Ye, donât be shameless!"
But Rong Ye only sighed, flopping back onto the dirt like he was on his deathbed. "Ah, so cruel... refusing a dying foxâs last request... Females these days truly have no kindness. Beast God, look upon me..."
Hu Yanâs veins bulged. He roared, "You shame fox!!"
But Rong Ye only flopped harder onto the ground, twitching as though lightning had struck him.
His six tails curled weakly, his voice breaking with fake sobs. "Beast God, do you see? My life is truly pitiful... a weak fox, beaten and abandoned... My heart hurts... my soul hurts... Ah, my beautiful face is ruined forever..."
Su Qinglan almost coughed blood. What the hell kind of acting was this?!
But... but still.
Her gaze landed on the glaring bump on his forehead. Her hand trembled a little. That was her fault after all.
Even if he was a rotten-mouthed fox, she couldnât just leave him here half-dead when she was the one who hit him.
Her lips pressed together. "Alright, fine! Iâll take care of you! Four times a day, right? Iâll cook. Just stop acting like youâre about to die!"
Hu Yan turned on her instantly, furious. "Su Qinglan!"
But before he could finish, Rong Ye, who had been limp and moaning on the ground, suddenly sprang up like a lively rabbit. His violet eyes gleamed, his ears perked, and his six tails swished with energy.
"Excellent! This young master accepts your care!"
Su Qinglan: "..."
Her eyes narrowed at his energetic movements. Suspicious. Very suspicious.
And right on cue...
The fox suddenly clutched his leg, limping dramatically. "Ah! Oh no, my leg...I can barely walk... female, you must support me..."
Su Qinglanâs face turned dark. If she remembered correctly, she hit his head, not his leg!
Her veins throbbed.
Did she... just get tricked? By this shameless, jade-faced fox?
Hu Yanâs golden eyes glowed like molten metal, cold and sharp. He knew very well the stone pan was nothing more than a knock to a five-striped beastâs thick skull. But this fox... this fox was pretending like he had lost half his life.