Chapter 52: The Obedient Little Fox
“Sorry for making you wait.”
Chen Yin gently stroked her ears and said softly, “But Luo Luo has been a good girl, patiently waiting for me to come back.”
“Because Young Master told me to wait here obediently.”
Luo Luo looked up at him with teary eyes, her voice choked with sobs. “Many times, I wanted to go find you, but I was afraid you wouldn’t be able to find me when you returned. So I could only wait here alone.”
“I waited until this morning, when I finally sensed your presence through the master-servant contract, wuu, wuu.”
The little fox’s tearful expression softened Chen Yin’s heart. He could only comfort her, “Alright, don’t cry. Look, I brought you delicious food. See?”
He held up a candied hawthorn in front of Luo Luo.
But Luo Luo didn’t even look at it. She continued in a soft voice, “Luo Luo can be less greedy. Can Young Master please not leave me behind?”
“Don’t… don’t put yourself in danger and leave Luo Luo alone to worry, like this time…”
This was the first time Chen Yin had seen Luo Luo refuse her favorite candied hawthorns. He knew she must be truly upset.
“…I’m sorry.”
Chen Yin coughed lightly, then said seriously, “I was wrong this time. So as compensation, I’ll grant you one wish.”
“Really?” Her ears perked up, and she looked up at him with sparkling eyes.
“Of course.”
“Any wish?”
“Anything.”
“Well…” Luo Luo wagged her tail, her eyes darting around. “I heard a storyteller telling a very interesting story the other day, and I bought the book.”
“But I can’t read it on my own. Can Young Master read it to me?”
“Just like… on the mountain.” Her face flushed slightly, making her even more adorable.
Chen Yin was taken aback. “That’s all?”
“Yes. If you do that, Luo Luo won’t be angry with you anymore.” Luo Luo smiled, her eyes crinkling with delight.
“Okay, I promise.”
Chen Yin nodded. “I’ll read you the story tonight.”
“But now, if you don’t eat, all these delicious treats will go cold.”
“Ah!” Luo Luo’s eyes lit up as her attention shifted to the pile of snacks. She pounced on them like a hungry fox, stuffing her cheeks.
“Mmm… so delicious…” she mumbled, her words muffled by the food.
“Slow down, don’t choke. No one’s going to steal them from you.”
Chen Yin watched her devour the snacks with a smile on her face, her cheeks bulging. He sighed helplessly.
“You little rascal…”
…Seeing her gobble down the food like that…
Could it be that she hadn’t eaten properly for the past few days?
Thinking about this young girl, barely thirteen or fourteen years old, waiting for him alone in this unfamiliar city, Chen Yin felt a pang of guilt.
Although he was technically her master, she was still just a child. How could he not feel sorry for her?
As Luo Luo continued to eat happily, Chen Yin’s gaze shifted towards the window.
Suddenly, he felt a faint buzzing in his pocket.
His eyes narrowed, and he turned to Luo Luo. “You eat slowly. I need to step out for a moment, I’ll be back soon.”
Luo Luo immediately stopped eating and looked at him with pleading eyes.
“Don’t worry.”
Chen Yin patted her head gently. “I promised to read you a story tonight. I’ll definitely be back.”
Luo Luo nodded obediently, her fluffy tail swaying.
Chen Yin opened the window, glanced around, and then gracefully leaped out.
***
After finding a secluded and deserted spot, Chen Yin put on his mask, his voice becoming deep and hoarse.
He took out a transmission jade.
It was the one Yu Xiang had given him.
“Holy Maiden,” he said respectfully after activating the jade.
“I need you to mobilize all the demonic forces in Fragrance City and help me find someone.”
On the other end, Yu Xiang’s voice was cold and emotionless. “Find my Senior Brother.”
“Oh? Didn’t the Holy Maiden’s Senior Brother perish at the Fairy Conference?”
“You seem to be quite well-informed.” Yu Xiang retorted sarcastically.
“We wouldn’t dare. The Holy Maiden’s safety is of utmost importance. Although the sect trusts you, we still have to be cautious.”
Chen Yin said in a clear voice, “As for your Senior Brother… he managed to escape from the Heavenly Path Perilous Domain?”
“Yes.”
When mentioning Chen Yin, Yu Xiang’s voice softened slightly. “I need you to find him and discreetly spread the word that I’m waiting for him at the restaurant in the south of the city. Tell him to come find me.”
Chen Yin instantly understood and replied respectfully, “Understood, understood.”
“That’s all. Farewell.”
Yu Xiang ended the transmission.
Chen Yin stared at the jade for a long time, lost in thought.
…The Fairy Conference was over. Although it didn’t end smoothly, at least Xiang’er’s true identity hadn’t been completely exposed.
Luo Qiaoqiao and Senior Sister were still investigating the matter of Changli Palace, which would take some time. Since he had nothing else to do in Fragrance City, he might as well continue investigating the demonic path and see if there was a deeper connection between them and Xiang’er.
Especially after capturing that demonic underling at Ten Thousand Cloud Mountain, a plan had started to form in his mind.
When he returned to the inn, Luo Luo had almost finished devouring the entire table of snacks and was eagerly awaiting his return.
Seeing him, she greeted him excitedly, wagging her tail like a pet welcoming its owner home. “Young Master!”
“You finished everything already?”
Chen Yin smacked his lips and teased, “It’s not cheap to keep you fed. You’ll probably eat me out of house and home soon.”
Luo Luo scratched her head sheepishly.
“It’s fine, now that you’re full, we have work to do.”
Chen Yin said in a low voice, “Do you still remember the location of the demonic branch altar in Fragrance City that I asked you to investigate at Ten Thousand Cloud Mountain?”
Luo Luo nodded proudly. “I remember it very clearly!”
“Good. I’m going to the south of the city. While I’m gone, I need you to conceal yourself and go check out the situation at the demonic branch altar. Report back to me tonight.”
Luo Luo’s ears twitched. “Will Young Master still read me a story tonight?”
“Of course.”
Chen Yin said with a smile, “I never break my promises.”
“After I’m done with this, I can read you stories every night for the next few days.”
“Yay!”
Luo Luo cheered and then eagerly dived into the void.
Chen Yin smiled, then turned towards the south of the city.
…Alright.
It was time to find Xiang’er.
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