Chapter 57: I’ll Take You to Get Revenge
Late at night, Chen Yin was still sitting at the table, poring over documents by candlelight.
He had purchased these materials from the Ten Thousand Fragrance Pavilion – a collection of unofficial histories and miscellaneous records related to the demonic path and Changli Palace. There was no guarantee they would be helpful, but it couldn’t hurt to look.
As he casually flipped through the pages, a pair of fluffy fox ears slowly emerged beside the table.
“Done being shy?” Chen Yin asked, his eyes still on the book.
A moment later, a pair of shimmering eyes peeked out timidly. After a long pause, a small voice mumbled:
“Wuu… is Young Master angry with Luo Luo?”
“Why would I be angry with you? You didn’t write the book.”
“B-but it was still Luo Luo who—”
“Relax.” Chen Yin closed the book, ruffled her hair with his large hand, and said with a smile, “Just don’t go picking up random things next time.”
“Tell me what you want, and I’ll buy it for you.”
Luo Luo leaned against the table, revealing half of her head, and nodded obediently.
The night deepened.
Having found nothing useful in the documents, Chen Yin tossed them aside, leaned back against the headboard, and beckoned Luo Luo with a crook of his finger.
“It’s been a while since I’ve had a good petting session. Come here and let me indulge.”
Luo Luo blushed, her fingers fidgeting nervously.
“Y-Young Master…” she said in a sweet, small voice.
Chen Yin paused.
…Wait, didn’t she used to happily offer her head for petting? Why was she suddenly so shy?
“What’s wrong?”
“…Nothing.”
Luo Luo hesitated for a moment, her face flushed, before slowly moving closer to Chen Yin and leaning against his chest.
Chen Yin didn’t hesitate, his large hand expertly finding her fluffy ears.
“Ah… I feel so much better already. Fluffy things are truly the best therapy.”
Chen Yin sighed contentedly, but then he noticed that Luo Luo was still silent, her head lowered.
“…Still regretting missing the chance to hear a story?”
“Mmm…”
“It’s okay.” Chen Yin stroked her hair and said softly, “I can tell you a different story.”
Luo Luo’s ears perked up, and she wagged her tail excitedly, snuggling closer to Chen Yin.
Chen Yin began, “I love fluffy creatures. Because I used to have a dog.”
It was a golden retriever. Very well-behaved and obedient. It would always wait by the door for him to come home from work.
During those lonely days, the golden retriever had been his only solace. All the exhaustion and stress of the day would melt away whenever he hugged the fluffy dog.
“It was soft and cuddly, very well-behaved and adorable… just like Luo Luo.” Chen Yin chuckled and patted her head.
Luo Luo immediately protested, baring her teeth. “Luo Luo is not a dog!”
“Haha, of course you’re not.”
Chen Yin’s eyes dimmed slightly. “But back then, I didn’t have you.”
“When I was sad, it would come and lick my face.”
“When I ate alone, it would lie quietly by my feet, as if accompanying me.”
In that empty world, I had nothing.
Except for that dog.
Perhaps, including myself, we were two lonely souls clinging to each other.
“What happened then?”
“One day, it died. I don’t even know why.”
…Actually, he did know.
The neighbor’s brat had fed it chocolate as a prank.
A lot of it. An entire bag.
He didn’t know that chocolate was dangerous for dogs.
And at the time, he was too busy writing his unprofitable stories to notice.
By the time he realized and took it to the vet, it was too late.
“It closed its eyes… in my arms.” Chen Yin’s voice was soft, filled with a distant longing.
Luo Luo’s ears drooped, and she whispered, “Luo Luo doesn’t want to hear such a sad story…”
“I’m sorry. Maybe I should tell you something else.”
Chen Yin blinked. “Seeing you just reminded me of it.”
Luo Luo hesitated, then asked, “Have you… told anyone else this story, Young Master?”
“No.” Chen Yin shook his head. “You’re the first.”
Luo Luo snuggled closer to Chen Yin, rubbing her cheek against his chest. “Then it’s okay.”
“My mother said that keeping sad things bottled up inside will only make you sadder.”
“If it makes you feel better to talk about it, then Luo Luo wants to hear this story.”
As she spoke, Luo Luo suddenly raised her head and licked Chen Yin’s face gently.
Chen Yin froze, his hand instinctively reaching up to touch his damp cheek. He asked in a daze, “What… are you doing?”
“Didn’t Young Master say that when you were sad, it would come and lick your face?”
Luo Luo chuckled, revealing her small fangs. “I guess… Young Master is sad right now.”
Chen Yin was silent for a long time, then he chuckled softly.
“…Didn’t you say you’re not a dog?”
“Luo Luo is not a dog. Luo Luo is a fox.”
Luo Luo blinked and said seriously, “But now, Luo Luo is here with Young Master.”
“You can tell Luo Luo anything, whether you’re happy or sad.”
Chen Yin gently pinched her soft cheek, making her whimper in protest.
“You’re right.” Chen Yin’s eyes softened as he rested his chin on her ear.
“Luo Luo is not a dog.”
And you don’t have to replace it.
…You’re my little servant, Luo Luo.
The night breeze rustled the leaves outside. This time, Chen Yin didn’t pet her ears but let her rest against his chest.
Soon, he heard the little fox’s soft snores.
***
After carefully tucking her in, Chen Yin returned to the table and spread out a map.
His eyes scanned the vast map, finally stopping at a city marked on the western edge.
…Xianyun Province.
That was where the demonic sect’s main altar was located, according to the information he had extracted from the captured demonic cultivator in Fragrance City.
Xianyun Province was located on the western side of the continent. It was said to be a place with scarce spiritual energy and few cultivators. Chen Yin wasn’t familiar with the area.
But thinking about it, only such a remote location could possibly house the demonic sect’s main altar.
He had taken care of everything he needed to do in Fragrance City. Now, he just had to wait for Luo Qiaoqiao to see if she could learn anything about Changli Palace from her parents.
After meeting her, he would head to the demonic sect’s main altar.
Lost in his thoughts, he suddenly heard a soft moan from behind him.
Chen Yin turned around and saw Luo Luo’s face pale, her expression contorted in pain, her body trembling slightly.
He quickly picked her up and asked anxiously, “Luo Luo? What’s wrong?”
“Young Master…”
Luo Luo slowly opened her eyes and whispered, “I-I had a nightmare.”
“I dreamt about Ya Ya and the others…”
Chen Yin gently stroked her messy hair. “Are those the friends you mentioned when we first met?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes were downcast, and she whispered, “That day, we were just playing outside the city like usual, sneaking out with Ya Ya and the others.”
“But we ran into bad people.”
“They were using evil techniques, and their aura felt very uncomfortable.”
“They captured Ya Ya and the others. I was hiding in the void, playing hide-and-seek, but I was too scared to make a sound.”
She lowered her head dejectedly. “In the end, I could only watch helplessly as they took them away. I couldn’t do anything…”
“It’s all my fault.” She couldn’t help but sob softly.
“My mother had warned us so many times not to leave the city’s protective formation.”
“But I insisted on going outside the city to play with Ya Ya and the others, and that’s why they were captured…”
Chen Yin was silent for a moment, then asked softly, “Are you sure they were demonic cultivators?”
Luo Luo nodded, her eyes red-rimmed. “My mother went to check the surrounding aura afterwards and confirmed that they were demonic cultivators.”
“But she only said she had sent people to look for them and wouldn’t let me get involved.”
“E-every night, I think about Ya Ya and the others, and I can’t sleep. In the end, I couldn’t take it anymore and sneaked out to search for them myself.”
“But after so much effort, I finally found a clue, and then I lost them…”
Her tail drooped listlessly, and she looked utterly forlorn.
Only now did Chen Yin fully understand how this naive little fox had ended up wandering the world alone.
“Alright, don’t be sad.”
Chen Yin gently wiped away her tears with his sleeve. “You should have listened to your mother.”
“It’s very dangerous to wander around the human world instead of staying within your clan’s protective barrier.”
“You’re lucky you met me. Otherwise, even with your ability to conceal yourself in the void, someone would have discovered you eventually.”
Luo Luo rubbed her eyes, looking like a child who had made a mistake.
“Young Master… I’m sorry.”
“If we go to the demonic sect’s main altar, I-I still want to avenge Ya Ya and the others.”
“I just hope Young Master will give me a chance to see if I can find their killers.”
She said earnestly, “I-I promise I won’t cause you any trouble. I’ll find the culprits myself and take revenge. I won’t interfere with your plans.”
“Can I?” She looked up at him with pleading eyes.
“No.”
Chen Yin’s answer was firm.
Luo Luo’s head drooped in disappointment.
“Firstly, based on what you said, your friends might not be dead.”
…Luo Luo’s fox clan possessed a unique talent. If demonic cultivators had discovered them, they were more likely to be kept captive.
There might be a chance to find some information at the main altar.
“Secondly, and most importantly.”
Chen Yin said calmly, “You’re my servant. We have a master-servant contract.”
“Don’t say things like ‘not causing me trouble.’”
“If you say that again, I’ll be angry and spank you.”
Luo Luo stared at him in disbelief. “S-so, Young Master means…”
“Go to sleep.”
Chen Yin said calmly, “In two days, after I get the information I need…”
“…I’ll take you to the demonic sect to get revenge.”
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