Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

Moon Aiko walked into the private study.

”Breastfeeding this time, huh?” Moon Aiko blinked a few times before walking out. She didn’t need to see Chen Shi’s face plastered between mountains.

A few moments later, the doors opened.

”What did you need?” Chen Shi was awkward. It was obvious that he hated being interrupted.

”Still not locking doors?” Moon Aiko shook her head.

Chen Shi rolled his eyes. ”So?”

”I forgot.” Moon Aiko saw that shocking sight, and her mind turned blank.

Just when Chen Shi was about to scold her, she gently tapped her fist into her palm. ”Why is this token blank this time?”

”It’s because you can’t be measured by ordinary means.” Chen Shi rolled his eyes.

”Why not increase it, then?” Moon Aiko tilted her head.

”Because the next step is more troublesome, and we don’t have the equipment here to do it.” Chen Shi clicked his tongue. ”The first requirement would be to be able to own and make Spirit Treasures or Numinous Treasures.”

”Sounds troublesome.” Moon Aiko shook her head.

”Yeah, we can’t really measure how developed the Spirit inside the Treasure is, so we can’t hand anything above Ancestor Rank. ” Chen Shi shrugged.

”The blank is because I have already surpassed those things, but there is no way to measure me, gotcha.” Moon Aiko nodded her head.

”If you had one rank higher, then you would be able to actually shop and get into auctions, even if you were a Beast.” Chen Shi sighed.

”So they are limiting even that?” Moon Aiko was speechless.

”Yeah, why do you think I stayed in this shithole in the first place?” Chen Shi snorted unhappily.

”Because you wanted that Ghostussy.” Moon Aiko nodded her head, convinced about this.

”...” Chen Shi drew a blank this time. ”Never do that again.” He was cringing so hard that his internal organs almost twisted.

”So this can also be an effective weapon...” Moon Aiko nodded her head.

”Are you trying to kill someone with your words?” Chen Shi was speechless.

”Not yet.” Moon Aiko shrugged.

”See, that’s what’s so scary about you...” Chen Shi shuddered at that ’yet’ that Aiko loved so much.

”Hey, it’s not like I would use it on you.” Moon Aiko frowned at him.

”Because you would definitely test it on me.” Chen Shi snorted. He didn’t believe her bullshit, since she would definitely target him.

”You are right.” Moon Aiko admitted that Chen Shi was the perfect target and the most powerful to boot. If it almost killed him, then anyone lower would definitely die.

”...” Chen Shi sighed. He felt like he was being used as a testing dummy.

”This is nice.” Yue popped out of nowhere, stretching her body. ”This is so much more comfortable than the lamp or bracelet.”

”Is it?” Moon Aiko was intrigued about how different it might be.

”Yeah.” Yue rubbed her sleepy eyes. ”Imagine not being able to walk in the sun. Coupled with that, your full power is only during a full moon, and you have a recipe for disaster.” She sighed helplessly.

”But how does it differ?” Moon Aiko was ever so slightly upset that Yue didn’t get to that point.

”Because we can walk around in the sun, or even sleep. There might not be any shade around, but the day and night cycle can still be applied!” Yue marvelled. ”That means I can recover my wits and spend time with my sister, while not fearing the impending sun!”

”Oh...” Moon Aiko nodded her head. She couldn’t understand how Sun didn’t emit-

’Wait, could it be that we are blocking the Yang Qi entirely, and it’s just an illusion?’ Moon Aiko tilted her head. ”How about the heat?” She was curious about the extent to which it can mimic things.

”We can feel the warmth and everything, that’s why it’s so refreshing.” Yue smiled.

”That’s incredible.” Moon Aiko’s new Treasure was much more incredible than she expected!

”And you can come and go even if it’s in the pendant state?” Moon Aiko felt puzzled.

”It’s kind of hard to describe, but the pendant is not the real Treasure?” Yue tilted her head, groaning slightly. This would be the first time she had a hard time explaining something to anyone.

”...” Moon Aiko couldn’t understand it, but she assumed that the ’image’ of the Treasure didn’t really mean the functions were completely sealed.

Well, at least the Ghost-related functions.

”We don’t really get the same benefits when you have the pendant, but we can still come and go.” Yue nodded her head as she gave up on explaining.

’Never mind.’ Moon Aiko was even more confused. Did that mean they can only go inside and outside? So, no effects applied? How about the suppression part?

’This might get dangerous...’ Moon Aiko should test that part on some kind of Soul that would struggle.

’It’s obvious that even if Yue tries to struggle, the Treasure wouldn’t restrict her.’ Moon Aiko was convinced that Yue was already part of her faction; thus, the Treasure wouldn’t try to limit her movements.

’So... difficult.’ Moon Aiko shook her head.

”So this token is precious, but if it doesn’t have colour, do others know about it?” Moon Aiko narrowed her eyes as she turned towards Chen Shi.

”Oh, blank token, that’s rare.” Yue nodded her head.

”Most managers should know about it, but it’s not like I can give two tokens, since others would then call you a scammer.” Chen Shi shook his head. ”Just don’t forget to drop your blood on it to register it.”

”Eh? You need to do that?” Moon Aiko thought that just holding this would be enough. It was not like it was a conscious Treasure that she needed to refine.

”... Don’t tell me the previous token is-’ Chen Shi just stopped. It was pointless to think, since he never thought there would be someone this oblivious.

”Here.” Moon Aiko returned it without batting an eye.

”...” Chen Shi just sighed, giving up completely.

”The disc is fine, can we get a few more?” Moon Aiko wished to collect a bigger sample, and she also had to test if it could be used in her tails.

”I will see how much I can gather, but don’t expect more than a few.” Chen Shi shook his head. He still had to be frugal, just in case Yue wanted something.

Yue yawned. ”I will go to sleep again. It’s so nice to rest after such a long time.”

”Did you never rest before?” Moon Aiko blinked her eyes in surprise.

”Well, I was either sickly or being dragged around by chains, so...” Yue shrugged like she didn’t care about those days any more, but it was obvious it still weighed on her.

”Then go rest.” Moon Aiko wouldn’t push her around. If she wanted to rest, then she should rest.

”How kind of you~” Yue giggled, clearly teasing Aiko.

Moon Aiko just rolled her eyes and turned towards Chen Shi. ”We will also have a rest.”

”So I’m the only one working, huh?” Chen Shi snorted unhappily, but he still got to work.

He was exceptionally happy that Yue was doing so much better, and while it didn’t seem at first glance, her Ghost ’form’ was less blurry than before.

...

Moon Aiko rested with Danji for a few days. They were discussing what to do with clothing, since Aiko’s forms had different proportions, and Danji even suggested dressing up.

”I don’t mind, but it might get exhausting.” Moon Aiko didn’t mind as much as she thought, but there was still an uneasy feeling.

”Well...” Danji wanted Aiko to get used to dressing up, since she was finally worried about Mei’s reaction.

’I might be strong, but Mei still can be scary.’ Danji shook her head.

Moon Aiko sighed. ”I will give it a thought while resting.”

”That is fine.” Danji smiled, and they both slept...

-----

Moon Aiko woke up in a familiar space.

”How is it going?” Moon Aiko blinked at Mei.

”Don’t even mention it. It’s a complete shit show.” Mei sighed.

”Should we return?” Moon Aiko narrowed her eyes.

”At your own leisure.” Mei sighed again.

”You are sighing a lot.” Moon Aiko caressed her head.

”Where did you learn this?” Mei was startled, but then she sighed again. ”Those damned Elders holed themselves in a Fox Village Protective Array, so unless we take down the whole Fox Village Outer Protective Array, they can’t be harmed.”

”That’s quite ingenious.” Moon Aiko smirked, but she understood why Mei was sighing so much.

”You wouldn’t have said that if you were in my place.” Mei pinched Aiko’s cheeks.

”Well, can’t we use something to drain it or something?” Moon Aiko let Mei pinch her as much as she wanted.

”Impossible, the Delegation is making sure that the Outer Protective Array is working flawlessly.” Mei snorted, shaking her head.

”So they are protecting them again?” Moon Aiko felt strange. Were the Elders that important, or did they hold something of such value that the Delegation wouldn’t care about the current situation?

”They want that technique, but they were unable to finish the deal with the Fox Elders before they holed themselves up.” Mei clicked her tongue.

”That’s good.” Moon Aiko nodded. ”We still can catch them.”

”You are the only one who can think like that.” Mei shook her head. Aiko was too enthusiastic, but that put her mind at ease.

”Why?” Moon Aiko thought that everyone would try their best to accomplish their goals.

”Most would quit, you know.” Mei chuckled, seeing Aiko’s expression.

”Are they dumb?” Moon Aiko couldn’t help but ask.

”Definitely.” Mei nodded her head as if that was given.

”Seriously?” Moon Aiko was speechless.

”Seriously.” Mei nodded her head again before giggling.

She... really missed this feeling. This feeling of Aiko that made her laugh so effortlessly.

Mei sighed softly as she hugged Aiko.

”It’s better with a bed...” Moon Aiko complained, but still hugged Mei back.

”How so?” Mei said teasingly.

”My back hurts, I’m too small.” Moon Aiko clicked her tongue.

Mei laughed again. ”Then grow up.”

”You think I’m not trying to do that?!” Moon Aiko glared at Mei as they separated.

”Don’t sulk. I still love you.” Mei showered Aiko with gentle pecks.

Moon Aiko didn’t know how to receive this, which made her even more endearing.

’This is why I love this white Aiko.’ Mei smiled from ear to ear.

”How are you doing?” Mei suddenly asked.

”Making Treasure, Special Treasures. We have a lot to talk about, but let’s not do it in dreams.” Moon Aiko smiled.

”Well, we have more Demonic Foxes here, so you will have more friends~” Mei smiled.

”Good~” Moon Aiko actually smiled. ”I can add them to the 1,000+ Foxes that I have stored in my tails.”

*Pfft*

Mei choked on nothing, and the dream almost collapsed from her shock...