I Have a Golden Crow

Night had fallen, in the guest room on the first floor.

Du Yu lay on the big bed, his breathing calm and rhythmic. Ever since he started the Burning Sun Tree’s special training, his days had left him utterly exhausted, and every night he’d sleep deeply.

Little Fen Yang was also busy renovating its new home, transforming into a mysterious black-and-gold bird, circling again and again through Du Yu’s meridian channels, round and round, without end.

”Ying~”

In the silent room, a soft little sound suddenly rang out.

A flaming red bushy tail led the way, lifting up a corner of the blanket, and soon Xiaoyan poked out her fluffy little head. She looked around carefully, then stealthily crawled out from under the covers.

”Mmm...” Prince Du had been holding his beloved in his arms, and as his arms emptied, even in his sleep he moved them unconsciously.

Xiaoyan squatted at the bedside, too scared to move a muscle. Only after hearing Du Yu’s long, even breathing did she finally let out a sigh of relief, leapt lightly from the big bed, and headed straight for the door.

The petite figure slipped out through the crack in the door. Back on the bed, a faintly transparent little head slowly emerged from Du Yu’s sleeping chest. Maybe fearing being discovered, Little Fen Yang didn’t follow her out—after all, this was the only room without demonic plants.

Xiaoyan crept silently to the stairway, gazing up at the wooden steps leading to the second floor.

It had been more than half a month; she’d never been upstairs.

Whether eating, sleeping, training, or bathing, Du Yu had always followed his mentor’s orders to the letter, never once setting foot on the second floor. But today...

That woman’s back!

Hu Xiaoyan thought about it, but in the end still leapt up the stairs.

The vines and blossoms clinging to the walls had already noticed this little one prowling about at night, but hadn’t stopped her.

Sneaking upstairs, Xiaoyan saw, through the window in the moonlight, a beautiful garden beneath a moonlit sky.

Compared to the leaf-carpeted first floor, the second was obviously far more beautiful.

Even the stair railings on the second floor were adorned with swaying blossoms, twinkling with a faint, mysterious glow in the moonlight—utterly enchanting.

”Ying~” Xiaoyan looked curiously all around, coming to the door of the master bedroom and gazing up at the hanging flower leaves draping from a low stool.

Enthralled by the scene, she nearly forgot her purpose for coming.

Blue-violet flowers in full bloom beneath the moonlight, like beautiful morning glories, slowly dangled down, lowering themselves right to Xiaoyan’s face.

Sniff~

Xiaoyan’s nose twitched. Her golden-brown eyes instantly grew hazy and dazed, her petite body staggering as if tipsy, slowly collapsing to the floor...

Meanwhile, upon the big bed in the master bedroom—

The woman opened her eyes, frowning slightly, gently flexing her fingers.

Soft flower stems stretched toward the door, slowly pulling it open. Seeing what waited outside, Yang Qingqing couldn’t help but smile, shaking her head in amusement.

Then, like dragging a dead dog, the flower stem wrapped around Xiaoyan’s big tail, hauling her inside and dropping her before Yang Qingqing.

”Little troublemaker, your thieving heart never gives up.” Yang Qingqing gently scolded, looking at the little fox all woozy from the flower pollen. She found it rather puzzling.

Her impression of Du Yu was excellent—Student Du was respectful to his elders, proper and poised, with an impeccable attitude. So how had he ended up raising such a flirtatious little fox?

Yang Qingqing set Xiaoyan aside and tried to go back to sleep, but faintly sensed a ripple of Fire Demon Breath from downstairs.

The fluctuation was faint and clearly not from her own demonic plants. Thinking carefully, it could only have been some trouble stirred up by Du Yu.

Breaking through to Demon Tamer Prentice·Peak Stage?

He really is a man of his word.

”Send it back to its master,” Yang Qingqing murmured. The soft flower stem grabbed the ”dead dog” and carried her all the way downstairs.

The next morning, the little fox awoke inside the Acupoint Home.

Xiaoyan: ???

What happened?

Last night I went looking for the beautiful sister for some snuggles, and then...then I got knocked out by a flower!

”Pfft!” came a soft pop.

A whiff of fire demon breath formed above Du Yu’s brow. He was frying eggs and quickly caught Xiaoyan with one hand, settling her on his shoulder. ”So, what were you up to last night?”

”Ying.” Xiaoyan whimpered in a spoiled way, giving Du Yu’s cheek a lick.

”No playing cute!” Du Yu gave her a sidelong glance, grabbed a dried Fire Nether Fruit from the table, and offered it overhead.

Little You Ying immediately snatched it, and though it was just some dried fruit, she made eating it sound like devouring finger-lickin’ chicken. Du Yu had to tug hard to get his finger back.

”Ying~” Xiaoyan let out another happy cry. This time, not spoiled, but brimming with delight!

”That’s right, you’ve also advanced to Mortal Level·Peak! Thanks to the demonic plant bringing you back, I was able to put you into the Acupoint Home in time. Otherwise, you would’ve missed out on this hitchhike.” Du Yu tilted his head, his smile full of doting affection, gently bumping Xiaoyan’s little head.

”Ying!” Xiaoyan bounced with excitement, as if savoring her brand-new body.

Mortal Level·Peak!

Just a little more effort and I’ll reach Earth-level Demon Beast—and then I’ll have a second big tail!

At the dining room doorway, no one knew when a woman in a gorgeous robe appeared.

Her arms were folded gently in front, shoulder leaning against the doorframe, a faint smile on her lips as she quietly watched this heartwarming scene.

Demon Tamers all choose different types of Demon Pets, and their futures are as different as night and day.

The vast majority of Demon Pets in this world grow rapidly in size as their power increases.

Making one’s Demon Pet stronger is, of course, a Demon Tamer’s lifelong pursuit. But precisely because of this, those tender, everyday moments become all the more rare.