The Fox King - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: On Edge
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Zhe Huo could tell she had really ticked off Wu Shan this time. All for the sake of a fox kit she’d barely known for a few days—was all this really worth it? But Luo Qinghan had certainly done nothing wrong…

Watching Wu Shan storm away from her, she scrambled to give chase, but she couldn’t think of what to say. Wu Shan regarded her morosely, and eventually muttered, “Zhe Huo, it’s always good to be a little careful.”

Clearly, he was talking about Qinghan. That didn’t sit well with her, but she didn’t dare provoke him any further, so she made a sound in reply, and nodded her head.

Wu Shan produced a yellow pouch from his robes, and handed it to her. He took a moment to compose himself before saying, in a gentler tone, “After I finished my task in Tiancheng, I found this in a shop somewhere. You like to collect pretty stones, right? I thought you might like this.”

Zhe Huo’s eyes widened. Unable to hold back her curiosity, she took the pouch from him and opened it up for a look inside. There was a crescent-shaped gemstone inside, emanating a soft golden light. The sight of it caused her to blink several times in wonder. “It’s so pretty… it looks just like the moon!”

Watching her eyes sparkling with delight, the moonstone reflected upon her dark irises, Wu Shan’s temper softened considerably. “I see you like it.”

“Of course I like it!” Zhe Huo cried out happily. Bashfully, she covered her mouth with one hand. “Is this really for me?”

“Yes, really.”

Zhe Huo thought for a moment. “It must have cost quite a bit.”

“Just a few spirit gems,” Wu Shan replied mysteriously.

She knew he didn’t want her to feel guilty over it, but this was obviously a precious treasure, which could only have been found in a place like Tiancheng, where saints gathered. Understanding that she was meant to have it, she put it away carefully, looked up at him, and announced with all her sincerity, “Just you wait. One day, I’ll capture a truly mighty demon myself, and then I’ll get you something nice, too!”

“Alright,” Wu Shan answered gently.

And so, Zhe Huo went back with a happy heart, thinking about how she ought to be nicer to him, and avoid starting any more quarrels with him.

Upon her return, however, she was greeted with another pleasant surprise.

Qinghan had prepared another sumptuous meal for her. Seeing her come in, he offered her a cup of mint water. “Zhe Huo, drink this.”

Zhe Huo sat down, in a daze, and downed the drink. Only then did she mumble in confusion, “Why did you ask me to drink that?”

Qinghan rested his chin on his hands, gazing at her with those vast, fathomless blue eyes. “You’ve been a little on edge, of late.”

He reached out with a dainty finger and touched her fair, alabaster-white forehead—where a tiny zit had appeared.

With a start, Zhe Huo reached up and felt it for herself. Indeed, a zit had popped out. She wouldn’t have known about it without him pointing it out. She felt a surge of affection, realizing how attentively Qinghan watched over her. He’d even made her some mint water as a remedy.

Their mealtime together felt even warmer than usual.

Zhe Huo could feel her heart growing ever fonder of this painstakingly caring, breathtakingly lovely little child.

After they were done eating, she shed her outer robe right onto the chair, and went out to join the other disciples for weapons training. When she came back, she found Qinghan holding the moonstone that Wu Shan had given her, turning it over in his hands and carefully considering it.

She froze on the spot.