Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

Aiko followed that girl, her nickname was Umbra Fox. She has a powerful Shadow Bloodline that allowed her to hide in plain sight as long as she was in the shade.

This piqued Aiko’s interest and she was looking forward to their time together as she was the only one not quivering from her sight after stabbing that veteran assassin.

”Here it is?” The girl was a bit fidgety, but she led Aiko towards the marble-dodging training room.

Strangely they have not met anyone else.

”Oh? A visitor?” Aiko turned around towards that old, yet gentle voice.

”Another grandpa?” Aiko tilted her head.

The Grandpa in the assassination outfit laughed out loud. ”Some interesting newbies.”

”And an interesting grandpa.” Aiko followed.

”Here for training, kiddos?” The grandpa asked.

”Just to pass the time, I won’t be able to sleep in the barracks.” Aiko shrugged.

”How magnanimous.” The grandpa clicked his tongue but didn’t look displeased.

”I can’t help it.” Aiko shrugged.

”How about some tea with me?” The grandpa asked with the same gentle voice.

”Sure.” Aiko didn’t reject it as this grandpa was interesting.

...

”How long have you been in training?”” The grandpa asked along the way.

”Today would be the first day I somewhat joined.” Aiko answered truthfully.

”And your companion?” The grandpa asked the girl next to Aiko.

”I’m just a guide, Elder.” The girl bowed respectfully. ”But I have been here for half a year already.”

The grandpa narrowed his eyes. ”Did you get any ’rewards’ or ’special training’?”

”No, I was never able to impress others.” The girl shook her head.

”Good. From here on out I’m forbidding both of you from receiving any ’rewards’ or ’special training’.” The grandpa commanded, surprising the girl.

”What’s this about ’rewards’ and ’special training’?” Aiko asked.

”Just something we shouldn’t give to talented Foxes.” The grandpa sighed.

”Something about sex?” Aiko tilted her head, there was too much sex so what those ’rewards’ could be other than something about sex?

The grandpa was surprised. ”That is correct.” He already quite liked this little one, so he didn’t want her to be corrupted by that shitty Dual Cultivation Technique.

”I made a deal with Peak Elder that I would be excluded from those training and things, not from learning though, I’m interested in what is the fuss around it.” Aiko skipped a step and seated herself, kicking her legs.

”Oh?” The grandpa was amused.

”How should I call you grandpa?” Aiko asked, the girl was still left stunned by the casual speech and she was just unable to recover.

”Just call me Grandpa Lin.” Grandpa Lin said gently.

”Hmmm.” Aiko nodded looking at him. ”Grandpa Lin sounds nice.”

Grandpa Lin laughed.

Suddenly a shadow appeared near them. ”Elder Punisher.” The assassin bowed.

”Speak.” He poured tea for Aiko and then for himself and sipped it.

”That’s...” The assassin was hesitant.

”Should I punish you?” Grandpa Lin narrowed his eyes.

”A newcomer injured one of the veterans. How should we deal with them?” The assassin left out things out of the report because he was ordered to make things difficult for Vicious Cub.

Grandpa Lin didn’t even bat an eye. ”Will you report properly, or should I douse you with boiling water?”

The assassin shivered. ”Reporting to Elder Punisher. Newcomer Vicious Cub walked around during the curfew and injured a veteran assassin when he was trying to teach her a lesson.”

”You mean molest me.” Aiko corrected but frowned. ”And why is everyone using such a nickname for me?!” She couldn’t understand how someone as lovely as her would get that nickname.

Grandpa Lin almost spat his tea when he heard that. ”You are that notorious Vicious Cub?” He eyed her up and down, but he just couldn’t imagine how or why she got that nickname.

He was in seclusion till now so he could break through to the Soul Formation Realm, but unfortunately, he was missing a few steps...

”No?” Aiko tried to deny it as she was embarrassed about her own nickname.

Grandpa Lin chuckled and glanced at the assassin. ”Have you punished the veteran assassin?” He asked casually, but the assassin nearby shivered.

Before he could recover and answer Grandpa Lin already knew the answer. ”I take that as a no.” He sipped tea casually but still savouring the taste. ”If he isn’t punished by the time I arrive, I will take over his punishment, as for the Vicious Cub, she is under me if you have any problems and ignore my presence... you know what will happen, right?” Grandpa Lin narrowed his eyes, but the assassin almost pissed himself.

”I understand, Elder Punisher.” He cupped his fists and disappeared.

Grandpa Lin clicked his tongue. ”Seriously those bastards should follow the rules.”

”Anyway. Should we talk about the history of the rules? I worry that you would get deceived.” Grandpa Lin said gently.

Aiko sniffed with her nose a few times and asked. ”You are not a Fox?”

Grandpa Lin laughed. ”Sharp nose.” He gently rubbed her head. ”I’m indeed not a Fox, but I was allowed admission in to the village because of my young master.”

Aiko stared at him for a bit but didn’t voice her opinion about this.

”The history?” Aiko asked.

”It’s not that bad if you think about it.” Grandpa Lin laughed.

In the Olden days of this Village, there weren’t many rules, so most Demonic Foxes ruled over this Old Village.

They were much more powerful than normal Foxes and easily angered, so those times were rough on everyone as the Demonic Foxes would anger each other quite often.

Then one year a Fox Elder returned from exploring the outside world and brought a particular Dual Cultivation Technique. Surprisingly that Technique worked between Beasts, without needing a human, so most Foxes could practice that Dual Cultivation Technique among themselves.

As such, soon orgies became commonplace, while it did speed up the development of strength it also halted communication with the outside since most of them indulged in the carnal pleasures.

One Elder called a meeting. They discussed the banning of the Dual Cultivation Technique, since unfortunately, that Technique had a major flaw.

Addiction, when used, would slowly build up lust, regardless of the mating season. This particular lust is only capable of being tempered by your partner. The effects were small when you were the one Cultivating, but if not, they would grow so horny they would soon go after their partner again, or foolishly another to slake their lust, often as the Cultivating one this time. As such, they were soon forced to mate again, and again. It was a vicious cycle that was hard to break.

A few Fox Elders left the Village to find a solution for this, but those who stayed behind were soon corrupted. They made rules so that ’disobedient’ Foxes could be fucked without any sort of consent.

Those times were the darkest times for if a Fox, resisted the technique their pleasure points would burnt out for months at a time, with the exception of their most recent ’mate’. Leading them to be mostly insensitive to pleasure. Which rendered them inactive during mating season.

Fox numbers dwindled because of this. While they did have a steady stream of incoming Foxes, most larger Fox clans refused to send their prodigies to the Sect and thus the prestige was lost almost entirely.

Then came another major blow to the Village and that was war.

Foxes were no longer hunting and providing Beast Cores and other materials that this Village could trade for Spirits Stones causing the already weakened Defensive Array to weaken further until it collapsed.

At that time many Human Sects spotted this Village and invaded it, almost annihilating it.

The Fox Elders that had not gone carnal, or at least not fully brought the most talented individuals, and Sect treasures into hiding to pass this storm.

Years passed and the Elders outside finally returned back. But the Village was already destroyed.

They had no time to bury the dead, let alone rebuild the Village again when a warship flew overhead.

It was the Fox Fortress, now Sect, that was looking at the carnage below. Fox bodies were everywhere and only a couple of Elders and a few young prodigies were alive.

The warship landed establishing the current Village as a branch and appointed the current Sect Leader as the Leader.

Her task was to guide this Village to prosperity and send promising prodigies to the mainland where the Qi was much thicker.

Naturally, this establishment aroused the interest of the nearby Sects, but my master, a human, interfered and suppressed them.

Thus he earned the praise of the Foxes and was allowed to stay inside with one of his protectors.

Grandpa Lin proudly pointed at himself.

Then my master introduced a less potent variation of the Dual Cultivation Technique, weaker, but the lust for the non-Cultivating partner was much more manageable, and unable to burn out an unwilling partner.

This made the Fox Elders both grateful and angry.

The grateful ones were those who wanted change, while the angry ones were those who enjoyed those carnal pleasures.

They remembered that using the old Technique on Foxes would make them addicted to sex, but only for the person who used it first on them. And the ability to render headstrong Foxes unable to get pleasure from anyone other than them.

As such civil war spread where the Carnal Elders fought for their carnal pleasures and others to stop them.

There were many rules about the Techniques and what is allowed and what isn’t. It was changing almost every week, depending on which side was stronger.

Most Carnal Elders went into hiding after losing too many times and they were bitter about their loss.

They vowed revenge.

”It’s this place, right?” Aiko pointed down.

”Correct. They hid in the ranks of assassins.” Grandpa Lin nodded.

”I should definitely leave.” Aiko frowned.

”Or you can work with me.” Grandpa Lin smiled.

”Why should I?” Aiko asked.

”Because for each Carnal Elder removed you would get half of their assets.” Grandpa Lin smiled. ”And before you say no because they are poor. They are not. Before the first Village was destroyed this place was wealthy when it came to relics, just not with Spirit Stones needed for the Array.”

Aiko was still not convinced.

”Moreover your nickname will change-” Grandpa Lin tried to rope her with something more, but was cut short.

”Deal.” Aiko nodded. ”But once shit goes down I’m the first one running away.”

”That is fine.” Grandpa Lin smiled. ”Once you clear the Assassination Training you are allowed to pick an Assassin companion.” Grandpa Lin counted. ”Of course, since your position is different I will allow you to even choose another companion, but one of them needs to be from Shadows Peak, otherwise there would be too much backlash.”

Aiko thought about it. ”What is the work of assassin companions?”

”You could see them as your right and left hand.” Grandpa Lin explained.

Aiko nodded. ”Let’s talk more in detail.”