Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

”I would like to borrow one of those bracelets like the Clothier has.” Aiko was honest with her wants.

The Peak Elder paused, but before she could say anything, the Sect Leader indulged her. ”That is but a simple matter. I will also give you this talisman. You can contact me when something unexpected happens outside.”

The Sect Leader already knew about the fact she was going into ’that’ town on a mission.

”Thank you, Sect Leader.” Aiko’s smile bloomed, stunning both of them.

The Sect Leader clicked her tongue. ’We don’t have any high-grade Recognition Concealing Bracelets, I just hope this one will be enough.’ She was concerned that her beauty couldn’t be hidden.

The Sect Leader placed those treasured artifacts in front of Aiko.

Aiko took the talisman with interest, her eyes shining, but the Sect Leader stopped her thoughts. ”We only have a few of those, so don’t waste them.”

Aiko pouted, seeing the Sect Leader read her thoughts. She just wanted a couple of them, alright?

”Yes, Sect Leader.” She could only concede.

The Sect Leader smiled, ’One was worse than the other’ she thought.

”Now leave.” The Sect Leader shooed her away.

Aiko pouted but left. She got what she wanted, so she had to be satisfied for the time being.

...

Aiko dashed towards the main gate, stopping in front of the still huge and ripped Fox.

”Back again?” He asked, appraising her outfit, assuming it to be a new version of the Assassin Uniform. He really liked this one much more than the normal one, since it outlined the middle part better. Those new separate parts obscured the proportions of the limbs, but with this single piece, he could appreciate the wearers core physique much more easily.

”Not bad.” He praised her outfit, not only for its obvious practicality, but also its lack of detachable parts, so he didn’t need to worry that he would get flashed by the little fox.

”I know, it took a while.” Aiko agreed that it was nice, now she just needed those scales for armour and everything would be in place.

He raised an eyebrow at that sentence, but still asked. ”Is this the new Assassination Uniform?” He hoped it would be.

”I don’t know.” Aiko shook her head. ”This was specially made for me.”

This greatly surprised the guard, but he didn’t sound her out. ”Token.”

Aiko placed every Token she has into her hand.

He almost coughed up blood when he saw the [Black Inscription Master Token]. He once again stared at Aiko up and down and wondered if she was really that capable...

”How long will you be outside?” He asked as he noted things down on a Jade Slip.

”I don’t know, I have 17 days for the mission, but I don’t know how long it will take me to go into the Blessed Mountain Town.” Aiko didn’t know how to answer that, as it was her first mission outside.

He nodded slowly. ”I will write down two months, so you have plenty of time to return just in case something unexpected happens, but try not to delay too much.” He warned her.

”I intend to be quick, but I also intend to taste good food, so I will temporarily suspend the mission.” Aiko salivated, she wondered what kind of good food they had.

”Good food?” He narrowed his eyes and this little Fox once again slipped into the slut territory.

”Yeah, I really want to taste fish or something similar and exotic since I have only tasted ’simple’ meat till now.” Aiko frowned, thinking, it was so far away from here it should be close to the ocean... right?

He was startled, coughing awkwardly. He didn’t expect this little Fox to be a glutton and not-

”They don’t have fish.” He already visited that town and they didn’t have any at that time.

Aiko’s ears dropped. She sighed sadly. ”Thank you for telling me, can I go now?”

Seeing her in low spirit, he wanted to comfort her, but he was all muscles and not much of a brain for comfort. ”Take care outside, don’t trust Humans.”

”That’s natural.” A sharp glint passed through Aiko’s eyes and he shivered. ”See ya.”

Aiko waved at him.

He felt much better with such a cheerful, yet deadly Fox around him. He wondered if he could woo her over, since he didn’t have a Companion. Most Foxes would fear him for his huge build and thick muscles, but this little one didn’t seem to mind and there was even a hint of admiration in her eyes.

...

Aiko left the Fox Village. There was a sense of strangeness in the air, but that was probably only because she spent too much time inside the Village.

She walked around slowly, enjoying the breeze and air that felt much cleaner than inside the Fox Village. She liked the outside so much more.

The birds were chirping and the Forest concealing the Village was very lush, yet Aiko could spot countless Arrays littered around. Luckily, none of them reacted.

She could feel a warm current from her Sect Token, probably preventing the Arrays from targeting her in the first place.

Aiko was even more interested in the Token as the clothing feature was already appealing, but if she could create a Token that could bypass Arrays... that could be very beneficial in the future.

Aiko smiled and slowly picked up the pace. She had limited time to reach that town and should hurry up, lest she arrive too late.

She felt a bit burdened while in her pseudo-human form as she was much slower than in her Fox form. She was really tempted to transform, but remembering her shame from when she tried to wear these clothes... she didn’t want to experience it again.

Aiko rushed with her [Sprint].

She was looking forward to the delicacies inside the town.

Strangely enough, she ran for a few hours, but she still didn’t encounter any Beasts. She was unaware that even when her Aura was suppressed by the pseudo-human form she still was a genuine Magical Beast, but one with the Energy of Spirit Beast, so none dared to approach her.

...

Finally, Aiko reached the plains. It took her 5 days to leave the forest, this was considered quite fast, but once she entered the open plains her speed sharply dropped.

’There is no shade.’ Aiko frowned as her speed halved.

Should she transform into her Fox form? She thought about it for a while. She was guided by a small compass towards the city. This kind of compass was very cheap to make and thus was given to Foxes during missions so that they wouldn’t get lost, but naturally, they didn’t have a compass to lead them back to the Fox Village.

Aiko was deep in thought, but soon conceded her embarrassment in favour of speed.

*Poof*

A small Fox rushed through the plains like a bullet. Her speed was not comparable, even when considering the fact she was not in a shade. Aiko felt the feeling of liberation as her sluggish body was no more.

She used her [Quick Double Jump] to rush forward even faster. This time no Beast approached her, not because they could feel her, but because her speed was now comparable to that of an almost middle-stage Spirit Beast.

Aiko hummed, dashing through the plains as a small Fox.

...

She arrived in the city in a mere 10 days. She was incredibly quick for how ’weak’ she was, but she only had 2 days to locate and kill her target... she could still delay a little!

Aiko hummed happily until it came to wearing clothes.

Aiko pulled out her Assassination Uniform only to pause. ’How am I going to visit yummy places with those clothes...?’

Aiko didn’t think that through.

She transformed and tapped her Sect Token. She was clothed in white, but that was the problem...

’Too eye-catching...’ Aiko thought. She turned into Fox and utilized her stealth capabilities to the maximum to sneak inside the Town.

It was quite a large town, not as large as the place she was sold in, but large enough that she could get lost.

She moved silently in the shadows, observing the state of this place.

It was somewhat wealthy city as there were no old or deteriorating buildings.

”Buns! Buns for 3 coins!”

”Warm porridge! Only 15 coins!”

The stalls were lively, filled with customers savouring the food.

Aiko drooled and her eyes sparkled, while it couldn’t compare to that fragrant meat, it was still good enough for a taste.

Aiko immediately redoubled her efforts trying to find a clothing shop.

There were plenty of large shops with beautiful clothing, but that was not what she was looking for. She was looking for simple clothes so that she could enjoy her food in peace.

Fortunately for her, she found a very deserted building with very humble, but still nice-looking clothing inside.

She sneaked inside, completely unaware that the shopkeeper had already noticed her even with all of her stealth Abilities, but he didn’t move. He stared with some interest at what this little Fox would do.

Aiko went behind shelves and transformed, tapping her Sect Token to clothe herself.

”Hello!” Aiko approached the counter looking at the shopkeeper. She didn’t forget to wear the bracelet to conceal herself.

The shopkeeper stared at her amused, as that bracelet couldn’t conceal her under his eyes.

”Welcome, what can I do for you?” He placed a gentle smile on his old lips.

”I would like some nice yet inconspicuous clothing, Grandpa.” Aiko said with a gentle smile.

The shopkeeper was taken aback by her address and it only deepened his curiosity. ”What would you like that for?”

While he didn’t mind little Foxes, he liked this town. He wouldn’t let them invade and destroy this place.

”I want to eat tasty buns in peace and that porridge.” Aiko drooled again, but realizing she was in the presence of someone else she quickly gulped it down.

The grandpa stared at her speechless. This was the first time he encountered such a strange Fox.

”How about this one?” He gestured to a nearby dress.

”A bit too gaudy...” Aiko didn’t like it.

His likeness towards this little one deepened. ”But others won’t like you if you won’t wear nice things.” He teased her.

”Why should others like me?” Aiko frowned. ”I’m not here for others, I’m here for food.” She softly glared at him and he laughed.

”Come here.” He beckoned this strange Fox.

”How about this one?” Even before Aiko approached he placed completely casual clothing in front of her. They were still nicer than most clothing in this place, but not as gaudy as what he previously pointed at.

”Hmmmm...” Aiko quite liked this one as it still retained some prettiness.

”How much is it?” Aiko asked.

”Just a coin.” The shopkeeper said dismissively, while he didn’t dislike her, he also completely didn’t like her and thus didn’t want to form a karmic relationship with her.

Aiko browsed her Storage Pouch and placed a coin on the table.

He stared at it dumbfounded. ”That is a Black Gold Coin.” He said slowly.

Aiko tilted her head. ”But you wanted a coin?”

”Just give me a gold coin and shoo.” He shook his head sighing.

”Oh...” Aiko felt embarrassed. ”I only have those.” Her face was dyed red.

The shopkeeper almost banged his face on the counter. ”What?”

Aiko couldn’t bear his gaze and looked away.

”Listen little- girl.” ”1 Black Gold Coin is 100 Gold Coins. 1 Gold Coin is 100 Silver Coins. 1 Silver Coin is 100 Bronze Coins.” He almost made a slip of tongue from the shock, but he was still able to explain.

Aiko nodded.

”I wanted 1 Gold Coin.” He explained slowly.

”Oh...” Aiko felt even worse when he said it so slowly.

He shook his head. ”Here.”

He quickly exchanged the black gold coin for more appropriate coinage, making sure there were plenty of Bronze Coins for the Foolish Fox to use.

”If you can help it only use Bronze Coins, alright?” He smiled gently. He never encountered such an ignorant Fox, but he didn’t dislike that.