Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

The manager came from his retreat. He inspected the situation.

One of his employees was foaming from his mouth. Another one was being scolded by a Young Miss. The customers were giggling, watching the show unfold.

Aiko sniffed and her nose was hit by a powerful wave of QI

”You! How do you teach your employees?! And what’s with these rubbish products that you are trying to portray as treasures!?” Aiko immediately went into scolding mode on that powerful person.

The middle-aged gentleman was startled, he didn’t expect to be scolded by a young girl the moment he came from his retreat.

”What are you trying to say?” He narrowed his eyes dangerously.

”You have shitty harassers in your shop that are trying to scam customers of their money.” Aiko summed it up.

He frowned. He was unaware something like that was happening.

”Do you have any evidence?” He asked the Young Miss. He could swipe this situation under the rug if this Young Miss didn’t have any evidence.

”Tell us again what you told me.” Aiko stared at the employee.

”That’s-” The employee hesitated and went pale, he didn’t want to talk about it.

Aiko snorted coldly. ”You don’t dare to admit that you had lied, but you dare to hide under the skirt of an old fossil?” Aiko shook her head.

The peanut gallery chuckled at this and the employee blushed in shame.

She stepped closer to the foaming guy and picked him up with one hand.

The customers and employees stiffened. They didn’t expect that this little girl was also a Cultivator.

They thought about the whole situation and was reminded on how haughty she was. Pausing, a cold sweat ran down their spines as they realized that this little girl was a not so simple Young Miss.

Aiko slapped him across the cheeks a few times, waking him up.

”W-what?” He shuddered, staring at the devil that almost made him impotent.

”Be a dear and tell me what you know about this thing.” Aiko pointed at the nearby Inscription Pen.

That employee wanted to cry, but he couldn’t do so in front of so many customers. It would anger the manager and he absolutely couldn’t afford that. Though unbeknownst to him, his manager was standing behind him.

”This is...” He slowly described the Inscription Pen to the best of his abilities so it would sell.

”See, boss?” Aiko stared at the manager, huffing. This uncle wanted to play with her, but he just kicked a metal plate.

The manager had an unsightly expression. The employees shivered, specially the guy who enthusiastically presented the product.

”Who taught you that?” The Manager narrowed his eyes dangerously.

The employee didn’t answer and glanced at the person who refused to speak when Aiko told him to.

”Do you have anything to say for yourself?” The Manager was angered badly, but he didn’t explode since there were too many eyes on him.

”No...” He didn’t meet the manager’s eyes, knowing what would happen next.

”Great!” The Manager gathered his Qi and crippled the cowardly bastard. ”Get lost, bastard!”

He then turned towards the employees. ”And you lot, if you don’t introduce our products properly... you will end up sharing his fate or worse!” He threatened them.

Aiko ignored this and was staring at the Inscription Carving Pen high on the wall.

”Dear guest.” The Manager turned towards them. ”How may I help you? Are you looking for something specific?” He found it odd that this girl was so nonchalant about this whole situation and he thought that he should approach this person carefully.

”I’m interested in that Inscription Carving Pen.” Aiko pointed at the wall.

”My apologies, but that one is not for sale.” The Manager bowed, cursing in his mind that she picked their treasure.

”I’m not interested in buying it. I’m only interested in the design.” Aiko said passively.

”Design? Are you perhaps a Forging Master?” He asked carefully, but he was still taken aback.

Aiko shook her head and the Manager breathed a sigh of relief, but that was premature. ”I’m an Inscription Cultivator.”

The peanut gallery was taken aback, looking at the Young Miss. Inscription Cultivator and so young!? There is no way, right...?

”May I see your Token?” The Manager asked. He had a very bad premonition. If that premonition was correct, he would have to quickly correct his attitude towards this guest.

”Sure.” Aiko rummaged through her [Storage Ring] and pulled out a Black Token.

*Hiss!*

The customers and employees all took a step back, taking a sharp breath in. They couldn’t believe their eyes.

They all had the same thought. ’Black Inscription Apprentice!’

The Manager’s hand quivered. He took the Black Token and looked at it. Even if he didn’t read what was inside the token, he already knew this was an Inscription Master Token, a 3rd Rank Token at that.

He gently pressed the Token and information flew into his mind.

Not only was this guest a Black Inscription Master, but she was also a Fox protected by the Inscription Association! If he laid his hands on her or slighted her in any way, his head would roll! He would need to appease her to the best of his abilities, so today’s event wouldn’t reach their ears!

He looked at the little ’Young Miss’. The Manager gauged her age to be around 10 years old, but it was too vague for him to confirm it. That meant that this little girl reached not only a stage where she could converse with humans, but also 3rd stage Inscription Cultivator and all of that was within 10 years! This wasn’t a prodigy, this was heaven-defying!

His sweat dripped. The customers saw his unsightly expression and started to gossip. Those gossip reached his ears, snapping him from his daze.

”My apologies esteemed Inscription Master. I have been rude to you, please forgive me!” He bowed towards Aiko.

The peanut gallery fell completely silent, like their brain short-circuited. They couldn’t process the information that they heard at all. This little Young Miss was an Inscription Master? This little girl?? No way in hell that was the truth! They didn’t dare to admit the first part, not to mention they wouldn’t dare to admit the Black Token part!

”Manager... Are you sure that-” Before another customer could question it, he was blasted out of the shop. This was an obvious message for them.

’It is real.’

They gulped and watched the small Young Miss converse with the Manager.

”If you would like to view our second floor, I could guide you.” He bowed like a gentleman.

Aiko thought about it. ”Can I see and try that one?” Aiko pointed at the Inscription Carving Pen on the wall.

”As long as you do not wish to buy it.” His attitude changed completely and he was trying his best to butter her up. ”We also have a number of Pens from the same Forging Cultivator, if would you be interested in viewing those?” He glanced at the Young Miss, but was startled by her wide smile.

”Sure!” Aiko nodded happily. ”I would also like to sit and have some tea.” Aiko smiled again, she would not move if she didn’t have to.

She then extended her hand.

”Of course, I will arrange it.” The Manager nodded happily, but he didn’t understand the last gesture.

”My Token.” Aiko narrowed her eyes.

”Pardon me.” The Manager smiled with a silly grin and returned her the Token.

Aiko stored the token and waited for her refreshments.

She didn’t expect the Manager to pull a table with chairs and a brewing set from his storage ring. It felt like he was prepared for this kind of situation and that it was not the first time something like this happened.

”Please?” He gestured to the Young Miss to sit.

The Umbra Fox moved next to the brewing set and slowly made tea for her Mistress.

The Manager was puzzled at first since he expected that those two to be mere guards, but seeing her skilful preparation of the tea he wiped the sweat on his forehead. It seems he was still underestimating them.

He immediately stormed away onto the second floor to get the Inscription Pens and Carving Pens for this Young Miss.

The smell of the tea soon spread throughout the shop. The customers were even more interested in this mysterious Young Miss. They wondered where she came from and what she was planning to do in the Capital. Unfortunately for them, they couldn’t ask, they were too scared of the Manager and the mysterious guards behind the Young Miss.

...

The manager returned with about 20 display boxes, with each having some kind of Inscription Pen or Carving Pen.

Aiko glanced at them and sorted them by: Interested - Bland

There were only 3 interesting ones.

The First one was a well-decorated Inscription Pen. It was well decorated, but it also was decorated in such a way that even if you dirty it with an Inscription Ink, it would be easy to wipe off.

The Second one had an intriguing Ink reservoir.

The Third one was great for handling.

Aiko scribbled on a piece of paper that the Manager bought her. Her skills is on full display.

The customers were mesmerised by her fluid movements, but they felt something was amiss, like she wasn’t displaying her full potential.

Aiko placed down each one of those Inscription tools. She liked the last one since it allowed her to draw at 80% of her potential, which would also significantly speed up the Massage Chair production.

”I like this one, how much is it?” Aiko asked.

”That would be 10,000 Spirit Stones.” He gave her a steep discount so she could afford it and so he could also please her with it.

He gave her a [Storage Ring] so she could transfer the Spirit Stones over.

Aiko placed the Spirit Stones inside without batting an eye and glanced at the Inscription Carving Pen on the wall.

The Manager understood and placed the Inscription Carving Pen in front of her.

Aiko took it and immediately felt the difference.

”This is an exceptional Inscription Carving Pen.” Aiko nodded slowly, she was impressed. She could easily use 100% of her abilities even when she was poisoned.

She played with the Pen like it was some kind of toy.

Both the audience and the Manager were silent, seeing the completely fluid movements without any hiccups.

They were so taken in that they didn’t notice that a special person entered the Inscription Palace.

He observed what was happening and tilted his head. He didn’t remember this Young girl who was using his Inscription Carving Pen, but he knew someone similar.

That one was a mischievous little Fox that liked to shock people and play pranks on them.

He smiled from ear to ear, but didn’t say anything. He joined the crowd. Watching the show.

...

Aiko played with the Inscription Carving Pen for quite some time, until she was completely satisfied.

She placed it down and sighed. ”It’s unfortunate that I can’t have this.” She was greatly touched by the ease of control that the Inscription Carving Pen allowed.

”Do you want it?” A Young Master smiled at the Vicious Cub. ”I can give it to you.” He smiled towards the group.

Everyone was taken aback and they expected the Manager to fly into a fit of rage, but compared to what they expected, they were completely shocked by what he said.

”This lowly one greets the Inscription Saint!” He bowed so hard that his forehead almost touched the ground.

Aiko looked over at the commotion and paused. A handsome Youth was walking towards her.

Both Umbra Fox and Blood Fox were on guard, but both for different reasons...