Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

With Wanshu tied up, Aiko went outside to gather firewood.

This place was really well hidden so even if they set up a fire, they would not be discovered as the meadow would drown all that light.

You would have to be very close to the meadow to see that, but at that point, Aiko would have already be alerted and take her team to run away.

”It’s also surprising that we weren’t chased all that much...” Aiko tilted her head.

They were hard to catch since they were running through the forest which was hard to navigate. Though for some reason, the Cultivators didn’t fire their fireworks at them during that time. It was as if they were more interested in something else...

”I hope Umbra is alright...” Aiko sighed. She knew the general location of Umbra and that she was coming closer, but it already has been a few days, which meant that the bastard might have woken up.

It would then depend on the ability of the Umbra Fox and how well she can tie the rope around him or restrain him from doing anything foolish.

”I did still want to question the fatty, but since he probably distracted the Cultivators... I would let that slide.” Aiko felt magnanimous for once and didn’t hold almost any grudge against him, but even that small amount would vanish if Umbra was safe and sound.

Aiko gathered those pesky dead branches. She didn’t like gathering, since she could not carry all that much with her. Unlike the Blood Fox and Umbra, who just needed to carry the firewood twice, Aiko who was much sma- Ahem! petite— needed to repeat it like 8 to 10 more times just to match their pace! It’s injustice!

”Is this enough?” Aiko placed the firewood for the 9th time. She was clearly upset, as her eyebrows kept twitching.

”This is enough.” The Blood Fox replied weakly, her complexion looked somewhat alright, but it was less rosy.

”Just rest.” Aiko sighed, ready to start the fire.

”You won’t burn yourself, right?” The Blood Fox narrowed her eyes gently.

Aiko pouted. ”You have too much energy considering you can still tease me!”

The Blood Fox pursed her lips happily before closing her eyes.

Aiko was not as quick at starting the fire and struggled quite a bit, but she eventually got it going. She did not prepare any meals, as the Blood Fox was soundly asleep. Aiko would prepare it once she woke up or Umbra arrived...

...

The next day, Umbra arrived with the conscious yet glaring Mirage Fox.

Aiko didn’t like his expression so she beat him up until he lost consciousness.

This ruckus woke up the Blood Fox and she stared outside.

”You should’ve slept a bit more, but since you are awake, let’s eat and sleep a bit more.” Aiko gestured.

The Blood Fox didn’t complain or say anything, she just exchanged glances with Umbra.

Aiko went by the still-burning fire. She kept the fire going throughout the night and day to keep everyone warm.

While it was not chilly, it was better to be in a warm place to recover faster, or at least that’s what Aiko believed.

Her duo went towards the Mirage Fox and slapped some kind of strange Talismans on him.

Aiko was a bit curious about them so she asked them. ”What are those Talismans?”

The Blood Fox smiled gently. ”One restrains any kind of communication that is through the Soul or Mind. The demerit is that it’s easily torn away, so you can’t really use it during fights. Another one restrains his body, so he can’t recover as quickly and would have a harder time breaking the rope. The second one’s demerit is that it’s easily torn by Divine Sense.” She explained. This was a great gift from Mei that they had never previously used as it was not needed, but since they now had a target that they needed to ’vent’ on. It was the perfect opportunity to test its effects.

”Hmmmm...” Aiko nodded. ”Since you have restrained his Mind, he can’t use his Divine Sense correctly?” She was a bit on the edge and questioned if it would really work.

”That is right, or at least that’s what Mei said.” Umbra tightened the ropes since the Mirage Fox was knocked out cold.

”You look awful, come over and let’s eat.” Aiko gestured towards her team, but especially for Umbra.

Umbra was much lighter and weaker than the Blood Fox and Mirage Fox was much heavier than Wanshu. That meant that Umbra overexerted herself even more and looked more like a jiangshi than a Fox.

”Mhm.” Umbra nodded, she was really exhausted, but she needed to reach the safe point to survive. That safe point was obviously her Mistress, so she pressed on.

”It will rain, so I will gather more firewood.” The Blood Fox said.

”Let’s first eat.” Aiko said. She has already warmed up the soup and was unsure if it was possible to overcook soup, but she did not want to find out. After all, Aiko would rather not risk burning a tasty soup.

The duo looked at each other and went next to Aiko.

”Right, since he can’t communicate, you can untie the Shadow Passion again.” Aiko said gently. She worried that the Mirage Fox might contact the Shadow Passion when they were asleep and everything would turn for the worse, since unlike her team, the Mirage Fox’s team was full of energy.

Umbra did not question why Wanshu was tied, she understood that there was no place for complaints during this situation and she could only hope that Wanshu would not do something stupid or was ordered to...

”Don’t mind me.” Wanshu smiled gently, she liked the small Fox since she was very cautious. This meant that she truly cared about her team.

”He did not contact me, when he is angry he tends to lose his mind and forget about the basics.” Wanshu explained and confessed, she didn’t feel any discomfort and her face was completely normal.

”Hmmmm...” Aiko still wanted to return to the Capital and strip it for its Treasures and Princess.

”Any loot you got from the Mirage Fox?” Aiko asked.

”I did not have time to loot him, but I did try to collect anything that fell from him.” Umbra said to Aiko.

”We will loot him later after you rest.” Aiko munched on the soup. Sure, there was no need to munch, but she was already so used to munching that she did it even with water.

”I will also keep the fire going so you can have plenty of rest.” Aiko smiled, she was still somewhat full of energy since she could recover it relatively quickly compared to her peers.

”We appreciate it greatly.” The Blood Fox bowed.

”There is no need for that.” Aiko shook her head. ”We are part of a team, so it’s only natural that I would take care of you.”

Wanshu finished her portion and said gently. ”Should I collect more firewood?” She asked the whole team.

””Sure.”” Umbra and the Blood Fox did not have anything against it.

Aiko was against it, but since she didn’t want to run so many times... she did not voice her opinion.

”I will collect only in the vicinity so you can keep an eye on me.” Wanshu said that to Aiko.

”Humu.” Aiko hummed, agreeing on that.

Her team went to rest while Aiko observed the Shadow Passion. She really didn’t like those old assassination clothes.

”Do you know how to sew?” Aiko suddenly asked.

The blushing Wanshu turned around. ”Yes, I know a bit.” She tilted her head, not understanding.

”The insides must be uncomfortable, I have some fabric that you can pad it with to make it more comfortable.” Aiko said expressionlessly, she was bothered by the way the Shadow Passion breathed.

Unbeknownst to Aiko, Umbra was smiling happily. She was happy that Wanshu was able to stroke the protectiveness of Aiko. It would make it much easier to convince everyone that she is part of the team once the ordeal is over.

Wanshu returned with piles and piles of dead branches, some were wet on the outside, but all of them were dry on the inside.

Aiko pulled out a fabric from her Storage Ring.

Wanshu wanted to take it from Aiko and start sewing, but was startled.

”Why are you munching on it?!” Wanshu could not understand what Aiko was doing.

Her team was resting on the sidelines as they wondered how well would Wanshu get along with Aiko. That and the fact that they couldn’t help but to sit down and look towards Aiko.

With so many eyes on her, she paused. ”What? Do you have any problems?”

”It’s strange that you would munch on the fabric that you are giving to someone...” Umbra said gently so as not to agitate her Mistress.

”Yeah? Then tell me where did we get this fabric?” Aiko questioned both Umbra and the Shadow Passion and at the same time, she was rubbing the cloth on her wrist.

The Blood Fox pursed her lips. She understood what Aiko was doing, but there were better ways to do it...

Wanshu did not know so she kept quiet, meanwhile, Umbra thought she knew and answered.

”From those normal assassins?” Umbra didn’t know for certain, so instead of answering, she made it a question.

”Correct.” Aiko nodded as she kept rubbing. ”Then tell me what assassins specialise in.”

”Stealth.” Umbra said.

Aiko nodded. ”And?”

”Assassinations?” Umbra was taken slightly aback that there was more.

Aiko’s eyes twitched. ”And?”

”Ummmm...” Umbra turned towards the Blood Fox, but she was back to resting. She then turned towards Wanshu, but she had a teasing expression on her face, which meant she could not get any help from there either.

”Poison!” Aiko rolled her eyes seeing the struggling Umbra.

”Oh...” Umbra nodded absent-mindedly. ”OH!” She suddenly realised what Aiko meant. ”You are testing it for poison!”

Aiko nodded and passed the fabric to the Shadow Passion. ”You can’t hand over something that’s poisoned, unless you are handing it over to your enemy.” Aiko shrugged. She made a clear distinction that the Mirage Fox was an enemy, but that the Shadow Passion was not.

Umbra blushed and laid down to rest. Meanwhile, the shock on Wanshu’s face was apparent.

She had never heard about a leader who would test poison on themselves. She did notice Aiko’s strange green arm, but she did not comment on it.

The reason was simple. Foxes believed in beauty, that green hand was not beautiful, so Aiko might be prickly about it and she didn’t want to risk angering her...

The Shadow passion took off the ’breast protection’ and felt a piercing gaze on her.

She turned to see the small Fox looking at her.

”Exhibitionist...” Aiko murmured and her team burst out in laughter.

Wanshu blushed deep red. She was not an exhibitionist! They were all females, so it was alright to do this!