Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

Sun Aiko had her fill playing with the Holy Deer.

Well... she actually ran out of steam. Due to the fact that she couldn’t store the Solar Essence, the time she was allowed to be ’manifested’ as long as the sun was up.

As such, once night descended, Sun Aiko retired for the rest, being replaced by the temptress of the night.

Witch Aiko stretched her body sensually, fortunately Sun Aiko played in the same clothes, so she didn’t have issues with the ’size’. Sure, some parts were a bit displaced, but that’s where her stretch came into play.

Witch Aiko yawned cutely before pausing. ”What’s wrong?” She gazed at her group.

’She is back.’ Mei smiled briefly, but having to teach ’that’ Aiko any techniques would be impossible...

’Finally normal... ish.’ Dai Lu nodded her head. Finally, Aiko’s thoughts weren’t all over the place, thinking about how nice roasted birds would taste and how grass was greener over on the other side of the mountains.

’Good, this Aiko is good.’ Danji nodded her head happily, but then she became unhappy. With Mei and others around it was impossible to spend time with Aiko alone. This upset her greatly, but she wouldn’t do anything against it, since she liked the current harmony.

*growl*

”Shall we eat something?” Witch Aiko patted her stomach. Sun Aiko played too much so she was craving some nice snack. A slab of meat would be nice, but...

’One Holy Deer is tattered, the other is burned...’ Witch Aiko groaned. The other Holy Deer were still around, but having them to diner was a bit...

”Hello~” Suddenly a certain bird lady descended.

’Another rival...?’ Mei was concerned that there was another thief in the group.

’Oh? She looks pretty~’ Dai Lu appreciated her looks and pure mind.

’Black...?’ Danji frowned. Black Aiko was the best, who was this chick!?

”Oh.” Witch Aiko smiled at her- at the food she was bringing.

”Seriously...” The bird lady’s lips twitched when she noticed that the little Fox was actually staring at the food and not at her. ”Couldn’t you at least greet me when I’m bringing some nice snacks?” She pouted at her. ’I need to build a good rapport since I will be following her soon.’

She was a bit concerned that the little Fox would be a slave driver, so she wanted to build a good relationship to reduce that chance, even if only slightly.

”Hello~” Witch Aiko wiped her droll and greeted the bird lady. She didn’t expect to bring a whole Cauldron of soup and a certain nasty Deer with her! ”Is he dead?” She was a bit concerned that he was still alive and she didn’t really want to see him either.

”As dead as it gets~” The bird lady chuckled. She was happy that the little Fox was receptive to this, as long as she was a foodie, she would be able to fulfil that craving with her hunting skills!

It might not seem like it, but crows are good scavengers. Sure, they are best at finding anything shiny (Treasures), but that doesn’t mean they can’t find other shinies (Delectable Beasts)~!

”Good~” Witch Aiko was happy that she didn’t need to deal with him.

”We have prepared a nice Spiritual Food, of course adjusted so that even Foxes can eat it, but without losing flavour.” The bird lady introduced the Earthen Elephant soup.

There were a few issues with this food.

The Earthen Elephant meat was naturally very tough and ’earthy’ so you couldn’t really make it into roasted snacks. Moreover, it also packed a lot of Qi inside due to the nature of the Earthen Elephants.

As such the soup had to be carefully adjusted so that the Foxes wouldn’t get stomachaches from it.

However, diluting it was not an option since it would make it taste like shit.

As such you had to carefully adjust the meat and the soup stock before adding more ingredients.

And what you were left with was a huge Cauldron filled with Spiritual Food~!

”That smells delicious.” Witch Aiko wiped her droll again.

”It’s too soon to be like this~” The bird lady giggled.

”What’s next?” Witch Aiko narrowed her eyes when she saw that Nasty Deer.

”Roasted Deer is delicious. I even brought over some rare spices so you can test them out~” The bird lady smiled. She was planning to capture Aiko through food and let her eat till she burst! The main goal? Greatest rapport ever imagined!

”I can get behind that.” Witch Aiko smiled, but the Nasty Deer was not skinned yet.

”You might not know this, but Holy Deer’s blood is a good tonic, so it’s not a good idea to butcher them in advance.” The bird lady proclaimed and all the still alive Holy Deer shuddered.

Witch Aiko shamelessly stared at the not-so-Holy Deer that kept following her.

The not-so-Holy Deer flinched. ”I don’t taste good!”

”That’s debatable~” Witch Aiko licked her lips, maybe if she liked the Nasty Deer she might taste him too? For research purposes of course and since the Holy Deer can heal themselves~!

Witch Aiko hummed and even the not-so-Holy Deer shuddered.

”Now, let’s start the butchering~” The bird lady would do this part since even if the Nasty Deer was dead, his body was so packed with Qi that it would be difficult to butcher without a huge Beast Core and the right tools.

In theory, Dai Lu would be able to butcher the Holy Deer, but she never butchered such an exotic Beast, so the chances she would mess up were a bit too high.

”GAH!” The moment the knife touched the Nasty Deer’s stomach he suddenly came alive.

”Kya!” Witch Aiko was ’startled’ and shoved a whole metal skewer up his arse.

An incredibly painful cry spread throughout the Nightmare Forest, making many Beasts shudder in horror.

’Was she really startled?’ Mei tilted her head.

’She didn’t have to do that...’ Dai Lu read Aiko’s thoughts and regretted it.

’I wonder if I can take that blood...’ Danji was in her own world, since she was a Blood Fox.

The bird lady stared at the little Fox in disbelief.

”Hehe~” Witch Aiko smiled innocently. ”Oooops~?” She stuck out her tongue, making everyone roll their eyes.

”You know that butchering will be a lot harder now, right?” The bird lady pursed her lips, but didn’t question what just happened. It was her fault that the Nasty Deer was still alive, so she would just ignore what happened and butcher it normally.

”You bastards!” The Nasty Deer screamed.

”I never butchered wild game.” The bird lady was a bit hesitant.

”Is it that difficult?” Witch Aiko stood next to the bird lady, observing what she was doing.

”Hey! I’m alive! Untie me you fuckers!” The Nasty Deer yelled at them.

”I’m not sure, but since it’s moving...” The bird lady tilted her head cutely. She was thinking about how to start the butchering.

”Should I?” Witch Aiko lifted her fingers, and between each finger there was one metal skewer.

”Don’t ignore me! Put those down!” The Nasty Deer shuddered thinking about those entering him again.

”That might be a good idea.” The bird lady ignored the carcass that was ready to be butchered.

”I will handle any spills~” Danji smiled as she snuck between them. She didn’t like how the bird lady was close to Aiko.

”I will handle the pinning~” Witch Aiko smiled happily.

”No! No! No! Don’t come closer! Noooooooooooooooooo!”

Yet another painful cry spread throughout the Nightmare Forest, but this time the Beasts didn’t even go out to see what was happening and most of them concealed their nests due to fear of that ’nightmare’ coming to them...

...

Witch Aiko kept skewering it with her:

[Arts Mastery] - [#### Needle Technique R-1]

She was able to pinpoint the best locations to lock his muscles and bones, so that it wouldn’t move even when kicked. This would allow the bird lady the perfect butchering conditions, so the meat would turn out the best possible.

”Whoa...” The bird lady shuddered lightly. She saw how not just the muscles but even the flow of Qi got locked by those simple metal skewers. ’I’m glad I’m on her side.’ She nodded her head repeatedly and swore to be friends with her forever!

’I will pamper you well!’ The bird lady would do everything in her power to make the little Fox as comfortable as possible when she followed her around.

”I think this should be enough, but did I overdo it?” Witch Aiko tilted her head.

*Sluuuurp~*

Danji was enjoying the blood, since not only it could heal her body, but it also increased her Vitality, which was very difficult to do.

”Maybe a bit.” The bird lady found it difficult to start on this Porcupine Deer.

”mhmhhhhhhhmm!” The Nasty Deer was trying to talk, but since his whole body was stiff...

”Should I remove a few?” Witch Aiko came over to see if she should remove a few to make butchery easier.

”You don’t have to lock the bones and Qi flow. It will make it easier to strip his skin later on.” The bird lady recounted what she didn’t need stiff on his body.

”Also, he doesn’t need dick, so you can remove those and I will cut it.” The bird lady made a serious expression and cackled sinisterly.

”MHMHHHHHHHMM!!!” The Nasty Deer suddenly entered his vocal profession and voiced his displeasure.

”The blood is tasty, should I save some for others?” Danji asked the bird lady. While she didn’t like her, it was true that this was a delectable carcass.

”How should I say this...” Dai Lu pursed her lips.

”Don’t say anything, let’s drink first.” Mei felt that this was a bit... cruel, but since Aiko appeared suddenly after the Holy Deer Clan visit, that meant he definitely deserved it... she hoped.

”Good idea.” Dai Lu shuddered. She didn’t really want to hear their thoughts, but it was difficult to ignore this situation.

”You can take some, the Holy Deer can produce more blood since it’s fresh.” The bird lady didn’t mind, but still warned this Blood Fox. ”But don’t drain too much or the meat will lose a lot of taste.”

”I won’t drain it, I will just take what is dripping.” Danji licked her lips. She could be said to be a beauty on par with Aiko when consuming the Nasty Deer blood.

Was it a gruesome sight? Yes, but damn was it hot.

”Is the blood really tasty?” Witch Aiko couldn’t really stomach gamey snacks, so she was a bit against it, but she kept silent until now since she believed the bird lady about this carcass.

”Don’t worry, you will absolutely like it~” The bird lady giggled.

”hmhmhhhhhhh...” The Nasty Deer was crying since everyone was ignoring him and they didn’t even allow him to talk!