Li Jie looked at the beautiful creature in front of him with his eyes full of pride and doting and the majestic fox was looking back at him with its gaze full of trust.
Li Jie looked at the fox who was as big as him in height with amusement. He could not help but compare the majestic fox with the cute fox who would laze around all day while sleeping on his couch or trying to sleep on his lap, the fox who would demand meat with shining eyes but now that he was looking at the large fox in front of him, his mood was complicated. No matter how many times he try to understand but he came to the same conclusion. He would prefer the cute and lazy fox who would depend on him for its survival and would ask him to prepare its food. Even when Li Jie was in a difficult situation, his face was expressionless but Ying Ying who could hear Li Jie's thoughts was a used while looking at Li Jie whose face was cold but his mind was in a dilemma.
Finally, when Li Jie was not able to decide what to say to the fox who was looking at him like a child who want to be praised, he decided to go with the truth.
" Ying Ying, I can feel that you are much stronger, both mentally and physically but I would still prefer your previous size " Li Jie said with a straight face but one could easily sense that he was proud of Ying Ying for accomplishing the feat.
Ying Ying looked back at the young man in front of him with its eyes full of happiness and said " Jie'er, I can change my shape according to my will. So, you don't have to worry about that and yes you are right about this great ones achievement but I am not fully recovered yet. I had only gained about fourth of my power which has made my skin thicker and tougher than before, there is no such metal or artifact in this world that can peirce through my skin and I have become faster but they are all physical abilities. It would take me a long period of time to gain all of my powers " Ying Ying said with a sad tone, his huge head hung low.
Li Jie who was listening to Ying Ying was quite surprised when he heard the way Ying Ying addressed him, he again felt like he was not alone anymore. He always felt that way when he was with Ying Ying. In his heart, Ying Ying had became someone who he could trust with his eyes closed. He was extremely grateful to the God or whatever that caused him to went back in the past or he would have never known the feeling of being trusted by someone, the feel of someone beside him.
He raised his hand and put near Ying Ying's mouth carefully. He knew that Ying Ying was tough and strong but he was still extremely careful. He didn't want Ying Ying to feel any pain or in any discomfort. He started caressing Ying Ying around its mouth, even though his face was cold and without any actions but his actions betrayed him. Ying Ying nuzzled against Li Jie's cold hand.
" you did great " Li Jie said. He immediately slapped himself because he wanted to say more to cheer Ying Ying but he was not good with words after not saying anything for the last 3 years when he was in the laboratory.
Ying Ying who could hear everything was amused and sad at the same time. He was amused looking at the young man in front of him who was berating himself for not able to express himself and sad because the young man had gone through such unfortunate past. If possible, he would kill all those who made this young man go through such ordeal.
" why were you looking for this great one " Ying Ying said trying to change the topic and divert Li Jie's thoughts from his painful past.
Li Jie who was deep in his past memories recalled the reason he was here in the first place he looked back at the fox with solemn face and said " why don't you change your size and I will show you what I am talking about " his voice was cold while stating that.
Ying Ying who was at the receiving end of that cold voice, shuddered at immediately changed its size to that of a normal fox but that could not hide that it had become more beautiful with his silver fur shining like moonlight and especially his fluffy tail which now had some golden markings on it.
Li Jie walked towards the cottage with Ying Ying following him closely.
They reached the cottage very quickly because of their increased speed.
Ying Ying who was behind Li Jie sensed the strong dark aura coming from the cottage. He stopped following Li Jie and looked at the cottage from afar with alertness.
Li Jie raised his eyebrow when he looked back at the fox who had stopped following him and was looking at the cottage with a stunned look on its face, Li Jie waited for Ying Ying to explain the reason being its action.
Ying Ying looked at Li Jie and then at the cottage and then back at Li Jie with an indescribable emotion in its eyes.
" master, have you ever heard of incomplete swords" Ying Ying said after a long pause.
" Yes, but not much " Li Jie said and continue " those are the swords that are made in pair or something like that "
Ying Ying was quite impressed by Li Jie because nowadays there were only few people in this world who knew about swords.
" Yes and one more thing because this sword has been here for a very long time. It has developed a consciousness which is currently trying to find its lost pair "
Li Jie turned and looked back at the cottage with a complicated expression in his eyes.