Yu Su and Lu Yan spent a night with the Fox Clan. Unlike the cold reception during the day, the Fox Clan warmly welcomed them this evening, arranging everything for eating, drinking, and sleeping properly.
Fox Thirteen's father did not have a fever again until the next day. The wound healed well, the pulse returned to normal, and he woke up the next morning.
"Dad!" Fox Thirteen joyfully rushed to the bedside. "You're finally awake."
Fox You was still somewhat confused. He gently touched Fox Thirteen's head, looking at Yu Su and Lu Yan in the room with incomprehension, not understanding how two humans appeared.
"They are our lifesavers," Fox Thirteen explained everything that happened from yesterday to today.
Fox You looked at Yu Su and Lu Yan gratefully. "Thank you both."
Soon, the Fox Clan leader and the clan doctor, Fox Qiu, arrived. They sighed in relief seeing Fox You was okay.
At this moment, Yu Su asked, "Yesterday I wanted to ask, this injury is peculiar. It doesn't seem like a typical monster's bite. What kind of sea monster bit you?"
Fox You replied, "Indeed, it's not an ordinary monster. It's a sea beast from the sea."
Sea beast?
Yu Su said, "Yesterday, Fox Thirteen mentioned sea beasts. Aren't there only sea fish in the sea? What is a sea beast?"
Fox You, still weak, let Fox Qiu take over and explained, "Generally, we call things in the sea sea fish. Sea beasts are like monster beasts, sea fish with demonic power. They look more terrifying than sea fish and are larger in size."
"Sea beasts are very dangerous. Even though each of us foxes has unique abilities, injuries are still common when encountering them. However, for the sake of supplementing food, we occasionally need to go to the seaside to find it, so we still encounter them. Fox You was injured when he was ambushed by a sea beast hiding in the shallow waters while catching shrimp and crabs at the seaside."
Yu Su: "Are the sea beast's teeth very large?"
Fox Qiu nodded, "Yes, in the past, some of our foxes were dragged into the sea and eaten. If it weren't for food supplementation, we would never go to the seaside."
Yu Su: "I see many fruits growing in the hills where the foxes reside. It's also possible to plant some edible crops. Is food still so scarce even in this case?"
Fox Qiu sighed, "Those things are not a problem, but things like the sea salt we eat have to come from the sea. Also, because this place is too close to the monster beast forest, ordinary wild beasts are rare. We have little meat to eat and rely on fishing sea fish for some meat. Without salt and meat, there is no strength to work, and the little ones in the clan need these things to grow healthily."
Fox Thirteen is in a phase of growth, and Fox You often goes to the seaside to catch fish for him. He has become an experienced fisherman in the clan, but unexpectedly, he stumbled at the seaside and almost lost his life.
Yu Su and Lu Yan hadn't thought that the fox clan, like ordinary human clans, also needed these things. They had assumed they only ate fruits.
Yu Su had some thoughts and asked Fox Qiu, "Since the living conditions around the monster beast forest are harsh, why not find another place to live?"
Fox Qiu replied, "After the incidents of the human clan capturing our foxes, our people strongly reject contact with the human clan. So, we would rather live here than go to places with more humans."
Yu Su's thoughts were complex. He had always thought only human clans feared monster clans, never expecting that monster clans would also fear human clans. It truly refreshed his perspective.
The Fox Clan leader then said, "If you go south along the forest edge for about ten days, you'll reach the place where the human clan lives. We haven't had dealings with those human clans for a long time. If you want to find human villages, you can head south."
Yu Su thought that the human villages there should be the source of pearls and corals on the plains.
Yu Su: "We'll visit when we have the chance."
The Fox Clan leader looked at him, seemingly confirming that Yu Su and his group did not come from the southern villages.
Yu Su then asked about the northern direction.
Fox Qiu glanced at the Fox Clan leader before saying, "If you go north for more than a month, you'll reach the edge of the monster beast forest. There is a centaur clan there. Like us, they also live by the seaside, relying on fishing for a living. Centaurs generally have great strength, and their warriors are formidable. The sea beasts fear them, so their lives are better than ours."
Yu Su understood what he wanted to know and didn't ask further but said, "Does the Fox Clan have any thoughts of being enemies with the human clan?"
Fox Qiu was stunned, "This..."
The Fox Clan leader looked at Yu Su, "Why ask this? Are you, like those humans who captured my fox clan, planning something against us?"
Lu Yan: "What does your fox clan have that's worth someone's attention?"
Fox Clan members: "..."
Yu Su calmed Lu Yan's anger and said, "Don't misunderstand. I just want to confirm, if humans can peacefully coexist with the fox clan, would you be willing to do business with humans?"
The Fox Clan leader frowned, about to say something, but was interrupted by Fox Qiu.
Fox Qiu said, "What kind of business?"
Yu Su: "For example, if you lack food, salt, or meat, we can provide those."
Fox Qiu's eyes lit up, "You can really provide these?"
Fox Clan leader: "Are you really so kind-hearted?"
Yu Su: "That's why it's called business. We provide for you, and you provide corresponding rewards. For instance, I noticed a kind of ore powder here, which is something I need. You can exchange it."
The Fox Clan leader and Fox Qiu exchanged a glance, ore powder?
Fox Thirteen widened his eyes, "Ah, I know! You mean the paint I used on the door?"
Yu Su nodded. He had noticed it as soon as he arrived yesterday. It was a kind of light red and shiny white powder, perfect for painting. But more importantly, the ore had spirit-conducting properties. Using it to draw symbols doubled their effectiveness.
The foxes didn't understand these things, so the Fox Clan leader found it strange, "This kind of ore is nearby. It's something the little ones use for drawing. It's not food. What do you want it for?"
Yu Su smiled, "Things you don't need are useful to me."
Fox Qiu, seeing that Yu Su didn't seem like he was deceiving them, felt puzzled. After all, in this matter, it seemed like their fox clan was getting the better end of the deal. What could Yu Su gain from deceiving them?
The Fox Clan leader said, "Are you really just interested in that kind of ore and not planning to capture our fox clan members and take their inner essences?"
Yu Su: "..."
How deep was this Fox Clan leader's psychological shadow against the human clan?
Yu Su: "If you're not at ease, we can sign a contract witnessed by the heavens, guaranteeing that we won't take the inner essences of your fox clan members. How about that?"
Fox Qiu looked at the Fox Clan leader, "Leader, I think Yu Su sincerely wants to do business."
After hesitating, the Fox Clan leader said, "Fine, but we'll sign the contract first."