Long Tian's eyes narrowed as he saw the boulders hurtling toward him like cannonballs, the air crackling with their speed. 'Shit, this isn't looking good!' His heart pounded, instincts ready to move, but before he could act—
"Yip! Yip!" A soft cry cut through the tension. The small, white fox that Long Tian had been following darted forward, planting itself between him and the oncoming boulders.
'What the—?!'
The fluffy creature stood like a shield, its tiny body trembling but resolute. Long Tian's gaze flickered in shock, but there was no time to process. The boulders were upon them.
"Grrrr! STOP!!"
The boulders exploded into shards as the larger fox, towering over them, obliterated the rocks with a single swipe of her paw. Dust and debris filled the air, but the fox's golden eyes burned with anger as she stared down at the smaller fox.
"Why are you protecting him, Xue Fei?" she growled, confusion and frustration lacing her voice.
The smaller fox, Xue Fei, let out a series of sharp, frantic yips, her body shaking but defiant. She spun to face the large fox, her mother, and barked again, louder this time.
Long Tian's eyebrows shot up in amusement, 'It seems this lil fox at least knows some loyalty...'
He listened as Xue Fei explained—her tiny cries communicating more than words ever could. She circled him once before looking back at her mother, making it clear: Long Tian was her savior. If her mother wanted to kill him, she'd have to go through her own daughter.
The large fox growled low but backed down, her eyes narrowing in reluctant acceptance.
"…I see."
Long Tian let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, 'At least that heaven-grade healing pill wasn't for nothing after all.' He smirked, shaking his head. It had been a gamble to save the little fox, but it seemed to be paying off now. Yet even with that relief, he knew the power difference was clear. No matter how strong he was, he couldn't even begin to gauge the mother's cultivation. If she truly wanted him dead, his chances were slim.
"Cough… mortal..."
Long Tian's head snapped toward the large fox as she suddenly collapsed with a heavy thud, coughing up a thick stream of blood.
"Long Tian!" she rasped, her once dominant presence now reduced to a faint shadow of its former self.
"That's me," Long Tian responded, raising an eyebrow in curiosity, wondering what could possibly come next and wondered how she knew his name.
"Cough… Cough…" The large fox's body shook as more blood splattered onto the stone floor.
"Yip!!" Xue Fei dashed to her mother's side, her small body trembling as she nuzzled the larger fox's fur, eyes wide with fear.
"Little Fei... don't worry... Mommy's still strong enough," the large fox muttered, her voice straining as she tried to comfort her daughter.
Long Tian remained silent, watching the scene with an inward smirk as he already guessed where this is going.
"Long Tian!" The mother's voice, though weaker, was firm as she locked eyes with him again.
"Hm?"
"My daughter... she likes you. And you... you're strong for your age." Her words were labored, each breath a struggle, but her tone was unwavering. "And with that surname... Long... you're from that ruling family in the Eastern region. You have resources."
'Ah, here it comes!' Long Tian thought as he smirked inwardly, knowing all too well what's coming next.
"I can't... raise her anymore," the fox continued, eyes glistening with regret. "I want to entrust Xue Fei to you."
Long Tian suppressed the grin that threatened to break out, but he managed to hide it as he calmly replied, "I see… alright, I'll take h—"
"BUT!!!" The cave's atmosphere shifted, a heavy, oppressive pressure crushing down on him, as if the very air was solidifying. The large fox's gaze sharpened, her voice dripping with venom. "If I ever... hear... that my daughter is mistreated... or denied resources..."
Long Tian staggered under the weight of her killing intent, his breath hitching, but he forced his expression to remain cold and stoic. 'Goddamned Bitch, this pressure…'
His body screamed under the strain, but he didn't waver, meeting her eyes head-on with a cold look which somehow convinced her of his capabilities.
"Khuh!"
And then, just as suddenly, the pressure vanished, leaving Long Tian gasping for breath. The large fox slumped to the ground, completely spent, her once formidable presence reduced to nothing as she started to disappear, her body leaving like small white particles all up in the air.
"Yip!! Yipp! Yippp!" The lil fox, Xue Fei, cried as she saw her mother dying.
"Yippp!!!!!" She screamed, tears running down her cheeks like a waterfall.
Seeing this, Long Tian saw an opportunity to deepen the bond between them as he sat beside Xue Fei and patted her head while making a kind expression on his face.
[One-Hour Later...] [Long Tian's POV]
'Ah, finally, this lil fox Xue Fei has finally sobered up!' I thought while watching Xue Fei peacefully sleeping in my lap.
"Well, it's time to head back..." I muttered as I softly grabbed Xue Fei and put her on my shoulder, and then slowly walked out of the deep, long dark cave.
...
"Hah! The young master really is a bitch..."
"To think he would try to use the spiritual mine all for himself until he can't while making us look out and protect him from any Long family's members!" One of the three men who wore long black robes and different, animal-type masks said in frustration as he jumped over one tree to another alongside his allies.
"Hung Zhi! How many times do I have to tell you! Don't insult the young lord so openly! You'll get yourself in trouble because of this!" Another man from the three people said as he rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"Tsk, so what! Even if somebody really heard me, I'll just kill him or be killed!" He said as he clicked his tongue in annoyance while continuing to jump from one tree to another.
"Like I—" He couldn't even finish his words as the other two men of the group suddenly stopped in their tracks, looking in front of them with a serious look on their faces.
"Shhh! Look ahead!" One of 'em said, as they all gazed at the young man with long silver hair, wearing a red robe with fur on his shoulder area with a small white fox lying on his shoulder.