Snow Moon couldn't believe it.
What is this feeling?
It's as if she has become a stream of water.
She couldn't see anything, but she could feel a cool sensation emanating from her own body.
Her entire being slipped through the small gaps in the floor, flowing to an indistinct destination.
Drip drop, drip drop.
The design of the Thousand Tails Yaoguai Palace was crafted with numerous tiny crevices beneath the surface, following the engravings on the floor.
When one transforms into water, they can navigate these gaps, reaching any place within the Yaoguai Palace.
The Fox Clan of the Thousand Tails Yaoguai King has another name: Aqua Vulpes.
This is because the clan's secret art allows their bodies to transform into a liquid state.
The Yaoguai Palace was designed to optimize movement for the Aqua Vulpes clan.
Outsiders attacking the Thousand Tails Yaoguai Palace would find it nearly impossible to counter this ability of the Aqua Vulpes.
Many chambers lack doors and can only be accessed through the crevices.
Countless secrets of the Yaoguai Palace, even if conquered, may never be discovered.
Snow Moon felt herself flowing deeply into the earth.
She was being guided by that pink stream belonging to the Thousand Tails Yaoguai King.
If not for it, she feared she would be stuck in countless feet of earth.
She wondered if even reaching out to the lord could bring her any salvation.
Finally, the stream arrived at a place.
Drip drip, drip drip.
Drip drip, drip drip.
The stream of water quickly flowed to the ground.
Gradually, they formed into two figures.
Snow Moon found herself falling into the arms of the Thousand Tails Yaoguai King.
Uh...
"I'm-I'm sorry!"
Snow Moon hurriedly steadied herself.
The Thousand Tails Yaoguai King gently covered her mouth, laughing softly.
"This is the Secret Chamber of The Aqua Vulpes. There's no door, it's only accessible this way."
"This is where I will instruct you."
The Thousand Tails smiled gently, looking at the deeply flustered Snow Moon.
Snow Moon was also gazing at the person who was about to become her Master.
"So beautiful." They both thought.
After a few seconds of mutual admiration, Snow Moon hesitantly asked the Thousand Tails Yaoguai King.
"S-so... what is the test?"
As Snow Moon understood, becoming a True Disciple of the Thousand Tails Yaoguai King involved passing a test.
Not knowing what it was, she had prepared extensively.
However, the Thousand Tails Yaoguai King just brushed her hand aside.
"Oh, there isn't one."
"Huh?"
The Thousand Tails Yaoguai King took Snow Moon's hand and led her away.
"If you had to take a test, it would mean you couldn't become my True Disciple in the first place. The test is just a way to formally reject someone."
The Thousand Tails Yaoguai King could see the future.
Many would try to become her disciple.
Therefore, she created what is known as a "test" with an impossibly high level of difficulty to prevent those without fate from continuing to bother her.
Snow Moon followed Thousand Tails, feeling a deep curiosity about those closed eyes.
"May I ask... why do you..."
"My eyes were injured."
Gulp.
Again.
It was as if she knew everything.
"This little girl would be curious no matter what, so I'll tell you on the way."
"My eyes can see the past and the future."
The Thousand Tails Fox Yaoguai briefly explained her ability.
Snow Moon felt extremely puzzled.
Then she blushed.
Huh?
So...
Earlier, when the Thousand Tails Yaoguai King said I like No One... is it true!?
No, it can't be!?
Thousand Tails smiled.
"Don't worry, your future isn't set in stone."
Snow Moon was puzzled.
"Your future is the reason why my eyes are like this."
She didn't quite understand, but before she could ask, the Thousand Tails Yaoguai King had already answered.
"Ever since the Foreigner's Association appeared, my eyes can no longer clearly see the future. Whenever I try, it causes great pain."
"Once, I tried to look into the future and suffered backlash, which injured these eyes."
Snow Moon stayed silent for a moment.
She felt the urge to apologize, even though she didn't understand why.
"Even so, I can still predict the future in short terms."
"And don't feel sorry, I prefer it this way."
The smile of the Thousand Tails Yaoguai King appeared somewhat melancholic.
"Seeing everything leaves no room for surprise."
The two of them arrived at a room within the Secret Chamber.
In front of them was a statue of a Fox looking up to the sky.Instinctively, Snow Moon looked upward.
Above them was a starry sky and a shining moon.
Huh?
But weren't they deep underground?
"This is the statue of the Ancestral Deity of the Aqua Vulpes Clan."
"He has no name, so he's simply called the Aqua Vulpes Ancestor."
"Any clan member wishing to learn the ability to transform into water must come here."
"You are not yet a clan member, so you cannot learn it."
"However, since you are here as my disciple, you must pay respects to the Ancestor first."
Snow Moon complied with the command.
Certainly, this master-disciple ritual seemed quite fitting.
When she had listened to No One talk about how he became a disciple, Snow Moon had been bewildered, not realizing it could be so straightforward.
"Alright, that's all for now. In three days, we'll have the official disciple ceremony at the Yaoguai Festival. Goodbye!"
Huh?
As soon as the Thousand Tails finished speaking, she transformed into a stream of water, flowing away through the crevices.
Leaving Snow Moon standing there as stiff as a statue.
"Hey... Master...? Are you joking...?"
"Master... Did you forget something?"
I'm still here!?!
Master, you just said I can't learn the water transformation spell yet, and then you left me in this secret chamber!?
Hello!?
And in three days...?
The Yaoguai Festival?
Don't tell me the disciple ceremony will be held during the Yaoguai Festival?
With so many eyes watching?
Huh? Master!!!?
I'm actually an introvert!?
Couldn't we do it with less formality? Just as simple as No One's would be fine!Master!!!!??
.
.
.
Numerous messages were sent to Director Minh and Tofu.
While drinking coffee, Tofu came to find him.
"Boss… It seems that Snow Vixen is stuck in the game. She said the Thousand Tails threw her into a secret chamber."
"Could it be that our plan to infiltrate the Yaoguai Race was discovered, and the Thousand Tails took direct action to eliminate her?"
Director Minh looked at the pile of messages and decided to turn off his device.
"It's alright, she spent millions of the company's money, she probably bought something for self-protection."
Huh... That person is the Thousand Tails, can a few million really buy enough protection against her?
Or is the boss… upset that Snow Vixen spent too much of the company's money?
"Exactly." Director Minh replied to Tofu's bewildered expression.
Huh!?
Director Minh can read thoughts!?
That day, Director Minh's coffee tasted really good.
In truth, Snow Vixen sent countless messages to the director without a reply, and only then did she text Tofu.