The Heavenly Demon In Black sighed.
She raised his hand and looked at it.
Blowing away the magic powder that concealing a flaw with his mouth.
A very long scratch marred the arm.
It belonged to the Thousand Tails Fox Yaoguai from that year.
At that time, the Heavenly Demon In Black had subdued her, but not without sustaining some injuries.
"You cheeky little one, next time I see you, I'll spank you."
The Thousand Tails Yaoguai King sneezed inside her grand hall.
"Surely it's that vengeful sister of mine."
. . .
The room was no longer flooded.
Snow Moon collapsed.
Breathing heavily.
The jade trinket also stopped glowing.
Seeing the true form of the Thousand Tails Yaoguai King, she was utterly terrified.
The sight of the Aqua Vulpes tribe being imprisoned was truly heartbreaking.
Her heart ached so badly at that moment.
Her nose was swollen and red.
The emotions were truly overwhelming.. . .
The fox's ears perked up.
The Thousand Tails Yaoguai King awoke.
So soon.
Truly a talented disciple.
She immediately leaped off the bed, transforming into her human form in mid-air.
She glided to the grand hall.
. . .
The grand hall was empty, night had fallen, carrying a slightly eerie atmosphere.
The Thousand Tails Yaoguai King waved her hand, causing the lights in the grand hall to ignite.
Snow Moon was already standing in the center of the hall, at the spot where the Thousand Tails Yaoguai King had initially placed her.
The Thousand Tails Yaoguai King bowed her head.
An emperor, yet she easily bowed before her disciple like this.
If others were to see, they might foolishly mock her.
"I'm sorry."
"The first thing I want to say is I'm sorry that you had to experience my memories."
"What you went through in the Aqua Vulpes Secret Chamber is called the coming-of-age ceremony."
"An Aqua Vulpes must undergo it, experiencing the memories of their mentor, to be recognized as an Aqua Vulpes."
To allow the student to understand the mentor's feelings.
To allow children to understand their parents' emotions.
However, at times, it also makes them witness heartbreaking things.
"Things like that, no one should have to see."
"So, I'm sor-ry."
Snow Moon rushed into the arms of the Thousand Tails Yaoguai King.
She hugged her tightly.
So tightly.
"You've been through too much already."
Her eyes were red and swollen.
Her nose was also puffy.
Snow Moon had cried far too much.
Yet she did not blame the Thousand Tails Yaoguai King, not even once.
The Thousand Tails Yaoguai King blushed.
She gently embraced her back.
Her tightly closed eyes welled up with tears.
"Thank you."
[Snow Moon has become the True Disciple of the Thousand Tails Yaoguai King.]
[Snow Moon has transformed, becoming a pure-blooded Aqua Vulpes.]
. . .
After a long while, the two stopped embracing.
At this moment, Snow Moon, her eyes still swollen red, began to ask.
"There is something I don't understand, Master."
"Back then, your fur was white."
"Your parents' fur was the same."
"So why, when you became the Thousand Tails Fox Yaoguai, did it turn light pinkish purple?"
The Thousand Tails Yaoguai King heard the question.
She felt a pang of sadness.
"Dye."
"Before I transformed, I, too, was caught and held in a captivity camp."
"A buyer wanted a coat of light pink fur."
"So they isolated me and forced me to eat the Crimson Poison and Azure Serpent fruits every day."
"These two toxins are highly poisonous.""They were so potent that just being within ten steps of the toxic air could instantly kill any yaoguai."
"They planned to take my skin once I died. Fortunately, the Heavenly Demon In Black saved me in time."
The Thousand Tails Yaoguai King gently created a light pink orb of water in her hand.
"The toxins never fully dissipated, so even when I transformed into water, it retained this color."
Snow Moon's eyes welled up with tears again.
She rushed over and hugged the Thousand Tails Yaoguai King once more.
"There, there! It's alright! It's all in the past now!"
"No! I must hug you!!!"
The Thousand Tails Yaoguai King laughed.
The warmth of this embrace wasn't so bad after all.
. . .
The chamber of Snow Vixen opened.
She was using the company's chamber.
Unexpectedly, she used it until evening.
Yet, the company still had quite a few people around.
The work culture here is terrifying; everyone, take a break.
At that moment, Tofu was checking some information nearby. Seeing Snow Moon open the chamber, he planned to make a joke or two.
"What's this? Why are your eyes swollen and red? Did someone throw sand at you or something—"
Snow Vixen ignored him.
As soon as she stepped out of the chamber, she grabbed her bag and left in a hurry.
Tofu stared in bewilderment.
"Wait..."
"Did she just cry?"
Director Minh was on the phone.
"Alright, alright, I'll send someone down to pick you up."
As Director Minh walked out, he, too, noticed Snow Vixen's tear-streaked face as she passed by, not bothering to greet him.
"Tofu, that was too much. Making a girl cry like that."
"I-I didn't do anything!"
. . .
No One.
He was standing in front of DMG Corporation.
After the incident the other day, DMG wanted to meet with him.
The meeting was scheduled for this morning.
But guess who completely forgot and had to call back to reschedule for tonight.
Now, he's just standing there outside the company, waiting for someone to open the door.
Suddenly, a figure swept past.
Huh?
That face.
Is it Snow Moon?
Even with just a glimpse, he immediately recognized the expression on that face.
Swollen and red.
Just cried.
"Wait!"
Without thinking, instinctively, he grabbed her arm.
Snow Moon was startled.
Didn't have time to think.
It was near midnight.
A man grabbing a woman's wrist.
What could it be?
Instinctively, she tried to grab her pepper spray.
"Pervert!"
Sprayed it straight into his face.
"A A A A A! It's me! No One!!!"
Startled.
No One!?
Snow Vixen looked at his face, wrinkled like a monkey.
"Doesn't look like you? Did you use an online filter?"
"You just sprayed pepper spray directly into my face; do you think I can have a handsome face right now!!!"
. . .
A 24-hour shop.
The outdoor tables and chairs had been moved inside.The two had no choice but to stand in front of the shop.
No One used the wet wipes he just bought to try and wipe away the pepper spray.
Fortunately, it was a mild type, but it still took 20 minutes to feel better.
Snow Vixen gently patted No One's back.
"Sorry, sorry...! You startled me."
"You acted so ruthlessly, and you still dare to try and smooth things over with me!"
Snow Vixen gave an awkward smile.
Sniff.
No One's nose was still running continuously.
Suddenly, he burst out laughing.
"Now we're both swollen-eyed and runny-nosed..."
Snow Vixen blushed.
He had seen his own face earlier.
Ugly.
Swollen eyes and runny nose.
"Must kill..."
Her hand reached for the pepper spray in his pocket.
"Stop! Stop! Show some mercy!"
No One frantically rubbed his hands in fear.
The two couldn't hold back their laughter.
Their laughter was so joyful.
"Feeling better yet?"
He handed Snow Vixen a can of coffee he just bought, still warm.
It was quite cold outside.Snow Vixen was stunned.
Just now, he held her hand back, clearly because he noticed she wasn't okay.
"I'm better now, thank you."
No One didn't dare to carelessly touch a woman again.
Especially since grabbing her wrist earlier nearly got him pepper-sprayed painfully.
He took out his phone and started recording.
"Alright, now I'm going to record this. I have a journalist friend who will definitely get you justice by tomorrow."
"What?" Snow Vixen was taken aback.
"Why? Disheveled clothes, eyes swollen and red as if you'd cried all your tears out, rushing outside."
"It must be that the manager at DMG is a jerk, exploiting and suppressing employees, trying to take advantage of you."
"Let me help you."
What...?
"N-No, that's not...!"
"Don't worry, I handle things so you won't be at a disadvantage. Our guild leader is extremely wealthy and well-connected; you won't risk being blacklisted with limited prospects."
Stunned.
"I'm still clean, alright?" sighed Snow Vixen.
"Really?"
"Really?"
"Prove it?"
"Prove it, my foot!"
Snow Vixen hit him hard on the shoulder.
"Ouch! Alright! I believe you!"
"So what happened?"
Snow Vixen remained silent.
She recalled what had just happened.
Sitting down, she began to tell No One the whole story.