In the early morning, the sunlight appeared somewhat sullen, a reflection of the winter storm still ravaging the skies above.
The swirling snow concealed the sun's brilliance, and through the dim light, one could discern an ancient city standing resilient against the storm.
At the center of the city, a towering clock tower emitted melodious chimes as the heavy bell swayed with the tempest, but alas, under the howling wind and snow, the sound grew hoarse and somewhat chaotic by the time it reached the dilapidated little house.
The small fox, having slept through the night, still squinted with bleary eyes, appearing rather listless as it lay on the soft sheets. Its tiny paws clutched a piece of dry food that was disproportionately large for its petite frame, staring vacantly at it.
Xiao Mu Yu silently sat at the foot of the bed, consuming the provisions he had brought with him, while within his consciousness, a certain malevolent whisper chuckled derisively.
(So, the fox eats dry food, huh? This is my first time learning this. Thank you for enlightening me, human lad; should I repay you with my devotion?)
"Is there a difference between eating meat and dry food?" Xiao Mu Yu asked flatly, seemingly unfazed by the mockery directed at him, showing no response to the demon's taunts.
(Tsk, tsk... I truly pity this little fox for encountering such a stoic, cruel, indifferent, selfish, and tedious master. What a tragedy!) The last few words were drawn out, revealing the mockery clearly.
"…"
(Hmph, here we go again. Are you afraid that speaking a few more words will kill you?)
"…"
(Alright, alright, let's get to the point.) The voice adopted a more serious tone. (That girl named Ya Ya just came to call you for breakfast. Why didn't you go?)
"…"
"And this is what you call getting to the point?" Xiao Mu Yu asked coldly.
(Ah, of course it is! Breakfast was made by that lovely girl Ya Ya. You could compliment her after your meal and get closer to her. With your base nature, you should easily win her over. Then you wouldn't have to sit here alone gnawing on dry food, would you?)
"That would be utterly pointless," Xiao Mu Yu replied indifferently.
(Tsk, I know you don't want to stir up trouble, but sometimes, trouble finds you whether you seek it or not.)
"What have you sensed?" Xiao Mu Yu asked coldly.
(Hahaha... What can I sense? What can a pitiful creature sealed for thousands of years sense? You're amusing... Hahaha...)
The neurotic laughter echoed within the consciousness space, while Xiao Mu Yu coldly brushed his hair aside. The next moment, a startled scream pierced the air.
"Ahhhhh—"
"…" Xiao Mu Yu expressionlessly rubbed his brow, then rose to open the door.
"Wooji, wooji—" Seeing Xiao Mu Yu leave the room, the dazed little fox quickly discarded its dry food and jumped onto Xiao Mu Yu's shoulder, settling there quietly.
(Hey, weren't you planning to avoid any interaction with outsiders during this time, patiently waiting for the storm to pass so you could leave on the airship to Maple Leaf Snow? Why are you in such a hurry now?) The voice dripped with mockery.
"Sharing the same city, certain circumstances are unavoidable. In this scenario, it is prudent to control the potential events that may arise to avoid being affected unknowingly, lest I lack the means to respond when entangled," Xiao Mu Yu replied indifferently.
(Tsk, if only you had realized this sooner! I refuse to believe you didn't notice anything when you arrived yesterday. What do you plan to do now? Eliminate the other party?)
"As long as it doesn't involve me, it matters not if the entire city perishes." His indifferent tone and detached philosophy conveyed a chill far more penetrating than the winter storm outside.
(Tsk, tsk, tsk... You truly are heartless, aren't you? But I like it... Hahaha...)
In the silent footsteps, Xiao Mu Yu quietly approached the slightly ajar wooden door, his weathered figure silently arriving at the threshold. Through the crack, everything unfolding outside became starkly clear to the man's cold, unyielding gaze.
In the midst of the filthy, chaotic street stood a middle-aged nobleman sporting two conspicuous mustaches. Clad in resplendent garments that shone brilliantly, he appeared utterly out of place in the squalor of the slums, while the sides of the street were teeming with numerous onlookers.
At that moment, a mixture of arrogance and a lascivious demeanor adorned the nobleman's face as he addressed a cowering, obsequious man standing beside him, his nostrils flared in disdain. "So, this is your daughter?"
The girl named Ya Ya was firmly held by several burly men, one of whom, with a sneer, pinched her chin, forcing her delicate face to tilt helplessly upward, exposing her flawless, porcelain-like cheeks to the nobleman's lecherous gaze.
"Yes, yes, Lord Joseph, what do you think?" The sycophantic man beside the nobleman bent low, a forced grin plastered on his face. "This is my daughter, Ya Ya. Isn't she beautiful?"
"Well, she's passable, decent enough," the nobleman replied, a note of arrogance in his tone. "I never expected that someone like you could produce such a lovely daughter. Alright then, I'm satisfied. As we discussed, I will use your daughter to settle the gambling debt you owe me at the casino. Now we're even."
"Thank you, my lord, thank you!" Hearing the nobleman's words, the man—presumably Ya Ya's father—beamed with delight, his eyes almost disappearing as he nodded and bowed incessantly.
His sycophantic expression was utterly repulsive to behold.
"Alright, take her back to the Night Star," the middle-aged nobleman named Joseph commanded with a haughty wave of his hand towards the burly men. "You keep a close watch on her. I must go to the administration office now, and when I get off work tonight, heh heh, I'll enjoy her properly then."
With a lewd grin, the nobleman turned and left, casting not a single glance back at the scene, as if everything here was too lowly to enter his vision.
And what of the protagonist of this story, the girl named Ya Ya?
Xiao Mu Yu's indifferent gaze shifted to the girl bound by the muscular men. At that moment, she neither struggled nor wept hysterically; she simply gazed quietly at her father, who was obsequiously nodding and bowing to the back of the nobleman, her eyes reflecting a hopelessness akin to a stagnant pool of water.
Perhaps she had long anticipated that one day, she would face such a fate?
No one could know.