Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

The Blood Fox was peacefully sleeping, nuzzling Aiko.

Aiko's neck tickled with each breath, sending goosebumps down her spine. Yet she didn't dare to move.

3 pairs of eyes were strained at her.

The first one was looking curiously.
The second one was looking amused.
The third one was looking with a complicated expression.

Aiko didn't want to be observed like this, but she couldn't move, since the Blood Fox was still cuddling her.

The longer they looked at her, the redder the little Fox became.

Their expression changed from their previous ones to amused ones, especially Zhi.

'No way, she is pure.' He didn't believe that a Fox could make that embarrassed expression without exposing her skin, but the redder she became, the more amused Zhi was.

"What is your nickname?" Zhi asked gently.

The Umbra Fox wanted to answer him, but Aiko glared at her and she recoiled. She never saw her Mistress look at her so sharply, so she was startled.

Grandpa Lin felt amused, staring at them and answered. "She is a Vicious Cub."

"Geezer!" Aiko yelled, her face was completely flushed.

"Vicious Cub...?" Zhi stared strangely at the little Fox. 'Wasn't Vicious Cub just a cub, since when did she become so big?'

Aiko now looked like a tomato.

Zhi felt amused and observed the little Vicious Cub more intently. 'I will reveal your true colours!' He vowed in his heart.

...

The Blood Fox slowly blinked, dragging Aiko down into her embrace as she slowly dozed away.

Aiko finally recovered when this happened and she was yet again embarrassed.

"Um... Blood Fox?" Aiko gently spoke to wake her, if it was somewhere private she didn't mind, but 3 pairs of eyes were already too many pairs of eyes!

"Mrrr." The Blood Fox strangely, yet gently, purred.

She slowly blinked. Her mind was getting clearer and clearer.

She stared at the little red Fox and their ambiguous position.

She let go of the little Fox and she slipped away, coughing.

"Well, we can discuss if you want to be in my team once you have rested." Aiko was still red, even her neck was red.

The Blood Fox stared at Aiko gently. She didn't think she would miss this little rascal so much, but now seeing the effect that the Vicious Cub had on her...

'I need to stay by her side.' The Blood Fox thought.

She had a rough life once she returned from the Inscription Test site. She was locked yet again with other Demonic Foxes.

At first, it was fine, but soon those voices returned, slowly gnawing at her sanity.

She became muddle-headed over time until she lost her sense of self again. She became the bloodthirsty beast she was before, incapable of recognizing even her brother when he came to visit her, always striking at him with her Abilities, trying to kill him.

That was fine before since she didn't remember what was happening once she had clarity of mind, but after meeting Aiko...

She realized that she remembered everything that happened during her bloodthirst induced madness..

She hated the fact that she would always try to kill her brother or anyone who showed kindness. She wanted to change and this chance was presented to her.

'I don't mind if I have to serve her...' The Blood Fox thought. 'I don't want to hurt my brother...' The Blood Fox's eyes became a little red and she stared at her kind, yet foolish brother.

'The Jade Fox might be a bit mean, but she didn't hurt me. She might humiliate me at times, but as long as I can converse with my brother like we once did... I don't mind.' The Blood Fox resigned herself. She already heard that Demonic Foxes would be able to reclaim and retain their sense of self once they were strong enough, but...

'I can't live with those voices forever...' Were her honest feelings.

The constant seducing, belittling and rage inducing voices that whispered to her were driving her crazy, but...

The Blood Fox stared at the shy Aiko. Whenever she would try to look at her, Aiko would look somewhere else.

'She is fun to tease...' The Blood Fox suddenly thought and then she shook her head. 'I should not be thinking that.'

"Who else is on the team?" The Blood Fox asked, she could tolerate humiliation from Jade Fox and teasing from Aiko, but not from someone else.

Aiko beamed. "This one!" She hugged the Umbra Fox's hips and Umbra Fox blushed.

"I will be in your care." She bowed towards the Blood Fox.

The Blood Fox observed the Umbra Fox with her eyes. 'She isn't bad, and her eyes don't lust after me, she is also kind of cute, like Aiko.'

The Blood Fox smiled gently, making the Umbra Fox blush. "I will be in your care."

It took a moment for Aiko to process this situation. "Yay!"

She jumped around happily. 'Now I have melee fighter, I'm ranged and Umbra Fox is opportunist, everything is well and good.'

*Cough*

Grandpa Lin coughed awkwardly as he had just now recovered from the fact that the Vicious Cub called him geezer. "I still have to question her, but afterwards if she still wishes to stay... I will get another contract." Grandpa Lin resigned himself, as he didn't want to be called geezer again.

Zhi was still observing, but seeing his Sis's interest and teasing gaze, he felt like his Soul would leave his body any time now.

He sighed. "Sis... are you sure? You know that Foxes are lustful whores-"

"Brother!" The Blood Fox sharply reprimanded him.

Zhi didn't back off this time. "What I mean is that if you join her team you will be subjected to that treatment as she will need a training partner for those dirty techniques!" Zhi tried to explain to his Sis.

The Blood Fox glared at him, she already steeled her resolve, but their staring contest was interrupted by Grandpa Lin.

"The Vicious Cub is exempted from such training." Grandpa Lin spoke slowly, attracting the attention of Blood Fox and Zhi. "Umbra Fox is included in that. As such, your sister would naturally also not take part in such training."

Grandpa Lin tried to reassure them, but Zhi frowned. "So just because you want to get rid of me, you are lying to my face!"

"Mind your language, Grandpa Lin might be old, but he is honest!" Aiko glared at Zhi. "Not to mention, I was the one who made those rules for myself and thus for my group!"

Grandpa Lin staggered, he knew he was old, but she didn't need to rub it in so much!

Zhi looked at her speechlessly. "Bullshit."

"Go ahead and ask the Peak Elder!" Aiko huffed at this jerk.

Zhi furrowed his brows. "Do you think Peak Elders are so easy to meet?!"

"Yes." Aiko nodded. "She talks with me quite often."

Aiko often spotted the Peak Elder walking around inspecting things when she was falling down from the Pillars.

Zhi was doubtful, but seeing Elder Punisher nod, he was left speechless yet again.

"If something happens to my Sis, I will torture you for ten thousands years!" He threatened.

"Oh, fuck off, you bulging bastard!" Aiko finally snapped. "I should be the one saying that, since you gave her that shitty bracelet!"

"Not to mention she is a melee fighter, it's obvious she will get hurt!" Aiko snorted disdainfully at him. "Take your shitty dreams and put them back where the sun doesn't shine, and come back once you mature. For someone who is comparable to old fossils, your intelligence is not up to par!" Aiko barraged him with insults.

Zhi stared blankly, he thought he was imagining things.

The Blood Fox placed her hand on Aiko's lips to shush her, but she could feel her mouth continue moving.

The Blood Fox's lips twitched upwards, she found this situation funny, as nobody ever dared to speak to her brother like that.

Zhi finally recovered. "Y-you!" He glared at the Vicious Cub, now he understood why nobody ever considered a different nickname.

"Hmpf." Aiko snorted victoriously, making the Blood Fox giggle.

Seeing his Sis like the little Vicious Cub, he felt depressed...

'Will I lose my Sis like this?!' Zhi couldn't believe it and he didn't want to believe it!

"You little..." Zhi glared, but his Sis glared at him back and he had to shut up.

"I will be staying with her then." The Blood Fox said gently.

Grandpa Lin frowned. "It's impossible-"

"Elder Punisher." The Blood Fox interrupted him. "If you want me to slaughter all the other Demonic Foxes, please feel free to send me back." The Blood Fox smiled innocently, if other Foxes were here they would already be howling with lust for her and Aiko. On the other hand Demonic Foxes might regain their sanity just from Visicous Cubs words...

Elder Punisher glared at Passion Fox. "Don't push your luck!"

"I can say the same to you." She smiled and the Elder Punisher choked.

Aiko placed the hand away from her mouth. "Let's just get those contracts ready." Aiko gestured.

Grandpa Lin sighed. "You will have to deal with her accommodation, needs and other things. If you are unable, I will have to send her back to her Forbidden Zone." Grandpa Lin tried to dissuade Aiko, but Aiko just smiled.

"That's fine~" Aiko hummed, gesturing towards the Spirit Stones. "I'm wealthy." She devilishly smiled.

Grandpa Lin felt exhausted...

When he glanced at those Spirit Crystal, he wanted to cry. Those Spirit Crystals would be priceless on the mainland, but now this little Vicious Cub is using them as bedding? Those things are priceless!

Grandpa Lin chose the wisest option: Give up.

He disappeared to take another scroll with the contract.

Aiko meanwhile stared at Zhi who was deep in thought.

"You are not allowed to give my Sis anything under 70- no, 80% purity!" Zhi said firmly.

"No problem." Aiko readily agreed, which startled Zhi.

"It's really hard to find Beast Cores-" He tried to explain, but was interrupted by the Vicious Cub.

"Don't worry, I got this." Aiko smugly smiled.

Zhi didn't like this little Fox, but seeing his Sis like her...

He could only withdraw for the time being.

"Fine." He stared at Aiko, but soon turned to his Sis. "Sis, please be careful and if she does something to you, tell me immediately, okay?" He spoke with an incredibly gentle voice.

"I got it, brother." The Blood Fox nodded.

'I wish I could call you by your name...' Zhi sighed. "I will visit you often, so get better soon." He had an air of melancholy.

"You can visit her often." Aiko wouldn't stop him from visiting his Sister.

"Who asked you?!" Zhi glared at the Vicious Cub.

"Brother!" The Blood Fox reprimanded him again.

Zhi felt he was wronged, but could only shake his head and wait for Elder Punisher to take him away from this place...

...

Grandpa Lin reappeared with Peak Elder.

Aiko frowned. She didn't like this Peak Elder from the moment she saw 'THAT'.

"Stop frowning or it will affect your beauty." The Peak Elder smirked.

Aiko wanted to curse her, but she was shushed by the Blood Fox again.

The Peak Elder stared at the Passion Fox, who was shushing the Vicious Cub.

"Aren't you supposed to be bloodthirsty?" The Peak Elder didn't believe Elder Punisher that the Passion Fox was able to control her bloodlust, not to mention look so doting.

"I have calmed down." She played with Aiko's hair, while Aiko was pouting.

Why was the Blood Fox stopping her from talking?!

The Peak Elder observed the Passion Fox, but the more she observed, the more speechless she became.

"She can stay as long as she is around the Vicious Cub, nobody is allowed to call her away from the Vicious Cub, those who do that or plot that will be punished by Soul Whip." The Peak Elder commanded. "Elder Punisher please finish the contracts with them, and reduce the nurturing requirements, also since she is just starting out extend her grace period."

"As you command." Elder Punisher cupped his fists and bowed.