The Fox

It’s said that a fox can transform into a woman after living beyond fifty years, and upon reaching a hundred, it can transform into a beauty or a mystical priestess. At a thousand years, the fox connects with the heavens and becomes a Tianhu (Heavenly Fox).

— Hyun Junggi

Tianhu.

Where should I be looking right now?

I’ve seen many powerful energy pockets, but this one was unmatched.

Not even my master or the Snake Queen could compare to the overwhelming force of this being.

Even that White Snowflake was one tier below this strength.

Having witnessed this, it’s no wonder I was momentarily stunned.

"Ge-ro-ro-ro-long…"

I unintentionally let out a voice lacking any dignity.

It felt a little pathetic to be making such a sound after barely being able to move, but the opponent was too overwhelming.

If it had only been immense size, it would have been one thing, but there was something else that was equally daunting.

Could I say it was a form optimized for seducing others? Perhaps.

With a creature of my stature, it was no surprise I couldn’t keep my focus.

Especially with those lace-like strings that didn’t quite match her background.

Those violent, voluptuous thighs were especially accentuated by the sensuality.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to just lie comfortably on that soft, plush place?

...

Wait.

Why am I thinking about this?

I can't deny that I have some interest in these things, but this is going a bit too far.

I can confidently say that I wouldn’t be so foolish as to drool over her like this, especially in a situation where I don’t even know if she’s an enemy or an ally.

Right.

There’s a legendary story that foxes can enchant their opponents.

I must have been affected by that power without realizing it.

This is indeed a formidable opponent.

"I haven’t done anything yet."

A slight smile formed on Tianhu’s face.

...Should I trust that?

Could it be the effect of the Dog-Curse Blocking Technique?

Yeah, that’s it.

So that’s why I feel this way.

‘Ge-ro-ro….’

Well, this is the perfect opportunity.

The best choice to escape this situation.

"Keurrr!"

Thanks to imagining the spirit beast, I barely managed to keep my composure.

"You have quite a strong will. Even though you were stationary, you still got caught by the enchantment. Would you call it the opposite effect? Well, either way, I’ll commend you for moving in my space."

Right, the enchantment.

Now, I need to pull myself together.

Her face is beautiful, her chest is ample, her skin is fine, her flesh is soft, and her voice is sultry—her clothes are just as desirable, but that’s all there is to it.

There’s no reason for this being in front of me to be on my side.

Let’s think about this logically.

The Fox Bead tried to attack me earlier.

And then this woman appeared, calling herself Tianhu.

Tianhu is a fox that has trained for a thousand years.

The Fox Bead seemed hostile, so why would this woman be on my side?

That’s impossible.

Moreover, this woman possessed overwhelming power.

She had an ability similar to stopping time, an ability that I couldn’t even begin to comprehend.

The snowflakes had stopped falling, and the Iron-Head Dragon hadn’t even reacted.

Creeeeek.

I have to get out of this restraint.

It’s impossible to move with just a slight effort.

Once she shows any intent to kill, I’ll have no chance to resist and will perish.

That’s when it happened.

Wooooo.

The Fox Bead responded.

The violet orb floated into the air and spun around wildly.

It moved freely, as though unaffected by Tianhu’s power.

"The more I look, the more interesting it becomes."

Tianhu raised her finger, and the Fox Bead immediately flew toward it.

It rubbed itself gently against her finger, like an act of affection.

Tianhu observed the Fox Bead before turning her gaze back toward me.

"This little one is showing affection to another species."

What?

Affection?

Just a moment ago, it tried to kill me!

"I understand now why it’s moving here. For a mere spiritual being to hold such divinity."

Her eyes, golden with a near-white hue, flashed.

They were beautiful, but at the same time, those eyes were dangerous.

"You have the trust of the largest serpent and the smallest dragon."

As I could see the status window, she seemed to be looking beyond me, sensing something hidden.

She had seen the things the Iron-Head Dragon couldn’t, so it wasn’t surprising that Tianhu could perceive such things.

"Your followers are quite exceptional as well. The little one who controls cold, the red spiritual beast from the West, and ten descendants of a horse exiled from the Celestial Realm."

...The horse exiled from the Celestial Realm?

Are we talking about the Iksaksu?

This is stranger than I expected. They’re more formidable than I thought.

"One young snake and three spiders. These are beings of potential that even I cannot fully gauge."

This is a bit strange.

The Red Dragon, Baek Rang, and the Snake Queen were all mentioned, but none had such grand descriptors.

The powers of the spiders and snakes were far weaker compared to even Baek Rang, and yet Tianhu says she can’t gauge their potential?

"From the weakest point, you’ve been with the energy of the ancient death with a tail... Even with the Eye of the Celestial, I cannot foresee what’s to come."

While I couldn’t fully grasp this, I understood it to some extent.

Even beings of the same kind evolve differently based on their experiences.

Followers who have experienced life with a middle-tier dragon like me will have many more options available to them.

Like my special evolution.

Baek Rang and the Red Dragon may be similar in some respects, but they are creatures that have undergone multiple evolutions, whereas the likes of Tus, Pus, Nephila, and Shikshik have only undergone one.

The spiders and snakes that have been with the Blue Dragon.

In this unprecedented situation, it made sense that Tianhu would say something like this.

"And there’s a human too. The name... Tang... well, let's move on."

Why is Tang So-Yeong being mentioned here?

But I won’t argue.

"In summary, you possess divinity far beyond what any ordinary spiritual being could hold."

I swallowed.

"I might be able to count on you."

She’s optimistic, but I shouldn’t let my guard down.

Suddenly, her eyes darted wildly, and it seems she was planning something!

She might leap at me at any moment.

Whew.

Tianhu exhaled smoke from her pipe.

It wasn’t particularly toxic, but it was a scent I’d never smelled before.

"I am a heavenly beast, a Tianhu, connected to the heavens."

Connected to the heavens.

Hearing the name Tianhu, I had already anticipated a vast difference in our levels.

I couldn’t measure how much stronger she was, but this technique of stopping time or freezing things seemed incredibly complex. If I can’t break through this, I have no chance.

"I also need to retrieve the Fox Bead from the lost fox, appease the other restless souls... my body may be one, but there’s too much to do."

There’s so much to do.

It’s obvious from her voice, worn out, and the dark circles under her eyes.

And seeing her puffing the pipe repeatedly, she looks like a weary office worker from overworking late into the night.

"And now part of the power has descended, so do you understand how busy I am?"

Power descending.

Of course, being connected to the heavens, she’d need to manage all that.

"That’s why I’m entrusting this child to you."

That was an unexpected statement.

"This child desires you. It’s been quite difficult, being a troublesome one, but meeting you has been a relief."

...The Fox Bead desires me?

Why?

You just tried to kill me, didn’t you?

Was it not meant to kill me?

Why did that happen?

What did I do to deserve this?

...Wait, now that I think about it, I defeated the Iron-Head Dragon, and it jumped out of its body.

Could it be that you think I saved you?

Was the reason you were about to go berserk not to kill me, but to protect me from the Iron-Head Dragon that swallowed you?

Woong.

The Fox Bead trembled lightly.

“Will you take this child?”

I couldn’t think of rejecting it.

The fact that I could legally obtain the Fox Bead was attractive, but there was an even bigger reason.

I felt that the reason Tianhu was showing me a favorable attitude was to entrust the Fox Bead to me.

Look at that annoyed expression.

Taking the Fox Bead wouldn’t be that simple.

Already, Tianhu is busy, and with the power descending, she’s even busier.

It would be impossible to have this conversation without stopping time.

...Of course, this probably doesn’t mean she’s literally stopping time.

Considering I’m still able to move a little, this technique seems to be operating on a different principle.

For example, maybe she’s made everyone fall asleep and is invading their dreams.

I can’t be sure, but I know Tianhu is incredibly busy and wants to entrust this Fox Bead to me.

“Ge-geck!”

With a loud reply, Tianhu’s lips curled upward.

“Certainly, I see the traits of a dragon.”

Tianhu looked at me with a mysterious expression.

Why is she looking at my lower body?

...Is she looking at my tail?

“Even the dragons of the past were as reckless as you.”

Reckless, huh.

Lady, no, did you mistake me for a lizard?

Well, let’s listen to what she has to say.

This is information about dragons, after all.

Given Tianhu’s position, it must be a tale about the True Dragon.

“How recklessly they played with their lower half. Though we’re not that close, to explain the deeds of that one, it would take two full moons.”

So the story of the Dragon’s Sexual Desire is true, huh.

Apparently, dragons are incredibly lewd creatures.

They are noble and powerful beings, but their lower halves are light as air, and they have numerous offspring.

It seems there’s still a long way to go before I become a true dragon.

I have the complete opposite disposition.

“But even he, at this age, wasn’t like this.”

Tianhu stared at me.

“Does it mean I’m superior in some ways?”

What does that mean?

“I can expect something from you, it seems.”

...Does she mean I’m more talented than the True Dragon? Should I take this as a compliment?

Woong.

The Fox Bead trembled again and flew into my arms.

Woong.

Woong.

It seemed like it wanted to say something, but I couldn’t understand its intentions.

“It’s a spoiled, mischievous one, so take care of it.”

It certainly looks like that.

But what exactly is this Fox Bead that’s acting like this?

It seems to behave like a sentient creature.

“Normally, I wouldn’t entrust the bead to another species.”

Speaking of which, where’s Tianhu’s Fox Bead?

I see two large beads, but the Fox Bead is nowhere in sight.

“Unless you overcome a trial, you cannot take the bead.”

Woong.

The bead trembled lightly.

A trial?

No, I thought it was a gift. Why the trials?

“Of course, there will be no trial for you.”

I thought she might be a bit rigid, but she’s flexible.

Her heart must be big.

“Since you possess both the Dragon’s Power and the Fox Bead, that itself is a trial.”

“Ge...geck?”

Tianhu’s expression suddenly shifted.

She slightly bit her lower lip and had a mischievous look on her face.

“You’ve moved without permission, answered, and even asked.”

Her nine tails swayed.

“There’s plenty of reason for me to challenge you.”

Thud.

Tianhu walked toward me.

With each step, her unreal body swayed, making it awkward to watch.

But I had no choice but to observe her movements, as I couldn’t move.

When she reached me, Tianhu smiled softly.

Illustration

“Hm... What is so good about this aging body?”

Her pink lips drew closer.

Swallow.

She’s not actually planning to do something like that with someone she’s just met, is she?

I really want to move, but...

I can’t move right now, so there’s nothing I can do.

Shhh.

But what I had expected didn’t happen.

Like a ghost, Tianhu’s body passed right through me.

“Uhuhu.”

She gave a mischievous smile.

Her tired expression seemed to be her true face.

“Hundreds, thousands of usurpers will challenge you.”

My vision began to blur.

“The tail-bearing, ancient death. It has cast its challenge upon you.”

Unintelligible words kept flowing.

The only thing I understood was this:

“If you prove your worth, you may complete what was left undone...”

...Ugh, why is this the part I understand?

As I opened my eyes again, Tianhu had completely vanished.

The snow that had stopped falling began to descend again.

“Keurgh! The bead!... Huh?”

The Iron-Head Dragon began to move again.

The only change was that the Fox Bead had nestled itself into my fur.