Chapter 103

"No, regarding my situation, the Dragon Girl only said, 'Eat something good.'"

Her usually carefree boss chuckled and teased her as usual, prompting Jiaoqiu, the attending physician, to sigh helplessly, "... Even the renowned Dragon Lady of the Healer's Apothecary can't do anything for your condition?"

"There's no need to worry, Jiaoqiu. Matters of life and death are preordained."

"You're saying that again... Please take better care of yourself. Do you think I chose to return to practicing medicine in the first place?"

Jiaoqiu's urge to speak suddenly subsided. She opened her eyes, barely slits, and stared at Feixiao's calm expression, as if trying to see through the emotions hidden beneath her surface. "Besides, when that time really comes, can you bear to abandon your sweetheart?"

The atmosphere froze somewhat; only the bubbling hotpot, the boisterous diners, and carefree laughter filled the air.

"Your chopsticks and dipping sauce are here!"

The Foxkin girl came over carrying a bowl, chopsticks, and dipping sauce. Feixiao calmly took the dipping sauce from her, then picked up a thin slice of meat with his chopsticks and gently dipped it a few times in the boiling hot pot. Instantly, the meat slice was dyed a fiery bright red.

"I can't imagine that scene."

Her gaze lingered on the boiling hot pot, while Jiaoqiu and Moze exchanged bewildered glances.

Then, as if recalling something amusing, a smile suddenly appeared on Feixiao's face. Recalling the scene of Bai Jun prying her wrist open, she slowly said, "I have my own conclusions about this matter, and I happen to have something I want to verify these past few days... Alright, let's not talk about these things while eating, or the meat will get overcooked."

She picked up a piece of cooked meat from the pot and put it directly into her mouth without any dipping sauce. Instantly, a sharp pain shot from the tip of her tongue throughout her body.

"Ouch, so spicy! Why didn't you order a half-and-half pot? I remember I specifically told you not to order food entirely according to your own whims, right?"

"It has nothing to do with me, it was Bai Jun who ordered it."

If it were Moze, Jiaoqiu would definitely have humiliated him severely. However, sensing a hint of danger in the other's narrowed blue eyes, Jiaoqiu immediately raised her hands to clear herself of any wrongdoing.

"He ordered it... It's nice to have it once in a while."

Feixiao paused for a moment, then the dangerous aura in his eyes instantly returned to normal, replaced by a gentle smile at the corners of his eyes.

Jiaoqiu covered half her face with her fan, shaking her head with a mixture of pleasure and sigh, "Just how infatuated is he with you? Isn't this a bit too biased?"

You should reflect on your own actions first.

Moze silently crossed his arms, silently complaining to Jiaoqiu beside him.

"Were you thinking something rude again?" The pink-haired fox, who was always sensitive to other people's gazes, frowned and questioned her colleague beside her.

"It wasn't rude of me." Moze looked away.

"So you admit you were thinking some rude things just now, right? Apologize to me now, you repressed, gloomy guy!!!"

"Don't, don't come near me!!!"

"Ugh, I can't take it, it's too spicy! Go get me a drink!"

"What on earth are you guys doing...?"

Feixiao, who was so spicy that he stuck out his tongue and gasped for breath, gave an order to the two who were making a ruckus. From behind, Bai Jun, who had just come out of the restroom, let out a helpless sigh.

Holding several cans of freshly bought coconut milk, he seemed to sense the strange atmosphere surrounding them and appeared just in time to share the coconut milk with Moze and Feixiao, who couldn't handle spicy food, thus preventing the situation from spiraling out of control.

"Ah, you're finally back! Come here, come here!"

The moment Feixiao saw Bai Jun, it was like a cat seeing catnip; her jewel-colored eyes sparkled, and she couldn't wait to pull him to her side.

Those eyes were long and deep, revealing a softness beneath her defenses; her body was delicate and supple, radiating a warmth that made one's heart race.

Even though she was sticking out her tongue and gasping for breath from the spiciness, her gaze was now focused solely on Bai Jun's face.

The hickeys on Bai Jun's face had completely disappeared, presumably washed off in the bathroom. It was as if he was declaring that his mark had been cleaned up, which made Feixiao feel inexplicably dissatisfied, while at the same time feeling a sweet and heart-wrenching feeling.

Perhaps it was due to the physiological instincts of Foxkin, or perhaps it was the competitive nature of women, wanting to leave a unique mark on him—that was what Feixiao thought.

Her thin, fiery red lips drew near to Bai Jun's face once more, but this time Bai Jun was prepared and skillfully blocked her advance with the back of his hand.

"Don't do that, it was so hard to clean it."

"Oh, just once, just once is enough~"

Undeterred, she continued to approach, only to receive the same result.

"How stingy! Fine, if you won't let me kiss you, then don't. It's like nobody cares. Don't even think about kissing me again!"

Although it was always her who took the initiative to be a rascal and kiss her, Feixiao still chose to puff out her cheeks like a sulking little girl, tilted her head back, and took a big gulp of coconut milk.

Jiaoqiu and Moze were already used to her appearance, but it was still quite rare, since she only showed such an expression and demeanor when she was with Bai Jun.

"By the way, what brings you to Luofu this time?"

Bai Jun lowered his head and ate the cilantro that someone had put in his bowl, and casually asked.

"To put it simply, we need to escort a heinous criminal from Luofu Prison of Deep Seclusion to Yaoqing. This will both Yaoqing and also help us clear up some internal problems... cough, I'm getting a bit off-topic. This trip shouldn't take too long, probably about a week?"

With a feather fan obscuring half her face, Jiaoqiu revealed a meaningful smile and asked with interest, "But even without this incident, is it not enough to simply visit you?"

"Using the word 'visit' is a bit strange, it makes me sound like some kind of problem child... But even if you don't come, I'll still make time to visit Yaoqing during this period."

"Why?" Jiaoqiu asked instinctively.

"Because I miss you all so much," Bai Jun said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Jiaoqiu froze. Not only him, but Moze and Feixiao, who were frantically drinking coconut milk to relieve the spiciness, also showed the same stunned expression. Then, the three of them showed embarrassed expressions. Jiaoqiu scratched his slightly red cheeks, Moze was carefully experiencing a certain emotion and unconsciously crushed the empty coconut milk bottle into a coin, while Feixiao closed his eyes and smiled like a flower.

"Why did you have to be so blunt at this moment? What kind of airhead are you? Please say less next time, it's embarrassing... Ahem, never mind, let's drink."

Jiaoqiu uttered these words softly, then, as if quickly changing the subject, took out the unlabeled bottle of liquor again and poured two glasses for herself and Bai Jun.

Unexpectedly, the guy who was supposed to be drinking coconut milk suddenly had his eyes light up and reached out to intercept the wine glass that was being handed to Bai Jun.

"Oh, isn't this your family's thousand-year-old Daughter's Red wine Jiaoqiu? I've heard so much about it, it'll be perfect for satisfying my craving... Hmm?"

She was so tempted that she raised her glass to her lips, but the next second, the glass froze in mid-air.

Bai Jun grasped her wrist, while Jiaoqiu and Moze pressed down on the wine glass from above and below.

The three of them didn't say a word, but their serious and solemn gazes seemed to convey some information.

"Hey, what kind of looks are you two giving me?"

The smile on Feixiao's face vanished instantly as she was pinned down by three hands. At the same time, her aura subtly changed, and she looked at Jiaoqiu and Moze opposite her with a terrifying smile that could stop a child from crying.

As for Bai Jun, it doesn't matter. Let him touch me if he likes.

"General, you have a series of matters to attend to this afternoon; it wouldn't be good if you got drunk."

"That's right, that's right. You and General Jing Yuan have many things to discuss this afternoon, and it wouldn't be good to delay things. If you want to drink, we'll send Bai Jun to your room one evening, and you can do whatever you want with your drunkenness then!"

Moze and Jiaoqiu were inwardly cursing Feixiao's favoritism, while trying their best to dissuade her from drinking.

"Just one drink! You definitely won't get drunk!"

Feixiao silently memorized the second half of what Jiaoqiu had just said, his eyes shining like a child's as he stared intently at the wine glass in his hand.

Jiaoqiu else would have been convinced by these words, but it was Feixiao Moze opposite them.

Although he himself called himself the "Three No's" General—No Worries, No Regrets, Invincible.

In fact, it can also be explained in another way: when hot-blooded, they are oblivious to others; when given medical advice, they ignore it; and when drunk, they are absolutely unique.

Especially the last point, anyone who witnessed that scene can learn a lesson etched in their memory: never let that addicted, morally bankrupt Foxkin drink any alcohol, not even a single drop!!!

"I have excellent drinking manners, so I won't let things interfere with this afternoon's plans. Let go of me now!"

"You're already talking nonsense before you've even had a drink?!"

When Moze and Jiaoqiu let out near-painful screams—

Bai Jun had already let go of her hand at some point and was now sitting to the side, eating hotpot and watching the show.

Unlimited Bounty Countdown and Summary

The unlimited bounty started on December 25th, and as of today, here's a summary of the chapters I owe everyone.

6547 recommendation votes, 39544 tips, 254 razor blades, 2800 monthly tickets

The author obtained the golden treasure chest himself, so I won't include it in the debt calculation. Otherwise, I really couldn't bear to punish myself with 20 chapters.

The total is 3 + 4 + 2 + 27 = 36 chapters.

That means I owe everyone 72,000 words, and I especially want to thank the great Stem Hider for his contribution~ Thank you so much for your contribution, if I were a catgirl... I won't say more.

While the double monthly ticket event is still going strong, everyone can cast another round of monthly tickets and recommendation votes. Once the bounty ends, we'll start paying off our debts to our families.

P. S.: By the way, there's a break today.

Chapter 133 The Foxes' Struggle (5k7)

The cool air that brushed against my skin announced the arrival of afternoon.

The meeting and consultations between the generals had long since ended. Yukong having lunch, Yu Kong prepared to return to the Tianbo Division to begin his work.

"Something feels off..."

As they walked through the streets and alleys of the Starcruiser Sea Hub, the absent-minded Yukong suddenly looked up at the sky with a melancholy expression, her beautiful face, which would make any Foxkin- woman envious, gracefully furrow her brow.

An unusual feeling had lingered in her heart ever since she met Feixiao. A sense of loss and confusion, the pain of being plundered, were elusive and indescribable, turning into a nameless, tangled flame that burned in her chest for a long time, making it hard for her to breathe.

However, he couldn't find any reason or cause for flying.

She wondered if it was because she missed someone too much, but the problem was that she had just had dinner with him the day before yesterday, so she shouldn't be feeling this way.

The next instant, a thought suddenly flashed through Yukong's mind, and her long, exquisitely shaped legs stood still.

In less than three days, things have turned out this way. Does this mean... the loneliness hidden deep within her heart, and her desire for Bai Jun, have far exceeded her expectations?!

"This is so... utterly shameless! Ugh, what am I even thinking...?"

Thinking of this Yukong's cheeks flushed, the soft, dark blue fox tail behind him swayed constantly, and even his long, fair legs rubbed together restlessly.

"There's no point in worrying about it. Since that's the case, let's invite Bai Jun over for dinner tonight! Hmm, let's also invite Tingyun along. Maybe that will ease our worries."

She slapped her burning cheeks hard, trying to shake off the strange thoughts in her mind, but the rising body temperature seemed to only make her more distressed.

Yukong could only suppress the strange sensations in his body and mind as he walked step by step toward Palace of Astrum.

There was still more than an hour before the official start of the afternoon workday. Pushing open the door of Palace of Astrum, the office hall was as spacious as he had imagined. Yukong wanted to take advantage of the free time to make himself a cup of hot tea, but unexpectedly, there was a little fox squatting on the steps in front of his desk.

"You are... Tingyun!?"

With delicate brown fox ears and Tail, Tingyun's beautiful face, which Yukong Kong found all too familiar, was adorned with a pitiful look of grievance, her eyes reddening as if she had just had a good cry.

Hearing her beloved Lady Yukong's tender, loving call, Tingyun's tears, which she had barely managed to hold back, burst forth again. Just like when she was a child, she sobbed and threw herself into Yukong's gentle embrace.

"Lady Yukong! This humble girl has been bullied~"

Tingyun's unwilling cries of anguish finally found release upon seeing Yukong, echoing throughout the desolate and empty Palace of Astrum.

The afternoon sky was covered with clouds.

The grayish clouds had completely blocked out the sunlight. Bai Jun looked up at the thick clouds covering the sky and thought that a rain might be coming.

"So, what are you two trying to do by dragging me here?"

Bai Jun stood in the training ground of the Shence Mansion, looking helplessly at Jiaoqiu and Moze standing in the spectator stands in the distance.

He had planned to go to the Tianbo Division after dinner to appease Tingyun and explain the situation, but his plan was quickly ruined by the two people there.

"To be precise, this was the general's request. As his staff, the two of us couldn't refuse, so we had no choice but to comply. As for the reason... there's no point in saying more. Good luck to you!"

Moze and Jiaoqiu both cast sympathetic glances at Bai Jun, mixed with a hint of schadenfreude.

Especially Jiaoqiu, you could tell he really wanted to laugh out loud, but to prevent Bai Jun from turning his guns on him first, he simply used his feather fan to cover the corners of his mouth that he was trying his best to suppress. However, his pink Tail, which was shaking like an electric fan, had already given him away.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, yawn~"

As the three were talking, Feixiao slowly emerged from the gate of the Shence Mansion. He must have just finished some meeting, because he yawned out of boredom.

She walked to the center of the training ground, opposite Bai Jun, then lifted her long hair, which was silver at the tips turning green, and tied it into a neat and tidy high ponytail.

"Good afternoon. I borrowed Jing Yuan's training ground for a bit. I'm feeling good this afternoon, so I'd like to ask you to come over and spar with me. I also want to see if you've slacked off these past few years."

Upon hearing Feixiao's explanation, Bai Jun succinctly retorted, "After all that talk, you're just itching to get your hands dirty, aren't you..."

"So what? It doesn't contradict what I said, does it?"

Feixiao did not deny it. She took off her smart white coat and casually threw it onto the railing in the distance, revealing her graceful figure and fair skin that had been hidden under the coat.

She skillfully flexed her wrists and joints, a straightforward smile full of fighting spirit spreading across her handsome and spirited face, "But let's make this clear first, if your strength has declined due to slacking off in training these past few years, I won't go easy on you because of personal feelings. At most, I'll just break your limbs; Jiaoqiu can easily heal you."

As soon as she finished speaking, living up to her name "Merlin's Claw," Feixiao's entire body was filled with a fierce and pure fighting spirit.