But if he did not eat it, would he be letting the fox demon's kindness go to waste?
What if it was a sweet fruit?
After hesitating for quite a while, the Scholar still brought the fruit to his lips.
For that slim possibility, he could only take the risk once.
The Scholar's tightly pinched features gradually relaxed.
Huh?
It wasn't sour?
It was sweet?!
The Scholar's expression brightened.
"Lady Fox Demon, this fruit is very sweet."
It was not until the sun had set that the Scholar finally left, somewhat reluctant to part.
His steps were hurried.
His heart was occupied by thoughts of the unfinished painting.
"Lady Fox Demon?"
The Scholar, who had hurried to the mountaintop early in the morning, looked around.
There was no Lady Fox Demon in the tree.
The other places...
He searched everywhere.
He found nothing.
Had he come too early?
Or had Lady Fox Demon encountered something and temporarily left?
The Scholar held the painting in his arms, his high spirits before climbing the mountain seemingly doused with a basin of cold water.
Almost nothing remained.
He took a deep breath.
Then he called out several more times.
No answer came.
He suddenly thought that even if Lady Fox Demon had heard his voice... would Lady Fox Demon respond to him?
The Scholar stood beneath the great tree.
Yesterday, he had told Lady Fox Demon that he would come today... bringing the painting in which he had sketched Lady Fox Demon...
Although Lady Fox Demon had not said anything.
He knew that Lady Fox Demon had heard him...
Lady Fox Demon must have encountered something unexpected.
The Scholar told himself this.
It was not until the gorgeous evening clouds stung his eyes that he