Teacher, you lied to me, growing up isn't fun at all!

Teacher, you lied to me, growing up is not fun at all! Just at this moment.

Deep in the dense forest on the back mountain.

The Nine-Tails lay prone on the massive hillside, its nine scarlet tails sweeping about at will, snapping the branches of the surrounding trees.

It lowered its head, staring at the few shivering plow oxen before it, preparing to feast and enjoy this stolen "delicacy."

However, just at this moment!

"Nine-Tails! Don't you dare eat them! My grandfather has invited a master to subdue you!"

A childish yet stubborn shout suddenly came from not far up the mountain.

It was none other than the child from before.

His small body stood firm, eyes locked onto the gargantuan demon fox before him; though his legs trembled slightly, he did not retreat in the slightest.

Kurama raised his eyes to glance at this wet-behind-the-ears human brat, his nine tails flicking with disdain.

"Human brat, don't make your Ninth Brother laugh!"

"You? Forget about inviting some master; even if you called over all those greenhorns from the Ninja Sect, they would be nothing more than a single mouthful for me."

The Nine-Tails licked its fangs, speaking with utter indifference.

"Unless you could invite the Sage of Six Paths himself, but that is nothing more than a pipe dream. Why would he bother with such a trivial matter for you? Not to mention you, I haven't seen him in how many years..."

With that, the Nine-Tails ignored the child, lowered its head, and opened its massive maw to bite down on the fattest ox.

"Oh? Kurama, is it?"

A voice, indifferent yet carrying boundless pressure, emerged, instantly causing the wind in the entire mountain forest to cease.

"Ah?!"

Kurama's movements froze abruptly, his mouth hanging half-open as he stood stunned in place.

The Nine-Tails slowly raised its head in disbelief, its scarlet beastly pupils locked onto the direction the voice came from, pupils shrinking to pinpricks, a look of having seen a ghost appearing on its face.

There, behind the child!

A familiar figure slowly stepped out!

Still the black and red robe, still the tall and upright stature, still the Six Paths Sword constantly by his side.

Oh my god! He actually brought the Master here!?

Kurama's brain buzzed, and he was instantly dumbfounded.

What kind of background does this brat have?

He actually managed to summon the Sage of Six Paths!?

If you had these connections, you should have used them earlier!

The next second, Kurama's massive body hit the ground with a "thud" as he knelt!

His nine tails were tucked obediently behind him, his head buried deep between his paws; gone was the arrogance and tyranny from just a moment ago, looking for all the world like a little fox caught red-handed in a misdeed.

"Ma... Master... I... I..."

The Nine-Tails stammered.

Manji stood with his arms crossed over his chest, his gaze resting calmly upon him.

"Did I not instruct you back then not to commit evil in the mortal realm, and not to harm the livelihood of mortals? How is it that after only a century, you have treated my words as wind in your ears?"

Manji spoke in a flat tone.

Kurama was on the verge of tears, wishing he could crawl into a crack in the ground.

To be honest, he had lived for so long, and this was truly the first time he had ever done something like stealing livestock.

Previously, when humans chased and surrounded him, using all sorts of methods to try and tame him, he had strictly followed his master's orders and never fought back, only fleeing the whole way. He had been bottling up so much anger that he finally thought to snatch a few cows to take revenge on the mortals...

Who would have thought that the one time he did something bad, he would be caught red-handed by the teacher he hadn't seen in a century!

"Teacher, please listen to my excuse!"

"This is truly the first time I have ever done such a thing. For a century, I have stayed obediently in place and never caused any trouble. Who knew that the moment I had a stray thought, I would run into you..."

Kurama said, on the verge of tears.

"Oh?"

Manji raised an eyebrow slightly. With a light sweep of his immortal power, he sensed that there was not much bloodlust on the Nine-Tails; clearly, it was telling the truth and had not truly committed heinous acts.

"Enough."

"Quickly return these cows to the commoners. They rely on these beasts to plow the fields and make a living; if you steal them, you cut off a family's livelihood."

Manji waved his hand, gesturing toward the plow oxen nearby.

"Yes! Master!"

Kurama immediately complied, his massive claws reaching out cautiously to gently nudge the oxen toward the child, his movements so soft he was afraid of breaking them.

It then glared viciously at the child, muttering in a low voice, "Brat, you win. I can't believe you actually managed to summon my teacher... But I suppose I should thank you; I haven't seen Teacher in a hundred years."

Manji turned to look at the child, who was still standing there in a daze, and said gently, "Take the ox back to the village. I will handle things here, and this Nine-Tails will no longer harass your village from now on."

The child finally snapped out of his stupor and hurriedly took hold of the ox.

With a thud, he knelt on the ground!

He kowtowed respectfully, "Thank you, Sage of Six Paths! Your mercy is boundless!"

"Mm."

Manji nodded slightly. He watched as the child led the plow ox away, skipping into the woods, before withdrawing his gaze to look at Kurama, who remained prostrate on the ground.

Kurama immediately edged closer.

He rubbed his massive head gently against the hem of Manji's robe like a child who had been wronged, eager to pour out everything he had endured over the years.

"Teacher, I was truly staying exactly where you arranged for me back then.

But later, a human kingdom appeared there. Those people discovered me and wanted to capture and tame me, to use my power to wage war!

I listened to your words and didn't want to hurt them, so I could only keep running. But no matter where I went, mortals would scream in terror when they saw me and chase me with weapons. I was so angry that I just wanted to snatch a few oxen to vent my frustration..."

The more Nine-Tails spoke, the more aggrieved he became, his nine tails drooping listlessly. "Teacher! You lied to me! You said that when I grew up, I could see the outside world, but the outside is not good at all. Humans are afraid of me and want to use me; it's not fun at all!"

"Teacher! Growing up is not fun at all! The outside world is not good!"

Manji looked at the demon fox before him—seemingly ferocious, yet filled with grievances—and sighed inwardly.

The shifting tides of human history were inevitable.

Manji reached out and gently patted its furry head.

"It was my oversight."

Manji said softly, falling silent for a moment.

"This continent is now rife with rising conflicts, and the desires of mortals are growing. It is indeed no place for you. I will choose another place for you."

Upon hearing this, Kurama immediately raised his head and nodded repeatedly, looking uncharacteristically obedient. "Okay! I'll listen to everything Teacher says!"

Afterward, Manji personally pointed out a clear path for Nine-Tails and also gave him an instruction.

"If they try to lay a hand on you, you may strike back. There is no need to endure! Kill if you must!"

Manji said directly to Nine-Tails.

Hearing this, Nine-Tails' eyes flashed with excitement. "Teacher understands me best!"

"Furthermore, if you encounter the other Tailed Beasts, tell them as well: if humans insist on killing you, you may strike back."

"When patience reaches its limit, there is no need to endure any longer."

Manji said.

Nine-Tails nodded repeatedly, feeling that Teacher was right!

Kill if you must!

Nine-Tails immediately gave his assurance:

"Whatever Master says, all nine of us Tailed Beasts will surely keep it in mind!"

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