The Fox and the Scholar

Meng Xuanji was not making things up. Everything he told her was history that had truly happened on Douluo Continent.

The only reason he could tell stories Hu Liena had never heard before was that he was better at extracting information.

"So, do you still think it's boring now?"

Hu Liena shook her head.

"It's not boring anymore. But I like listening to you tell stories better. I really can't read this stuff by myself. How about you tell me another one, okay?"

Like she was acting coy, Hu Liena burrowed into Meng Xuanji's arms and looked up at him with eager eyes.

"All right. But you have to agree to one condition."

"What condition? Tell me."

"I want you to kiss me once, as my—"

"Mwah."

Before Meng Xuanji could finish, a lip print had already appeared on his cheek.

After kissing him, Hu Liena shyly turned her face aside, not daring to meet Meng Xuanji's stunned gaze.

"I-I already kissed you, so you're not allowed to go back on your word."

It felt as if little deer were scratching about in Hu Liena's heart, leaving it constantly itchy. She wanted nothing more than to hug her flushed face and run away on the spot.

Meng Xuanji was somewhat entranced by the sight. He had never imagined that Hu Liena, described in books as a beauty capable of bewitching all living beings, had such an adorable side when she was young.

This transmigration had truly opened his eyes.

Meng Xuanji wiped the lip print from his face and chuckled. "Of course I won't go back on my word. But you still owe me the one from last time. Give it to me whenever I want it, all right?"

Meng Xuanji wore the smile of an old fox.

"O-okay. But let me make this clear too: I can only kiss you in private. I won't do it when there are lots of people around."

"Mm, I promise."

Meng Xuanji pulled Hu Liena over by the shoulder and let her lean against him comfortably.

"I'll tell you one more story, and then you'll come back with me to look through the Spirit Catalog, okay?"

"Mhm, mhm. Hurry up and tell it. I can't wait anymore."

"Haha, all right, I'll start now."

Meng Xuanji had finally found the right way to get along with Hu Liena. Aside from cultivation, he could also capture a young girl's innocent heart by telling stories. This would save him a whole series of troublesome headaches in the future.

After all, he truly did not want to expose too much of himself in front of outsiders.

Hu Liena clung to Meng Xuanji like a little fox and listened intently. When she heard the story he told of a scholar and a fox reading by borrowed lamplight on a snowy night, she could not help asking.

"If I'm the fox, then you're the scholar, right?"

"Is that so? It does sound somewhat reasonable. But there's one point I can't agree with."

"What is it?"

"The fox in the story likes the scholar. As for you? Hehe, I don't dare say you truly like me."

Hu Liena's little face instantly turned scarlet.

"Y-you-you, don't talk nonsense! I never said I liked you."

Hu Liena's heart raced in panic. The fox and the scholar in the story ended up falling in love and staying together until the end. She was still so young—she really had no plans to marry Meng Xuanji.

"Hehe, it was a joke. Just take it as a joke."

Meng Xuanji stood up and headed alone toward the Spirit Catalog section.

"Where are you going? Why aren't you taking me with you?"

"Because I knew you'd follow me, Miss Fox. We agreed that after I finished the story, you'd accompany me back to look at the Spirit Catalog. Whoever goes back on their word is a puppy."

Meng Xuanji even deliberately used his fingers to imitate a barking puppy.

Hu Liena's chest rose and fell with anger.

"I never said I was going back on my word! Stop right there! You stinking bookworm! See if I don't beat you up!"

This was one of the lines Meng Xuanji had mentioned most often while telling stories. Without realizing it, Hu Liena had learned to say it too.

"Hahaha, catch me first."

"Don't run! Stop!"

Their playful scuffling brought a touch of life to the deathly silent library. Wu Jie, patrolling overhead, watched the scene with a smile on his face.

"Youth is wonderful."

It was said that no loud noises were allowed in the library, but in an age when no one was willing to come and read anymore, that rule had long since become obsolete.

There was no one there, so what was there to fear from noise?

For the entire day that followed, Meng Xuanji and Hu Liena stayed in the library until the sun rose the next morning.

"Hey, wake up, Hu Liena. It's time for us to leave."

Meng Xuanji gently shook Hu Liena awake from her deep sleep.

With her hair hanging loose and her mind still hazy, Hu Liena rubbed her eyes and let out a huge yawn.

"Haah~~~ I'm so sleepy."

Hu Liena took out the small mirror in her pocket and looked at herself. The moment she saw her messy hair, she immediately became alert.

"Ah! I haven't washed up yet! How can I go out looking like this? Meng Xuanji, what time is it now?"

"Don't worry. It's six in the morning. We aren't leaving until eight, so there's still time to have breakfast."

The violent rise and fall of Hu Liena's chest gradually eased.

"Phew, you scared me to death. That's good, then. But why don't you look sleepy at all? I remember you went to sleep even later than I did last night."

Hu Liena had gone to sleep at three in the morning and only slept for three hours. After spending a whole day looking through the Spirit Catalog, she was exhausted.

"Me? I never said I went to sleep. I stayed up all night helping you choose a soul beast that suits you. Look at my dark circles—I'm practically a panda now."

"A panda? What kind of soul beast is that?"

Meng Xuanji paused slightly.

"A panda... you can think of it as something that looks like me. It has black around its eyes, white skin, and it's a bit chubby."

"It sounds so cute."

"All right, let's not talk about that for now. Hurry and get going. If we're late, there won't be any food left."

"Mm."

Hu Liena tidied herself up in the library, then followed Meng Xuanji to the cafeteria.

There were unusually many people coming to eat early that morning, as though they were afraid they would not get enough if they arrived late.

Although Spirit Hall had not lost its humanity to the point of refusing to provide meals, Meng Xuanji's stomach did not care about humanity at all.

First come, first served was the best description for this big eater.

The moment Meng Xuanji pushed open the door, he heard someone shout.

"It's him! Eat quickly!"

"Nom nom nom! Don't steal my buns!"

"First come, first served! If you can't grab any, then go hungry!"

Meng Xuanji froze in place in utter embarrassment.

"It seems like everyone isn't very happy to see me."

"Hehe." Hu Liena subconsciously covered her mouth and laughed.

"Who told you to eat so much? If they don't hurry up and grab food, everyone's afraid they'll go hungry. But don't worry, I have a way to fill you up. Just come with me."

As she spoke, Hu Liena directly took Meng Xuanji by the hand and led him into the back kitchen, arriving at Spirit Hall's storeroom.

The nearby cooks acted as though they had not seen them and continued washing dishes and putting away their tools.

Meng Xuanji quietly leaned close to Hu Liena's ear and asked.

"How did you manage this?"

"My family is Spirit Hall's logistics supplier behind the scenes. Every ingredient here is transported from my family, and even these cooks were sent by my clan. Haven't you always called me a young lady? I thought you knew."

Hu Liena shot Meng Xuanji a reproachful look.

"What about Xie Yue? Isn't he your brother? Why can't he come in here?"

"He's my cousin. His surname isn't Hu. I'm the family's future primary heir, so naturally he can't enter this place."

"Uh, all right. Flawless answer."