Deep within Lotus Cave, the light was dim.
The Silver Horn King slumped into a stone chair, blood still seeping around the edges of his shattered shoulder armor.
He stared fixedly at the Purple-Gold Red Gourd on the stone table, his Adam's apple bobbing with difficulty.
"Brother."
He spoke suddenly, his voice as dry and rough as though he had swallowed a handful of coarse grit.
"Our little sister... she shouldn't have been dragged into this. Were we too hasty?"
The Golden Horn King braced both hands on the stone table, veins bulging on their backs.
He closed his eyes, his chest heaving, but said nothing.
"Senior brother! She's sniffing my butt!!!"
Silver Horn's desperate screams echoed through their spiritual awareness, making Gold Horn's head throb.
"Oh my, those little noses and little eyes! Aren't you adorable!"
The light-brown little fox leaned close behind Silver Horn and sniffed vigorously several times, her tail wagging like a rattle drum.
Just then, heavy, dragging footsteps sounded outside the cave.
"Big sister! I'm here!"
His voice arrived before he did, and a strong reek of alcohol mingled with the rank smell of earth surged into the cave ahead of him.
Then a burly man strode inside. He had a handsome face and a long beard, with a pair of red fox ears atop his head. He wore a gold-forged helmet and chain mail, and carried a Sky-Piercing Halberd.
It was the Nine-Tailed Fox's younger brother, Great King Fox Aqi.
"Uncle!" the light-colored little fox cheered. Immediately abandoning her investigation of Silver Horn's rear, she turned and pounced on the burly man's calf, hugging it and rubbing against him.
"Oh! Are these my two nephews? They certainly look unusual. They've even got horns!"
Fox Aqi roared with laughter.
He strode over and scooped