In the blink of an eye, the winter solstice arrived, and a thin layer of snow covered Dragon-Pressing Mountain.
Dragon-Pressing Cave.
Fox Aqi strode into the cave. His Gold-Forged Helmet, usually polished to a dazzling shine, was now caked with mud and blood.
Blood still dripped from the Sky-Piercing Halberd in his hand, and his chest heaved violently.
"Big Sister!"
Fox Aqi lowered his voice, an unprecedented agitation in his tone.
The nine-tailed fox lay on a heap of straw, her nine tails looking dull and lusterless behind her.
Gold Horn and Silver Horn were being tussled with by a light-brown fox nearby. Seeing Fox Aqi in this state, they all stopped.
Fox Aqi walked up to the nine-tailed fox and slammed the butt of his Sky-Piercing Halberd against the ground:
"Everyone out there has gone mad fighting lately! Who knows where the rumor started, but they say a scripture-seeking monk has come from Great Tang in the Eastern Land, and eating his flesh will grant immortality and a huge boost in cultivation."
"Now all the demon kings around here are fighting like lunatics over territory, hoping to intercept and kill that monk!"
He paced irritably, his armor plates clashing with a harsh clatter:
"Normally, that would be one thing. But you, Big Sister..."
Fox Aqi glanced at Gold Horn and Silver Horn, who were craning their necks nearby, and a complicated look flashed through his eyes.
"You nearly exhausted your very essence giving birth to these two boys. Somehow, that Gray Wolf Monster and Python Demon found out how badly weakened you are. They've gathered their forces and are coming to attack our Dragon-Pressing Mountain!"
The nine-tailed fox slowly opened her eyes.
She did not look at Fox Aqi. Instead, her gaze settled on Gold Horn, Silver Horn, and