Teammates Arrive

Rather than making trouble later, it's better to clarify things now. Tao Qiu believes that the bond between him and the Fox Clan, whether in terms of emotion or purely mutual benefit, has reached a point where he can reveal some secrets without facing any threats.

The Red Fox then asked, "Hmm?"

--What kind of favor is worth revealing such an important secret?

Tao Qiu smiled and explained.

--This isn't really a big secret, it's just that I'm going to live at a human base with my human partner and three children, so I need to ask you to look after the territory for me.

For a moment, the Red Fox thought it was hallucinating, and the White Fox beside it also had a blank stare.

"Mmm?"

--What did you just say?

Tao Qiu had already guessed that he would react this way, and then, like dropping a bomb, she rattled off a series of words.

--The human man waiting for me outside is my partner. We have three children, which I gave birth to. Now I've also made a deal with the humans in the base. I want to spend more time with my partner, so I'm moving to the human base to live permanently.

Silence, a deathly silence.

Despite being mentally prepared, Tao Qiu's words still exceeded Red Fox's expectations.

He hesitated several times, as if he wanted to say something but didn't know how to start.

Tao Qiu understood him and took the initiative to explain.

"The ability to reproduce with humans is also due to the fruit's effect. However, he and I are truly in love, and I also have some feelings for humans. Going to the human base was my own choice."

Because of the old clan leader, the Fox Clan not only regards humans as food, but also holds them in great disgust.

But this was Tao Qiu's own choice, and he wouldn't change it because of the opinions of other mutated monsters.

The Red Fox's eyes flickered, and after a long while, it let out a soft sigh.

It's true that the Fox Clan dislikes humans, but they've known for a long time that the Snow Bird is friendly towards humans. So, when they hear that he has become a mate with a human, they are only surprised and have no other reaction.

As for why Snow Bird kept it a secret? He's got so many things to do, even Red Fox can understand. He did threaten Snow Bird back then.

He wouldn't stoop to deceiving even himself. If he had known back then that the Snow Bird had chicks, the chicks would have become a means for him to coerce the Snow Bird.

The fact that the Snow Bird were able to tell them their secrets today is a sign of their trust in them.

Currently, the Fox Clan, the Snow Bird, and the group represented by Lou Yu are all in the same boat. Maintaining good relations is the only way to maximize their interests. As the leader of the clan, the Red Fox will not act impulsively.

Just like the old clan chief, who suffered the most from human persecution and hated humans the most, he was still willing to cooperate with humans through the Snow Bird for the sake of the Fox Clan.

At this point, the Snow Bird's request was merely to help look after the territory, which was a trivial matter for the Red Fox, and he had no reason to disagree.

After calming herself down, Red Fox said to Tao Qiu, "Mmm..."

While you're away, I'll send foxes to patrol your territory in shifts, making sure other mutated monsters don't steal it. But I'd like to ask, will you continue growing crops to trade with us?

Red Fox readily agreed, and Tao Qiu, without hesitation, stated his plans.

--I will continue to grow crops in the valley to exchange with you. I will also take two or three days out of every seven days to come back to take care of the crops and deal with any problems that may arise. I will not dump everything on you at once.

Did you hear that Tao Qiu said they would continue to make exchanges with them? Then there's nothing to worry about with the Red Fox.

He asked, "Hmm?"

Do Black Rabbit and Green Python know about these things?

The territories of the Green Python, Black Rabbit, Red Fox, and Snow Bird are adjacent. As long as the first three don't have any ulterior motives and are willing to protect it, even if Snow Bird's territory is left empty, no one can take it away.

Tao Qiu nodded and chirped a few times.

--They know my secret of being able to transform into human form and having offspring. I told them before I went to the human base, and they both agreed to help me guard my territory.

Before Lou Yu came to stay in the valley, Tao Qiu had already spoken with Green Python and Black Rabbit. Otherwise, they wouldn't have gone so long without either of them coming to the valley to look for Tao Qiu and the kids.

Since the Green Python, Black Rabbit, and Red Fox all want crops, protecting Tao Qiu's territory is actually protecting their own interests.

It's perfectly normal for them to agree, both logically and emotionally.

As for the fact that the cubs' other father was human, Green Python found it hard to accept after hearing Tao Qiu say that, because Snow Bird and humans are two different species, and both of them are male, which overturned her understanding and made her instinctively resistant.

However, despite her difficulty in accepting it, she didn't interfere with Tao Qiu's choice and readily agreed to Tao Qiu's request.

Black Rabbit's reaction wasn't as intense as Tao Qiu had imagined. In his words, he had long sensed an ambiguous relationship between Tao Qiu and that human man, but at the time he thought it was just his imagination. He hadn't expected that he was right.

Black Rabbit didn't really care whether the Snow Bird was with humans or rocks; he was more worried about the safety of his cubs.

The overall relationship between humans and mutated monsters remains hostile. Black Rabbit fears that once Tao Qiu enters the base, he won't be able to leave, and his offspring will suffer as well.

Tao Qiu repeatedly assured Lou Yu that he was a good person, and that if anything went wrong, he would risk his life to take the child and leave.

Black Rabbit didn't know whether he believed her or not, but in the end he didn't stop Tao Qiu.

Firstly, it's because of the personalities of high-level mutated monsters; secondly, Tao Qiu mentioned that the children really like Lou Yu, and Black Rabbit can't bear to separate the two sides, as the children would definitely be very sad then.

After hearing this, the Red Fox said, "Mmm."

That's good. I also wish you and the cub all the best.

Red Fox wasn't surprised or upset that he was the last to know these things. Snow Bird was already closer to Green Python and Black Rabbit than he was, so he had no reason to be unhappy.

During the time Tao Qiu was talking to the Red Fox White Fox, Lou Yu remained obediently outside the forest, not running around or looking around, lest he accidentally violate any taboos of the Fox Clan, offend Fox Clan, and cause trouble for himself and Tao Qiu.

The foxes didn't approach the forest, but instead kept a distance, spying on Lou Yu, who was standing alone there for some unknown reason.

Lou Yu's fragrance grew stronger and stronger, and the foxes were all tempted by him, but none of them ever had the thought of harming him.

Although they didn't meet often, Lou Yu's attitude was always gentle and reasonable, unlike the kind of people the foxes disliked.

Therefore, in their eyes, Lou Yu was a kind guest; even if the host was hungry, they couldn't eat the guest.

Lou Yu waited for a while, and suddenly saw a fox with familiar fur running towards him.

It was the little fox that had given him flowers before.

Long time no see! The little fox has grown up! It's gotten a bit chubby, all round and fluffy. It came up to him, tilted its head back, and looked at him with its big, watery eyes, so well-behaved and adorable.

Chapter 89 The Arrival of the Teammates

"Hello." Lou Yu smiled and waved at it.

The little fox probably understood the meaning of his action, and it tilted its head back and let out a soft howl in response.

Lou Yu glanced at the large foxes not far away. They were still watching him, but their eyes were calm, seemingly unconcerned that he would dare to do anything to the little fox.

Lou Yu truly meant no harm; because he had three children of his own, he viewed the offspring of mutated monsters with a special kind of sympathy.

He crouched down and tentatively reached out his hand to the little fox. "Can I... pet you?"

"Awoo?" The little fox looked at his hand, and it took her a while to understand what he wanted to do.

The little fox really liked this fragrant human who made it so hungry. Since it couldn't eat him, it could at least pet him.

So the little fox stepped forward, stretched out its head, and rubbed against Lou Yu's palm.

The little fox thought happily, "This human's scent has stayed on me, enough for me to eat most of the chicken just by following this aroma."

Lou Yu had no idea that the little fox wanted his scent as a meal. Seeing how enthusiastic it was, he was quite happy and patted its head and scratched its chin.

The little fox felt very comfortable being petted and made a purring sound in its throat.

When Tao Qiu transformed back into bird form and came out, the little fox had already left. He smelled the strong fox scent on Lou Yu and saw that Lou Yu looked happy. He knew that Lou Yu hadn't been bullied, but had probably been playing with the fox. A smile appeared in his eyes as well.

After bringing Lou Yu back to the cave, Tao Qiu told Lou Yu about her conversation with the Red Fox White Fox, but omitted the part about him staying at the human base for a long time.

Lou Yu assumed that Tao Qiu would frequently visit the base and spend less time in the valley, which was why he asked Red Fox for help. Therefore, he did not realize that Tao Qiu was hiding something from him.

Two days later, the grain delivery team still hadn't arrived, but the four people responsible for harvesting the wheat appeared at the mouth of the valley; they were Lou Yu's teammates.

Knowing the inside story, keeping quiet, and having a deep relationship with Lou Yu, there was no one more suitable than them.

Lou Yu had a rough idea that Lou Quan would send them, and when he saw them, he wasn't too surprised. He smiled and welcomed them inside.

Liu Qi'an and the other three rushed over as soon as they received the mission from Lou Quan, without any intention of refusing. They had been eager to see Tao Qiu and the three boys in person for a long time.

That's the captain's partner and child!

The teammates' gossipy nature was already burning brightly.

Besides Chen Lin, the other three people had roughly surveyed the valley's environment when they came to rescue Lou Yu.

Even though a long time had passed and the situation was urgent at the time, preventing them from observing carefully, the word "desolate" was still their most profound impression of the valley.

They had heard Lou Yu describe the changes in the valley, but as the old saying goes, seeing is believing. Only by witnessing it firsthand can one truly appreciate the allure of that experience.