So Many Fluffy Creatures

Seeing that those who had tried had quieted down, Lou Yu breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Tao Qiu good to him, but he caused her trouble, and he felt really guilty.

I wonder if Tao Qiu is really angry. Next time I visit him, I'll bring him more gifts.

Tao Qiu, seeing that the humans had finally stopped coming, thought he no longer needed to be bothered by those strange fellows.

Who would have thought? An even bigger "surprise" was yet to come!

Chapter 45 So many furry things

If you stepped out of your house late at night and saw a bunch of foxes of all sizes and colors crouching at your doorstep, staring at you with their bright eyes, what would you think?

--The three-year period has come to an end! Welcome back the Fox Clan Crown Prince!

--Debts from a past life must be repaid in this one! In your past life, you slaughtered millions of my Fox Clan's descendants! Today, I will make you shed your blood on the spot!

--A domineering fox spirit spoils her rotten! The foolish human runs away with the baby! The entire fox clan pleads! Fox spirit, you know you were wrong, please take the child back!

If it were in her past life, Tao Qiu might have thought this way, and perhaps, on a whim, been tempted by the furry creature and even went up to pet it.

But at this very moment, he had only one thought—oh no! The stingy Red Fox and his fox people were attacking!

Standing at the front are two large foxes, one red and one white. The red one... isn't that the famously vengeful Red Fox?

Tao Qiu was sleeping soundly late at night when she suddenly smelled a familiar scent, unusually strong, as if it couldn't be emitted by just one or two birds. It even woke up her three chicks.

Tao Qiu sensed that the creature that had suddenly arrived had no murderous intent; it was merely emitting a scent to let him know it was there. So he told the baby birds to hide in the cave and went out to investigate.

He added, "There are a lot of them coming this time. If you go out and they find you, I might not be able to save you in time. They might use you to threaten me, and then I'll really be in a passive position."

After giving the reminder, Tao Qiu added, "I can sense that they're not here to fight, but if they do start fighting, I'll run towards the Green Python. The Green Python will help Dad, don't worry."

His analysis made a lot of sense, and the chicks realized that this time was different from the last. At least their father had companions who were many times stronger than them behind him, so they didn't need to help him anymore.

"Chirp, chirp."

We're waiting for Dad to come back. Dad, please come back safe and sound.

Tao Qiu saw the tears they were trying to hold back in their eyes. It was impossible not to feel sorry for them, but he had more important things to do right now.

So he bent down and kissed his three cubs, and then, with a heavy heart, flew out of the valley.

The Red Fox led its Fox Clan directly to the valley entrance. Although it did not force its way in and politely informed the Snow Bird, its domineering and arrogant attitude was still fully revealed.

Their behavior was telling the Snow Bird not that they lacked the ability to enter, but rather that they wanted to leave room for negotiation between the two sides.

Although they hadn't stepped into the valley, the Fox Clan, with their keen sense of smell, could already smell the fragrance wafting from within.

Before the Snow Bird appeared, whispers arose among the foxes.

--What's inside? Why does it smell so good?

--Anything else? I don't know, but there's a fruity scent, the same as the one the Gray Fox brought back. I've smelled it before!

--This is far more fragrant than the tiny bit of fruit crumbs from Gray Fox! Good heavens, how much of that fruit is in this?

--I told you before there would definitely be a lot of [illegible], but you still didn't believe me.

The whispers of the pack reached the ears of the Red Fox and White Fox foxes in the front row. They exchanged a glance, both seeing the surprise and astonishment in each other's eyes.

What surprised them was that the Snow Bird really did have a lot of fruit; what astonished them was that it seemed to have more than one kind of fruit. Their sense of smell was even more acute, and they could smell the fragrance of at least five different fruits.

Snow Bird's acting was superb; aside from that one crazy outburst, he looked exactly the same as before he ate the glowing fruit.

Otherwise, even if he fought with the Green Python, the Red Fox wouldn't have noticed him again, much less discover that beneath his honest and unassuming exterior lay such a shocking secret.

The Red Fox's heartbeat was erratic and abnormal, but he couldn't control it.

Saving the little fox cub, and perhaps even curing the old clan chief? The fruit was just a step away from him; how could he not be excited?!

"Mmm..."

The White Fox brushed him with its tail, and after he came to his senses, it whispered, "Calm down, don't lose your composure."

They'll be negotiating with the Snow Bird later. Emotions will affect their thoughts, thoughts will determine reason, and reason will determine victory or defeat.

"Waaah."

The Red Fox wrapped its arm around the White Fox's tail and whispered thank you for the reminder.

It was at this moment that the Snow Bird flew out of the valley and stood on the mountaintop at the valley entrance, looking down at this flock of uninvited, fluffy creatures.

The arrival of the Snow Bird caused a stir among the foxes, but the Red Fox merely raised its tail and didn't utter a sound, and the foxes instantly fell silent.

Tao Qiu saw everything, and her heart grew heavier.

The Red Fox looked up and met Tao Qiu's gaze. Tao Qiu saw the Red Fox's barely concealed aggression, and the Red Fox also saw Tao Qiu's strength and unwavering determination.

The Red Fox took the initiative and spoke, "Mmm..."

--Shall we talk?

Tao Qiu: "Chirp, chirp?"

--You brought your entire clan to my doorstep, just to talk to me?

Red Fox: "Mmm."

--At least for now, I only want to talk about it.

Red Fox's implication was clear, and Tao Qiu narrowed his eyes dangerously, seemingly quite displeased.

The White Fox gently touched the Red Fox. The Red Fox was really not good at showing weakness, but considering the lives of the little fox cub and the old chieftain, he could only take the initiative to defuse the threat he had just faced.

"Mmm..."

--I think none of us want conflict, so reaching a consensus through negotiation is the best approach. What do you think?

Tao Qiu didn't answer. He couldn't figure out if the Red Fox wanted to or not, and he seemed inclined to back down gracefully.

The Fox Clan is currently in crisis, and Fox Clan are also the ones who need the fruit the most. The Red Fox is anxious and doesn't want to waste any more time.

Just as he was about to ask further questions, he suddenly felt a chilling sense of danger coming from behind him.

The Red Fox let out a howl, and the foxes instantly adjusted their direction, hiding behind him and the White Fox, no longer turning their backs to the direction from which the danger was approaching.

The foxes all pricked up their ears warily, their fur standing on end.

The Red Fox and the White Fox have also entered battle preparation mode.

As Tao Qiu gazed at the Green Python emerging from the darkness, a huge weight lifted from his heart.

The Fox Clan, who usually seemed to live in seclusion, suddenly descended the mountain, and in such large numbers at once—couldn't they have kept it from the Green Python?

The Green Python was a few minutes late, because it had gone to arrange for the Little Snake to hide.

The Green Python slithered past the Fox Clan, its head held high, its form exerting a heavy sense of oppression on them. Its golden eyes coldly gazed at the Fox Clan together, as if they were insignificant ants.

She stood cross-legged at the valley entrance, her intention to cheer on the Snow Bird couldn't be clearer.

"Ha!" The Green Python opened its blood-red maw at the fox pack, letting out a threatening hiss.

The foxes were not to be outdone; they all bowed and growled, their warlike eyes showing not a trace of fear.

The Red Fox and the White Fox appeared to be standing there unharmed, making no unnecessary moves, but both the Green Python and Tao Qiu knew that if they made a move, the two foxes would be the first to react and pounce on them to fight.

Tao Qiu landed beside the Green Python and looked at the Red Fox again.

"Chirp chirp."

--We can talk now.

Tao Qiu understood that now that Red Fox had arrived, whether to talk or fight was no longer an option, and he could no longer refuse.

At least the arrival of the Green Python gave him a considerable boost of confidence.

He wasn't worried that the Green Python might betray him. Given her personality, if she wanted to join forces with the Fox Clan to force him, she wouldn't have stood by his side just now.

It seems the Green Python was genuine in making the exchange with him, and the friendship between the Little Snake and the baby birds was real. Tao Qiu's long-standing worries silently turned into invisible grains of sand, disappearing in the night breeze.

The Red Fox and Tao Qiu went to the side to talk. After they left, the White Fox stood in the center in front of the fox pack, silently confronting the Green Python, which was also proudly raising its front, waiting for the outcome of the negotiations between the two.

The Red Fox led the Snow Bird a short distance away. There were certain things he didn't want the Green Python or the other foxes besides the White Fox to hear during the negotiations.

The two stood face to face. Red Fox first recounted how they discovered the fruit was broken, then said, "Ugh..."

--The Green Python is trading prey for fruit with you. If you agree to trade with us, we can send you as much prey as you want.

Upon hearing the Red Fox say that the Fox Clan had picked up the broken fruit from the Little Snake, Tao Qiu did not blame the Green Python and the Little Snake, just as he had been targeted by the Green Python because he went to the Black Rabbit's territory to find new crops.

Since he's done this, it's only a matter of time before he's found out. Instead of regretting past mistakes, he should focus on the present, which will determine his future.

"Chirp chirp."

--I have enough prey.

The Red Fox's eyes changed. "Hmm?"

--You mean you don't accept the exchange?

If you don't want a peaceful exchange, then let's settle this with a fight.

Tao Qiu rolled her eyes at him. "Chirp, chirp?"

--I haven't finished speaking yet, and all you can think about is fighting and killing?

The Snow Bird dared to mock him. In the past, the Red Fox would have pounced on him and fought him to the death. But this time, for the sake of the Fox Clan, he could only endure it again and again.

He kept telling himself: everything is for the sake of getting the fruit. It won't be too late to fight the Snow Bird and vent his anger after the little fox cub and the old clan chief have recovered.