CHAPTER 286: CHAPTER 277 OLD WHITE FOX BEASTMAN A’YE_1

The old fox Beastman hung his head, trembling and fearful, appearing cautious and wary.

Si Yan’s gaze shifted from the old fox Beastman to Bao Lin as she said, "I have a grudge with Bao Lin, and your blocking the way forced her to stop and confront me. Given her temperament, she probably resents you by now."

"So, old fox, the only way for you to survive is to stay by my side."

The old fox Beastman didn’t dare to lift his head as he said, "Wise One, your thinking is profound, unlike us old Beastmen, who are both stupid and useless."

Si Yan laughed, "Old man, don’t take the joke I just made to heart; it wasn’t aimed at you."

The old fox Beastman trembled anxiously, seemingly fearful of offending both Si Yan and Bao Lin.

Bao Lin angrily leapt off the fierce White Tiger she was riding. "Si Yan, why is it always you! Why do you keep haunting me like a lingering spirit!"

Ever since Si Yan arrived in Myriad Beasts City, not a single good thing had happened. Her Beast Father’s gaze fell upon Si Yan, and so did the gazes of the Beastmen of Myriad Beasts City.

They often compared Bao Lin with Si Yan.

And to my chagrin, I can’t even outdo this Si Yan, who was once so dull and dumb! Bao Lin fumed internally.

Si Yan, looking at Bao Lin, asked Gecko with some puzzlement, "Gecko, ever since Bai Feng glanced at me that time and I remembered the memories of my original body, I’ve noticed something strange."

Gecko, curious, stood up and asked, "What’s that?"

Si Yan chose her words carefully before replying, "For instance, when I see Bao Lin, I still feel a bit of the anger my original self felt towards her lingering inside me. That must be the original body’s emotions, which are also a part of my own emotions now."

"But when I think back on the original body’s lonely past, theoretically, I should feel desolation and loneliness. However, I don’t actually feel those emotions."

Gecko seemed to understand a little. "You mean, the memories you see are of a lonely past, but the feelings conveyed by your original self aren’t of loneliness?"

Si Yan nodded, "Exactly."

Gecko thought silently for a while before saying, "My child, this matter... I can’t explain it either."

Si Yan said, "It’s okay, it’s not that important anyway."

After talking with Gecko, Si Yan noticed that Bao Lin’s attention had turned to the old fox.

Si Yan was currently in the limelight, a sage attending the Wan Cheng Gathering, so Bao Lin wouldn’t dare confront her directly.

But this old fox was different; he was a perfect target for her to vent her frustrations on.

The old fox, terrified, was shaking so badly it seemed as if he would accept his fate if Si Yan decided to hand him over.

Si Yan curiously asked the timid old fox, "If I handed you over to Bao Lin, would you really resign yourself to fate?"

The old fox shuddered and said, "Miss Kylin is a female, and her family already has many powerful male Beastmen. I’m just a decrepit, discarded male. If Miss Kylin hates me, then death is my only path. Wise One, you understand..."

Si Yan said, "A fox is indeed a fox. You saw that from the beginning, which is why your first reaction was to offer your life to me."

"Actually, I don’t like dishonest Beastmen."

The old fox fell to his knees. "Wise One, please don’t blame me! I’m just trying to survive, truly just trying to save my own life."

Si Yan spoke calmly, "I just don’t like it, but I don’t believe you’ve done anything wrong. Get up."

The old fox remained kneeling.

Si Yan asked, "When you say you’ll follow me, do you really mean it, or do you plan to use me to escape Bao Lin and then abandon me once you’re safe?"

The old fox kowtowed. "Wise One, even if I am cunning, I wouldn’t dare to scheme against you. I have nothing, and I truly wish to follow you."

"You said your name is A’ye?"

"Yes."

Si Yan looked towards Bao Lin, who had been watching them.

Bao Lin waited until their conversation was over before saying, "Si Yan, I don’t want to clash with you right now. Give me this old fox, and we’ll call our past grievances settled."

Si Yan laughed, "And if I say no?"

Bao Lin angrily pointed at Si Yan. "Must you oppose me at every turn?"

Si Yan said cheerfully, "Yes. If not you, who else should I oppose?"

The Si Yan of today was different from her past self. Not only was she beautiful and intelligent, but her status also nearly matched Bao Lin’s. Moreover, with a formidable Beast Husband, her family background had become quite powerful. Adding to that, Bao Lin had previously fought Si Yan and lost. Therefore, feeling rather insecure, she didn’t dare confront Si Yan directly. Suppressing her temper, she asked, "We have no past grievances or recent enmity, so why must you insist on making things difficult for me!"

Si Yan laughed, a hint of anger in her tone. "I haven’t lost my memory. I still remember every single one of our childhood grudges."

Bao Lin, flustered, exclaimed, "Childhood?! Don’t talk nonsense! Those were just childish squabbles!"

Si Yan replied, "Really? Stealing my food and animal skin skirts, deliberately hiding my illness so no one would report it, encouraging all the Beastmen assigned to care for me to bully me. So, these are just childish squabbles? Such malicious acts, for children."

Si Yan mused aloud, "It’s truly a miracle I managed to survive to adulthood."

If Si Yan decided to pursue these past matters, her father, Xue Lin, would certainly not spare Bao Lin.

Bao Lin felt even more guilt-ridden.

"I don’t want this old man anymore! I’m leaving!"

With that, Bao Lin leaped onto her White Tiger and rode off.

Si Yan murmured to herself, "...Not even putting up a fight? Is she really that cowardly?"

Gecko said, "You’re so prominent right now, she wouldn’t dare provoke you. When she sees you, she naturally tucks her tail and behaves."

Seeing the usually arrogant Miss Bao Lin tuck her tail and flee gave Si Yan a sense of satisfaction.

She turned to look at the old fox still kneeling there.

"And you? Do you really plan to follow me?"

"Miss Kylin has left; she won’t dare bully you anymore. Old Fox A’ye, if I were you, I would choose to leave now."

The old fox-man Beastman knelt forward, saying meekly, "Wise One, I am old. To others, I’m merely a burden, and no family is willing to take me in."

"Rest assured, I can do anything and know how to do everything. Serving tea, boiling water, washing clothes, cooking meals—I can do it all."

Si Yan asked, "Do you know how to use fire?"

"I watched your competition, Wise One. You taught so well that even I learned how to use fire."

Si Yan smiled. "You really are intelligent; you learn quickly. Since you’re useful, I’ll keep you."

The old White Fox Beastman was overjoyed and immediately stood up.

When Si Yan wanted to sit, A’ye hurriedly fetched a wooden stool.

Si Yan noticed a stone stool nearby, then looked at the wooden stool A’ye had brought from a distance.

Indeed, he was a considerate and attentive elder.

As she sat leisurely waiting for She Wang, the White Fox Beastman quickly fetched some small white nuts from the forest. He methodically peeled them and placed the kernels in a fruit dish beside her.

"Wise One, these white nuts are a favorite of Squirrel Beastmen; they’re hard and crunchy. You should try them."

Si Yan, feeling bored while waiting, took some of the white nut kernels and ate them.

The taste was somewhat similar to walnuts and indeed quite delicious.

The old White Fox Beastman said, "They’re very nourishing for the brain, good for both you, Wise One, and the little ones in your belly. Are you thirsty, Wise One? I can get you something to drink."

Si Yan, initially bored waiting for She Wang, found her attention captured by the old White Fox. He ran off to find various fruits, then, after thoroughly washing his hands and a wooden board, he began to press the fruits with the board, making fresh juice.

Si Yan was somewhat surprised.

She then saw the old White Fox Beastman offering the freshly pressed juice to her.

"Wise One, this isn’t sweet, but it’s very nutritious. I think you’ll like it."

Si Yan took the juice, sipped it, and then looked up with a smile. "Mm, this is good."