CHAPTER 28: CHAPTER 28: ONE HIT, SIX TAILS DOWN

Su Qinglan’s breath came out heavy. Her cheeks were burning red, and her fists were trembling. All the dazzling beauty, all the charm of that fox, all those shining tails...every single good point she had thought about him dropped straight into the pit. No, lower than the pit. Straight to the minus points.

Her veins popped as his mocking voice still rang in her ears. Fat female... lowly female... greatest achievement of my life...

"Greatest achievement, my ass!" she muttered furiously.

Before her brain could catch up, her body had already moved. The heavy stone pan in her hand swished through the air with all her anger packed into it.

BANG!

The pan landed squarely on his beautiful jade-like head.

Plop!

The great six-tailed fox toppled over like a sack of potatoes. He hit the ground face-first, his fan flying out of his hand. A loud thud echoed through the clearing.

And then... silence. Not even a twitch.

Su Qinglan froze.

Even Hu Yan froze.

The tiger’s golden eyes went wide. He had been ready to fight Rong Ye himself, but his female suddenly swung a pan and dropped the arrogant fox like it was nothing.

"You..." Hu Yan’s lips parted, but no words came out.

Su Qinglan stared at the sprawled figure on the ground. The once-arrogant fox was lying like a dead log, his tail spread around him like fallen banners.

Her jaw dropped. "Ah...? I... I didn’t mean to hit that hard..."

Her face paled. "Wait. He... he’s not dead, right?"

Panic crawled into her chest. She rushed forward. Her hands hovered over his back, not daring to touch. "Hey... hey, fox, wake up... Don’t pretend... I know you’re faking..."

But Rong Ye didn’t move. Didn’t utter a sound or even a groan.

"Damn it!" Su Qinglan hissed. She nudged him with the tip of her foot. Still nothing. She nudged harder, rolling him slightly. His beautiful face was pressed against the dirt, looking ashen.

Su Qinglan’s eyes watered. "No, no, no... Don’t tell me I killed him..."

She looked back at Hu Yan with wide eyes and trembling lips. "Hu Yan... did I just kill someone?!"

Her voice cracked at the end, filled with panic.

Hu Yan’s chest tightened. For a moment, he had no words. His usually cold face softened, just slightly, as he looked at her teary eyes.

His deep voice rumbled low, almost comforting. "Then we will bury him."

Su Qinglan: "..."

Her tears froze in her eyes.

On the other hand, the fox’s ear twitched. Just the faintest flick.

Su Qinglan didn’t notice, but Hu Yan’s sharp golden eyes narrowed instantly. That sly fox was playing dead!

Hu Yan’s big hand closed firmly around her wrist. "Let’s go," he said coldly. "Even if something happens to him, no one will blame you. It was just a shameless fox provoking a female. It doesn’t matter if you accidentally killed him."

Su Qinglan: "..."

She blinked at him in shock. This tiger was already dragging her away from the scene, like they really had just committed murder.

Her lips twitched. "Wait—shouldn’t we at least check again..."

But Hu Yan’s grip only tightened. "No need." His face was dark. "Don’t waste tears on trash."

And before she knew it, she was practically being hauled away by the five-striped tiger.

Behind them...a pitiful groan echoed.

"Uhh... ahhh... I... I’m dying..."

Su Qinglan froze and whipped her head back.

The fox, who had been sprawled face-first in the dirt, now rolled over dramatically, clutching his head. His violet hair was a mess, his tail limp like wilted grass. He looked like the very picture of tragedy.

"You can’t... leave me here..." His voice trembled pitifully. "I... I’m dizzy... I can’t see... I’m dying..."

Rong Ye then pressed his forehead to the ground and whimpered, "Female... you have to take responsibility. You injured me. If you abandon me now, I’ll... I’ll crawl to the Beast God Temple and demand justice! Hic... ah, such a pitiful fox life... ended so young..."

Su Qinglan’s lips twitched violently.

But before she could snap, Rong Ye added, his eyes glinting slyly beneath the mess of hair, "Of course..." If you take care of me, I won’t go. Cook for me four times a day. Morning, noon, evening, and a midnight snack. Then this young master will forgive you."

Su Qinglan: "..."

Hu Yan: "..."

The tiger’s face turned black. His fists clenched. "Rong Ye, don’t be shameless!"

But Rong Ye only sighed, flopping back onto the dirt like he was on his deathbed. "Ah, so cruel... refusing a dying fox’s last request... Females these days truly have no kindness. Beast God, look upon me..."

Hu Yan’s veins bulged. He roared, "You shame fox!!"

But Rong Ye only flopped harder onto the ground, twitching as though lightning had struck him.

His six tails curled weakly, his voice breaking with fake sobs. "Beast God, do you see? My life is truly pitiful... a weak fox, beaten and abandoned... My heart hurts... my soul hurts... Ah, my beautiful face is ruined forever..."

Su Qinglan almost coughed blood. What the hell kind of acting was this?!

But... but still.

Her gaze landed on the glaring bump on his forehead. Her hand trembled a little. That was her fault after all.

Even if he was a rotten-mouthed fox, she couldn’t just leave him here half-dead when she was the one who hit him.

Her lips pressed together. "Alright, fine! I’ll take care of you! Four times a day, right? I’ll cook. Just stop acting like you’re about to die!"

Hu Yan turned on her instantly, furious. "Su Qinglan!"

But before he could finish, Rong Ye, who had been limp and moaning on the ground, suddenly sprang up like a lively rabbit. His violet eyes gleamed, his ears perked, and his six tails swished with energy.

"Excellent! This young master accepts your care!"

Su Qinglan: "..."

Her eyes narrowed at his energetic movements. Suspicious. Very suspicious.

And right on cue...

The fox suddenly clutched his leg, limping dramatically. "Ah! Oh no, my leg...I can barely walk... female, you must support me..."

Su Qinglan’s face turned dark. If she remembered correctly, she hit his head, not his leg!

Her veins throbbed.

Did she... just get tricked? By this shameless, jade-faced fox?

Hu Yan’s golden eyes glowed like molten metal, cold and sharp. He knew very well the stone pan was nothing more than a knock to a five-striped beast’s thick skull. But this fox... this fox was pretending like he had lost half his life.