CHAPTER 179: 134 A PEAR BLOSSOM FOX_3

Qing Yi also leapt out, letting out a cry: "Wooo~!"

Demon Skill · Wolf Lake Net!

Strangely, she didn’t choose an offensive-type demon skill, but instead threw out a large net woven from flowing water?

You know, this corridor is already narrow, and the huge net Qing Yi spat out completely connected both sides of the corridor, giving off an unmistakable "heavenly net" feeling.

Du Yu snapped back to his senses, his eyes narrowing slightly, witnessing a rather bizarre scene: a pile of petals?

How could a pile of pear blossom petals suddenly fall in the corridor of the Bottomless Pit?

Whoosh~

That pile of pear blossoms, as if alive, turned into a stream, darting out through the holes in the Wolf Lake Net.

Qing Yi: "Wooo~"

"Ying!" In the distance, a sharp call rang back, astonishingly fearless of powerful Qing Yi!

At the same time, Du Yu’s eyes widened slightly.

The stream of pear blossoms that escaped the net rapidly reassembled, turning into a tiny figure—a... little fox?

Only, unlike the foxes people are familiar with, this little fox was formed entirely out of pear blossoms.

Its torso, limbs, even its fur, were all constructed and imitated from pure white petals.

And on its petal-face, a pair of fox eyes faintly glowed with a soft red light.

Wood and Wind Dual-attribute Demon Beast · Pear Blossom Fox!

Fu Jianzhou: "This is a newborn, its body hasn’t been fully invaded by the cold yet!"

Understanding dawned in Du Yu’s heart. Master Qing had once said that every full moon, it is when the creatures inside the Bottomless Pit are briefly at peace, and also when the Celestial Treasure Race is most likely to descend!

But this Pear Blossom Fox is so pitiful. Of all the Demon Spirit Realms to be born in, why appear in the Bottomless Pit?

Even adult demon beasts can’t withstand the cold in the pit, let alone a newborn.

Fu Jianzhou shouted loudly, "We can’t let it get away, Qing Yi! Otherwise its life is over!"

"Wooo~" Qing Yi’s speed suddenly increased, and beneath her four paws a layer of flowing water appeared.

Demon Skill · Wolf Lake Pursuing Flow!

Qing Yi was already fast, but once water flowed under her feet, she became blindingly swift!

As if propelled by boosters under her feet, she shot out in a flash.

"Ying!" The Pear Blossom Fox cried sharply, and petals burst from its petite body, spinning at high speed like flying daggers, shooting straight at Qing Yi!

"Ding~ding~ding~!"

A series of crisp sounds rang out as the petals tore at Qing Yi’s body, but her Demon Breath Battle Robe didn’t get even a single scratch.

"Woo!" Qing Yi let out a shrill cry, her massive claws wrapped in thick demon breath. As she pounced fiercely, her gigantic paw instead lifted high and then came down gently.

"Woo woo~ woo~" The Pear Blossom Fox whimpered in pain, with no chance to react, pinned to the ground by Qing Yi’s paw!

"Puff~" The Pear Blossom Fox turned into a pile of petals again, trying to escape.

But Qing Yi was like catching a butterfly, bringing her giant paw down once again.

The petals danced lightly, their rhythm utterly broken.

How pitiful, this little Pear Blossom Fox cub simply couldn’t maintain its transformed state, and after piecing itself together again, it was just in time to be pinned by the descending paw.

"Don’t be afraid, little one, I’ll help you." Fu Jianzhou rushed to Qing Yi’s side, gently setting the stiff Du Yu aside against the wall.

Immediately after, Fu Jianzhou knelt down, his voice so gentle: "Don’t be scared, don’t be scared..."

"Ying~ying!" The Pear Blossom Fox struggled under Qing Yi’s paw, clearly a stubborn one, even trying to bite at Qing Yi’s toes.

Suddenly, a translucent silhouette drifted out of Fu Jianzhou’s body.

Demon Soul!

A newborn cub can’t understand human speech, but with the aid of the Demon Soul, everything becomes possible!

As soon as Fu Jianzhou’s Demon Soul enveloped the Pear Blossom Fox, the little one froze, instantly ceasing its struggle.

Petal after petal flowed across its face, revealing a pair of fox eyes dazedly staring at the gentle gaze of Fu Jianzhou.

"Little one, don’t be afraid. I’ll disperse the cold energy inside you, everything will get better." Fu Jianzhou touched his fingertip to his brow, drawing out a light green thread, slowly reaching towards the pear blossom fox’s forehead.

Fu Jianzhou, All-Elemental Demon Tamer!

Like Master Qing, he would always keep one acupoint home vacant.

Because, he is also a Savior!

Only, this sort of contract is unfair. The Pear Blossom Fox had no strength to resist or refuse Fu Jianzhou’s contract threads.

And yet...

The Pear Blossom Fox seemed never to try resisting. As Fu Jianzhou’s Demon Soul gently enveloped its small body, its eyes could hold nothing else.

Even the Qing Yi paw pinning it down was entirely ignored by the Pear Blossom Fox.

Du Yu leaned against the wall, quietly watching this scene.

As the contract was signed, Fu Jianzhou infused the Pear Blossom Fox’s body with thick Wood Demon Breath, slowly driving out the hidden cold.

Du Yu watched with wide eyes as the fox’s gaze changed, the red glow dimming and fading away.

The light fox eyes, close to the color of pear blossoms, finally saw the light again.

The Pear Blossom Fox gradually regained clarity, but didn’t move, allowing the illusory humanoid Demon Soul to embrace and shield it.

It stared at Fu Jianzhou, the emotions revealed in those fox eyes strikingly familiar to Du Yu.

Whether it was Xiaobai or Xiaoyan, both had once looked at him like this, in silent watchfulness.

It had nothing to do with the contract, and everything to do with emotion.

Attachment?

Du Yu wasn’t sure if that was the right word; maybe "affection" was more accurate.

"Alright." Fu Jianzhou said softly, withdrawing the Demon Soul to his body as Qing Yi’s massive paw moved away in time.

The Pear Blossom Fox struggled to its feet, eyelids pieced together from petals fluttering, tilting its little head up to gaze at the gentle human: "Ying~"

"Don’t run around, it’s dangerous here. I’ll take you out." Fu Jianzhou opened his palm.

The Pear Blossom Fox seemed to want something more...

Its body suddenly shattered, turning into a flow of petals, streaming up to Fu Jianzhou’s shoulder, slowly reforming into the little fox’s shape.

"Ying~" Its little head kept nuzzling Fu Jianzhou’s cheek, softly crying—whether in gratitude or longing for something more, no one could tell.

Seeing such a heartwarming scene, Du Yu couldn’t help but smile knowingly, only...

Fu Jianzhou’s expression was a little troubled.

All at once, Du Yu realized something.

Savior means Fu Jianzhou can contract with any demon pet in the world, just like now, saving all beings.

But as a Savior, Fu Jianzhou must always leave an acupoint home open.

And after bonding with the Pear Blossom Fox, Fu Jianzhou’s acupoints should be full!

Du Yu hesitated a moment, unable to resist softly asking, "Senior Brother Fu, are you going to keep her?"

Fu Jianzhou didn’t reply.

With a contract between them, the Pear Blossom Fox sensed her master’s feelings and cried out anxiously, "Ying~ying! Ying!"

Clearly, she didn’t want to be cast aside.

The anxious sounds tugged at the heartstrings.

Du Yu opened his mouth, hesitated for a while, then spoke quietly, "Senior Brother Fu, you’re retired now."

Fu Jianzhou is no longer the Savior; he no longer has to save a place for a comrade in mortal combat.

"Yes, I’m retired." Hearing Du Yu’s words, Fu Jianzhou let out a long breath, a complex smile on his face as he looked at the Pear Blossom Fox at his cheek. "Fate like this is indeed rare."

"Ying!" The Pear Blossom Fox understood, bouncing excitedly and jumping straight into Fu Jianzhou’s arms.

Fu Jianzhou lowered his head, stroking the little fox’s head, his complicated smile turning gentle, "So, what name should I give you?"

Hearing this, Du Yu relaxed, awash with emotion. He’d never imagined witnessing something so beautiful in the dark, terrifying Bottomless Pit.

Just like that conversation with Shadow Gu Tower before: what an honor!

"Ying?" The Pear Blossom Fox tilted her head curiously, blinking her eyes.

Du Yu was struck by inspiration, suddenly saying, "Senior Brother Fu, I have a name—you can consider it?"

"Hmm? What is it?"

(To fit with planned events, the answer is revealed in the author’s notes.)