CHAPTER 85: 085 BIG PET SYSTEM

"Scared now?" Lin Bai asked, holding the Little Fox, thoroughly amused. "If you fart again, the lightning that strikes you will be this big and this thick! A single bolt on your head, and there won’t even be dust left of you."

The Little Fox peeked at Lin Bai, shivering.

"So, you’d better keep your little backside under control. The moment you let out even a whiff of that stench, I’ll hit you with Palm Thunder—a Thousand Years of Pain right to your little fox butt, obliterate it!" Lin Bai reached out to tug the tail tucked between the Little Fox’s legs. When it didn’t budge, he chuckled. "That’s right, just like that. Your master, I, am a peerless expert. You’re not losing out by being my pet. When I concoct Pill Medicines later, you’ll be the first to try them."

Hearing the words "Pill Medicine," the Little Fox trembled even more violently.

Stroking the fox’s fluffy head a few times, Lin Bai savored the silky sensation and smiled. "It’s only because you’re cute, little one. Otherwise, for that fart alone, you’d already be a neck warmer."

He flicked its swollen belly and chuckled. "Don’t be afraid; it’ll pass soon. Let this be a lesson to you: never randomly eat things people give you, no matter how fragrant. You’re lucky you ran into a kind soul like me..."

"Other people pet cats; I pet foxes. And such an adorable white fox at that! It’s a pity I can’t post this on my social feed, or you’d all die of envy..."

"Legend says those who see a Nine-tailed Fox can become emperors. Too bad you only have one tail."

"Let me give you a name! I’m Lin Bai, and you’re so white, how about Xiao Bai? What do you think?!"

"Xiao Bai, the aroma of the Belly Filling Pill can actually be used to lure beasts. I wonder if it works on Monsters? They say Monsters exist in this world, but I haven’t seen a single one yet! You grew up in the mountain forests; you must have seen some, right?"

"When I become more powerful, I’ll take you with me to vanquish demons and slay devils. I might even find you a demonic cultivation manual to practice. Who knows, maybe you’ll become a Monster too..."

"No, wait. I can’t let you become a Monster. I still need to whisper sweet nothings to you, right? If you really turned into a Monster, I’d have to eliminate you! Because you’d know too much... Hahaha..."

...

As the thoroughly bored Lin Bai was teasing the captured Little Fox, a System quietly surfaced in his mind:

"Pet System: Humanity’s affection for pets is innate. Pets can provide a sense of security, happiness, and even pleasure; they can regulate your mood and are true soul companions. In certain special moments, pets can fight alongside you, even willing to sacrifice their lives for you."

[Capture a pet that belongs to you; Reward: Affinity +1 with creatures of the same species.]

[Capture a pet that belongs to you (Completed): Reward: Fox Affinity +1 (Issued).]

[Converse with your pet; Reward: Fox Affinity +1.]

[Converse with... (Completed); Reward: Fox Affinity +1 (Issued).]

...

Alright then! The System can indeed be activated so arbitrarily.

Lin Bai hadn’t expected that the Little Fox he’d impulsively caught to complete a Great Language System task would activate yet another System for him.

Moreover, he had unknowingly completed several tasks.

In most games, there was indeed a mechanic for capturing ’babies’ and having them participate in battles. Typically, pets played a significant role in combat. That’s why Players were eager to capture powerful ’babies’ and train them. But this Little Fox he’d caught, aside from being somewhat good-looking, seemed to have no combat capability and was also greedy... If he’d known it would activate the Pet System, he should have caught that leopard earlier... And what on earth was this affinity reward? Would all foxes automatically flock to lick him when they saw him? Were Fox Demons considered the same species as foxes? If it also worked on Fox Demons, then this Pet System would be truly powerful. In that case, he wouldn’t mind raising pets of several species to aid him in combat. Compared to fickle Players and unpredictable natives, pets whose loyalty could be cultivated seemed far more trustworthy. The Pet System tasks also seemed quite easy to complete—mostly just talking to them, petting their fur, and so on, to build up affinity. He could save up this affinity and, once he was stronger, test if it worked on Fox Demons.

Lin Bai made his decision.

...

The Little White Fox, caught by Lin Bai, was subjected to threats and intimidation. Its belly was painfully swollen, and overwhelmed by fear and desperation, it thought its life was about to end.

But once the effects of the Belly Filling Pill wore off and the unbearable pain in its stomach subsided, it gradually regained its composure.

As it listened to Lin Bai rambling on with his strange talk, the fear gripping the Little Fox unknowingly dissipated.

When Lin Bai tugged its tail or stroked its belly, it would feel a little shy, but it dared not resist.

But when Lin Bai mentioned that if it turned into a Monster, he would have to kill it...

The Little White Fox instinctively clamped its tail tighter.

It recalled the behavior of its unenlightened siblings, squeaked a few times, and dared not let even a hint of human-like intelligence show in its eyes again.

Perhaps this powerful human merely found it cute and wanted a pet to play with. Once he grew bored, it could find a chance to escape. Then again, being held and stroked by this powerful man... felt surprisingly comfortable...

...

「The sun was just rising.」

Players began to arrive one after another.

Mad Man and Well Does Not Move were the fastest.

When they saw Lin Bai standing on a treetop, with the tree before him split apart by Palm Thunder, they were all stunned.

The Hidden Guards, who often patrolled Jiamucheng, had naturally seen the tree that had been split by lightning overnight. But at the time, no one had connected that Thunderstruck Tree to Lin Bai.

Now, seeing another Thunderstruck Tree before Lin Bai, they finally understood: the tree in Jiamucheng must also have been split by him!

The Dreadful Mansion, the Wind Riding Art, Palm Thunder, Lin Bai’s peculiar behavior... So, all along, the signs had been pointing them in the right direction! Yet they had been as blind as bats, foolishly missing out on so many days of cultivation! Truly idiotic!

"Gang Leader Lin, did you split this tree with Palm Thunder?" Silver asked, gaping at the still-smoldering tree.

"Mm," Lin Bai replied, stroking the white fox in his palm and maintaining his aloof demeanor. "You were all too slow. I took the opportunity to subdue a Demon Beast. Also, don’t call me Gang Leader. While the Beggar Gang serves me, I hold no official position within it."

Hearing the words "Demon Beast," the Little White Fox in his palm trembled almost imperceptibly. An odd feeling arose in its heart. This master it had practically delivered itself to... which of his words were true, and which were false? Striking that tree with Palm Thunder... was that just to scare me? Why did he make it sound like they’d had a huge battle? Has he truly seen through me? Does he know I’m a Monster?

"Demon Beast?" The Players were taken aback, their gazes simultaneously drawn to the fox nestled in Lin Bai’s palm.

The team voice chat buzzed again.

"Such a beautiful Little Fox."

"By the way, this game should allow us to capture pets, right?"

"I want a Little Fox like that too."

"Lin, the Storekeeper, used such a powerful move to catch this Little Fox. Its Level must be very high. It probably won’t be easy for us to catch one."

...

"Lin, the Storekeeper, are there really Demon Beasts on West Mountain?" Mad Man asked.

"Of course," Lin Bai nodded. "Your hunting of Beasts on West Mountain these past few days has long attracted the attention of the Demon Beasts in the mountains. This Little White Fox was likely sent to scout your group, but unfortunately for it, it ran into me and was captured. Otherwise, if you’d come to West Mountain to hunt today, it might have taken all of you down."

Lin Bai casually spun this tale to bolster his image, oblivious to the Little Fox on his arm clenching its teeth so hard it was trembling, desperately trying to hide it.

He knows! He knows everything! I must find a way to send word back. If our clan provokes this man, it will bring a calamity upon us...