The boy walked deeper into the forest.
The trees became taller. The light became weak. Even the air felt strange, heavy and quiet.
He suddenly stopped.
He frowned slightly.
"Blood smell…"
He followed the faint smell and walked off the path. After a few steps, he saw broken trees, cracked ground, and burn marks. It was clear that a **huge battle** had happened here.
"This is not from ordinary cultivators," he said softly.
He moved forward carefully.
Then he saw her.
Near a large rock, a woman was lying on the ground. Her body was covered in blood. Her white hair was spread everywhere like snow mixed with red. Her clothes were torn, barely covering her body.
Behind her were **nine fox tails**.
Some were broken. Some were burned. Some were soaked in blood.
The boy's eyes widened slightly.
"Nine… tails?"
He walked closer slowly, staying alert.
"A Nine-Tailed Fox woman…"
He had heard stories. Everyone knew what a Nine-Tailed Fox meant.
Beauty. Power. Treasure.
And danger.
He looked at her face.
Even injured, even covered in blood, she was extremely beautiful. Her brows were tight, like she was still in pain even while unconscious.
Her chest moved very weakly.
"She's still alive."
The boy crouched down and checked her pulse.
It was weak.
Very weak.
"If I leave her like this, she'll die before night."
He stayed silent for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"Trouble follows me everywhere."
He took out a small jade bottle from his sleeve.
"This was meant for myself…"
He opened it. A soft fragrance spread in the air.
A high-grade healing pill.
He carefully placed the pill near her lips and used a bit of spiritual energy to help her swallow it.
Her body trembled slightly.
Her breathing became a little steadier.
But still not enough.
The poison in her body was deep.
Her injuries were too serious.
Suddenly—
Her eyes opened.
Golden fox eyes stared at him sharply.
She raised her hand weakly, her claws half-formed.
"Human…" she whispered.
"Don't come closer…"
Her voice was hoarse, full of pain and warning.
The boy froze.
Then he raised both hands.
"Relax. I'm not your enemy."
She laughed weakly.
"All humans say that…"
"You want my core… my blood… my body…"
The boy shook his head.
"If I wanted that, you'd already be dead."
She stared at him carefully.
Her vision was blurry, but she could feel it.
This boy was strong.
Very strong.
If he wanted to kill her, she could not resist.
Her strength slowly faded again.
"Then… why help me?"
The boy looked at her quietly.
"I don't know," he said honestly.
"I just didn't feel like watching you die."
Her eyes shook slightly.
She tried to laugh, but coughed blood instead.
"You're foolish…"
"Both cultivators and demon cultivators are hunting me."
"If they find you with me… you'll die too."
The boy smiled lightly.
"I already beat bandits this morning."
"One more trouble won't kill me."
She looked at him in silence.
Her consciousness was fading again.
"Human…" she whispered.
"If you betray me…"
"I'll curse your soul… even in death…"
The boy nodded seriously.
"Fair enough."
He carefully picked her up.
Her body was light, too light for someone so powerful.
Her tails moved weakly, wrapping around his arm without her knowing.
The boy paused for a moment, surprised.
Then he continued walking.
"Hold on," he said softly.
"At least survive today."
Far away, unseen by him…
The boy carried her carefully and moved deeper into the forest.
After walking for a long time, he found a hidden cave behind thick bushes and hanging vines. The cave was small but dry, and no strong beast aura could be felt nearby.
"This place should be safe for now," he said quietly.
He gently placed the fox woman on the ground. He spread some dry leaves under her so the cold stone would not hurt her wounds.
She was still unconscious.
The boy sat down behind her, leaning against the cave wall. His yellow robe touched the dusty ground, but he did not care.
He looked around the cave.
Empty. Dark. Silent.
"So this is how people live outside…" he muttered.
His stomach suddenly growled.
"I'm hungry…"
He rubbed his belly and sighed.
"At home, food just appears."
"Here… I don't even know how to cook."
He glanced at the fox woman lying on the ground.
Her breathing was steady now, but her face was pale. Her tails lay weakly beside her.
"You better wake up soon," he said softly.
"I'm really bad at taking care of people."
Time slowly passed.
The sunlight outside shifted.
Then—
The fox woman's fingers moved.
Her eyelashes trembled.
She slowly opened her eyes.
The first thing she saw was the cave ceiling.
Her body felt heavy. Pain spread everywhere.
She tried to move but stopped, feeling weak.
Then she sensed someone behind her.
She turned her head slightly.
She saw the boy in the yellow robe, sitting not far away, scratching his head with a confused look.
She stayed silent for a few seconds.
Then she spoke, her voice weak but clear.
"Human…"
The boy jumped.
"Ah! You're awake!"
He quickly leaned forward.
"Don't move. You're still injured."
She looked at him carefully.
No killing intent.
No greed.
Just a young face and honest eyes.
"You saved me," she said slowly.
"Thank you."
The boy waved his hand casually.
"It's nothing."
She closed her eyes for a moment.
Then she spoke again.
"I am a Nine-Tailed Fox."
"Those who help my kind… will be repaid."
She looked at him seriously.
"When I recover, I will repay you."
The boy blinked.
"Repay me?"
He thought for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"If you really want to repay me…"
He stood up.
"Then you can cook food for me."
She froze.
"…Cook?"
He nodded seriously.
"Yes. I don't know how."
He scratched his head, a little embarrassed.
"I always lived at home. Servants did everything."
"I've never cooked in my life."
"I'll hunt a beast," he added quickly.
"You just cook it."
The fox woman stared at him.
Her eyes were full of surprise.
This was the first time someone asked this from her.
Not her core.
Not her blood.
Not her body.
Just… food.
She looked at his face again.
Young.
Clean.
A little childish.
"You're strange," she said.
He smiled proudly.
"People say that a lot."
She turned her head away slightly, hiding the faint smile at the corner of her lips.
Inside her heart, she thought:
He's just a young boy.
Immature.
Probably ran away from home.
He doesn't understand the danger of saving me.
She sighed softly.
"Fine," she said.
"If I survive… I'll cook for you."
The boy's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
"Then wait here," he said happily.
"I'll be back soon."
He walked out of the cave, full of energy.
The fox woman lay there quietly.
She looked at the cave entrance.
"Foolish human…" she whispered.
But for the first time in a long while…
She did not feel hatred.
Only a strange, warm feeling she did not understand yet.
And outside the cave, fate continued to move forward.