Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

The Bone Palace was deathly silent, save for the sound of Chen Xuan's footsteps on the bone boards, the emptiness sending a chill down one's spine.

The phosphorescent lights embedded in the surrounding walls flickered eerily, casting long shadows of the two people.

Chen Xuan walked very slowly, holding the broken sword in his hand and protecting the cloak in his arms with his other hand. His posture was not like he was looking for a way out, but more like he was strolling in his own backyard.

Su Chang'an huddled inside his cloak, his claws scratching at the remnant soul bead he had just acquired, his heart aching like it was being clawed by a cat.

What exactly did that red-eyed girl say?

Logically speaking, when an NPC appears in this kind of secret realm, they should either give you a quest or a warning. How could they just chat with Chen Xuan for a few minutes and then leave?

Moreover, Chen Xuan's reaction was very strange.

Although this unfilial son used to be a man of few words, he would always answer her questions.

She had just asked a question, but the boy pretended not to hear and deliberately steered the conversation to the structure of the palace.

There's a ghost.

There's definitely something fishy going on.

"Hey, tell me," Su Chang'an poked Chen Xuan's chest with her paw, "what exactly did that girl with the red-eyed look whisper to you about? Was she talking badly about me?"

Chen Xuan didn't stop walking, his eyes fixed ahead: "He didn't say anything."

"If she didn't say anything, why did you talk for so long?" Su Chang'an didn't believe her. "Did she ask you to hand me over? Or did she say the bead is poisoned?"

Chen Xuan glanced down at her, his face expressionless: "She said you're too fat and should lose weight."

Su Chang'an: "..."

fart!

I'm voluptuous!

It's because the hair is fluffy!

This unfilial son of yours doesn't even bother to think before he lies anymore, does he?

Just as Su Chang'an was about to lash out, the system in his mind that had been feigning death suddenly came back to life.

[Ding! Host is currently at a critical plot point.]

[Task issued: Destroy Chen Xuan's Ruthless Dao Foundation (Progress 30%).]

[Mission prompt: Chen Xuan's ruthless foundation has developed cracks. Please persevere and deliver the fatal blow.]

[Failure penalty: Revert to a bald fox.]

A bald fox?

Su Chang'an shuddered and instinctively hugged his big tail tightly.

No.

Absolutely not.

My head may be severed, my blood may flow, but my hairstyle must not be messed up.

This ruthless foundation must be torn down today!

Su Chang'an's eyes darted around, and a plan came to mind.

Since the hard approach doesn't work, let's try the soft approach.

Isn't this kid cultivating the Path of Ruthlessness?

Isn't the principle to sever all ties and cut off all love? Then we should start from that point and provoke him a little.

"Son," Su Chang'an said in a more earnest tone, placing his hand on Chen Xuan's hand, "Actually, your mother... oh, I mean, your father has always had a question for you."

Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow slightly: "Speak."

"Why are you cultivating so diligently?" Su Chang'an stared into his eyes. "Is it for immortality? Or to dominate the world?"

Chen Xuan remained silent for a moment.

He walked around a huge leg bone pillar, his voice echoing in the empty hall.

"To shatter that seal."

"To rescue you."

The answer was crisp and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

Su Chang'an's heart skipped a beat. He was a little touched, but he felt a headache coming on.

This kid is too obsessed.

This is not a good thing.

If he finds out later that she was really lying to him, this obsession will probably turn into hatred, and he might even want to tear her to pieces.

"Why would I need to be rescued?" Su Chang'an pursed his lips and said casually, "I was doing quite well in that cave. I had food and drink, and I could even sleep in. Besides, I'm already old; I wouldn't have many years left to live if I were rescued."

Chen Xuan paused, looked down at her, and his eyes were somewhat cold.

Su Chang'an pretended not to see and continued to ramble on: "Actually, more than rescuing me, Dad would prefer to see you doing well."

"Look at you now, you're a handsome young man and the top disciple of your sect. You have a bright future ahead of you."

"You should find a gentle and virtuous woman, have a few chubby babies, and live that kind of life with a wife, children, and a warm bed. That's the right way."

"As for me..." Su Chang'an sighed, looking as if he had seen through the world, "Just treat me as a passerby, and burn some paper money for me during festivals."

The air suddenly turned cold.

Chen Xuan stopped in his tracks.

He stood between two massive ribs, head bowed, his bangs obscuring his eyes and his expression.

But his grip on Su Chang'an's hand tightened little by little.

"A passerby?"

Chen Xuan's voice was very low, as if it were being squeezed out from between his teeth.

"Burning paper money?"

Su Chang'an sensed something was wrong. Why did this kid's aura suddenly become so low?

"Um... that's not what I meant..." Su Chang'an shrank back. "I meant, you need to have your own life, you can't always revolve around me. Look at that Luo Qingxue just now, big butt... no, she's pretty too, if you..."

"Shut up."

Chen Xuan suddenly raised his head.

Those eyes, usually calm and still, now seemed to be burning with two flames.

anger.

Wronged.

There was another kind of madness that Su Chang'an couldn't understand.

He yanked Su Chang'an out of his arms and held him up in front of him.

"Su Chang'an".

He called her by her full name, his voice was frighteningly loud.

Do you think I have a lot of free time?

"Did I train so hard, climb so desperately, just to find a woman to settle down with?"

"Is it to find you a daughter-in-law?"

Su Chang'an was stunned by his shout, his two hands dangling in mid-air, at a loss.

"Then...what's your reason?"

"for you!"

Chen Xuan roared.

After that roar, the entire hall fell silent.

Chen Xuan's chest heaved violently as he stared intently at the fox before him.

"I don't want immortality, nor do I want the world."

"I don't want any gentle and virtuous girl."

"I only want you."

"In this life and the next, I only want you."

The words fell.

Chen Xuan's usually cold and stern face flushed red at a visible speed.

The redness started at the base of her neck and went all the way down to the back of her ears.

It looks like cooked shrimp.

This was probably the first time in his life he had said something like this, and he was overwhelmed with shame. Even the hand he was holding onto Su Chang'an was trembling.

Su Chang'an blinked.

Blinked again.

then.

"puff--"

She couldn't help but laugh out loud.

A smug, punchable expression appeared on that fox-like face.

His eyebrows were raised, his mouth was stretched open, and his eyes were playful.

His face practically screamed: I knew it.

"Oh my goodness!" Su Chang'an laughed so hard his tail was shaking. "So you love me this much? You should have said so earlier, why are you being so shy?"

"Tsk tsk tsk, her face is as red as a monkey's butt."

"Come here, let Daddy see if you have a fever?"

Su Chang'an stretched out his paw, wanting to touch Chen Xuan's face.

Looking at her smug face, Chen Xuan's shame instantly turned into anger and embarrassment.

That scoundrel!

How dare you laugh at him!

He grabbed Su Chang'an's flailing hand and slammed his other hand over her head without hesitation.

Rub it vigorously.

"laugh?"

"Laugh again?"

Chen Xuan gritted his teeth and showed no mercy, ruffling Su Chang'an's soft white hair into a bird's nest.

"Oh no! My hairstyle!"

Su Chang'an became anxious.

This is her dignity as a nine-tailed celestial fox!

"You unfilial son! Let go! Do you believe I'll bite you?"

Su Chang'an kicked wildly in the air with its two hind legs and clenched its two front paws into fists, unleashing a barrage of attacks on Chen Xuan's arm.

"Ora ora ora!"

She even had sound effects coming from her mouth.

pity.

She's a complete weakling now.

The little pink fists hitting Chen Xuan felt no different than tickling him.

Chen Xuan let her hit him, but his hands didn't stop. Instead, he intensified his actions, rubbing her ears until they were red.

Chen Xuan only stopped when Su Chang'an had completely turned into a fluffy white ball, panting and slumped in his hand.

Looking at the messy dough in his hand, his anger inexplicably dissipated.

Instead, there was an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

"Are you still looking for a daughter-in-law?" Chen Xuan asked, his tone carrying a hint of threat.

Su Chang'an rolled his eyes and tidied his ruffled hair.

"I'm not looking anymore, I'm not looking anymore." She muttered irritably, "With your awful temper, even a dog wouldn't want you. What girl would be blind to fall for you? I'm the only one who doesn't mind."

Chen Xuan snorted and shoved her back into his arms.

Although the movements were rough, they avoided her ears, which had just been rubbed red.

Su Chang'an huddled inside the cloak, listening to Chen Xuan's strong heartbeat.

Boom, boom, boom.

soon.

It's a mess.

That kid must have used up all his courage to say those words just now.

Su Chang'an remained silent for a while.

She suddenly didn't want to joke anymore.

"Chen Xuan".

She called out.

He was neither called a rebellious son nor a good eldest son.

"Mm," Chen Xuan replied, continuing to walk forward.

"That girl with conjunctivitis is right."

Su Chang'an's voice was soft, but very earnest.

"I am a nine-tailed celestial fox."

"I was born to manipulate people's hearts."

"I adopted you, cooked for you, healed your wounds, and even cut off my tail to pave the way for you..."

Su Chang'an paused for a moment, then gripped the remnant soul bead tightly with his claws.

"Actually, it's all for my own sake."

"I want to live."

"I want to use you to make you stronger, and then help me break the seal."

"I'm a liar."

"She's a selfish and self-serving fairy."

Su Chang'an raised his head and looked at Chen Xuan's chin.

Even so.

"Do you still want me?"

This was the first time she had torn away that veil of tenderness in front of Chen Xuan.

Show him the ugliest and most realistic side of himself.

If he regrets it now, it's not too late.

Chen Xuan stopped in his tracks.

He lowered his head and looked at the fox in his arms.

Those narrow eyes no longer held their usual cunning and playfulness, only a frankness remained, along with a hint of fear hidden deep within.

She was afraid.

Afraid of being abandoned.

Afraid of being disliked.

Chen Xuan suddenly felt a pain in his chest.

It's not because I was being used.

It's not because she actually thought that way.

"Su Chang'an".

Chen Xuan reached out and gently flicked her forehead.

Are you stupid?

Su Chang'an was stunned.

"Use me?" Chen Xuan scoffed. "With your abilities?"

"She needs me to feed her even when she's eating roast chicken, she wants to crawl into my arms when it's raining and thundering, and she gets so angry that she jumps up and down if someone scolds her."

"With your meager abilities, you think you can manipulate people's hearts?"

Chen Xuan shook his head, looking disgusted.

"If you can really use me for the rest of your life, that's your skill."

I admit defeat.

Su Chang'an stared at him blankly.

This...this script is wrong!

Shouldn't a normal person feel betrayed emotionally, then turn love into hate, and eventually become corrupted?

Why isn't this kid playing by the rules?

"But..." Su Chang'an wanted to say something more.

"No buts."

Chen Xuan interrupted her.

He started walking again, heading towards the faintly lit exit ahead.

"Whether you're a demon or a liar, it doesn't matter."

Even if you are the most wicked devil in the world.

"That's also a demon I, Chen Xuan, raised."

Chen Xuan's voice drifted in the wind, carrying an unreasonable and domineering air.

"I'm determined to live off this woman."

"No one can take it."

Su Chang'an nestled in his arms, listening to these bold words.

A slight smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

That unfilial son.

She's quite good at flirting.

[Ding! Detected that Chen Xuan's Ruthless Dao Foundation's fragmentation level has increased to 50%.]

[Congratulations, host! You have received a stage reward: Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox Charm Skill (Passive) upgraded.]

Su Chang'an listened to the system's notification sound, but his heart remained unmoved.

She buried her face in Chen Xuan's chest and rubbed against his hard muscles.

Forget it.

Let them lie then.

Anyway, this silly boy is not going to escape in this lifetime.

Then...

Let's just hurt each other.