Fox Demon: Why did your brother beat you up every day at the beginning of the month?

"Little fox demon... Commander Bu Chu, do you really think the bond between humans and demons is so unreliable...?"

"So unreliable that even the most solemn vows can be easily betrayed..."

Yue Tixia wrapped her arms around Chu Batian's neck, her slender, fair arms slightly clenched, her eyes dim and lifeless. She had just suffered the blow of being reborn as Hu Weisheng, and now her heart was ashen; she no longer believed in love.

"This... I don't know, but Miss Yue Tixia, you can call me by my name or call me Little Fox Demon like we did when we were children."

"In Batian's heart, you will always be the kindest person, so I will protect you from now on and never let anyone bully you!!"

Chu Batian spoke sincerely, then turned back to Yue Tixia with a bright smile, and lifted the person on his back.

Yue Tixia looked at Chu Batian, whose face bore a hint of vicissitude yet exuded a mature and steady demeanor. His appearance was not particularly outstanding, but he gave her a strange sense of security.

It was like when he was a child in the forest, he encountered pests that preyed on tree spirits, and he stood up to fight them off, getting injured all over.

Despite nearly a century of separation, the fox spirit boy remains the same silly yet endearing young man.

"You haven't changed at all." Yue Tixia's mood improved a little and her eyes regained some brightness. She gently leaned her head against Chu Batian's back and rested for a while.

After such a heavy emotional trauma, she may not be interested in, or even afraid of, the sensitive topic of love for some time.

At least that's what Yue Tixia thought.

Moreover, a woman like her has already been divorced once, so it's highly unlikely that anyone will like her again. After all, demons, especially female demons, are quite loyal to their partners.

No one likes a banshee who has been abandoned.

But then Chu Batian's voice slowly pulled Yue Tixia's heart, which had been sinking to the bottom, back up.

"Yes, I've been waiting, waiting for the day I can meet Miss Tsukita Kasumi."

"I originally thought that as long as Miss Yueti Xia could live happily with her reincarnated lover, I would bury this secret in my heart for the rest of my life..."

As Chu Batian spoke, his face began to flush. He scratched his cheek and looked at the giant tree of bitter love beside him, his eyes filled with a hint of excitement. He didn't want to waste the opportunity that his master had created for him.

Yue Tixia was taken aback. She looked at Chu Batian's constantly trembling fox ears and swaying fox tail with a slight sense of doubt, but she also had a sliver of expectation in her heart. Could it be that the other party wanted her to cook a delicious barbecue feast as compensation?

Although it's been a long time since she did it, it wouldn't be impossible for him, after all, she and this silly fox are best friends, and of course, there's his sister Chu Ling'er.

"I, Chu Batian, am a rough man; I don't mince words."

"Miss Tsukita Hikaru, I like you."

"Oh, so that's what it was about. Just tell me if you want to eat barbecue..."

"Huh?! Wait a minute! You idiot, you big stupid fox, what did you say?!"

Yue Tixia covered her flushed face, her eyes filled with panic! How could she be confessed to right after her breakup? And by her best friend from childhood, the silly fox who fought to the death against pests to protect her...

"Wait! Wait a minute, why? Why me?! Of course, I'm happy that you like me, Batian... Wait, what am I even saying?!"

"What I mean is, I'm really not good enough for you..."

"Batian, you're already the Demon Emperor, right? The overlord of a demon realm, and the most trusted subordinate of that Daoist master. Meanwhile, I'm just a princess from a small country, and I'm already a second-time bride. If you were to marry me, it wouldn't be good for your reputation!"

Just moments ago, Yue Tixia was still feeling down, but in an instant, her face turned bright red. This unexpected confession really caught her off guard, and she truly felt unworthy of Chu Batian now.

"No, Miss Tsukita Hikaru, I've actually liked you for a long time, but I've never known how to face these feelings..."

"This... I really don't know..."

"Hmm, our Daoist master said you're a demon who's slow to understand emotions, and it seems he wasn't wrong."

"As for a second marriage, as long as I can marry Miss Yuetixia, I'll be content to stay by your side. As for the dowry, I've saved up some over the years."

Not only did he accumulate some wealth, but Dongfang Haoyang had already given Chu Batian and Chu Ling'er the best luxurious small palace on Tushan Mountain as a reward for his achievements over the years, along with a considerable amount of gold and silver.

That's enough for him and Yue Tixia to live together for over a thousand years.

"I, I didn't mean that..." Yue Tixia covered her flushed face, burying her pretty face tightly in Chu Batian's back, her eyes full of shyness.

"Miss Yue Tixia, it's alright, I can wait for you. Batian is still the same little fox demon, and Miss Yue Tixia is still the same somewhat clumsy but still kind little tree demon. If it were Miss Yue Tixia..."

"I'm willing to wait for you my whole life~"

Chu Batian smiled broadly. Years of battles had made him serious, even giving him sharply defined features. But when he saw the green-clad girl with a ponytail behind him, her face flushed, a hint of tenderness appeared on his face.

"I apologize for what I said so abruptly, but it is my sincere opinion. Miss Yue Tixia, please do not worry. If you are unwilling, that is fine too. I will take you back to rest first. It is the most important thing to recuperate."

"How could it be nothing...?"

"I'm sorry... I was being presumptuous."

"You big, stupid fox..."

Yue Tixia exhaled a few breaths of stale air, patted her chest to catch her breath, looked at Chu Batian, and gently stroked the somewhat ferocious scars on the other's cheek.

She recognized it as a permanent scar left from when she was a child, when the big, clumsy fox fought with those pests to protect itself, and was injured by their sharp mouthparts.

She couldn't recognize what caused the shallow scars on her face... Her eyes gradually moistened, and her nose began to turn red. Yue Tixia sniffed and wiped away the glistening tears from the corners of her eyes.

Yue Tixia understood that those were all things he had left behind after leaving the great forest all these years.

It's clear that my best childhood friend suffered a great deal after we were separated during that catastrophe caused by humankind...

"How have you been all these years...?"

"Not bad... I'll tell you about it when I have time."

"What about Ling'er?"

"She's doing very well too. She's currently learning accounting management from the third boss and is considered the next successor to the finance department. She's also opened a chain of teahouses in Tushan."

"Ling'er and I are only alive thanks to that Taoist priest and the three leaders of Tushan. If it weren't for them, Ling'er and I would have already... well, that's all in the past. We're living a very good life now."

Chu Batian sighed as he said this, then smiled and said that he could never repay the kindness shown to him in this lifetime.

"It's so good that you survived..."