Talulah, I'm still a child.

After telling the story, Mei Xue discovered that Su Mengyun had sneaked to the door at some point. Talulah's eyes were blazing with anger, and she was furious.

"You brat! I'm going to cripple you today! If it doesn't work, I'll just have another one!"

Chapter 370 Miss Black Snake hasn't been forgotten yet.

"Waaaaah, Mei Xue, don't leave me behind! I haven't been around much lately, you've been ignoring me for so long, and now you're going off to have some alone time with Talulah, waaaah..."

Mei Xue had just returned to her dormitory and hadn't even had a chance to retrieve the equipment that Nian had asked her to repair for Maria when Miss Black Snake suddenly appeared from some corner, pounced on her, and pinned her down on the sofa, sobbing and complaining about her grievances.

To be honest, as an early character, Miss Black Snake always considered herself the female lead. After all, she held a high position in Mei Xue's heart. She was Little Fox's early teacher and confidante. For Little Fox, she even went so far as to take over Kasena's body and devised a plan to defeat Ursus's army and inner guards, helping Rhodes Island complete the entire operation without losing a single soldier. Overall, her contributions were significant.

However, her identity is far too unsettling. As the Black Serpent of Ursus, she is basically infamous in the ears of Kal'tsit and other insiders. If it weren't for Little Fox vouching for her, she probably wouldn't have even been able to get to Rhodes Island. Even though Kal'tsit and the others now believe her and have lowered their guard against her, Miss Black Serpent's identity is still too sensitive. Ursus already harbors resentment towards Rhodes Island because of the Reunion Movement, but they can't say it openly because of Mei Xue.

If we let someone as important as Miss Black Serpent wander around aimlessly, things will get even worse. Someone from Ursus will definitely take the opportunity to cause trouble. Mei Xue's existence can't cure some dim-witted nobles.

Therefore, even within Rhodes Island, Miss Black Snake's activities were restricted to a certain area to avoid contact with irrelevant people. This prevented her from going out and from being able to get intimate with Mei Xue as she had initially imagined. Some readers may be wondering: Who is Miss Black Snake? Does this character even exist in this book?

Mei Xue scratched his head helplessly. He hadn't really looked for Miss Black Snake much during this time. Mainly because he was bothered by different friends or sisters every day on Rhodes Island, or he couldn't take her with him when he went out. It was indeed the little fox's fault.

"Don't cry, Sister Black Snake. Mei Xue won't abandon you."

For some reason, Mei Xue felt that Miss Black Snake's crying was similar to Skadi's; both had tears streaming down their faces, looking incredibly pitiful. If you didn't know better, you'd think they had just broken up with their boyfriends.

"Really? Then take me with you! I promise I won't disturb your time with Talulah!"

(Anyway, I'm not exactly human.)

Silently expelling herself from the ranks of humans in her heart, Miss Black Snake didn't actually tell Mei Xue that the reason she was so determined to go along was because after hearing that the little fox and Talulah were going on a sweet trip together, she suddenly felt a very bad sense of crisis. She felt that something bad would definitely happen to Mei Xue on this trip, at least for her.

Of course, the main reason is that it's been a long time since I've been able to get close to the little fox. Damn it, just thinking about it makes me angry. I've only been on Rhodes Island for a short time, and so many people have already developed relationships with Mei Xue that go beyond friendship. Don't these people know what restraint is? Damn it, not one of them is any good. They're all after Mei Xue's body!

"Hmm, but it's very cold over there in Shelag. Black Snake Sister, won't you hibernate when you go there?"

"Ah, this..."

This pointed question left Miss Black Snake speechless. She wanted to say that she wasn't that kind of snake. Although the Fedians liked to sleep more in winter, she was currently using Kashena's body, and this guy was Liboli.

But perhaps she really did think she was a snake. As the weather gradually got colder, Miss Black Snake also became sleepy and ate less. It seemed that she had really entered a state of hibernation. Mei Xue had gone to see her a few times before, but she was sleeping. This was one of the reasons why she had become a passerby during this period.

Given the climate of Sherag, Miss Black Snake would probably spend all her time curled up in bed after arriving there, let alone go out to play.

"But I still want to go!"

"Okay, okay, be good, big sister, mua~"

Seeing that Miss Black Snake was about to throw a tantrum and act spoiled again, Mei Xue helplessly flicked her tail and kissed her on the face, finally calming her down.

"Well, although it's not feasible in Shelag, you can go to Siesta instead, sister. The weather there is quite warm, and I heard there are volcanic hot springs."

Siesta's vacation activities are a rare group team building event on Rhodes Island. Miss Black Serpent should have no problem going with her. It's quite far from Ursus, and if they also book a private beach, there's no need to worry about any problems arising!

"Alright then... but I need to kiss you again, this time here."

Pointing to her lips, adhering to the principle that it's a loss not to take advantage of a bargain, Miss Black Snake insisted on getting some benefits—no, she might as well go all the way! She'd add some more color to Talulah's head to show her!

"Alright, mu... um?!"

Without giving the little fox any chance to react, Miss Black Snake kissed him directly, and then changed the scene from the sofa to the softer bed.

Putting everything else aside, Kroos is quite good to Mei Xue. At least the furniture she arranged for Mei Xue is exactly the same style as the one from the Tower of Babel, and the quality is also very good. Especially the bed, which is soft and very elastic. This caused Miss Black Snake to have to bear double the pressure. After being pushed down, she was bounced back up by the bed. While enjoying this so much that she almost forgot who she was, she suddenly had a strange idea: Next time, how about trying to play on a waterbed or trampoline?

But then such thoughts were completely overwhelmed by the indescribable joy and countless vixens, and her mind was completely unable to control her body. When it was Kashina's turn to take control, she was unlucky enough to catch an explosion, and then... well, it's hard to say.

In short, after Mei Xue finished everything and came out of the dormitory alone, the little fox decided to go find Nian. Talulah would be here in a couple of days, and Maria's competition was still going to continue. She said that after finishing one more match, she would transfer all her points to her sister Margaret as a qualification for the competition, and then she would come to Rhodes Island to submit her application for employment.

Speaking of joining the company, we have to mention Viviana. She also joined Rhodes Island and took the entrance test for Guard Operators. The examiner for practical skills was Surtr. It is said that originally it was supposed to be the elite operator Sharp who would conduct the practical skills test, but when Surtr revealed Leivatin, everyone knew that she was very unhappy with Viviana.

It was precisely because of this that Viviana was dealt a perfectly timed and measured beating by Surtr in the practical assessment. She was quite disheveled but did not suffer any serious injuries. However, she never expected that Rhodes Island would have such an unreasonable existence. Before picking up a sword, she looked like an ordinary girl. After picking up a sword, not to mention her superb and exquisite swordsmanship, Viviana's candlelight magic was dispelled by Surtr's lava the moment she got close, making it impossible for her to fight.

Of course, Viviana's overall performance was still excellent, and getting a job at Rhodes Island was not a problem. The main reason was that one of the reviewers was Kroos, and a little money would do the trick.

"Sister Nian, I've come to get my things."

The little fox walked to the door of the Great Yan operator, knocked, and waited patiently. His excellent hearing allowed him to detect the faint noises coming from the room and analyze that they were probably sounds of tidying up, such as cleaning pots and pans, mahjong tiles, or books.

Not long after, there was some noise from the door lock. Nian slowly opened the door and peeked out. She knew why the other person had come without the little fox saying a word.

"Mei Xue is here to get the things? Come in and sit down. We're just missing a few people... ah, I mean, cough cough, we have something to tell you."

Without even wiping the hotpot soup from the corners of her mouth, Miss Nian hurriedly pulled Mei Xue into the room. The dormitory of the three Nian sisters was relatively large, but they obviously felt it wasn't enough, so they made some minor unauthorized alterations, using their abilities to transform the dormitory into a separate space, which could be described as a small world. It was a separate courtyard, and even had a rockery, pavilion, and stream. Although it was completely different from when they last came, Mei Xue was surprisingly not surprised. She seemed to be very familiar with the layout.

"This is arranged according to how our house used to be, so it's normal that you're familiar with it. Unfortunately, the space is limited, and no matter how much we create life, it's still fake. Your eyes can probably tell something's wrong at a glance, so we just made these things."

Xi's tone carried a hint of pride. She deserved much credit for the expansion of this space. She used ink to depict her childhood home on the wall. The three sisters worked together to complete this little world. As long as no one demolishes Rhodes Island's outer walls, this place will not be affected in any way.

As for the flowers and plants by the rockery, they were mostly brought from the Rhodes Island greenhouse, so growing them wouldn't be a problem. Xi Ting enjoys doing this kind of thing; it cultivates her character and also helps hone her painting skills. Mei Xue and Ling Du both said that her painting skills were indeed those of a master, but they always lacked a certain charm. This was also the reason why the little fox urged her and Nian to go down the mountain for a walk.

Of course, looking back now, it was mostly to get rid of these younger siblings so that he and the little fox could enjoy a sweet world for just the two of them.

"Here you go, Mei Xue. I've made some minor adjustments."

Nian handed over the sword and shield that had already been forged. Mei Xue took it and immediately noticed something was wrong. This didn't seem to be the same set that he had taught Nian before. Nian also saw through his thoughts and generously nodded in agreement.

"I have indeed repaired all the weapons you sent before, but the materials used to forge them were too ordinary, and the techniques were not excellent, leaving little room for modification. So I simply used new materials and new technologies to forge a set of identical weapons, at least they look exactly the same."

Scratching her head somewhat helplessly, Nian handed the repaired sword and shield set back to Mei Xue. As for the new set, she considered it her masterpiece. However, her proudest creations were probably the mahjong set that Mei Xue had that could kill someone and the kitchen knife that Mei Xue used to love.

As for the umbrella that the little fox loved to hold... Nian didn't have the ability to create it, nor even the qualifications to access that level. It was born with Mei Xue and existed solely to protect him. Previously, she had misled Mei Xue by saying that she had made the umbrella herself, simply to prevent the little fox from asking too many questions about it.

"Is there anything special about that new weapon?"

"Hmm... that's worth talking about in detail. For example, this shield can absorb a certain amount of impact and convert it into the power of the sword. It can even deflect some Originium Arts."

"And this sword, it can easily cut through alloy armor. Ordinary weapons simply cannot withstand its attack. Moreover, it can release moves similar to sword energy. If you really encounter an enemy that you can't deal with, don't worry. Just sheathe the sword and twist the hilt, and the sword will automatically attack the enemy it has attacked."

When talking about the weapons she forged, Nian was obviously very interested. Mei Xue felt that what she said was very impressive, but it didn't seem like much. After all, she had already seen weapons as amazing as Levadin. However, for outside technicians or craftsmen, Nian's technologies would undoubtedly overturn most of their understanding. Isn't it a bit too much to have developed automated weapons?

"Thank you, Sister Nian!"

Mei Xue kissed Nian on the cheek, as a small token of gratitude. As for the reward... well, we'll see later, and see what Nian wants.

"You're welcome. What kind of relationship do we have? We're all family. So, could we kiss again? This time, here, okay?"

"How much longer are you going to talk, Nian?"

Ling's business made the tail behind him taut instantly. He shook it a little embarrassedly, stood up, and waved towards the pavilion.

"Don't worry, Sister Ling, we're coming right away."

Mei Xue then noticed that Ling was sitting in the pavilion. Her clothes today were different from usual, like some kind of traditional clothing from the Great Yan Dynasty. They looked very well-matched and beautiful, and she had an otherworldly feel to them. She held a blue and white porcelain wine cup with animal patterns in her left hand, and gently supported her head with her right hand while leaning back on the chair in the pavilion. She looked very carefree and happy.

After hearing what she said, Nian couldn't keep talking to Mei Xue about her own affairs. She took the little fox and went straight to find Ling. She had no choice but to acknowledge Ling as her stepmother, even if she didn't recognize her as her elder sister.

"Sister, is there something you need from me?"

It's not hard to tell from what they just said that Ling and the others have wanted to find her for a long time. Mei Xue is quite smart, so she simply took the initiative to speak up. Anyway, everyone around her is her own person, so there's no need to worry about any accidents.

"Well, there are some things I need to tell you about your return to Da Yan this year... You'll find out sooner or later anyway, but it's good to be prepared in advance."

Ling put down his wine glass, and his gaze towards Mei Xue held a complex mix of emotions.

Chapter 371 The Legend of Plum Blossoms and Snow

To be fair, Mei Xue doesn't have many memories of Da Yan right now, but her affection level is very high. It's like starting a game on New Game Plus; all the items and affection levels are inherited, and you just need to push through the main storyline. Of course, this is referring to Da Yan.

Therefore, Mei Xue actually doesn't know much about the Great Yan. Although he will naturally understand everything once he sets foot on that land, it is still necessary to give him a heads-up for now.

She reached out and pulled the little fox into her arms, gently stroking his soft, long hair. To her, Mei Xue in her arms was the most precious thing in the world she could protect. As for her other brothers and sisters? Forget it, brothers are all trouble, and sisters are all scourges, especially the latter.

"Mei Xue, do you know how high your status is in the Great Yan?"

"Hmm... I just heard Sister Lin Qingyan say it's very, very high."

Mei Xue nestled in Ling's arms. The little fox still didn't have a good understanding of his own identity. He learned a lot from what others said, such as his identity and divine position in the Great Yan, as well as some related legends of the Great Yan. In short, there was all sorts of things.

According to Lin Qingyan's explanation, Mei Xue didn't actually have any divine authority at first. Zhenlong just wanted to use him to help him gain power, so he simply placed Mei Xue in the position of a mascot and gave him the title of Great Yan's auspicious omens. As a result, by some twist of fate, Mei Xue completely bound the Great Yan's fortune to him. However, this was also a great thing. Zhenlong happily accepted the result and then released his youngest daughter to chase after the cursing Mei Xue and bite him everywhere.

As part of a deal, Mei Xue became the auspicious symbol and guardian beast of the Great Yan Dynasty. The Great Yan would provide him with all the assistance it could, since it would not benefit the Great Yan if Mei Xue were to get into trouble. Under this unbreakable bond of shared honor and disgrace, their relationship naturally improved over time.

After realizing that the little ancestor was indeed not interested in earthly power and wealth, and only wanted to play, sleep and fish on the mountain, the true dragons of the Great Yan Dynasty always felt helpless and relieved towards him, and of course, they also had deep respect. Only by standing in their position could they know how much Mei Xue had sacrificed for the Great Yan Dynasty, which was one of the reasons why the Great Yan Dynasty spared no effort in promoting him.

Regardless of the affairs of the human world, the fox spirit lives a carefree life beyond the clouds. Countless wealthy people, executives, and even royal family members have tried to get his help, but all have failed.

As time went on, even though Mei Xue herself didn't appear much, the Great Yan side was intentionally or unintentionally shaping her into a symbol, a spirit, a banner. Using the name of the fox spirit made many things easier to do. For example, the series of regulations for infected people mentioned earlier addressed various aspects such as discrimination and oppression against infected people, and also restrained infected people from unnecessary riots.

Or take the comprehensive education program that was implemented decades ago. At first, many people complained, especially the elderly in rural areas, because children were also the labor force of the family. Once they went to school, it meant that they might miss the opportunity to learn because they were too busy to manage their children, not to mention the tuition fees.

However, after both the Great Yan government and the various sects of the Fox Fairy sects indicated that this was the Fox Fairy's will, all the stubborn old people brought their children to the school to register. Upon hearing that all tuition fees would be paid by the Great Yan government, they were moved to tears. They first knelt and thanked the imperial court for its great kindness, and then thanked the Fox Fairy for its protection, because even if this level of education could only teach these children to read, write, and perform common arithmetic, it would still be better than them only being able to write their own names.

"You are the most special person in the Great Yan. No matter how many people have changed on the throne, you are the only one with auspicious signs."

Nian and Xi sat obediently without saying much. They had never had a proper relationship with the Da Yan side. Because of Mei Xue, they were on the whitelist and could live a carefree life by doing some tasks occasionally. It didn't matter if someone was watching them, since they didn't need to write reports after doing anything. They could also apply for some money when they ran out.

Because they were used to being idle, compared to their elder sister Ling who had been to the imperial court and the frontier, the two of them knew very little. Over the years, she seemed to have never taken the initiative to look for Mei Xue, but she knew all the information about him without missing a single detail.

"Therefore, the Great Yan side will not harm you; they neither want to nor dare to. You should know this."

"Ah."

The little fox nodded. He understood this. The Great Yan didn't want to harm him because it would violate their agreement and conscience. They didn't dare because they would definitely pay a worse price than the little fox. Therefore, every generation of true dragons would try to figure out whether they were considered wise rulers in the eyes of their little ancestor. Over the years, it is unknown when it started, but only when the fox spirit recognized him could he truly ascend to the position of true dragon. As for how to recognize him, that was the final interpretation right of the official.

"But the Great Yan Dynasty has been around for so many years, such a large country, and such a long history... It can't really be as clear as this cup of wine. There are also many problems inside, and quite a few forces are making their own little schemes."

This is quite normal. With more people, you'll see all sorts of people, and over time, all sorts of people will appear. All the factions in the Great Yan have their own plans, and under the premise of "not harming or killing the fox spirit," there is actually quite a lot of room for maneuver.

"Will they hurt me?"

"No, how could that be? They wouldn't dare to harm you, they would even protect you and try to please you for their own so-called interests. But if you took off your disguise, I don't think you would like them."

"Indeed, as Sister Alina said, you can't tell a good person from a bad one just by looking at their smile."

Mei Xue flicked his tail. Back when he left Reunion for Lungmen, Alina had given him many instructions, the most important of which was to be careful of strangers. Not all bad people will hurt you, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t dangerous.

"Yes, but you seem to be able to sense other people's feelings for you now, and I'm worried you might be deceived by it."

Ling's embrace felt very comfortable, similar to Mei Xue's pillow—soft yet bouncy. He enjoyed the feeling; it seemed familiar. Well, to put it bluntly, he had been held like this many times before, and had gradually gotten used to it.

"Besides that, there's another thing, which is about us eleven brothers and sisters."

"...Wasn't it twelve?"

Mei Xue keenly sensed that something was amiss and pointed it out. Ling didn't react much, but Nian and Xi's faces darkened. They moved their feet slightly, but after hesitating for a moment, they chose to stay.

"There were originally twelve, but then something happened, and I lost one of my sisters... Her name was Jie."