Talulah, I'm still a child.

Just as that gentleman said, he seemed to be detached from this world, yet there was a faint connection between them, something that ordinary people wouldn't notice.

"The power to defy the gods... One day, our master will reclaim everything!"

Although they didn't know how strong Mei Xue was or what his abilities were, the people of Shan Hai had great confidence in the giant beasts they worshipped. They always believed that it was Sui's betrayal and the Great Yan that controlled the war back then. As for manipulating the weather? Which giant beast couldn't do that?

However, while the spy from the Mountain and Sea Clan was thinking this, he overlooked the threat around him. He was about to send out the message when he accidentally tripped over a loose paving stone and fell to the ground. Even so, he firmly held onto the strand of white hair in his hand.

But he fell suddenly, and the people around him didn't have time to get out of the way. They hurriedly backed away in a panic, not knowing that someone wearing high heels stepped on his hand, or even used the heel of their shoe.

"Aaaaaahhhhh!" (Groundhog's cry)

This was truly excruciatingly painful. The secret agents of the Mountain and Sea Sect couldn't help but let go and cry out. A gust of wind blew in from somewhere, picked up the strand of white hair in his hand, and, ignoring the commotion, hurriedly caught up with Mei Xue's footsteps. Then, he tossed it away, and the strand of hair merged into Mei Xue's hair. The wind then disappeared without a trace.

"Ok?"

Feeling that her strength had recovered a little, Mei Xue couldn't help but look back. She saw that something seemed to have gone wrong, but since she was with Cecilia, she couldn't go over there, so she had to continue forward.

"Free benefits, ha, a bunch of fools."

Linglan muttered to herself, of course, she wouldn't say such things, she was just relaying Su Xue'er's meaning.

With Mei Xue and Su Xue'er's abilities, they certainly couldn't be unaware that someone was following them. They just didn't care. It was nothing more than the Mountain and Sea Clan. However, to do anything to harm Mei Xue on the land of Great Yan was a bit like an old man hanging himself.

(But since they were able to get Mei Xue's hair, it seems these guys aren't just a bunch of rabble; they must have someone backing them up.)

(It seems Da Yan's attitude is quite interesting. Hmm, to have Mei Xue's hair... an old friend.)

Su Xue'er's words made Linglan a little wary, but the other party told her that there was no need to worry so much. In the end, the person behind the scenes who could send such a group of people to cause trouble for Mei Xue had only two purposes: one was to confirm whether Mei Xue was really in Shang Shu, in case it was a smokescreen; the other was probably to confirm how much Mei Xue had recovered from before and whether she needed to be taken seriously.

The difference between Mei Xue with five tails and Mei Xue with six tails is not just slight, it's worlds apart. Even when she had five tails, Mei Xue was still timid and submissive, but now? She's really grateful that Su Xue'er didn't lead her astray; thank goodness.

"What else should I buy for everyone?"

Mei Xue stroked her chin, momentarily at a loss. Of course, she could leave the gifts for everyone to Da Yan, but she still needed to choose some gifts herself, such as those for Rosemary and Kal'tsit, and she couldn't forget the ones for the Doctor and Amiya.

The Doctor and Amiya were the easiest to please, because the Doctor is never picky and will take whatever is given to her. Amiya is the same; a rag doll is enough for her.

But Rosemary had told Mei Xue before she arrived that she wanted to buy several cheongsams, because the little cat was worried that there wouldn't be enough for her in the future. As for what she planned to do with them... that was a matter for Mei Xue, but not for the little fox to concern herself with.

Mei Xue wasn't worried about the group of people from the mountains and seas behind her. This was Shang Shu, and they could only sneak in during the most lively festival of the year. If they caused any trouble, they definitely wouldn't be able to escape.

"Brother Meixue, are you going back after you finish your trip to Shangshu?"

"No, that's not it. It's not like I'm back all the time, so there's no need to rush back. I still need to go home and visit. You can come with me then."

We'll have to go back to Qingqiu sooner or later. We'll take Linglan and Cecilia with us when we do, and of course, we can let Su Xue'er see it too.

In a daze, a scent of herbs wafted to her nose. Mei Xue's tail swayed gently. Cecilia suddenly heard the sound of gongs and drums. She looked over with some curiosity and found a small wooden cart with a white screen on it. The screen had a background and several paper-cut figures acting.

"Shadow puppetry, that must be the most immersive experience to watch at night."

Mei Xue recognized her, and Du Yaoye also came over; if she didn't make her presence known, the readers would almost forget she was still there.

"This shadow puppet show is run by an old senior member of the security escort agency. This old man is probably warming up for tonight's performance. If you'd like, he would be happy to perform a piece at my inn."

Regardless of how influential the fox spirit is, Du Yaoye, the most beloved girl in the escort agency, could handle this matter.

Watching shadow puppetry with everyone would be quite nice, but it's a pity that Patriot's physique is not easy to see in the eyes of ordinary people. If we invited him to the inn... Mei Xue glanced at the expectant eyes of the children around her and shook her head to indicate that it was not necessary.

"So many people are looking forward to the shadow puppet show tonight, how can we spoil their fun? We'll come over tonight."

Cecilia seemed reluctant to leave, and Lily of the Valley, seeing something for the first time, was also very curious. Mei Xue wasn't in a hurry to buy anything; he simply communicated with his aquatic lolis to see where they were.

Because of their intense longing, these girls are now in a "I'll drown anyone who dares to stop me" attitude. Unfortunately, it's the New Year in Da Yan, and many people are visiting relatives and friends, while others are eager to return to work. The waterways near Shang Shu are also well-developed, so water bandits have also come out to boost their numbers.

This really annoyed the Siren girls, because according to the cooperation agreement, Da Yan would not only help them provide various materials and venues, but also provide various knowledge and technology. In return, they would also help Da Yan eliminate these internal and external troubles. Although these water bandits were really weak compared to Hai Si and the demons, they were stuck at this critical moment when they were in a hurry to pay New Year's visits. It was impossible for them not to get angry.

So those river bandits who tried to rob the river got what they deserved. Of course, the siren girls, who knew the importance of environmental protection, did not pollute the river, let alone eat people. They thought it would be very unpalatable, and Mei Xue would definitely be disgusted if she knew about it.

"Big sister, something's not right. These don't seem to be ordinary river bandits."

Throwing yet another pirate into the black fog of Gatanothor and letting him be swallowed by the darkness, Siren No. 68 picked up a badge from the ground and examined it. Although the workmanship was not very exquisite, ordinary pirates would not have such a thing.

"Not your average river bandits?"

"Yes, what does it say on this badge... 'Mountains and seas, eight wastelands, all belong to their master.' Could they be the master's spies?"

"Are you out of your mind? Although not all of Master's spies are kind-hearted, they wouldn't be bandits like this. Besides, what use are they with such little strength? Have the sisters capture another wave of these people within ten minutes. There should be more than just this many."

Since there was one wave, there could be a second. Amaya figured that although it would take a little longer to get to Shangshu after finishing this matter, as long as she could get some useful information, it would be great to receive Mei Xue's praise.

Thinking of this, Amaya's mood improved considerably, and she slapped the water fortress in front of her into ruins.

Chapter 16: Mei Xue's Past Story of Being Abducted

"It's changed a lot."

Despite it being the dead of winter, the sun overhead was exceptionally glaring. Ya sat on a cliff, the pine trees behind her blocking out the sunlight, watching the mountains and rivers flow before her and the city in the distance.

More than a thousand years is not a short time, even for giants like them. This land has changed a lot, but as she looked at the mountain city, anger and humiliation surged up in her heart again, and she couldn't help but grip the knife in her hand.

She hated it, how could she not hate it? The giant beasts looked on coldly at humanity, because millions of years were but a fleeting moment, and what impact could the rise and fall of civilizations have on them?

They only chose to remain aloof bystanders out of respect for that person, refraining from casually blowing down the anthill created by humans. But who could have imagined that he would actually fall in love with them? What a joke, a huge joke! The master of fate, seemingly passionate yet actually the most indifferent being, would actually choose to favor such a weak species, and even stand on the opposite side of them alongside Sui.

Even the Sui is among the most powerful of the giant beasts, let alone the scales of fate which have been tipped to one side by its master.

What caused all this? Has He forgotten that war? Compared to these weak humans on Earth, which star in the sky wasn't their enemy?

"..."

His brows furrowed slightly, pain overwhelming all his thoughts. Ya knew his days were numbered, and the wounds he had suffered years ago would never heal. Although he lived as long as heaven and earth, he was not immortal. In the end, he was not as special as Mei Xue. That fox had never claimed to be of the same kind as them.

When did he appear? Where did he come from? No one knows. He simply carved out a piece of land in the east as his own paradise, and then carelessly abandoned it to those people, letting them turn it into a mess. They say... this is Yan.

All the giant beasts knew that Su Xue'er and Mei Xue were incomplete. Their original forms made a bold decision, but unfortunately, they miscalculated, resulting in their complete replacement and becoming cogs of fate.

"Heh... With so many grudges and curses, you must be suffering too."

Ya sneered. Back then, the giant beasts, filled with humiliation, resentment, and hatred, crushed Sui's arrogance and ambition, leaving the deepest curse on Him and this land. A thousand years ago, Mei Xue absorbed all the curses and the resentment of those who died by sacrificing a tail. Since then, she has suffered many hardships because of these negative energies. Until now, she seems to have regained her original power, which makes Ya marvel at Su Xue'er's methods.

That was a monster, the purest monster. He sank half a continent into the ocean just because he found it an eyesore, and beat Sui to a pulp just because he glanced at Mei Xue.

But she is also a good older sister, the kind that is impeccable. She has always left Mei Xue a way out. From the year she disappeared until that heavy snow, she has been collecting the scattered luck of Terra for so many years. As long as there is an opportunity, this scattered luck will become Mei Xue's power, and even help him seize the remaining luck of Terra.

"However... it's still much worse than before."

Ya shook her head and disappeared from the spot. She could sense a group of troublesome creatures approaching, which should be the so-called Sirens mentioned in the intelligence, unknown beings. But she didn't have much time and couldn't waste it here.

On the other side, Mei Xue looked thoughtfully into the distance. Just now, he had keenly sensed a familiar aura in that direction, and it seemed that the history and time there had changed, but the traces of fate were still there.

"Brother, look at this~"

Cecilia handed over a storybook that was about the size of a palm but as thick as a thumb. The cover featured a tall white fox standing among mountains, and on the right was a line of vertical text with the title: "The Legend of the Fox Fairy: Children's Edition." But it looked more like a dictionary.

"This newly compiled storybook is a bestseller in Da Yan because the stories are interesting and have a significant educational effect, making it very popular among the people."

At this moment, Du Yaoye had set aside her mission as a bodyguard and transformed into a ruthless tour guide. She had realized that Mei Xue had the same attitude towards everything around him—a smile. He seemed to like everything, but he didn't show much joy or enthusiasm.

If there's anything that could catch the little fox's attention, it would probably be Cecilia and Suzuran. They are very enthusiastic about Da Yan, especially Cecilia. She had been to many places when she was in Kazimierz, but she felt that the cities of Da Yan were more special. There was a strong sense of life here, which made people feel relaxed and happy.

"These are all my stories, hmm, let me see..."

Mei Xue took the book and gently opened it. He was eager to know how much of what was true and how much was false. He remembered all the experiences he had with Nian and the others, but he had no recollection of anything before that.

Although these stories have been modified and changed countless times over time, any inspiration that touches the heart is acceptable.

As soon as Mei Xue opened the book, she found that it was indeed a children's version. Every new word and phrase was annotated with pinyin and accompanied by quite exquisite illustrations. To Mei Xue's surprise, the illustrations of herself were not of the boy she used to be, but of a young boy. The clothing was different and more in line with the customs and culture of the Great Yan Dynasty.

"The new edition...it's only been published two months ago, oh right."

The little fox suddenly remembered that two months ago, Lin Qingyan had approached him alone, saying that he wanted to take photos for the Great Yan to use for modifying the characters. At the time, he thought it was just about modifying the statues and paintings, but he didn't expect that even the storybooks would be reprinted as new editions.

"In the southern lands there dwells a beast, white in color, with a jade-like face and nine tails. It drinks the morning dew and eats jade fruits, and lives a thousand years in a moment. Moved by the suffering of the common people, it entered the world to quell troubles and dispel disasters. Therefore, the true dragon bestowed upon it the title of 'Fox Immortal,' making it an auspicious omen of the Great Yan Dynasty, protecting humankind..."

This was an ordinary opening, but Mei Xue read it with great interest. Du Yaoye thought he had just flipped through the book and closed it, but Mei Xue's way of reading was not by relying on her eyes.

"Fox... Plum Blossom, are the stories in this book all true?"

Du Yaoye was very curious. No, no one in the Great Yan Dynasty was not curious about this. The Chronicles of the Fox Fairy recorded most of the stories about the Fox Fairy that were widely circulated in the Great Yan Dynasty. Some of the more famous ones were "The Charcoal Seller" and "The Fox Fairy as Human". Some people speculated that the Fox Fairy was not a single person, but was passed down from generation to generation and possessed some kind of magical Originium Arts.

However, some of the stories in the book are truly bizarre. For example, in "Dream of the Fox," a scholar, on his way to the capital for the imperial examination, rested at a fox spirit temple one day and dreamed for a thousand years. In the dream, he became a plum tree planted by the fox spirit, sitting with him on a cliff, watching hundreds of thousands of sunrises and sunsets. When he woke up, he had a great awakening and from then on rose to prominence and leaped into the clouds.

Moreover, this is not just a fabricated story. The prime minister from a thousand years ago patted his chest and said that it was all based on his personal experience and was absolutely true.

"There is truth and falsehood, but the truth is not entirely true, and the falsehood is not necessarily false. The right and wrong in the story are all in people's hearts. After a thousand years, the truth and falsehood are no longer important."

When Mei Xue said this, Du Yaoye finally felt a sense of weightiness from him. She had only felt this kind of aura from her adoptive father, Zheng Qingyue. It was an aura that only older people could have. But if her father was a giant rock that had been weathered by time, and the Grand Tutor she had only met once was like a towering and unshakable mountain, then Du Yaoye really didn't know how to describe Mei Xue just now.

Du Yaoye seemed to truly see a thousand years flowing by in him, yet the person before him was far from being a mountain or a sea. If one had to find a description... he should be more like the night sky, never having a fixed form, beautiful, dazzling, captivating, yet always possessing a profound depth that is rarely noticed by others.

"But this record is too exaggerated. What does it mean to drink morning dew? My sister won't allow me to drink that. She says it's very dirty. We've always used a water purifier at home, okay?"

The little fox couldn't help but complain. Although it knew that this was for artistic embellishment to highlight the demeanor of the fox spirit as a hermit, what would happen if some fool tried to imitate it?

"Forehead……"

Upon hearing this, Linglan was at a loss for words. Should she criticize the artistic embellishment of the Great Yan Dynasty, or should she criticize Meixue for having water purifiers thousands of years ago?

(This is nothing. Forget about water purifiers, we used solar power back then. There were other civilizations in Terra a long time ago. One of them had a good relationship with Mei Xue. Mei Xue often went there to freeload off food, drinks, and appliances.)

When Su Xue'er heard Mei Xue mention the past, she became interested and began to ramble on and on about her past life with Mei Xue.

Contrary to the ethereal and otherworldly image imagined by later generations, life in Qingqiu was actually much more advanced than that of people today. Water purifiers and solar energy were still relatively backward. Sometimes Mei Xue and Su Xue'er would sit together and play video games. If it weren't for not wanting such a beautiful landscape to be destroyed, Mei Xue would probably have built her house into a villa.

(At that time, Mei Xue met a lot of people. Of course, I knew that those people wanted to study him, and I tacitly agreed. After all, as long as it wouldn't harm Mei Xue, I was also curious to know what they could find out. But I overlooked... there were vixens and philanderers among those people!)

Linglan really wanted to say, "Sister, strictly speaking, we and your brother are the vixens," but considering that Su Xue'er seemed a bit infatuated, she chose to keep quiet.

Honestly, there's nothing wrong with listening to Su Xue'er talk like this. Linglan can learn more about Mei Xue's past. For example, what impressed Su Xue'er the most was that the little fox used its tail to fish but got pinched by a crab and ran around in pain. In the end, it cried so much that its eyes were blurred and it bumped its head into a tree.

(Those vixens, really, it's only been a little over ten years since I took a nap! Lily, do you know how angry I was when I woke up and heard Mei Xue say he wanted to marry those people?)

I don't know whether to complain about you taking a nap for more than ten years or about how it took those people more than ten years to win over Brother Meixue. Are their emotional intelligence really that low?

Not to be joking, but if this were today, if it weren't for Mei Xue's special constitution preventing her from giving birth in the way most people understand, then over a decade would be enough time for every girl on Rhodes Island to take maternity leave. With Mei Xue's intelligence, would it really take her over a decade to win her over? Impossible, she could be tricked into bed with just a few meals. And if it were the little fox who spent over a decade winning her over? That doesn't make sense either; he could only spend a week at most.

(However, that civilization also met with misfortune later on. Alas, there were not many people left. The Hai Si of your Terra are what they left behind. Originally, they were intended to improve the planet's ecological environment, just like someone might grow flowers and plants at home to improve the air quality.)

These words stunned Linglan. She was no longer the delicate flower she once was. She knew of Haisi's existence and that Iberia was destroyed by it. But this thing was just like the flowers and plants that others cultivated. Just how powerful was that civilization?

(Ah, they are indeed quite powerful. They can even travel through the warp. With their strength, destroying a planet would probably only take them a few hours. Terra used to have only one moon; the second one was created by them.)

While subverting Linglan's worldview, Su Xue'er was exceptionally happy today. Since these things wouldn't touch that thing's nerves, she just talked to her heart's content.

(I remember there weren't many survivors. One of them, a woman named Precys, was very close to Mei Xue, and there was another one you also know.)