Talulah, I'm still a child.

"Dr. Kal'tsit?"

Lily knew that Kal'tsit had lived for a long time; Su Xue'er had told her this.

(No, that's not it. She probably didn't even exist back then. She was just a product. I'm talking about the hooded figure that was often hung on the bridge, the one you usually call the Doctor.)

"???"

Although she couldn't be as agile as Mei Xue, Ling Lan's tail was still bent into a question mark shape. She really didn't expect that the Doctor was actually older than Kal'tsit!

"What's wrong, Lily of the Valley?"

Seeing that Linglan seemed to be in a daze, Meixue couldn't help but ask. Cecilia had played, eaten, and bought enough. Although she was always very energetic, she was still young and easily got tired. She couldn't help but yawn.

"Ah, it's nothing, it's just that I suddenly remembered something... Brother Meixue, how old do you think the Doctor is?"

"The doctor said she will always be eighteen years old."

Age has always been a point of concern for many people on Rhodes Island. You can't judge the age of Rhodes Island operators by their appearance. For example, Kal'tsit, not to mention Mei Xue. Anyway, the Doctor has always insisted that he is only eighteen years old and makes sure to mock Kal'tsit's age every day. It's really Mei Xue's good fortune that she's still alive.

"Alright, if there's nowhere else to go, let's go back to the inn together. Grandpa Patriot and Sister Alina will definitely love you."

The little fox swayed its tail gently, its smile exceptionally bright.

Chapter 17 Even Mei Xue is urging people to get married.

Just as Mei Xue had initially thought, no, even more so. Patriot couldn't say he was satisfied with Linglan; he just wished she could marry Mei Xue right now. Of course, Mei Xue had mentioned Linglan in her letters to him before, along with photos. But it was only after meeting her in person that he understood just how adorable this girl was. Her warm, sunny temperament was as if God had created her to be Mei Xue's partner.

Especially that sweet "Grandpa Patriot," which made Patriot feel lightheaded. He glanced at Talulah, Alina, and Frostnova playing cards, snorted, and thought to himself that they were all troublemakers, far inferior to Lily of the Valley.

Not to mention the three members of the Integration Movement playing poker and Dou Dizhu over there, the three Sui sisters and Lin Qingyan were also playing mahjong next to them.

"San Tiao, do you want to have hot pot for lunch later?"

"Erbing, I think we should try some of Shangshu's famous dishes. Aren't you getting a sore throat from eating hot pot all the time?"

Xi glanced at her good sister and was speechless. Nian had loved hot pot since she was a child, and she was practically turning herself into a hot pot.

Of course, it's not that Xi can't eat spicy food, it's just that Nian's love for spicy food is something that most people can't accept. Xi has always been curious whether Nian had a brain fart when he sculpted her and accidentally reduced this person's sensitivity to spiciness a lot.

"My body temperature is a full 1400 degrees Celsius, how could I possibly get so hot? Hey, Sister Ling, what do you think?"

"Hmm, 30,000 is fine with me, but it must be good wine!"

"Kujou, you guys are really taking it easy."

Lin Qingyan didn't know what to say. These sisters were really free right now. The Great Yan didn't give them any tasks, so they were just enjoying themselves by Mei Xue's side. Originally, the Great Yan allowed them to go to Mei Xue's side for the purpose of protection, but now Mei Xue didn't need any protection at all.

In principle, the three sisters should be brought back at this time. The Great Yan Dynasty is at a critical moment and should gather all its strength to prepare for the upcoming great battle. The three sisters are all suitable to fill the gaps on the frontier at this time.

However, the appearance of the Sirens allowed the Great Yan to disregard the border vulnerability caused by the power reversion, and those aquatic lolis could even withstand natural disasters.

"Sigh, but speaking of which, where did Mei Xue go this time?"

Looking around, Nian found no sign of the little fox. Instead, Linglan and Cecilia were sitting together chatting about the story in the storybook.

"It seems like he went to the backyard just now, probably to cook again."

Ling was used to it; Mei Xue was always busy. The Reunion Movement members would be leaving soon, so Mei Xue planned to spend the afternoon with them, as well as her two good younger brothers, Ino and Sasha.

However, unlike what Ling had expected, Mei Xue had another person with her, none other than the Grand Tutor who had returned at some unknown time.

"So, you've still decided to celebrate the New Year?"

With increased heat and skillful stirring, Mei Xue's cooking skills became increasingly adept. The usually stern-faced Grand Tutor stood beside her, nodding slightly, and couldn't help but glance at Mei Xue a few more times.

It's hard to imagine that the fox spirit of the Great Yan would be such an existence. He looks like a child who is only a little over ten years old, but he does indeed shoulder the fate of the Great Yan and even the entire Terra. Nowadays, almost everyone in the Great Yan grew up listening to the story of the fox spirit, and the Grand Tutor himself is no exception.

"Don't you need my help?"

"...This is a matter for the Great Yan itself. If we rely too much on the Fox Fairy, the Great Yan will become like a child in a cradle. We should take this opportunity to completely eliminate the hidden dangers."

Mei Xue knew that the Fox Fairy was just a spiritual symbol of the Great Yan Dynasty, so he never thought of himself as great. The title of Fox Fairy was given by the Great Yan Dynasty, and the story was promoted by the Great Yan Dynasty. Although this was to make the Great Yan Dynasty an anchor to consolidate its existence, the "Fox Fairy" also became an anchor to stabilize the hearts and minds of the people of the Great Yan Dynasty.

However, this also has hidden dangers. The fox spirit holds a very high position in the hearts of the people. So even though his agreement with the Great Yan is based on equality, some people worry that he might become a future threat to the Great Yan, and the greatest danger at that.

"But even so, all living beings are subject to fate, and humans are not plants or trees, how can they be without feelings? There will inevitably be casualties in this battle. I ask the fox spirit to secretly assist us. Those soldiers are prepared to die, but if possible... I hope that fewer names will be engraved on the monument to the martyrs."

The Great Yan Dynasty is bound to usher in a new round of growth. A thousand years ago, when disasters broke out in all directions, Mei Xue took action out of concern for the common people. As a result, everyone in the Great Yan Dynasty praised the name of the Fox Fairy. Fortunately, the imperial court spent a lot of effort to maintain the Fox Fairy at the level of a spiritual symbol, so that the people of the Great Yan Dynasty would not blindly pray to gods and immortals. This time, the return of the Fox Fairy is also a test to see what changes the appearance of the Fox Fairy will bring.

Although the outcome was much better than expected, the people of Shangshu warmly welcomed the fox spirit, but they were not foolish enough to seek any opportunity or divine blessing. However, there were always some people who still harbored unrealistic fantasies. If the fox spirit were to openly appear in the events to come, even if it could perfectly resolve the threat of the Sui beast, the fox spirit's existence would inevitably be exploited and become a handle to shake the foundation of the Great Yan. As for Mei Xue herself, she could not interfere in the court because of the agreement made years ago.

But... even if it were truly to achieve "human will can conquer nature," how could the Grand Tutor be willing to let the soldiers of a city fight to the death, even if it was their duty and responsibility, a war they had long been aware of and vowed never to retreat from?

As the Grand Tutor, his job was to seek peace and harmony for the Great Yan, to ensure the people's well-being and prosperity, and to give the soldiers more opportunities and chances of victory.

"This time... I'll have to rely on you again to cover for me."

Thinking it over, the Grand Tutor understood the True Dragon's intention back then. Indeed, with the power of the Great Yan, even without the help of the Fox Fairy and the Year Beast, it would not be impossible to wipe out the giant beasts other than the Fox Fairy. However, the cost would be too high. The True Dragon felt compassion and hoped to reduce the losses for the Great Yan. He also agreed to Mei Xue's conditions, prioritizing the expulsion of the giant beasts and killing them as a secondary strategy.

So, Mei Xue was the one who covered the fallback during that hunting battle back then, and he was also the one who covered the fallback during the disaster a thousand years ago. Now, we can only rely on him.

"It's alright, I'll take care of it."

Mei Xue nodded. This was originally his responsibility. To be honest, the little fox could fully understand the Grand Tutor's thoughts. The people of Da Yan could believe in fox spirits and learn many lessons from their stories, but they could never regard fox spirits as a lifeline, and they could never live in the cradle of fox spirits forever. Flowers in a greenhouse cannot withstand the ravages of wind and rain.

The little fox himself was happy to be a fox spirit with only a title. It was he who proposed the idea that man can conquer nature. He would become the last trump card of the Great Yan. However, the true dragon had long predicted that if the fox spirit took too deep root in people's hearts, it would become a weakness in the hearts of the people of the Great Yan. What would they do when the fox spirit was no longer there?

Therefore, it's best for Mei Xue to keep this matter to herself. If the fox spirit doesn't make a move, it's Mei Xue who will. Well, that should solve the problem. After all, even if the soldiers of the Great Yan Army are prepared to perish together with Sui, as the Grand Tutor said, wouldn't it be a good thing if fewer people died?

Besides, Mei Xue didn't want Sui to die. Since they were friends in the past, someone who could become a friend couldn't be too bad. He just wanted to know what caused Sui's misfortune.

Despite the fact that the two of them helped the Great Yan together back then, only the legend of the fox spirit survived, which became a secret and a hidden danger for the Great Yan.

"Aren't you going to stay for a meal?"

"No need. The Fox Fairy Bride's assessment is over. I should head to Jade Gate."

The Grand Tutor shook his head slightly. He was preoccupied with the affairs of the Great Yan Kingdom and could not rest for a moment. After finishing his business in Shangshu, he would head to Yumen, which would be the fortress for fighting against Sui, and was of utmost importance.

What do you think of lily of the valley?

"She's a good girl, and she deserves you."

Although this sentence was not embellished, it basically confirmed Linglan's identity as a fox spirit bride. This is why the Grand Tutor only asked her nine questions in the ten minutes he met her. The first eight questions were just to use some anecdotes to explore her personality. Of course, even if Linglan was pretending, she could not hide it from the Grand Tutor's eyes. This girl was indeed consistent inside and out.

The last question is the key. When the Grand Tutor asked her, "If the fox spirit were to sacrifice herself for the world, what would you do?" she only said, "Weigh the pros and cons, and then fully support her."

Weighing the pros and cons is to prevent Mei Xue from overlooking something, misjudging the situation, and making the wrong decision, while giving her full support is what a lover should do.

(After all, even she was a spy planted by my sister in her early years, so how could she not be suitable for me?)

Mei Xue sighed helplessly in her heart. There was a legend of fox spirits in Da Yan, and there was one in Dong Guo as well. Here was Mei Xue, and there was Su Xue'er. She went to Dong Guo and took the god of Volper there as her believer. Those people were the ancestors of Ling Lan.

"In that case, I shall take my leave."

He bowed respectfully. The Grand Tutor actually held Mei Xue in high esteem. This little ancestor had saved the people of the Great Yan from disasters several times, sparing tens or even hundreds of thousands of people from calamities. Her blessings have continued to this day. Who could not admire and respect her? The reason he hadn't been so polite in front of Ning Ciqiu and the others was merely to maintain a superficial attitude, reflecting the Great Yan's stance.

You still have sixty years to live.

But just as the Grand Tutor was about to turn around, Mei Xue said something that made him stop in his tracks. He pondered the meaning of her words, then smiled with relief, as if a huge weight had been lifted from his heart.

Because he had already decided to live and die with the soldiers of Yumen, even if Mei Xue had spoiled the outcome, it wasn't so bad. His worries were greatly reduced, and he felt joy. His brows, which had been furrowed for decades, relaxed, and he finally smiled.

"Brother Meixue! We're here!"

No sooner had the Grand Tutor left than Ino and Sasha arrived. The two little ones had grown quite a bit taller during this time, successfully surpassing Mei Xue, which greatly discouraged the little fox. He felt that he must ask Su Xue'er if she had any way to help him grow taller.

However, although a lot of time has passed and they have grown up a bit, Ino and Sasha's personalities have not changed. The former is sunny and cheerful and has become the second little angel of the Reunion Movement after Mei Xue. The latter is taciturn, which may be a professional habit. When she is silent, her presence is very low and she is not easily noticed.

"You've grown up, Ino, and Sasha too. Here, here are your red envelopes."

Mei Xue took out two red envelopes from his tail and handed them over. He gave them 888 Lungmen Dollars, just like he did for Nian. Of course, it wasn't that he was reluctant to give Cecilia the same amount, but Ino and Sasha didn't have that many material needs. He just wanted something auspicious. The gift he gave them was something else.

"Ino, open your mouth."

"Hmm? Ah~"

Although he didn't know what Mei Xue was going to do, Ino obediently opened his mouth, and then he saw Mei Xue put something into his mouth. It was hard at first, but it melted in his mouth and turned into something like juice. He subconsciously drank it down.

"Sasha, you too."

"Oh……"

Sasha gave a curt reply and opened his mouth to be fed the same thing by Mei Xue. Because of their unconditional trust in Mei Xue, neither of them asked what it was.

"Well?"

A few seconds later, Ino suddenly felt a heat rising all over her body, especially in her throat, but she wasn't thirsty. Sasha, on the other hand, felt itchy all over and couldn't help but want to scratch.

But this feeling only lasted a few seconds before it quickly subsided. Mei Xue took out the steamed sausages and placed them aside, humming a little tune as she continued to cook them.

"What I'm giving you to eat, well, you don't need to worry too much about what it is. Just think of it as something to suppress your Oripathy. Ino, your throat is fine now."

Upon hearing this, Ino couldn't help but touch his throat and found that it really didn't hurt anymore. For a moment, he didn't know what to say. He had once been envied because of his melodious singing voice, and his throat was infected with Originium, which prevented him from singing freely ever since. This became a knot in his heart forever. If it weren't for Alina's guidance, he might have become psychologically twisted long ago.

Now that Mei Xue had resolved the issue so casually, he was at a loss for what to do.

"But speaking of which, I'm curious about something. I'm not worried about Ino. Sunshine is also very cute, so I'm sure many people in the Reunion Movement will like her."

Hearing Mei Xue praise her for being cute, Ino blushed and lowered her head. She almost wanted to dig a hole with her foot and hide inside. For some reason, she suddenly remembered the heartwarming scene she saw when she went to find Mei Xue during the Reunion Movement.

(Ino, am I going to be turned gay...?)

Seeing Ino blushing and not knowing where to put his face, Sasha's lips twitched slightly, but the next second Mei Xue brought up the topic with him.

"But Sasha, you've always been so cold. What will you do if you can't find a girlfriend in the future?"

So Faust (Sasha) was also asked this question and lowered his head, with only one thought in his mind.

So what if you're so great? You're high-definition, you're 4K, fine? Do you think everyone is like you, surrounded by a bunch of girls wherever they go?

Chapter 18 Frostnova in a Hurry to Get Married

"So, when we found Mei Xue, we thought she was only 14 years old. We didn't expect her to be older than all of us, and she was so sweet when she called us 'sister'."

Alina couldn't help but tease her. Unconscious cuteness was undoubtedly one of Mei Xue's endearing qualities. The little fox was so cute that one couldn't help but want to rub it a couple of times. Back then, Mei Xue had amnesia and lacked common sense. She was most attached to Talulah. Although she wasn't as easy to fool as before, it didn't seem to take much effort.

"Yeah, yeah, sigh, I was quite startled by Ursus's internal guards back then. My biggest regret is sending him to Lungmen. If he had stayed with Reunion, at most... at most a few people would have fought with me for him, right?"

Talulah herself was a little unsure when she said this, because there were quite a few beautiful and single girls in the Reunion Movement, such as Mudrock and Zaoru, whom Patriot was concerned about. The old man had been telling the two of them how good his Meixue was, and it seemed that he had even successfully aroused Zaoru's interest.

"How many people? You're dreaming. Don't forget that romantic luck is also a kind of good luck. Besides, quite a few people in the Reunion Movement are here for Mei Xue, like Lilia."

"Ugh... Damn it, Mei Xue, can't you stop messing around with a few women?"