After Being Picked Up by a Fox Spirit

[Coming next: A Concubine's Predicament]

Synopsis at the bottom

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The little fox Qian Ling diligently cultivated for five hundred years, barely managing to take human form. Though she was astonishingly beautiful, she couldn't keep her tail from popping out.

One snowy day, she found a man on the verge of death.

His black robes were covered in blood, and he was clearly gravely injured. Even unconscious, he furrowed his brow, looking exceptionally handsome. Qian Ling brought him back to her cave and secretly cared for him for several days.

Lu Wuci had been pursued to the end of his escape route. He thought he was certain to die, but when he opened his eyes, he saw a white fox curled up on him.

In weather this bitterly cold, if not for the warmth this little creature had given him, he would have frozen to death long ago.

Grateful for saving his life, Lu Wuci took the fox back to the palace.

He thought it was just a little creature to feed and look after, and play with when he was in the mood. But one day, Qian Ling secretly drank half a jar of the Demon Palace's fine wine. Her spiritual power went out of control, and she transformed into a human right in front of Lu Wuci.

Lu Wuci looked at the delicate beauty in his arms, his eyes flashing with admiration. Qian Ling bit her lip, her cheeks puffed up.

She hadn't managed to hide her fox tail, which was swishing back and forth, fully visible to the tall man before her.

Oh no, fox tails aren't supposed to be shown to humans. Sob.

When Qian Ling first met Lu Wuci, he was barely clinging to life in the snow.

She knew nothing of good and evil. She only knew that he was extraordinarily handsome, so she couldn't resist bringing him into her cave to care for him.

She had planned to keep him as a decoration. But she used up all her spiritual energy and turned into a fox first, so by the time Lu Wuci woke up, she was a fluffy little creature.

Snow fell thickly, and all was silent.

The only thing that stood out in the cave was a patch of white fur.

When Qian Ling saw the handsome man wake, she happily rubbed against the back of his hand. But the moment her fur brushed him, Lu Wuci pinned her down without mercy.

Qian Ling looked up at his slightly cold expression. His voice was cool and hoarse:

"Don't move."

Qian Ling felt as if her fur had frozen: This is infuriating! I saved you, and I'm not even allowed to touch you? What kind of logic is that?

Humans are bad! Humans are bad!

?

Everyone knew that Lu Wuci, ruler of the human realm, was cool and aloof, with a meticulous mind. No one had ever seen him moved by anything, and no one could imagine that he might have a favorite.

Only Lu Wuci knew that his favorite thing was in the palm of his hand.

Lu Wuci especially loved stroking Qian Ling's tail. He was even secretly obsessed with the feeling of its fluffy tip sweeping across his palm.

He thought the fox was merely a little more intelligent than most, but one day she secretly drank half a jar of the Demon Palace's fine wine. Her spiritual power went out of control, and she transformed into a human right in front of him.

Qian Ling hadn't had a chance to pull her tail back. It simply lay in his palm.

"Don't touch it!"

There was no telling what emotions lay in Lu Wuci's eyes. He drew his beloved little fox into his arms and twirled the tip of her tail with his long, pale fingers.

"But you like it, don't you? It feels nice when I stroke it, doesn't it?"

"Can I stroke it gently?"

Qian Ling: No! Let go of my tail!

[Reading guide:

1. Includes demons, spirits, immortals, cultivation, and other such elements.

2. The heroine begins as a fox spirit with little spiritual power and gradually grows stronger.

3. The hero is not an ordinary human ruler. He has a special identity, and his powers gradually awaken.

4. Couple: Emperor x fox spirit]

[Advance Preview]

My next novel will be [A Concubine's Predicament] (a groveling redemption story).

Please add it to your collection!

Qi Wan arrived at the general's residence in a sedan chair, but her husband, Shen Peizhi, was nowhere to be seen. She knew at once that he did not approve of this forced marriage.

Her uncle had arranged for her to be sent to the general's residence as a concubine. She could never return to the Qi family, so all she could do was stay with the Shen family and hope for a stable place to live.

Qi Wan kept to herself day after day. General Shen never treated her discourteously, but he never cared for her either.

When arranging her lodgings, he only had the housekeeper tell her, "It's quiet here and suited for recuperation."

At a banquet, when guests teased her, he merely said, "She's a concubine in my household. There's no need to discuss her further."

When she tried to bring him a cup of hot tea, his personal guards stopped her outside his tent: "The general is discussing official matters. Please return, Madam."

Even when she was pregnant and asked for another brazier, all she got was: "Follow the standard allotment. The household rules cannot be broken."

Qi Wan thought that, given enough time, she might eventually warm the general's heart.

Until the enemy launched a night raid and chaos erupted in the camp.

Qi Wan instinctively tried to find Shen Peizhi, but ran into the general's deputy.

His voice was hurried and impatient:

"Madam Qi, hurry and pack. The general has ordered everyone not involved to evacuate to the western camp."

She froze, then asked slowly, "Did the general make any arrangements for me?"

The deputy answered word by word, "The general did not mention you."

Just a few days ago, Shen Peizhi had gently caressed her and their child, murmuring words of comfort. Now he made no effort to protect her, as if the two of them had nothing to do with him.

Qi Wan suddenly felt it was all terribly pointless.

Under the cover of night, she ran away.

Shen Peizhi was born into a wealthy, prestigious family. He had followed his father and older brothers onto the battlefield since childhood, and inherited the position of general upon coming of age. Everyone admired him.

But after an accident, he was set up and spent the night with a merchant's daughter. With no other choice, he married her as his concubine.

Enemies from beyond the border repeatedly harassed the frontier. Thanks to General Shen's defense, the situation gradually stabilized, and everyone wondered what kind of woman could be worthy of him.

General Shen was the apple of the court's eye, and the Shen family held enormous influence. Yet everyone knew he was looking for another concubine throughout the land.

Everyone wanted to make a connection with him. Some even went to great lengths to find women who resembled her and offer them to him, only to be firmly rejected.

Then, five years later, at a night banquet in Jiangnan.

Qi Wan, who now controlled half of Jiangnan's economy, was chatting and laughing with the eldest princess.

She sat in the seat of honor, dressed in finery and radiant, speaking quietly with a refined young nobleman beside her.

Whatever he said made her cover her mouth and laugh. Her eyes sparkled, and her expression was brighter and more carefree than Shen Peizhi had ever seen.

Shen Peizhi stood frozen, his gaze fixed on the unbearable sight.

In front of everyone, he lost control and strode toward her, his voice hoarse and trembling:

"Wanwan..."

Qi Wan looked up at the sound of his voice. The smile faded from her lips, and her usually smiling eyes turned unreadable. She spoke in her usual cool voice:

"General, have you taken leave of your senses?"

"The physician is just behind me. If you're feeling unwell, you can take my calling card and go see him."

Theme: Take steady steps toward lasting success.