Chapter 127: Tao Yaoyao, the Demon Catcher

Xiao Jianjian said nothing.

A moment later, he withdrew the paw he had placed on Eight-Tail’s pulse. "He is simply exhausted and is otherwise fine. Both his internal and external injuries are healing gradually. Do not worry; he will be better after a good sleep."

...

The air was thick with a hint of awkwardness.

Tao Yaoyao gripped Eight-Tail’s fox paw tightly. "Thank you, Mouse Deity and Sister Lian. It is just that... I never want to lose Brother Eight-Tail again."

Lian looked at the desolate surroundings and suddenly realized a problem. "The illusion is gone. This forest will take at least several decades to recover. Where will you go from here?"

Tao Yaoyao looked at the little fox in her arms with infinite tenderness, then raised her head to look at the soul glowing in the sunlight. "Sister Lian, may we follow you?"

"Are you sure Eight-Tail won't regret it once he wakes up? Besides, following me requires a contract." Lian was not surprised by Tao Yaoyao’s request, as she had already been considering taking them in to keep Xiao Ling and the others company.

Tao Yaoyao shook her head. "Brother Eight-Tail would not begrudge my decision. My intuition tells me that following Sister Lian will bring more benefits than harm. Besides, it is only an equal contract, right?"

Lian locked eyes with Tao Yaoyao for three seconds and burst into laughter. "So, the little hummingbird isn't cowardly at all—she was only timid because she had a fox to protect."

Tao Yaoyao smiled back, biting her fingertip while using her demon energy to gently prick a tiny cut on the fox’s paw. Her movements were soft and delicate, a far cry from the rough way she treated herself.

Lian followed suit, pricking her own finger.

Three drops of blood rose into the air. "By my blood, I summon thee into this pact!"

A complex Sanskrit inscription formed in the sky, eventually descending into the brows of Eight-Tail, Tao Yaoyao, and Lian.

"This contract... it feels different from the usual ones."

Tao Yaoyao suddenly felt as if she had boarded a pirate ship.

[Of course it's different! The Master is the reincarnation of a Goddess born of heaven and earth. To sign a contract with her is to bind your lives together for eternity!]

Tao Yaoyao: I knew it was a pirate ship.

Lian had not known her own identity would produce such an effect, but the benefits brought by the Bone-Growing Grass, Xiao Ling, and Xiao Jianjian’s successive evolutions, coupled with the six lotus petals she had already collected, told her that this effect was indeed real.

Lian felt a bit bashful. She had intended to warn Tao Yaoyao, but seeing her sincere expression, she held her tongue. "Um, sorry about that!"

Tao Yaoyao did not seem to mind at all. "It doesn't matter. Brother Eight-Tail and I have nowhere else to go anyway. It wouldn't be bad to travel around and see the world with Sister Lian."

"That's right! Following Sister is the best! We can go play in other worlds and grow our cultivation for no reason at all!"

Hm?

Who was speaking?

Tao Yaoyao looked around, unaware that the little creature speaking was currently resting by her feet.

[Xiao Ling! Why did you come out!]

Xiao Jianjian hurried over from Lian’s shoulder to stand next to the Mirage Spirit.

Tao Yaoyao finally spotted the little Mirage Spirit—a Xiao Jianjian that could turn invisible, though without any fur. "Who are you?"

Xiao Ling hopped onto Tao Yaoyao’s shoulder. "Hello! My name is Xiao Ling, I am Sister’s contracted beast!"

Tao Yaoyao looked at the palm-sized creature. "Hello! I am Tao Yaoyao, a Turquoise Hummingbird, and this is Brother Eight-Tail!"

"From now on, we are all Sister’s guardian beasts. We must get along well. Sister Yan is also in the space; you will meet her soon."

After the little ones finished their introductions, Tao Yaoyao used her intent to move everyone into the portable space.

It had been a while since she last entered the space. The herbs in the medicine field had grown by half a palm’s length; in a few more days, they would be ready for another harvest.

Not far away, several fruit trees—originally common saplings Lian had transplanted from outside—had grown into spirit fruit trees under the nourishment of the space’s abundant spiritual energy. One bite was enough to fill the mouth with fresh fragrance and juice, while also replenishing spiritual power.

The spirit spring beside the medicine field remained as clear and sweet as ever.

Lian had previously instructed Xiao Jianjian to dig a small tributary from the spring toward the medicine field. It now resembled a small stream, lacking only a pair of koi fish.

The Nirvana fire was stored under the purple bamboo grove. The grove had sprouted many new shoots; it would be a shame if no one enjoyed them, as they were all infused with spiritual energy.

Upon entering the space, Tao Yaoyao’s reaction was no different from that of the Mirage Spirit and the Bone-Growing Grass earlier. Her mouth hung slightly open, her eyes widened. "This... is this all Sister Lian’s?"

"Uh-huh!"

"And this huge medicine field is yours too?"

"Uh-huh!"

"The spirit spring, the spirit fruits, the purple bamboo grove?"

"Uh-huh!"

"Wow! Sister Lian! You are so wealthy! Can I use these for Brother Eight-Tail?"

"Uh-huh!"

Tao Yaoyao was moved to tears. Since she was born, besides Brother Eight-Tail who had always been the kindest to her, she had now gained a Sister Lian!

In Tao Yaoyao’s heart, Brother Eight-Tail was first, and Sister Lian had already ascended to the second position!

"Thank you, Sister Lian!"

Lian nodded. Inside the space, the spiritual energy was so abundant that her soul form felt slightly more solidified.

"If you need anything in the future, just tell Xiao Jianjian. It can provide plenty of things; pills and such are in endless supply. Aside from that ancient zither, feel free to play with whatever you want. Just try to get along!"

Lian was in a fantastic mood today. She had nearly lost her soul in the first half of the day, yet by the second half, she had gained a Celestial Fox. Although the little hummingbird’s cultivation was low, she was cute and pleasant to have around!

It was a great deal—a massive profit. It was well worth the drop of her essence blood.

"...Yaoyao..."

"Brother Eight-Tail!" Feeling movement in her embrace, Tao Yaoyao looked down to see the fox, who had just been sleeping, now watching her with open eyes.

"Brother Eight-Tail! You’re awake!"

"Yaoyao... are you alright?"

Eight-Tail had learned his lesson this time. Knowing he was in his fox form and that his claws might hurt Yaoyao, he no longer reached out to stroke her cheek.

"I’m fine! It’s all thanks to your demon core protecting my heart! Brother Eight-Tail, thank you!" Tao Yaoyao clutched her chest.

"It is I who should thank you. If not for you, I would likely not have become a Fox Immortal."

Eight-Tail was comforted. His judgment had been correct; the little one had not abandoned him, and he had not abandoned her.

"Where is this?"

[This is the Master’s portable space!]

Xiao Jianjian chimed in first.

"No wonder the spiritual energy here is so abundant; it is what awakened me." Eight-Tail looked at his surroundings, his expression showing no great surprise—he was clearly a fox who had seen the world.

"Um... Brother Eight-Tail... I..." Tao Yaoyao scratched her head, the words stuck in her throat.

"Are you referring to the contract with the Goddess? It matters not to me. On the contrary, it is my honor to sign a contract with her. It is just that... my cultivation is not what it once was, and I fear I may not be of much help to her."

Eight-Tail truly lived up to his reputation as a fox who had spent thousands of years in the human world; every word he spoke was pleasing to the ear.