A Fox’s Determination

His words left the remaining three somewhat surprised. Only Xiao Qi, the fox girl, gently rose from her chair, moving a bit clumsily to stand before Boss Guo. She studied him for a long moment, then closed her eyes and took a few soft sniffs around him with her small nose. Finally, her ears drooped, and she spoke in a dejected whisper, “Ah wu, your scent, and your appearance… they really are a bit different from my brother’s. Even though you feel very similar to him, ah wu, it seems you’re truly not my brother…”

Her voice grew softer until it was nearly choked with tears.

My heart ached for her. I stepped over, hoping to distract her, and said gently, “Don’t cry, Xiao Qi. Don’t cry. Hmm, what does your brother actually look like? Or, why don’t you tell us about you, your brother, and your sister? Maybe we can find some clues to help you locate them.”

My soothing words seemed to calm her a little. The others, including Boss Guo, were also curious about the little fox’s past, so they gathered around, consoling her while listening intently to her story.

Unfortunately, her narrative was fragmented, disjointed, and full of leaps. From her account, we could only glean a rough outline.

According to her, it seemed she had tried to master the transformation spell despite insufficient cultivation. This left her memories of the past hazy. The clearest recollection was from long ago, when she and her sister were still foxes. Her brother had saved them, helping them escape into Black Dragon Pond, where the terrain sheltered them from human hunters. There, they successfully cultivated their fox spirits. About two years ago, her sister, who had transformed first, left the pond for an important reason. She went into the human world to find the brother who had saved them long ago. But she never returned, and there was no news. Xiao Qi stayed alone in the pond, missing her sister and brother desperately. After two long years, she couldn’t bear it anymore and forcibly practiced the transformation spell. Though she barely succeeded, it damaged her memories. Then she too left the pond, re-entering the human world to find her sister and brother. She eventually tracked them to Tianwu University, but was ambushed and hunted, forcing her to hide in the bushes where Boss Guo happened to find her.

The details were muddled and confused, as she had only recently transformed and was not fluent in human speech. Yet even so, the hardships of her journey were painfully clear.

When she finished, the four of us in the dorm fell into a heavy silence.

I looked at the little girl sitting among us, her pointed ears drooping slightly to the sides, and felt even more sympathy.

Before I could speak, Boss Guo asked in a low voice, “So, um… Xiao Qi, what do you plan to do now?”

The little fox girl lifted her chin stubbornly. “Ah wu, I want to find my sister and brother, then bring my brother back to Black Dragon Pond with us.”

The three of us exchanged glances. Only Boss Guo didn’t move. After we quieted down, he continued slowly, “But Xiao Qi, do you know why those people are after you? You… you might be… they could… well, it’s something very bad. You’re in danger. How about this… how about we send you back to Black Dragon Pond? What do you say?”

He looked at me and the other two. We all agreed with Boss Guo. Sympathizing with Xiao Qi’s plight, we nodded in support.

But Xiao Qi was surprisingly stubborn. She looked around at us, her pointed ears twitching forward, then flattening briefly before standing straight up. “Ah wu, I’m not afraid of danger. I want to find my sister and brother. I can only go back after I find them!”

Boss Guo’s brow furrowed deeply, his gaze sharp as he stared at Xiao Qi. She seemed a bit intimidated, shrinking back slightly. My heart went out to her. I stood up, walked over, and gently placed my hands on her shoulders.

This gesture seemed to give her courage. She bit her lip and said firmly, “I will find my sister and brother before I go back! I’ve traveled so far! I can almost feel their presence! I won’t give up now!”

Through my palms on her shoulders, I could feel her small body trembling as she spoke. Her fox ears were flattened with fear, yet she insisted on finishing her words. Her voice was thin and childish, but carried a stubbornness that defied wind and rain, swords and snow.

“No, it’s too dangerous. Every moment you stay in Tianwu University now could be fatal. Xiao Qi, be good and let us send you away!” Boss Guo countered sternly.

“Boss, Xiao Qi… she… since she insists, why don’t we help her find her sister and brother?” The usually unserious Yang Laoer now sat upright, speaking with deep seriousness.

“Second brother is right. Boss, you said we should send Xiao Qi back, but from what you saw and heard when you brought her back yesterday, the hunt for her within Tianwu University is intensifying. In this situation, taking her out would be quite difficult,” I added from behind Xiao Qi. She turned her head slightly and gave me a grateful look.

Linghu Ruoxu, who had been blushing and fidgeting from the start, timidly raised a hand as if answering in class. “I-I also support Second Brother and Old Fourth. Boss, taking Xiao Qi out of the dorm at this time really isn’t appropriate. Please reconsider!”

If I remembered correctly, this was almost the first time Linghu Ruoxu had formally addressed Xiao Qi by name. Considering his lolicon tendencies, this was quite commendable!