Chapter 61: Foxing Around

"Ying-ying-ying—"

Ansheng gave Lin Ying’s head a light, exasperated tap, signaling her to stop overthinking such bizarre scenarios.

Compared to those malevolent spiritual beasts that wreaked havoc, he was truly just an ordinary little fox.

No one would be so bored as to sneak into Yu Xueqing’s bedroom, pry open his legs, and declare their intention to strip him of his bells, thereby forcing him into a violent rampage.

Besides, it wasn't as though he had never been to the forestry bureau before. When that old birdman Lao Chen called the police to arrest him last time, hadn't he slipped right out of there safe and sound?

So really, my dear Miss Lin, please stop imagining such strange things.

Originally, Ansheng’s conscience was as clear as day.

Yet, listening to you murmur ghost stories right in my ear has actually scared me into frightening myself.

"............"

After taking a few hits from the fox's soft paw pads, Lin Ying’s emotions gradually settled, returning to her usual slightly deadpan expression.

"I apologize... The medication I take contains dopamine regulators, which makes my emotions prone to extremes. Lord Fuli has saved my life twice and now places such deep trust in me, which caused me to become overly emotional..."

"Just now, my mind was entirely occupied with how I could possibly repay Lord Fuli's immense kindness."

As the surge of excitement subsided and the sedative components in her medication took effect once more, Lin Ying spoke calmly.

"Ying-ying-ying........"

Ansheng shook his head and typed on his phone:

[Forget about repaying kindness and all that. I just happened to run into you and lent a hand; don't blow it out of proportion. If you really want to repay me, just treat me to some food and drinks.]

[By the way, the reason I came over today isn't to talk about repaying favors. Bring the items I ordered online and accompany me to Xixi Teahouse. After that, I'll take you to scout out a location where spiritual beasts are known to roam.]

[However, we better move quickly. I'm afraid that if I get home too late, A-qing will start worrying about me.]

Using a single claw to type, Ansheng was excruciatingly slow. Once he finished the entire message, he pushed the screen toward Lin Ying, asking her to do him a small favor.

Traveling from Changxi Town to Xixi Teahouse—where Peak Consulting was located—took about fifteen minutes by car.

As for traveling from Changxi Town to Changping Mountain Pet Paradise, it required over an hour of driving.

Given Ansheng's physical stamina, making the journey to those places on his own feet was certainly no problem.

However, when a car was available, who would actually prefer to walk?

Ansheng's primary purpose in seeking out Lin Ying today was to retrieve the little gadgets he had purchased online, and to ask Lin Ying to arrange a chauffeur-driven vehicle to transport him to and from his daily "work."

However.

Ansheng's timing for this visit was rather unfortunate, coinciding precisely with the argument between Lin Ying and the elder of the Lin family, thereby exposing him to truths about the world's hidden side.

Spiritual beasts?

Lin Ying's worries were not entirely groundless. In the Xia Nation, spiritual beasts were classified as strategic resources, equivalent in status to nuclear materials. Their protection and containment meant that under no circumstances could they be allowed to leak out into the open.

Once official authorities caught wind of them, action was guaranteed.

That being said, Ansheng was still somewhat curious about how the authorities would capture him if they ever discovered his existence.

Ansheng wasn't entirely certain of the limits of his own strength, but ever since his battle with the mammoth at Slender Dog Ravine, he knew very well that he could stand his ground and withstand the full-speed charge of a wild boar weighing over a thousand pounds.

The impact of their collision was no less powerful than two high-speed electric trams crashing head-on.

The result? Ansheng remained completely unscathed, merely pushed back half a meter while crushing a boulder beneath his paws.

As Lord Fuli in his two-tailed state, how could he possibly be defeated by anything short of tanks and armored vehicles?

Using his own physical prowess as a standard, Ansheng mentally simulated the decision-making process of the authorities.

The conclusion? There was simply no viable method.

Ansheng was a creature of luxury who preferred living comfortably in the city. Deploying tanks and armored vehicles within city limits just to provoke a creature that functioned like a bulldozer would be absolute madness.

Following this train of thought, Ansheng naturally extended his reasoning into a somewhat mischievous direction.

Since he was already this formidable, could he simply apply directly to the state for a National Protected Animal Subsidy?

If they refused to pay, he’d just go pry open a bank vault.

………………

A sleek black business van drove out from Changxi Town and pulled up to the courtyard of Lin Ying's villa.

Having changed into casual attire, Lin Ying slipped a single-shoulder backpack over her shoulder and climbed into the back of the van. She raised the partition between the front and rear seats, pressed a button on the door armrest, and spoke to the driver up front: "Xiao Lin, head to Xixi Teahouse."

"Drive slowly. These vehicles aren't entirely safe," Lin Ying added with a sudden cautionary afterthought.

After closing the partition and giving her instructions, Lin Ying unzipped her backpack.

A fluffy little fox poked its head out, its gaze scanning the interior of the van's cabin.

With an utterly calm expression, Lin Ying explained, "Since I'm currently undergoing medication, I'm temporarily unable to drive. If I were to encounter a roadside checkpoint for drunk driving while on prescription drugs, I'd end up locked up for fifteen days, or perhaps sent straight back to the hospital for a comprehensive physical examination."

Although the drugs Lin Ying was taking complied with pharmaceutical and safety regulations, those laws had nothing to do with road traffic regulations.

If Lin Ying were subjected to a urine test right now, it would undoubtedly show up positive—even if that positive result was purely due to her medication.

"Ying-ying-ying......."

Ansheng waved a paw, emitting a comfortable little chirp as he climbed out of Lin Ying's embrace and settled onto the seat of the spacious airline-style chair beside him.

"Hiss....... The big sofa in this car is fantastic. I'll definitely have to arrange one for A-qing later. She can sit in the driver's seat and handle the driving while I recline in the passenger seat drinking cola."

After bouncing around on the luxury seat for a moment, Ansheng looked over at Lin Ying and tugged at her sleeve.

Instantly comprehending, Lin Ying silently handed her phone over to him with practiced familiarity.

[When we get to the downtown area, help me buy a tube of silicone sealant and a caulking gun. I forgot to buy them earlier.] Ansheng typed out a line on the screen, paused to think, and then pulled the phone back to add:

[Oh right! And a bottle of iced cola, plus five crispy charred meat sausages. If possible, could you also get the fox a takoyaki with actual octopus pieces in it? That would be even better.]

Now that he was out with Lin Ying, Ansheng ordered every single snack that Yu Xueqing usually forbade him from eating.

Truth be told, Yu Xueqing wasn't actually reluctant to spend money on snacks for Ansheng.

It was simply that she worried the junk food might poison the fox, which was why she rarely let him have any—and even when she did, she only allowed him a tiny bite or two.

Faced with Lord Fuli's request, Lin Ying agreed without hesitation. She pressed the intercom button on the car console and instructed the driver to make a detour through the culinary street before heading to the teahouse.

Inside the moving vehicle, Xiao Lin followed Lin Ying's instructions, pulling up to the food street to purchase all the requested items.

"Silicone sealant....... What is that used for?"

As the van continued on toward Changled Street, Lin Ying helped Ansheng load the tube of sealant into the caulking gun. A faint ripple crossed her otherwise tranquil face as she softly asked.

[Applying some sealant to an enemy.]

Ansheng typed with supreme confidence on the phone:

[Don't you worry about the little fox's affairs. If I don't personally rig their sewage pipes to explode, I won't be able to swallow this grievance. When people are despicable, a fox has to step in and handle them!]

"Ying-ying-ying!"

Ansheng stood up on his hind legs, planted one paw triumphantly on the center armrest, and struck an extraordinarily arrogant and domineering pose.

"........."

Gazing at the striking black bullseye pattern emblazoned across his snow-white belly, Lin Ying fell silent for a moment, then gently averted her eyes.