Chapter 296: One Mountain Cannot Hold Two Foxes

“Fox King.”

An Sheng, who was enjoying a technician’s service, narrowed his eyes slightly upon hearing the Arctic Fox mention that behind the “Fox Kingdom” lay a Fox King.

If the opponent was a fox, then it explained why the “Fox Kingdom” promotional video on the Note Platform could brazenly steal his ideas with such confidence.

After all,

The opponent was a fox spirit beast, inherently possessing an advantage in communicating with foxes.

It was no great feat for it to order its underlings to mimic his livestream antics and seductive displays.

Realizing this connection, An Sheng’s small face grew serious.

The livestream industry was already cutthroat; Qing’s livestream had just begun to gain traction, and she hadn’t even landed an ad yet—yet the other side was already copying her cute and seductive acts to steal traffic.

“On the internet’s mountain peak, there can only be one fox.”

“Don’t blame me for being ruthless—today, if I don’t send you to the research institute to share a dorm bed, tomorrow, Qing and I will starve to death on the streets.”

“The struggle for succession has always been this way,” An Sheng’s fox face grew sharp.

“By the way, Arctic Fox brother, can you tell me about the Fox King?”

“The Fox King is incredibly beautiful, petite and dainty. Apparently, she was smuggled back by Old Qiu, meant to be sold as a pet—but he never expected she was a majestic, heaven-chosen fox, and broke him.”

“A female fox?”

“Yes! The Fennec Fox King is stunning—I saw her once from afar, and I’ve never forgotten her.”

Fennec fox. A small fox.

Adult size is just slightly larger than a size 45 slipper.

What does “petite” have to do with “majestic”?

After learning the true identity of the Fox Kingdom’s master from the Arctic Fox, An Sheng froze.

“But—”

“Even females aren’t exempt—you stole my nighttime cute-and-seductive patent. Females get at least two extra hammer blows.”

………

“Wow! Such a warm, healing scene.”

An Sheng, enjoying his treatment, remained dazed and oblivious the entire time, completely unaware of the passing time.

Just as he finished ear cleaning and was receiving the technician’s essential oil bubble massage on his paw pads, Qing and the others had quietly arrived outside the wellness room’s observation window, gazing at the two little foxes inside with tender affection.

The two little foxes lay sprawled on a towel cushion, limbs outstretched, eyes half-closed, constantly emitting involuntary, blissful little squeaks.

Qing, seeing the scene inside, instinctively pulled out her phone and began recording a short video.

The recording went flawlessly—no editing was needed before uploading to Note.

The little foxes’ “so good” squeaks made perfect background audio—no adjustments required.

“Qing?”

An Sheng, immersed in his comfort, faintly heard Qing’s voice and turned instinctively, seeing the four of them leaning on the windowsill, holding up their phones to film him.

“What the hell are you doing filming AV here? All your long lenses and short cameras are pointing at my face!”

“If you keep this up, I’m going to start charging,” An Sheng flicked his tail in greeting.

“Huh!?”

The Arctic Fox, startled by the human voice, snapped open its eyes and stared at Qing and the others on the windowsill:

“How could strangers be here? How could our Fox Haven have anyone besides technicians?!”

“Bad people are here! Foxes! Assemble!”

An Sheng knew Qing’s capabilities—she appearing inside the Fox Haven was nothing.

He even suspected that if you gave Qing a rocket capable of reaching space, she’d go to outer space, greet the aliens, and party with them.

“Mmm.”

The Arctic Fox’s alarm squeaks spread outward through the ventilation ducts inside the room.

But the grand, synchronized chorus of foxes gathering as the Arctic Fox expected never came.

First, a red fox poked its head onto the windowsill, staring into the wellness room at the Arctic Fox.

Then, a fennec fox emerged.

One by one, foxes of all kinds popped up on the windowsill like radishes pulled from the soil, peering furtively into the room.

“Oh no—I’ve become the bad fox!” The Arctic Fox stared, dumbfounded, at the foxes gathered around Qing.

The Arctic Fox turned to An Sheng, expression blank, and asked:

“Brother… what’s your master’s background?”

“Probably the Sacred Maiden of the Beast Taming Sect,” An Sheng glanced at the Arctic Fox and went back to enjoying his paw massage.

The haven must remain a fox haven.

Old Nai’s Hailinglong had been had.

………

“Mmmmm.”

The Arctic Fox looked at Qing, who was picking up Xiao An to take him back to sleep, and pleaded with a reluctant tone:

“Tomorrow! Tomorrow morning, when I visit the Fox Kingdom, I’ll bring you something tasty.”

It was late; Qing had enjoyed playing with the little foxes, but the new semester was near—she couldn’t keep staying up until two or three a.m. like during summer vacation.

At the New Agricultural Academy, classes usually began at seven a.m. at the teaching building and ended at ten a.m.

Afternoons ran from half past three until six p.m., concluding the day’s lessons.

Beyond classroom lectures, agricultural academy students mostly spent their time in deep mountains and forests or experimental fields, playing real-life CSGO.

“Qing, in Chang’an—”

Before sleeping, Qing followed her routine and called her parents to report her safety.

Her parents didn’t open their shop until nine or ten p.m.—their nightlife was far livelier than the young’s; it was barely past midnight, so they were surely still awake.

But—

Chen Peipei answered the video call, saw the little fox lying beside Qing, and froze.

“Qing… is that the fox you picked up?”

“Mom! That’s Xiao An!” Qing still hadn’t realized, and said casually: “Xiao An, say hi to Mom.”

“Mmm.”

An Sheng turned his head, lifted his paw, and waved at Chen Peipei through the WeChat video.

“If he’s Xiao An, then… what’s on your dad’s head?” Confused, Chen Peipei turned the camera toward the living room.

A middle-aged man sat in the living room, brewing tea, with a fox perched atop his head, lazily watching TV.

“Oh right! Xiao An arrived in Chang’an even earlier than I did!” At her mother’s reminder, Qing suddenly remembered what she’d forgotten at the airport.

Aunt Lin, seeing Xiao An alone at home, had specially sent him to Chang’an to wait for her to start school.

Then who was the white fox, identical to Xiao An, that she’d been talking to every day on the phone?

Qing and Chen Peipei stared blankly between Xiao An and the Fox Master’s decoy, their faces filled with bewilderment and helplessness.

“What are you talking about?” Yu Zhenghong stepped forward, saw the Fox Master on the video, then looked at the unfamiliar fox on his own head—and froze.

“Xiao An… is that your friend?”

“Mmm,” An Sheng shrugged, then gave the other fox a meaningful glance.

Your mission is done. Find some time to report to Bai. Mention my name—you’ll live in luxury from now on!

“Mmm.”

The Fox Master’s decoy’s eyes lit up, joyfully leapt off the old man’s head, and prepared to flee.

Boss Bai!

One of the Fox Master’s top enforcers—lately, the dogs next door had been gossiping that Boss Bai was now running Stinger missile import-export trade, utterly formidable. If the Fox Master recognized him, wouldn’t this finally bring glory to his ancestors?

The Arctic Fox didn’t hesitate—he turned to run.

But Yu Zhenghong moved swiftly, grabbing the Arctic Fox by the scruff of its neck, muttering:

“You’re not getting away. I knew something was off lately—Fox Master’s powers kept flickering. Turns out you worshipped the wrong incense burner. But you’re not leaving.”

“Even a stray fox is still a blessing.”

The Arctic Fox stared at Yu Zhenghong, utterly baffled.

………

Nighttime.

A white shape poked its head out from under Qing’s blanket, crept furtively onto the windowsill, then climbed up the eaves to the hotel’s rooftop.

(End of Chapter)