Chapter 121 – Return
Aiko returned to her tree. The bitterness slowly vanished and her arm also calmed down.
She was able to sleep peacefully for 3 days straight.
...
"Sob, I'm so pitiful..." The loud, but now quiet male Cultivator sobbed. He didn't expect that little black-clothed person to be so ruthless and left him hanging on the tree for almost 4 days straight! Naturally, he needed to go to the toilet a few times, but he couldn't...
"Ugh, the smell." Aiko recoiled when she got close to him.
She couldn't bear it, her nose was too sensitive to get close to him.
She moved away from him with disgust.
"Please don't leave, Fairy!" He cried out. He would flatter this little girl as much as possible just so he could be released from his suffering. His muscles are now dead stiff and he wouldn't be able to break through the ropes without any assistance.
Aiko frowned. She didn't like him, yet it wouldn't be right to leave him like that, so she picked up a nearby rock and hurled it towards him.
"Aaa! Please don't kill me!" He yelled.
But the rock didn't hit him. He suddenly felt like he was lighter until he crashed into the hard ground. "Ugh." He groaned, but he didn't have a hint of hostility towards her.
Aiko moved towards the girl. She could feel that the girl was stiff. "What?" Aiko asked amused. "It's not like you smell so bad that I couldn't approach you."
The girl's lips twitched, but she didn't say anything, since she didn't want to end up like that guy.
Aiko untied the rope and lowered her to the ground.
Aiko wordlessly collected the Storage Pouches from the dead people, but they were simply too small, only as big as a large backpack. She left those Storage Pouches, as even the Inscription on them were very simple and not worth studying.
They glanced at Aiko, but they didn't voice their opinions. She truly behaved like a prodigal Fox, but only the girl knew that she was a Fox, a fluffy one at that.
Aiko left the place without looking back.
The girl fumbled her dice and smiled, before leaving with the smelly guy. "You should bathe as soon as possible." The girl frowned.
"Sorry..." The guy would normally be livid, but this experience dulled his sharpness and wildness.
The girl nodded slowly and played with her dice once again. She nodded slowly but without a smile.
"You know Divination, Junior Sister?" The loud guy was shocked.
"Yes, Senior Brother." She smiled at him with a fake smile. "It would be best if your current behaviour lasted or you won't live long." She simply said, like an Immortal looking down upon the world.
"This was an eye-opener for me." The guy obediently nodded.
The girl clicked her tongue. "You should be happy she was in a good mood."
"Is she that bad...?" The guy didn't want to believe it, but something inside told him that it was indeed the case.
"Make sure to bring gifts the next time you go out." The girl gave him a friendly reminder.
"Gifts? Why? It's not like I will meet her..." He paused, seeing his Junior Sister giving him the side-eye.
*Gulp*
"Surely I won't meet her again, right?" He felt a sudden sense of foreboding and his Junior Sister's glance only enforced that feeling.
"W-what kind of gifts should I bring?" He stuttered, he didn't want to meet that little demon again.
"Why should I tell you?" The girl rolled her eyes and didn't talk to this blockhead any more.
He sobbed quietly and walked back towards his Sect.
...
Aiko dashed through the Forest. She was now fully rested, so she was able to keep her top speed, whilst being on alert.
There were many dangers along the way, but since she didn't need to engage with them, she was safe. This was a good thing for her as she realized how dangerous these forests are. If she joined the Hunting Peak, she would have to hunt such dangerous creatures and that was simply not worth it. Instead she could just scribble a few Runes on swords or other things and then sell them for spirit stone. Then use those Spirit Stones to buy Beast Cores. That way, she didn't need to go out hunting and risking her life.
Aiko nodded, pleased at her intelligence as she arrived in front of the Sect's gate. She completely disregarded the fact that her hand was not healthy and thus she couldn't create as wonderful Inscriptions as before.
"Halt." One guard said that, but it was a different one from that Muscular Fox, this one was scrawny and small, but still bigger than Aiko.
"It's you." The Muscular Fox returned and frowned when he saw his colleague draw his weapon at his favourite little Fox. "Scram newbie, she is one of us."
"But..." The other guard frowned and didn't budge. In front of him was clearly a Human, but before he could voice his opinion, the Muscular Fox's muscles bulged. "Yes, yes, one of us." He nodded obediently, letting Aiko pass.
"It was already reported that you would return late." The Muscular Fox nodded slowly while observing her. "Any complications?" He asked just in case. He wished he could help her just a little bit.
Aiko didn't mind his attention, she found him kind of cute, especially when he lowered himself so they were at eye level.
"I was poisoned." Aiko didn't conceal it and showed him the injured hand.
He gasped and grabbed that hand, observing it closely, his face frowning and darkening. He had a hard time suppressing his bloodlust. "What happened to the assailants?"
"Head popped." Aiko said without any expression, she was amused by his reaction.
"Good, good. Do you have any Antidote Pills?" He asked attentively.
"Yes, I did, already used it." Aiko nodded.
His face darkened. "You should visit 'Medicine Cultivator'." He advised Aiko.
"I will be visiting my Mate, otherwise I might get dragged away." Aiko giggled. "Since she gave me the Antidote Pills, she should know the effects and what's happening."
"What kind of Grade were they?" He asked. He would give her a few 1st and 2nd Grade Antidote Pills if she didn't have them.
"3rd." Aiko said. She liked that someone cared about her so much, without any hints of them plotting something.
Meanwhile, the other guard was dumbfounded. The glaring and unapproachable bodybuilder was now as tender as a sheep? If he didn't see it, he wouldn't believe it! And what's with his attentive attitude?! Didn't he always coldly glare at the sight of female Foxes?! He couldn't understand what was happening in front of him!
*Pft*
He choked when he heard that those were 3rd Grade Antidote Pills. He would have to spend years of his Sect Contribution Point just to get a piece!
"Good, good." He recovered somewhat, but he was bleeding internally. Who would have thought that her Mate would be so generous that she would reward her with 3rd Grade Antidote Pills. It seems that he doesn't stand a chance against her, but he wouldn't give up just yet! He would observe her more and slowly befriend her!
"Now, go go." He said gently pushing Aiko inside the Fox Village. "You should sort your hand as soon as possible!" He nagged her before she disappeared from his sight.
He sighed shaking his head. "What do I do now..." He then turned to his newbie colleague. "If a single word spread you know what will happen... right?" The Muscular Fox smiled, terrifying the scrawny guard. He nodded like a broken doll.
...
Aiko rushed back into the Shadows Peak to fulfil the missions and visit the Blood Fox.
"You are back." The Libra Fox smiled.
Aiko nodded slowly. "I'm indeed back and I have fulfilled all the missions."
"You have stolen the underwear?" The Libra Fox raised his eyebrow.
Aiko choked up. "Bastard! What do you see me as?!"
"You got a complete bombshell of a Fox as a Mate. You have another 2 bombshells on your team, one even being a Demonic Fox, which are known to be just heavenly in bed. You have changed the outfit to a more alluring one and you have taken a mission about stealing underwear." He summed up his impression of this little... very red Fox.
Aiko was glaring at him with a completely red face. "So what!? Are you jealous that I have Mate like that?!" She didn't have anything to retort as she was too embarrassed to think straight.
"Of course I am!" He slammed his fist on the table and all the papers flew around the room. "Do you know how jealous I am?! Those beauties are just heavenly! I want them to step on-Agh!" He was nailed in his private parts by Aiko's fist. She couldn't bear to listen to him any more and could only think of this solution.
...
"Have you calmed down?" Aiko asked as he was still holding his little treasure.
He nodded obediently.
"Good. I have not stolen anything, but I got a few colours." Aiko gestured.
"Oh..." He blushed from the misunderstanding. "What kind of colours?" He slowly moved to his table so he could note it down.
"White, Black, and Red. The two latter ones were very fancy." Aiko answered without battling an eye and Libra Fox's lips twitched.
"Okay. What about the rumours?" He asked once he noted everything down.
"Saintess-
Aiko explained what she heard.
"So he is still going strong in the war." Libra Fox nodded slowly. "Thank you for the report, you have also fulfilled this mission. I have already heard about the Assassination one, so you don't have to explain." He gestured.
Aiko nodded.
"You were also relieved from further missions and you can now take group missions." Libra Fox suddenly said.
"Oh... okay." Aiko didn't expect this as she had another 7 missions ahead.
"But, you need a supervisor, so the Elders will vote on it." Libra Fox sighed, he hoped she wouldn't get 'that' guy.
Aiko frowned, she didn't like it when others decided something for her.
She left the Hall and went towards the Blood Fox and Umbra Fox. The Umbra Fox was still terrified, meanwhile, the Blood Fox was like a tick, attached to Aiko without any movement.
"I have to visit my Mate." Aiko gestured and she could feel the Blood Fox stiffen.
"We will come with you, we are a team." The Blood Fox suddenly said and Umbra Fox wanted to cry out, but she couldn't match the viciousness of those two, so she could only obediently follow.
"I'm not sure what she will say..." Aiko didn't know what to do about this.
"Don't worry, we are a team." The Blood Fox smiled gently.
Aiko nodded, there was something strange about the way she spoke and acted, but since she couldn't put her finger on it, she decided not to mind it.
"Then let's go." Aiko smiled.
...
They arrived at the Grandmaster's abode. She was away once again, but Aiko could smell Herbs drifting from Mei's room.
"I'm back." Aiko entered the small den.
Mei smiled, she liked when Aiko was obedient, but that smile didn't last for long.
She saw the Blood Fox following her like an eyesore and there was another girl following them behind...
