Chapter 49 - 47: Little White Fox

"If I lick up this whole bowl of soup, I should get at least ten thousand experience points, right?"

Lin Chang’sheng sat by the window, holding a spoon, his tongue working like a little octopus arm, sweeping non-stop!

Watching his experience points on the panel climbing up, he was thoroughly satisfied.

Time passed by.

An hour went by.

"My Five Elements Nourishing Essence Skill leveled up to mastery? Damn... my tongue’s gone numb from all this licking!"

Lin Chang’sheng noticed, as he was gaining experience points, a flood of new information filled his mind. At the same time, he realized his tongue had just gone completely numb from all that licking.

But he felt it was worth it—after all, you gotta put in the work to reap the rewards!

"Hey, look at that young guy, he just ordered a bowl of soup and he’s been licking it for a whole hour!"

"Maybe it’s his first time trying Drunken Fragrance Tower’s fancy soup? Since he’s new, he just wants to savor it, don’t make a big deal. Kids from poor families are all like this!"

"So pitiful, the clothes he’s wearing might even be his finest! I was thinking of giving him my family’s old clothes, but I have no clue how to say it..."

"..."

Just then, Lin Chang’sheng overheard the chatter. He looked up and saw it was a group of frail scholars making rhymes. He had to laugh, shook his head, then suddenly stood up and called out, "Waiter!"

"Coming, sir!"

A server, about seventeen or eighteen, with a white towel draped on his shoulder, hurried over, bowing and nodding. "Hello, sir, what can I get you?"

"Give me ten more jars of this soup, and five roasted chickens, five pounds of braised beef—everything to go!"

Lin Chang’sheng said in a serious tone.

He’d thought about it, buying ginseng and cooking soup at home was too much trouble. Now that he wasn’t short on silver, why bother? That time would be better spent cultivating! Getting the ginseng pig stomach chicken soup from Drunken Fragrance Tower, then taking it home to lick at his leisure—so much easier!

"Of course, sir, please wait a moment!"

Hearing Lin Chang’sheng order ten jars of soup and so much food to go, the waiter instantly beamed, turning around to get everything ready, all smiles.

"What? Ten jars of soup to go? Five chickens? Five pounds of braised beef?"

"That’s..."

"..."

Lin Chang’sheng’s order instantly caught the attention of the scholars, their eyes going wide with disbelief.

They’d assumed Lin Chang’sheng was just a poor kid who scraped together enough for a bowl of soup, too precious to drink, just slowly licking at the flavor.

But what do you know.

They’d judged him all wrong.

In no time, the waiter brought over all the take-out, and Lin Chang’sheng picked up his jars of soup and roasted chickens. Under the scholars’ stunned stares, he just strode right out.

...

Lin Chang’sheng carried the takeout back to his little courtyard.

Turns out the little white fox was already awake.

"Ying ying ying~"

When Lin Chang’sheng walked in, the little white fox crawled out from under its blanket, letting out a weak cry.

"Good, you’re awake. Have some soup first, it’ll help you recover."

Lin Chang’sheng ladled out a bowl of ginseng chicken soup and set it beside the little fox, though he didn’t dare touch it in case it drained his true qi again.

The little white fox gazed at him gratefully and started drinking in small sips.

Lin Chang’sheng sat nearby, tending the brazier, roasting his hands while licking his bowl of soup—but even as he licked, he kept his eyes on the little fox.

Apparently, the little fox was starving—less than fifteen minutes and it had finished off a whole bowl of ginseng pig stomach chicken soup.

Lin Chang’sheng picked up its empty bowl to offer more, but unexpectedly, the little fox shook its head, and patted its tiny belly with its little paws.

"You’re saying you’re full now, huh?"

Lin Chang’sheng asked.

He was surprised at how human-like the little white fox was—it just made him more curious about it.

The little white fox nodded.

"Alright, since you’re full, let’s get down to business!"

Lin Chang’sheng pulled the jade scroll from his chest and placed it in front of the fox. "That beam of light you did the other day—how’d you do that? There’s a cultivation technique in here, but last time was too quick and I didn’t memorize it. Can you help me pull it up again?"

"Ying ying ying! Ying ying ying!"

The little fox looked at the jade scroll, then shook its head, its face showing hesitation almost like a human.

"What’s wrong? You don’t want to?"

Seeing it refuse, Lin Chang’sheng’s brows furrowed. He absolutely had to get the Fire Element Technique—he knew that was a Cultivation Immortality Technique.

If he got his hands on that technique, and could cultivate it, he’d become a real cultivator!

After all—

No matter how inferior a Cultivation Immortality Technique, it was still way better than any martial arts technique!

Seeing Lin Chang’sheng frown, the little white fox shook its head again and again. It pointed at itself with its paws, then at the jade scroll, and acted out collapsing on the bed.

"You mean, opening the jade scroll last time used too much energy, and now you’re exhausted?"

Lin Chang’sheng’s heart stirred, and he asked steadily.

"Ying ying ying!"

The little fox called twice, nodding its head.

"So that’s how it is."

Lin Chang’sheng looked thoughtful, then ladled up another bowl of soup and brought it to the fox. "Then drink more soup, it’ll help you recover."

Seeing Lin Changchun give it another bowl, the little fox hesitated, backing away and diving under the covers.

"..."

Lin Chang’sheng stared at the fox burrowing under the blanket, a little exasperated. But then inspiration struck—he looked at the fox and said, "Little white fox, if I can get some elixirs to restore your primordial energy, could you open the jade scroll again?"

At his words—

The little fox popped its furry head out, blinking its big eyes and nodded.

"Awesome!"

Seeing the fox nod, Lin Chang’sheng rubbed his hands together, pulled a Tiger Blood Pill from his pocket, and placed it in front of the fox. "Try eating this. See if it works."

The little fox glanced at the pill, picked it up, stuffed it in its mouth, chewed twice, then closed its eyes. After a moment, it opened its eyes and shook its head at Lin Chang’sheng.

"The pill didn’t work?"

Seeing the fox shake its head, Lin Chang’sheng was stumped. That was a Tiger Blood Pill, worth a hundred silver taels—it couldn’t heal its injury?

"Ying ying ying!"

The little fox nodded.

"Well...what now?"

Lin Chang’sheng frowned. Why was the little white fox’s need so massive?

If even the Tiger Blood Pill was useless, then catching a first-class expert for the fox to drain probably wouldn’t help either—Tiger Blood Pills were supposed to be for first-class experts!

Unless...I let the white fox drain me again?

But—

Until the very last option, Lin Chang’sheng wasn’t taking that risk.

Here in Min Nan City, if the fox drained all his true qi, he’d lose all defenses—and if enemies came knocking, he’d be a goner!

"Little white fox, you get some rest, I’ll be back after I head out."

Lin Chang’sheng looked at the little fox, speaking firmly.

He planned to head to Hundred Herbs Hall, talk with the Hall Master, and see if there were any elixirs to quickly restore primordial energy.

If he could get some fast restoration elixirs—

After the white fox drained his true qi, he could quickly pop a pill to recover, or give one to the fox—so long as that jade scroll could be opened!