Chapter 1252 - 1249: The Tenth Day of the Lunar New Year

"Ah Qing... The fox, kind of died."

"You Fuli fan, just speak candidly! There's nothing embarrassing about admitting that. In the Furry fandom, nothing can scare me, not even you."

Ansheng, nestled in a hoodie and with Ah Qing's arm around his neck, feigns death, raises his paw to pat Ah Qing's cheek, and reassures:

"Encountering a Fuli fan like me, a furry enthusiast, is quite normal. Everyone understands that, right?"

"Hmm..."

Ah Qing, driving the car, responds with a mosquito-like whisper, her gaze embarrassedly fixed forward.

"Speaking of Furry fans, the Furry fans in Chang'an City are like an insurmountable mountain..." Ansheng happily continues, seemingly oblivious to Ah Qing's flustered expression, confidently sharing his tales.

He recounts to Ah Qing his encounter in Chang'an City, in Wang Ya's room, where he saw those things soaked in formalin.

Of course.

Ansheng keeps the person's name hidden, since Wang Ya has now supposedly turned over a new leaf and only harasses Fennec Foxes.

During the casual chat, Ah Qing's expression gradually transforms from embarrassment to suspicion, ending in a stunned, gape-mouthed state as she checks the four-wheel-drive chassis of her fox vehicle for any damage.

The atmosphere in the car returns to normal. Ah Qing parks at home, carries the Little Fox, and proceeds to her granduncle's house.

Nonetheless.

Ansheng notices a few things: Ah Qing used to proclaim her fondness for him, nearly ten thousand times.

And having witnessed Spirit Beast Transformation cases and broadened her horizons from the Landlord of Longevity.

Ah Qing, who seems to have a slow reaction, is apparently starting to realize something and becomes somewhat timid, like an ostrich burying its head in the sand.

But Feina abruptly offers an invitation, which provokes Ah Qing into defensively baring her teeth, and in her embarrassment, she blurts out some inner thoughts.

"Hey? The cactus at granduncle's place is quite unique." While dining at her granduncle's home, Ansheng, squatting next to Ah Qing, raises a paw to elbow her waist.

On the windowsill inside, there's a flower pot. The cactus originally had spines, but they were all snipped off, and each cut is filled with a thumbtack.

A perfectly fine cactus is adorned with shimmering thumbtacks.

"Well... It seems granduncle's grandson came back and got pricked by the ornamental cactus, crying that he'd never visit granduncle's again..." Ah Qing pauses her meal and swallows her food, lowering her voice to tell the Little Fox:

"So... Loving his grandson dearly, granduncle donned a Taoist robe, wielded a Peach Wood Sword, and performed a Soul-Suppressing Nail show in the house to comfort the crying grandson."

"That bell rang so much that the neighbor's Big Yellow dog had to lift its paw to cover its ears."

"Oh! I was wondering why that cactus exuded such resentment. So that's the reason!" Ansheng, with a look of bemused frustration, remarks.

"!?" Hearing this, Ah Qing is startled, nearly jumping from her chair, as she turns her attention to the cactus, asking:

"Has it become a spirit despite its state?"

"Well, a bit grimy at the edges. Someday, I must visit and pin the Soul-Suppressing Nail one-by-one into granduncle's butt." Ansheng shrugs, translating the resentment for the cactus.

"Let's take it home later and let it accompany the little tea trees." Ansheng suggests to Ah Qing.

"Uh-huh..." Ah Qing nods seriously, as she snacks and drinks, taking home extra food from her granduncle's place.

Lunch at granduncle's, then an evening visit to a cousin's place for a chat.

The fifth day schedule ends with a return to the ancestral courtyard, drinking tea after dusk.

On the sixth day, the family continues visiting relatives. However, on the seventh day, which is Human Day, there are no visiting plans, just the family gathering at the table for longevity noodles and a lucky soup, alongside internal family prayers.

As the villa garden meeting concludes, the landlords gradually leave with reluctance.

The Xia East Security Bureau strengthens its defenses, recalling how the Mayflower covertly visited during Chen Tianyun's wedding, now openly challenging Master Fuli, aiming to draw him abroad.

Jin Wanlin takes charge, forming the Overseas Social Action Team with Ba Mountain Mosquito, setting up Coiling Dragon Pillars online, using Master Fuli's account to oppose the Mayflower Organization's network influence.

Each has their own tasks as calm precedes the storm.

With spare time, Ansheng spends his days teaching Old Deng how to appreciate tea.

During nights, he visits City Hospital, seeking wishes on the blank walls outside the ICU.

Collecting thirty to fifty Wish Powers never seems too much. Even just one or two can allow for some pleasant Physique massage.

Doctors in Jiule City's Hospital peer at the empty ICU in wonder, puzzled about when their hospital's medical skills became so divine.

Patients who were near death upon entering suddenly sing and dance by morning.

Unable to fathom it, doctors burn incense and bow towards the intensive care unit.

"Dong——"

On the ninth day, at 9:43 am, a deep rumbling sounds off, reverberating through the ancestral home's first and second-floor windows, waking Ansheng from sleep.

"Was that an earthquake?"

Ansheng groggily cranes his neck to survey the room, seeing no structural damage, preparing to tuck back in for more sleep.

But then...

Just as he retracts his head, the bedroom door bursts open from outside, whipping up a breeze indoors.

"Little Fox! Good morning!"

Momo flies in, leaping onto the bed, pressing down on the curled-up Little Fox that resembles a bagel.

"Huh!?"

Upon hearing this, Ansheng opens his eyes, only to plunge into darkness with a slight scent filling the air.

"Ah! Soft, fragrant Fuli fan!" Momo sprawls over the bed, displaying a maternal grin akin to a pixie liberated from prison.

In under three seconds, dexterous fingers have stroked from the crown of the Fuli fan's head down to the tail root.

"Hiss—"

Ansheng squeezes free from Momo's bosom, stares with round eyes, then gasps at the hands that continue to meddle with his tummy.

"Ah Qing, we've been infiltrated by a mischievous girl!"

"Mua~"

The Little Fox's whimpering yields only a cheek imprint from Momo's crimson lips.

"Hee-hee..."

Momo, still grinning maternally, sits upright, placing the Little Fox on her lap as she pets its tummy fur, saying:

"No mischievousness here, just reunited emotions that can't be contained after a year apart. I promise just to cuddle, nothing more."

Momo's claim of a year-between meetings matches with the calendar.

The last meeting happened just before New Year's Eve, now well past the New Year.

Momo's visit to Changxi Town aims to revel in the Tenna Year 'Wandering God' performance.

"Wait a second..."

Ansheng squints, relishing Momo's morning petting yet remembers something, asking her:

"I recall your friend had... So was the house shaking them?"

"Oh, not much. It's just your house's second-floor bed collapsing from the weight."

"......"