Chapter 355: I Can Afford It

’When was the last time I bathed in my Beast Form? It was probably when I was still a cub.’

The Purple Fox had no strength. He could only close his eyes and let the Rabbit Clan female before him wash him.

’As a Healer, she’s certainly responsible toward her patients...’

The Purple Fox soaked in the hot water, the exhaustion in his body gradually fading.

For him, having just escaped death, this was a rare moment of peace.

The Little Octopus stared at him for a moment. "You went somewhere strange."

It could smell other scents clinging to the fox.

The Purple Fox grunted a soft "Mm," having no intention of hiding anything. "Some smugglers appeared within Moonrise. I was taken to their realm while trying to apprehend them."

’Smugglers?’

Yu Zhizhi’s hands stilled. "Was it a place of endless night?"

The Purple Fox’s ears twitched. He slowly opened his eyes. "No."

He recalled, "It was a forest filled with mist, where the sun and moon shone in the sky at once."

Yu Zhizhi was a little surprised.

’Could it be? The smugglers from Moonrise and the ones in the Chelsea Territory... they’re not from the same place?’

"No wonder the injuries are so strange..." Yu Zhizhi murmured.

This was an incredibly severe case of environmental incompatibility.

Lord Shen He and Buli had also returned from the smugglers’ realm, but neither of them had experienced anything like this.

’It seems they really are from different places.’

The Purple Fox fell silent for a moment before looking up. "Miss Healer, my guards may be difficult to contact. You can keep a record of my expenses during this time. I will repay you in full."

Yu Zhizhi gave a small laugh. "It’s—it’s okay. It’s not much of an expense. You don’t eat much..."

Foxes don’t eat much.

She had exchanged plenty of currency; she could afford it.

The Purple Fox understood the implication in the Rabbit Clan female’s words. It was the first time he’d ever been taken in by someone.

He watched the young woman holding the shower head to rinse him off. As he looked at her and listened to her speak, a strange sense of familiarity washed over him.

’Could it be? Did that trip to another realm mess with my memories?’

The Purple Fox sank into thought.

After bathing the fox, she used a Blowing Wind Spirit Card on him.

He had recovered a little strength, but his legs were weak when he tried to walk. He didn’t make it two steps before collapsing by the bathroom door.

Yu Zhizhi carried him to the wooden bed in the outer room.

The Little Octopus was happily playing by itself in the bathtub, using its tentacles to make bubbles. When it heard a knock on the door, it quickly scrambled out and dried itself with a towel.

’Dinner time! Dinner time!’

Every day at this time, the Vulture would come up to invite the little rabbit downstairs for dinner.

Before leaving, Yu Zhizhi glanced at the three Beast Eggs.

She and the Little Octopus went to the first floor together.

That evening, the small tavern was open for business and nearly every table was full.

The Vulture had specially saved two seats for them, which were already laden with food.

Yu Zhizhi sat down and heard the guests at a nearby wooden table chatting.

"The Lord should be back soon, right?"

"Probably in the next few days!"

"I wonder if the smuggler matter has been resolved. Did you hear? A fight broke out over in Moonrise—"

"I hope it gets resolved soon. The Barrier must have been up for too long, giving those smugglers an opportunity. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many problems."

"Exactly!"

The small tavern was bustling, but no one paid any mind to the lop-eared rabbit and the Little Octopus in the corner.

When the Vulture got busy, he was run off his feet.

New guests arrived at the tavern.

But there were no more seats.

A young female sparrow was holding a thin blanket. She whispered, "Let’s come back next time."

"No way! I won’t be able to come out in another two days. I really want to eat their strawberry crisps! Let’s squeeze in at the bar."

The bar was packed. Where would there be room?

The female sparrow had no choice but to ask the tavern’s owner if they could share a table. She noticed that while the place was nearly full, one table was occupied by only a young Rabbit Clan lady and her small pet.

The Vulture gave a small smile and said he would go ask.

When Yu Zhizhi heard someone wanted to share her table, she saw the female sparrow standing not far off. The woman was dressed simply, had a kind smile, and was holding a Beast Clan cub. Yu Zhizhi nodded. "Okay."

The female sparrow came over, delighted.

She sat down and placed the cub on the chair.

The cub, who had been covered by the thin blanket, slowly poked its head out. It was a snow-white eagle. Its two glossy black eyes stared at the rabbit sitting across from it—

’Ooh, a lop-eared rabbit.’

The Little Snow Eagle gently sniffed the air. There was a faint, mixed scent, like body wash and rain-drenched grass.

’This isn’t the scent I was hoping for.’

Still, the Little Snow Eagle felt a fondness for the Rabbit Clan female. It said sweetly, "Thank you for letting us share your table! I’ll treat you to my favorite strawberry crisps~"

A gentle smile appeared on the female sparrow’s face.

’The Little Prince is always like this.’

’He likes the Rabbit Clan.’

’Perhaps it’s because of his birth mother...’

"Okay," Yu Zhizhi accepted the Snow Eagle cub’s kind offer.

It was her first time seeing an Eagle Clan cub, and she thought he was adorable.

This is the Underground City, the former site of the Cangshan Empire.

On her way here, Yu Zhizhi had seen many flying members of the Beast Clan. Most of the patrons in this small tavern, in fact, were from the Cang Mountain Beast Clan.

The strawberry crisps were served.

The female sparrow cut the pastry and gave a piece to the Little Snow Eagle first. Then, at his insistence, she gave a piece each to Miss Rabbit and the octopus.

"Miss Rabbit, you don’t seem to be from around here, are you?" the female sparrow asked with a smile.

Yu Zhizhi didn’t hide it. "This is my first time in the Underground City."

"Then is Miss Rabbit’s hometown in Moonrise, or the Land of Prophecy?"

"...The Land of Prophecy."

Yu Zhizhi didn’t volunteer that she was from the Valoran Empire.

She instinctively said the Land of Prophecy.

Perhaps it was because of Zero that Yu Zhizhi felt a certain yearning for that place. Besides, she knew a branch of the Rabbit Clan also lived in the Land of Prophecy.

Hearing she was a visitor from the Land of Prophecy, the female sparrow nodded lightly. "That’s a good place."

The Land of Prophecy was home to many branches of the Beast Clan, including some from the former Cang Mountain Beast Clan.

Although the female sparrow’s spiritual power was average, her awakened talent was [Perception]. She could sense the emotions of anyone she made eye contact with.

The female sparrow had been quietly observing ever since they started sharing the table. This Miss Ear-down Rabbit had never shown a single "evil" emotion. What she sensed was friendliness, gentleness, curiosity, and joy.

After a bit of simple conversation, she slowly let her guard down.

The Little Snow Eagle finished his strawberry crisp.

He was a bit reluctant to leave.

He was sad to leave such delicious food, the evening at the small tavern, and the lop-eared rabbit he’d only just met.

’Too bad Father is coming back soon.’

’Then I won’t be able to leave the palace anymore.’

’But I haven’t had enough fun yet...’

After the female sparrow said goodbye to Yu Zhizhi, she left with the Little Snow Eagle.

She thought they would never see each other again.

But then...

While Yu Zhizhi was sleeping that night, she suddenly heard the sound of flapping wings. She opened her eyes to see a plump little Snow Eagle cub perched in front of her nightstand, tilting its head as it looked at her.