Chapter 10: Too Much Shedding Would Look Unsightly

The plump, fluffy fox had tears welling in its eyes, with several patches of fur singed and blackened—it was an utterly pitiful little creature. Unlike Lu Shiling’s fierce and snarling demeanor, this fox looked endearing, evoking an irresistible urge to scoop it into one’s arms and shower it with affection.

Jellyfish, evidently sharing its owner’s fondness for the furry fox, floated away from the flames and hovered over the fox’s head, waving its silky tentacles to gently knead the little creature. Yun Fu and the jellyfish shared a sympathetic bond; she could feel the soft, tactile pleasure of kneading the fox as if she were doing it herself—it was quite amusing.

The pair played like a couple of bullies having the time of their lives, while the red fox lay immobilized, emitting low, plaintive sounds of distress. Seeing the fox’s pitiful state, Yun Fu’s conscience pricked her, and she stopped the jellyfish’s frolicking, instructing it to focus on its proper task.

Although she wasn’t sure how a spiritual entity could soothe a beastman, this jellyfish wasn’t a novice—it was a mature spiritual entity by now and should know what to do, Yun Fu thought uncertainly. Hearing this, the jellyfish retracted its tentacles and reached for the black mist swirling around the fox.

What Yun Fu had mistaken for smoke rising from the fox’s singed fur was actually the black mist, which the jellyfish bundled up with its tentacles and swallowed. Yun Fu was stunned. Wouldn’t eating such a sinister-looking mist upset the jellyfish’s stomach?

Amid Yun Fu’s surprise, the jellyfish repeated the motion of gathering the black mist and swallowing it all. Instantly, its head swelled noticeably, as if stretched to its limits, and it let out a small burp.

Was this supposed to be soothing? It looked more like it had just feasted at a complimentary buffet.

Yun Fu was puzzled, but after the jellyfish consumed the black mist, the flames surrounding the fox vanished completely. The fox’s wounds healed, and its once-charred fur regained its bright red, fluffy luster.

The fox seemed to recognize who had helped it; it carefully lowered the jellyfish with its paws, pressed its soft face against it, and affectionately tried to lick the jellyfish.

But the jellyfish, clearly repulsed, pushed it away with its tentacles and then floated out of the spiritual domain without hesitation.

Watching the jellyfish settle on her shoulder, yawning as it fell asleep, Yun Fu sighed in admiration—no wonder it was her spiritual entity; it certainly had a personality.

With the soothing complete, Yun Fu turned her attention back to Lu Shiling. Just as she was about to ask how he was feeling, she felt a furry, fluffy tail wrap around her wrist.

Looking down, she saw the entire fox squirming into her arms, resting its head in her palm, utterly charming and submissive—completely devoid of its previous haughty, untamed demeanor.

Yun Fu: “…”

Had Lu Shiling gone mad?

While she was still puzzled, their eyes suddenly met. Seeing Lu Shiling in this pet-like posture, without a trace of his dominant masculine aura, he was immediately startled and leapt up in a flash, scrambling onto the high platform in the detention room.

“You—you shameless female! How dare you take advantage of me!” Lu Shiling’s tail bristled, his fur standing on end as he looked at Yun Fu with a mixture of embarrassment and indignation.

His beast form was striking—a red fox that could easily be the beauty icon of the fox world, its fur lush and glossy, with a vivid hue.

Now, irritated, his round eyes widened even further, and the fur on his tail flared out like a blossoming flower. He looked so amusing that it was impossible to stay angry; one only wanted to scoop him up and ruffle him affectionately.

“Yes, yes, it was me who invited you into my arms, who let you rest your head in my palm, and who allowed your tail to wrap around my wrist. You bear no fault.” Yun Fu said earnestly, brushing the fox hair from her skirt.

“But Lu Shiling, you’re shedding fur! You’ll have to be more careful—too much shedding won’t look good.”

“You’re shedding, you’re shedding…” Those words made Lu Shiling both embarrassed and angry. He jumped down from the platform and angrily clawed at the floor.

[Haha, the female lead just spoke, and the fox’s defenses are down.]

[Comparing the fox’s previous defiant nature, I prefer it quietly snuggling into the female lead’s arms. Honestly, it makes me want to crawl in there and pet the fox too.]

Lu Shiling glared at the chat with annoyance.

His beast form wasn’t something just anyone could touch—did they think they were Yun Fu?

Realizing what he was thinking, Lu Shiling turned awkwardly away, unwilling to meet Yun Fu’s gaze.

Seeing the rounded beast form of the fox, Yun Fu assumed Lu Shiling was too angry to talk to her and helplessly glanced toward Valen outside the door.

“Can you check whether Lu Shiling’s contamination level has decreased?”

Valen, who had been closely watching the situation inside the detention room, excitedly replied, “Judging by Lu Shiling’s mental state—still able to play around with Miss Yun—his contamination level must have decreased.”

Lu Shiling shot Valen a glance. Are your eyes blind? He’s not playing with Yun Fu—she’s the one teasing him relentlessly.

But he didn’t say it aloud; he certainly didn’t want the two males before him enjoying his discomfort.

Lu Shiling tapped his monitoring bracelet twice, and the data quickly appeared.

“Current contamination level: 87%, reduced by 3%.”

[Beep—Purification value +3, current purification value: 20.]

Waiting quietly outside the door, Qin Min’s pupils trembled.

“A three percent reduction! Miss Yun, you’re amazing—does your spiritual power exceed S-rank?” Valen’s voice trembled with excitement.

Lu Shiling was also astonished by the result.

How could he not be? A contamination level over 80% meant high pollution.

Moreover, Lu Shiling’s recent contamination by the brood mother’s psychic influence had pushed his level to 90%, so severe that he couldn’t even maintain his human form and had to remain in beast form.

At such a high contamination level, a female’s soothing effect was usually negligible—barely enough to ease Lu Shiling’s suffering. Reducing the contamination level was unthinkable.

Valen had only suggested Yun Fu try because she was their commander’s female master and might help ease his psychic torment.

Unexpectedly, this attempt brought such a remarkable surprise.

Valen looked at Yun Fu with reverence, as if she were some kind of savior.

To reduce a 90% contamination level, Yun Fu’s spiritual power must be immense—at least S-rank.

With such a powerful female master, their commander’s complete silence and full beast transformation, and even their orders to confine him in the supervision facility with instructions to execute him if his mind collapsed entirely—it was baffling.

In ordinary circumstances, Valen could only painfully accept these arrangements.

After all, a 3S spiritual power beastman out of control was like a mad beast without reason, strong enough to wipe out everyone in the imperial capital.

But seeing Yun Fu’s ability to soothe, Valen couldn’t help but think, isn’t the commander making a fuss?

Wouldn’t it be better to have the female master soothe him rather than locking him up here?

Valen looked at Lu Shiling in utter confusion.

Lu Shiling, meanwhile, looked at Yun Fu.

Still unable to regain human form, stuck in beast form, looking up at Yun Fu like this left him feeling unsettled.

Especially with the tall Qin Min approaching Yun Fu, puffing out his chest as he jumped onto Valen’s shoulder.

With their line of sight nearly level, Lu Shiling’s mood improved slightly. He looked at Yun Fu and the white jellyfish, awaiting her response.

Previously, Yun Fu had not awakened her spiritual power twice. Could something recent have triggered her sudden awakening?