Chapter 7, The Night of Fireflies

Sixteen-year-old Qin Xi, feeling somewhat depressed

"Come, let me show you some good things," said the Nine-Tails, not continuing the debate. He tilted his head and let out a low murmur towards the bottom of the cliff, a sound imbued with a subtle allure, which then spread infinitely, as if calling out to something.

She felt as if she had become the Princess Mononoke from Hayao Miyazaki's animated films, listening to the language of beasts, merging with nature, residing in a paradise away from the mundane world, far removed from all worldly concerns and troubles

Qin Xi saw him eating happily and felt pleased as well. Noticing that the raw fish was almost gone, he quickly opened the leaf wrapping containing the cooked fish, tasted it, and handed it over: "This is what I cooked. It has cooled down now, so the flavor is slightly diminished, but it's still acceptable. Would you like to give it a try?"

Suddenly, a few green fireflies floated out of the forest, slowly dancing and swirling in the air. Following that, countless fireflies emerged from the forest, twinkling like stars, adorning the tranquil forest in an exquisite manner

Wait a moment, Qin Xi pulled on Jiu Wei, also halting his steps. After a moment of hesitation, she stood on tiptoe, gently pecked his face, and whispered, "Thank you... Fox Daddy"

The light band rotates neatly, then transforms, sometimes into blooming flowers, sometimes into flying birds, presenting scenes that are more brilliant and grand than any ceremonial fireworks.

Approximately three to ten years old, it should be fine. Jiuwei is full of confidence

The nine-tailed fox silently watched from the side, and upon seeing her finally smile with joy, it became convinced of its innate talent for raising children, feeling exceptionally pleased with itself. In the end, it suggested, "If you like fireflies so much, why not let Daddy take you to the cliff to see them."

"That's great," the Nine-Tails didn't care, casually opening a package, picking up the raw fish and swallowing it in large bites, while complaining, "After being busy all day outside, I almost forgot that I hadn't eaten anything."

Qin observed for a long time, then reached out to catch a firefly that had flown nearby. Opening his palm, he found a tiny insect, its tail flickering with a faint green glow, identical to the fireflies on Earth

As Qin Xi looked out, the entire Monster Beast Forest came into view, resembling a beautiful, slumbering beast, imbued with both danger and allure. Fireflies floated like the Milky Way descending to the earth, constantly shifting and changing.

Then I burned all his ridiculous recipes, and he never mentioned cooking again, following me to eat raw food every day" the Nine-Tails said proudly

Before Qin could even open his mouth to bid farewell, the beasts vanished at the edge of the forest, their enormous footsteps startling countless sleeping birds

And then? It turns out that the murderous cuisine depicted in the comic truly exists

Seeing his serious expression, Qin Xi laughed heartily

"You don't like cooked food either?" Qin Xi felt somewhat dejected and quickly put away the wrapped leaves.

Upon seeing the cooked food, the nine-tailed fox seemed to recall some terrifying entity, shuddering all over and unable to take a bite for a long time

"Hmm." Qin Xi replied softly

What is that?" Qin Xi asked curiously

The nine-tailed fox carefully leaped across the cliffs while carrying her, and soon they arrived at the highest peak.

The erratic flight of the fireflies suddenly came to a halt, and after a moment, they changed direction en masse, converging together to form nine shimmering light bands, flying towards the cliff

The Nine-Tails glanced and casually said: "It is a firefly, a common sight in the forest, especially during this season when they like to fly around."

"Princess Mononoke?" After hearing her description, the Nine-Tailed Fox felt somewhat displeased, "The story is good, but the name is not pleasant and lacks auspiciousness. My daughter is naturally the most esteemed princess of this forest; at the very least, she should be called the Fox Princess to match her status!"

The Nine-Tailed Fox bent down and said: "Come on, we should go back. Children should not stay up too late"

"No, no, back when I went on adventures side by side with that emotionless guy, he also cooked for me a few times. The taste... it was simply a nightmare." The Nine-Tails recalled the past, a pain that was difficult to describe

The nine-tailed fox squinted its eyes, its gaze slowly sweeping over the beasts that had just shouted their opposition. Wu Yin and Wu Wei felt its stare for just a moment, and all the soft fur on their bodies stood on end. A Jin and A Yin, who had originally prepared to continue the heated debate over roles, immediately extinguished their fiery arguments... Among them, the cleverest, Tao Zi, suddenly looked up at the sky and said, "Ah, I am really too tired today; I think I should go back and take a nap!"

"Hmm," the nine-tailed fox fell into a nightmarish memory, "In the desolate mountains and wilderness, that emotionless person insisted on following the recipe to prepare food, and even made me eat it, claiming that cooked food is better than raw. I took a bite and nearly turned from a living fox into a dead one; I never dared to eat cooked food again."

Is that guy the one who brought me here? Your good friend? Qin Xi asked

Children should brush their teeth before bedtime, and Dad will first take you to the lakeside. The nine-tailed fox is very responsible. Today, I studied the guidelines for human parenting.

Qin Xilian quickly nodded in agreement

However ... ...

"How is that possible?" The voice of the Nine-Tails was somewhat cunning and a bit proud, "That is my innate ability, to manipulate living beings."

The orcs expressed their protests, stating that the splendid moments of the night had only just begun, and how could they disperse so quickly

Uncertain how much time has passed, the play has come to an end, the curtain falls

Wait! Seeing his daughter upset made Jiuwei feel somewhat uncomfortable. He immediately displayed the fearless spirit of the Beast King, intercepting the cooked fish, "I am still hungry; this little bit of fish is not enough to fill my teeth, bring it all here!"

There is no but! Bring it here! The nine-tailed fox looked down at the cooked fish, took a few deep breaths to muster courage, then closed its eyes and swallowed the fish without even chewing it.

Qin Xi leaned against the nine-tailed creature, diligently narrating a story. Almost every small segment of the tale sparked a heated debate, and amidst the clamor, it was already deep into the night before they realized it.

It has existed for a very long time, and I have also forgotten when it was. The Nine-Tails patiently answered.

He wiped his mouth and asked curiously, "Why does the cooked fish taste like this? It is different from what I used to eat"

Good

How did they come here? Qin asked quietly

With another low cry from the nine-tailed fox, the fireflies suddenly scattered, their trails transforming into countless fragments that returned to the forest.

The moonlight is thick, and the affection is boundless

Qin Xi was astonished by this奇景, and she pulled Jiu Wei to ask, "What is going on here? Do the fireflies in the forest also listen to you?"

She could not help but yawn

Qin Xi opened her hand and released the fireflies, unable to suppress a smile. In this inexplicable world, it was the first time she smiled so joyfully and so freely

Perhaps the food made by that guy does not suit your taste Qin Xi cannot imagine how bad it could be

Ah?

"Yes, this is how one should behave." The Nine-Tails nodded in satisfaction.

The temperature difference in the Warcraft Forest is particularly significant, becoming colder as night falls

The Nine-Tails immediately changed the subject: "Tomorrow I will take you to visit the mountain peak to meet the leaders of various races; they wish to see you."

Qin Xi woke up from her dream, the lingering echoes still present, and she turned her head to stare blankly at the nine-tailed fox.

Because there are also familiar things here, she is not alone

As one person and one fox descended the mountain, Qin Xi finally remembered the fish she had prepared for the nine-tailed fox, which she had not yet taken out to eat. She hurriedly ran into the cave, took out the wrapped leaves, and bowed her head in apology

Qin Xi jumped down from the fox's back, standing on the cliff as if she were in the ninth heaven. A strong wind blew past, brushing against her long hair, which fluttered in the air

The sound of "Dad" stirred something within him, and he immediately felt a wave of embarrassment, his face slightly flushed, though it was hidden beneath his thick silver fur and went unnoticed. He then cleared his throat softly and awkwardly said: "What is there to thank for? It is only right to make my precious daughter happy. If you like, you can come to visit anytime..."

It is so beautiful. Qin Xi continued to marvel as she sat at the edge of the cliff, quietly watching this grand firefly night feast, a stage born solely for her, as if it could entice one to become intoxicated within it, never wanting to awaken again

Qin Xi's face also turned red, as Jiuwei's unconditional consideration and tolerance, filled with deep warmth, finally made her call out "Fox Daddy" from the bottom of her heart

The nine-tailed fox raised its head to look at the moon in the sky and found that it had already moved to the zenith. It then stood up, shook its fur, looked around, and unceremoniously announced: "My daughter is going to sleep!"

Is it really that unappetizing? Qin observed his pained expression, feeling increasingly uneasy within.

A firefly's light continuously swirled around Qin Xi, resembling the most professional dancer performing a graceful ballet

It turns out that he went out to do this, and Qin Xi couldn't help but laugh and ask: "What age group of children are you studying the parenting guidelines for?"

It may be due to the different species of fish. Qin Xi found a small handkerchief and helped him wipe the grease off his fur

You shouldn't have to change diapers in the middle of the night, should you

"How is that possible!" the Nine-Tails said angrily. "He tasted it himself and immediately disposed of all that food, claiming that delicacies should not be enjoyed alone and should be fed to the small animals in the forest. As a result, the animals that had gone hungry for three days didn't dare to eat... Later, he stubbornly practiced several more times, and each time the things he made became more terrifying. He even forced me to taste them, leaving me feeling nauseous for several days, and my weight dropped sharply.

The nine-tailed fox ate several pieces, feeling that the taste seemed strangely different from that of previous years. Finally, it began to chew carefully, consuming a few more pieces, and suddenly its appetite was greatly stimulated, eating even more joyfully. In no time, it had devoured the entire bag of fish, still feeling unsatisfied.

The nine-tailed fox has lived for over 10,000 years and has never had any relatives

Qin smiled and said, "That guy is quite interesting"