24: Chapter 24 Xiao Meng's Past

The black mist dissipated, allowing everyone to finally see the scene within.

In the area originally shrouded by the black mist, Little White Wolf, her body shimmering with golden light, was holding her paw suspended over Black Wind Wolf's chest (this was as high as she could reach). Black Wind Wolf, meanwhile, had its neck craned back, exposing its throat, its tail tightly tucked between its legs, its entire body trembling slightly.

Near the outer edge, the little white fox was still frozen in a cheering pose. Under everyone's gaze, he remained stiff for a few seconds before somewhat awkwardly burying his head in his own fluffy tail. After that, he fell completely still.

"Xiao Hei lost."

Xiao Long slowly lowered his hand, a faint glow of spiritual power still lingering in his palm.

"Recall!"

As the silver pattern on the back of his hand lit up, Black Wind Wolf instantly transformed into a ball of black light and vanished into it.

"Your Family member is very strong."

As he spoke, Xiao Long glanced at Xing Yaoyan, who was gradually returning to normal. Because she still had lingering fluctuations of spiritual power around her, Xiao Long simply attributed the strange golden light to one of her skills and didn't think much more of it.

"A bet is a bet. Do you want to make your request now, or save it for next time?" Xiao Long said expressionlessly.

"Before answering that, I'd like to ask you something. Can you spare this little white fox, let me have him?"

Xing Yaoyan silently gave Qian Mo a mental thumbs-up. Although she didn't know exactly what had happened outside the black mist, judging by the situation, it seemed Qian Mo had managed to win a chance for Hu Wang to live.

Looks like I won't need to put in any more effort. Qian Mo, oh Qian Mo, if you were a woman, I'd definitely take you as my virtuous partner-in-crime in the future. That assist was just too perfect!

"I'm sorry, that touches upon my bottom line."

To Xing Yaoyan's surprise, this guy Xiao Long actually refused outright.

"Why?" Qian Mo's expression shifted slightly.

Both Qian Mo and Xing Yaoyan were puzzled: Didn't you want this fox to leave your sister? Isn't letting someone else take him away the same outcome as killing him?

"You don't understand my sister..."

Xiao Long let out a soft sigh and waved his hand dismissively behind him.

The group of black-clad bodyguards behind him instantly understood and quickly retreated outwards, even thoughtfully performing an emergency repair on the door that had been kicked in earlier.

As the last bodyguard stepped out, Xing Yaoyan and Qian Mo suddenly felt the surrounding scene become unreal.

"No need to be nervous. I've just activated the 'Illusion Array Cube'."

[Ding! Illusion Array Cube, a masterpiece combining the skills of a Spirit Pattern Master with Superpowers and mechanical technology. It can generate an illusion array within a certain range, isolating sight and sound.]

[Ding! Reminder: The cheapest Illusion Array Cube on the market costs ten million credit points, but in the System Mall, it's only one hundred System coins. Host is encouraged to complete more System tasks to unlock the System Mall as soon as possible.]

Ignoring the chattering System, Qian Mo's full attention was now on what Xiao Long was about to say.

"Considering you are someone Xiao Meng trusts, her Master, and also someone who won't be involved in the world of us Espers, I'll tell you about Xiao Meng's situation..."

After gesturing for Qian Mo to sit on the sofa with him, Xiao Long carefully propped his sister up against the sofa cushions and began recounting the story concerning Xiao Meng:

It all started when Xiao Meng was six years old.

It turned out the Xiao Family was a long-standing Beastmaster Family. The Family had a tradition: every child of the Xiao Family must undergo the hereditary talent test at the age of six. This involved touching a heirloom stone. The color of light emitted by the stone would screen for Family members with Beastmaster talent, allowing them to identify and Cultivate the most promising child as the future Clan Chief.

When Xiao Meng touched the stone, it emitted an unprecedented red light—a mythical-level talent only recorded in the Family's ancient texts!

Before Xiao Meng's test, the highest Beastmaster talent belonged to Xiao Long himself, a golden light, representing legendary-level talent. However, he didn't harbor any resentment towards his sister because of this. On the contrary, he felt genuine joy at his sister's prodigious talent. At the time, he was even determined to find a Spirit Beast worthy of his sister to help her carry the Xiao Family to greater heights.

Unfortunately, for some unknown reason, Xiao Meng, who grasped every Beastmaster technique instantly and successfully constructed the Beastmaster silver pattern in just one day, hit a wall at the simplest step: choosing a Spirit Beast.

With her talent, practically any Spirit Beast that met her was willing to form a contract. Yet, Xiao Meng, for some reason, was extremely resistant to the idea. Even when her and Xiao Long's grandfather, the current Clan Chief of the Xiao Family, went to great lengths to obtain a precious dragon-shaped Spirit Beast, she showed absolutely no interest.

As time went on, she began resisting Beastmaster training altogether, instead becoming obsessed with martial arts. Grandfather Xiao, who doted on her, and considering she had already essentially mastered all the Xiao Family's Beastmaster techniques, hired many martial arts Great Masters to teach her.

However, as the future of the Xiao Family, not being able to find a Spirit Beast to contract with was a serious problem. Moreover, only by a Beastmaster and their Spirit Beast Cultivating together from a young age could they develop the tacit agreement (tacit understanding) to fully unleash a Beastmaster's true power.

The turning point came when she was eight years old.

A little white fox, appearing from who-knows-where, suddenly barged into the Xiao Family estate. Though cautious, it didn't know the Xiao mansion was filled with high-definition cameras. It was discovered by the on-duty security guard within a minute.

Just as the guard was about to take it to the Xiao Family's Spirit Beast free-range area, he happened to run into Xiao Meng, who had just finished her martial arts lessons. The moment Xiao Meng laid eyes on this white fox, she, for the first time ever, expressed a desire to form a contract with it.

When the news spread, Grandfather Xiao immediately rushed over excitedly, hoping to see what kind of reincarnated Divine Beast this Spirit Beast, chosen by his precious granddaughter, actually was.

The result...

After a series of examinations, Grandfather Xiao discovered this little fox had a weak Physique, weak spiritual power, and its talent was only the lowest white, common grade.

However, it was the first being his granddaughter had ever pointed to for a contract. Besides, once Xiao Meng's rank increased later, she could still contract with other Spirit Beasts.

After much deliberation, Grandfather Xiao let out a long sigh and decided to play the fulfill (accommodating) role, promising to allow the contract.

What left him somewhat shocked, yet also a bit relieved, was that no matter how Xiao Meng operated the Xiao Family's contract method, the little white fox showed no reaction. Even though it seemed to like Xiao Meng too, the contract simply wouldn't succeed.

Grandfather Xiao, suppressing the joy in his heart, put on a sorrowful face to comfort his dejected granddaughter, hoping she would choose a new Spirit Beast.

But this time, his usually obedient granddaughter defied him.

She pushed him away, hugged the little fox, ran into her room, and locked the door from the inside.

She stayed locked in for seven days.

During that time, when servants delivered meals, they sometimes heard the sound of the young girl talking to herself in the room, as if she were chatting with someone.

On the final day of the seventh day, just as everyone stood outside Xiao Meng's door, ready to force it open, deal with the fox, and take her to see a psychologist...

The young girl's door opened.

There she stood, clutching the little white fox tightly to her chest, warily eyeing her Family at the door. Tears welled in her eyes, which held a stubbornness not belonging to her age.

Xiao Long couldn't bear to see his sister like this and began pleading desperately with their grandfather.

In the end, Grandfather Xiao couldn't bring himself to do it. He could only make a ten-year agreement with Xiao Meng: if, by this day ten years later, she still hadn't successfully formed a Beastmaster contract with this white fox, then Xiao Meng would be at the Family's disposal.

Later, rumors gradually spread within the Family that the heaven-favored Prodigy Xiao Meng had been ruined by a demon fox. People's attitudes towards Xiao Meng grew worse and worse.

To help his sister, Xiao Long tried every method, even going so far as to pretend to be the villain in front of his beloved sister, hoping this reverse psychology would motivate her to fulfill her promise to their grandfather, and to the Family.

Unfortunately...

Today is the final day of the deadline...

...

Hearing Xiao Meng's story, Xing Yaoyan couldn't help but feel pity for this girl she had initially perceived as naive and sweet. She mentally cursed that damned fox, Hu Wang.

Look at how much your owner has suffered because of you! What a useless weakling!

Glancing back at Hu Wang, she saw he still had his head buried in his tail, motionless, like a statue.

As he reached the end of the story, Xiao Long's voice gradually grew softer. Xing Yaoyan instinctively took a few steps forward to hear more clearly.

"So, for my sister's sake, this demon fox must die today!"

Xiao Long suddenly stood up. The spiritual power he had been secretly accumulating erupted as he charged fiercely towards Hu Wang.

Only now reacting, Xing Yaoyan could only watch helplessly as Xiao Long's malevolent figure closed in on Hu Wang, who hadn't had time to react.

He had hidden his malice perfectly, only revealing it now.

"Senior!"

Xing Yaoyan screamed inwardly, only to find Hu Wang had somehow closed the telepathic communication channel.

It's over! Senior! May you rest in peace. Even though you're still a complete scumbag in my heart, I'll make sure to offer incense for you every Qingming Festival.

Xing Yaoyan was already preparing to close her eyes.

*Thud!*