“Whatareyouallstandingaroundfor?urryupandmove!”
Standingattheentrancetotheushanresidence,thedogdemonbarkedatXiaoMoandtheothers.
XiaoMocouldonlyfollowalongandwalkupthestepstowardtheushanresidence.
“Wouldyoutroublethesetwobrotherstopasswordinside?ouYazihascometopayavisittoStewardXiongandhasbroughtoverafreshbatchofgoods.askonlythatStewardXiongtakealook.”
hedogdemonspokewithabroadsmile.Frominsidehissleeve,hepulledoutacallingcard,thentookouttwobitsofsilverandslippedthemintothepawsofthetwodogdemonsguardingthegate.
“h,Bossouisoneofourownkind.hereisnoneedtobesopolite.”hetwogatekeepingdogdemonsimmediatelybeamed.“Pleasewaitamoment,Bossou.willgoannounceyourightaway.”
“Manythanks,bothofyou,manythanksindeed.”
Bossouhurriedlythankedthem.
otlongafterward,oneofthedogdemonsranbackoutandsaidBossoucouldenter.
BossouledXiaoMoandthefivehumanchildrenintotheestate.
XiaoMoglancedaroundatthisenormousresidence.
Allkindsofspiritflowersandspiritherbshadbeenplantedinthecourtyard.Whenalightbreezepassedby,afaintfragrancespreadthroughtheair.
Whatlookedlikeapebblepathwasinfactpavedwithspirit-gatheringstones,onebyone.
Asthenameimplied,spirit-gatheringstoneshadtheeffectofcondensingspiritualpowerandweregenerallyusedasmaterialsforsettingupformations.
Moreover,thequalityofthesespirit-gatheringstoneswasextremelyhigh.verysingleoneofthemwasworthagreatdeal.
Asidefromthat,amidthemeticulouslytrimmedbedsofflowersandgreenery,decorativerockeriesstoodhereandthere.
Someofthoserockerieshadbeenforgedfromdarkironthecolorofstone.
Someweremadefromenormouschunksoftop-gradespiritstone,carvedbymastercraftsmenuntiltheylookedvividlylifelike.
necat-demonmaidafteranothermovedbackandforththroughthecourtyardwearinghuman-stylepalacegarments,carryingfruittrays,tea,orbaskets.
hesedemonwomenweredifferentfromthepigdemonanddogdemonXiaoMohadseenbefore.
heirtransformationwasmuchmorecomplete,tothepointthattheywerealmostnodifferentfromhumans.
heonlydemontraitstheyhadretainedwerethepairofbeastearsatoptheirheadsandthetailsbehindthem.
hesecatdemonswerenodifferentfromthecatgirlsimaginedinhumanstandardsofbeauty.
otonlyweretheyattractive,thosebeastearsandtailsalsocarriedacertainuniquecharm.
Beforelong,XiaoMoandtheotherswereledintoacourtyard.
hestewardoftheushanresidencewasalreadywaitingthere.
“hmy,ordXiong!hislowlyonedeservesdeathformakingyouwaitsolong.Pleaseforgiveme,pleaseforgiveme!”
hedogdemonhurriedforwardandclaspedthesteward’sbearpawinbothofhisownpaws.
“hatisenough,thatisenough.Weareallfamiliarwitheachotherbynow,sothereisnoneedtofawnoverme.”StewardXiongshookoffthedogdemon’spaw,maintainingacertaindistanceevenwhilesoundingfamiliar.“avetheservantsourushanresidenceaskedforthistimealreadybeenselected?”
“heyhave,theyhave!fcoursetheyhave!”
hedogdemonnoddedrepeatedlyandledStewardXionginfrontofXiaoMoandtheothers.
“hesehumanbratswerepickedfromallacrossmmortalFoxCity.selectedthemwiththeutmostcare,andthenselectedthemagainwithevengreatercarebeforesettlingonthesefinalfew.verysingleoneofthemisphysicallysound,andtheirbackgroundsareclean.Youmayresteasy.”
“Mm.”StewardXiongsizedupXiaoMoandtheotherchildren,thennodded.“heydosmellacceptableenough.trustyourwork.willtakeallfiveofthesehumanbrats.ototheaccountsofficeandsettlethebill.”
“Yes,yes,yes,verywell,verywell.”
hedogdemonnoddedagainandagainandfollowedamaidawaytotheaccountsoffice.
Afterthedogdemonleft,StewardXiongsteppedforwardandsaidtoXiaoMoandtheothers,
“MynameisXiongDa.amthestewardoftheushanresidence.thersrespectfullycallmeordXiong,butyoumaysimplycallmeStewardXiong.”
“Fromtodayonward,youareservantsoftheushanresidence.urushanresidencewillprovideyouwithfood,drink,andaplacetolive,andeverymonthyouwillalsoreceiveacertainwage.”
“necouldsaythatinallofmmortalFoxCity,itisalreadyablessingifyouarenotsenttothetableandmadeintoadishofbabygreens,muchlessfindaplacethisgood!”
“Youmustknowgratitude.Youmustspendyourentirelivesservingthemadamandtheyoungladyoftheushanresidenceproperly,andyoumustabsolutelyneverharboranydividedloyalties!Doyouunderstand?”
XiaoMo,togetherwiththeotherchildren,noddedshakilyandansweredintimidlittlevoices,“W-weunderstand...”
“erygood.namoment,someonewilltakeyoutothestoreroomtocollectclothing.You—”
“randpaXiong!”
JustasXiongDawashalfwaythroughspeaking,alittlegirlcalledoutbrightlyfromnotfaraway.
ervoicewasverylovely,likeaclearspringflowingdownfromthemountains,likeanoriolesinginginthegreenofspring,evenmorelikeacrispwindchimeundertheeavesstirredbythespringbreeze.
XiaoMoliftedhisheadandlookedover.esawalittlegirlnomorethanfiveorsixyearsoldrunningtowardthem.
Shewaswearingalittlepomegranate-reddress.Sparsetrailingflowerpatternshadbeenembroideredalongthehem,andthematerialwasasoftgauzesolightthatwhenshemoved,shelookedlikealittleredclouddriftingalong.
erskirtfelljusttoherankles,revealingapairofsatinembroideredbowshoesnobiggerthananadult’spalm.
ookingmoreclosely,herlittlefacewassoftandplump,hercheeksfullwithbabyfat,likerain-dappledpeachblossomsafteraspringshower,asthoughapinchmightbringwaterout.
Atthecenterofherbrowwasanaturallyborncinnabarmark,makinghersnow-paleskinseemallthefairer.ereyeswereroundandbright,theiroutercornersslightlylifted,naturallyfox-like,thepupilsglossyblackliketwodropsofdarkmercury.Whenevertheyturned,theywerefullofachild’sinnocenceandatraceofslylight.
Atopherheadstoodtwofluffyears,pointedandcoveredwithalayerofsnowywhitefur.hetipstwitchedslightlyfromtimetotime,asthoughcatchingeverymovementinthewind.
Behindhertrailedasoftwhitetail,evenlongerthanherwholebody.
Assheran,thattailswayedhappilybehindher,likeadriftofflowingsnoworasprayofwhitereedplumesbrushingtheground.
“Younglady,pleaseslowdown.Donotfall.”
Whenthemaidsawheryoungladyrunsofarahead,shewassoalarmedthatshehurriedafterher,afraidthechildmightbumpherselfortrip.
“hisoldservantgreetsYoungady.”
WhenStewardXiongsawthelittlegirl,abrilliantsmileappearedonhisfaceaswell,andherespectfullybowed.
“randpaXiong,whoarethey?”
helittlegirlbitonefingerandlookedcuriouslyatthesehumanchildrenwhowereaboutthesameheightasshewas.
“nreply,Youngady,theseareallservantsofourushanresidence.”
“Servants?”hefox-earedgirlblinkedhereyescuriously.“randpaXiong,areservantslikeSisteruluandtheothers,peoplewhoplaywithme?”
“Well...”
StewardXiongscratchedhishead,thinkingabouthowtoexplainthathumanswerenotqualifiedtoplaywiththeyounglady.
Butjustthen—
Amongthegroup,thefox-earedgirlnoticedonelittleboywhowasthebest-lookingofthemall.
Shetrottedoveronhershortlittlelegs.
hemaidjumpedinfrightandhurriedafterher,afraidtheyoungladymighttouchthatlittleboy.
Fortunately,thefox-earedgirlstoppedinfrontofhimandaskedhappily,“Whatisyourname?”
helittleboyraisedhishead,lookedatthefox-earedgirlbeforehim,andslowlyanswered,
“XiaoMo.”
“XiaoMo?hatissuchanicename.hencanyouplaywithme?”thefox-earedgirlaskedexpectantly.
“—”
JustasXiaoMowasabouttoagreeoutofreflex,witheventhatfirstsoundalreadyrisingtohisthroat,StewardXionghurriedover,croucheddown,andsaiddirectly,“Youngady,thesearehumans.heyarenotqualifiedtoplaywithyou.”
“randpaXiong,why?”thelittlefox-earedgirlasked,blinkinghereyes.
“Youngady,whatneedisthereforareason?”StewardXiongsmiled.“Youareanobleine-ailedeavenlyFox,whiletheyarenothingmorethanfilthyhumans.owcouldtheypossiblybeworthyofservingyou?”
“But...”hefox-earedlittlegirlloweredherhead.ereyesblinked,andherexpressionlookedfullofexpectation,asifshetrulywantedaplaymateherownage.
StewardXiongshotaglanceatthetwomaidsattendingtothelittlegirl.
hetwomaidsimmediatelyunderstood.heycroucheddowninfrontofthelittlegirl,tookherlittlehands,andsaidsoftly,“Youngady,itisgettinglate.Madamiswaitingforyoutogoeat.fwearelate,Madamwillbeangry.”
“h...allright...”
helittlefox-earedgirldroopedhertinyhead,andeventhatbigwhitetailsanktothegroundindisappointment.Unhappy,shefollowedthetwomaidsaway.
“Cough,cough,cough.”
Afterthelittlegirl’sfiguredisappearedbeyondthefrontcourtyard,StewardXiongclearedhisthroatandsaidtotheservantsbesidehim,
“hesetwolittlegirls,takethemawayandteachthemproperly.Afterthat,theywillberesponsibleforemptyingthemaids’chamberpotsatnight.”
“hesetwoboyshavesturdybones.etthemstarttraininginmartialartsfirst.ater,makethemcourtyardguards.”
“Asforthischild...”
StewardXionglookedtowardXiaoMo,strokedhischin,andconsideredhimcarefullyforawhile.
“hislittlefellowisratherneatandpretty.Wecannotverywellraisehimonlytosellhimofflaterassomeprettyboy,canwe?Still,helooksfairlyclever.”
“StewardXiong,Masteriuinthebackcourtyardsaysheisshort-handedandaskedmetoaskyouwhetheryoucouldsparehimafewpeopletohelphim.hekitchencourtyardhasnothadanynewcomersinquitealongtime.”
“hatwilldo.”StewardXiongmadehisdecision.“hensendthisboytothebackkitchen.”
Afterassigningthemall,StewardXionggaveXiaoMoandtheothersonefinalwarning.
“willtellyouthisoncemore.Beingsenttoourushanresidenceisthegreatestblessingofyourlives.ere,youwillnotbeturnedintodishesandplacedonadiningtable.”
“ere,youwillnotlackfoodorclothing.”
“Youmayevenremainheresafelyandsteadilyuntilyoudieofoldage.tisathingotherscouldneverenvyenoughintheirentirelives.”
“AndtheonlythingyouhavetodoisshowabsoluteloyaltytoMadamandYoungady!”
“verythingyouhavewasgiventoyoubyMadamandYoungady.Asinglehairoftheirsisworthmorethanyourlives!”
“hekindnessoftheushanresidenceisadebtyoucouldneverrepayinyourwholelifetimes!”
“Didyouhearthatclearly?”
“Weheardclearly...”everyoneansweredagain.
“Whyareyourvoicessosoft?ouder!”StewardXiongshouted.
“Weheardclearly!”everyoneshoutedloudlyagain.
“erygood.”StewardXiongnoddedinsatisfactionandsaidtothoseathisside,“akethemallaway.Remembertoteachthemtherules.”
“Yes,StewardXiong.”
Severalattendantsandmaidseachledoneofthefivechildrenaway.
XiaoMo,meanwhile,followedacat-demonmaidtowardthekitchencourtyard.
otlongafterward,XiaoMowasbroughtbeforeaverylargecourtyard.
Withjustonegustofwind,athickandcomplicatedaromaofcookedfoodandsmokedriftedoutfrominside.
esteppedintothecourtyard.
nsidewasanenormouskitchen.
Stoveafterstovehadbeensetouttotheleft,totheright,andinthemiddle.
Becausenoonwasdrawingnear,everystovehadafireburningbeneathit.
hetemperatureoftheentirecourtyardseemedtorisebyseveraldegrees.
Sheepdemons,dogdemons,pigdemons,horsedemons...
Allkindsofdemonswereinthecourtyard,andthereweresomehumansaswell.
Asforthedishesthesedemonswerecooking,someusedthefleshofallkindsofdemonicbeastsandspiritbeasts,whileothersusedingredientssuchaschicken,duck,cattle,pig,andsheep.
XiaoMosawapigdemonmakingtwice-cookedporkandfoundthesightsomewhatstrange.
“Masteriu,havebroughtyousomeone.”
hecat-demonwomancalledoutsweetlytowardthekitchen.
“Coming,coming.”
Beforelong,atthemiddlestove,atall,sturdymanwithabull’sheadandhumanbodytossedthewokspatulainhishandtoasheepdemonbesidehim.
hesheepdemonhurriedlycaughtthespatulaandcontinuedstir-frying.Masteriucasuallywipedhishandsandwalkedovertothecat-demonwoman.
“reetings,Masteriu.”hecat-demonmaidgavehimasmallcurtsy.“WhenStewardXiongheardthatyouwereshort-handedhere,hetoldthisservanttobringyouoneperson.”
“Mm.”
MasteriunoddedandlookedXiaoMoover.
Butveryquickly,hisbrowsdrewtogether.
“Forheaven’ssake,whatisXiongDadoing?Whataskedforwasasturdyman.”
“Doyouunderstandwhatsturdymeans?tmeansarealmanwhocanmakeyourlegsgoweakandleaveyouunabletogetupfordays!”
“hishumanbratisonlyhowold?owishesupposedtocook?twouldmakemoresensetocookhimintoadish!”
hecat-demonmaiddidnotgetangry.Sheonlysmiledandsaid,“Masteriu,pleasedonotbeupset.Youknowtherulesofourushanresidence.Servantsandmaidsareallraisedfromchildhood.nlythatwaycanloyaltybeensured.aturally,theonespurchasedareallchildren.”
“hishumanchildmaybethinandweak,butfromthelookofhisface,heseemsfairlyclever.Besides,beingalittleskinnydoesnotmatter.ecanbefattenedupinafewdays.”
“fMasteriudoesnotlikehim,thenthenexttimesomeservantsarebought,youcanbegivenanothertochoosefrom.”
“Butitwouldbebestnottocookhim.Donotforgettherulesofourushanresidence.Wedonoteathumans.”
“ch.”Masteriusmackedhislips.“Allright,allright,know.Damnit,XiongDa’swifemusthavethrownmeaflirtatiouslook,andXiongDafoundout,sonowheismakingthingsdifficultforme.”
“Forgetit,forgetit.ffwithyou.fthisbratworkshimselftodeath,willjustswitchhimoutforanother.”Masteriuwavedhishand.
“Manythanksforyourunderstanding,Masteriu.henpleasecontinueyourwork.hisservantwilltakeherleave.”
hecat-demonmaidsmiledslightly.AfterleavingXiaoMobehind,sheswayedherhipsandwalkedoutofthekitchencourtyard.
“ey!Boy!Stopstaring.Atyourage,andyoukeeplookingatherbacksidewithoutashredofshame.Besides,thatcatdemon’sbacksideisnoteventhatbig.tisnowherenearasgoodasmywife’sbighips!”
MasteriushoutedatXiaoMo.
“...”
XiaoMofeltverywronged.ehadonlyglancedbackcasually.herehadbeennosuchintentionatall.
“Allright,boy.Startingtoday,youbelongtome.Comewithme!”
Masteriuturnedandwalkedbacktowardthestoves.
“willtellyoutherulesofthisushanresidence!”
