"Master Fox, please eat first!"
Lin Ying placed the little fox on the sofa and sat on the carpet, gently smoothing its fur. Her expression relaxed, as if she felt a bit of joy.
It wasn't until the butler brought the dishes to the sunroom's living room that Lin Ying stopped her actions.
Lin Ying placed the little fox opposite her on the coffee table, making it easier for her to offer food to Master Fox.
Ever since she got sick, perhaps only around Master Fox could Lin Ying find interest and showcase the patience she usually reserved for family.
Lin Ying put on gloves, removed the hard shrimp head and tail from the prawns, and placed them into the little fox's bowl.
"Ying ying ying——"
The little fox grabbed the large shrimp, tossed it up, and elegantly bit it in its mouth, chewing without even touching its fur, and continued to crunch on the food.
"Although hanging out with Ah Qing is not boring, it's nice to chit-chat during free times, but in terms of food, Sister Lin Fu is unmatched."
Eating sweet, fresh prawns and drinking ice-cold cola, Ansheng couldn't help but give Lin Ying a thumbs up.
How am I fat? Ah Qing keeps nagging me about drinking cold cola. Later, I'll go back and pinch her little belly and tell her to learn from Mo Yiqing!
Lin Ying's appetite wasn't great. After swallowing a little food to fill her stomach, she mostly fed Master Fox, with eighty percent of the meals going into the fox's belly.
Lin Ying picked up a wet wipe to clean her hands and looked at the fox, saying, "Master Fox..."
"Ying?"
"If possible, and if everything's alright, it's best not to go abroad." Lin Ying thought for a moment, "Currently, our country's leaders seem to regard Spirit Beasts as rare resources or non-renewable resources, mainly to assist in Spiritual Particles research."
"However, overseas in Europe and America, the main research on Spiritual Particles is led not by countries but by consortia. They only research the impact of Spiritual Particles on our world after satisfying their own needs."
"Among them, the most influential is a group of old money forming a cult, or rather a club..."
"This involves another concept; in the event codenamed 'Spiritual Energy Recovery,' the upper echelon regards Spirit Beasts, who awaken extraordinary power first, as overlords, similar to peerless geniuses in cultivation novels, with high research value and the necessity for research project development."
"And the 'Longevity Club' and other consortia believe that with the progress of Spiritual Energy Recovery, the appearance of Spirit Beasts is an absolute group of individual events. After Spiritual Energy recovers, Spirit Beasts exist in large numbers, living in the world in a manner akin to biological invasions."
"So....." The little fox pondered for a moment and softly asked Lin Ying.
"The hottest overseas research topic is actively capturing Spirit Beasts, putting them in a juicer to extract all value and interests for research to create enhancements that can empower individuals without damage," Lin Ying calmly summarized, "It seems… reality differs slightly from superhero movies."
"In movies, it's about mutants for the poor, technology for the rich."
"But in reality, it's the rich utilizing technology to gain extraordinary abilities and longevity."
"If you went abroad and exposed yourself, I suspect they might drive tanks to crush you, but in Xia Dong, your existence is relatively safe."
When Lin Ying spoke, the safety she referred to wasn't about the influence of the Lin Group.
As a well-known entrepreneur in Xia Dong, Lin Ying knew some policies regarding national security.
The coastal areas of Xia Dong are always on alert, entering a second-level alert during festive times. Some leaders, to ensure Lin's confidence in investing in Jiule, even subtly indicated that the military strength in Xia Dong isn't just what meets the eye.
Apart from licensed spies for communication purposes, all other spies are under dual surveillance.
When the SkyNet detects abnormalities, the data is uploaded, and another monitoring system oversees the whole process.
Outsiders behave as long as they don't attempt any espionage actions. If any such attempt is made, security staff even have time to remove their wheels before they act.
"Are there such mystical agencies in this world? Independent of countries, yet superior to them?"
"They're so powerful and still sell life insurance? Do those Westerners have such intense tastes?" Hearing the juicer term that had already changed in meaning, Ansheng mentally mocked and ridiculed it slightly.
Only.
While inwardly mocking the real cases of how capitalism corrodes and transforms humans, Ansheng suddenly froze.
Due to differences between East and West, their attitudes towards Spirit Beasts differ. In the East, it's generally accepting and inclusive, like brothers, "bring it all here!"
The West generally values Western supremacy, with divine authority saying "I'm No.1, all by God's grace!"
That Longevity Club, liking to catch spirit beasts globally and process them into cans.
So...
The parts for an automatic rifle the King Cobra found on Snake Mountain earlier, could it be related to that club?
Any non-bottom-feeder in Xia Country knows stealing is tolerable, but one must not rob, and if robbing, best not to carry any weapon.
In this place, if you rob with firearms, you better pray you have hostages.
Otherwise, next comes artillery personnel with a 100mm sniper, flattening everything with armored vehicles, aiming right at your head.
It was a real case that happened.
"Ying ying ying——"
Ansheng felt a headache burgeoning, sensing that the highlight of this tea contest might not be on the actual competing field.
In front, there's the confirmed Fungal Parasitic Beast.
Behind, there's the uncertain mysterious firearm parts.
Plus the political science teacher chasing them for classes.
Though fond of Wish Power, wanting to reshape back into the city and live freely.
But isn't this too busy!
Trying to work me to death, Master Fox?
"Ying ying ying——"
Ansheng took out the phone and typed, telling Lin Ying about the firearm parts found earlier.
Lin Ying froze for a moment and asked, "And then?"
[Of course, I reported it to the police!] The little fox boldly typed on the screen.
Lin Ying thought for a moment, feeling that since the firearm matter had been reported to the police, a case should be opened with a special investigation team tracking it, and there shouldn't be a need to worry for now. But later she might need to make a call to Grandmaster Lin.
Lin Ying shifted the topic, once again speaking to the little fox about the Fungal Parasitic Beast.
Ansheng patted her chest, assuring Lin Ying that the Fungal Parasitic Beast posed no problem.
She promised to take Lin Ying to a place that night to see her newly forged Divine Weapon.
That parasite, who scared her last time, if it dared to come to Jiule City, it would face the fox's big stick.
...…
When the little fox left Lin Ying's home, it was already noon.
Ansheng thought for a moment and walked towards the ancestral hall, preparing to find Old Chen to register for the tea contest.
On the eve of the tea contest, the elderly with high regard and village leaders of Changxi Town would lead participants and related personnel to gather at the ancestral hall to pray and worship the ancestors, hoping the ancestors would bless their descendants with victory.
The related personnel were having a feast in the ancestral hall.
Ansheng strolled in, and a villager who hadn't seen Ansheng before happily shouted to Old Chen upon seeing him come over, "Village Chief! Fortune has arrived!"
Old Chen looked over and saw Ansheng.
But a middle-aged man, Old Deng, originally eating, upon seeing the white Fox Master, couldn't help but grab a large chicken leg and stuff it beside the little fox's mouth, smiling as he asked:
"Master Fox! Can you tell if my family will win tomorrow's contest?"
"Ying?"
Ansheng, blocked in her path, subconsciously made a questioning sound, but after 'ying' she immediately went black-faced, realizing someone was seeking fortune.
'Win my foot, win! My family will win!'
"Ying ying! Ying ying ying——"
"Hahaha! Thanks for the good words, Master Fox! If we win tomorrow, we'll surely come to return the favor!"
Ansheng directly retorted to the stranger Old Deng, but he laughed throughout, enjoying the fox's scolding.
"Ah Qing..... what did the little fox say?" Mo Yiqing, also having a feast in the ancestral hall, inquired in surprise upon hearing the familiar fox noise.
"... Just, it was rather vulgar." Yu Xueqing's expression carried some subtlety, "Xiaolan, usually, might have watched too many live broadcasts, has a very rich vocabulary..."