The Heroines I’ve Flirted With Are Bound to Go OOC - Chapter 3

“Awoooo~!” “Meow, meow…”

Various animal cries rose and fell in succession. Er Bao acted as if she hadn’t heard a thing, walking over to a wooden bucket in the corner. She scooped some water and poured it into the basins within the cages. Fluffy balls of various colors swarmed forward, lapping up the water with wet clicking sounds.

One long-tailed cub with pure black fur didn’t follow the crowd to eat. Instead, it moved its short little legs toward the iron bars. Its fluffy tail was twice the size of its body and hung halfway down; it looked incredibly soft to the touch.

The little fox gazed at Ye Naitang and let out a short, sharp “Zhi!”

When those watery, dark eyes looked her way, it was impossible to refuse.

Ye Naitang was no exception. With the heart of an animal lover set ablaze, she maintained a stoic face as she approached the iron cage.

It wouldn’t hurt to pet it a few times, right?

With that thought, she reached out and rubbed the top of its head. It was addictive; Ye Naitang was utterly unable to stop, her strength gradually increasing as her hand moved further down its back.

The texture was just as wonderful as she had imagined, radiating a scent like warm sunlight. The fur tickled her palms. The fox cub squinted in bliss, leaning into the girl’s hand like a cat that had successfully stolen a treat.

The dim, cluttered room was filled with animal waste, creating a pungent odor. Yet, in the center of the room, the pristine girl interacting with the captive fox possessed a dreamlike, fairy-tale quality. It was a beautiful sight to behold.

Having finished the feeding, Er Bao turned around to see exactly this scene.

To Er Bao, the girl was like a beam of light in the gloomy room, illuminating the space—and her heart.

A single glance felt like ten thousand years.

In an instant, waves of emotion surged within Er Bao’s heart. Feelings she had never experienced began to sprout, like a moth drawn to a flame, pursuing the light without regard for its own safety.

Even if she were to ignite and be reduced to ash.

Such madness sparked a flicker of fear in her heart, but a certain impulse far outweighed her concern… It was a frantic obsession, like a lost soul succumbing to the sweet temptation of a demon, falling into the abyss and sinking alone.

What is this feeling?

She stared at Ye Naitang, dazed for a moment, before the answer formed in her heart.

In the air, a strand of pale yellow light condensed—hot, yet not burning. It was invisible to the naked eye of an ordinary person. One end of the thread drifted toward the silver-haired girl, dissipating the moment it touched her skin.

At that moment, Ye Naitang sensed a strange power flowing into her body. The dim Divine Spark within her became slightly more solid; the feeling of fullness made her let out a long sigh of comfort.

This is the “Power of Faith,” a familiar voice echoed in her sea of consciousness.

As the name implied, it was the source of divine power and the foundation of one’s cultivation.

But… why did I suddenly receive this faith? I haven’t done anything.

Perplexed, Ye Naitang turned her head in surprise, meeting Er Bao’s gaze.

“I heard from Father that you come from the Eastern Region.” The young girl looked away, returning the water ladle to the bucket while speaking with longing. “I’m so envious. It must be very different there, right? Just as beautiful as you are… the opposite of me.”

She kept her back to Ye Naitang, her tone forced and casual, her red lips pressed tightly together.

Ah… ahhh! Why did I say that out of nowhere? What if she looks down on me because of it?

Er Bao felt a pang of inferiority. She was a mere mortal, yet she had encountered a cultivator from the distant lands—the continent where, according to ancestral legends, powerful beings who could summon wind and rain gathered.

Deep down, she couldn’t suppress her yearning for that land; she dreamed of it constantly, yet felt she lacked the right to enter.

I am not worthy. She and I belong to two different worlds.

One day, Ye Naitang would return to the Eastern Region, leaving Er Bao behind to watch and wait. Nothing could be changed, for she was weak and insignificant.

Many things are truly decided the moment one is born. Fate is so unfair, Er Bao thought pessimistically.

On one hand, a sense of jealousy arose, as she felt the residents of the Eastern Region were simply lucky to be born well. On the other hand, she envied them intensely, desperate to become as powerful as they were.

“That’s not true.”

A voice broke the silence. The girl’s voice was crisp and gentle, bringing Er Bao back to her senses.

Ye Naitang removed her “devil’s claw” from the harassed fox and walked around to face the teenager. Looking directly at the girl’s delicate face, she said solemnly: “The Eastern Region is just as beautiful as you are.”

Her expression did not seem feigned. Her sincere appearance was so radiant it was almost impossible to look at directly.

“I… thank you.”

Er Bao’s face flushed hot. She turned her head in a panic, wishing she could take back her dejected words from a moment ago. Today was becoming so strange; this girl was like a whirlpool, throwing everything that came near her into chaos.

“Zhi~ Zhi zhi…”

The neglected fox on the side kept wagging its tail, putting on an act to regain attention—Why did you stop petting me? Is my fur not soft enough, or am I not as cute as the caretaker? QAQ

The other cubs, having drunk their fill, had little bellies that were bulging. Seeing their leader’s flirtatious display, they began to mimic it.

“Meow-woo… Awooo…”

High-pitched, milky cries of various cubs rang out. They rolled around on the floor, waving their pink paws toward the two humans in an adorable display of innocence.

Caught in a “cub-hugging” crisis, Ye Naitang felt the blow to her heart. Resisting the urge to commit a crime (of kidnapping), she looked at Er Bao. “Let’s go.” After a pause, she added hesitantly, “But… is water enough for them?”

“At first, we tried feeding them waste, but they refused to eat it. We had no choice—we have nothing here, so we could only give them rainwater. It’s a miracle they’re so hardy.”

At this, Er Bao became a bit agitated, saying resentfully, “They won’t take the easy road to heaven!”

The setting of this world was somewhat different from the Earth Ye Naitang knew. On this planet called Xuanwu, feeding pets “waste” was the norm—though this was limited to ordinary pets. If one fed them Spirit Fruits or Spirit Rice, they wouldn’t be able to digest the spiritual qi and would explode.

Thus, people used “gentler” methods for fragile pets, using feed that had been “processed” through the human body and refined through eighty-one steps to create “Green Harmless Golden Fertilizer.”

Looking at the heart-meltingly cute young beasts before her, Ye Naitang was certain they were no ordinary creatures. She could feel the same realm suppression on them that she felt on herself. Especially the black fox at the lead; it looked harmless, but it was terrifyingly powerful.

“Let’s go,” Ye Naitang called out, casting one last deep look at the iron cage before leaving.

Outside, the scorching sun had fully risen, hanging high in the sky. The ground was blisteringly hot. Stepping on the gravel felt like dancing in a thicket of thorns—painful and difficult.

Had the villagers survived in such a harsh environment, rationing every drop of water, until now? The conditions were too severe. It wasn’t hard to imagine how their population had dwindled from millions to just over a thousand through the trials of nature.

Ye Naitang felt lightheaded, following dizzily behind Er Bao. Waves of heat warped her vision, making the world appear surreal.

“Father! You’re here!”

After a while, Er Bao suddenly cheered and ran to a man standing by a doorway.

Ye Naitang had been suffering throughout the walk, but she feigned composure, not wanting to seem delicate or a burden. Back in her student days, she was always the star of sports meets, running five laps around the track without breaking a sweat. If her classmates knew she could barely walk a few steps today, they would laugh their heads off.

Now, after what felt like centuries, they finally reached their destination. She had only one thought: Saved.

The two followed the man inside. The interior was simple—it could even be called primitive. As Ye Naitang sat down, the roasting heat of the sun faded. Her discomfort eased, and her mind began to function again.

She looked up, carefully observing the man Er Bao called “Father.”

The middle-aged man had regular features, with black hair tied back and falling to his neck. Beneath his beast-hide clothing, his muscles were thick and his frame sturdy. His exposed skin was brown, with several areas of sunburn and small blisters embedded in his skin.

“Immortal Master, please have some tea.”

The man was also scrutinizing the silver-haired girl. He saw her sitting obediently in the chair with a cold, detached expression. Her blue eyes were like a deep lake, making one subconsciously lose themselves. Even though she remained silent, she had more presence than an ordinary person, as if she radiated the words: Do not provoke me.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and the bloodstains on her dress were gone. She looked nothing like the pale, gravely injured child from yesterday.

“I am Xiao Tiao. Please forgive my poor hospitality.”

He spoke humbly, pouring a bowl of water for the girl. He then signaled to Er Bao with his eyes, indicating she should leave. Er Bao walked out reluctantly, glaring at her father before closing the door.

Click. The door shut.

Only two people remained in the room; the atmosphere grew heavy. Ye Naitang took a sip of water and set it down, looking at Xiao Tiao. “There’s no need for such formality. You may call me Yin Jiu. Speak your mind.”

Having toured the village and seen the needs of the residents, Ye Naitang already had a good guess as to what the man wanted.

“Then I shall be direct. I hope you will not take offense.”

The man sat opposite her. He did not look down on her due to her age. He let out a long sigh. “As you have seen, this godforsaken place is barren. In recent years, our food source—the wild beasts—has begun to vanish. Before long, the Western Region clan will be extinct.”

“Our ancestors were all ordinary people without ‘immortal fate.’ Those with spiritual roots all went to the Eastern Region. Over time, the two sides were cut off. So, even if our descendants are born with spiritual roots, we have no way of knowing.”

“I thought it was our destiny to die out quietly, but then we met you, Immortal Master… perhaps it means our line isn’t meant to end.”

“You want me to teach you cultivation techniques?” Ye Naitang looked into Xiao Tiao’s hopeful eyes and contemplated.

Xiao Tiao nodded. “As expected, I cannot hide anything from the Immortal Master.”

“Very well. I will go back and transcribe a manual for you,” Ye Naitang agreed, standing up.

However, it was an empty promise. Such a thing was impossible to achieve; they couldn’t cultivate in an environment devoid of spiritual qi. Even though the water she just drank contained a trace of it, they couldn’t possibly cultivate by refining such a minuscule amount. It would be like trying to put out a forest fire with a cup of water.

“Really?! Thank you! For such great kindness, I… how can I ever repay you…” Xiao Tiao thanked her profusely, his lips trembling with disbelief.

“As for repayment,” Ye Naitang interjected, looking at the man sincerely. “How about you give me that fox in the enclosure?”

“What fox?”

The man looked confused. Ye Naitang thought he was playing dumb because he didn’t want to give it up.

She said irritably, “The cub with black fur and a big fluffy tail.”

Only then did Xiao Tiao realize who she meant. He scratched the back of his head and gave a simple laugh. “Oh! You mean that little dog? Of course! Are there any other pups you’ve taken a fancy to, Immortal Master? I’ll have someone bring them to you immediately with both hands.”

Little dog? What little dog?

Now it was Ye Naitang’s turn to be dazed. She wanted to ask if he was joking, but then, thinking back to the original novel, a bold idea flashed through her mind—

That black fox imprisoned in the cage… couldn’t it be the very “dog” that the male lead falls for and pledges his life to?!

She stared blankly at her hands. She had just been petting the male lead’s “little darling”—her future love rival.

But that wasn’t the main point. The point was, Ye Naitang suddenly had a change of heart regarding the male lead’s taste. She slightly understood why he liked the black fox so much.

Seriously… it was so fluffy… and felt so good.