They Are Archenemies, But They Have A Child - Chapter 39

Chapter 39: The Mating Grand Battle

“Oh no, run! They think we’re love rivals.”

Bai Ze turned his head and, without a word, nudged the fox, who was still confronting the bears, with his head, urging him to run.

Yun Qingwu applied force, and Cold Lici missed the moment to exert his own strength, being pushed forward for a few steps. He stopped unhappily: “Why are we running? Are we afraid of these black bears?”

“In human form, we could fight. But in our true forms, they are numerous and strong, and we have Xiao Dao with us!” Yun Qingwu maintained his speed, calmly analyzing the pros and cons.

Cold Lici became annoyed by the constant pushing and could only turn his body to start running along.

The bear pack chased relentlessly behind them. The fox and the Bai Ze could only run desperately forward. Xiao Dao, on Bai Ze’s back, tightly clutched the white fur, giggling non-stop in excitement.

As if to boost the mood of this sudden chase, the previously clear sky suddenly became overcast. A muffled thunder sounded, and heavy rain poured down immediately.

Raindrops pattered on the leaves rhythmically, sounding like an improvised piece of music for this spring rain.

Cold Lici’s fox fur was completely soaked by the rain, increasing his body weight. He should have been displeased by the grime, but for some reason, the added weight gave him a sense of exhilaration in his run.

It was as if by breaking through the rain curtain and reaching the finish line, all the anxiety and frustration could be washed away by this heavy rain.

Yun Qingwu used his tail to shield Xiao Dao. He tilted his head to look at the equally disheveled Cold Lici, feeling a surge of satisfaction. The roars of the bear pack were still behind them, and he spontaneously raised his head and let out a few coordinated roars.

“Zheng—Weng—”

Bai Ze’s voice was low and resonant, yet infused with the clear, cold sharpness of clashing metal, adding a lingering, serene aftertaste to the spring rain scene.

Cold Lici glanced at Yun Qingwu: “You certainly know how to fit in.”

Yun Qingwu’s long fur streamed in the wind: “Since we’re living in our true forms, we naturally have to go all out.”

Cold Lici let out a “Tch,” and once again increased his speed. His eight tails, which had been drooping, now flew up behind him.

“Woo-aow!”

A roar came from the right side. A black bear charged directly toward the two. It was about to collide with them.

“Into the courtyard!” Yun Qingwu shouted.

Before the words finished, the white and red figures leaped simultaneously and forcefully toward the fence right in front of them. Just as the bear barely grazed past, they successfully landed inside the courtyard.

The black bear failed to attack and tried to rush into the courtyard, but it was blocked by the barrier. It could only roar and furiously strike the barrier in vain.

Inside the courtyard, the Bai Ze and the red fox panted heavily. They looked at each other, their eyes unconsciously reflecting a sense of unrestrained joy.

Yun Qingwu saw that Cold Lici’s fox fur was matted into strands from the rain. He instinctively lowered his head and licked it. After one lick, he felt the fox’s body stiffen, and he immediately realized what he had done.

He froze for a moment.

The moment the warm, barbed tongue passed over his fur, Cold Lici felt a surge of numbness spread from that spot throughout his entire body.

Foxes also have the habit of mutual grooming, but having been alone since childhood, he had never experienced this and was unaccustomed to such intimate behavior.

Therefore, even though his body screamed in comfort, he showed no signs of it on his face, his tone stiff: “What are you doing?”

Yun Qingwu was initially a little embarrassed, but Cold Lici’s question made him relax. He said frankly: “Helping you groom. Doesn’t being soaking wet make you uncomfortable?”

He deliberately goaded at the end: “What? Are you not used to it?”

“Who said that?”

Cold Lici snorted coldly, lowered his head, and licked the rain-soaked fur of the Bai Ze. His movements were unfamiliar but unusually determined.

This time, it was Yun Qingwu who became uncomfortable. A fox’s tongue doesn’t have barbs, so they are accustomed to using their tongue and teeth in a licking and biting motion to groom fur. The constant, dense warmth and the scratching sensation from the pulling made Yun Qingwu feel as if he were treading on clouds, going up and down, unable to move.

Cold Lici saw that Yun Qingwu wasn’t moving. He looked up at him.

Bai Ze received the message of displeasure. Steeling his heart, he lowered his head and continued to lick back.

The male black bear outside the barrier looked at the red and white figures nuzzling each other and let out an angry “Aow” before turning and leaving.

Perhaps the experience was too comfortable. The Bai Ze and the red fox went from standing upright and licking with utmost seriousness to completely forgetting themselves, simply lying down on the ground, following their instincts.

Bai Ze half-pressed his body onto the red fox, licking the fur on the fox’s back. The fox squinted, tilted his head, and licked the somewhat long white fur on Bai Ze’s neck.

Licking and licking, as if it weren’t enough, the fox struggled to place his front right paw on Bai Ze’s neck. The tongue’s domain extended from the neck to the cheek.

Yun Qingwu felt as if the warm tongue carried an electric current. Wherever it traveled, there was a feeling of numbness. All his senses were reduced to that scorching warmth.

Not to be outdone, he also laid his paw back on the fox and licked the fox’s forehead. His tongue slid over the demon mark, leaving behind a sheen of liquid.

The fox trembled all over and tossed his head back.

After a moment of lost concentration, he retaliated by licking and nibbling at the two horns on Bai Ze’s forehead.

Upon getting an equally shuddering reaction, he triumphantly flicked his tail.

But this triumph didn’t last long. The next second, he felt a scorching heat on his left ear, and his four paws felt weak.

He squinted his eyes, struggling to stabilize his body, wanting to win back a round.

Just as he was about to aim his mouth, the forgotten Xiao Dao let out a whimper.

“Waa-woo? Ah-woo—”

Before the sound finished, Cold Lici felt another soft, creamy sensation suddenly attack his other ear.

He froze all over, suddenly stood up, and fully sobered up from his immersion.

Because of his movement, Xiao Dao, who had been half-climbing, wobbled. She was about to fall to the ground when Cold Lici wrapped one tail around her, narrowly catching her.

“Oh-woo—”

Due to this sudden change, Yun Qingwu also regained his composure. His blue eyes blinked, and he stood up, unsure what to say for a moment.

Cold Lici looked away, wrapped Xiao Dao up, and walked toward the inner room, his tone rigid: “Wouldn’t lighting a fire to dry off be faster? What were you being foolish for?”

Yun Qingwu shook his fur, and his tail swayed slightly behind him: “Wait for me.”

…

By the time both of them were dry and had sorted out the food, it was already night.

Cold Lici had nestled early onto the bed, wrapping his body in his eight tails, curled up in a ball. However, unlike last night, he didn’t domineeringly occupy the whole bed, leaving half the space free.

After cleaning up the kitchen, Yun Qingwu used his tail to pull the cradle into the room. He glanced at the fox on the bed, didn’t think too much, and prepared to put a soft mat on the floor and lie down there.

But he saw one of the tails, which had been wrapped around him, loosen and pat the empty side of the bed.

Yun Qingwu paused his action, hesitating: “You want me to sleep on the bed?”

Cold Lici didn’t open his eyes and muttered: “I’m just accommodating your animal living habits.”

Yun Qingwu let out a low chuckle, said no more, and easily leaped onto the bed, lying down beside the fox. He curled his tail and brought it forward, making a natural pillow.

The fox lifted his eyelid and glanced at him, then closed it again: “I didn’t expect the dignified Heaven Sovereign Lord to sleep like a cub, favoring a tail as a pillow.”

Bai Ze was unconcerned by the mockery. He buried his head and found a more comfortable sleeping position: “It’s really comfortable. Why don’t you try it?”

“Tch.” The fox tilted his head and closed his eyes again.

Bai Ze didn’t press the issue and began to cultivate sleepiness on his own. However, perhaps because the day had been too stimulating, he still couldn’t feel sleepy.

The sound of cicadas outside the window came in waves.

After an unknown amount of time, the long-delayed drowsiness finally started to descend hazily.

Suddenly, a warm presence nestled up against him. Not only that, but it rubbed against him repeatedly.

Yun Qingwu abruptly opened his eyes. That hint of sleepiness vanished. He looked at the source of the warmth. He saw that the fox, which had been sleeping on the opposite side, now had his fox head turned toward him, resting against his side, affectionately nuzzling him from time to time.

It was as if he were some comfortable pillow.

Yun Qingwu was stunned for a long moment. He confirmed that the suddenly affectionate fox was deeply asleep. A smile involuntarily appeared in his eyes, and his ears twitched.

Besides being drunk, this half-fox could actually be this clingy.

He carefully moved his body, snuggling closer. He turned his head to look at the fox, whose ears were flattened in deep sleep. A spot in his heart involuntarily softened.

As he watched, Yun Qingwu’s consciousness gradually blurred, and he finally fell asleep.

…

A fox, a Bai Ze, and a baby spent seven days in this rare harmony.

On the morning of the eighth day, Yun Qingwu sensed movement beside him. Before his eyes were fully open, his tail swept over. His voice was still heavy with sleep: “Up so early?”

As he spoke, he suddenly opened his eyes. The feeling on his tail was no longer fluffy fox fur, but human skin. He hesitated for a moment, then turned his head to look.

The fox beside him had indeed returned to human form.

Cold Lici sat up in bed, his eyes restored to their usual cold indifference.

Yun Qingwu felt a sudden dip in his heart for some reason. The past month, or rather two years, felt like a chaotic dream. In this dream, he and Cold Lici were no longer enemies with opposing stances but companions who had navigated crises together.

But now, with Cold Lici fully recovered, the long dream had reached the moment of waking up.

“You’ve recovered?” Yun Qingwu, still in his true form, asked the obvious question.

“Mhm.” Cold Lici glanced at Yun Qingwu, then withdrew his gaze, got out of bed, and walked to the cradle.

“I need to take the child with me.”

Yun Qingwu’s gaze also fell on Xiao Dao. He nodded: “Alright.”

Cold Lici said no more. He bent down to pick up the child. However, the moment his hand touched the child, Xiao Dao, who had been smiling, immediately frowned, and her small mouth pursed as if to cry.

The long-absent feeling of pressure reappeared on both of them.

Yun Qingwu transformed back into human form and pursed his lips: “The one-month limit… is almost up.”

Cold Lici looked at the child, who was about to burst into tears, with an expression that was hard to decipher. After a moment, he released his hand and gently placed the child back.

“I understand.”

Cold Lici turned around, sat cross-legged on the bed again, and closed his eyes: “Come.”

As the word fell, fiery red demonic sense emanated from his demon mark, transforming into a red fox. The red fox raised its head and barked a few times, seemingly urging him on.

Yun Qingwu looked at Cold Lici’s swift and businesslike manner, his emotions hard to read. He took a deep breath, not wanting to pry, and finally closed his eyes, summoning his divine sense.