Wagging My Tail in the Ice Queen CEO’s Embrace - Chapter 88

“It’s impossible to speculate without any basis,” Fu Anyu said. “Perhaps only a great demon king who has served as a city lord and seen the world could give you an answer.”

Ming Ying had only mentioned it casually. Remembering that she couldn’t return to the demon realm either, she shook her head. “Then I won’t think about it anymore.”

After breakfast, Ming Ying followed Fu Anyu along the mountain path toward the back hills.

The mountain where Zhuqing Taoist Temple was located wasn’t particularly high, but it was deep. Fortunately, the path leading to the deep pool was paved with sturdy blue stone slabs and steps. The stone material looked new, as if it had been laid in recent years.

The deeper they went, the more Ming Ying felt the richness of the spiritual energy in the surroundings. The air was fresh and humid, filled with the scent of plants and trees. The chirping of cicadas was incessant, and from time to time, the calls of birds could be heard.

She thought to herself that this place was perfect for cultivation. Even ordinary humans or demons without spiritual power would find it very comfortable to live here.

Fu Anyu led her around a pine forest and finally stopped before a body of water.

This body of water was much larger than the pond at Linlan Manor. Surrounded by mountains, white egrets occasionally skimmed the surface to catch fish.

When they arrived, Hu Xiuliu and Li Lingmao were sitting opposite each other on a large rock by the shore, talking. Hearing the sound of footsteps on fallen leaves, they both turned their heads.

“You’re here,” Hu Xiuliu said, gesturing toward another large rock. “Sit. I washed it with water this morning, it’s clean.”

Ming Ying and Fu Anyu climbed onto the rock together.

The rock was a bit high, and Ming Ying’s human form wasn’t adept at climbing. In the end, Fu Anyu wrapped an arm around her and gently lifted her up, allowing her to sit securely on the rock.

“Are you waiting for the elder jiao to wake up?” Ming Ying asked after settling down.

She noticed that Hu Xiuliu was holding a small jar, though she didn’t know what kind of magical tool it was.

“Yes,” Li Lingmao replied, transforming back into a black cat and leaping to the sunny side of the rock. He stretched and began basking in the sun. “She’ll wake up soon. This is my first time seeing a living jiao.”

Fu Anyu recounted the “dream” Ming Ying had to Hu Xiuliu.

In truth, she knew it wasn’t a dream. The little fox had been physically weak when she fell asleep, and her consciousness had been forcibly pulled into the jiao demon’s spiritual sea.

When she discovered the little fox’s consciousness had left her body the previous night, Fu Anyu had immediately followed, confirmed Ming Ying’s safety, and listened to the conversation between the two great demons before quietly bringing Ming Ying’s consciousness back.

Fortunately, the jiao demon meant no harm. Otherwise, with a single twist of Ming Ying’s consciousness in the spiritual sea, she would never have woken up again.

After arriving at Zhuqing Temple, Fu Anyu had watched over Ming Ying all night. Only at dawn did she let Du Yunxin take over, while she rested for two or three hours in a reclining chair.

But she didn’t want the little fox to know about such things, she would only blame herself for her carelessness.

After listening, Hu Xiuliu thought for a few seconds before looking at the body of water and saying, “Then she must think it through clearly. Once the Spirit-Binding Ring is put on, it stays on for life. It can only be removed if the rules change someday.”

“The elder jiao said in the dream that she had already thought it through,” Ming Ying said. “Because… because her dearest friend can no longer return to human form, so she wants to accompany her.”

“Senior Rong Linxiao’s soul and consciousness haven’t dissipated. If we extract them and gather them with spiritual power, she can still become a ghost cultivator, able to take on a faintly discernible human form and speak. She just needs to register with the management bureau,” Hu Xiuliu said. “But the magical artifact that turned her into chains must be handed over. Such artifacts are forbidden sacrificial tools and cannot remain with us.”

Ming Ying hadn’t expected such a thing to happen. Surprised, she couldn’t help reminding him, “But Senior Jiao is unwilling to form a body-soul contract with other demon hunters, and there aren’t enough spirit-control artifacts either!”

“That’s not a problem. She can still choose to wear a spirit-restraining ring,” Hu Xiuliu said. “It’s up to her to decide.”

He lifted the small jar in his hand. “I’ve already stored Senior Rong Linxiao’s soul here. You can help gather her body first, and ask the jiao demon when she wakes up.”

“We’ve already exhausted our spiritual power,” the black cat lying beside him said lazily.

Ming Ying’s spiritual power had fully returned to her body, and her energy was completely restored after a good sleep. She happily took the small jar and placed it in front of herself and Fu Anyu. As she condensed spiritual power at her fingertips, she asked Hu Xiuliu, “How do we do this? Do we need to chant incantations to gather the body?”

Hu Xiuliu sent her a line of the incantation and explained the method for gathering a ghost cultivator’s body in detail.

Ming Ying listened while asking questions, making sure she fully understood before looking at Fu Anyu. “Shall we begin?”

Though Fu Anyu was tired, she wasn’t too exhausted to help. She nodded and also condensed water spiritual power, joining Ming Ying in channeling spiritual energy into the small jar.

As spiritual power continuously flowed in, Ming Ying felt a strange sensation welling up inside her.

It was as if something had “awakened,” but this thing carried no emotions like killing intent whatsoever. It felt more like it was already standing beside them, gazing at them with a gentle smile.

Afraid of losing focus, Ming Ying didn’t dare look around. Only when Fu Anyu said “stop” did she cease chanting, withdraw her spiritual power, and look up.

She saw a transparent woman in white sitting on a large rock, her back to them, facing the water. Seemingly sensing her gaze, the woman in white turned her head, smiled, and nodded at them.

“Are you… Senior Rong Linxiao?” Ming Ying tentatively asked.

The woman in white nodded again, then stood up and drifted toward the water. Before Ming Ying could stop her, she stepped into the water, her entire body quickly sinking and disappearing.

“Don’t worry about it,” Hu Xiuliu said. “She probably went to wake the jiao demon.”

Ming Ying sat back in her original spot. Turning her head, she noticed Fu Anyu seemed unusually pale and couldn’t help grabbing her hand, asking, “What’s wrong? Did you overexert your spiritual power?”

“It’s nothing,” Fu Anyu shook her head.

“I don’t believe you.” Ming Ying reached out to cup her face, examining it carefully. “Your complexion is really poor, you were fine during breakfast…”

“What’s wrong with President Fu?” Hu Xiuliu also looked over.

“Just need to rest,” Fu Anyu said, grasping Ming Ying’s wrist. Seeing her slightly open her mouth as if to speak again, Fu Anyu had a sudden mischievous impulse and leaned down, kissing Ming Ying on the lips.

Ming Ying was so startled that all four of her tails popped out, and her fox ears instantly perked up. She instinctively tried to break free, but since Fu Anyu was holding her wrist, she couldn’t pull away. She could only clumsily cooperate with Fu Anyu, trying her best to respond to the sudden kiss.

She heard Hu Xiuliu and Li Lingmao shouting in unison behind them, “Why the sudden public display of affection?!” Yet Fu Anyu seemed to have no intention of stopping, like someone who had been waiting by a tree for a rabbit suddenly deciding to take the initiative and catch the rabbit to bring home.

Though Ming Ying didn’t understand why Fu Anyu had suddenly kissed her, she wouldn’t waste any opportunity for intimate contact. Ignoring the clamor from the human and cat behind her, she tilted her head slightly and pressed her hands against Fu Anyu’s face, exerting a little force as she tried to take the lead.

But she wasn’t just kissing, she also took the chance to quietly transfer some spiritual energy over.

This level of intimate contact would speed up the infusion of spiritual energy. If Fu Anyu was truly feeling unwell due to spiritual energy depletion, this would help alleviate it.

In truth, both of them were clumsy in their movements, this was their first time kissing.

Coupled with the less-than-ideal atmosphere, they soon parted, both a little breathless.

“Hey, if you two want to show off, can’t you hold it in and save it for home?” Li Lingmao clicked her tongue, raising a paw to point at herself and Hu Xiuliu, half-jokingly and half-seriously saying, “The single cat and single dog are leaving the group chat.”

“How about we pair up too?” Hu Xiuliu suddenly suggested.

“Get lost! I’ll always be your dad!” Li Lingmao immediately swiped a paw at him, arching her back and hissing in his direction.

Ming Ying didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Nestled in Fu Anyu’s arms, she looked up and whispered, “Are you feeling better now?”

Fu Anyu nodded silently, placing her hand above Ming Ying’s fox tail. With others present, she refrained from petting it, simply resting her palm on the tip of the fur and gently stroking back and forth.

Not long after Rong Linxiao’s soul entered the water, a jiao burst through the surface, transforming into a woman in green robes who walked across the water toward the shore.

Ming Ying focused her gaze and saw Rong Linxiao walking ahead, holding Lan Ting’s hand, smiling as she guided her along, composed and seemingly unbothered by the unfamiliar environment or the change in race.

“Rong Linxiao and Lan Ting thank our saviors!” Once ashore, Rong Linxiao first bowed to them, then took Lan Ting’s hand again, softly reassuring her, “Don’t be afraid, I’m here with you.”

Ming Ying remembered Lanting being quite talkative in the dream, but now that they were out of it, she seemed too shy to speak clearly. In human internet slang, Lan Ting was like a “socially anxious introvert.”

No wonder Lan Ting felt it was fine not to speak, as long as she and Rong Linxiao could sense each other, she really didn’t need to say anything.

“So, what are your plans from now on?” Ming Ying asked.

“We’ll follow our saviors’ arrangements,” Rong Linxiao said. “But there’s no need to worry about housing or food. I’m a ghost now, so I can usually stay in A’Ting’s inner chamber abode.”

“What’s an ‘inner chamber abode’?” Ming Ying had just asked when she saw Lan Ting suddenly blush, raising a hand to cover Rong Linxiao’s mouth to stop her from explaining.

“It’s a space refined within the body of a great demon,” Fu Anyu leaned close to her ear and explained quietly. “Generally, snake and dragon clans cultivate it.”

Upon hearing this, Ming Ying looked as if she’d seen a ghost, wasn’t this basically living inside the jiao demon’s stomach?!

Even though Rong Linxiao had been human in her past life, her courage was truly something else!

“Alright, I’ll take you to the Management Bureau to register in a few days.” Hu Xiuliu stood up and jumped off the boulder, saying to Rong Linxiao, “In the meantime, you can come to the temple to borrow books or use the electrical appliances to learn how humans live nowadays.”

After meeting Rong Linxiao and Lan Ting, Ming Ying left the deep pool with Fu Anyu, exited Zhuqing Temple, and waited for a car at the foot of the mountain.

“It’s just past noon now, so let’s grab something to eat first.” As Fu Anyu spoke, she took out her phone and opened a food app, searching for nearby restaurants while asking, “What would you like to eat?”

Ming Ying was lost in thought about what had just happened and only caught half of what was said. Mistaking it for sweet talk, she casually replied, “I want to eat you.”