Dawn came with golden streaks through the mist, a soft hush over Mudvale like the world itself was holding its breath. Dew sparkled on the leaves, and the shoots in Shen's field swayed faintly in a breeze that smelled of pine, ash, and morning promise.
He sat on a stone just outside his hut, sipping warm broth from a cracked clay bowl. His arm still ached from the wolf attack, but the wound had stopped oozing. The bandage—a rough wrap of vine and boiled moss—smelled terrible but worked.
At his feet, Yue pounced on a fallen leaf.
The leaf, in its defense, did not fight back.
Yue slapped it, chirped in triumph, and flopped on her back in the soft dirt, paws tucked to her chest. She kicked the air dramatically with all four legs before curling into a spiral.
Shen raised an eyebrow. "Mighty celestial beast, feared devourer of men."
Yue rolled over and gave him a wide-eyed stare.
Then she sneezed.
"Absolutely terrifying," Shen deadpanned. "My enemies shall weep at the sight of your fluff."
Yue bounded toward him with her clumsy, oversized paws, climbed up his leg like a tree trunk, and nestled herself in the crook of his elbow. She purred—a soft, strange hum that vibrated through his bones.
Shen sipped his broth and looked out over the valley.
One week ago, he was a bullied outer disciple on the verge of death.
Now he had a home. A field. A divine fox curled in his arms.
Progress.
They spent the morning repairing the fire pit and clearing more space for crops. Yue followed Shen around like a curious spirit, stepping in his footprints and occasionally trying to steal pebbles.
He caught her chewing on a root he had just dug up.
"No," he said.
She stared at him.
"Yue, no."
She blinked.
He gently plucked the root from her mouth.
She sneezed again.
"You're lucky you're cute."
The system pinged:
[Bond Interaction: Shen + Yue]
Action Logged: Minor Scolding Effect: +1 Understanding
Note: Entity now recognizes basic 'no' command.
Shen grinned. "At least someone listens to me."
He turned back to his planting trench.
Behind him, Yue immediately started digging another hole where he had just filled one.
"…Of course."
By midday, the sun had risen high and hot. Shen sat under the old tree, shirt tied around his waist, fanning himself with a broad leaf. Yue laid on his stomach, belly-up, tongue lolling out like a fuzzy puddle.
"You could help, you know," he said.
Yue chirped without lifting her head.
"Very helpful."
He took a moment to review the system panel:
[System: Soil Sage – Rootbound Path]
• Cultivation Progress: 4% (Dormant Seedling)
• Skills: Basic Farming (Lvl 3), Foraging (Lvl 1), Sheltercraft (Lvl 1), Axe Handling (Lvl 1)
• Bonded Entity: Yue (One-Tailed Celestial Fox)
→ Trait: Moonlit Grace (Passive)
→ Hunger: Mild
→ Energy: High
→ Mischief Level: Excessive
New Goal Available: Construct Basic Fence
Reward: +1 Woodcraft, +2 Shelter Stability
"Fence," Shen muttered. "Right. Before the next wolf shows up."
Yue sat up, then leapt onto his shoulder and nuzzled his cheek.
"Oh, now you're helpful."
She licked his nose.
The afternoon passed in sawdust and swearing.
Shen harvested long branches from the nearby glade, dragging them two at a time with his injured shoulder protesting every step. He stripped bark, sharpened tips, and dug narrow trenches around the perimeter of his field.
Yue assisted by chasing falling twigs and, once, falling asleep inside a coil of rope.
It took hours.
By the time the last stake was hammered into place and reinforced with braided vine, the sun had dipped low behind the trees.
The field was now ringed by a waist-high fence. It wouldn't stop a determined beast—but it marked a boundary.
It was the beginning of a home.
That night, Shen roasted more wolf meat and mashed wild roots into a thick, savory paste. He served Yue a small plate of it on a flat stone.
She sniffed it, poked it with one claw, then looked up at him with betrayed eyes.
"It's dinner," he said.
She slowly pushed the paste off the stone with one paw.
"It took me an hour."
She flicked her tail.
Shen sighed and tore off a chunk of roasted meat.
Yue ate it happily, licking her chops.
"You're going to be spoiled."
She licked his cheek in reply.
"...Already are."
As the fire crackled, Shen sat back with Yue sprawled across his lap like royalty. He looked up at the stars blinking into view.
Somewhere far away, sects plotted. Monsters roamed. Cultivators clashed.
Here, under the stars, with a half-finished fence and a fox cub who yawned when he talked too long, Shen felt something he hadn't in years.
Safe.
And just maybe… free.
He ran a hand through Yue's fur.
"Tomorrow," he whispered, "we'll try hunting. I saw rabbit tracks near the ridge."
Yue purred.
"And if we catch one, I'll even let you name it before we eat it."
She bit his thumb gently.
He laughed.
[End of Chapter 3]