Chapter 241 - A Hint of Jealousy (2/2)

The hairy tail of Whitie the fox was sweeping Ling Zhang’s wrist back and forth. Ling Zhang couldn’t help but hold it and gently stroke it, feeling like raising it to give it a kiss.

Seeing Ling Zhang had been disregarding him ever since the appearance of the fox, Yuwen Tong slightly knitted his brows, and fixed the white fox with an unhappy stare, manifest jealousy in his eyes.

Maybe because it had sensed Yuwen Tong’s “murderous air”, Whitie craned out of the crook of his arm, stole a look at Yuwen Tong and then burrowed its way back, but this time it didn’t stay there for long. Soon it raised its head again somewhat confusedly to look at Ling Zhang, softly sniffing as if having detected something. Apart from attachment to Ling Zhang, there was something else in its sparkling beady eyes. It not only had a deeper affinity for Ling Zhang but also seemed to begin to acknowledge him as its master.

Ling Zhang didn’t know whether this was his illusion or not, but he felt that Whitie was showing much more affection for him now. Previously, even in the presence of Ling Zhang, it’d had a somewhat haughty expression on its face, looking like an arrogant little prince, but now it was completely a clingy little fox.

Yuwen Tong was growing increasingly disgruntled, eyeing the white fox like an enemy, only too anxious to grab it by the scruff of its neck, drag it out of Ling Zhang’s arms and throw it away.

Yuwen Tong said, “It’s smearing your robe. Let me carry it for you.”

Ling Zhang didn’t mind it at all. “It’s okay.”

Then he happily resumed walking downhill, the fox in his arms.

Yuwen Tong followed, his gaze at the fox very hostile. But he didn’t insist for fear of angering Ling Zhang, so he had no alternative but to put up with it.

The little white fox probably got scared by Yuwen Tong’s stare. After all, Yuwen Tong had spent many years in the army, and common people always found the brooding air about him quite daunting. Hardly anybody could withstand his unfriendly gaze.

As a result, the little fox adjusted its position, burrowing itself into the other crook of Ling Zhang’s elbow with its b.u.t.t to Yuwen Tong.

Yuwen Tong ground his teeth.

Whether Ling Zhang had perceived this was unknown to Yuwen Tong. Anyway, he had a smile on the corners of his mouth all along, stroking the little fox’s tail while walking.

They also encountered a little squirrel standing on a branch of a pine beside the path. At the sight of Ling Zhang, it suddenly jumped off the branch, landed squarely onto Ling Zhang’s shoulder and stared at him curiously, showing a certain degree of closeness to him.

Ling Zhang stopped in astonishment and looked at the little squirrel standing on his shoulder, wondering why it had suddenly jumped off.

Seeing yet another little thing show up to distract Ling Zhang’s attention, Yuwen Tong felt another twitch of disgruntlement, but he was somewhat surprised by it as well. This little squirrel was unafraid of humans?

Ling Zhang tentatively reached out a hand to stroke the little squirrel. To his amazement, that little thing not only didn’t flee but also rubbed itself against his palm of its own accord.

Ling Zhang immediately looked at Yuwen Tong. “Are all squirrels on this hill so daring?”

Yuwen Tong thought for a while and then replied, “Do you still remember that back then when we were in the racecourse, even the most unmanageable horse allowed you to approach it?”

Of course Ling Zhang remembered. At that time Yuwen Tong had also told him that maybe it had something to do with his cultivation method.

Ling Zhang gave the little squirrel another stroke and pondered for a few moments. Before he could figure anything out, Whitie the fox got angry, bared its teeth at the squirrel on Ling Zhang’s shoulder, and showed its ferocious side. It was very possessive and refused to allow the squirrel to stand on its master’s shoulder.

The squirrel was taken aback by the fox. Though rather unwilling to leave Ling Zhang’s palm, it still jumped away.

Ling Zhang didn’t blame Whitie. He said to Yuwen Tong, “My grandfather once told me that the Force of Blood in me, which is peculiar to descendants of the Phoenix Clan, would grow with my internal energy. I always feel it’s somewhat insubstantial. After all, it sounds more like a pretentious statement than a fact, and it doesn’t seem to have much practical meaning. Do you think what my grandfather said could be true, by any chance?”

After hearing this, Yuwen Tong gave it some careful thought and then said, “I’ve also never heard anything about cultivation of internal energy enhancing some kind of force of blood. The so-called ‘the Blood of the Phoenix Clan’ is more like a myth. But this change in you is indeed happening. Let’s believe his story for the moment. If such a thing does exist, there would definitely be more obvious signs after you reach a higher level in your cultivation of internal energy, and then the truth will be revealed. At least from the vantage point of the present it’s not a bad thing.”

Ling Zhang inclined his head. Yuwen Tong was right. They’d find out the truth sooner or later. Thinking about this, Ling Zhang raised the little white fox to eye height, staring at its beady jet-black eyes which were staring back at him. It softly whimpered at him, showing evident affection for him.

Whitie was his pet, so naturally it liked him. Maybe he should try some other animals? Putting the little white fox back into the crook of his arm, Ling Zhang decided to give it a shot after returning to the manor.

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