Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

Chapter 122 – Bickering and Plans

Aiko was looking over them. She was left completely speechless.

Mei glared at Blood Fox. Blood Fox smirked. It was super effective. Rinse and repeat.

At first, Aiko didn't mind this exchange as she knew that Mei didn't like Blood Fox, but... she didn't expect this exchange to go on for 6 hours straight!

Well, at least she was able to observe the Soul of Umbra Fox, but that got old quickly, so now she is looking over to the system.

She got 8 levels from this short exchange, which was great.

There was a new thing: [Soul Palace (Undeveloped)]

What did it mean it was undeveloped? Did it affect its function or was it simply stating that it could be upgraded? Aiko didn't know. She would have to look through the book of Mortal Realm and see if she can find anything, but not now. Others are here with her.

Her [Basic Poison Resistance] has been mastered. When Aiko looked at it, she got two options.

[Basic Poison Resistance]
V
[Poison Resistance]
or
[Basic Poison Immunity* (1)]

Aiko looked through them. The [Poison Resistance] was a more powerful version of the [Basic Poison Resistance], but while the name was nicer. The effect was pretty much the same just stronger.

Meanwhile, the [Basic Poison Immunity* (1)], was much more interesting. It gave her greater protection over certain poisons.

Aiko wondered if she should go for [Basic Poison Immunity* (1)] as that would allow her to be almost immune to certain poisons. This was definitely a good thing, but there was an asterisk on 'Immunity'. If the poison she is immune to gets mixed with other poisons, that immunity won't work.

Aiko wondered if she picked [Poison Resistance], could it become [Poison Immunity]? This would have a greater effect and maybe the asterisk would vanish?

Aiko pondered on it, since those two were still fighting, she had enough time to slowly think it over.

...

'Why is she here?!' Mei glared at the Passion Fox. She already heard that Aiko created a team with two other foxes and one of them being this this little vixen, but she didn't expect that this little vixen would follow Aiko everywhere like a puppy starved for attention!

The Passion Fox was smirking at her. She made sure to stick very close to Aiko, not only to clear the voices out of her head, but also to upset the Jade Fox, since she was still bothered by their previous exchange.

The Umbra Fox was crying in the corner, she wished she could vanish this instant as they were spilling an incredible amount of energy at each other as if trying to crush each other. Naturally, Aiko was unaffected, but the same couldn't be said about her...

"What do you want?" Mei growled.

"I don't want anything." The Passion Fox smiled innocently, which upset the Jade Fox even more.

She was sure that the Passion Fox was trying to do something to Aiko, but she wasn't able to find out what it was. The only thing she found out was that the Passion Fox was very affectionate towards Aiko and that she liked to hug her for hours.

Mei clicked her tongue. "Then leave." She didn't want to deal with this situation.

"As we are a team, we need time to bond together." The Passion Fox smiled, but was laughing in glee inside.

"Aiko doesn't need you. She needs to recover from the poison." Mei snorted coldly.

"Poison?" The Passion Fox was confused.

Mei chuckled with glee. "Oh my~, she didn't tell you?" *Click of a tongue* "You poor little thing."

The Passion Fox glared at Mei. Mei was smirking at the Passion Fox. It was super effective.

...

While the silly argument intensified further, Aiko picked the [Poison Resistance] enhancement, if she upgraded it enough times, the effect might reach complete immunity. This upgrade also didn't cost her all that much, only 100 Skill Points, since the system reduced it because of her skill set.

Aiko looked forward to see if the ca- foxfight was finished, but instead she was greeted with a situation where the roles were now completely reversed. How the hell did that happen?!

She sneaked next to Umbra Fox and asked her quietly. "Why are they like that?"

'Mistress don't ask me, sob, they will glare at me if you stay close to me, sob.' The Umbra Fox was crying inside, but she couldn't say that. "Jade Fox told Passion Fox about your poison... are you alright?" As she was in this scary team, she had to ask, lest they would find fault with her.

"I'm fine?" Aiko thought that she was fine. She took down the glove to show her she could still move her fingers properly, but...

*Gasp*

A loud gasp attracted everyone's attention. Mei and Blood Fox also looked over.

The Blood Fox's eyes constricted. She couldn't believe that she was poisoned so badly, not to mention, that it looked so vicious and painful.

Mei was stunned, but then she dragged Aiko to her to check her pulse.

Her pulse was stable, so she was not in any danger, but that poison worried her.

She prickled Aiko with her needle to see the colour of her blood and if it flowed properly.

Fortunately, there was nothing wrong with her blood, which worried her more.

'Let it not be the bones or marrow. Let it not be the bones or marrow.' Mei chanted in her mind. If the poison settled anywhere in those two locations, she would be in trouble...

She inspected it again and again, each time her face darkened more and more.

'Fuck! It's in the bones and marrow!' Mei's face distorted. She never cursed so much in her life as she was just now. 'Fuuu... calm down.' Mei's chanted her mind sutra to calm herself. 'It's not lost yet, the Medicine Bath can purify some of it, but the most important thing is that I need to know how it became like this.'

"How did this happen?" Mei asked as calmly as possible, but Aiko was already quivering.

'Scary, scary!' Aiko was crying inwardly when she saw Mei's scary face and even more once she asked.

"W-well..." Aiko stuttered, she slowly explained her situation and how she felt tired and fell asleep.

Mei's face was turning blacker and blacker and even the Passion Fox and Umbra Fox were holding their foreheads.

Aiko sniffled. She didn't understand why they were looking at her like that.

Mei was still chanting the sutra so that she wouldn't flip on Aiko. She had to keep reminding herself that she was just a cu-juvenile and that she didn't know much about the world.

The fact that you had to guide the Pill properties through your body manually was common sense. Otherwise, everyone would get poisoned like Aiko. No matter how powerful the Pill is, if it's not guided properly it's useless to use it as it will only cause more harm.

'I will need the Detoxification Pill... at least 5th Grade, but that requires a lot of rare materials and I don't know if I can find it on this small continent.' Mei clicked her tongue. She was upset that she let Aiko leave the Village so soon. She should've insisted that she stayed for a few more years so that she could teach her everything.

'I will definitely visit that 'Elder Punisher'.' Mei smiled sinisterly, ready to make his life miserable.

...

Somewhere far away, Grandpa Lin shivered and he immediately ran away as his life depended on it. 'This location is supposed to be safe!? Why am I feeling such a bad premotion?!'

...

Aiko wanted to cry, seeing such a scary expression from Mei.

"You will stay inside the Fox Village until you learn everything!" Mei harshly reprimanded Aiko.

Aiko obediently nodded as she was lectured for two hours straight, which was less than before, but still a lot considering her feeble body.

Aiko was constantly blinking to stay awake, but soon fell asleep while sitting down.

Mei moved her on her tails. They could still somewhat accommodate her, but she was also heavier.

"Is it that bad?" The Passion Fox asked, but there was no hint of playfulness in her voice, unlike before.

"Yes." Mei didn't conceal anything. "You won't be able to leave this Village for a few dozen years." Mei snorted coldly.

"That is fine. Can she be cured?" The Passion Fox was worried, her portable calmer can't be hurt.

"It's possible, but it requires a lot of resources." Mei sighed. "You better prepare to work your ass off." Mei warned them.

"That's only natural since we are a team." The Passion Fox didn't reject this motion.

Mei smiled, the Passion Fox's image improved ever so slightly in her mind.

"I will write down the ingredients and you should try to locate them inside this Village. It's too dangerous for you to leave." Mei gestured. "If nothing goes wrong, we should be able to pacify the poison so that it doesn't cause any inconveniences for Aiko." Mei thought for a bit. "We should also search for a few resources so that I can make acupuncture needles."

"Okay." The Passion Fox smiled, this was a sealed deal. She would help Aiko recover and improve her image in Jade Fox's mind. It was a win-win situation.

The Umbra Fox felt devastated since the Passion Fox decided something on behalf of the team... again. She didn't want to search for the Herbs as most rare Herbs were in the possession of the old lustful geezer, she didn't want them to see her and take a liking to her.

Unfortunately, she was not a boss in this team, nor was she powerful enough to refute them, so she could only go with the flow...