Chapter 19 - The Fox's Strategic Favor
The Mimic gradually stirred from his unconscious state. The malevolence and tyranny that had long clouded his heart abruptly dissipated, leaving his sea of consciousness as clear and transparent as a mountain spring. It felt as though he had returned to the very moment of his first awakening—a time filled with pure joy and boundless expectation.
The System crouched beside him, watching as the dull, ashen hue of the Mimic’s body receded. The lingering aura of madness and gloom vanished from the man’s brow, replaced by a soft, serene smile.
【System: The Mimic has been purified. (Attached Image)】
【Mu Ran: It’s actually possible to purify them...】
The System licked a paw and lazily flicked its tail, pinning down a restless vine that was desperately trying to "snuggle" the fox. The vine seemed to droop, shedding tiny blue flowers in its disappointment. *Just one sniff! Let me have just one sniff of the fox!*
Behind the giant blue eyeball, a pair of eyes watched this scene and silently rolled. *How embarrassing. Truly pathetic.*
Yet, the vine’s longing seemed to infect the "Colorless Person." She slowly peeked out from behind the massive ocular guardian, turning her face toward the System. She reached out her hands in a silent, trembling gesture of yearning.
The giant eyeball immediately displayed a blatant double standard. Seeing that Lan also wanted to pet the fox, it instantly channeled its magical power, commanding the flowers on the ground to gently push the white fox toward her.
The System remained composed, allowing the floral tide to carry him until he lightly leaped into the girl’s ethereal embrace.
【System: There is a very special girl here. (Attached Image)】
【Mu Ran: Whoa...!】
Lan gently stroked the animal’s soft fur, her movements graceful and demure.
"Can you hear me... little fox?"
A soft, soothing female voice echoed within the System’s mind. He tested a response: "Hello?"
The deep, steady reply startled Lan. "Oh? You... you aren't a fox..." She hurriedly but gently set the fox down. "My apologies, friend who resides within this vessel."
Her tone was polite and measured, reminiscent of a well-bred lady from a prestigious family. She pointed a translucent arm toward the fallen Mimic, her voice laced with worry. "Please, may I ask why he became like this? Who hurt him?"
The System did not rush to answer. He needed to confirm her identity first. "Before I answer, I wish to know who you are." Sensing her hesitation, he added patiently, "It is to ensure his safety."
Lan had been deeply impressed by the sight of the fox bringing a branch to save the Mimic earlier, so she chose to trust him. "I am... an uncontracted Soul Manifest."
【Mu Ran: !】
Mu Ran, who was monitoring the exchange, couldn't help but chime in. He had gathered some information about Soul Manifest contracts while on Lost Island. Typically, a Soul Manifest is contracted immediately upon being awakened. Once bound at Central Island, their soul fragments are distributed across various Little Penglai islands; should they die, their fragments return to the main body at the center.
Mu Ran’s own ignorance of these mechanics had convinced others he wasn't a Soul Manifest. After all, the common belief was that an "uncontracted" Soul Manifest simply didn't exist.
【Mu Ran: I have a theory. Was that 'Encounter' event originally meant for her?】
He quickly dismissed the thought. The event had been far too tailored to his own movements. It was more likely that...
【Mu Ran: They’ve mistaken our identities! The 'Wanderer' they’re looking for is probably her.】
The appearance of Mu Ran and the System had misled the authorities.
【Mu Ran: Honestly, if Central Island can't even recognize who they've summoned, and they'd rather force a stranger into a role than fix their mistake... well, they're doomed sooner or later.】
The System pressed Lan for more information. "Why are you not contracted?"
Lan flinched. The giant eyeball protectively pushed her behind it, glaring at the white fox.
"I mean no harm," the System said, unfazed. "But you are hiding here for a reason. I must ensure you pose no threat."
His calm, certain tone naturally commanded trust. Lan gently patted the giant eye to soothe it and began to reminisce. "When I was awakened, I heard the blood-curdling cries of my kin. They screamed for me to run, to leave that place."
"My elder sister was just like him back then," she continued, looking at the Mimic. "She was being swallowed by filth. I was so sad; I wanted to save her."
But the figure in her memory was ruthlessly cut down. A man who, moments before, had been smiling and promising her a life of freedom and happiness in this new world, turned his weapon on her scarred, broken sister without a second thought.
"They killed her right in front of me. So, I abandoned the shell they gave me and fled here. I slept for a very long time... only waking recently."
Because her last thoughts before sleep were of her sister’s polluted soul, Lan awoke with the power of purification. Sensing the Mimic’s similar plight through the vine’s eyes, she had called for him to be brought back. However, due to the vine’s personal bias, the fox had been brought along as well.
【Mu Ran: So that's how it is...】
Mu Ran wondered what role Lan would have played in the original script if they hadn't intervened. With her purification abilities, she was a literal godsend for the corrupted souls.
After consulting with Mu Ran, the System decided to inform Lan about the situation outside. When she learned that the pollution of Soul Manifests was the work of certain Star Lords, she trembled with rage.
"Even now, such evil persists! Are these the 'Lords' they claimed were worth following?" Her emotions caused the blue bioluminescence in the cave to flare intensely.
When she heard that the Star Lords were currently being mobilized to "invite" her, Lan became frantic. "I don't want them to find me..." She leaned against the giant eyeball, her silhouette looking lonely and fragile.
Lan had sacrificed other abilities to obtain her purification power. She was so weak she couldn't even manifest physical details of her body, let only fight back. She was as vulnerable as a sheet of paper.
【Mu Ran: Since we've already delayed the experiment, why don't we help her out?】
【System: How so?】
【Mu Ran: I'll just take over her identity. I'll put on a show and make Central Island give up on this search.】
Technically, they only needed to meet the masked woman again to finish the experiment. Taking this detour was a bit of a waste of time, so Mu Ran added tentatively: 【Mu Ran: qwq What do you think?】
【System: Agreed.】
【Mu Ran: Ohhhh, you're the best!】
Just then, the unconscious Mimic stirred. Lan’s breath hitched, and the giant eye focused its gaze.
"You don't want to see other Soul Manifests either, do you?" the System asked.
"I'm just... not ready," Lan whispered.
"Understood," the System replied. He trotted over to the Mimic. "Have the vine send us out. I won't reveal a word about you to any Star Lord or Soul Manifest until you are ready."
"Thank you so much!" Lan nodded gratefully. As the vine prepared to move, she added softly, "If he wakes up and wonders why he was purified... could you take the credit? I'm... I'm just very afraid."
She was afraid of being used, of being watched, of being coveted. Among the polluted Soul Manifests, there were those who sought rebirth, but also those who remained obsessed with their old masters to the point of madness. If they knew Lan could purify them, they would stop at nothing to claim her.
"It's fine. Stay hidden," the System replied.
***
The Mimic slowly opened his eyes in the forest. The System tapped his face with a paw, only for the Mimic to catch it with surprising speed. His last memory was of this little fox rushing toward him as he collapsed.
"Did you help me?" the Mimic murmured, sitting up and lifting the white fox with the reverence one might show a holy relic. "Are you a Fox Immortal?" He squeezed the fox’s pink paw pads.
Thinking of how he had tormented the fox while his mind was clouded, the Mimic felt a wave of remorse. He pulled the fox into his arms, smoothing its fur. "I'm so sorry for before... I'm so lucky the Fox Immortal didn't hold a grudge."
The System, currently being smothered by a stranger, radiated pure resistance.
【Mu Ran: Pfft, hahaha...】
Mu Ran hadn't expected the Mimic’s original personality to be like this. He had worried about how the System would claim credit without being able to speak, but the Mimic had filled in the blanks himself.
In truth, the Mimic’s eyes were now clear. Though his memories of the corruption were hazy, they were sharpening. He remembered his earlier deduction: *There is an incredible being residing within this fox body.* Since the "Fox Immortal" didn't object to his nonsense, the Mimic figured the great being wanted to keep their identity secret. He would play along.
However, he looked down at his perfectly clean soul body. *I wonder if the Lord will be shocked when he picks me up? I won't be put in quarantine, will I?*
***
Having seen enough, Mu Ran decided it was time to return. Since he had promised Lan and decided to take her place, he needed to inform Qi Mo.
"You... you're saying you'll accept their invitation?" Bai Shan was shocked.
"Yes," Mu Ran nodded. "Since it was an accident, people from Central Island will likely visit. This gives me a chance to get close to them. Maybe I can help you all."
Bai Shan fidgeted. "Actually... you don't have to go that far for us."
Qi Mo stood by in silence. His original plan had been to exploit the youth’s kindness, using his uniqueness to draw the attention of the high-ranking officials. He had orchestrated the warm welcome from the clans to guilt-trip the boy into feeling responsible for the island. He had been confident because he had seen the youth help strangers across time and space, even those who were cruel to him.
But the youth was not a Soul Manifest. He didn't belong to their world. Their struggles shouldn't be forced upon an innocent. That was why Qi Mo had canceled all his plans over the last few days. Now that Mu Ran was offering help voluntarily, Qi Mo didn't know how to respond.
Yun He looked up. "Not waiting for your person anymore?"
*Oh... that person I made up...* Mu Ran replied softly, "I'll wait. But I'll help you first." He still had an experiment to run, after all.
"Thank you," Qi Mo finally said, his tone so solemn that Mu Ran felt the need to add, "I might not actually be able to do much..."
"The fact that you reached out to us is enough." Qi Mo’s fingers moved, weaving a shimmering, starlit pattern. "A small token of my gratitude. You will forever be a guest of Lost Island."
With a gentle push, the pattern merged into the back of Mu Ran’s hand. Yun He closed his eyes and allowed a small smile to tug at his lips.
***
【Mu Ran: I'm back!】
【System: Welcome back.】
Qi Mo had given Mu Ran a black cloak that could temporarily mask his aura. Bai Shan ruffled his hair. "We'll pick out a good Star Lord for you! Don't worry! Generally, the flashier the mask, the richer the Star Lord—though that doesn't always mean they're high-ranking. If they are high-ranking, you can pick them without hesitation; the promotion path for high-ranking Star Lords is strictly monitored, so the real scum can't make the cut."
"If you can," Bai Shan added, "try to choose one of the Star Lords who appeared at the very beginning."
Mu Ran nodded, though he only really remembered the female Star Lord with the cool, glowing mask.
Yun He opened his palm, and a snowy, round, and incredibly plump bird appeared. It had a tiny yellow beak and bright, lively eyes. His voice was uncharacteristically soft. "Let this little one accompany you for now. If she flies away at a critical moment, it means the person cannot be trusted. Take good care of her."
Mu Ran carefully took the little bird and perched it on his shoulder. Bai Shan laughed. "Yo, look at our noble Crane, giving birth to a little fat bird!"
Yun He sneered. "If you can't say anything intelligent, shut up, you stupid dog."
Qi Mo ignored the bickering pair and gestured to the Mimic, who was approaching slowly. For some reason, the Mimic had wrapped himself tightly in a black robe and was pointedly avoiding physical contact with the others. Qi Mo wondered if he had transformed into something strange again to scare them, but he didn't dwell on it. He activated the teleportation array.
Once they were gone, Mu Ran donned his cloak and picked up the white fox. The System stared at the bird on Mu Ran’s shoulder. *Stare—*
The bird: *OVO*
The System licked a paw and unsheathed a sharp claw.
The bird: *(> <)*
The System turned away, satisfied, then suddenly froze. *This strange animal instinct...!*
Mu Ran didn't notice the silent power struggle. He gazed at the clearing in the woods. "They're here."
***
Yi Meng swore this was her last time coming here. Yue Sheng, who accompanied her, hid a smile behind her hand, her crescent-shaped eyes full of warmth.
"Truly, the last time!" Yi Meng huffed. "I'm not looking for that fox anymore! Let it be! You might be a high-and-mighty stray cat, but you can't have me! I'm even more elite!"
Despite her words, her eyes were scanning every inch of the forest for anything white. Suddenly, she froze. "Wait—!"
A beautiful, petite white fox—the very one the entire forum was hunting for—was trotting elegantly toward her. "Sheng-jie...!" she whispered, her excitement barely contained.
The white fox walked right up to Yi Meng’s feet. It tilted its head, looking at her with stunning azure eyes. Yi Meng held her breath. The fox looked at her for a moment, then lowered its head. It slowly lay down, resting its snout right on her shoe.
"Ying."
*Oh my god, is that its cry? That's so cute! No, wait, that was my cry. Who am I? Where am I? ...Ying.*
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