Ah Bao’s pretty eyes immediately creased into crescents from the force of her smile. Without further ado, the little fox stiffened and toppled out of her embrace.

“Now now, no more joking, Ah Bao. Foxes are sentient creatures, so we can’t eat them. No no,” sounded an aged and kindly voice from the distance. An elder with a benevolent expression—the chief of Ning Village—plodded over to them.

“Shan’er, are you feeling better?” Picking up the little fox from the ground, the chief patted her furry little head and placed her back into Ah Bao’s arms.

Ah Bao caressed the fox’s smooth fur with peals of delightful chuckles that tinkled like a silver bell.

“Thank you for your care during this time, grandpa village chief, I feel...