…

“Host, host, host…”

“Mm…”

In a hazy state of consciousness, Jun Zhu heard the system’s voice calling out to him repeatedly.

As his awareness gradually returned, an overwhelming soreness spread through his body—it felt as though he had been run over by a carriage, with not a single part left untouched by pain.

“Hiss…”

Jun Zhu forced his eyes open and found himself in an unfamiliar room. The decor was elegant and refined, exuding an ancient charm. As he tried to move, he suddenly caught sight of something that made his heart jolt in shock.

This… What is this?!

Lifting his hands—or what should have been his hands—he was instead met with a pair of fluffy paws. Looking down at the rest of his body, he saw that it was the same. Stunned, his widened fox-like eyes reflected his disbelief.

Had he… turned into a fox?!

“Host, you’re finally awake,” the system spoke again.

Jun Zhu’s mind was still in a daze, unsure of where he was. The surrounding environment was clearly a human dwelling.

After a brief pause, memories of what had happened with Mo Yao resurfaced, making him frown.

He was still alive?

At that moment, he had acted recklessly, determined to perish alongside Mo Yao. Thinking back on it now, a shiver of lingering fear ran through him. He almost admired his past self for being fearless—even in the face of death.

Surveying his current surroundings, Jun Zhu realized he had woken up on a bed. The room was empty—there was no one else in sight, and Mo Yao was nowhere to be found.

Had someone saved him from Mo Yao’s hands? Otherwise, considering Mo Yao’s hatred for him, would he really allow him to rest on such a fine bed?

“System, who brought me here?”

“Host, it was Mo Yao.”

So it really was him.

The place appeared to be an inn—Jun Zhu could hear the muffled sounds of people talking from beyond the room.

Getting up from the bed, he tested his new body. Though he was now in fox form, walking felt oddly natural. His body was still sore, but it didn’t hinder his movements.

Jumping down from the bed, Jun Zhu explored the room before leaping onto the tightly shut window. Pushing it open just a crack, he peered outside.

Beyond the window lay a spacious courtyard adorned with vibrant flowers in full bloom. A few blue butterflies fluttered gracefully among the blossoms, their wings shimmering under the sunlight—a breathtaking sight.

Every so often, inn attendants dressed as staff hurriedly passed through the courtyard, confirming his suspicion—this was indeed an inn.

What exactly was Mo Yao’s purpose in bringing him here? And why hadn’t he shown up since Jun Zhu had woken up? Could it be that he had decided to let him go?

Just as Jun Zhu jumped down from the windowsill, he suddenly became aware of the cold sensation around his neck. He didn’t need to look—he already knew what it was.

Even after transforming into a fox, the collar was still locked around his throat.

Spotting a dressing table nearby with a sizable mirror on top, Jun Zhu leaped onto it and finally got a clear look at himself.

The fox in the mirror was pure white, its eyes a striking shade of deep blue. Its body was roughly the size of an average house cat. The tips of its ears and tail were dusted with a soft sky-blue hue, and its fur was smooth and fluffy, exuding an otherworldly beauty.

Yet, the sleek black collar around its neck ruined the otherwise perfect image.