The immediate crisis was over, but what now? A week to wrap things up? Do you think I’m some kind of god?

Forget explaining myself to classmates, teachers, or even my parents—just getting my household registration and ID sorted wouldn’t be easy. That black cat definitely knew something. More precisely, it knew the secret of this body. But it had vanished without a trace.

Chasing it was pointless. I could only pray it hadn’t finished its business and would return. I pulled on a black hoodie with a gray lining, slipped into jeans, and trudged out to the living room for breakfast.

Only Mom was setting the table. Dad, always busy, had left just yesterday and wouldn’t be back for days. Silently, I prayed he’d missed the end of my life as a boy.

My life as a boy was ending!

At the thought, my face went ashen. I could already picture myself dragging nine huge tails, twitching a pair of cute beast ears while strangers pointed and whispered… *God!* Even if I couldn’t stay a boy, at least let me become a normal girl!

No—wait. I didn’t want to be a girl at all!

“Xiao Yao, why so down? Didn’t sleep well?”

“No, no! I’m fine.”

I forced a bright expression to ease her worries, grabbed a small cake from the table, stuffed it into my mouth, gulped a few sips of milk, and pushed my plate away.

“I’m full.”

“Eat more… Be careful on your way.”

I fled the house like it was on fire. The street greeted me at 6:50 a.m. Autumn mornings dawned late; the sky hung with hazy clouds. Twenty-five minutes remained before morning self-study. School was only ten minutes away—two blocks—but I walked slowly to digest my meager breakfast.

Or rather, what little I’d eaten.

Clearly, someone—or rather, some *youkai*—had other plans. The talking cat materialized on a stone bench ahead, golden eyes locked onto me. I swallowed hard. *So it’s here. Will it finally explain this body?*

But it didn’t speak. It merely nodded, turned, and darted off as if leading me somewhere. I hesitated, then gritted my teeth and followed. Compared to the mystery of my own existence, morning self-study could wait. As for my ordinary life and safety? The moment those nine tails sprouted, I knew normalcy was gone.

*Hey! Wait up! I just ate—I can’t run!*

The black cat finally stopped. Seeing me catch up, it padded with deliberate grace into a nearby ramen shop. The interior was unexpectedly elegant—porcelain tables in cool jade hues, more fitting for tea or fine dining than noodles. The cat didn’t pause, slipping straight into the back.

I glanced uncertainly at the counter staff—a young man whose smile never wavered. Instead of stopping me as I approached the back area, he gestured politely: *Please, go ahead.*

—*I’ve walked straight into a youkai den.*

My throat tightened. I pressed a hand to my aching stomach, then stepped inside. Curiosity outweighed fear. Better to have answers here—even if it meant death—than become a homeless outcast in a week.

Resolute, I pushed deeper. The back room held noodle-making tools: three large pots, gas stoves. No cat. No people. A small door stood slightly ajar in the far corner, its intricate lock clearly recently opened. I gripped the handle and eased it open, stepping into the dim space beyond.

***Bang!***

The door slammed shut behind me. The sharp sound made me jump. But as it closed, lights flickered on. The room was small—just a large table and chairs. And I instantly saw the three figures waiting.

An elderly man, eyes crinkled in a gentle smile.

A hulking giant, easily over six feet tall, muscles coiled like steel cables.

And a black-haired girl.

She looked sixteen or seventeen. Delicate profile, long lashes. Her height nearly matched mine, her frame slender, her bearing elegant—*if* you ignored the cat ears atop her head and the long, black tail swaying playfully behind her. That tail ruined any trace of maturity, turning her into a mischievous child.

Given my own situation, the truth was obvious. This girl was the black cat who’d led me here. Catching me staring at her tail, she flushed slightly. Then, under my hopeful gaze, it slowly retracted beneath her skirt.

I looked up. Her ears vanished into her hair too.

—*They can be hidden!*

Relief flooded me. If I could hide my tails and ears, I wouldn’t be seen as a monster. *What to do about being a girl? I’ll figure that out later.*

“You’ve come.”

Before I could speak, the old man’s warm voice cut through the silence. “Sit awhile, child. We’ll explain everything.”

I nodded quickly, choosing a seat midway across the table from them. He slid a steaming bowl of broth toward me. “Drink. It’ll settle your stomach.”

“Thank you.”

I took the bowl, sipping carefully. The broth wasn’t scalding—smooth on the tongue. As it reached my belly, warmth spread through my limbs. The ache in my stomach faded. I felt… calm.

“Let me tell you a story first.”

I set the bowl down immediately, hands on my knees, posture attentive.

“The world’s surface seems peaceful. Humans believe they’re the only intelligent beings… but they’re wrong.”

“This other race is fragile. Their numbers, compared to humanity’s, are like a single leaf in a bamboo forest. To survive under human rule, they must cling to the *true* powers hidden in the shadows. These powers war amongst themselves. And the weak race must choose wisely—which side will win.”

The old man paused. His smile vanished. His gaze turned grave, heavy. A chill prickled my spine.

“So, to ensure the right choice,” he continued, voice low and solemn, “the race agreed on one decision-maker to control their fate. The symbol of wisdom among youkai—the Nine Tails.”

I nodded vigorously. *Of course. A big race needs one smart leader.* But something felt… off.

I scratched my head. Then I remembered the nine soft, silky tails tangled in my bedsheets that morning…

*I’m the Nine Tails?!?!?!*

I tilted my head, staring at the serious old man. “Um… who exactly is this Nine Tails you mentioned?”

*Maybe it’s someone else? There could be more than one. Maybe I’m just related to the real boss. That’d be kinda cool…*

“Time waits for no one,” the old man said, ignoring my question. “Even the strongest powers fall. So periodically, the race enters a rare neutral period. They wait… for the next Nine Tails to appear. For *you* to choose their next master.”

Dread coiled in my gut. “Why wait for a *new* one? What happened to the old Nine Tails?”

The question silenced him. He bowed his head, sparse wrinkles deepening like cracks in stone. Pain etched his face. After a long silence, the giant finally growled, “Naive little fox. Did you think a race could abandon its master without paying a price?”

His glare had been hostile since I entered. I had no idea why.

The catgirl tapped his table sharply—a clear *shut up*. She turned to me, voice cool. “Imagine two armies at war. One side collapses. How does the losing army surrender? How do most soldiers survive?”

I thought hard. “Surrender ceremonies? Reassignment? Military tribunals…?”

“No.” Her words cut like ice. “Only the defeated general needs to put a bullet in his own head.”

Ignoring my stunned silence, she pressed on. “The Nine Tails embodies the Yao Race’s will. The entire hidden world knows this. So when the Nine Tails dies… the Yao Race gains precious neutrality. No alliances. No wars. Until the next Nine Tails appears.”

Her voice trembled slightly now.

“And every Nine Tails before you… chose death. To let their race live.”

The old man’s shoulders shook. I nearly slid off my chair. The unspoken truth was clear.

—I was the new decision-maker. I’d choose who the Yao Race served next. And if that power fell… I’d be the general putting the gun to my own head.

I took shaky breaths. “Why… why must it be the Nine Tails? I was human! I don’t even belong to your race—doesn’t that make me a strange choice?”

Regret hit me instantly. The old man lifted his face. Fury burned in his eyes. A crushing pressure slammed into me like a freight train.

***Boom!***

When my vision cleared, snow-white tails swayed around me. Under that pressure, my body had reacted like startled fur—breaking its own seals, transforming into this fox-girl form.

“You *are* the Nine Tails. You *are* Yao. Your soul decides—not your birth.”

His words were calm. But cold sweat soaked my back. *Of course someone this powerful wouldn’t be gentle. Watch your tongue.* I fumbled with the broth bowl, my oversized sleeves tangling. Carefully, I asked:

“If… if our chosen power loses, can’t we just switch sides? I mean, surrender might—”

—*Sorry. It sounds cowardly. But I’m not ready to die for a race I don’t even feel part of.*

“Surrender is impossible. Allegiance demands payment.” The catgirl answered again, but her expression had turned oddly strained.

“Payment?”

Another bad feeling slithered in my gut. I lifted the bowl, drinking deeply. The magical broth soothed my pounding heart.

The reason you can't defect to another faction is that the price of dependence is yourself—your hymen has only one layer.

Pfft!!!!!!!!

Warm broth gushed violently from my mouth, spraying over most of the table.