In a forgotten junk-filled corner behind the school building, a snow-white fox sobbed softly. Her dusty paws wiped at her pointed cheeks, smearing tears and grime across her once-pristine fur. Beside her, a large rat cowered—pitiful, helpless… yet undeniably edible.

“Wahhhhh… My life is ruined! Today was so humiliating. My reputation… How will they see me now? ‘Mouse-Chasing Maniac’?”

Huddled in the shadows, I wept. The moment I caught that rat earlier, the primal hunting instinct surged—but my will slowly pushed it back. Only after clarity returned did I grasp what I’d done: crawling on all fours, chasing a rat across five floors. Nearly every department witnessed it. Total disgrace.

The emotional shock destabilized my demonic energy. Unable to hold human form, I’d reverted to fox shape and hidden here.

[“Crying again? Show some backbone! Weren’t you the one insisting you’re a man? Real men don’t sob.”]

“Hmph! You called me ‘little girl’ before—why the sudden switch? And whose fault is this? Why didn’t you warn me about this damn animal instinct?”

Even now, a chill creeps up my spine. That raw impulse hijacks your mind completely. Beyond control. What if it happens again? I will *not* eat a rat raw.

[“This one didn’t foresee it either. Animals take decades—centuries—to attain human form, learning to temper instincts through cultivation. You? Human to animal to demon in under a day. No time for restraint. And don’t disrespect animal instincts—they’re survival. Humans aren’t so different; laws and morals just mask the truth. Strip those away… same beast.”]

“So how do I learn to suppress it?”

When the urge hits, your mind blanks. Only the target exists. Human reason creeps back slowly. Thank goodness I lived as human for over ten years… or I might’ve actually eaten it.

[“Hard to teach. You learn only when it strikes. Practice makes perfect. Took you five minutes today. Next time? Three. Maybe two.”]

“So it’ll happen again?”

[“This is the *least* of your worries. What truly concerns this one isn’t hunting instinct.”]

The fox demon sighed through me, voice laced with mischief.

“What do you mean?”

[“When spring comes… it’s that time of year again…”]

“Huh?”

Her words felt oddly familiar—like a nature documentary intro—but I couldn’t place it.

[“Never mind. It’s summer. Spring’s long gone. We’ll cross that bridge later… or you’ll start bawling again.”]

She fell silent. No matter how I called, no reply. Fine. I’d cried enough. Time to go home.

“Squeak-squeak—Mercy, Honored Fox Spirit! Spare this lowly one!”

The rat spoke. After transforming, I’d naturally understood beast speech. Only awakened-intelligence creatures communicate like this; ordinary animals just chirp. No wonder it was huge—nearly half a cat’s size.

“What to do with you?”

I hesitated. I’m no bleeding heart—I’d slaughtered poultry and fish in kitchen jobs before. An ordinary rat? One brick, done. But this one *talked*. Begged. Felt almost human. My paw stilled.

“Lady Nine Tails, why linger in such filth? Don’t let dust tarnish your noble fur.”

I looked up. A graceful azure fox perched on the wall, three tails swaying gently, intelligent eyes fixed on me.

“Xiao Qing? How’d you find me?”

“By scent! Your delicate fragrance carries a hundred meters.”

She leaped down. Twice my size, yet she lowered her body submissively, head bowed, gazing up—a clear sign of animal deference.

“Do I smell it? I sniffed my armpit—nothing.”

“Perhaps the wearer can’t sense it. Is this rat your dinner, Lady Nine Tails?”

Xiao Qing’s eyes gleamed. She licked her lips unconsciously.

“No! Don’t misunderstand—I don’t eat this.”

“Then… may I have it? I haven’t tasted wild game in ages.”

A shiver ran through me. I’d seen her human form—so elegant. *Eating a rat?*

“You’re sure?”

“Mm-hmm!”

“…Go ahead.”

Slightly unsettled, I respected her choice. Her eager expression said it all.

“Thank you, Lady Nine Tails!” She nodded happily, swiped a paw—*thump*—and the rat vanished without a sound.

“Certain you won’t share?” She held the carcass in her mouth.

“No. Absolutely not.”

No way. Human dignity in my diet. I’d starve before eating something so vile.

“Well… awakened-intelligence rats are quite nourishing.”

She sighed. A green lotus-shaped flame bloomed beneath her. After adjusting the heat, she placed the carcass atop the fiery blossom.

“What are you doing?”

“Roasting. I’m not a primitive beast—why eat raw?”

“…”

Her logic left me speechless.

“It smells amazing…”

The verdant flame transformed the rat into something golden-glowing, fur incinerated, skin crisped, juices sizzling with an irresistible aroma.

[“Her wood-aligned fire carries botanical traits. She likely shaped it to mimic spices—Sichuan pepper, star anise, chili. Ancient wood demons forged flames that burned endlessly like wild grass. But *this* one? Cultivates *seasoning*! Hmph! A disgrace to fox demons!”]

…She’d make the ultimate chef. Azure Lotus Flame, mastering all eighteen classic flavors. What mortal cook could compete?

“Truly certain, Lady Nine Tails?”

The roasted rat now seemed almost divine, radiating golden light. Wait—was she *alchemizing* it?!

“Uh… If I eat this, will my clothes explode…? Wait—*fur* explode?”