The scenes kept shifting.

The dream unveiled more and more details.

The Azurehill Fox Clan was heavily female-dominated—a classic matriarchal society.

Reproduction held immense importance for them.

There was no recorded case of the Golden Nine Tails’ bloodline awakening later in any fox’s life.

To welcome this era’s Auspicious Fox, reproduction was the only path.

Yet male foxes within the clan were exceedingly rare.

Most had perished in a long-ago battle; now, fewer remained than could be counted on two hands.

This severely crippled the clan’s ability to reproduce. Their Auspicious Fox might never be born.

The Azurehill Fox Clan faced possible, tragic extinction.

Recently, however, an outsider fox group returned to the Azure Fox Realm—reportedly a branch that had split off ages ago and flourished.

They were led by a young male azure fox.

The elders of the Azure Fox Realm were overjoyed.

Legend stated: the nobler the bloodlines of the mating pair, the higher the chance of birthing a Golden Nine Tails.

Two azure foxes mating could very likely produce one.

How could they not rejoice at such a noble male’s arrival?

Within the Azure Fox Realm, the most suitable candidate was none other than the noble princess herself.

The other azure foxes were still cubs, too young to take human form. This crucial duty fell solely to Qingqiu Zili.

But the free-spirited princess would never accept such an arrangement.

She hadn’t even explored the outside world or experienced its wonders—how could she surrender to this fate?

Qingqiu Zili protested fiercely.

Yet the fox elders were obsessively fixated on the Golden Nine Tails’ birth.

Bluntly put: the azure foxes’ purpose was to breed the noblest Golden Nine Tails.

Even failing that, producing multiple azure foxes would ease the clan’s anxiety.

The elders would unhesitatingly sacrifice their lives for it—even the entire clan’s demise wouldn’t be hyperbole.

One Golden Nine Tails could restore the Azurehill Fox Clan’s glory.

Such fanatical devotion laid bare their reverence.

Before the elders could act, the Starplucking Court appeared unexpectedly.

Mirophiel single-handedly stalled all the fox elders while her comrades whisked Qingqiu Zili away.

Flawless. Not a single hitch.

This was what Mulan witnessed in her dream.

"Tsk, tsk. Trading the whole clan’s lives for one Golden Nine Tails? Otherworldly values really are abstract."

Frankly, Mulan couldn’t care less.

Never mind the Auspicious Fox. Never mind mystical powers.

If one stood before her, she’d probably not even glance its way.

Suddenly, the dream shifted again.

New imagery surfaced in Mulan’s golden eyes.

Another unfamiliar scene: mist-wreathed peaks stretching endlessly, as if she stood atop the world.

A colossal golden fox silhouette filled her vision—nine magnificent tails spreading wide, seeming to veil the heavens.

Radiating golden light, the Golden Nine Tails exuded dignity and nobility. Even seated in silence, it felt like heaven and earth’s cherished child.

Its auspicious aura pulled at Mulan irresistibly. Her earlier disdain vanished in an instant.

Talk about a swift reversal.

This affinity was the Auspicious Fox’s unique charm—undeniably irresistible to any sentient being.

Its identity surfaced in her mind.

"Golden Nine Tails?"

She’d wondered earlier: why did Qingqiu Zili’s memories appear in her dream? Why the Golden Nine Tails?

Was this the "cheat" the mysterious girl had given her? Or the effect of Mirophiel’s mysterious potion?

A golden tail gently coiled around Mulan’s slender waist, lifting her onto its fluffy back.

"Mmm…"

No fear stirred within her. Body and soul instinctively yearned to be close.

Truly incredible.

"Whatever. It’s a dream—might as well relax."

Mulan melted against the warm, sunlit fur, breathing in its intoxicating scent, lazily snuggling the giant golden-tailed fox.

"Mmm…"

She slowly closed her eyes.

She dreamed of *being* the Golden Nine Tails—living through ancient battles, basking freely in the world’s adoration.

She also saw a fanatical pursuer, twisted by love and hatred. Denied possession, he cursed the Azurehill Fox Clan, condemning generations to reproductive suffering and crippling the Golden Nine Tails’ rebirth.

A beautiful yet terrible dream.

Simultaneously, dormant knowledge stirred within Mulan.

The task the mysterious girl had given her… it was tied to Azurehill’s Golden Nine Tails.

So *this* was one of the "messes."

She hadn’t even grown strong enough—and already she was cleaning up others’ chaos.

Dawn.

Mulan opened her eyes in bed.

Last night’s dream had granted her deeply restful sleep.

Sleeping on that soft, fluffy tail was pure bliss.

So vivid. So captivating.

"Sleep really is wonderful~"

She stretched lazily—then froze.

Her peripheral vision caught strands of azure hair glowing faintly in the morning light.

A chill of dread shot through her.

"What the—?"

The petite figure with azure hair stumbled to the mirror on pink, delicate feet. Golden eyes stared, stunned.

Her cherry-blossom pink hair had turned the exact shade as Qingqiu Zili’s!

Two fox ears peeked through the locks, twitching slightly—undeniably real.

But worse…

Three large tails swayed behind her!

"Gah! I turned into a fox! What’s happening?!"

Mulan’s cry summoned Mirophiel.

"Oh my! It worked! Though… not quite as imagined. Why aren’t they golden?"

Mulan lunged, grabbing Mirophiel’s robes. "You wicked witch! Did you do this?!"

"Yes and no. This power is yours. I merely guided it forth."

Mirophiel stroked Mulan’s ears and fluffy tails with amused curiosity.

Mulan stilled. Calmed. Thought.

The dream wasn’t just a dream. This fox form came from her own "cheat."

But…

Why did she feel zero joy?

Even as a fox girl, she was still utterly at Mirophiel’s mercy.

Ugh. So infuriating!