Day and night turned in endless cycle.

Mulan was weighed down with worries.

Qingqiu Nine Calamities was an urgent problem, but she had no idea where to even begin solving it.

He was a male green fox, and he had already earned the clan's approval. She, meanwhile, was a young three-tailed green fox. Other than receiving a little more affection than Qingqiu Zili, she basically had no say in any decision.

Could a weak little fox like her really stop Qingqiu Nine Calamities from reaching his goal?

Impossible.

So what if she said Qingqiu Nine Calamities might be a believer of the Greedy Wolf Church?

She had no evidence at all.

The elders would never believe baseless claims.

The Azurehill Fox Clan had declined for a long time. They desperately needed a great Golden Nine Tails to be born and lead them.

Without question, Qingqiu Nine Calamities was a more important hope than Azurefox Wuyue and Qingqiu Zili.

To put it bluntly, even if there were no other female green foxes, Qingqiu Nine Calamities could still mate with foxes beneath green foxes and still raise the chances of a Golden Nine Tails being born.

The difference in importance was heaven and earth apart.

On the road,

Mulan's troubled frown was obvious at a glance.

The big foxes by the roadside all showed concern. They kept coming up to ask what was wrong, looking ready to comfort her.

That was just how the Azure Fox Realm was. If they saw a green fox feeling down, the nearby foxes would do everything they could to make her smile.

Not to mention, Azurefox Wuyue was a former stray green fox who needed the most love and care.

But so what?

Mulan's worries were far beyond anything ordinary.

Even if she said it out loud, she'd only burden these big foxes with more trouble.

Mulan didn't want to see these friendly, warm fox-lady big sisters put on troubled expressions.

After all, the one she wanted to oppose was the Azurehill Fox Clan's true hope—Qingqiu Nine Calamities.

If she brought up something like that,

how were they supposed to choose?

Qingqiu Zili walked beside Mulan, but she didn't look nearly as troubled.

The pampered princess had always been simple-hearted.

If Mulan hadn't come, she might've been depressed over Qingqiu Nine Calamities.

But after Mulan arrived, she could rely on this green fox loli who looked incredibly dependable.

Qingqiu Zili trusted Mulan deeply.

She believed Mulan could handle everything.

That was why she could still stay cheerful now.

Mulan shot her a speechless sidelong glance.

"You really are something. Can you stop being so carefree? I appreciate that you trust me this much, but I'm under a lot of pressure too."

"It's fine~ Worst comes to worst, this princess can just run away with you~"

Qingqiu Zili smiled as she swayed her big tail. She clearly had already planned an escape route.

The Plunder Witch stood behind Mulan. If danger really came, Qingqiu Zili could just go over and mooch off the protection zone.

She might look a little silly, but Qingqiu Zili was actually sharp.

Even if the Plunder Witch didn't plan to take her along, she'd still grab Mulan's big tail and never let go!

"Then what about our kin in the Azure Fox Realm?"

"Hmph~ This princess believes the elders will definitely solve it!"

"You really don't have even a shred of crisis awareness."

Moling Qingqiu followed behind the two green foxes, silently ensuring their safety.

As for their conversation, she treated it as if she hadn't heard a thing.

This wasn't a topic a black fox like her could discuss.

"Speaking of which, Princess Zili, Princess Wuyue, in a few days the elders will announce something to the entire Azurehill Fox Clan. Qingqiu Nine Calamities will become the King of Qingqiu."

"That fast?"

Mulan revealed a conflicted expression.

Under normal circumstances, someone who had just joined an organization couldn't possibly become the next leader so quickly. At the very least, they'd need a long period of observation.

Qingqiu Nine Calamities had only been in the Azure Fox Realm for a little over a month.

He was a noble green fox, so he naturally had an easier time winning the Azurehill Fox Clan's approval.

And during this time, he had also been using his actions to earn the clan's recognition.

The Azure Fox Realm had long since fallen into decline.

So it was understandable that Qingqiu Nine Calamities could become the King of Qingqiu this quickly.

His most important task wasn't leading the Azurehill Fox Clan's development.

It was to make the Golden Nine Tails be born as soon as possible. That was the simplest and most brutal way for the clan to rise again.

Once Qingqiu Nine Calamities became the King of Qingqiu,

not only Qingqiu Zili, but even the futures of the other green foxes would fall into his hands.

Mulan would never accept that outcome.

She didn't believe Qingqiu Nine Calamities would lead the Azurehill Fox Clan toward a bright future.

If he achieved some hidden goal, the Azure Fox Realm might end up with massive casualties.

The fox girls here had treated her very well. They gave Mulan a feeling of home.

Mulan recalled all the warmth and kindness the Azurehill Fox Clan had shown her during this time.

She would never allow disaster to fall upon the Azurehill Fox Clan.

"...Mm."

Mulan's gaze gradually turned firm. In her golden eyes, a captivating light seemed to flow in secret.

"Mm? Is it just me? Why does Wuyue suddenly smell even better? It's making me want to stick to you more and more~"

"Stop, stop. Don't come over here. Have some restraint in public, okay? This is super embarrassing."

Mulan hurriedly raised a hand to block Qingqiu Zili, who was wagging her tail and moving in close.

There was no way she wanted to get all cuddly with this idiot fox girl under the watchful eyes of all those big sisters.

Way too shameful.

"No way. Little sisters are born to cuddle with big sisters! You're this fragrant, this soft, this cute, and you're still not letting a fox cuddle you? In the Azure Fox Realm, that should be illegal!"

Qingqiu Zili had no intention of caring about Mulan's resistance.

Mulan had no idea how attractive her current aura was to foxes.

If Moling Qingqiu hadn't been standing behind them, warning the surrounding fox girls with her eyes, Mulan probably would've already been buried under a pack of fluffy fox girls staring at her in longing.

"Gwah! Don't come over here!"

In the end, all Mulan could do was get tightly hugged and thoroughly nuzzled by Qingqiu Zili under the delighted gazes of the surrounding fox girls.

It was a humiliating crushing defeat!

...

Day after day, time passed.

Today was the day before Qingqiu Nine Calamities would become the King of Qingqiu.

Mulan got up early, while Qingqiu Zili was still sleeping in.

Mulan had wanted to sleep longer too, but her current situation wasn't suited for sleep.

There were too many things weighing on her mind.

With the strength of a three-tailed fox, there were too many things she simply couldn't do.

If she were as powerful as Mirophiel, maybe she could solve the current problem with ease instead of carrying all this pressure and living on edge.

Mulan walked alone through the palace and didn't call for the still-sleeping Qingqiu Zili.

At that moment, a figure approached from the front.

It was Qingqiu Nine Calamities.

"Good morning, Azurefox Wuyue."

"You too, Qingqiu Nine Calamities."

Mulan put on a cold expression and gave him no pleasant face.

Qingqiu Nine Calamities kept smiling and didn't mind at all, like a good big brother concerned for his little sister.

"Up so early today. Where are you going?"

"Just taking a walk."

"Then I hope you enjoy this walk."

Qingqiu Nine Calamities went around her and left with a faint smile.

Mulan couldn't shake the feeling that he was mocking her, as if all her efforts these past days had been completely useless.

And Qingqiu Nine Calamities really was thinking exactly that.

So what if she could sense something suspicious about him?

Not being able to find evidence was its own kind of incompetence.

How laughable.

Mulan glanced back over her shoulder.

"Evil wolf, don't celebrate too early."

Qingqiu Nine Calamities paused mid-step and turned back to stare at that petite figure from behind, expressionless.

But Mulan had already started walking away, gradually disappearing from Qingqiu Nine Calamities's sight.