Blending perfectly into the moon-drenched silence.
For a heartbeat, nothing moved.
Then the fox's ears twitched, swiveling toward a distant sound — soft footfalls echoing faintly down a cobblestone alley nearby.
Its tail lowered, balancing with instinctive grace as it spoke through voice transmission.
We're here. Jinshi City.
The lizard's eyes widened as it let out a confused, "Huh?"
fox… how can I hear the fox in my head?
Lizarius glanced downward at the fox.
through voice transmission…. that's because I'm speaking with you through a voice transmission, the fox replied.
The lizard blinked. "Huh? Voice transmission? What's that?"
The fox glanced over at him and said, "You don't know what a voice transmission is?"
Lizarius just stared down at it.
The fox slowly started walking, thinking, Yeah… I remember. It doesn't know how to use divine sense.
It leapt off the roof to another, saying, Voice transmission is a technique used through divine sense by those in the Foundation Establishment realm and higher.
It's used to transmit one's voice directly into another person's mind without making any sound.
Only the intended recipient — the one you want to speak to — can hear the message.
This is useful for talking in secret… just like now.
As it leapt off again, landing softly on another rooftop, Lizarius murmured, "Hmm… so I'm the only one hearing the fox's voice?"
The fox, walking, said, "Yes. Only you can hear my voice."
Lizarius continued, "It's just like the AI."
The fox paused , What's it talking about?
"It thought."
"AI? What's that?"
"Forget it."
Dismissing the thought.
The fox spoke again through voice transmission.
Listen.
This city is different — unlike the one before. This city is controlled by three families, and all of them have cultivators at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.
That means it has three times as many cultivators.
Sure you might be able to eat more, and I might get more treasure… but that also makes it three times as dangerous.
It leapt off again, landing softly, and continued, So you need to attack them one by one, quietly, without causing too much of a ruckus or alerting the others.
Unless… you might get swamped by three mid-stage cultivators. If that happens, there will be only one outcome.
So… if you think it's too dangerous, I can take you to another city instead. Though it might take a few hours…
The fox thought, Gotta make sure it knows how dangerous this is… to make sure I don't go against the pact.
I'm only willing to take the risk because I've reached the fourth layer.
After waiting a while for an answer, the lizard didn't say anything — just remained still.
On its head, golden eyes glowing, laying on the pouch he'd retrieved — it rested between his front claws, tucked safely against the fox's fur.
The fox said, Guess I'll take your silence as a 'yes' to continue onward. If worst comes to worst, we just have to grab whatever we can and escape.
It leapt forward, still cloaked, still unseen — bounding silently from roof to roof. Shingles shifted beneath its paws, but made no sound.
The city below stirred with life — unaware.
---
The scene shifted.
To the north-west side of Jinshi City — deep within the territory of the Shen Family.
Here, lanterns danced on braided cords strung across the avenue. Street vendors called to passersby in melodic voices, selling steamed buns, copper trinkets, and sweet almond tea. Children darted between glowing stalls, the air thick with incense and laughter.
But away from all that — past the outer districts, beyond the winding alleys, through courtyards choked with morning glories and moss — stood a massive estate nestled against the edge of the city.
The Shen Family Compound.
Its walls were lined with dark stone and lacquered wood. Watchtowers loomed at each corner — guards in quiet formation.
The air here was cooler, quieter… disturbed only by the fluttering of a green banner bearing the Shen crest: a coiled serpent clutching a ring of jade.
---
In a quiet alley next to the wall of the Shen Family Compound, the fox — still invisible — landed softly.
The fox said, We're here. Like before — just on the other side of the wall is where the cultivators are. But remember, you have to keep it quiet.
It leapt up — but then suddenly, the fox froze.
Its fur bristled slightly, and its pupils narrowed as it turned, landing gently on the fence.
There, rippling through the air like light across water — A formation.
Almost invisible… but not to trained eyes.
A faint distortion danced across the wall's edge and extended upward, wrapping around the entire estate like a second skin.
The fox narrowed its eyes.
Word spread faster than I thought. To think they would put up a defensive formation covering the entire estate.
Though I won't call it that — it's just a low-grade formation that can be easily destroyed by anyone in the Foundation Establishment realm.
It took a slow step forward, ears pricked, watching the shimmer shift with even that slight movement.
It's more like a warning thread. Spun thin. Stretched wide. It's not meant to block intruders… just to feel them.
The moment someone disturbs it — even slightly — the entire compound will know exactly where the breach happened.
Break it. Step through it. Even brush too hard against the edge… and it'll sing like a bell.
This isn't defense.
It's surveillance.