The fox entered the room and closed the door quietly behind her.
The small inn chamber was modest—wooden walls, a simple bed, a narrow table, and a small window sealed with shutters. A lantern hung from the ceiling, casting a warm but muted glow that softened the edges of the space.
She lowered the child gently onto the floor.
"Find something to play with," she said.
Not harsh.
Not dismissive.
Simply practical.
The girl landed softly and looked up at her, then around the room with wide red eyes.
Curiosity.
No complaint.
The fox turned toward the door.
No chances.
Not after nearly being killed by a Golden Core cultivator.
She reached into her pouch and retrieved a consummate talisman.
Soundproofing.
Small.
But effective.
She pressed it against the wall and infused a thin strand of qi.
The talisman glimmered briefly before dissolving into the surface.
The air shifted.
Sound within the room dulled.
Muted.
Private.
Next—
She pulled out a defensive formation disk.
Compact.
Reliable.
A tool she had preserved precisely for situations like this.
"Good thing I didn't leave this behind," she murmured.
The disk rose into the air with a faint hum.
Lines of light spread outward, tracing intricate invisible patterns along the walls, floor, and ceiling.
Then the barrier solidified.
Transparent.
But firm.
It enclosed the entire room.
Protection.
Containment.
If anything attempted to breach it, the formation would respond instantly.
The fox exhaled slowly.
"That will do."
For now.
The lizard leapt from her head, wings spreading smoothly.
It descended with precise control.
No wild motion.
No unnecessary display.
It became visible once more and landed lightly atop the table.
Balanced.
Observant.
The child noticed immediately.
Her red eyes brightened.
Recognition.
Delight.
She took small steps forward.
Toward the table.
Toward the lizard.
The lizard shifted slightly, maintaining distance.
"Not again," it thought.
The child reached out.
Hands extended.
Not aggressive.
Only curious.
The lizard weighed its options.
It could move away.
Or tolerate the contact.
No threat.
Small human.
Harmless.
It remained where it was.
The girl smiled faintly and touched its wing.
Gentle.
Exploratory. It's
The lizard's ears twitched.
Uncomfortable.
But not painful.
It stayed still.
The fox watched from near the door.
"Looks like she wants to play," she observed.
Not mocking.
Just stating a fact.
The lizard's gaze remained fixed on the child.
The fox leaned lightly against the wall, faint amusement flickering in her turquoise eyes.
"She must really like you, Little White."
The lizard froze.
Golden eyes slowly shifted toward her.
"Who is Little White?" it asked.
Flat.
Direct.
The fox smiled.
"That's going to be your name from now on."
The lizard's stare did not change.
"That is not my name. Don't call me that."
The fox raised an eyebrow.
"Then what is your name?"
Silence.
The child continued stretching upward, gripping the edge of the table as she tried to reach the lizard again.
The lizard did not answer immediately.
Name.
It had none.
No one had given it one.
There had never been a need.
After a pause, it spoke.
"I don't have a name."
The fox's smile widened slightly.
"Then now you do. White."
She waved her hand casually.
"Little White. It suits you perfectly—with your white scales and all."
The lizard's eyes narrowed faintly.
"You can take it as a nickname," she continued. "It's already spreading. They're calling you the master of the demon fox. The white-scale demon."
She tilted her head thoughtfully.
"I thought White was nice. It's not like I can keep calling you 'it.' So I'll be calling you White from now on."
The lizard stared at her.
Unmoving.
Unimpressed.
But it did not argue again.
Names were irrelevant.
Just labels.
Nothing more.
Then—
A small voice.
Soft.
Unsteady.
"Whi… white…"
Both of them turned toward the sound.
The child stood near the table, one hand gripping its edge as she reached upward.
Red eyes shining.
Focused entirely on the lizard.
"…White."
The word came clearer this time.
The lizard looked down at her.
Processing.
She had repeated it.
Associated the sound with it.
Recognition forming.
The fox chuckled softly.
"Well. Seems it stuck."
The lizard held the child's gaze.
The name echoed once in its mind.
White.
Just a label.
But now—
It had been spoken.
The fox smiled faintly as the child continued reaching toward the table.
"See?" she said lightly. "She likes the name too."
The child looked up again.
"White."
Clearer now.
Certain.
The lizard's tail flicked once.
An unnecessary development.
But… accepted.
The fox's tone shifted.
"You two should get along."
Her turquoise eyes dimmed slightly.
"I need to heal."
The reminder tightened her aura faintly. The earlier clash with the Golden Core cultivator had not been light. She had concealed the instability at the gates, but suppression was not recovery.
"I can't let it linger."
Without another word, she stepped back and leapt lightly onto the bed.
Mid-motion, her form shimmered.
Bones shifted.
Limbs shortened.
Fur spread fluidly over skin.
In a single breath, she returned to her true fox form.
Light brown fur.
Turquoise eyes.
Graceful.
Compact.
She landed gently on the bed, tail curling around her side.
With a flick of her paw, her storage pouch opened.
Small bottles rolled onto the bedding.
Jade boxes followed.
Sealed carefully.
Precious.
Healing pills.
Stabilizing elixirs.
Spirit-nourishing medicine.
She nudged one bottle closer and uncorked it.
The faint fragrance of refined herbs filled the room.
On the table, the lizard remained still.
Observing.
The child continued trying to reach it, occasionally brushing its wing.
The fox swallowed one pill.
Then another.
Calm.
Controlled.
She closed her eyes and began circulating qi, guiding the medicinal essence through her meridians.
The defensive formation hummed faintly around the chamber.
Sealed.
Protected.
Contained.
For now, they were safe.
And the fox began her recovery.