16 Chapter 16: The Friends' Spirits Meet
Once Lucy called for him, the five-tailed fox man in red kimono robes appeared, hiding his sly grin behind his red fan:
“You called me, little one?”
Evilia Hoot gasped in shock – it was truly Lord Huli! She shuddered and stepped back – she knew there was a gruesome monster hiding behind that handsome face and wily grin. Xiao-Hong, on the other hand (no matter how surprising it was for Lucy and Rose), didn’t get scared. He instead rejoiced and waved a hand at Yuehong:
“Hey, Lord Huli!”
“Oh, who do I see? How are you, Xiao-Hong?” Yuehong brightened up as if seeing an old friend, “I wouldn’t expect a Long Clan member to bond with a human, and especially you, since the old gramps is so fond of you that he never lets you wander off by yourself.”
The girls couldn’t understand the spirits’ chatter – what were they talking about? Who was ‘old gramps’?
“Heh, look who’s talking! I’d expect anyone but you to bond with a human, Lord Huli!” Xiao-Hong chuckled. He swung his hand, made a red lollipop appear, and put it in his mouth. “We all know you detest humans.”
“Aww, come on, I’m not all that hateful!” Yuehong grabbed the surprised Lucy’s hand and pressed her to his chest, to make her go all red like his kimono. “Lucy’s a good girl. I grew quite interested in her, lately.”
“Haha! I still can’t believe what I’m seeing is true!”
“Wow, you managed to befriend a tailed fox, Lucy?” Rose widened her eyes, “So cool!”
“Hehe…” Lucy scratched the back of her head.
Lola, on her part, got so jealous that her blood boiled. Evilia could easily notice it, and grew angry over the situation – how come her mistress liked this foolish canine man and considered her a low-level spirit compared to him? She grew envious of Yuehong. She and her mistress truly resembled each other a lot, in many ways.
“Anyway, boy, how’s the old gramps?” Yuehong asked the dragon.
“Grandpa’s fine.” Xiao-Hong shrugged, “He got too old, though.”
“Hmph, what are you talking about? He was just a little boy back when I first saw him! Eh, time flies…”
“Yeah, but… you never age, Lord Huli. You can take whatever form you want. Grandpa’s not like that. He has only some hundred years left to live.”
“Well, he’s still got time. Main is he has a great heir like you.” Yuehong caressed him on the head.
“Thank you, Lord Huli!” Xiao-Hong laughed.
“So, you two know each other?” Lucy was surprised, just like the other girls.
“Sure. Who doesn’t know Lord Huli?” Xiao-Hong grinned, “He’s like a god to us, spirits. He’s our overlord, and every high-rank clan like our Long Clan invites him to their dwellings from time to time, to show him our respect.”
“Yeah, I often visit these guys,” Yuehong said. “I am always an honoured guest.”
“Hmph, I’ve never met you before! I’ve only heard of you in ancient tales.” Evilia crossed her arms.
“Well, who was talking about the likes of you? You’re a low-level spirit, darling. The likes of you shall never attract my attention.”
“Huh? To let you know, ‘glorious’ Lord Huli, I’ve often fought various strong spirits, and killed them!”
“Oh, like who? Mice and squirrels?”
“Ugh, you! You want to pick a fight, fox boy?!” Evilia prepared talons on her hands.
“Nay, why would I? After all, since our little human friends are going to be in the same class, we will often have to cooperate, no matter how it annoys you, my darling little owl.”
Yuehong chuckled. The next second, however, he lost his playful attitude all at once. He made a step forward and appeared before the startled Evilia. He shut his fan and raised her chin with it, to let her look into his sparkling blue eyes that glared right into her soul.
“I’d advise you to beware of picking a fight with me, since, as you know, we foxes can greatly enjoy feasting upon owls’ flesh… A little squirrel spirit, a friend of my human girl, told quite an interesting story about you, darling Evilia. According to her, you fought not strong or even weak spirits, but two innocent, defenceless squirrel cubs, and ate them before their mother’s eyes.”
Yuehong raised one of his orange foxtails and placed it on the horrified Evilia’s cheek.
“You know, sometimes I can barely control my fluffy tails – they share my emotions better than my face does, for I can put on masks, but I cannot mask my tails. So, whenever my heart is truly enraged, the tails fire up…”
Evilia squealed for she felt scorching pain on her cheek. The next instant, the pain ceased. Only then did she notice that Yuehong’s tail-end had fired up only for that exact second. She trembled in the utmost horror.
“I am sure you don’t want me to burn your pretty face,” Yuehong uttered in a grim tone, “So, you’d better remember – I know what you’ve done, and if ever again you make such a grave mistake, it will be your last action.”
He put his fan away and let go of her. The girls watched it all stupefied. Evilia put her hands to her face and gave into sobs. Lola got worked-up:
“Evilia, what’s wrong? Ugh, good job, Lucy! Look what your spirit has done! Can you control him at all?”
“I’m not his boss, I’m his friend,” Lucy retorted. “It is your spirit’s fault for insulting him!”
“Ugh! Just get off us, will you?” Lola gnashed her teeth.
She touched her owl necklace and sent Evilia back to her spirit dwelling. Then, she fell upon her bed and showed her back to her classmates.
“Heh, such a crybaby!” Rose chuckled. “You have a cool spirit, Lucy!”
“Haha, thanks! You too, Rose.”
“Yes, on that one I agree.” Yuehong winked at Xiao-Hong, who shyly laughed in response.
Thus, the friends reunited again, now in a high school, which offered completely new and far more difficult challenges up ahead…
