Chapter 12

Cultivating is a slow, steady process that takes many many years. All those Wuxia books that had the main characters rapidly advance and become geniuses are lies. It isn't instant, it's a gradual process of building up like a structurally sound building. I know this, I understand this, and I need to be patient. Be patient, be patient, be patient... it's so hard to be patient!!

I've got mixed feelings about the body I was reincarnated into. On one hand, being an adult means that it's easier to survive on my own, and also become mates with Maverick. I wouldn't trade that for anything. It also means there's less chance of being grabbed by random people and clipped. However, on the other hand, I've missed so many quality years of cultivation!! A nine tailed fox takes 10 years to become an adult. A whole decade of opportunity missed, maybe more depending on how old this body actually is, because frankly I don't know the specifics. Argh, this is so depressingly pointless but I can't stop complaining about it. Though, why exactly is it that I'm complaining about this? Because it has now been a whole week of cultivate, work out, talk with maverick about the areas around us and our future plans, and repeat.

You can only cultivate a certain amount of time until you feel full, and then you physically cannot cultivate any more and instead have to wait a few hours until you feel empty enough to start again. It's kind of like eating. I've discovered a couple ways to get around this. Using an element seems to empty the tank quicker, but it also uses my physical stamina. So, it counts as both a workout and cultivating. However, It doesn't increase my stamina or strength so I needed to find my limits, and now that I've found them, I need to increase them. My days are very active and squished, but it's actually quite enjoyable. I'm playing around with funky supernatural powers, and I'm doing it all with someone else, because Maverick is quite interested in my spartan training too. Seems nobody does anything like it, or at least nobody he's met before.

Well, there is reasoning behind my masochistic routine . I need to be strong enough to defend myself and not be a dead weight when we leave the mountain. I'm not trying to brag, but I'm very beautiful. The sort of exotic type, with the combination of beautiful ebony skin, and the bright amber and fire red of my hair, fur and eyes. Not to mention my drool-worthy hourglass figure that celebrities got plastic surgery to emulate. Truly, how has Maverick restrained himself with me next to him the past few weeks. What admirable self control.

On top of that, apparently foxes are quite secretive and reclusive, as well as being one of the species that dabbles in clipping their females and keeping them in the settlement. Which means, I'm going to be a free range, free for all exotic animal, and many people love exotic trophies. I'm a prize. I need to be strong, to defend myself and make sure I'm not dead weight to Mavie.

"Qiao Ai, you've been running all afternoon. Aren't you tired yet? You're starting to look very droopy. You've even stopped talking to me!" Maverick looks concerned, as he has a front row seat to my sloppy, desperate attempt at endurance running. He himself is running by my side, but I suppose as expected of someone much stronger then me who lives in steep mountains and hunts daily, he doesn't even look out of breath. I slow down, getting to the end of my endurance and desperately craving some water as well as a gym instead of a huge ass mountain with thin ass air. Lucky for me, there's a mountain stream nearby.

I drop down, shifting from human to fox form, and start gulping down the water so hard that my face is almost in the stream. Maverick watches on, and I'm not sure because I can't fully see him, but there seems to be pity in his eyes as he looks down at my pathetic little body. Come on Mavie, don't look at me like that, this is actually an improvement. Not everyone is as naturally superior as you, some of us need to work for it. I was running for a good hour or so there at a sprint, before I could barely do 15 minutes. To begin with, I'm pretty sure foxes aren't really known for their endurance. Whatever, I'm focusing on the water.

Maybe as a testament to the amazing body I'm in, but instead of having to guzzle water I jest need a good couple of big mouthful's and a bit of rest in the cold of the water. But I can't stay here for long, so I shift back and stand up before dragging Mavie over to a patch of clear grass. "Alright Mavie, time to stretch." I declare with hands on hips and my very naked boobs in clear view. To my annoyance, Mavie only takes a glance before looking away and sighing. Contrary to what you'd expect from a cat, Maverick isn't that flexible, and he makes faces every time we doo flexibility training.

"Come on, it's important to stretch before and after exercising to keep your muscles healthy. Let's start. 1. 2. 3. 4..." On the count of 1 we reach down to our toes, and for the rest of the counts up to 30 bob to releasing and stretch the muscles. We repeat with leaning backwards, before going through a whole half an hour gymnastics warm down. I knew doing gymnastics my whole childhood and adolescence would help me.

After the physical activity, it was time to spend a few hours cultivating. We've come back to the cave house for this task, and put some clothes on. Lying on my side facing Maverick on the recently re-stuffed grass mattress, I close my eyes and sink into the trance like state of cultivation.

Unknowingly, next to me Maverick wasn't cultivating at all, instead snuggling up to me in leopard form as his tail waved satisfied and his eyes squinted in pleasure. He was purring quietly, rubbing his head against my shoulders and breathing in the smell on my body. After staying like that for a good 10 minutes or so, he shuffled away a little and finally started cultivating himself.

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Slowly coming to, feeling as though I had the most satisfying meal in a long while, I squinted at Maverick who was still in a deep meditation. The urge to jump him right then and there was clawing at the edge of my mind, but I squash it and start walking out side to get a last little bit of training in before retiring for the night. I stay close enough by for Mavie to hear me when he wakes up and know I'm still there. I start with sit up's, until my core starts to burn. Then, I move onto Push up's, and while I'm doing this I use my powers to create little illusions of songbirds, flying around the area and chirping. Doing both at once puts my multi-tasking skills to the test, and my limit is usually doing this for about 30 minutes. When I reach my limit, my body feels like cotton swollen and heavy from being left in water, and my head pounds.

As I get up, totally disorientated Maverick comes up and hands me a glass of water, at the same time also creating a thin piece of ice to drape across my head. It feels great, and after downing the water I almost collapse into his arms. Wrapping my arms around his back and placing my feet on top of his, he laughs. It's a lovely, deep silvery sound that makes me fear my ears getting pregnant. He starts walking for the both of us, with my feet still being on top of us and his arms wrapped around me protectively, and if this were an anime there would be cute music and roses surrounding us.

Yup, the atmosphere is perfect. Time to seduce him. I'm getting laid tonight, hopefully.