The Secret of the Fox Bracelet

Chapter 11: The Millennial Toad

Upon seeing him, my grievances welled up, ready to pour out, but his offhand remark, "Your hair's not messed up," choked my words.

Was he being intentionally obtuse or simply unaware? I was nearly frightened to death, and he was concerned about my hairstyle!

"You damn fox!" I lashed out, shoving him forcefully.

He remained unmoved, smiling insincerely. "What's wrong?"

"Can you please not disappear suddenly anymore? Could you at least give me a heads-up before you leave?" I was utterly distressed, tears streaming uncontrollably. "I'm just an ordinary student. It's natural to be scared when encountering such things for the first time. I beg you, try to put yourself in my shoes..."

Sobbing uncontrollably, I didn't forget to glance secretly at the mirror in my pocket.

Great, I was crying beautifully, a perfect picture of a weeping beauty.

"Alright, I was wrong. I went too far," Li Fan finally softened, his voice rare in its tenderness.

He reached out, drawing me into his embrace, letting me lean on his shoulder, patting my back gently.

"Where did that feisty spirit go?"

"And stop crying, you look hideous."

I roared inwardly, this was the second time he called me ugly!

Is he even polite? What kind of look is that!!!

"By the way," knowing I couldn't outargue him, I wiped my tears and asked, "Where did you go just now?"

"Catching a cat," Li Fan replied.

Only then did I notice the ginger cat he had been holding by the scruff of its neck, curled up in his hand, eyes tightly shut, its fate unknown.

Before I could examine it further, Li Fan tossed the cat towards me.

Reflexively, I caught it. Thankfully, the cat remained unconscious; otherwise, I feared it might scratch me.

Seeing my apprehension, Li Fan glanced at me. "It won't wake up for a while, and even if it does, it won't harm you, just like me."

"I know you don't bite." I was speechless; why was he comparing himself to a cat?

By now, the playground was devoid of any ghostly shadows, but the sky remained gray, and the dilapidated school buildings looked like haunted ruins from a movie.

"I have some matters to attend to. I'll be back soon to find you. Feel free to wander around and maybe practice your courage," Li Fan tapped my head and left before I could respond.

I couldn't decipher my feelings towards Li Fan. We hadn't known each other for long, yet I found myself relying on him.

I shook my head to dispel these absurd thoughts, and Lin Yu, who had been silent, suddenly jumped up, startling me.

"Classmate, are you also a medium? Was that man your family's guardian spirit? He's the most powerful spirit I've ever seen!" Lin Yu's eyes were filled with excitement.

I didn't know how to explain my relationship with Li Fan, so I just nodded repeatedly.

Curious about Li Fan's abilities, I seized the chance to ask Lin Yu a few questions.

Lin Yu was happy to answer my naive inquiries. "You're new to this, right? You know less than I do. That fox fire was the most powerful I've ever seen in my year as a medium!"

"Ordinary fox spirits can only burn a few minor ghosts, but that fox fire could easily handle hundreds of powerful spirits!"

Holding the cat, whose fate was still unknown, I walked around the place with Lin Yu, recalling Li Fan's words, while Lin Yu chattered non-stop.

My curiosity piqued, I suddenly thought of a question.

"Lin Yu, do all fox spirits have the surname Hu?"

"Of course, fox spirits are all surnamed Hu, willow spirits are surnamed Liu, and white spirits are surnamed Bai. Isn't that common knowledge?" Lin Yu replied.

I laughed, but a new doubt arose in my mind.

Li Fan is a fox spirit, so why isn't his surname Hu?

I shelved the question, deciding to ask Li Fan when he returned. However, a more pressing issue loomed.

I came to this haunted place to find my sister! But I hadn't found a single clue and nearly got myself killed.

I shared my concerns with Lin Yu, who thought for a moment and said, "You mean the girl named Bai Zhi? I think I saw her, but she was quickly identified as human. She wasn't eaten, though. She was taken away..."

Lin Yu scratched her head and offered, "I'll help you find her. After all, I came here to save people too."

I gladly agreed, and we began a thorough search.

This place wasn't very large, just the size of an ordinary middle school. In the distance, the gray sky and earth merged completely.

After about an hour, we finally found Bai Zhi in the principal's office building.

Bai Zhi was lying on her side in the first-floor hall, her face pale, eyes tightly shut, seemingly unconscious.

"Found her!" Lin Yu cheered, moving to lift Bai Zhi. I quickly stopped her.

Lin Yu looked at me quizzically. I shook my head and pointed to the hall.

The first-floor hall, which should have been well-lit, was dim.

Despite the poor lighting, I saw four shadows beside Bai Zhi, lying on the ground like snakes, using the environment to hide, with Bai Zhi as bait.

It was obviously a trap.

"Don't be impulsive. I think we should wait..." I wanted to wait for Li Fan, but Lin Yu clearly had a different idea.

She sternly lectured me, "Bai Ci, you need to be brave. You can't always rely on guardian spirits for everything."

I wanted to say I wasn't a medium, and the saying "if you don't seek death, you won't die" was true. We, two weaklings, should stay put.

Lin Yu swiftly drew her peachwood sword. "Don't be afraid. This sword is effective against these evil spirits. If you're scared, stay here."

With that, she charged forward. The four "snakes" beside Bai Zhi reacted immediately, engaging Lin Yu in a fierce battle.

The hall's floor was slippery, and Lin Yu soon found herself at a disadvantage.

I was anxious but helpless, hoping Li Fan would return soon.

"Bai Ci!" Lin Yu suddenly shouted.

"What?" I looked towards her, seeing her barely holding off the four "snakes" with her sword. But these "snakes" were absurdly long...

"These aren't snakes..." Lin Yu retreated a few steps, her face pale. "They're tongues, toad tongues."

"Toads?" I stared at her in shock. "Can a toad grow four tongues? Even the most monstrous creature couldn't do that!"

"A toad that has cultivated for a thousand years can grow four tongues. If it reaches ten thousand years, it grows horns," Lin Yu's voice trembled. "This one is a millennial toad!"