Dual Cultivation God Returns

Chapter 669  Turning the Page

In another room, Gong Cui was sitting with her Zither, but while her fingers were fluttering above the strings, her gaze was constantly moving toward the little fox that lazily laid a bit further away on a soft sofa and swayed her fluffy tails.

"Haa~... if you really want you can touch the tails, you know?", Fen Baihu sighed, not sure how to react to the 'sneaky' glances of the Music Dao practitioner. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Hmph! Who said I wanted?", Gong Cui quickly retorted, turning her head away, seemingly concentrating on her music.

However, after a while, the 'sneaky' glances started again as the Celestial Fox shook her head.

"What is it?", the Mythic Beast asked again, turning to Gong Cui who turned to look away again.

Yu Huan who was sitting with Ye Ling and Sui Luxiao, listening to the music, also smiled looking at that scene.

"There's nothing bad in being attracted to cuteness you know, Cui'er", Ye Ling chuckled.

"B-but she's a bad foxy", Gong Cui spoke, stopping her fingers, with her feelings clearly torn between the slightly cold atmosphere between Fen Baihu and most of the Dao Family, and how cute Fen Baihu's small fox form looked, especially with those swaying tails.

"Haha, who said she's bad?", Ye Ling shook her head with a chuckle as Feng Yi and Bi Rui who were sparring on the terrace that this room lead to stopped for a moment, wiping away the sweat and listening in on the conversation, both slightly apprehensive at this remark.

"Eh? She's a good foxy then?" Gong Cui made a surprised and somewhat hopeful expression while Fen Baihu's pink glowing eyes turned to Ye Ling with interest.

"I did not say that either. Though good and bad is subjective, in the context of the previous incident, she is neither. You said right, she's a Celestial Fox, and thus her behavior was simply normal under the circumstances", Ye Ling spoke with a calm tone, as Feng Yi and Bi Rui revealed complicated expressions.

"But...", Feng Yi finally spoke up after hesitating, as Gong Cui who was about to run up to Fen Baihu froze in the spot in a half-sitting half-standing pose, very slowly moving back to sit while poorly disguising her previous movement as stretching, while Feng Yi continued with "...she did intend harm to Her High... to Sister Lingfei"

"There is no doubt in that", Ye Ling nodded as she did not argue that Fen Baihu was harmless or innocent, adding "And we indeed were hostile to her at that moment. I don't intend to easily gloss over that matter at all. But at the same time, we have to recognize that while it was a behavior that we don't approve and oppose, it is not inherently bad or make her bad overall, it was her natural instinct"

Feng Yi lowered her gaze, processing those words, as she started to understand Ye Ling's point, and the Music Dao practitioner took it as a sign that Fen Baihu indeed was a 'good foxy'.

"But, even if that is true, and her behavior was natural given her identity, the fact we view her actions unfavorably remains", Bi Rui remained unconvinced, as someone who once swore to protect the Imperial Family and thus felt slightly more hostile toward Fen Baihu, her speaking up causing Gong Cui to freeze and once again return to sitting while 'stretching', as the discussion was seemingly not over, with the verdict unclear.

"That I will not argue with. I am just not in favor of marking Fen Baihu as an enemy based on once incident in that particular set of circumstances. If we look at her behavior otherwise, she was extremely cooperative, and even in that incident, she admitted her fault", Ye Ling nodded to Bi Rui's argument, but clarifying what she considered to be the core of the discussion.

"Hmm, the bottom line is that Sister Lingfei did not pursue this matter with her anymore, and neither did Wu Long", Sui Luxiao nodded as she also was mulling over how she should approach this situation and her overall attitude toward the Celestial Fox.

"You mean to say that there is no meaning in holding a grudge if the person in question no longer does... makes sense", Yu Huan nodded with a thoughtful expression.

"Mm, besides, as Luxiao rightfully pointed out, no matter how beneficial the alliance with her is, Wu Long would not have left her near us if she truly was dangerous to any of us", Ye Ling nodded as well, as her trust in Wu Long's judgement was more than enough to feel comfortable around Fen Baihu.

This sentiment was shared among them, as the two arguments brought up by Sui Luxiao, and that the two beauties made clear, caused the still doubtful Bi Rui to also sink into thoughts and look at it from another angle.

'Their trust in the God of Pleasure is so strong...', Fen Baihu looked at the scene unfazed, as if she was not the center of the discussion, more interested than concerned or emotionally affected in any way.

However, she revealed even more explicit and intense interest in how bringing up Wu Long's attitude toward her instantly turned the tide of the discussion.

She was curious, trying to understand this phenomenon that she saw before, this bond between them that was unlike she ever saw.

"Hmm? What happened while we were away?", Cao Xiang asked as she entered the room, with Cao Mei, Song Lingfei, as well as Cai Yin and Gong Liwei following her with trays of snacks and beverages, Wei Lan following last. They went to help the latter bring snacks here, and thus were quite surprised seeing a serious discussion instead of the more leisurely atmosphere that was in the room when they left. Not to mention that Gong Cui was a bit awkwardly making stretches instead of playing her Zither for unknown reasons.

Cai Yin and Gong Liwei were particularly not sure if they should stay here or leave the room as while they were close enough to spend time together, they were not exactly part of the Dao Family.

"Just in time", Sui Luxiao smiled, seeing as Song Lingfei returned, and thus they could directly ask her about her thoughts on the topic, as they mattered most.

Yu Huan briefly brought them up to date on the topic, while Ye Ling reassured Cai Yin and Gong Liwei that it was fine to listen in as they were not discussing something private to the Wu Family.

Not to mention that the topic of discussion was also about someone outside the family, Fen Baihu.

"I'll not lie, I... was afraid at that moment... maybe, somewhere deep inside I still am to an extent... But I also understand why it happened, and this brings comfort as I can be sure it will not happen again", Song Lingfei spoke with her usual honest and yet soft-spoken tone, her face revealing a calm introspection as she faced this question herself.

It seemed as if actually giving an answer out loud gave her a clearer view, as the look in her eyes revealed a glint of realization.

"In the end, as you mentioned, I trust Wu Long, and now that I heard Sister Ye Ling's thoughts, I would probably agree. It does not mean I can suddenly move past that incident, but I think it is much more healthy to accept it as something that happened in the past and move on", she then added, as Fen Baihu widened her eyes.

The small fox turned hazy and then into a misty figure that slowly morphed into her human form, as she came a bit closer to Song Lingfei, the atmosphere in the room instantly becoming a bit tenser.

But to the surprise of many, and utter astonishment of Ye Ling, Fen Baihu lowered her head toward Song Lingfei with a somber expression.

"My apologies, Lady Song. In the heat of moment or not, but letting my instincts take over is an oversight on my part as well. I may possess an impressive cultivation, but I am far from someone who could be considered experienced and mature as a Celestial Fox. I sincerely apologize for causing you distress, and thank you for the generous show of forgiveness", the Celestial Fox spoke in a somber voice, not humbling herself too much, as there was a certain pride in her as a Mythical Beast, but still allowing to feel her sincereness.

Song Lingfei made a gentle and graceful smile, nodding to the Mythical Beast, as Gong Cui stood up with a wide smile on her face as well, causing a soothing effect on the atmosphere in the room.

Though there were still some reservations, as for most it was impossible to completely get rid of any lingering feelings from the incident in just a moment, the beauties made the first step toward mending relationship with Fen Baihu.

If not for the convincing arguments, at least there was a feeling of respect toward her ability to admit fault and assume responsibility without trying to blame circumstances.

Though for her it was normal, as she was too proud to blame her transgressions on something else.

With this, as soon as Fen Baihu returned to her small fox form, Gong Cui finally was free to cuddle the fluffy Mythical Beast, causing a chuckle from some beauties.

The blissful look on the Music Dao practitioner's face made Gong Liwei shake her head with a wry smile, completely sure that she long since was ready to accept Fen Baihu.

"Hahaha, to be honest that is also a big reason I was inclined to move past that incident", Song Lingfei chuckled, whispering into the ear of Gong Cui's older sister, as the latter widened her eyes.

"Is it... because of the Music Dao?", Gong Liwei asked and Song Lingfei nodded with a smile, turning to look back at Gong Cui.

"You know that Music Dao practitioners have heightened instincts, right? It makes it hard for anyone wishing them harm to approach them", Song Lingfei spoke with a thoughtful expression.

"Haha, despite being her sister, I am not really that knowledgeable on the Music Dao, or such things", Gong Liwei shook her head with a chuckle.

"She was worried that you were distant from her lately, you know?", Song Lingfei then changed topics, catching Gong Liwei off-guard.

"Heh, I suppose you can say I needed some time", the green-eyed beauty replied with a thoughtful smile, admitting that she was indeed spending more time by herself as of late, and was working hard in secret, making her little sister worried as she was sensitive, and then she added with a smile, "Thank you for looking out for her"

"Hahaha, of course, she may be your little sister, but she is also my Dao Sister now", Song Lingfei made a bright smile, as they both looked toward the happy musician and the fox that seemingly did not reveal any discomfort from the cuddling.