Time flickered by, and half an hour passed.
Inside the steamer basket, Erha blinked contentedly.
Master was so good to it!
Not only did he play with it, but he also treated it to a sauna.
This comfortable temperature was the peak of its dog life!
Look, Little Fox sister was even sleeping soundly from comfort.
Little Fox stirred from its slumber.
It had been woken up by the heat...
Sweat had matted its beautiful white fur.
Seeing the vaguely familiar surroundings, a wave of fear washed over Little Fox again!
Had the terrifying Master put it in the steamer basket after all?!
Wuwuwu, I'm so pitiful...
There was still so much delicious food I haven't eaten, I don't want to die...
"Little Fox sister, are you hot?" Erha tilted its head, confused. "Why are you sweating from your eyes?"
"Brother Ha, I'm dying..." Little Fox said dejectedly. "Master is going to steam me cooked to eat me..."
"Hm?" Erha tilted its head again. "You won't die? I feel quite comfortable."
"Sigh..." Little Fox sighed and fell silent.
Its Brother Ha had a bit of a peculiar way of thinking, and some things were hard to explain to it...
"Are you really feeling unwell?" Seeing Little Fox's despondent expression, Erha asked seriously.
"Brother Ha, it hurts so much..." Little Fox finally couldn't hold back and burst into tears.
"Don't be afraid, Little Fox sister, I'll protect you!" Erha quickly shielded Little Fox with its body.
Unfortunately, its size was similar to Little Fox's, and it couldn't fully protect it.
Erha began to panic.
Little Fox sister was so cute, it didn't want her to die like this.
Master was also careless, forgetting to consider Little Fox's tolerance.
No, I have to find a way to protect Little Fox sister!
Little Fox huddled in Erha's embrace, its face filled with despair.
Wuwuwu...
There's still so much delicious food I haven't eaten, I don't want to die...
I still want to eat good food...
So much delicious food...
...
In the small courtyard.
[Detecting that Host's pet Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox is in mortal danger, Host, please proceed to rescue immediately!]
Ye Fan was still sleeping soundly.
[...]
[Huh?]
[Host's pet has mutated under intense obsession!]
[Congratulations to Host, the mutated Husky has evolved a new skill: 'Defense Share'.]
[Basic Defense Share: The mutated Husky can designate a target to share its defense with. Duration: one hour. Cooldown: one day.]
[Congratulations to Host, the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox has evolved a new skill: 'Soften'.]
[Material Soften: A passive skill that can soften hard objects into an easily chewable state.]
[Special Note: This skill only applies to material objects, and is ineffective against cultivators, demon beasts, and other sentient beings.]
Ye Fan continued to sleep soundly, completely unaware of the system's pronouncements.
The kitchen.
Inside the steamer basket.
"Wow, Brother Ha, you're amazing!" Little Fox exclaimed, looking at the faint golden barrier surrounding it with admiration.
Just moments ago, when it felt like it was about to be steamed to death, Brother Ha had suddenly conjured this barrier for it.
The scorching sensation finally vanished, and its little life was saved.
"Little Fox sister, you can also adjust the surrounding temperature," Erha said smugly.
Little Fox tried it and found that it could indeed control the temperature within the barrier with its thoughts.
After adjusting the temperature to the most comfortable setting, Little Fox leaned against Erha and closed its eyes in contentment.
"I told you before, Master was just playing with you," Erha tilted its head and snuggled close to Little Fox. "Look, didn't Master just grant me a new ability?"
"Is that so?" Little Fox tilted its head innocently and looked at Erha.
"Didn't you just say you gained a new ability too?" Erha nodded.
"Is that so..." Little Fox's heart began to waver.
Perhaps, as Brother Ha said, Master was just playing around with it?
Little Fox couldn't understand.
But it quickly stopped thinking about it.
Anyway, its life was saved, and it could continue to eat lots of delicious food in the future!
"Brother Ha, you're so good to me," Little Fox snuggled closer, shifting into an even more comfortable position.
"Of course, we're best friends!" Erha said as a matter of fact. "I'll always have your back!"
"Mm!" Little Fox replied happily. "Brother Ha, I heard humans use a phrase to describe good friends before."
"I think it was something like 'fox friends and dog friends'," it added.
"Eh? That's a good phrase!" Erha's eyes lit up. "You're a fox, and I'm a dog, it's practically describing us!"
"Alright!" Erha gently patted Little Fox's back. "I declare, from now on, we are fox friends and dog friends!"
"Mm!" Little Fox said happily. "We are the best fox friends and dog friends!"
In the yard.
A gentle breeze blew, and Ye Fan slowly opened his eyes.
He stood up and stretched lazily.
What a refreshing sleep!
Returning to the kitchen, Ye Fan began to deal with the stones and chains on the steamer basket.
"After steaming for so long, they should be cooked by now," Ye Fan muttered as he lifted the lid of the steamer basket.
Six eyes met.
Ye Fan was stunned!
They weren't cooked at all, let alone dead!
"Woof woof woof!"
"Squeak squeak squeak!"
Erha and Little Fox barked in greeting.
Ye Fan felt a pang of sadness.
At the same time, he confirmed one thing.
If they couldn't be killed like this, then these two little things were definitely orchestrated by the dog system to trick him!
Since they couldn't be killed, they had to disappear from his sight!
So, Ye Fan took out his communication jade and sent a message to True Person Ziyun.
Ye Fan's gaze became firm!
The dog system really didn't miss any opportunity to set a trap for him!
However, he would never compromise!
Everything.
Was for freedom!!!
Since they could no longer enjoy the sauna, Erha and Little Fox hopped onto the ground.
"Brother Ha, I'm a bit hungry," Little Fox said weakly.
"Then let's go back and eat some delicious food," Erha nodded.
"Okay," Little Fox replied happily.
The coffin remained quietly in the courtyard.
"Brother Ha, I smell delicious food!" Just as Erha was about to summon the coffin, Little Fox called out to it.
"Where?" Erha asked, confused.
"Follow me."
And so, Little Fox led Erha to the fragments of the Heaven and Earth Infinite.
Little Fox bit down on a fragment, and its body automatically activated the soften skill.
The once incredibly hard fragments instantly became soft and sticky.
"This is so delicious," Little Fox said with a happy smile after eating a piece.
"Brother Ha, you eat too," Little Fox urged when it saw Erha not moving. "Since we're the best fox friends and dog friends, we have to share good things!"
"Okay!" Erha extended its doggy head and began to eat with Little Fox.
Just as they finished eating the fragments of the Heaven and Earth Infinite, True Person Ziyun, who had received the message, appeared at the peak of Immortal Jade Peak.
"Good disciple, I'll take them with me then?" Ziyun pointed at Erha and Little Fox on the ground.
"As far away as possible, and don't let them appear before my eyes again!" Ye Fan waved his hand with a look of disgust.
"Beep beep beep!" As Ziyun reached the foot of the mountain, his communication jade suddenly rang.
The message was from the Great Elder, and it contained only one sentence.
"Sect Master, people from the String Music Sect have arrived!"