Chapter 164: Ran, There's a Fox Bullying Me
[Invincible in the World]: "What do you want her photo for? You couldn't be interested in her, could you?"
[Invincible in the World]: "I'd suggest you find someone else. That girl is pretty, but... how do I put this... she might not be what you're imagining. She's not as beautiful as your teammate in the princess dress, for one. Plus, she has a terrible temper. I actually know someone else just as gorgeous, want an introduction?"
The intent to dissuade Haruto was practically bleeding through the lines of Ye Tian's messages. It was clear his impression of this fox youkai friend wasn't exactly stellar—or perhaps Haruto had simply left a far better one.
[The Most Handsome Realm Demon]: "You're overthinking it. I have a fox youkai in my own home. I just thought they might know each other."
[Invincible in the World]: "You have another fox youkai over there? It couldn't be some distant, distant relative, could it?"
Just as that message appeared, Yakumo Ran finished brewing a fresh pot of tea. She leaned over to place a steaming cup beside Haruto, her eyes catching a glimpse of the screen. Her eyelids twitched.
Haruto downed the tea in one go before his fingers flew across the keyboard.
[The Most Handsome Realm Demon]: "Not sure. Anyway, send a photo first. I'll let my Ran take a look. Maybe they really are from the same world."
[Invincible in the World]: "Okay."
Ye Tian's reply was instantaneous, clearly just as curious about the possibility as Haruto was.
Five seconds passed. Then thirty. After three full minutes, Haruto still hadn't received anything. He frowned, just about to type a follow-up, when a new image finally appeared. It wasn't a portrait, but a screenshot of a chat log between Ye Tian and someone else.
[Invincible in the World]: "Give me a photo of yourself."
[Su Ning]: "Get lost."
[Invincible in the World]: "..."
[Invincible in the World]: "It's not for me, a brother of mine wants it."
[Su Ning]: "Tell him to get lost, too."
The screenshot ended there. Immediately after, another message from Ye Tian popped up.
[Invincible in the World]: "See? I told you she has a bad temper. If you're looking for someone, I can help you find another girl who's just as pretty."
A few more lines of exasperation seemed to etch themselves onto Haruto's forehead. He replied, his tone dripping with speechlessness.
[The Most Handsome Realm Demon]: "Couldn't you have just said you ran into another fox youkai who might be a relative of hers?"
[Invincible in the World]: "...Okay, my bad."
Ye Tian vanished again. When his name reappeared, it was to notify Haruto that he had been pulled into a small group of three.
Haruto clicked on the member list: Ye Tian, himself, and a user named Su Ning, whose avatar was a pristine snow lotus. That had to be the fox youkai.
[Invincible in the World] changed the group name to "Exploding Heavens Faction".
[Su Ning]: "..."
[The Most Handsome Realm Demon]: "..."
[Invincible in the World]: "What's up? Isn't this name cool?"
[The Most Handsome Realm Demon]: "It's fine. It's... very you."
Haruto helplessly massaged his forehead. Before he could even ask for the photo, the other party had already tagged him.
[Su Ning]: "@The Most Handsome Realm Demon So you're the kid who wants my photo? And you said you know a relative of mine?"
[The Most Handsome Realm Demon]: "Not sure. It's just a possibility."
[Su Ning]: "Are you making fun of me? Don't think I can't deal with you just because we're in different worlds."
[The Most Handsome Realm Demon]: "Send a photo."
[Su Ning]: "I'm not sending it. Why should two mere low-level beings deserve my photo? Do you have any idea how much a single picture of me is worth?"
[The Most Handsome Realm Demon]: "One million."
[Su Ning]: "Are you serious?"
[The most Handsome Realm Demon]: "Of course."
His expression darkening, Haruto sent Su Ning a friend request and, without a moment's hesitation, transferred a one-million-yuan red packet. What started as a simple inquiry had now become a matter of principle. He was genuinely curious to see the look on this fox's face when reality hit her. Acting so arrogant with a cultivation of four tails at most? His Ran had long since reached the pinnacle of nine, and this upstart thought she could threaten him?
Just then, a private message from Ye Tian popped up.
[Invincible in the World]: "Brother Bai Liu, there's no need! One million is way too much. She's just a tsundere. For my sake, she'll definitely give it to you eventually."
[The Most Handsome Realm Demon]: "Too late. Already sent."
[Invincible in the World]: "."
[The Most Handsome Realm Demon]: "Don't worry. She'll return this million."
Even across worlds, Haruto was certain. As long as she was a fox, she would absolutely feel the crushing suppression from Yakumo Ran's bloodline and power. He couldn't wait to see her get her fur ruffled then.
Ding-dong—
Su Ning's photo arrived. The woman in the image possessed a cold, elegant temperament. Her tail wasn't visible, likely concealed.
"Recognize her?" Haruto asked, tilting his head toward Ran.
Yakumo Ran examined the picture for a moment, a hint of hesitation in her gaze. "I seem to have some impression, but I cannot be certain. Allow Ran to inquire with my subordinates. I can give you an answer by the day after tomorrow at the latest."
"Alright." Haruto nodded. He then casually reached over and plucked a single, silky strand of hair from one of Yakumo Ran's nine tails. He opened a Gap, retrieved a small wooden box, and placed the carefully wrapped fox hair inside.
"Haruto-sama, what are you doing?" Yakumo Ran tilted her head, her expression one of pure confusion.
"Sending her a delivery," Haruto said, briskly sealing the box with tape. "A big surprise."
"A big surprise?" The corner of Yakumo Ran's mouth twitched. She had already guessed what her young master was up to. This wasn't a surprise; it was a scare tactic.
Of course, she had no intention of opposing Haruto-sama's actions.
Even if he hadn't done anything, based on that little fox youkai's disrespectful tone, Yakumo Ran would have taught her a lesson herself. Was this a joke? Her Haruto-sama was the savior who had rescued her from the direst of straits. She couldn't dote on him enough; how could she possibly allow some arrogant junior to bully him?
Haruto remained oblivious to Ran's thoughts. He was already back in the group chat, tagging Su Ning and asking for her address.
[Su Ning]: "What for? You want to send me a bomb? Or track me down in real life?"
[The Most Handsome Realm Demon]: "You've got a persecution complex. I'm just sending you a gift."
Though thoroughly exasperated, Haruto eventually managed to get Su Ning's address.
He decisively summoned the ghost courier. Thanks to his frequent use of the service, his account balance and usage count had long met the criteria for an upgrade to the express version. From dispatch to delivery, it would likely take only half a day.
"By the way, Ran, how do you plan to check?" Haruto suddenly remembered something and looked up. "Is just giving her name enough, or should I find Kaguya to draw her portrait?"
Videos and photos on the Ghost Phone couldn't be saved, nor could they be captured through conventional means.
"There is no need for such trouble, Haruto-sama. It is already done."
Haruto turned his head, confused. At some point, a piece of sketch paper and a pen had appeared in Yakumo Ran's hand. As she put the pen away, a lifelike portrait had already materialized on the paper, a perfect copy of the photo he'd just seen.
Well... as expected of Ran.
A wave of admiration washed over Haruto, but it was tinged with a trace of pity. Just what had his sister Yukari "trained" this child into? A dignified Nine-Tailed Fox, one of the most powerful youkai in existence, had nearly all her housekeeping and life skills maxed out to a terrifying degree.
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