A Fox Among Cultivators: Karma's Secret System

  The morning sun filtered through the paper windows of Su Lan Yi's medicine shop, casting golden rectangles across the wooden floor. Karma, still weak from his injuries but improving daily, lay in his cushioned nest watching the dust motes dance in the beams of light. His sapphire-blue eyes tracked a particularly large speck as it spiraled downward, until his view was suddenly interrupted by two floating rectangles that materialized in the air above Su Lan Yi's herb table.

  The first was blue, clearly addressed to the medicine woman:

  [System 666: REMINDER, HOST: Daily investigation of soul cultivation incidents must continue. The Divine Healing Sect's activities show disturbing patterns that align with ancient forbidden techniques.]

  The second rectangle, which only Karma could see, was a garish pink with gold borders:

  [Villainess Familiar System 2333: Good morning, darling! Your dastardly mission today is to look absolutely ADORABLE while secretly gathering intel! Remember: The cutest villains are the most devastating!]

  Karma flattened his ears in annoyance. Ever since he'd been brought to this shop, he'd been able to see the blue messages that appeared for Su Lan Yi—apparently from something called "System 666." The medicine woman clearly responded to them, though she never acknowledged seeing any floating text. It was odd, but not as irritating as the second system—the pink one that had attached itself to him three days ago, shortly after his arrival.

  This "Villainess Familiar System 2333" was unequivocally his, and it was insufferably cheerful about its mission to transform him into the "perfect villainess companion."

  [System 2333: I saw that ear-flattening! A proper villainess familiar maintains elegance at all times! Even when plotting world domination! +10 Villainy Points for your adorably grumpy demeanor, though!]

  Go away, Karma thought sourly. I'm not anyone's familiar, and I'm certainly not "adorable."

  [System 2333: Denial is ADORABLE on you! Accumulating Villainy Points will unlock special abilities to help your villainess master overthrow the protagonist! Also, bonus suggestion: Try purring! Humans love that!]

  I'm a fox. Foxes don't purr, Karma mentally retorted.

  [System 2333: Details, details! Work with me here, darling!]

  From the front of the shop came the sound of the door opening, followed by a cheerful voice calling out, "Master Su! I brought the ginseng you requested from the market!"

  A petite young woman bustled into the back room, her arms full of wrapped packages. This was Min, Su Lan Yi's assistant—a perpetually cheerful girl who talked enough for three people and moved with the chaotic energy of someone who had accidentally consumed too many energy cultivation pills.

  "Oh! Good morning, little fox!" Min exclaimed upon seeing Karma, nearly dropping her packages in her excitement. "You're looking so much better today! Those nasty black shadow things are completely gone from your fur!"

  [System 2333: New character alert! Shop assistant archetype—perfect for comic relief and unexpected plot developments! Establish dominance through superior cuteness!]

  Su Lan Yi looked up from her mortar and pestle. "Careful with those packages, Min. The red-sealed one contains powdered dragon whisker—extremely expensive and prone to losing potency if mishandled."

  "Yes, Master Su! Sorry, Master Su!" Min hastily set the packages on a nearby table, then immediately crouched down to peer at Karma with unrestrained adoration. "Can I give him his morning medicine today? Please? I've been practicing the correct dosage calculations just like you showed me!"

  Su Lan Yi sighed with the patient resignation of someone who had long ago accepted that her assistant's enthusiasm couldn't be contained, only directed. "You may prepare it, but I'll check it before administration."

  "Thank you, Master Su! You won't regret it!" Min bounced up and down on her toes excitedly, then dashed to the herb shelves.

  [System 666: ASSISTANT MIN'S ENTHUSIASM REMAINS UNDIMINISHED. PROBABILITY OF ACCIDENTAL SHOP DESTRUCTION TODAY: 37%. SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT FROM YESTERDAY'S 42%.]

  Karma watched with fascination as Min flitted from shelf to shelf, occasionally dropping herbs and apologizing profusely before retrieving them. How one human could generate so much motion was beyond his comprehension.

  [System 2333: OBSERVE AND LEARN, DARLING! While WE know subtle villainy is superior, there's something to be said for the chaotic approach! Unpredictability can be an asset!]

  Across the room, Su Lan Yi was quietly murmuring to her system while setting out customer orders for the day.

  "I understand the patterns are concerning," she whispered, "but we need more evidence before confronting the Divine Healing Sect directly. Their position in the cultivation world is too entrenched for accusations without proof."

  [System 666: ANALYSIS SUGGESTS 87% PROBABILITY THAT SENIOR ELDER ZHAO IS DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN SOUL CULTIVATION EXPERIMENTS. RECOMMEND INFILTRATION OF INNER SECT ARCHIVES.]

  "With what army?" Su Lan Yi sighed. "We have one reluctant Blood Moon cultivator and one assassin who's as likely to stab us as help us."

  Karma's ears perked up. The conversations between Su Lan Yi and her system were often the most interesting part of his day, providing valuable information about the outside world and the mysterious "soul cultivation" that had something to do with his injury.

  [System 2333: Eavesdropping achievement unlocked! +50 Villainy Points! Your curiosity is the perfect trait for a villainess companion who gathers secretssss!]

  Min returned with a small bowl, her face a mask of intense concentration as she carefully measured drops of various tinctures into the mixture. "Master Su, I've added the spirit grass extract and the healing lotus essence, but I'm not sure about the dawn berry juice. The little fox doesn't like the taste..."

  "Two drops only," Su Lan Yi instructed, inspecting Min's work. "And add a bit of honey to mask the bitterness."

  "Yes, Master Su!" Min beamed, adding the final ingredients with exaggerated care.

  When the medicine was ready, Min approached Karma's nest with the reverence of someone carrying a priceless treasure. "Here you go, little fox! I made it extra tasty today!"

  [System 2333: OPPORTUNITY ALERT! Deploy the Ultimate Cute Technique #17! Tilt head 15 degrees left, widen eyes 30%, and give ONE small, pathetic yip!]

  Despite his best intentions to ignore the ridiculous system, Karma found himself unconsciously tilting his head and widening his eyes. He gave a small, hesitant yip that somehow conveyed both dignity and gratitude.

  Min's eyes grew comically wide. "Master Su! Did you see that? He understands! He's thanking me! This has to be the smartest, cutest fox in the whole world!"

  "He is rather expressive," Su Lan Yi agreed, her eyes crinkling in what Karma assumed was a smile behind her veil. "You've done well with the medicine, Min. Now, please arrange the front displays while I check our inventory."

  [System 666: ANOMALOUS ENERGY SIGNATURE DETECTED FROM FOX ENTITY. SPIRITUAL RESONANCE PATTERNS INDICATE POSSIBLE AWAKENING OF LATENT ABILITIES. CONTINUE MONITORING.]

  Karma pretended not to see the blue text floating above Su Lan Yi's head. His own system, however, was practically vibrating with excitement.

  [System 2333: SHE SUSPECTS YOUR INTELLIGENCE! Perfect villainess familiar development arc! Act natural but SLIGHTLY too knowing! Mysterious origins are essential to your villainess companion backstory!]

  As Min bustled away to the front of the shop, Karma approached the bowl cautiously, maintaining his dignity for approximately three seconds before hunger won out and he began devouring the contents with embarrassing enthusiasm. The medicine was surprisingly palatable—the honey did indeed mask most of the bitterness.

  A series of knocks at the shop's back door interrupted Karma's meal. Three quick taps, followed by two slower ones—a pattern he'd already learned to recognize.

  "Ah, right on schedule," Su Lan Yi said, rising to her feet. "Finished with your breakfast, little one? Our visitor always seems to arrive just as you're eating."

  Karma's ears perked up despite his best efforts to appear disinterested. The man in black had been returning each morning, ostensibly to discuss their investigation but always with some small offering tucked away in his robes. Yesterday it had been those blood-red berries that had made Karma feel strangely energized.

  [System 666: HEI WUYA APPROACHING. ANALYSIS INDICATES INCREASED HEART RATE AND ENDORPHIN LEVELS WHEN INTERACTING WITH FOX. HYPOTHESIS: BLOOD MOON CULTIVATOR HAS DEVELOPED SIGNIFICANT EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT.]

  Karma continued eating calmly. Despite their fearsome reputation, the Blood Moon Sect members he'd encountered in the forest had always been respectful of wildlife. He watched curiously as Su Lan Yi moved to open the back door.

  Hei Wuya entered with his usual imposing presence, filling the doorway with his tall frame before stepping inside with surprising grace for such a large human. His crimson eyes immediately sought out Karma, a flicker of something soft passing through them before being hastily masked.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  "Medicine Immortal," he greeted Su Lan Yi with a formal nod. "How fares our patient today?"

  "See for yourself," Su Lan Yi replied, gesturing toward Karma. "The wound is nearly healed. He'll be running through the forest again in no time."

  Something that might have been disappointment flickered across Hei Wuya's face, quickly masked. "That's... good news."

  [System 666: MICROEXPRESSION ANALYSIS: SUBJECT HEI WUYA DISPLAYING DISAPPOINTMENT CONSISTENT WITH GENUINE ATTACHMENT. HE APPEARS EMOTIONALLY INVESTED IN FOX'S WELLBEING.]

  Karma found himself surprised by Su Lan Yi's system's assessment. There was something oddly intense about Hei Wuya's interest in him—apparently the intimidating cultivator genuinely cared about his welfare. Who would have thought the fearsome Terror of Blood Moon had a soft spot for small, fluffy creatures?

  "Visitor! We have a visitor!" Min's voice preceded her as she burst into the room, then skidded to a halt at the sight of Hei Wuya. "Oh! Mr. Terror, sir! Good morning! I didn't know you were coming today! Well, I mean, you come every day at this time, but I forgot because I was arranging the display of cultivation supplements and time just flew by and—"

  "Min," Su Lan Yi interrupted gently, "perhaps you could brew some tea for our guest?"

  "Yes! Tea! Right away, Master Su!" Min dashed to the kettle, then froze mid-step and turned back to Hei Wuya with a conspiratorial whisper that was actually loud enough for everyone to hear. "I made sweet rice cakes this morning. Would you like some? They're the little fox's favorite too!"

  Hei Wuya cleared his throat, his intimidating demeanor wavering slightly. "I... that would be... acceptable."

  Min beamed and rushed off to prepare the refreshments, leaving a bemused silence in her wake.

  "Your assistant is..." Hei Wuya seemed to search for an appropriate word.

  "Energetic," Su Lan Yi supplied. "Talented, but energetic."

  "Indeed." Hei Wuya's gaze returned to Karma, who had finished his medicine and was now grooming his paws with deliberate nonchalance. "The fox looks well."

  "He's recovering remarkably quickly," Su Lan Yi agreed. "Another week, perhaps, before he's ready to return to the wild."

  A flicker of something that might have been panic crossed Hei Wuya's face. "So soon? I mean... are you certain? Void energy injuries can have... lingering effects. Perhaps longer observation would be prudent."

  [System 2333: HE DOESN'T WANT YOU TO LEAVE! Villainess companion acquisition progress: 85%! He's absolutely smitten with your adorable villain potential!]

  Su Lan Yi tilted her head, studying Hei Wuya with newfound interest. "You seem quite concerned about our little patient, Sect Elder Hei."

  "The Blood Moon Sect has a long tradition of respecting powerful spiritual beasts," Hei Wuya replied stiffly, the same excuse he'd given every day. "It would be... inappropriate... to ignore a Grudgebearer Fox's needs during recovery."

  "Of course," Su Lan Yi replied, a smile evident in her voice even behind her veil. "How fortunate that the Terror of Blood Moon is so dedicated to proper spiritual beast care protocols."

  Min returned balancing a tea tray with several sweet rice cakes arranged in the shape of a smiling face. "Tea and cakes! The cakes are shaped like happy faces because the little fox seemed sad yesterday, and I thought everyone could use some cheer what with all the soul-sucking cultivator business and—"

  "Thank you, Min," Su Lan Yi interrupted smoothly. "Perhaps you could check on Madam Zhang's order while we discuss our business?"

  "Yes, Master Su!" Min set down the tray, then knelt to place one of the rice cakes near Karma's nest. "Here you go, little fox! Extra honey, just how you like it!"

  As Min scurried away, Hei Wuya seemed to relax fractionally. He accepted the tea Su Lan Yi offered, then reached into his robes and brought out a small cloth bundle.

  "I brought something," he said, his voice carefully neutral. "For the fox."

  [System 2333: WHAT IS IT THIS TIME?! Another adorable gift? Protective charm? Secret Blood Moon fox treats? The SUSPENSE is killing me!]

  Karma tried not to appear too interested as Hei Wuya unwrapped the bundle, revealing what appeared to be a small, stuffed toy in the shape of a mouse, crafted from soft black fabric with red button eyes.

  Su Lan Yi blinked, clearly surprised. "A... toy?"

  Hei Wuya's face remained impassive, though the tips of his ears had turned slightly red. "Grudgebearer Foxes are highly intelligent creatures. Mental stimulation is important during recovery. This is a training tool used by Blood Moon beast handlers. The fabric is infused with spiritual energy that helps strengthen weakened spiritual pathways after injury."

  [System 666: ITEM ANALYSIS: ORDINARY STUFFED TOY MOUSE. NO MAGICAL PROPERTIES DETECTED. APPEARS TO BE HANDMADE. STITCHING SUGGESTS CREATOR WAS INEXPERIENCED BUT ENTHUSIASTIC.]

  Karma stared at the toy mouse, then at Hei Wuya, then back at the mouse. Had the fearsome Blood Moon cultivator actually made him a toy? By hand?

  [System 2333: THIS. IS. PRECIOUS! He made you a TOY! WITH HIS OWN HANDS! The Terror of Blood Moon moonlights as a PLUSHIE MAKER! I'm DYING of cute villain backstory development!]

  Su Lan Yi picked up the toy mouse, examining it with barely concealed amusement. "How... thoughtful. I wasn't aware that Blood Moon's training protocols included handcrafted toys."

  "It's a specialized technique," Hei Wuya replied with dignity, though his ears were now definitely red. "The spiritual infusion requires personal involvement in the creation process."

  "I see." Su Lan Yi placed the mouse next to Karma's nest. "What do you think, little one? Is this to your liking?"

  Karma knew he should maintain his aloof demeanor. He was a wild Grudgebearer Fox, not some pet to be placated with toys. But something about the earnest effort Hei Wuya had clearly put into making the mouse touched him. He sniffed the toy cautiously, then picked it up in his mouth and carried it into his nest, curling around it with what he hoped appeared to be casual disinterest rather than the inexplicable delight he actually felt.

  He was not prepared for Hei Wuya's reaction.

  The imposing cultivator's eyes widened, his stern facade cracking to reveal an expression of such pure, childlike joy that Karma was momentarily stunned. It lasted only a second before Hei Wuya's usual stoic mask slammed back into place, but there was no mistaking what he'd seen.

  The Terror of Blood Moon, feared throughout the cultivation world, was absolutely weak for cute, fluffy animals.

  [System 2333: DID YOU SEE THAT?! HE'S COMPLETELY BESOTTED WITH YOU! Villainess manipulation technique: SUCCESS! Keep this up and he'll be bringing you an entire ARMY of handmade toys!]

  "He appears to approve," Su Lan Yi noted dryly, though Karma could tell she was struggling not to laugh. "How fortunate that your 'specialized technique' has proven effective."

  Hei Wuya cleared his throat, regaining his composure with visible effort. "Yes. Well. As expected. Now, about the soul cultivation incidents we've been tracking..."

  As the two humans began discussing their investigation, Karma settled more comfortably in his nest, the toy mouse tucked securely against his side. He was certainly not enjoying the softness of the toy or the faint scent of Hei Wuya that clung to it, he told himself firmly. He was merely... conserving energy. And if he occasionally batted at the mouse with his paw when he thought no one was looking, well, that was purely to test its structural integrity.

  [System 666: ANALYSIS OF RECENT REPORTS INDICATES SOUL CULTIVATION ACTIVITY CONCENTRATED AROUND ANCIENT BURIAL SITES. POSSIBLE CONNECTION TO LEGENDARY "VOID EMPRESS" ARTIFACTS MENTIONED IN PROHIBITED TEXTS.]

  "Void Empress?" Su Lan Yi muttered, frowning. "That's a name I haven't heard in centuries. Are you certain?"

  [System 666: HISTORICAL RECORDS FRAGMENTARY BUT CONSISTENT. THE VOID EMPRESS WAS SAID TO HAVE DEVELOPED SOUL CULTIVATION TO ITS HIGHEST FORM BEFORE HER APPARENT DESTRUCTION. RUMORS OF SURVIVING ARTIFACTS PERSIST IN DARKEST CORNERS OF CULTIVATION WORLD.]

  Karma's ears swiveled forward attentively. Void Empress? Why did that name send a shiver down his spine?

  [System 2333: Villainous backstory foreshadowing detected! Keep listening, darling! All the best villainess companions have mysterious connections to ancient powers!]

  For once, Karma agreed with his ridiculous system. This conversation definitely warranted his full attention.

  Hei Wuya's posture had stiffened. "The Void Empress is a myth. A boogeyman story told to scare junior disciples away from forbidden paths."

  "All myths contain kernels of truth," Su Lan Yi replied. "And I've lived long enough to know that the most frightening stories are often deliberately buried histories."

  The serious conversation was interrupted by a crash from the front of the shop, followed by Min's distressed voice. "Oh no! Master Su! I think I've broken—actually, never mind! I can fix this! Or maybe I can't... um... Master Su?"

  Su Lan Yi closed her eyes briefly. "Excuse me a moment."

  As she left to address whatever catastrophe Min had unleashed, Hei Wuya's attention immediately returned to Karma. The imposing cultivator glanced toward the doorway to ensure Su Lan Yi was out of sight, then did something Karma would never have expected.

  He made a small, high-pitched kissy noise.

  "Who's a fearsome little grudge-bearer?" Hei Wuya whispered, his deep voice rising to an almost unrecognizable coo. "You are! Yes, you are! The most magnificent fox in all the realms!"

  Karma stared at him in absolute shock.

  [System 2333: I AM DECEASED. THE TERROR OF BLOOD MOON JUST BABY-TALKED YOU! This is the greatest villainess companion development in the history of villainy!]

  Hei Wuya extended one finger toward Karma's nest, making little wiggling motions. "Do you like your mouse? I made it just for you. The sect elders would have my head if they knew I was using my spiritual energy for toys instead of weapons, but what they don't know won't hurt them, right?"

  Karma was too stunned to react. Was this really happening?

  "I used to have a fox familiar when I was a junior disciple," Hei Wuya continued, his voice still pitched unnaturally high. "Not a magnificent Grudgebearer like you, of course, just a common red fox. His name was Bao Bao. I miss him every day."

  The sound of Su Lan Yi's returning footsteps caused an immediate transformation. By the time she reentered the room, Hei Wuya was standing with his hands clasped behind his back, his face a mask of stern dignity as he examined a jar of herbs on a nearby shelf.

  "Crisis averted," Su Lan Yi announced. "Though we now have only seven blue porcelain inhalation bowls instead of eight."

  "Unfortunate," Hei Wuya replied gravely, as if he hadn't just been baby-talking to a fox seconds earlier. "Returning to our discussion of the soul cultivator..."

  Karma stared at the Blood Moon cultivator with new eyes. Beneath that fearsome exterior beat the heart of a man who desperately missed his childhood pet and made stuffed toys in secret. The cultivation world would be scandalized.

  [System 2333: This is GOLD, darling! Prime blackmail material—though as a proper villainess companion, you'll use it to STRENGTHEN your bond, not destroy it! He's officially part of your growing minion collection!]

  As the day progressed, Karma observed the shop's activities with increasing interest. Customers came and went, Min created minor disasters that Su Lan Yi patiently corrected, and Hei Wuya eventually departed with the promise to return tomorrow with new information about the soul cultivator.

  "And perhaps," he added with studied casualness, "I could bring some special Blood Moon sect spiritual enhancement treats. For the fox's continued recovery, of course."

  "Of course," Su Lan Yi replied, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Purely for medicinal purposes."

  "Exactly." Hei Wuya nodded seriously, though his eyes darted to Karma with unmistakable affection before he swept out the door.

  By evening, as Su Lan Yi closed the shop and Min departed for her family home in the village, Karma found himself alone with the medicine woman in the quiet back room. She approached his nest with a final small meal for the day, then sat beside him, watching thoughtfully as he ate.

  "You're quite the little mystery, aren't you?" she murmured, gently stroking his fur. "A Grudgebearer Fox who's managed to charm the Terror of Blood Moon into making plushie toys. That might be more impressive than surviving a void energy attack."

  Karma gave a small, dignified yip that he hoped conveyed modest agreement.

  [System 666: SUBJECT'S RECOVERY PROCEEDS AT 78% FASTER RATE THAN STANDARD GRUDGEBEARER SPECIMENS. ANOMALY DETECTED IN SPIRITUAL CORE STRUCTURE. HYPOTHESIS: POSSIBLE DORMANT BLOODLINE ABILITY ACTIVATION IN PROGRESS.]

  [System 2333: Rest well tonight, my villainous little fluffball! Tomorrow brings new opportunities for cuteness-based world domination! And maybe more handmade toys from your Blood Moon admirer!]

  As Su Lan Yi extinguished the lamps and retired to her quarters, Karma curled around his mouse toy, reflecting on the strange turns his life had taken since being brought to this shop. He had two invisible systems only he could see, a fearsome cultivator secretly making him toys, and a growing connection to the mysterious medicine woman who had saved him.

  Most puzzling of all was why the name "Void Empress" seemed to echo in his mind like a half-forgotten memory.

  I'm not a villain... or a familiar... he thought as sleep began to claim him. I'm just a fox...

  But even as he drifted off, curled around his handmade toy mouse, Karma wasn't entirely sure that was true anymore.