The attendant continued without interruption.
"Moonroot Pavilion is embedded within a mountain-grade spirit vein."
"To sit here requires continuous formation support to maintain stability."
"The privacy array alone ensures your conversation cannot be overheard or sensed."
A brief pause.
"And the upper-tier allocation prevents overlap conflicts with other patrons."
The fox went quiet.
Slowly, she leaned back.
"…So I'm paying for the air."
No emotion in her tone. Just fact.
The striped-tailed beast coughed awkwardly, clearly trying very hard not to laugh.
The attendant bowed slightly deeper.
"In simpler terms… yes, Lady."
A long silence followed.
The fox stared at him.
Then at the table.
Then at the waterfall mist curling along the terrace edge.
Then back at him.
"…I see."
Her voice was very calm.
Too calm.
Inside her mind, something quietly updated itself.
*So this is how they do it here.*
She exhaled slowly through her nose.
Then reached into her storage pouch without breaking eye contact.
"…Fine."
A brief pause.
"But next time…"
Her eyes narrowed faintly.
"I'm only paying for what I actually chew."
The attendant bowed once more.
"As you wish, Lady."
Behind her, the lizard quietly finished another jar of wine.
Completely unbothered.
And for the first time that night, even the fox had to admit—
he might have understood value either the least… or the most.
The fox let out a soft breath through her nose—half amused, half annoyed.
"…You lot are talented."
Her voice was smooth again, almost impressed.
"Using pretty words to disguise outright robbery."
The striped-tailed beast immediately found the table extremely fascinating.
The lead attendant, however, did not react in the slightest.
"We aim to provide a refined experience, Lady."
The fox gave a quiet snort.
"Refined extortion."
Still—
she reached into her storage pouch.
A faint pulse of spiritual light flickered.
Three high-quality spirit stones floated out.
Dense. Pure. Heavy with energy.
Even the striped-tailed beast's eyes widened.
For someone at his level, such stones were practically legendary wealth.
The fox flicked them casually toward the attendant.
"That should cover it."
Her ears twitched once.
"Give me the change."
The attendant caught them smoothly.
"As you wish."
No hesitation. No greed. No reaction beyond professional composure.
He stepped back, consulted briefly with the others, and soon returned with a lacquered tray.
Neatly arranged upon it were precisely counted spirit stones—mid-grade and low-grade.
The fox swept them once with her divine sense.
Correct.
Without ceremony, she stored them away.
The striped-tailed beast swallowed hard.
His respect, already high, climbed again in silence.
One thing had become undeniably clear—
his "Lady" was far richer than she looked.
The fox, meanwhile, was already thinking ahead.
Deep Vault.
Meihu.
White Bone Tiger King's territory.
Now that the bill was settled, she had one less distraction standing between her and what came next.
She rose smoothly.
"Now."
Her gaze shifted to the striped-tailed beast.
"Take me somewhere worth spending the rest."
The fox let the last of the returned spirit stones vanish into her pouch.
Then stood in one fluid motion.
Graceful.
Unhurried.
Finished with this place.
Her gaze drifted upward.
The lizard was still there—floating lazily above the table, already halfway through another jar.
The fox's ear twitched.
"Little White."
Her tone was dry.
"We're leaving."
With a sweep of her divine sense, the remaining unopened jars lifted into the air one by one and vanished into her storage pouch.
Fifty-four remained.
The empty jars stayed behind like silent proof of what had just happened.
The striped-tailed beast watched the disappearance with open awe.
Then he heard it.
Little White.
His eyes widened slightly.
He looked toward the floating lizard—small, white-scaled, casually drinking top-grade spirit wine like an ancient sovereign.
A grin spread across his face.
"So this master's name is White?"
He gave an enthusiastic bow.
"This humble one is honored to meet Master White."
The fox immediately shot him a flat look.
"Cut it."
The beast froze.
"…Right."
The fox stepped down from the seat, tail flicking once.
Then glanced at the lizard again.
"And don't even think about sitting on my head."
Her nose wrinkled faintly.
"I'm not walking around smelling like wine."
The lizard said nothing.
He simply drifted down beside her instead—still wrapped around the jar, still drinking.
Unbothered.
The striped-tailed beast coughed into his fist to hide a smile.
"Okay, okay, My Lady…"
He turned and began leading the way.
"This way."
They left Moonroot Pavilion behind, stepping back into the lantern-lit streets of Five Veins Hollow.
The night outside was still alive.
Markets glowed. Voices murmured. Deals were struck in shadows and light.
But now—
the fox's destination had changed.
No more wandering.
No more guessing.
The real market was next.
And somewhere deeper within the Hollow—
answers were waiting.
The striped-tailed beast led them deeper into Five Veins Hollow—
past the brighter, busier streets first.
Past stalls draped in lantern silk.
Past open traders and the noise of casual crowds.
The deeper they went, the more the Hollow changed.
Sound faded.
Laughter thinned.
Even the air grew cooler, heavier.
The fox noticed it immediately.
This wasn't just distance.
The mountain itself felt denser here—its spiritual veins running closer to the surface, pressing against the world.
Every step inward carried more pressure.
More refinement.
More control.
The striped-tailed beast lowered his voice.
Respectful now.
"My Lady…"
"The Deep Vault isn't advertised."
"Most beasts in the Hollow don't even know where it is."
The fox's ears flicked slightly.
"Yet you do?"
The beast gave a nervous grin.
"I've… heard things."
A brief pause.
"And I once delivered goods there."
The fox glanced at him.
Useful.
Ahead, the path narrowed.
Carved walkways gave way to a tunnel cut directly through solid stone.
Lanterns here burned blue instead of gold.
Their light did not flicker.
Cold.
Steady.
At the tunnel entrance stood two figures.
Both humanoid.
Tall.
One scaled, one furred.
Both at mid Foundation Establishment.
Both wearing dark bone-white armor etched with formation lines.
Guards.
Their eyes lifted the moment the fox approached.
Sharp.
Heavy.
One stepped forward.
"Private access only."
His gaze shifted to the striped-tailed beast.