**Chapter 379: The Third Female Lead**
“Wow~ Is this Xuantian Mansion? So big, so spectacular, so bustling!”
All the way, Little Fox bounced along, pulling Yun Zhonghe, her bright smile sparkling like a thousand suns.
No matter where they went, Little Fox attracted quite a bit of attention; her rate of turning heads was off the charts.
But honestly, it’s understandable.
After all, she’s a beauty and a rare fox spirit. Those fluffy big ears and that magnificent bushy tail hit the human cuteness jackpot. Plus, her elegant outfit looked like something out of a dream, making her sparkle like a walking, talking star—way cuter than any idol or celebrity.
Seriously, even after leaving the dock for a while, Yun Zhonghe was still dazed and questioning his reality.
The best friend he thought was a guy? Turns out she’s a girl? This is juicy enough for a novel!
If Yun Zhonghe hadn’t kept checking his communication jade pendant, confirming that Daoist Hu was indeed right next to him, he’d still be convinced he’d picked the wrong path somewhere.
And oh boy…
What a stunning beauty!
Standing tall like a peony, sitting pretty like a lotus, striding elegantly like a lily.
That’s an ancient poetic way to describe feminine beauty—so fitting for Xiao Hu.
Her pearl-like skin and golden hair reminded him of wood chrysanthemums, and contrasted by the vibrant hues of the red hibiscus blooming in the south.
Even in a crowd, her bright demeanor and cheerful smile were like a blooming flower, sending ripples of laughter anytime something new caught her eye.
Yun Zhonghe gazed at Xiao Hu, utterly spellbound.
Perhaps since it was his first time seeing her true self, and given how different she looked from his mental image of a pig-headed guy, it left him completely floored. It felt surreal, like he was dreaming.
In his mind, he was trying to uncover traces of her disguise, desperate to reveal that she was simply pretending.
But alas…
Yun Zhonghe noticed nothing out of the ordinary.
“Yun, are you staring at me?”
Having just been captivated by the sights of Xuantian Mansion, Little Fox suddenly turned her excited gaze toward Yun Zhonghe, her eyes glimmering with thrill.
Busted! Before Yun Zhonghe could even feel awkward, she grasped his hand, brimming with exhilaration: “Am I cute? Am I super pretty?”
Yun Zhonghe blinked, “Huh?”
Maybe the logic of the demon clan operates differently from the human clan. If girls like Mu Jixue or Lin Zhongyu had been the subject of such bold scrutiny, they’d definitely not have taken it lightly and would have hoped Yun Zhonghe would keep his eyes to himself.
But Little Fox turned the tables. She knew she was cute and boldly accepted it, hoping those she cared about would recognize her cuteness too.
Maybe that’s just the nature of the demon clan!
Her tail swayed behind her excitedly, her face lighting up with anticipation, making Yun Zhonghe feel like denying her would be a crime.
He wiped his brow, muttering, “Uh… yeah… you’re very cute.”
However, this vague answer didn’t satisfy Little Fox. Leaning closer, she quipped, “Is that all? Just ‘very cute’?”
He felt like, without a satisfactory response, she’d continue her interrogation.
But the issue was, with her being so eye-catching, Yun Zhonghe was also drawing unwanted attention. Being this close might spark some troublesome rumors.
In fact, he had a sense that maybe some rumors were already brewing.
Yun Zhonghe, gritting his teeth, added, “Among all the people I know, Xiao Hu, you’re the cutest!”
Little Fox’s eyes turned into crescent moons, “Wow~~~ Thank you, Yun! I’m so happy you said that!”
She had prepared so much for this day; after confirming Yun Zhonghe would come to get her, she worked hard to slim down.
It felt like all her efforts had paid off!
“But I didn’t expect you to be a fox spirit; I never knew!”
While Yun Zhonghe composed himself, trying to act normal, Xiao Hu froze, scratching her head. “Oh? I never mentioned it to you?”
Awkward!
She scratched her cheek, suddenly coming up with an excuse: “But doesn’t that make our friendship even more pure? We’re the bestest friends in the world!”
Her little mouth is pretty quick on the uptake, at least cleverer than Mu Jixue!
Yun Zhonghe chuckled, “That’s true.”
He appreciated Xiao Hu, considering her a genuinely good person, unaffected by her looks—just her character alone made Yun Zhonghe want to befriend her deeply.
The shock he felt earlier was merely due to how overwhelming it was, making him so flustered.
Thinking back, that was even slightly offensive to Xiao Hu.
Friendship shouldn’t be swayed by something as trivial as this!
Yun Zhonghe deeply reflected and decided to overlook Xiao Hu’s beauty.
Clearing his throat, he said, “Sorry, I lost my composure back there.”
Xiao Hu waved it off, carefree as ever: “It’s fine, plus, it was my fault for not clarifying my identity!”
After saying that, Xiao Hu suddenly transformed from her earlier goofy demeanor to one of grace, bowing lightly to Yun Zhonghe: “Allow me to introduce myself; my name is Hu Shang, a member of the fox clan from the Kunlun Demon Realm.”
Yun Zhonghe smiled, playing along, “I’m Yun Zhonghe, from the Yun family of Cangzhou City.”
Suddenly serious, they exchanged glances before bursting into laughter together, instantly lightening the mood.
So her name is Hu Shang… familiar, very familiar.
Hu Shang, fox clan… wait!
Yun Zhonghe’s whole being shook with realization.
Isn’t she one of the female leads from the original game?!
Hu Shang, the nine-tailed fox! She debuts later in the game’s progression and is a talented beauty from the Kunlun Demon Realm, the daughter of one of the twelve cave masters, a legitimate princess!
Talent-wise, she’s on par with Mu Jixue, and their first encounter was during a Secret Realm trial, where they were rivals and had some friction—let’s say their initial relationship was less than cordial.
But as the story progressed, they eventually warmed up to each other and ended up as a couple.
No wonder she seemed so familiar; she’s actually Hu Shang, the female lead!
But wait… why is the female lead appearing in such early plot points?
What an unexpected twist for Yun Zhonghe!
Despite his relationship with Huang Aotian becoming a bit nuanced recently, his basic strategy remained the same—maintain a good relationship with the main cast!
Unexpectedly, by sheer chance, he’s now forged a friendship with one of the female leads, Hu Shang!
Yun Zhonghe felt a strange connection to fate.
What he once believed to be a friendship with a guy has now evolved, from “a girl” to “a fox beauty,” and now it levels up to “fox princess”!
Wow…
He could really write a light novel about this!
