Autumn mornings in East Sheng Shenzhou were cool and crisp. Snow was standing at the gate of the immortal herb garden, holding a broom and staring off into the distance while Red carried a small bundle and prepared to leave.
"Red, Red, I still think we should work together," Snow said in a soft, slightly coaxing tone.
Red rubbed her head gently. "No, you are too precious. Building the city walls is exhausting and dangerous. I will not allow you to go. You should do something lighter."
Snow pouted. "But I want to help you earn spirit stones…"
"Just knowing you want to help is already the biggest support," Red said.
Snow blushed at his words, but her heart felt warm as if touched by a spiritual flame.
They went their separate ways. Snow chose a different path and went to the Moonling Manor, where the gentle Moonling Immortal was recruiting assistants to help care for the immortal herb garden.
Moonling Immortal was known for her calm temperament and deep knowledge of herbs throughout East Sheng Shenzhou. She was surprised that Snow, a small furry creature, had such interest in the plants and happily accepted her as a temporary helper.
The immortal herb garden was rich with spiritual energy, shrouded in mist. As the gates opened, two herbs seemed to spring up and greet Snow.
"Moonling Immortal, I am here!" Snow said, holding her small basket.
Moonling Immortal stepped out from behind a shelf of herbs, gentle as moonlight. "Snow, you came at the right time. Today we need to inspect the leaf veins of the Wandering Wind Herb. Can you do it?"
"Of course I can!" Snow said, patting her chest confidently.
But shortly afterward, chaos ensued.
"Wait, wait! Don't chase me!" Three Wandering Wind Herbs moved with astonishing speed, sending Snow running all over the garden.
Moonling Immortal could not help laughing. "The Wandering Wind Herbs are playful. You are too gentle with them, so they think you are inviting them to play."
Snow's ears turned red. "I see… I just wanted to be friends with them."
Moonling Immortal patted her head. "Keep practicing, and in a month, they will all listen to you."
Indeed, Snow grew more adept over time. She learned to recognize the emotions of a dozen different herbs and even communicated with them. Once, a timid Clearheart Flower was blown over by the wind, its hood curled in fear. Snow held it gently and said, "Don't be afraid, I will help you stand." The flower's fragrance spread, sweetening the whole garden.
Moonling Immortal observed Snow quietly, thinking that this small creature was born to care for spiritual plants.
Meanwhile, Red was in the Qingli Manor's forging room, being scolded by Elder Tengfei.
"You little fox! How can you grind the spiritual ore like this? Were you blind?"
Red shook his ears and muttered softly, "But I think it's already smooth enough."
"Smooth? That's a potato! Grind it another hundred times!"
The next day, Elder Tengfei shouted, "The array pattern is crooked! Even slightly off, and the artifact will split in two! Do you want to blow up the manor?"
Red sighed. "I really tried…"
On the third day, Elder Tengfei yelled, "Is this an array or did ants crawl over it? Rework it!"
Red had grown numb, but he never complained. In his heart, he silently repeated, "For Snow, I can endure this."
Gradually, even being scolded did not shake him. Even as his hands cracked from grinding, he continued diligently.
Three months later, Elder Tengfei finally said, "Hmph, you didn't collapse. Follow me."
The deepest part of the forging room resembled a treasure vault, filled with glowing artifacts.
Red's eyes widened as he entered. "Wow, all of these artifacts are radiating light."
Elder Tengfei walked ahead, hands behind his back. "Choose. Fate will respond naturally."
Red examined each piece carefully. "This sword is amazing, but too heavy. This fan is beautiful, but I cannot use it. This ring bites, no thanks."
He searched for a long time without feeling any connection. Until he reached the farthest corner.
A small, gray, cracked tower lay quietly in the dust. It did not look like a treasure but more like a discarded toy.
"What is this?" Red picked it up.
Elder Tengfei sneered. "A failed artifact. No spirit, no array, useless. Take it if you like, it is just in the way."
Red turned it over and over. "Really no reaction at all?"
He twisted the tower casually.
Suddenly, "Buzz, buzz." Strong light erupted layer by layer from the tower, causing the surrounding artifacts to hum. Dust rose, and the array patterns on the tower began to awaken.
Elder Tengfei's eyes turned red. "How… how is this possible…"
The light coalesced into a spectral shadow of the broken tower, circling in Red's paw.
Red was astonished. "You… want to follow me?"
The tower trembled gently as if nodding.
Elder Tengfei suddenly rushed over and grabbed Red's wrist. "Give me the tower!"
Red's ears shot up. "Elder? What are you doing?"
Elder Tengfei's eyes glimmered with greed. "This is not a failed artifact. It is the remaining soul of my master's lost tower spirit! Its spirit has been dormant for a thousand years, but you awakened it. Do you know what this means?"
Red froze. "So… if I take it…"
"I regret it," Elder Tengfei said coldly. "Leave the tower here."
Red hugged the tower and backed away. "It has chosen me as its master."
Elder Tengfei threw a spiritual talisman. Boom! Red was slammed into the wall, chest tight, blood trickling from his mouth.
"Too far from its master, a spirit artifact will naturally change hands. Give me the tower, and you might survive," Elder Tengfei sneered.
The tower emitted a faint glow, shielding Red.
Red gritted his teeth. "Never!"
He staggered out of the manor with the tower clutched tightly. Branches tore at his clothes, his wounds bleeding, but he dared not stop.
He whispered hoarsely to the small tower, "Don't be afraid… I will protect you… we will go back to Snow…"
The tower glowed softly in response.
The wind was biting, the moonlight silver. Red stumbled through the forest, never falling.
Finally, he crashed into the bushes at the foot of the hill, gasping for breath.
Before passing out, he held the tower tightly, murmuring, "Snow… wait for me…"
The tower emitted a gentle light, wrapping him protectively.
In the night, the faint glow of the tower shone like a resilient lantern, guarding the injured little fox.