CHAPTER 185: IS THIS THE LEGENDARY SHYNESS?

"Could it be... could it really be?" Lu Chen suddenly smacked his forehead, his excitement and agitation spilling over. "Could this be the legendary shyness? I saw it in the manuals back on the second floor... I remember only beautiful girls could get shy..."

"Yes... This has to be it."

Thrilled, he pulled Nantian Wan'er into his arms and exclaimed, "Wan'er, Wan'er, you look even prettier when you're shy."

"Ugh... Lu-gege, I can't breathe," Nantian Wan'er said, her face burning red as she stayed in his embrace, too embarrassed to struggle. It was impossible to tell whether her flushed cheeks came from holding her breath or sheer embarrassment.

"Uh... okay, okay." Hearing her voice, Lu Chen awkwardly chuckled and quickly let her down. "I got a little carried away just now. Are you alright, Wan'er?"

"I-I... I'm fine."

Nantian Wan'er immediately stepped back a few paces, hurriedly adjusting her clothes to ease the awkwardness. "Lu-gege, you didn't finish saying what was missing just now. What exactly was it?"

Lu Chen scratched his head, embarrassed. "I... can't really say. It just feels a little off... I'm not sure where it went wrong."

"You brat. It's a handkerchief that's missing."Red Fox's voice came through from the small world. "When have you ever seen a girl in a skirt carrying a long sword on her back?"

"Why can't she carry a long sword? Isn't it better for defending against enemies?" Lu Chen asked, puzzled. "Red Fox, you've lived longer and have more experience. Tell me, what exactly is wrong? Could it be that the Dragon-Slaying Sword got smaller and now looks awkward?"

Red Fox's voice crackled with frustration. "You... What do you mean by 'lived longer'?" She yelled from the small world. "Forget it... the fact that you can now compliment a girl and notice something's off is already a huge improvement.

"One must learn to be content. It's better than knowing nothing at all, like before," she muttered, patting her chest to calm herself. "Wan'er, open the portal for me."

"Why do you want to come out? Is the air inside the small world too stuffy?" Lu Chen asked. "No, wait... the spirit qi inside the small world is denser than the ones outside. Shouldn't that be better?"

"You... you... I..." Exasperated, Red Fox turned to Nantian Wan'er. "Wan'er, open the portal for me. I'll show you how a proper young master behaves."

"Lu-gege, is that okay?" Nantian Wan'er asked shyly, her flushed face lifting to look at him. "Lady Red Fox wants to come out and give us some guidance. Should I open the portal for her?"

"Oh, I see. I thought something was wrong. Go ahead, let her come out and give us pointers. After all, a young master should live up to his station," Lu Chen said, scratching his head with a goofy smile. "But Wan'er, your flushed face... it looks so pretty I almost want to see if it even smells sweet when you're red."

To Nantian Wan'er, Lu Chen's words felt like the roar of a tiger. Her face turned completely red as she lowered her head, fiddling with the hem of her clothes and whispering in response, "Lu-gege... if you want... sure... I can allow it..."

"Allow what? Wan'er, your face seems even redder now," Lu Chen said, laughing even more foolishly at her reaction.

Before he could continue, Red Fox stepped out from the portal and interrupted, "Ahem... I'm here..."

Seeing Red Fox, Nantian Wan'er quickly hid behind her like a rescued damsel. "Lady Red Fox, please show me. What exactly is missing?"

"Little Wan'er, don't worry. I came here precisely to make you look even prettier," Red Fox said, gently patting her head before glaring at Lu Chen. "Hmph... you rude little boy. A girl's shyness is not something to tease her about."

"Ugh..."

She snapped. "What do you mean with 'ugh'? See for yourself."

Red Fox clenched her fists, red light flickering across her palms. When she opened them again, a young master's folding fan and a pale yellow handkerchief appeared. "You may be the new Beast King, but you should listen to me on matters like this. It'll save a lot of unnecessary hassle."

Red Fox snorted and tossed the young master's folding fan toward Lu Chen, then handed a pale yellow handkerchief to Nantian Wan'er. "Wan'er, this is for you. A girl in a skirt should carry a handkerchief. How could she be holding a weapon?"

As she spoke, a red glow flickered in her right hand, and the Dragon-Slaying Sword shrank, taking the form of a carved phoenix hairpin. "This is called the Form-Shifting Illusion. It's a simple spell that changes an object's appearance, while its true nature remains the same."

"This is amazing! Red Fox, can I learn it?" Lu Chen twirled the fan in his hand, flipping it with a swish. "If I could use this, I'd be able to show off in front of Little Jun and the others."

"Hmph. You, a clumsy boy, want to learn my spell? How delusional..." Red Fox said with a smile, quietly handing Nantian Wan'er a scroll of secret manuals. Deep down, she knew this illusion technique would be useful, and at this stage, Lu Chen would undoubtedly need it.

Red Fox blew gently onto Nantian Wan'er, sliding the Dragon-Slaying hairpin into her neatly coiled hair. Nantian Wan'er instantly looked fresher and more charming. Lu Chen's eyes widened as he took in Nantian Wan'er's new appearance.

"This is it! This is exactly how it should look!" he exclaimed, hurrying to her side. "Red Fox, how did you do that? How did the awkwardness disappear instantly? Wan'er looks... stunning!"

"Hmph... you still have a long way to go if you want to understand a woman." Red Fox snorted, pressing her delicate fingers against Lu Chen's wrist. "How can you hold a fan like that? Fully opened, like some rustic bumpkin?"

"And your hair, and your clothes..." she added disdainfully. "You call yourself a refined young master, yet you look more like a scholarly son. Who dresses like this? What young lady would fall for such a man? No wonder you've never understood women. I wouldn't even spare you a glance."

"But I want to appear poetic... and at the same time, free and unrestrained."

"Sigh... you really are hopeless."

Red Fox's nimble hands moved over him, making subtle adjustments. Within minutes, Lu Chen was transformed. His hair remained casually tied, but his clothing, posture, and even the way he held his fan all exuded elegance and confidence.

Now, Lu Chen looked every inch the leisurely young master of a prominent clan, strolling alongside his household as if he were on a carefree outing. Every movement exuded elegance and self-assurance.

"Yes, yes! This is exactly how it feels! How did you do it?" Lu Chen twirled himself in a full circle, the fan in his right hand slicing through the air. "It's so natural, so poetic... tell me your secret!"

"Hmph, this is only a minor change, and you're already thrilled?" Red Fox scoffed, flickering with red light as she transformed into a small, ordinary fox. "Let's go. These techniques aren't something you can learn all at once. From now on, I'll take time each day to teach you how to become a true young master of a prominent clan."

"Go... where?" Lu Chen asked, puzzled. "Aren't you returning to the small world?"

"Go back? I just stepped out. Why would I?"

Red Fox leapt along the hem of Nantian Wan'er's skirt and landed on her shoulder. "If Wind Dragon can travel with you, why can't I? Besides, the small world is full of smelly men and old hags. I'm not staying cooped up there. I want the freedom of the outside air.

"What's more, when it comes to illusions and cultivation, I outmatch Wind Dragon," she added, grooming her fur on Nantiian Wan'er's shoulder. "Look, I gave up my most beautiful human form just to come with you. Isn't that proof of my sincerity?"

"Uh..." Lu Chen glanced at her awkwardly. "Wind Dragon is my spirit beast. Unless he wishes it, no one else can see him. You may look like an ordinary fox, but anyone with eyes can tell you're not."

"It's just a concealment technique. I can still do it," Red Fox said with a soft snort, transforming into a fox-shaped scarf draped over Nantian Wan'er's shoulder. "See? This illusion far surpasses Wind Dragon's so-called concealment technique."

"Um..." Lu Chen could think of no way to object. "But... I can't explain this to Little Jun. We'll always be together, and there's no way to hide it from him."

"Heh... you scoundrel, trying to trick me into returning." Red Fox snorted, transforming back into human form. She approached Lu Chen and lifted his chin. "Then just tell them I'm Wan'er's pet. It doesn't matter whether they believe it or not, just say it."

She radiated a rich fragrance, and her playful teasing slowly wore down Lu Chen's resolve.