Chapter 55: Aba Aba

In an instant, Zhang Hao shivered inexplicably. He quickly shifted his gaze around, eyes filled with vigilance.

Gradually, more and more eyes turned to look at him.

Even the fox bride and groom, who had just finished their ceremonial bow, stood up and stared directly at him.

Each fox stood on two legs, some turning their pointed, sharp-featured faces toward him, others looking straight on. Their narrow, cunning eyes fixed intently on him.

Zhang Hao’s body hairs stood on end, goosebumps breaking out all over.

Being stared at by so many foxes at once—with no trace of kindness in their eyes—sent chills down his spine.

Why were these foxes all looking at me?

Could it be that they had discovered me... No, that couldn’t be. I clearly didn’t show any sign of exposure.

In their eyes, I shouldn’t even be alive right now.

So why were they looking at me like this...?

Just then, Liu Wenchang, standing beside him, turned his head, squinting with a strange expression as he looked at Zhang Hao.

Damn...

Even this poacher was looking at me like that. What on earth was going on?

Zhang Hao nearly blurted out in surprise, sweat already beading on his forehead.

Without understanding the situation, he knew he must not act rashly. But at this moment... he couldn’t fathom what had caused this scene.

“Hey man, that’s not cool! Why are you mouth shut and no sound? Who congratulates people like that?” Liu Wenchang said, hands behind his back, eyes narrowed with disdain.

Huh?!

Zhang Hao was taken aback, quickly turning to look at the gathering gazes around him.

Sure enough, as soon as Liu Wenchang finished speaking, those foxes’ eyes grew even colder, as if they wanted to tear him limb from limb.

Damn...

It was because of that?!

So it was because he hadn’t spoken that the foxes became suspicious!

Damn... who could’ve guessed that?

How did these foxes have such sharp hearing that they noticed he didn’t make a sound?

This was too much!

And you—some poacher—what right do you have to butt in? Believe it or not, I’ll deal with you in no time.

The countless gazes, the fox faces—each one made Zhang Hao feel more horrified.

What to do, what to do...

If he couldn’t quickly gain the trust of these foxes, he’d have no choice but to run.

Once he ran, the mountain treasure would be forever out of reach. All his plans over these days would be for nothing, wasted completely.

No, he absolutely couldn’t let that happen...

In a flash, Zhang Hao saw several foxes close by raising their paws, showing sharp claws, preparing to approach him.

Think fast, think fast... there must be a way.

At that moment, Zhang Hao suddenly looked up, his stunned expression shifting to one of slight panic.

He opened his mouth, raised a hand to point at it, while waving the other hand in the air.

All the foxes around paused in surprise; those showing claws retracted them, holding back for the moment.

Liu Wenchang squinted, silent for a long moment before carefully asking, “Brother, are you... mute?”

Zhang Hao nodded heavily.

“Ah ba ah ba, you really are mute!” Liu Wenchang exclaimed.

No wonder he ignored me earlier when I spoke—turns out he’s mute.

That explains why he opened his mouth but didn’t make a sound.

Zhang Hao needed the ability to speak first.

The foxes around, either understanding Liu Wenchang’s words or Zhang Hao’s gestures, softened their hostile expressions slightly, but the cold, distrustful feeling in their eyes didn’t completely vanish.

Indeed, just using muteness as an excuse wasn’t enough.

What else could he do...

The foxes had looked at him suspiciously because he hadn’t spoken, but now that he was pretending to be mute, telling them he couldn’t speak, it didn’t seem to satisfy them either.

That meant the problem wasn’t simply about speaking or not.

This wedding ceremony was mainly to showcase the love between the fox bride and groom... no, as a bystander, he didn’t need to focus on this.

As a bystander, what he really needed to do was give his blessing...

Right, give blessings!

Not being able to speak didn’t mean he couldn’t send blessings. In the eyes of these foxes, you might be mute, might not speak your blessings aloud, but you had to find some other way to express your good wishes.

Damn it...

These foxes acted just like humans.

If you couldn’t speak, you still had to give blessings—and blessings that didn’t require speaking.

Ding ding~

Just then, a light flickered in Liu Wenchang’s pocket, but quickly went out.

Zhang Hao stared at the brief glow of the phone in his pocket, stunned for two seconds before snatching the phone out without asking.

Liu Wenchang hadn’t reacted yet when he saw Zhang Hao grab his phone and start fiddling with it. He immediately asked, “Hey, man, what are you doing? Can’t you tell me first... oh, right, you can’t talk.”

Zhang Hao ignored him and decisively opened the music app, about to search for a song when the “No network connection” message killed his hope.

Damn!

He forgot there was no signal deep in the mountains.

Feeling the increasingly cold gazes of the foxes around him, who seemed ready to pounce, Zhang Hao hurriedly flipped through his playlist, trying to find what he needed...

Then his eyes paused, finger hovering over a track, gaze fixed on one song in the list.

This will have to do.

Without hesitation, he tapped the song.

Zhang Hao raised his head, his eyes scanning the foxes repeatedly, then approached one fox with a few steps. Under the fox’s frightened yet cunning look, he snatched its suona horn.

“Deng deng deng deng, deng deng deng deng deng~”

From the phone came a series of beautiful prelude melodies. Zhang Hao placed the phone on the ground, turned the volume to maximum, wiped the mouthpiece of the suona with his clothes, and, somewhat reluctantly, put it to his lips.

He listened to the melody on the phone while holding his breath deeply in his dantian.

Under the eyes of the surrounding foxes and Liu Wenchang’s puzzled gaze,

The prelude on the phone paused, then a gentle, melodious female voice floated from the speaker, reaching the ears of the foxes, Liu Wenchang, and Zhang Hao.

“I am a fox who has loved for a thousand years~”

“A thousand years of love and a thousand years of loneliness~”

As this enchanting voice began, Zhang Hao summoned all his strength and, following the melody of “White Fox,” blew the suona.

In an instant, the once gloomy and eerie forest was filled with a winding, melodious tune, tinged with sorrow yet carrying a festive air.