After making a few preparations…
Bai Xueyin and the cubs followed Elder Han toward the Snow Fox Clan.
The three males stopped at the edge of the forest.
Lin Huan waved cheerfully.
“Come back soon, Little Snow Fox!”
Wu Ye smiled lazily.
“Don’t forget us.”
Xue Linyuan simply nodded once.
“We’ll be here.”
Xueyin returned the nod.
“Take care.”
Then she turned and continued walking.
The journey through the snowy mountains was peaceful.
The cubs ran ahead excitedly.
“Mama!
Look!”
“There are snow rabbits!”
“Mother, the river is frozen!”
Wu Yin laughed as she flew after butterflies.
Seeing the children so happy eased Xueyin’s nervousness.
As they walked, Elder Han quietly pointed toward the distant mountains.
“That is our territory.”
Xueyin looked up.
Her breath caught.
Nestled between towering snowy peaks was an enormous valley.
Countless wooden houses stood among ancient pine trees.
Smoke curled from chimneys.
Children played in the snow.
Hunters returned carrying prey.
It was warm.
Lively.
A real home.
As soon as the guards at the entrance saw Elder Han—
Their eyes widened.
“…Young Miss!”
The cry echoed through the village.
Within moments—
People began rushing from every direction.
“It’s Young Miss!”
“She’s alive!”
“She really came back!”
“The Clan Leader was right!”
Before Xueyin knew it, she was surrounded.
Old foxes.
Young foxes.
Children.
Everyone looked at her with joy.
Not because she was the Clan Leader’s daughter.
But because…
They had genuinely missed her.
The little fox children ran up to her.
“Big Sister Xueyin!”
One tiny fox girl held up a flower crown.
“I made this for you!”
Another little boy proudly offered her a carved wooden fox.
“I’ve been saving it!”
Xueyin froze.
She didn’t know any of them.
Yet…
They welcomed her without hesitation.
Elder Han gently cleared his throat.
“The Clan Leader is waiting.”
The crowd immediately stepped aside.
The cheerful atmosphere quieted.
Everyone’s eyes turned toward the largest wooden house in the center of the village.
The Clan Hall.
Its doors slowly opened.
A tall man stepped outside.
Long white hair.
Snow fox ears.
Sharp silver-blue eyes.
He looked to be in his late thirties, though beastmen aged slowly.
His aura was calm and dignified.
Yet the moment his eyes landed on Bai Xueyin…
Everything changed.
His composed expression disappeared.
His eyes trembled.
He took one step forward.
Then another.
Stopping only a few feet away from her.
Neither spoke.
The entire village held its breath.
The man looked at her carefully.
As if afraid she would disappear if he blinked.
Finally…
He smiled.
A gentle, tired smile.
“…Welcome home.”
Not…
Not…
“Do you remember me?”
Not…
“Daughter.”
Just…
“Welcome home.”
Xueyin felt her throat tighten.
She lowered her head respectfully.
“…I’m sorry.”
“I…”
“I don’t remember anything.”
Silence filled the village.
The Clan Leader simply looked at her for a long moment.
Then…
He slowly reached out.
Not to hug her.
Not to force closeness.
He merely rested his warm hand gently on her head.
Just once.
“It’s alright.”
His voice was steady.
“We have the rest of our lives.”
“We can make new memories.”
The villagers quietly smiled.
Some even wiped away tears.
The cubs looked between Xueyin and the Clan Leader.
Then little Bai Shuyi whispered to Bai Qingluo,
“…Grandfather is nice.”
Bai Qingluo nodded.
“…Very nice.”
The Clan Leader finally looked at the children.
His eyes softened immediately.
“So…”
A faint smile appeared.
“These are my grandchildren.”
Before anyone could answer—
Bai Yan stepped forward confidently.
“I’m Bai Yan.”
Bai Chen bowed politely.
“I’m Bai Chen.”
The others quickly introduced themselves one by one.
The Clan Leader listened to every name carefully.
As if engraving each one into his heart.
For the first time in many years…
The Snow Fox Clan truly felt complete again.
But hidden among the smiling villagers…
A hooded fox beast quietly slipped away from the crowd.
Without anyone noticing.
He disappeared into the forest—
Carrying news that Bai Xueyin had finally returned.