Becoming a Fox Spirit from Under One Person

What happened to Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio?

Before the Qing Dynasty's classical Chinese novels, there were also legends of foxes overcoming love tribulations and becoming immortals, but due to the passage of time, no one cared about or remembered them.

Chen Ruoan remembered a saying that foxes undergo seven tribulations to become immortals, namely, enlightenment, lifespan, dog tribulation, military tribulation, human transformation, thunder tribulation, and love tribulation.

The lightning tribulation, which can terrify animals to the point of utter panic, even ranks before the tribulation of love, is not considered the final hurdle on the path to immortality.

Moreover, in legends and tales about foxes, the power of foxes is always inseparable from the word "deep affection," and matchmaking is a specialty of fox spirits.

There are countless stories of foxes acting as matchmakers, gossips, and spirit mediums. Some fox spirit temples in Shanxi and Fujian are even known as "places for praying for marriage for thousands of years."

After listening to Chen Ruoan recount his strange tales about foxes, Zhang Zhiwei had nothing more to say.

Strictly speaking, Zhengyi Taoist priests are not completely ordained monks. Zhengyi disciples can marry and have children and do not avoid sexual relations.

Zhang Zhiwei was focused on cultivation and had never considered matters of love, so he naturally couldn't say much to the fox. He couldn't very well expect the fox not to date just because he wasn't looking for a partner; that would be rather annoying.

"Miss Wanzhen is heading to Jining County, where bandits are rampant. We'll give her a ride along the way."

Zhang Zhiwei had no objection to Chen Ruoan's suggestion, but said, "Miss, there are still more than ten miles to go. You are weak, so you should give the fox to me."

"It's alright, Taoist priest. The mountain god doesn't care." Wanzhen shook her head in refusal.

The village where she lives is inconveniently located. Sometimes, when she goes to the market, she has to walk dozens of miles to and from the market. On the way back, she has to carry a lot of bags and small packages. However, the journey of more than ten miles along the mountain road is not difficult for her.

"Mountain God? When did you acquire this intimidating title?"

"It's always easier for mountain spirits and monsters to become famous than for humans; they can easily unlock a new title without even realizing it."

Zhang Zhiwei gave a soft shout and led the way, with Wanzhen carefully following behind, constantly watching for any movement of the grass or wind in the mountains.

Her previous experience had terrified her. Looking at the dense bushes and trees, she always felt that someone would suddenly jump out, brandish a knife, and reveal a lewd and obscene smile.

Wow~

"ah!"

Once the bad thought arose, it actually happened.

In the area where the three provinces meet, there are more robbers than victims. Suddenly, a bald, burly man with bare arms jumped out, holding a ghost-head knife horizontally in front of him.

"This mountain is mine, these trees are mine! If you want to pass, leave your toll! If you utter even half a word, I'll kill you and leave you no trace!"

Snapped!

Wanzhen hugged the fox tightly, but then heard a crisp slap. The rough man tumbled several times in the air, rolled down the slope, and fell into the vine-covered ground, never to climb back up.

"Master, your martial arts are excellent."

Wanzhen secretly glanced at the earthen slope, then squinted in fear.

When a Taoist priest kills someone, he truly "kills but doesn't bury them."

Chen Ruoan nestled comfortably in his arms, the warm sunlight filtering through the branches and falling on her glossy, smooth fur.

Sure enough, nestled in a young woman's arms is a completely different feeling from standing on a Taoist's shoulders or head. If one could recall the days of being an infant in swaddling clothes, one could probably understand the comfort and ease that An Fox felt at this moment.

When Wanzhen's arms started to ache, Chen Ruoan would get up and walk a few steps. Two hours later, they could see a few scattered houses.

Wanzhen pointed to the end of the mountain path, "My home is over there. Would the Mountain God and the Taoist priest like to come in for a seat and some tea?"

"Thank you, young lady, but no need."

"want."

The man and the fox gave two different answers.

Zhang Zhiwei said in a low voice, "If you want to become famous, just leave your name behind. There's no need to go around bothering other people."

Chen Ruoan replied in a low voice, "But she will most likely die."

How did you know?

"Her connection with the world has become very weak."

A mysterious light, unseen by Zhang Zhiwei, flickered in Chen Ruoan's eyes—

The complicated love affair centered around Wanzhen has faded to a semi-transparent state in the time it takes to cross a mountain, swaying in the wind, and is about to dissipate.

So-called fate is nothing more than the many entanglements between people and this world.

Chen Ruoan couldn't think of any other reason for this state of being cut off from the world except death.

"To witness life and death, and to foresee the future like this, the supernatural powers of you foxes are truly wondrous," Zhang Zhiwei couldn't help but praise.

"Not all foxes are An foxes," Chen Ruoan corrected the Taoist's wording, then asked, "Are you going or not?"

"Yes, of course I'll go."

Saving a life is more meritorious than accumulating merit for thousands of years.

···

"This is it."

Wanzhen raised her slender finger and pointed to a low house at the foot of the forest.

A half-stack of firewood was piled up at the entrance of the courtyard, and a hemp rope was tied under the jujube tree. At the other end of the rope lay a yellow and black spotted dog.

The dog's ears twitched; it heard footsteps and smelled the scent of a fox. It immediately jumped up and barked wildly.

At this moment, a young and strong man stepped forward. Seeing Wanzhen's tattered clothes and disheveled hair, his brows furrowed sharply, and he asked in confusion:

"Wanzhen, weren't you supposed to be visiting family? What happened to you, you look like a ghost?"

Upon seeing her husband, Wanzhen's tense nerves suddenly relaxed, tears streaming down her face. She choked out, "I...I was robbed by bandits."

"Robbery?" The man's face darkened, and he quickly pressed, "Did anything get stolen?"

"No..." Wanzhen shook her head.

"Where is she? Is she missing?" The man's voice suddenly rose, his gaze sweeping over her. He only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her shake her head.

"They were punished by the mountain god before they could make a move," Wanzhen said, gesturing to the fox confronting the black dog in front of the door.

"Mountain god, fox?"

In a rural village during the Republic of China era, where feudal superstition was deeply ingrained, some strange occurrences didn't require much explanation. The man didn't find the fox strange at all and said, "Thank you, both of you. Would you like to come in and have some water?"

"Then this humble Taoist will not stand on ceremony."

"Thank you, but no need."

The Taoist priest and the fox disagreed again.

Zhang Zhiwei couldn't help but retort, "You're happy to go against my wishes?"

"No, I understand now." Chen Ruoan wagged her fox tail as if it were perfectly natural.

"Um... goodbye."

Zhang Zhiwei, far from the house, his curiosity piqued, chased after the fox and asked, "Tell me, why did she die?"

"Driven to his death."

"Who forced you to do this?"

"a lot of."

The bond between Wanzhen and her man has become an inescapable, dark, and tragic entanglement; something unhappy is bound to happen in the future.

"Let's find a place to stay and rest for a day or two."

Anyway, Mount Tai isn't going anywhere. Whether Chen Ruoan goes early or late, the mountain will still be there.

The fox nestled in a woodpile at the edge of the village, its paws curled in deep thought, not feeling it was a waste of time.

The connections in this world are few and far between. Where are there so many deep friendships formed by chance encounters that are worth going to great lengths to cultivate?

Rather than grand, earth-shattering feats, it prefers to gladly cultivate these small, everyday connections. As time goes by, the precious tree of prayer deep within its heart will be adorned with glittering, gilded scrolls.

It is engraved with the sights and experiences encountered along the way, and those who have formed a good relationship with it will become the most vivid words on the record.

Of course, there are also the rewards that are included in the wish.

On the woodpile, Chen Ruoan quietly tucked her paws in, completely bewildered by Zhang Zhiwei.

"I know cats can 'farmer's trick,' but how come foxes can too?"

This question made Chen Ruoan lose confidence.

This is his first time playing a fox, and he really doesn't know if foxes will tuck their hands in.