The moon was cold beneath a wintry sky, and all was silent. One man and one fox hid themselves in the night, avoided the servants making their rounds, and quietly landed in a secluded courtyard.
No one guarded the courtyard. Only the doors and windows of the central room had been nailed shut with wooden boards, and the chilling ghost qi was pouring out from inside. Yue Jingming slipped a Ghost-Warding Talisman in beside the little fox nestled in his arms and said softly, “This ghost is vicious. If you’re truly afraid, you can wait for me outside the courtyard.”
The little fox hugged the gleaming golden talisman in his paws. “With you here, I’m not afraid.”
Yue Jingming lowered his eyes to him, pressed a hand lightly over one furry ear, then approached the room.
The moment he drew near, a man’s pained, restrained voice reached his ears, mingled with broken moans and sobbing breaths as though he were suffering terribly. Yue Jingming’s expression sharpened, and he reached for his sword to break through the door and rescue him.
At the critical instant, the little fox in his arms abruptly realized what was happening. He transformed into human form, caught Yue Jingming’s sword in one hand, and pulled him around to the side of the room.
Seeing this, Yue Jingming grew even more wary. He asked in a low voice, “Is there a formation?”
Xiao Chunhe looked at him awkwardly. “It isn’t a formation. It’s… anyway, now isn’t a good time to go in.”
The sounds inside grew increasingly anguished. Yue Jingming frowned. “A fierce ghost is tormenting someone. Why can’t we go in?”
Xiao Chunhe: “…”
The sounds inside gradually changed. Soft sighs and heavy breathing turned intimate and tangled, with fragments about wanting or not wanting, going slower or faster, and loving someone to death, all of it thoroughly improper to overhear. Yue Jingming looked in confusion at Xiao Chunhe’s hesitant expression, then the realization finally clicked into place and his eyes filled with shock.
Xiao Chunhe could not help laughing. “You finally understand. What are we supposed to do, barge in at a time like this?”
In front of Xiao Chunhe, Yue Jingming’s embarrassment gained an edge of mortification. He lowered his eyes. “Two men behaving like this is utterly improper!”
Xiao Chunhe stared at him in surprise. “What’s wrong with it? Food and sex are human nature. Are you planning to remain celibate your entire life?”
Elio’s Notes: “Food and sex are human nature” is a classical saying from Mencius (Gaozi I), spoken by Gaozi about appetite and sexual desire. Xiao Chunhe borrows it to tease Yue Jingming.
“Why not?” Yue Jingming replied seriously.
Xiao Chunhe was horrified. “Then what am I supposed to do?!”
“You…” Caught completely off guard, Yue Jingming was left speechless. With the indecent sounds from the room as accompaniment, the roots of his ears turned bright red. “This is truly improper.”
Seeing him like this only made Xiao Chunhe itch to tease him more. With wicked amusement, he hooked a finger beneath Yue Jingming’s chin. “Then why are you blushing, my little Daoist?”
Yue Jingming caught his hand and turned his face away, only to notice the sinister ghost qi curling around the room. His gaze instantly cleared. “How can a human and a ghost have relations like this?”
Demons excelled at beguiling hearts and ghosts at clouding the eyes. A living person could hardly withstand this kind of torment from a fierce ghost that had cultivated power.
Yue Jingming released Xiao Chunhe. The Clear Breeze Sword left its sheath. Without hesitation, he broke through the doors and windows, flicked a Ghost-Capturing Talisman from two joined fingers, and charged sword-first at the evil ghost on the bed.
Xiao Chunhe’s vision went black. “Yue Jingming!”
Even if the other party had not been an evil ghost to begin with, anyone interrupted in the middle of such business would turn into one!
Inside the bed curtains, the man and ghost in the middle of their entanglement were both startled. Lu Yu snatched up the quilt and wrapped the completely naked Ji Luo in it, yanked on his own wedding robes, and burst through the curtains. He took Yue Jingming’s sword strike head-on and forcibly kept him outside the bed curtains.
Unexpectedly, the Ghost-Capturing Talisman swept past Lu Yu into the bed curtains and stuck to Ji Luo’s lower abdomen, dispersing all the ghost qi around him before crumbling into powder.
Lu Yu flew into a rage. “Who dares ruin your grandfather’s good time?”
“Yue Jingming of Zushan.” Yue Jingming’s voice was stern. “An evil ghost that dares steal a living person’s yang lifespan and life-force is beyond pardon.”
“Stinking Daoist, this is between two willing parties. It’s none of your business!” Furious, Lu Yu flipped his wrist and a long halberd appeared in his hand, chopping straight at Yue Jingming.
Yue Jingming raised his sword to block. To his surprise, the halberd was formed from ghost bone and carried countless evil souls with it. He was forced one step backward as those souls, as though they had discovered some supreme delicacy, transformed into countless bloody maws that latched onto his sleeves. The next instant, sinister poisoned needles stabbed into them. Xiao Chunhe snapped his fan outward, forcing the evil souls back, then transformed into an enormous fox and lunged forward with a savage expression.
“Well, well. There’s even a great demon here.” Lu Yu tightened his grip on the halberd and flung out countless ghostly souls, all of them rushing toward Xiao Chunhe.
Seeing this, Yue Jingming drew a string of copper coins from his robe, swiftly wound them with red cord, infused them with true qi, and struck at the evil souls and resentful ghosts. He held his sword horizontally and shielded the enormous fox behind him. As he formed hand seals and chanted an incantation, golden light suddenly blazed around him, and the Ancestral Master’s protective spirit troops could faintly be seen manifesting. Even Xiao Chunhe, protected behind him, had to retreat several steps.
Elio’s Notes: In Daoist ritual language, “soldiers and horses” can refer to spirit troops summoned or commanded for protection and exorcism. Here, the Ancestral Master’s protective forces appear during Yue Jingming’s incantation.
The mass of ghostly souls scattered at once. Seeing the situation turn against him, Lu Yu swept the halberd out to block the Daoist and fox demon, then spun around and reached for the unconscious Ji Luo. The instant he touched him, however, the talisman powder on Ji Luo’s body suddenly struck back. Lu Yu cried out as though burned, and Yue Jingming’s sword knocked his hand aside before Yue Jingming grabbed Ji Luo and threw him away.
Lu Yu smiled viciously. “Just you wait!”
Then he leaped into the formation at the center of the room and vanished beneath the water.
Yue Jingming raised his sword to pursue him, but Xiao Chunhe wrapped a tail around his waist and hauled him back. “Don’t chase him. This formation looks sinister beyond measure. Who knows where it leads? What if you can’t come back?”
Yue Jingming frowned. “If a fierce ghost is not destroyed, it will inevitably cause calamity.”
And now that the fierce ghost had consummated things with Ji Luo, it would likely be even less willing to let him go.
The enormous fox leaned over and vigorously licked Yue Jingming’s cheek. “You’re not allowed to go. I’ll be frightened to death if I’m left here all by myself.”
Yue Jingming remembered the face the fox had worn moments ago, several degrees more ferocious than the fierce ghost’s. He grabbed a tuft of chest fur and forced Xiao Chunhe to lower his head. “Are you truly afraid of ghosts?”
The enormous fox’s ears drooped, and he put on a pitiful expression. “Dear Rongxi, my chest fur finally grew back. Be gentle. Don’t pull it out again.”
Yue Jingming: “…”
He let go, removed the great tail from around his waist, and went to inspect the formation at the center of the room.
The enormous fox swished his tail unhappily. His fur was covered in the righteous thunder qi he had picked up from Yue Jingming, and every touch made it sting.
Tsk. The big fox really was not as useful as the little one.
Yue Jingming was studying the formation when his waist suddenly grew heavy. A huge furry fox head settled directly on top of his head, burying him completely in fur, while the thick, soft tail wrapped snugly around him.
Yue Jingming nearly suffocated. He tried to push him away. “Stop fooling around.”
Xiao Chunhe complained, “Then take the thunder qi out of my fur. It hurts to death.”
Yue Jingming froze, then turned and touched the fur on his chest. Sure enough, some of it was singed. He hurriedly drew a talisman and withdrew the thunder qi, but the enormous fox nudged him aggrievedly with his muzzle. “Now that you’re so good at fighting, you don’t even remember to look out for me.”
Yue Jingming raised a hand and stroked the fur on his face. “I’ll pay attention next time. I’ll wash you when we get back.”
“Fine.” Xiao Chunhe was reluctantly satisfied. “But I got caught in the aftermath. I’m afraid I’ll need to stay in your room for a few more days and absorb some true qi while I recover.”
Yue Jingming agreed without hesitation. “All right.”
The enormous fox’s eyes curved happily. With one powerful sweep of his tail, he wrapped Yue Jingming into his embrace and vigorously covered him in his scent, driving away every trace of that fox-offending ghost qi.
Buried in fox fur, Yue Jingming sighed helplessly and reached out to hug him. “No more lying from now on.”
Xiao Chunhe lowered his head and vigorously licked his face. “I’m afraid of ghosts when I’m a little fox. When I turn into a big fox, I’m not.”
Yue Jingming had just opened his mouth when he was licked again. He silently raised his sleeve to wipe his face. “Stop thinking improper thoughts. Doesn’t your demon-gu hurt?”
Xiao Chunhe blinked. “Huh? I’ve been thinking plenty of improper thoughts. Why doesn’t it hurt like I’m dying?”
His demonic nature ran far stronger in his full demon form than as a little fox or a human. After watching a live erotic spectacle, he already wanted to roll Yue Jingming back to his den and devour him whole, yet the demon-gu had not acted up at all.
Yue Jingming pushed him away and turned to survey the room, his expression serious. “Could there be something in this room that suppresses the demon-gu?”
Xiao Chunhe was overjoyed. He immediately stopped clinging to him and transformed back into human form, fanning himself vigorously. “The heavens truly have taken pity on me. Hurry, let’s search.”
Unfortunately, apart from an immovable bed, the empty room contained only the sinister blood-talisman formation on the floor. The two searched for a long while but found no clue related to the demon-gu.
Ji Luo slowly regained consciousness. When he saw Yue Jingming and Xiao Chunhe in the room, his expression changed abruptly. “Where is Lu Yu?”
He had clearly been in the middle of… with Lu Yu…
Yue Jingming said gravely, “Young Master Ji, that ghost is extremely sinister. Coupling between human and ghost violates the natural order. He will drain your yang qi. At best, you will fall ill and weak; at worst, you will die.”
“Lu Yu is not some ghost.” Ji Luo’s face was drawn and utterly bloodless, dark shadows beneath his eyes making him look severely depleted, but he did not care. “Xiaoyu is my fiancée. Whether he is dead or alive, I will stay with him.”
“Lu Yu is already dead. When a person becomes a ghost and the soul no longer remains whole, even the personality may change.” Xiao Chunhe folded his arms. “Besides, what you summoned with that blood formation is the fierce ghost he became. You slept with him and consummated your relationship. I’m afraid he’ll cling to you until you die and drag you down to keep him company.”
Ji Luo suddenly looked up, several sparks of life returning to his face. “Really?”
Xiao Chunhe: “Huh?”
“Ji Luo.” Yue Jingming’s voice turned cold. “A human body is not easily obtained. Your yang lifespan is not yet exhausted, yet you consort with a ghost. It will damage not only your yang qi and merit but also implicate your family.”
“Implicate my family?” Ji Luo laughed. “Daoist Yue, do they still count as my family? When Lu Yu and I decided to elope, they locked me inside the house. Lu Yu waited for me at the docks for an entire day and night, but they informed the Lu family.”
His expression turned bleak, as though he had sunk into memory. “Lu Yu and I grew up together. His birth mother died early. The Lu family had many sons, and the principal wife disliked him. Because our families were related, he spent more than half of each year living at the Ji residence. He was gentle and kind, never fought with anyone, and had a weak constitution. When the Lu family found him, they blamed him for ruining the family’s reputation. They beat him to death and sank his body in the river…”
“If my family hadn’t told the Lu family, he wouldn’t have died.” Ji Luo’s eyes turned gray. “And it’s my fault too. If I had never liked him, if I had never suggested that we elope, I wouldn’t have gotten him killed.”
Xiao Chunhe hissed softly. “That fierce ghost just now did not have a weak body. He handled that halberd beautifully. He must have been highly skilled in martial arts while alive. Besides, even if becoming a ghost changes a person’s temperament, it usually magnifies the evil and resentment already there. If everything you said were true, then even if Lu Yu had been beaten to death and thrown into the river, he should not have become what he is now.”
Ji Luo froze. “What do you mean?”
Yue Jingming said bluntly, “That man was skilled in martial arts while alive and was ruthless and vicious. I fear he hid things from you.”
“Impossible!” Ji Luo surged to his feet. “Xiaoyu never lied to me. H-he may have been rather tall, but he was always the most timid and afraid of trouble. He must have suffered terribly and been bullied endlessly in the underworld before becoming like this. I was the one who failed him. If I don’t hurry down there to protect him, his life will only become even harder.”
“Did that fierce ghost feed you some kind of bewitching potion?” Xiao Chunhe waved a hand in front of his face.
Ji Luo shook his head. “No. You don’t understand. Lu Yu really is a good person.”
Yue Jingming asked, “Who taught you that blood formation?”
Ji Luo said, “I missed Lu Yu, and he entered my dreams and taught it to me himself. Every time I finish drawing it, he appears.”
“That blood formation consumes your blood essence and vital lifespan,” Yue Jingming said. “If he truly cared about you, he would never have taught you such a vicious method.”
Xiao Chunhe added, “And an ordinary ghost could never know such a powerful formation. Even an ordinary fierce ghost can only cling invisibly to people. You wouldn’t even be able to touch its shadow.”
Ji Luo snapped, “I know better than you what sort of person Lu Yu is. Even if he wants me dead, I’m willing. Stay out of my business!”
Yue Jingming raised a hand to place a talisman on him, but Xiao Chunhe caught his wrist. “Forget it. If that’s how he feels, it isn’t our place to interfere.”
Yue Jingming’s voice turned severe. “His mind is bewitched by a ghost. How can we simply let him do as he pleases?”
Xiao Chunhe desperately signaled with his eyes and finally managed to drag Yue Jingming out of the room. By then, servants who had heard the commotion were hurrying over, so Xiao Chunhe pulled him away before they were seen.
After they returned to their room, Yue Jingming still could not let it go and wanted to go back.
“My dear fellow Daoist, this isn’t some case of a ghost bewitching his mind. Those two are plainly willing participants.” Xiao Chunhe blocked him. “Besides, if you interfere, you’ll inevitably become entangled in their karma. That fierce ghost has deep cultivation and won’t be easy to deal with. Why invite trouble?”
“Even if they were willing while alive, they are now separated by life and death. Lu Yu should not continue clinging to him,” Yue Jingming said. “Whether Ji Luo lives or dies should be his own decision.”
Xiao Chunhe anxiously tapped his fan against his forehead. “Then what do you plan to do?”
“If he can be guided onward, I’ll guide him onward. If not, I’ll kill him,” Yue Jingming said. “Once a fierce ghost kills a person, it becomes a calamity to the surrounding region.”
Xiao Chunhe looked at him. “You absolutely have to interfere?”
“I absolutely do.”
Xiao Chunhe sighed, walked over, and rested his chin on Yue Jingming’s shoulder. “Fine. Then I’ll go with you.”
Yue Jingming paused, then raised a hand to steady Xiao Chunhe at the waist. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. I also want to find out what exactly can suppress this demon-gu.” Xiao Chunhe nuzzled close against him and murmured by his ear, “Otherwise I can only entertain wicked thoughts without ever indulging in them. What torture.”
Yue Jingming pushed him away awkwardly. “It’s late. Get at least a little sleep.”
Seeing him heading for the door, Xiao Chunhe smiled. “Daoist Yue, aren’t you sleeping?”
“I’m going to bathe.”
“Why bathe for no reason?” Xiao Chunhe raised his voice. “I already licked and rubbed you completely clean.”
Yue Jingming turned and gave him a warning look. “Chunhe. Mind your words.”
Xiao Chunhe unfolded his fan to hide his mouth, several traces of slyness flashing in his fox eyes. “Then shall we bathe together?”
The answer was a door closing with a trace of irritation.
Xiao Chunhe flopped onto the bed and let out a long sigh.
This upright, old-fashioned little Daoist was terribly difficult to seduce. Xiao Chunhe had watched other fox spirits seduce scholars and young masters in only a few days. It seemed his own fox arts were still sorely lacking.
Meanwhile, Yue Jingming washed twice before finally removing the fox fur and heavy fragrance clinging to him. He had just begun to rise when the window was abruptly pushed open. A little fox wearing a kerchief sat solemnly on the sill. “You promised you’d bathe me.”
Yue Jingming saw his tail twitch and his body crouch backward. He hurriedly said, “Wait. Let me finish first, then I’ll wash you—”
Splash.
The little fox leaped straight into the bath barrel, sprawled against Yue Jingming’s chest, and leaned forward to lick his lips.
Yue Jingming stared in despair at the fox fur floating in the water, drew a deep breath, and silently closed his eyes.
Xiao Chunhe looked at his bright-red ears and said generously, “I’m only a little fox. You don’t need to be embarrassed.”
Before the words had even finished, a hand pinched the kerchief around his neck, lifted him bodily from the water, wrapped him in a bath towel, and tossed him straight out the window.
The dripping little fox struggled until his head emerged from the towel, then stared incredulously at the tightly shut window. “Huh?”
Fortunately, he was an understanding fox. He decided not to disturb Yue Jingming’s bath any further, so he simply rolled onto his back on the towel and basked in the moonlight. Before long, he was fast asleep.
Yue Jingming, who ended up bathing five times that night, eventually came looking for him and found Xiao Chunhe curled into a ball with his fur still half wet, shivering from the cold.
He frowned, picked the little fox up from the ground, carried him back inside, and carefully washed him clean with warm water. Xiao Chunhe was extremely sleepy and, unusually, had a very good temper, allowing Yue Jingming to fuss over him however he liked. Yue Jingming felt even guiltier. He used true qi to cleanse away the traces of thunder arts clinging to Xiao Chunhe’s fur, then tucked him into his robe to keep him warm.
…Perhaps the prescription really should be adjusted. Losing this much fur was not the fox’s fault.
* * *
The next morning, Ye Shijiu and Liang Yun were both stunned when they heard what had happened the night before.
“A-a human and a ghost can actually be together?” Liang Yun asked. “Has someone put a hex on Brother Ji?”
Ye Shijiu, on the other hand, looked a little excited. “Master, are we going to catch a ghost?”
The ghost certainly had to be dealt with, but even if they captured Lu Yu, it would be useless if they could not resolve his obsession or disperse his resentment. Moreover, Lu Yu’s cultivation was considerable and he would not be easy to handle.
“He was injured by thunder qi. I doubt he’ll show himself voluntarily for a while,” Xiao Chunhe said. “I think the crux of this still lies with Ji Luo. He was extremely agitated last night. I’m afraid there are other circumstances behind this.”
While the four of them were discussing what to do, someone suddenly knocked on the door. Ye Shijiu was the first to rush over and open it. “Who is it?”
The young man named Ji Chen from the night before stood outside. “I am Ji Chen, Ji Luo’s younger paternal half-brother. I heard that you were the ones who brought my elder brother back to the Ji family, so I came especially to thank you.”
The servant behind him presented the gifts.
“Young Master Ji, there’s no need for such courtesy,” Liang Yun said. “Why not stay and have breakfast?”
“No need for breakfast. My elder brother fell ill again last night. I need to go take care of him,” Ji Chen said.
Liang Yun’s thoughts turned. “We escorted Ji Luo all the way here, and he seemed no different from an ordinary person. What illness does he have?”
Ji Chen seemed to have been waiting for them to ask. “Two years ago, my elder brother’s relationship with Lu Yu was discovered. They were both men, and Father flew into a rage, but Elder Brother insisted on staying with Lu Yu and caused an enormous uproar at home. In the end, because Father loved his son, he said that if Elder Brother could place first as top scholar, he would stop interfering. But who could have expected… My elder brother and I sat the examinations together. I passed as a jinshi, while he failed. He became despondent and even suggested that we exchange identities. That would be the crime of deceiving the sovereign, so naturally I refused. He sank further into gloom and came to resent me as well.”
Ji Chen gave a bitter smile. “Father, Mother, and Grandmother all dote on him deeply. Even after that, no one blamed him. They only told him to break things off with Lu Yu. Who would have thought Elder Brother would come up with the idea of eloping with him? They were discovered, and Lu Yu ended up being drowned in the river.”
“Ever since then, Elder Brother has been delirious and mentally unstable. He has tried to kill himself again and again.” Ji Chen’s expression was pained. “I’ve heard that this may be an illness of an incomplete soul. Daoist Yue, you come from the Zushan Sect and your Daoist cultivation is profound. Surely you have a way to save my elder brother. If you can restore him to normal, I will reward you generously!”
Yue Jingming looked at him. “I have not seen any sign that his soul is incomplete.”
Ji Chen froze. “Really?”
“You clearly care deeply for your brother, Young Master Ji, but I fear there may be another cause behind this,” Yue Jingming said. “If you trust us, we can remain for a few days and try to find a way to treat Young Master Ji Luo.”
“Of course.” Ji Chen gave a cupped-hands bow. “I’ll inform Father at once. If any of you need anything, come to me without hesitation.”
After thanking them over and over, Ji Chen hurried away again.
Liang Yun said, “What a good younger brother. They only share a father, yet he’s still so attentive. If it were those brothers of mine, they’d probably be eager to help stick the knife in deeper.”
“This whole family is strange.” Xiao Chunhe could not resist taking out the phantom stone. “We haven’t fallen into some bizarre illusion again, have we?”
Once bitten by a snake, one fears the well-rope for ten years. Those earlier illusions had tormented him badly, especially the one involving his previous life. Even if beaten to death, he never wanted to enter another illusion again.
Fortunately, the phantom stone showed no reaction.
“Ghosts aren’t skilled at creating illusions,” Yue Jingming said, resting a hand on his shoulder. “But we do need to beware of possession and mental influence.”
Xiao Chunhe’s face turned green. “Quick, give me two more of those Ghost-Warding Talismans.”
Yue Jingming gave him several. Xiao Chunhe distributed them to Liang Yun and Ye Shijiu. “Quick, keep these on you. That evil ghost last night had a blue-green face, fangs, and a gaping bloody maw. Terrifying.”
Not long afterward, Ji Xin sent the old steward with word that they should stay peacefully at the residence. Ji Luo’s illness could not be cured overnight. The steward also told them that Ji Luo only had an episode once every few months and would return to normal the following day.
As though to prove his words, Ji Luo was indeed released.
Young Master Ji had changed his clothes. Apart from looking ill, there was not the slightest trace of madness about him. He entered smiling. “I heard I drank too much last night and made a drunken scene. I’ve embarrassed myself before all of you.”
“It’s no trouble. Everyone gets drunk sometimes.” Liang Yun laughed. “Brother Ji, come in.”
“No need. Today is the first day of the Thousand-Dragon Water Festival. My younger brother Ji Chen happens to be back as well, and the younger boys and girls in the family have all been clamoring to go out. Since you’ve come all this way to Zhangzhou, why don’t we all go enjoy ourselves together?” Ji Luo invited them with a smile.
Liang Yun and Ye Shijiu both looked toward Yue Jingming.
Xiao Chunhe and Yue Jingming exchanged an imperceptible glance. Yue Jingming nodded. “Then it would be discourteous to refuse.”
Ji Luo said, “I’ll go have people make the preparations. I’ll come call for you after breakfast.”
He turned to leave. Xiao Chunhe looked baffled. “Strange indeed. That fierce ghost was so vigorous last night. How can he even get out of bed?”
Ye Shijiu tilted his head in confusion. “What do you mean, vigorous?”
“Hey, hey, children shouldn’t ask about things like that!” Liang Yun clapped his hands over Ye Shijiu’s ears and steered him toward the room. “Go eat your breakfast.”
Yue Jingming looked at Xiao Chunhe. “He doesn’t remember what happened last night?”
Xiao Chunhe rubbed his chin, eyes turning as a wicked smile appeared on his face. “I have an idea. One test will tell us.”