Ten days later.
Liang Yun stroked his blood-sweating steed with heartache. “Sweetheart, even a thousand-li steed can’t take being run like this. You absolutely cannot die on me.”
The blood-sweating steed pinned its ears back angrily and rolled its eyes at him.
“Don’t roll your eyes. You look even uglier.” Liang Yun hugged its neck.
The horse bared its teeth and twisted its neck away from him.
Liang Yun sighed sadly. “Brother Yue, do you still have any beans?”
“Yes.” Yue Jingming handed him half a small bag of soybeans.
Liang Yun took them and fed his precious horse. Yue Jingming’s horse stood obediently beside him, watched its own beans being given away, and nudged him in displeasure.
Yue Jingming patted its head and fed it the handful he had kept back. The horse immediately cheered up.
“Master, I’ve nearly asked everyone around here. None of the locals have ever heard of any Zixu Mountain.” Ye Shijiu led his horse over.
Fang Jingyi said, “Eldest Senior Brother, could that fox demon have lied to you? I’ve gone through so many geographical records of Great An and have never seen Zixu Mountain mentioned.”
“The names demons use for the mountains and forests where they dwell differ from those used in the human world, and the spaces they inhabit can form worlds of their own.” Yue Jingming led his horse forward. “Chunhe would not lie to me about something like this. We’ve traveled hard today. Let’s find somewhere to stay first.”
Fang Jingyi was dissatisfied but did not dare say much. In his eyes, his Eldest Senior Brother had completely lost his mind, racing around for days while badly injured just to find a fox demon. Zixu Mountain, Wuyou Manor. Put those names together and didn’t they practically spell out “utterly fictitious”?
Ye Shijiu blinked hard but still could not see the slightest trace of demonic qi. The little bamboo figure sprawled on his shoulder whispered, “Should we remind Master?”
Ye Shijiu shook his head. “Maybe my cultivation still isn’t enough to detect it. Places like this usually have great demons holding them down. Ordinary cultivators would have trouble finding them too.”
The little bamboo figure nodded. “Master hasn’t mentioned that we split our soul in half. Could he have forgotten?”
Ye Shijiu pressed it back with one finger. “Shh.”
He had split his soul in two and cultivated day and night without stopping. His cultivation was now growing at twice the speed, yet he still felt it was not enough. After all, he was currently the only one left who could fight those demons. Better not let Master discover this for now.
The area was remote. In the end, the group found a small village. Seeing several of them dressed as Daoists, the villagers warmly invited them to stay in their homes.
Yue Jingming and Fang Jingyi exchanged a glance, politely declined, and instead made a circuit around the village.
“What are you doing?” Liang Yun asked in confusion.
“Since fate brought us here, we might as well do what we can.” Fang Jingyi stopped. “Eldest Senior Brother, look.”
He pointed toward a small house at the edge of the village.
Yue Jingming nodded. “Go ahead.”
Fang Jingyi turned to Liang Yun. “Brother Liang, I need to borrow you for a moment.”
“Huh?” Liang Yun was dragged forward.
An old woman with sightless eyes sat outside the door. Fang Jingyi asked her for a bowl of water. The old woman hurriedly called her little grandson to pour some for them. Fang Jingyi asked who remained in the household. After learning that only she, a bedridden old man, and a little grandson who seemed intellectually disabled were left, he began circling the house.
At last he stopped beside the northern wall, took out three copper coins, and pulled Liang Yun over. “Come on. Smear some blood on these.”
Liang Yun stared for a long time before finally understanding what he wanted to do. He generously lent him some blood and asked in a low voice, “Will it work?”
“I know a little about fengshui.” Fang Jingyi smiled. “This family has accumulated a great deal of virtue. The fact that I happened to drag you here is part of their good fortune.”
Elsewhere, Yue Jingming took Ye Shijiu to an old locust tree outside the village and laid a simple formation beneath it. Ye Shijiu asked in confusion, “Master, it was one thing when you still had cultivation, but now you’re badly injured and can barely look after yourself. Why bother with them? They’re only strangers we happened to meet. Even if the village prospers later, they won’t thank us.”
Whenever they had passed through villages, towns, or cities before, if Yue Jingming noticed something wrong with the local fengshui or qi, he would usually adjust it in passing. If someone approached and asked for help, whether the matter was large or small, he rarely refused. If he could help, he did what lay within his power, never publicizing it or expecting anything in return. Sometimes he was even misunderstood. Ye Shijiu always felt it was terribly unfair.
“Besides, this tiny bit of merit is basically useless,” he added dejectedly.
If the golden light of merit around Master before had been like moonlight, then this little bit of merit was no more than a firefly among the grass. Even accumulating it for thousands upon thousands of years might never restore what he once had.
“Whatever we do should come from our original heart, not from whether merit will be gained.” Yue Jingming looked at him. “Shijiu, all living beings suffer. If we can help, then we help. At the very least, we remain clear before our own conscience.”
Ye Shijiu nodded thoughtfully, then asked, “Then if Brother Liang becomes emperor one day, wouldn’t he be able to help even more people?”
Yue Jingming did not answer directly. “We live in the mortal world, so we should move with its course. You are intelligent and exceptionally gifted, but you must also understand that excess is as harmful as deficiency, and when fullness reaches its limit, decline follows. There is no need to force everything.”
Ye Shijiu looked up at him. “Then, Master, will you force Martial Uncle to leave with us?”
Yue Jingming fell silent.
Ye Shijiu pursed his lips. “I like Master and Martial Uncle and Brother Liang. It would be wonderful if the four of us could stay together forever.”
Yue Jingming rubbed his head. “You finish the rest. This village may face a drought before long.”
Ye Shijiu thought for a moment. “Autumn brings plenty of rain. We just need to help them store water… So that’s why Master chose this place for the formation.”
Yue Jingming patiently taught him how to arrange it, and before they knew it, darkness had fallen.
The group returned to the villager’s home where they were lodging. After a simple evening meal, each went back to their own room to rest.
Yue Jingming meditated in his room. His dantian was destroyed, so he could no longer look inward. With his meridians severed, true qi could not circulate. After his merit dispersed, even his fortune was far worse than before, and he could no longer see demons or ghosts. Today he had discovered that he did not even have the strength to set up the most basic formation. Fortunately, Shijiu was beside him…
He took out the scarf Xiao Chunhe had given him. As expected, he could no longer open it. The little cloth fox had also lost its old liveliness and sat blankly to one side.
Even meditation was scarcely better than doing nothing now.
Yue Jingming rose, poured a cup of cold water, drank two mouthfuls, and set the little cloth fox on the windowsill where the moonlight could fall across it.
He had anticipated all of this, and it was a choice he had made himself. Yet now that it had truly come to pass, he discovered he could not face it without any disturbance at all.
Unwillingness, resentment, regret, confusion… fierce and profound emotions filled his chest. Instinctively he tried to ignore them and let them pass, only to remember that the No-Thought One-Mind Art was gone. Ten years of secluded cultivation had all come to nothing. And among all those emotions, the clearest one was longing.
He missed Xiao Chunhe.
The moment he thought of Xiao Chunhe, every emotion became impossibly vivid and alive. He missed Xiao Chunhe, yet he was also afraid of truly seeing him again. He worried about his injuries, worried about the demon-gu and puppet nails, worried… that Xiao Chunhe had genuinely made up his mind to sever their relationship. Even though reason told him Xiao Chunhe had difficulties of his own, once fear took root it was difficult to dispel.
The young Daoist stood beneath silver moonlight, his handsome face cool and still, lowered lashes hiding a thousand tangled emotions. Heart and spirit alike were tethered to that “fictitious-and-nonexistent” fox demon. Clear-eyed, Yue Jingming watched himself willingly sink into this muddy mire, yet had already decided he would never turn back.
He thought that he had indeed lost the wager they made at the beginning.
* * *
Thick white frost trembled over the weeds in the chilly morning breeze.
“Never heard of Zixu Mountain, but red foxes do show up around here often.” An elderly man leaned on his cane and looked at the unfamiliar travelers. “When I was little, a neighbor’s family was once troubled by a fox demon. The fox transformed into an extraordinarily handsome man and tried to entice their daughter into marrying him. A passing Daoist happened to drive it away.”
“What about recently?” Liang Yun could not help asking.
“Recently it’s been peaceful.” The old man stroked his beard. “Come to think of it, it must have been more than twenty years ago. I could still walk quickly then. One night I went to irrigate the fields, and by the time I came home it was already around midnight. I saw a great many foxes standing in an open field worshipping the moon. Among them was a nine-tailed fox, especially beautiful. I even met its eyes. It seemed to smile at me, and after that I knew nothing.”
“Really?” Fang Jingyi asked.
“I don’t know whether it was real either.” The old man chuckled. “But when I was young, the elders always said that if white frost falls for three days in a row, a fox will be getting married. Today happens to be the third day, so perhaps a fox really is marrying today.”
“White frost is normal in late autumn,” Ye Shijiu said. “Maybe it’s only a coincidence?”
“Little Daoist, try touching this frost.” The old man smiled mysteriously.
Ye Shijiu brushed a hand over the grass and jumped. “It’s hot?!”
“They say it’s moon essence gathered by foxes.” The old man lowered his voice mysteriously. “Scrape it up and steep it in water during winter, and it can prolong your life.”
Yue Jingming asked, “Do you know how to find these foxes?”
The old man thought for a moment. “I heard my grandfather say that when foxes hold a wedding, the mountain-gate barrier opens. If a human hangs forty-nine yarrow stalks at the waist, the foxes won’t recognize them and will think they’re one of their own. No idea whether it’s true.”
As he spoke, the old man used a bamboo slip to scrape some of the white frost into a bamboo tube, then wandered away leaning on his cane.
“Looks like we didn’t come to the wrong place.” Liang Yun could not resist collecting some white frost too. “Though this method sounds rather unreliable.”
“These old fellows… these elderly people know more than we do. It won’t hurt to try.” Ye Shijiu turned to Yue Jingming. “Master?”
Yue Jingming nodded. “We can try.”
* * *
Zixu Mountain.
Luxurious red silk covered the entire courtyard and extended all the way down the mountain. Fox attendants carried baskets and sprinkled precious moon essence over every plant and flower. Wedding music had been sounding since midnight. Several fox demons with fox heads and human bodies carried wedding robes to the door and whispered, “Has the young master still not woken up?”
Hu Xiaohu said sternly, “Yesterday was the fifteenth. Young Master still hasn’t woken up. None of you are allowed to disturb him.”
“The wedding is tonight. The young master must personally try on the wedding robes. If we delay the auspicious hour, none of us can bear the responsibility.” The fox in front wagged its tail anxiously.
“That still won’t do. If you wake the young master and he goes mad and kills all of you, what then?” Hu Xiaohu continued blocking the door.
Seeing this, the fox simply stamped its foot and shouted at the top of its lungs, “Young Master! We brought your wedding robes! The bride’s side has already sent people to hurry us. By custom, before the ceremony you must personally take four foxes to deliver six live chickens to the bride. The bride—”
Bang.
A poison needle glowing blue skimmed past its fox nose and buried itself deep in the pillar behind it. The noisy courtyard instantly fell silent.
“Get lost.” A deep, hoarse voice came from inside. Surging demonic qi swept across the courtyard and shredded every strip of red silk.
Inside the room, Xiao Chunhe frowned at the puppet nail in his wrist, a chain attached to it. He jerked hard. Blood fell with the pain, but the puppet nail did not move at all. He transformed into fox form and tried tearing at it with his teeth, accomplishing nothing except hurting himself more. The room that had once been piled with gold and jade was already a wreck, leaving only the heavy smell of blood.
Xiao Chunhe’s eyes were scarlet, savage black veins covering his neck. He did not know what method Xiao Wen had used. Whenever he tried to leave Zixu Mountain, the puppet nails and chains activated. Yet if he obediently went through with the marriage, all of them disappeared instead…
The foxes outside exchanged uncertain looks. Just as they were debating whether to leave, the tightly shut door suddenly opened.
The newly appointed young master of the fox clan stood before them with his sleeves gathered. The half-demon, famous for his beauty and cruelty, was pale-faced, vivid blood staining his lips. His long, upturned fox eyes swept over the foxes, and suddenly his lips curved into a smile. “Where are the wedding robes?”
The leading fox hurriedly offered them up, beaming. “Young Master, these wedding robes are woven with gold thread and cloud brocade, and many of the clan elders have branded blessing seals into them. They’re an exceptionally rare magic treasure. Why not try them on first?”
“All right.” Xiao Chunhe picked up the wedding robe from the tray. “No need for you to leave either. Stay and come with me to present gifts to the bride.”
The foxes were overjoyed and repeatedly bowed. “Yes, Young Master.”
Hu Xiaohu stood among the larger foxes, worry written across its face. Young Master had never smiled like this on Zixu Mountain. Could it be… he truly had let go of that Daoist?
Xiao Chunhe raised a hand and knocked it on the head. “You. Go tidy my room. Wouldn’t want the bride to see the mess and laugh.”
“Oh.” Hu Xiaohu hopped into the room, then looked back hesitantly. “Young Master, are you all right?”
“What could be wrong with me?” Xiao Chunhe waved his fan. “I’ve been made young master, and soon I’ll have my wedding night. I’m thrilled.”
Hu Xiaohu fearlessly asked, “That Daoist…”
“Don’t be stupid. Have you ever seen a fox demon and Daoist end up together? Am I insane?” Xiao Chunhe closed his fan and tapped it against Hu Xiaohu’s head. “Move faster.”
The foxes outside exchanged glances and finally relaxed.
Xiao Chunhe pulled the wedding robe on and lifted his chin. “Let’s go. Time to deliver the gifts.”
Elsewhere.
Ye Shijiu swiftly drew several talismans over Yue Jingming’s and Liang Yun’s eyes, then asked nervously, “Can you see it now?”
Yue Jingming opened his eyes. A great mountain wrapped in cloud and mist had appeared before them. Three bold characters, “Zixu Mountain,” were carved into the mountain gate, which was draped in dazzling red silk. Two enormous fox statues stood on either side, giant red flowers tied to their chests. The whole place overflowed with celebration.
Looking farther up the mountain, endless stretches of red silk wound into the distance. Many beautiful men and women in festive clothes carried baskets and continuously sprinkled something like water over flowers and grasses. The droplets turned into white frost the instant they touched them.
Ye Shijiu hopped forward and experimentally walked right in front of them. The fox demons seemed not to notice him at all and simply continued their work.
Seeing that, the other three checked the yarrow stalks at their waists and entered the mountain gate as well.
The lively sound of suona and percussion came from afar. Fox demons along the road moved respectfully to the sides. Yue Jingming and the others followed suit.
Yue Jingming heard one fox nearby ask, “Why is the young master coming out so early? It isn’t even evening.”
Another said, “The young master is going to deliver gifts to the bride. Besides ten live chickens, there are a hundred chests of gold, a hundred chests of silver, and a hundred chests of jade. I heard the young master is very satisfied with the bride and added even more treasures before leaving.”
“Aiya, if I’d known, I would’ve tried too. The young master is the best-looking fox on Zixu Mountain.”
“Weren’t you the one who used to despise the young master for being a half-demon?”
Yue Jingming’s gaze paused. Between Heaven and Earth, there was only one half-demon on Zixu Mountain.
But surely it could not possibly be Xiao Chunhe.
As they spoke, the gift procession reached the mountain gate. A vast column of foxes carried hundreds of large chests. The man at their head was breathtakingly beautiful and effortlessly elegant, staring ahead with arrogant coldness and not sparing the people beside the road even half a glance.
The instant Yue Jingming raised his head, this “young master” happened to pass by him, leaving behind a fragrance Yue Jingming knew far too well.
“Martial Uncle?!” Ye Shijiu was horrified and immediately tried to rush forward and call out, but Yue Jingming caught him. “Master, the fox getting married today is actually Martial Uncle! We have to stop him!”
“That damned fox demon! Eldest Senior Brother has been so devoted to him, and he’s actually abandoning you to get married!” Fang Jingyi disapproved of their relationship, but this situation clearly angered him even more.
Yue Jingming said blandly, “We’ll find a chance to ask him first. If he is marrying of his own free will, we have no right to interfere.”
Liang Yun also helped restrain Fang Jingyi and Ye Shijiu. “Brother Jingming is right. Don’t be impulsive.”
He was older, after all, and understood that while true feelings were rare in this world, feelings could also change easily. Yue Jingming had not been unconscious for a mere three or five days. By now nearly a month and a half had passed… Xiao Chunhe was certainly a good person, but who could ever say for sure when it came to matters of the heart?
Liang Yun struggled to console him. “Brother Yue, don’t worry too much. After so long, perhaps Brother Xiao… has some other plan.”
Yue Jingming looked calmly toward Xiao Chunhe in his wedding robes in the distance. “Mm.”