Lying across Yue Jingming’s shoulder, Xiao Chunhe said gloomily, “Do you really think you can get out of Zixu Mountain like this?”
The disheveled fox hung over his shoulder in one long strip. Although its black-and-red fur looked frightening, it was unexpectedly soft to the touch. Yue Jingming caught the huge tail trying to slap him in the face. “Why not?”
“Xiao Wen is still waiting for me to perform the wedding ceremony. If I don’t appear, they’ll definitely come looking.” Xiao Chunhe stretched out a paw and hooked it around the belt at the small of Yue Jingming’s back. “So you’d better let me go immediately. Otherwise none of us will survive.”
Yue Jingming stopped and set him down.
The fox’s legs were bound, its paws tucked together beneath it as it crouched on the ground with an austere expression. “Undo the rope and talismans and hurry up and leave.”
Yue Jingming looked down at him from above, his thoughts unreadable.
Xiao Chunhe assumed he had finally been persuaded. His heart was a jumble of emotions, yet he still could not help lifting his head for one more look at the Daoist. He was grateful he was in fox form. Even if his eyes reddened, Yue Jingming would only think he was still in a frenzy.
Instead, Yue Jingming knelt down, carefully wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief, then applied medicine to the wound on his chest. In a low voice he said, “I don’t have the strength to carry you any farther, Chunhe. Can you make yourself a little smaller?”
Xiao Chunhe froze, though his tail wagged instinctively. Annoyed, he pinned it beneath his paws and answered stiffly, “No. That little-fox appearance from before was something I transformed into by copying Hu Xiaohu. This is my true form. Ugly and frightening. I’m not turning back into the shape you like.”
Yue Jingming pinched one of his black but still soft and warm ears. “You look very good like this too.”
Compared with that thin, weak appearance from before, he looked much stronger now, his body nearly twice as large and his tail seemingly capable of killing someone outright. His fur was simply more mottled and his features much fiercer, making him look obviously difficult to bully. If Yue Jingming had to choose, he would rather Xiao Chunhe look this strong. At least then life on the fox mountain would not have been quite so difficult.
Xiao Chunhe did not believe him. “You’re full of ghost nonsense.”
Yue Jingming had indeed borrowed quite a bit of ghost qi through the Cloudsmoke Brush. He cupped the fox’s face and kissed him. “Don’t worry. The ‘groom’ has already gone.”
The fox, still standing on its own tail, was nearly stunned senseless by the kiss. It struggled until its head emerged from Yue Jingming’s arms. “Who? You sent Shijiu and Liang Yun?!”
“Of course not.” Yue Jingming took out a small paper figure. “It’s a paper anomaly.”
Xiao Chunhe was startled. “You made a paper figure become an anomaly?”
Elio’s Notes: Here, anomaly translates 怪, which this chapter treats as distinct from 妖 (“demons”). A nonliving object can awaken into an anomaly; Ye Shijiu later explains that anomalies are generally less intelligent and find it harder to cultivate the Great Dao, but are far more numerous than demons.
Yue Jingming gathered him into his arms and continued walking, looking perfectly calm and composed.
“Yue Jingming!” Xiao Chunhe struggled. “I think you truly have a death wish. Is your Zushan Sect some demonic cult?!”
“It is only temporary. Once tonight passes, it will disperse.” Yue Jingming looked down at him. “Even with all my cultivation gone, I can still protect you.”
Even if he had to resort to any means necessary.
Xiao Chunhe gritted his teeth. “You truly intend to take me away?”
Yue Jingming’s answer was concise. “Yes.”
* * *
“Will that half-demon really obey you?” Listening to the lively commotion outside the great hall, Feng Qingying could not help looking toward Xiao Wen, who was still drinking tea.
“I planted puppet nails inside him. Besides, his mother matters most to him. Every time he goes mad, he can still come back to his senses in time.” Xiao Wen said, “As long as he continues Xiao Ning’s bloodline, that will count as fulfilling one of her wishes.”
Feng Qingying stared at him and gave a cold laugh. “Was that really Xiao Ning’s wish?”
Xiao Wen said neither warmly nor coldly, “I saved your life. You should repay the favor.”
Feng Qingying said hatefully, “Yue Jingming destroyed my demon core and filled my meridians with ghost qi. Cultivating again is already nearly impossible. I’d like to repay you, but unfortunately I’m powerless now.”
The noise outside drew closer. Xiao Wen rose and gathered his sleeves. “I can point you toward another path.”
Feng Qingying immediately grew wary. “I don’t want to dual cultivate with you.”
In the past, she might have gained something from it, but now that her cultivation was gone, this old fox would only swindle her until not even bone scraps remained.
Xiao Wen smiled. “There isn’t much a fox demon can harvest from another fox demon. Humans are different. If you find the right person with extraordinary fortune, restoring your demon core may not be impossible.”
Feng Qingying narrowed her eyes. “Someone with extraordinary fortune? You mean that boy with immortal bones?”
Xiao Wen shook his head. “If you touched karma of that magnitude, you would die miserably before you ever benefited from it.”
“Then why were you so enthusiastic about me taking his immortal bones before?” Feng Qingying suddenly realized. “You deliberately lured me into this mess!”
If she had not coveted those immortal bones, she would never have gotten involved in any of this, much less provoked Yue Jingming and had her demon core destroyed. This old fox had schemed against her!
Xiao Wen smiled. “You were plainly the greedy one. What does that have to do with me?”
Feng Qingying suppressed her anger. “Then who is this person with extraordinary fortune you mentioned?”
Xiao Wen said, “Far beyond the horizon, yet near at hand.”
He swept a sleeve and pushed open the door. Feng Qingying followed his gaze and saw Xue Lezhi standing beneath the corridor watching the ceremony.
She said in surprise, “What extraordinary fortune could a Daoist have? No matter how powerful he is, could he possibly compare with Yue Jingming?”
“He is not a real Daoist.” Xiao Wen said, “Something he wears conceals his true identity. It also changes his appearance. If you can find a way to subdue him, your demon core may yet be saved.”
“Heh. If such a good opportunity truly existed, you would hand it to me?” Feng Qingying was not fooled.
“The auspicious hour has arrived! Bride and groom, enter the great hall and perform the wedding bows!” someone outside called loudly.
“Clan Chief, you should go out now.” An elder came to fetch Xiao Wen.
“I’ll be there.” Xiao Wen turned to Feng Qingying. “I only offered you a warning because we’ve known each other for so long. If you don’t want it, when you die of old age, I’ll still collect your corpse for you.”
Feng Qingying: “…”
After Xiao Wen left, she carefully studied Xue Lezhi. No matter how she looked, she could see nothing unusual about him. Just what was he wearing?
As she pondered, her gaze shifted to Xiang Zhao beside Xue Lezhi.
“First bow, to Heaven and Earth—” The ritual caller’s voice carried from the great hall.
Inside and outside the hall, foxes and minor demons crowded together to watch the excitement, noisily discussing the grand wedding.
Ye Shijiu and Liang Yun crouched among the foxes. Ye Shijiu formed seals, continuously pouring true qi into the paper anomaly disguised as Xiao Chunhe. Liang Yun asked uneasily, “Are you sure they won’t notice?”
“We only need to fool them long enough.” Ye Shijiu brushed fox fur from his trousers. “By the time these stupid foxes figure it out, we’ll already be long gone.”
Liang Yun said with lingering fear, “When Brother Yue suddenly said he was going back, I thought he meant to drag us into a battle against this whole mountain of foxes.”
“If you can’t win by force, use your head.” Ye Shijiu watched the paper anomaly perform the wedding rites with great enthusiasm. “This is my first time seeing a dead object become an anomaly. Master says anomalies aren’t as intelligent as demons, and it’s very hard for them to cultivate the Great Dao, but there are far more of them than demons. We haven’t encountered any along this entire journey. What a pity.”
Liang Yun propped up his chin. “Maybe anomalies are even more powerful than demons, and ordinary people simply can’t discover them.”
“Then you should be a little more careful.” Ye Shijiu warned him. “The purple qi around you is so strong. If some dead object with a little opportunity stayed beside you long enough, it could easily awaken and become an anomaly.”
Liang Yun grimaced. “How could that happen? My life is miserable enough already.”
“No.” Ye Shijiu lifted one finger and gently wagged it. “That copper spoon of yours is full of spiritual qi, especially since we arrived on Zixu Mountain. Be a little more careful.”
Liang Yun’s brow moved. “I’ll pay attention. Stop worrying about me and concentrate on controlling that paper anomaly. Don’t let them discover it.”
Ye Shijiu slapped his chest. “Leave it to me.”
Inside the great hall, the paper anomaly wearing Xiao Chunhe’s appearance had already bowed before the elders. These fox demons were surprisingly particular about ceremony and had copied the human custom of serving tea. The paper anomaly stared at the cup offered by a fox demon and instinctively took one step backward.
Water… afraid.
“Hurry and take it!” Ye Shijiu hurriedly formed another seal and urged it forward.
The paper anomaly hesitantly reached out, but immediately withdrew its hand again.
Everyone in the hall wore different expressions. Xiao Wen’s face darkened. “Chunhe.”
The paper anomaly stood utterly still. Ye Shijiu’s heart sank. No matter how much true qi he fed it, it was useless. The paper anomaly simply could not overcome its instinct. He grabbed Liang Yun, pulled away a handful of purple qi, and sent it over. “Quick. While the purple qi is confusing them, let’s get out of here!”
Liang Yun hurried after him. In his panic he looked back at the paper anomaly, only to see it actually accept the tea and respectfully offer it to Xiao Wen.
“Brother Liang, stop looking. Go!” Ye Shijiu grabbed him. Wind gathered beneath his feet, and in several leaps he raced straight down the mountain.
Below Zixu Mountain.
Fang Jingyi waited anxiously with the horses. At last he saw Yue Jingming walking over with an enormous black fox in his arms.
“Eldest Senior Brother!” He hurried to meet him. “Did you catch him?”
“Mm.” Yue Jingming stroked the sleeping fox in his arms.
Fang Jingyi stared in shock. “Didn’t you say your fox was beautiful and adorable, extremely thin and delicate? You must have caught the wrong fox!”
No matter how one looked at this huge black-and-red fox, it had absolutely nothing in common with Yue Jingming’s description.
“He is only tired.” Yue Jingming shifted the large fox in his arms and flexed the arm that had begun to ache beneath the weight.
Fang Jingyi: “…What does that have to do with whether he’s tired?”
Yue Jingming stared at him expressionlessly.
Fang Jingyi immediately said, “Whatever the case, it’s good you caught him. Should I put him inside a magic artifact?”
“No. Chunhe is frail and timid. He is very afraid of the dark.” Yue Jingming said calmly.
Fang Jingyi stared at the massive fox, nearly half a person tall, and began to suspect his own eyes. He rubbed his face hard.
That damned fox demon had eaten Eldest Senior Brother’s brain!
“M-Master!” Ye Shijiu came tumbling over with Liang Yun in tow. “Hurry, hurry, hurry! That paper anomaly is afraid of water. It won’t hold out long before they disc-discover—”
He skidded to a stop and stared in shock at the enormous fox in Yue Jingming’s arms. “Where’s Martial Uncle? Master, you caught the wrong fox!”
“I did not.” Yue Jingming mounted his horse with Xiao Chunhe still in his arms. “We should not remain here. Go.”
Time was short, so no one had a chance to explain. They all mounted and lashed the reins, racing onto the official road under the cover of night.
Liang Yun rode at the rear. He could not help turning to look at Zixu Mountain, already vanished behind the barrier, and frowned.
“Brother Liang?” Ye Shijiu slowed until he was riding beside him.
Liang Yun shook his head and smiled. “It’s nothing. Let’s catch up.”
“Jia!” He cracked the reins, and the blood-sweating steed shot forward at astonishing speed.
Ye Shijiu looked back toward Zixu Mountain and silently made a calculation with his fingers, confusion appearing on his face.
That paper anomaly… still had not been discovered.
Strange.