Chapter Eighteen: The White Fox

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Thus, Zhang Ming’s love story with the white fox never even began before it was cruelly torn apart by his father, Zhang Dafu. Without the white fox, Zhang Ming became silent and withdrawn once more, barely speaking and eating very little. Each day, he would quietly stare out the window. Seeing his son like this, Zhang Dafu felt heartache, but he could not disregard the words of the master. Due to his busy work schedule, he couldn’t stay home every day and could only instruct the servants to prepare good food and try to coax Zhang Ming into talking.

After some time, just when the servants feared Zhang Ming might starve to death, he unexpectedly began eating again. The servants quickly informed Zhang Dafu, who thought little of it—eating was a good sign.

Then one night, the servants heard a woman’s voice coming from Zhang Ming’s bedroom and quietly told Zhang Dafu. Hastily, Zhang Dafu rushed home and kicked open Zhang Ming’s door. They saw a white figure leaping out of the window, and Zhang Ming looked terrified.

“Tell me, was that the white fox just now?” Zhang Dafu demanded sternly.

“Yes, and she has turned into a human. I’m going to marry her!” Zhang Ming shouted, summoning all his courage.

“Wretched child,” Zhang Dafu cursed angrily and slapped Zhang Ming across the face. Turning on his heel, he went downstairs and immediately ordered his men to prepare a car—he was going to find that master. Upon arriving, he explained the situation. The master fell silent for a moment, then handed Zhang Dafu a silver needle and a packet of incense.

“Insert the needle into the white fox’s philtrum point. Before that, light this incense and place it inside their room. Without it, you can’t get close to the white fox.”

Zhang Dafu listened carefully, took the items, and returned home. That night, he instructed the servants to place the incense in Zhang Ming’s bedroom. About two hours later, Zhang Dafu opened the door and found a woman in white deeply asleep. He took the silver needle and inserted it into the philtrum point of the woman in white.

With a dreadful scream, the woman’s face twisted in agony as she trembled, staring at Zhang Dafu.

“I am indeed a fox spirit, but I have never wished to harm you, nor have I done anything to betray you. Yet now, you strike me with such cruelty and destroy my cultivation!” she said, her voice trembling as if enduring unbearable pain.

At that moment, Zhang Ming awoke, saw the needle in the woman’s philtrum, and pulled it out. Instantly, the woman transformed back into a white fox, her cultivation evidently ruined. The white fox cast a lingering glance at Zhang Ming, then leapt to the window and disappeared without looking back.

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From that night on, mournful cries echoed around the estate every day. The servants were frightened and fled. Zhang Dafu wanted to move away, to escape the place, but Zhang Ming refused to leave.

“What about that master? Didn’t you bring him again to deal with the white fox?” Liu Jun interrupted, puzzled.

“Well, the white fox has parents too—two mighty foxes. The master wasn’t a match and was gravely injured,” Zhang Dafu hesitated. After all, he couldn’t offend the white fox, but neither could he cross us. The master and Mo Li had indeed been caught unprepared and suffered great wounds at the hands of the white fox. That old man could easily have turned him into a living corpse, Liu Jun thought.

Mo Li said nothing, while Liu Jun mused that they deserved it. Not only did the master deserve it, but Zhang Dafu was no better. They should have charged Mo Li more from the start.

“You’re not very honest. From what you say, even a powerful master was badly hurt. How are we supposed to handle this job?” the fat man said. Though he didn’t know how much Liu Jun and the others had been paid, this was a perfect opportunity to demand a high price—he knew well.

Liu Jun gave the fat man an approving look.

“Well, I didn’t explain clearly. I apologize. In addition to the 300,000 yuan deposit, I’ll add another 300,000 as compensation to you all.” As a businessman, Zhang Dafu knew full well what that implied.

Mo Li gave a slight “hm,” signaling agreement. After nearly two hours by car, they finally arrived at Zhang Dafu’s estate as night fell—it was already evening when they got off the train.

“Masters, someone will escort you to your rooms shortly. Dinner will be ready soon. Please come down early to eat,” Zhang Dafu said as he led them inside.

Following the servants to their rooms, they set down their bags, took a bath, and then went downstairs. Mo Li and the fat man were already seated at the dining table. The massive table was so large one could sleep on it without fear of rolling off.

The meal was sumptuous—more than twenty dishes for four people. Truly extravagant, though they had to eat with decorum; after all, they were regarded as masters. No one wanted to appear like a starving ghost reincarnated. The fat man, however, cared little for such niceties, devouring food until his plates looked like mirrors. Liu Jun observed him with some amusement.

Satisfied and full, they began their work. Mo Li busily affixed talismans around the house and even buried a few in the earth. After some time, he handed several talismans to Liu Jun.

“This fox spirit’s cultivation is likely high. There may be a fierce battle. I might not be able to watch over you all. Take these talismans: five common thunder talismans, one five-thunder talisman, and five golden-body talismans. Don’t use the five-thunder talisman unless absolutely necessary; your cultivation isn’t sufficient and it might backfire,” Mo Li warned Liu Jun.

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As the name suggests, the golden-body talisman transforms the wearer’s body into gold. Once applied, it takes effect immediately and lasts ten minutes, but the damage it can endure is limited. Though short-lived, its advantage is that it requires no incantation. Think about it—if the enemy is already upon you, reciting spells would be futile; you’d likely be killed before finishing.

With everything prepared, they sat quietly on the living room sofa, awaiting the white fox’s arrival. Mo Li had long since instructed Zhang Dafu to bring Zhang Ming to the living room. Now, Zhang Ming sat there, hollow-eyed and emaciated, silent as ever. Zhang Dafu had ordered that Zhang Ming be bound, for reasons unknown.

Around ten o’clock, piercing screams echoed around the house. Suddenly, Zhang Ming struggled wildly, shouting, “Xiao Bai! Xiao Bai! My Xiao Bai!”—a frantic cry for his white fox. One had to admit, Zhang Ming’s naming skills were as simple as Liu Jun’s; the white fox was simply called “Xiao Bai.” If it had been a gray fox, would it be “Xiao Hui”?

The dreadful cries outside drew closer, seemingly attempting to enter, but were deterred by the talismans Mo Li had placed.

“You fake Taoists, fake monks, trying to harm my Xiao Bai again,” Zhang Ming yelled fiercely at Liu Jun and the others.

Liu Jun glanced at Mo Li with concern, feeling sympathy for the white fox, who had no intention of harming anyone yet had lost its cultivation.

“Those talismans are only for deterrence and warning. Without my guidance, they won’t harm the white fox,” Mo Li explained, as if reading Liu Jun’s thoughts.

Sighing in relief, Liu Jun thought to himself that he truly didn’t want to fight the fox spirits. Losing would injure Mo Li, and he was unwilling to risk that. Winning and capturing the white fox wasn’t much better—it would be no different from that Buddhist master after all.