Chapter 33: What A Big Fox

Li Chaosheng looked up at Ah Hong, who was tidying the courtyard. Ah Hong seemed to notice and looked back at him. Li Chaosheng gave a slight nod and lowered his head. He was puzzled. Although the white ledger said Ah Hong was a fox spirit, the fox spirit in Li Chaosheng’s impression usually wore a gauze as thin as a cicada’s wing, a half-bare chest, graceful movements full of seduction, the kind of charm that makes a man lose control.

But Ah Hong, apart from being a little pretty, dressed plainly and behaved properly like a well-bred young lady. She didn’t look anything like his image of a fox spirit. Could the white ledger be wrong? Li Chaosheng doubted the ledger, since he was cautious and skeptical by nature. The white ledger claimed to provide information, but it never said that the information it gave was always correct.

Li Chaosheng felt uncertain. The white ledger also had this line: “the daughter of Bai Sanniang.” Who was Bai Sanniang? Could she be the white fox that Du Yi killed?

Du Yi killed the white fox and the white fox’s daughter took human form to claim his life. But that did not fit either. If she came to claim his life, how could Du Yi still be so healthy? Shouldn’t he have been drained of energy by Ah Hong, weak and collapsing at a touch?

All of this felt strange. But he still decided to follow the old rules in an unfamiliar place: speak little, act little, watch more, eat more, and do not cause trouble.

Time passed and it was already three in the afternoon. Du Yi woke up, spoke a few words with the old temple keeper, glanced at the time and said, “Uncle Zhu, you should have dinner here before you leave.”

The old temple keeper tried to decline, but Du Yi said, “Uncle Zhu, it is rare for you to come. Do not refuse. I will go into the mountain to kill a fox. Tonight we will roast and eat it!”

The old temple keeper said, “It will be dark soon. How will you catch a fox? Better to forget it.”

Du Yi took a white bone whistle from his neck and said, “Uncle Zhu, do you know this?”

The old temple keeper’s eyes brightened and he said, “A fox-bone whistle?”

“Exactly. A fox-bone whistle. It is made from a fox’s left leg bone. When you blow it, it mimics a fox’s cry and easily lures foxes. I have traps dug in the woods and I always get something.”

Du Yi shook his whistle as he spoke. The old temple keeper did not stop him. But as soon as Du Yi stepped outside, Ah Hong blocked his way.

“My husband, did you not promise me? One life per day. You already killed a fox today. Why go kill another?” Ah Hong said.

Du Yi glanced at Ah Hong and laughed, “Ah Hong, you are kind-hearted. Those foxes killed my father. Only by driving them out and killing them all can I rid myself of hatred. Stay at home and be good. I will be back soon. Uncle Zhu is here today, so do not argue.”

After saying that, Du Yi left carrying a steel fork and a firewood chopper. Ah Hong watched his back and sighed deeply. Li Chaosheng observed in silence. He casually took out the paper dolls, Little Black and Little White, from his bosom and tucked them under the cupboard, saying, “Keep an eye on this Ah Hong for me.”

After that he resumed his usual self. Around five in the evening, just as dusk fell, Du Yi returned carrying a large fox. He skinned and gutted it, which made Ah Hong tremble with fright. She wanted to say something several times but stopped herself. That night they ate roast fox basted with Du Yi’s special spices. The fox was surprisingly tasty.

Li Chaosheng and the others ate normally. Only Ah Hong did not touch the roast fox. She only ate a few bites of the leftover coarse-steamed buns from noon.

After they were full, the three of them said their goodbyes and went to the wolf trail to wait, preparing to locate the wolf pack and exterminate the demon.

Night fell. In the mountain-top hut the bed creaked and rocked, and a woman’s low moans and a man’s husky cries could be heard. At that moment the two paper figures under the cupboard crawled out. Little White widened his eyes and stared at the spectacle on the bed. Little Black quickly covered Little White’s eyes.

“What the…?”

Little White was unhappy. Little Black frowned and said, “Do not look at indecent things!”

“Master told us to watch Ah Hong. I am carrying out Master’s orders,” Little White protested with righteous air.

Little Black put his hands on his hips and said, “You… make a good point. I will watch a little too.”

Ten minutes later the clouds cleared and the rain stopped. Du Yi lay on the bed snoring loudly. At that moment Ah Hong slowly stood, walked a few steps, and at the door she suddenly changed into a red fox the size of a wild wolf. The fox looked at the snoring Du Yi with a complex expression, then bounded out into the courtyard.

“Go, hurry and follow.” Little Black urged.

Seeing this, Little White and Little Black quickly flew after her. They did not dare get too close and hung back at a steady pace. The big red fox left the yard without opening the gate, leaped over the fence, and ran straight into the woods. After a frantic dash along the trees for about half an hour, they reached the Wolf Head Cliff on the western mountain.

They skirted the cliff and ran another ten minutes. There was a large cave here. As they arrived they heard a fierce voice at the cave mouth shout, “Stop!”

The big red fox froze. Two vicious wolves came out of the cave. One had a ferocious look as if it wanted to tear the red fox apart. The other looked strange because one of its eyes was tightly shut and blind, covered with herbal poultice. It was the vicious wolf that Li Chaosheng had wounded while saving Butcher Fan.

The one-eyed wolf spoke, “Big brother, do not scare Sister Red Fox. She might become your sister-in-law in the future!”

The snarling wolf said in a fierce voice, “Second brother, do not forget. Wolves and foxes are generations-old enemies. Do not let beauty cloud your judgment!”

“Big brother, Father has said before, wolves and foxes are one family. Sister Red Fox is even Father’s goddaughter. If she marries me in the future, what is the problem? I think you are just jealous of your younger brother’s handsome looks.”

“Jealous of you? Hah. Jealous that someone cut out your eye?”

“You! You do not know how to speak properly. I will not waste time with you. Come, Sister Red Fox. Father is waiting in the cave. Follow me.”

The one-eyed wolf led the big red fox into the cave. Out of politeness, the red fox asked, “What happened to your eye?”

“Ah, Sister Red Fox, are you concerned for me? That eye… the other day while foraging with big brother we met an ugly human who cut me. But do not worry, Sister Red Fox. Sooner or later I will find a chance to bite him to death, to avenge my blinded eye…”

The wolf and the fox finished speaking and entered the cave. The eldest wolf looked around and was about to go in when the two paper figures crawled out from the grass. Little White looked at Little Black and said, “What do we do?”

Little Black frowned and said, “Follow them, roll up, and hide in its fur.”

“Ah, being rolled up feels awful.”

Little White was displeased. Little Black, with a dark face, said, “I’ll help you.”

He then rolled Little White into a paper bundle about the size of a one-yuan note.

“Ouch, my back.”

Little White cried out, but Little Black ignored him. He flew up with Little White and slipped into the long fur of the vicious wolf. He also rolled himself up. The wolf sensed something but thought it was fleas, lice, or flies, and merely swished its tail without concern, then entered the cave!