Start practicing from Mr. Fox

Chapter 41: Marrying Dreams

"What's there to be scared of? Can we eat you?"

Lu Pan stood up and stared at Bai Shijiu, his hair and beard flying in the air, looking unrestrained and flamboyant.

These words and actions made Bai Shijiu even more frightened.

"Chi! The judge is going to eat the fox, sir, help me!"

Bai Shijiu's voice was almost crying, and he quickly hid behind Chen Ji.

Chen Ji felt helpless.

How come Lu Pan has been a devil for hundreds of years, but he is still so childish that he wants to tease and bully a little fox.

"Lu Pan, you should stop scaring her. According to the fox's age, Bai Shijiu is still a child."

"Of course only children would be scared. Why would they be scared of a big fox demon? Such a cute fox demon is the most fun. I wonder what it would look like if it were bigger."

"Those fox demons I've seen... well, I won't say that to your face."

Lu Pan seemed to sigh, shook his head and said no more, then smiled again and asked Bai Shijiu what magic he was learning from Chen Ji and why he came to see Chen Ji tonight.

"Sir, may I speak?"

"Yes, they are all fellow Taoists."

After getting Chen Ji's affirmation, Bai Shijiu felt less afraid and raised his head and spoke crisply.

"I'm practicing the art of marrying dreams, and I came to see you tonight to test it out, but I didn't expect you to have company, so I'm sorry to bother you."

"Marry a dream."

Lu Pan smiled slightly.

"I also know some techniques for entering dreams, and I'd like to learn from you. Could you demonstrate them here?"

"I... am not good at academics. I am afraid I will fail and make Lu Pan laugh."

"It doesn't matter, it's just a discussion."

"gentlemen?"

Bai Shijiu hugged Chen Ji's calf tightly and looked at Lu Pan and Yan Chixia cautiously.

Chen Ji was a little dazed.

This scene is just like children performing at a reunion banquet on earth. It turns out that fox spirits are not immune to such behavior.

But Lu Pan was not there to join in the fun, but really wanted to give Bai Shijiu some advice.

So Chen Ji nodded.

"Lu Pan is a master at entering dreams. If he is willing to give you some guidance, that would be great. You should thank him before performing your magic."

"Bai Shijiu thanks Lu Pan for his guidance on the technique."

After hearing Chen Ji's instructions, Bai Shijiu simply leaned over, touched the ground with his head, and expressed his gratitude sincerely.

"What a sensible fox!"

Lu Pan and Yan Chixia looked at each other, then looked at Chen Ji with admiration.

Before this, they only knew that Chen Ji was Mr. Fox, and they didn't know that he had taught such a polite fox.

"I dare not take credit for this. The foxes' etiquette was taught by Mr. Su. I have only been here for a short time and have not made much contribution. Instead, I have allowed the foxes to embark on the path of evil again. I don't know whether it is good or bad."

"Foxes are originally demons, so how could they have taken on demonic paths?"

Yan Chixia asked curiously.

Chen Ji then told the story of how Zibu Yu talked about strange things and supernatural things, and how the Queen Mother of Mount Tai felt that foxes were too much like humans.

Lu Pan concentrated on thinking for a few breaths, feeling quite emotional.

“I originally thought that fellow Daoist was distorting the classics of the saints, but if the Queen Mother of Mount Tai said so, it is difficult to comment.”

"It's a common understanding among practitioners that demons need to resemble humans in order to cultivate. But if they truly become human, are they still demons? Even many great practitioners haven't considered this question. Fellow Daoist, you've considered this for the fox, and you truly deserve the title of Mr. Fox."

After a pause, he continued.

"If the Fox School holds an exam this year, please let me know, Brother Chen. I'd like to come and take a look."

"Lu Pan is also concerned about Fox Studies?"

Chen Ji was a little surprised.

Although the fox clan is under the care of the Queen Mother of Mount Tai and has close ties with the underworld, these are just some wild foxes taking the fox school exam and will not attract Lu Pan's attention.

"Could it be that he wants to establish a good relationship with the Queen Mother of Mount Tai through these foxes?"

"That's a difficult idea of ​​yours."

Lu Pan smiled and shook his head.

"I originally served under the command of the Lord of the Mansion. Previously, when I consulted the fox ghost, I was also in contact with the subordinates of the Queen of Mount Tai, but I had no connection with the Queen."

"Besides, the Queen is such a divine figure, how could she look favorably upon me just because I take care of the fox?"

"Why is that?"

"It seems you don't know anything about Fox Studies yet?"

Lu Pan asked back.

"I only know that this is the only way for foxes to cultivate."

"In that case, you can go ask the people of the Fox Tribe. I can't tell you more about the internal fighting within the Fox Tribe."

"Sky Fox and Wild Fox?"

"So you knew?"

"I only know that there is a difference between celestial foxes and wild foxes, and I don't know anything else."

“Is that so…”

Lu Pan pondered for a few breaths and shook his head.

"Then let's not talk about this. It's always about the Fox Clan. I'm an outsider, so it's not easy for me to say more."

Then he looked at Bai Shijiu.

"I shouldn't have kept you waiting all this time. Now we can get started."

"Fellow Daoist Chen, please go over and cooperate well."

Lu Pan smiled.

Chen Ji guessed that Lu Pan might have something that was not suitable to be said in front of outsiders, so he stopped asking and instead asked Bai Shijiu how to perform the dream-marrying technique.

"Sir, I'm not very proficient in my magic. I need a medium, but there's none here." "What do you need?"

Lu Pan asked.

"One stick of soul-guiding incense, three drops of moonlight, yellow paper, a talisman brush, and agarwood ink. Even better would be dream tapir blood or dream tapir bones."

Bai Shijiu replied.

"This wine can be used as a substitute for Yuehua, it's more effective. I have these nearby, let me get them."

Lu Pan took a drop of wine from the cup and passed it to Bai Shijiu, then used the same method he used to lure the fox in. He raised his huge palm to the sky and retracted it in an instant, holding the things Bai Shijiu mentioned.

Bai Shijiu accepted the wine, took a sniff, and licked his lips.

"It is indeed better than Yuehua. Thank you, Lu Pan, and the blood of the dream tapir. This way, the spell should be successful."

Then start preparing.

Chen Ji looked at it curiously, not understanding why the dream-marrying technique required so many preparations.

"Miss Bai said that dreams lie between yin and yang. Entering a dream is no less than traveling through yin and yang. You must be well protected before going."

"Soul-calling incense is used to draw out one's own soul, moonlight can condense the soul and stabilize dreams, and talisman paper is used within dreams."

"The blood or bones of a nightmare tapir can reduce the probability of nightmares, but they are too precious and generally not used."

Bai Shijiu explained.

"I see. It's really not that simple."

Chen Ji nodded. For the first time, he felt that magic could be difficult.

At least after hearing the principle, he didn't understand it immediately like the breathing method and fire control technique.

While he was still thinking about how this was done, Bai Shijiu had already drawn the talisman and bowed to Chen Ji in a serious tone, asking him to take a rest.

"Sir, in order to perform the magic, I need you to fall asleep first."

"it is good."

Chen Ji had no choice but to close his eyes.

The sound of Bai Shijiu chanting a spell rang in my ears, squeaking and sounding like a fox barking, or some unknown animal language.

I felt a little sleepy.

Chen Ji wanted to fall asleep quickly, but he didn't expect that the more he wanted to sleep, the clearer his mind became. In fact, the more clear-headed he became, even his body became hot.

"Forget it, maybe it won't work today, maybe another day..."

Chen Ji opened his eyes and wanted to explain the situation to Bai Shijiu.

But when he stood up, he was stunned.

The bamboo bed, the small room, the flickering candlelight on the table, and his taken-off shoes were placed beside the bed, even the angle of placement was exactly the same.

He was no longer in Lu Pan's underworld, but had returned to the small house on the mountain.

Looking at the moonlight outside the window, it was probably the hour of Chou.

So he stood up, rubbed his head, and thought about what had happened.

"Could it be that I can't dream within a dream?"

"Dong dong."

Just as he was thinking, there was a knock on the door, and at the same time, Bai Shijiu's voice was heard.

"Sir, are you here? I'm here to ask you about the art of dream entry."

"Ok?"

Chen Ji opened the door.

I saw Bai Shijiu waiting there with a book box in his hand, looking a bit tired from the haste he had.

"Did you just arrive?"

"Yes, I just went down the mountain to look for a medium to perform the spell, so I came a little late."

"Didn't Senior Huai tell you that I was meeting guests tonight?"

"I did, but I thought the gentleman would be drunk when he got home, which would make it easier to try, so I came."

"Never been here before?"

"No……"

"Did you bring enough mediums for the spell? I don't have any wine brewed from the Emperor's Flowing Blood."

"Naturally... Hmm? Sir, did you discover it?"

Bai Shijiu was about to answer, but realized that Chen Ji had already discovered the problem, and looked at Chen Ji with wide eyes.

"How did you know, sir? No, how did you discover that this was a dream?"

Chen Ji pointed at the moonlight in the sky.

"I just drank the Moon Juice Wine and could clearly sense the aura of the moon. I never thought I could even sense the moonlight in my dreams."

"If I hadn't opened the door to see you, I really wouldn't have realized that this was just a dream."

"I didn't think well enough."

Bai Shijiu seemed to be lost in thought and bowed respectfully.

"Sir, if you can see through the flaws in your dream, this dream won't last long. Please close your eyes to avoid the confusion when you wake up."

Chen Ji closed his eyes as he was told.

"Sir, you can open your eyes now."

Chen Ji paused, opened his eyes again, and found himself back in the underworld hall.

Lu Pan and Yan Chixia were still standing there looking at him.

The soul-calling incense in Bai Shijiu's hand was less than 30% burned.

"This isn't a dream anymore, is it?"

Chen Ji looked at them.

A man, a ghost and a fox shook their heads.

Chen Ji's heart moved slightly, knowing that a new chapter had been added to the record of strange stories.

(End of this chapter)