Don't farm, cultivate immortality!

The fox looked like it had a lot of grievances it couldn't express. Today it finally found someone to talk to, someone to let it pour out all its frustrations.

When Zhuang Xing heard its rant, he never imagined that it was because of the wheat and cotton that the fox had given itself away.

To be honest, this matter has a significant connection with Zhuangxing.

If there hadn't been wheat and cotton, those soldiers wouldn't have gone to the village and searched so thoroughly.

If the fox hadn't been caught, he would probably still be living comfortably in that village, instead of ending up unable to go home and unable to take the money he had saved with him. He was quite unlucky.

Unexpectedly, in a sense, it was Zhuang Xing who caused it to end up like this.

Perhaps this is fate...

In short, the fox ended up joining the Zhuang family's team without really knowing what was going on.

He only said he would take it to the border of Xizhou. Zhuang Xing was heading northwest to Zhuzhou, but it was planning to head southwest to Lingzhou to seek a living.

During their journey, if they encountered a post station or a busy road, Zhuang Xing would hide the fox in the horse's saddlebag.

A few days later, the fox and the black horse became familiar with each other.

Xiao An also loved to go to the fox's side and listen to it talk.

This fox may not be good at martial arts, but when it comes to talking, it's like the Yellow River flowing endlessly.

I don't find it nagging at all; it's quite interesting to talk about. After all, it has lived for decades, spending time on the mountain of a great demon and in a rural village.

The fox had experienced a lot in its thirty years of life. It often chatted with people and told all sorts of stories, all of which were full of ups and downs.

You can tell there's an artistic element involved, but just listen to it for fun and to relieve boredom.

Zhuang Xing thought the fox had a natural talent for storytelling. No wonder it liked the human world; it was a talkative creature that couldn't keep its mouth shut. If it didn't talk to people for a day, it would feel uncomfortable all over.

Unfortunately, during this time, Zhuang Xing tried to get the fox to use its mind-controlling technique again, but he couldn't get the fox to understand Wu Zhui's words again.

This bewitching technique was a magic that the fox learned in the mountains; it was its innate supernatural power. It said that it knew this trick even before it gained intelligence. It uses its own scent to bewitch people, and it had used this trick to escape death many times before.

The most accurate name for this bewitching spell should be bewitching incense. Once someone has smelled it and become familiar with the scent, it will have no effect the second time they smell it.

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Xing deduced that the fox possessed the bloodline of the "Bewitching Fox," and that its ancestors were pure-blooded demon beasts.

The Bewitching Fox is an extremely rare mythical beast. It is said to have two tails and a unique fragrance. Legend has it that anyone who smells the Bewitching Fox's scent will have their soul stolen.

The fox didn't have the ability of its ancestors; the time it managed to make Zhuang Xing and Wu Zhui understand each other's thoughts was just a subtle coincidence.

Although he couldn't speak directly with Wuzhui, with the fox acting as a translator, Zhuang Xing understood that Wuzhui's favorite food wasn't fine fodder; it loved to eat radish leaves, not radishes, but radish leaves.

And so, they traveled with the fox for nine days, until they reached the border of Xizhou and it was time to part ways.

Zhuang Xing and Yun Ling deliberately deviated from the official road and went to a deserted suburb to bid farewell to the fox.

Zhuang Xing tossed him a money pouch, saying, "There's a string of cash and two taels of silver inside. That should be enough for you when you go to Lingzhou."

"So much, Daoist Master, you're so kind to me!" The fox happily picked up the money bag.

Zhuang Xing touched his nose, embarrassed to say that the wheat and cotton matter was related to him.

"Don't steal other people's money anymore. When you get to Lingzhou, if you really can't find a way to make money, go find a teahouse and become a storyteller. You'll definitely be able to earn some tips."

"Thank you for your guidance, Daoist Master. I will definitely remember your words." The fox nodded and said happily.

Chapter 203 High Wall

"Take care, you two Taoist masters!"

"Take care, Brother Wuzhui! Take care, Sister Xiao'an!"

Take care of yourself too.

"Neigh~"

"Take care, Uncle Fox."

The fox left, walking briskly across the grassland.

It walks for a while, then turns back once.

No matter how much it looked back, it kept going further and further away, until it became a tiny dot.

A gentle breeze swept by, and the fox's silhouette finally disappeared into the swaying shadows of the grass.

It disappeared into the distance, to pursue its beautiful "human" life.

"I hope it can turn over a new leaf." Zhuang Xing straightened the baggage on his shoulder. "Let's go too, back to the main road."

“Mm.” Yunling followed beside him.

The Taoist turned around and ran in the opposite direction from the fox.

The incessant chatter was no longer in my ears.

The atmosphere was slightly chilly, but that's how it is on the street.

People's paths are inherently different, and few people can accompany you to the end.

It is already a great blessing to be able to travel together for a while.

Because they had escorted the fox for a while, Zhuang Xing and Yunling were unable to find an inn that night, so they rested in the suburbs.

The two set up the tent, and Yunling urged the Earth-Hidden Vine to keep watch for them at night.

In the dead of night, Zhuang Xing crawled out of the tent.

He couldn't sleep, so he sat under a tree, watching the horses resting over there, and then looked up at the sky.

This was his third month down the mountain, and summer had already arrived.

It's hot during the day, but the temperature at night is just right, and the wind feels refreshing on your face.

He listened to the rustling of leaves and grass, and felt a sense of peace within him.

With at most ten days' journey remaining to the capital, this trip is nearing its end.

After sitting for a while, Yunling also crawled out of the tent.

Yunling saw Zhuang Xing under the tree and came to his side.

"Can't you sleep?" Yunling asked.

“A little,” Zhuang Xing said.

"Now that we've met the Emperor in the capital, shouldn't we head back?" Yunling said.

"Yes, they said there would be some rewards, but it's probably just gold and silver. We're Taoists, we can't be officials, and our master also said not to bring matters of the court to the temple," Zhuang Xing said. "Let's go ask the emperor for the rewards, then wander around the capital and have some fun before we go back."

"When we're tired of playing, we'll just take the ferry back. Didn't the prefect say there's a boat that goes directly from the capital to Yidu? He said it only takes half a month to get to Yidu, which is much faster than walking."

Yunling rested her head on Zhuang Xing's shoulder and snuggled closer to him.

"Do you remember? You once told me that if you kept going north, you would reach the end of the world. In that place, it's night for half the year. You said there was snow and ice everywhere. Although there was no sun, the night sky would have a light like ripples on water. You also said that the people there lived in houses made of ice and used those little houses for warmth. Does such a place really exist?"

"Perhaps there is." Zhuang Xing looked up at the sky.

"How far are we from that place?" Yunling asked.

"I don't know how much further it is."

"We've traveled so far north, are we still very far from there?"

"Don't you think that's just something I made up?"

"Could you tell me those stories again?"

"You want to hear it."

"I want to hear you tell me."

“Alright.” Zhuang Xing slowly began to tell the story he had heard.

He said that at the end of the world, there was only white snow, the coldest place in the world, surrounded by ice that would never melt.

He said that in the middle of heaven and earth is a boundless sea with many islands. It is summer all year round on the islands. The people who live there live off the fruit that grows on trees that can grow very tall and fat. They believe that this tree is a gift from heaven. Every year when the fruit ripens, they wear skirts woven from grass and dance around the big tree to celebrate on nights when bonfires are lit.

“It sounds like a dream,” Yunling said.

"Maybe it was just a dream," Zhuang Xing said, touching Yunling's forehead. "Who knows if such a place even exists? I've never seen one with my own eyes."

Do you want to go see it?

"Want to see."

"How much further must we go before we reach the ends of the earth?"

"I don't know, and I've never been there."

"If you're going to leave, you must take me with you." Yunling suddenly looked into Zhuang Xing's eyes.

"Am I crazy? Why would I go to such a far place?" Zhuang Xing joked. "Who knows how far the ends of the earth are? Maybe I'd never get there in my whole life. And the road must be very dangerous. Maybe after taking two steps, a monster will jump out and try to eat me."

Yunling kept looking into Zhuang Xing's eyes, remaining silent with a stubborn determination in her eyes.

Zhuang Xing gradually calmed down, and all he could hear was the sound of the wind and the girl's breathing.

He held out his hand and said, "Let's pinky swear, I promise I won't leave you."

"Mmm." Yunling reached out her hand and made a pinky promise with him.

"Pinky promise, a hundred years from now."

She and Zhuang Xing finished reciting the incantation together. In the past, when people agreed to do something, they would hang money on a rope as a reward, meaning that the reward had been prepared and that the other party must complete the task. That's how "one string of money" came about. Later, "one string of money" gradually became "one string of money," but in many places, it is still called "one string of money."

For Yunling, making a pinky promise was like taking an oath. She made the promise, as if she had finally calmed down and grasped Zhuang Xing's hand.

...

The next day, they continued their journey.

Not long after, they crossed the border of Xizhou and arrived in Zhuzhou.

The two strolled along the field ridges beside the official road. Zhuang Xing bought some fresh radish leaves from a farmer to feed Wuzhui. A few copper coins could buy a lot of them, as these leaves were originally cheap.

The rapeseed flowers in the fields beside me are in full bloom, butterflies slowly flutter their wings in the wind, and bees buzz by as they go to collect nectar and pollinate.

Zhuang Xing had only heard of the capital city in stories before. It was a place where various forces usually colluded, a place with a prosperous exterior but hidden power struggles in the shadows.

Where there are people, there are conflicts. Even a person sometimes argues with themselves, let alone a place like the capital city where people from all over the country gather.