Becoming a Fox Spirit from Under One Person.

"Let's go to Mount Tai!" Zhang Zhiwei strode confidently out of the city.

···

That night, the moonlight was warm and gentle, and the silvery light seemed to flow like water.

Chen Ruoan stood in the mountains, next to him was a circle of graves surrounded by piles of rubble, with mounds of earth of all sizes, few of them with decent tombstones, the most luxurious of which was nothing more than a neatly trimmed wooden plank.

When the wind blew, the ink-like clouds dispersed, and a bright moon hung in the sky, its silvery light like a ribbon.

Chen Ruoan tucked away the stray hairs all over its body, perched on the bluestone with its four paws and its long tail hanging down to the ground, and even imitated the appearance of Taoist priests and monks, clasping its front paws together in a gesture of prayer.

As the night dew begins to condense, a black fox worships the moon.

A mist rose in the mountains, its color soft and delicate, like thick milk.

Zhang Zhiwei, who was meditating nearby, opened his eyes and saw shadowy figures, seemingly a thousand foxes, running about in the misty fog.

The fox shadow stood up on its hind legs, bowed to the moon, and danced joyfully with its claws outstretched.

Finally, with a soft whimper escaping Chen Ruoan's throat, it opened its mouth and swallowed, and the surging mist and rising moonlight flowed into its mouth like a flowing spring.

After a while, the moon began to set in the west, and most of the fog dissipated.

The thousand foxes vanished, leaving only a shadowy figure that resembled a human, shrouded in mountain mist, as it approached the young Taoist priest sitting cross-legged beside the tree.

"Zhang Zhiwei, do I look like a god or a man to you?" Fox Shadow spoke up.

Zhang Zhiwei propped his cheek with his left hand and said speechlessly, "You lecherous fox, if I said you were like the 'Nine Heavens Responding to the Origin of Thunder and Universal Transformation Heavenly Venerable,' could you resist?"

"···"

"Stop fooling around."

As the fog dissipated, not a trace of human form remained; instead, a black fox with glossy black fur emerged.

"You've improved again?"

"My muscles and bones feel relaxed, and I feel refreshed."

The fox's amber eyes held the shimmering light of the moon. This "Moon Worship Method" was truly mysterious. By simply absorbing a little moonlight, one's Qi Sea was filled and made incomparably pure, even making up for eight or nine tenths of the loss from yesterday's cloud and rain making.

He possessed a natural talent for supernatural abilities, and had also mastered the art of controlling the wind, allowing him to easily ride the clouds and mist, freely traversing the forests and fields with a light and agile gait.

"It is said that animals are naturally simple and honest, and after obtaining Qi, they advance far beyond humans. Now it seems that this is indeed true. But no matter how I look at it, you have nothing to do with the words 'simple and honest'."

"Then let me ask you, are foxes inherently cunning or inherently simple-minded?"

"···"

Unable to argue with Chen Ruoan, Zhang Zhiwei leaned to the side, resting one arm on his cheek, intending to sleep through the night.

An Fox swept a clean spot, curled up, and was about to go to sleep when she noticed a wooden plaque on the low grave mound, with the words "Tomb of the Late Qing Dynasty Lady Zhang Zhilan" written in charcoal.

Side note: Her name was Zhilan. She was gentle and kind, skilled in needlework, and extremely filial to her parents. She lived to the age of sixteen.

···

"It's such a pity that he passed away at such a young age."

"Idle Fox Chen Ruoan has no intention of disturbing you. I'll just stay here for the night."

An fox curled up beside the new grave. The grave mound was filled with the purest yin energy, which, mixed with the cool moonlight, felt somewhat comfortable.

Call ~

Suddenly, a wisp of cold mist seeped out from the grave, carrying a biting chill, and circled around the fox's body.

Fine sobs lingered in the mist, mournful and plaintive, exceptionally clear in the silent graveyard, gradually coalescing into a ethereal ghostly figure—

It was a vengeful ghost with a faint black aura surrounding it and a blurred spiritual form.

Ok?

Foxes exist in the realm between the living and the dead, in the boundary between Yin and Yang; they are natural-born "shamans." Chen Ruoan immediately noticed her.

When a person dies, their soul disperses, their vital energy transforms into a gentle breeze, and their flesh turns to mud. Without the strong longing of the living and their own resentment to sustain them, a ghost cannot survive in the world for more than half a moment.

This female ghost exists because of her deep resentment, but her existence is already showing signs of weakening.

"Is this your home?" Chen Ruoan pointed to the newly erected grave.

"My family lives in the noodle shop in the town ahead..."

"How did you die?"

He was shot and killed by a warlord.

"Hmm? Does that guy not eat scallions or beef?"

"I have no idea···"

Chen Ruoan couldn't guess what the female ghost was thinking. Her resentment lingered, and keeping her around would only cause trouble. But since she had died unjustly, it seemed a bit heartless to just kill her soul like that.

Thinking this, the vengeful ghost suddenly turned its gaze towards the town to the east of the cemetery.

“If you have any unfinished business before you die, I can take you back to see it,” Chen Ruoan said. “But that’s all I can do.”

Before the Northern Expedition even began, there were twenty or thirty small warlord groups in Anhui Province. Most of them were former Beiyang Army soldiers, bandits who had been recruited, and local gentry armed forces. The larger ones controlled several counties, while the smaller ones occupied only one county, with troops ranging from several hundred to several thousand.

Even the smallest organization of a hundred people is not something Chen Ruoan can easily provoke in his current state.

Since ancient times, humans have used fire to drive away wild animals, and animals fear fire, not to mention firearms.

"I...I want to go back and take a look."

"Alright, then come in." Chen Ruoan opened his fox-like mouth, revealing a set of sharp teeth.

Chapter 14 The Fox's Wishful Thinking

Foxes have access to the underworld and can command ghosts. Chen Ruoan has not yet mastered the supernatural power of commanding souls, so he can only use his mouth and belly as a resting place for the female ghost.

call out!

A plume of black smoke swirled and entered the fox's mouth.

Animals that have just acquired Qi, when they encounter ghosts or spirits like "Qingfeng Yanzhi," are most eager to devour them whole and enjoy a hearty meal.

Having only inhaled a little of the spirit's flavor, Chen Ruoan's palate began to stir, and he almost couldn't resist chewing and eating the ghost named "Zhilan".

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Foxes are greedy by nature; this is precisely the time for them to cultivate themselves.

···

A ray of morning light pierced through the thin mist in the forest, and Zhang Zhiwei, who had slept soundly all night, woke up. He saw that the fox looked tired and its eyes had lost some of their sparkle.

"You said you've improved, so why do you look so exhausted?"

Chen Ruoan didn't know how to explain.

That's obvious. A ghost is more delicious than roast chicken or pork chop. Anyone who can resist the temptation of their appetite is a true fox spirit.

Call ~

The fox opened its mouth, releasing a thin mist, and Zhang Zhilan appeared from within.

Zhang Zhiwei sensed a chilling aura yesterday morning, but he never expected that the fox had hidden a lingering, resentful ghost in its belly.

After Chen Ruoan explained the reason, Zhang Zhiwei nodded silently in agreement.

His master wanted him to go down the mountain and experience life, to be open to "people," but the more he experienced, the more determined Zhang Zhiwei became to pursue the Tao.

In this world, there are many things that are beyond human control. If one cannot attain enlightenment and become a true immortal, looking back on the journey, one will likely be filled with sorrow and regret.

Chen Ruoan arrived in the town and went to the noodle shop that the warlord's son had ruined.

The stalls in front of the shop were already set up, with a pot of water boiling vigorously, and next to it was a cutting board covered with flour, dough, and a pot of braised beef.

The stall is clean and tidy, and the hot soup exudes a lively atmosphere. The owner has prepared the cold dishes and braised dishes in an exquisite and beautiful way, which is very tempting to the appetite.

The street was bustling with pedestrians, but for some reason, not a single person stopped by. The little stall stood alone, as lonely as a deserted island in a vast ocean.

Zhang Zhiwei pulled out a stool, sat down, and called out to the owner, "Excuse me, two bowls of noodles."

"By the way, I don't eat beef."

"Hmm?" Upon hearing this, Chen Ruoan immediately looked puzzled, but upon closer reflection, it seemed that the Taoist priests of the Zhengyi sect really did not eat beef.

Zhengyi (the school of Taoism) allows drinking alcohol and eating meat on non-fasting days, but oxen, which work hard in the fields throughout their lives, are regarded as "pure and virtuous creatures." In addition, there is the legend of Laozi riding a green ox westward out of Hangu Pass. Therefore, oxen, along with dogs symbolizing loyalty, black fish symbolizing filial piety, and wild geese symbolizing fidelity, are listed as special taboos.

Chen Ruoan then added, "Two bowls of noodles, one without beef, and one without noodles."

The haggard-looking noodle shop owner didn't say a word, but indeed served a bowl of clear soup noodles, plus a large bowl of beef.

But after thinking about it, he poured the noodles and beef back into the pot.

"Thank you for your patronage, but I will not be entertaining guests today."

Chen Ruoan replied, "You went through all that trouble to set up the stall, and now you're saying you're not doing business anymore?"

"Are you two from out of town?"

"We have indeed just arrived at this precious place today."

"You'll understand if you just look at the way passersby look at you..."

Chen Ruoan and Zhang Zhiwei scanned the passersby, many of whom were walking in groups, and couldn't help but point and whisper about the man and the fox.

Their gaze was different from the curiosity and astonishment they felt upon seeing the pairing of "Taoist priest and fox"; instead, it carried an almost pitying sympathy.

Chen Ruoan even felt that, in the eyes of passersby, he had already been placed on the death penalty list.

"I understand. Come inside and we'll talk."

After hearing the fox's words, the noodle shop owner finally raised his head, which had been drooping for a long time. When he saw the black fox, he was so startled that he almost knocked over the hot soup pot.

"The two of you are... Taoist priests, and there's also a fox..."

After stammering a few words, the shopkeeper followed Chen Ruoan back to the noodle shop. He was an older man in his forties, and he was so reserved that it seemed as if he had entered someone else's place.

Chen Ruoan squatted on the bench, and when the time was right, he lazily opened his mouth.

A wisp of blue mist emanated from its mouth, like smoke and fog, and then condensed into a slender soul shadow.

As soon as the female ghost Zhilan appeared, she let out a broken sob, then rushed forward, wailing, "Father—"