Becoming a Fox Spirit from Under One Person.

"Who knows?" Lu Jin said with a smile.

Listening to the conversation between the old man and the young man, Zhang Zhiwei closed his eyes. No one knew what this highly respected old master was thinking.

Whenever Lu Jin mentioned Zheng Zibu's name, it would remind Zhang Zhiwei of the riots of 1944. Eight extraordinary skills that did not belong to this world suddenly appeared. However, the leaders of the various schools of thought at the time were surprisingly in sync and chose to turn a blind eye to the conflicts caused by the "Eight Extraordinary Skills".

The peace within the circle is maintained entirely by a fox.

With the fox gone, the circle became even more chaotic.

The Heavenly Record, hehehe.

When Zhang Zhiwei went down the mountain to gain experience, his master told him to "treat people with mortal respect." But after experiencing more, he realized that even for cultivators, "mortal respect" is not the bottom line, but rather an upward standard.

Zhang Zhiwei viewed others through the eyes of an ordinary person, but people's selfishness, greed, meanness, indifference, cunning, hypocrisy, vanity, arrogance, indulgence, and extravagance also entered his eyes.

"Human life is hard to come by. Of all the people in the world, none can compare to a fox." Zhang Zhiwei stroked his beard and shook his head. He stepped out of the Celestial Master's Mansion, sat down on the stone steps in front of the street, and gazed at Pipa Mountain across the street.

On the banks of the Luxi River, Pipa Mountain stands out with its red peaks and clear, moist rocks. Looking around, the mountains and fields remain as tranquil as they were fifty years ago.

The saying "things are as they were, but the fox is no longer the same" probably describes this perfectly.

But now, let alone "not," the fox has vanished completely.

···

In the autumn of 1949, Zhang Zhiwei and Chen Ruoan sat on the steps, one on the left and one on the right, like stone lions protecting the house and warding off evil spirits.

"Fox, we've known each other for twenty-five years, and you haven't aged a bit."

Chen Ruoan turned her head and saw that Zhang Zhiwei, who was confirmed as the successor of the Celestial Master, had toned down his carefree and unrestrained demeanor and had begun to pay attention to "image management".

Approaching fifty, Zhang Zhiwei still stood tall and straight like a pine tree, with a hint of domineering arrogance between his brows. His hair was meticulously tied into a topknot, secured with a wooden hairpin, giving him a neat and spirited look. He also had a beard, which was neatly trimmed.

Coupled with his loose and clean Taoist robe, he truly had the demeanor of a Taoist leader.

"You do look quite old," the fox said bluntly.

"Something on your mind?" Zhang Zhiwei could tell that the fox was distracted, so he didn't dwell on the comments about his "old age" and changed the subject directly.

Chen Ruoan replied, "I bear some responsibility for what happened in 1944."

"Come on, you were fighting a war back then, you didn't have time to pay attention to these things. A bunch of fools chasing after magic, they're just idiots, whatever happened is their own fault. Big-Eared Thief too, he clearly knew I didn't care about the position of Celestial Master, he clearly knew that as long as he returned to the mountain, Master would have a way to protect him."

Zhang Zhiwei shrugged and spread his hands, looking helpless.

Chen Ruoan countered, "Shangqing's power is no less. Have you ever thought about why it was the Lu family who ultimately protected Zheng Zibu, rather than the Taoist priests of Shangqing?"

"Hmm—if you put it that way, it is indeed worth pondering."

"I'm about to attempt to undergo the tribulation of lightning."

"Me!?" Zhang Zhiwei almost cursed out loud: "Why are you talking so erratically today? Have you even succeeded?"

Tribulation lightning isn't something you can just pass through anytime.

Chen Ruoan nodded.

After twenty years of cultivation, Fox finally saw a glimpse of the path to heaven. In a few more days, he will take a step toward that heavenly secret. At that time, he doesn't know if this world will tolerate this burgeoning anomaly.

"I'll go prepare the talismans."

"Why don't you go ask Lu Jin for a hand? That 'Heavenly Talisman' sounds mysterious, but if it really has the power to reach the heavens, your tribulation will be much smoother."

After thinking about it, Chen Ruoan decided against it.

After the "Tongtianlu" (a type of prayer book) prayed to the gods and immortals, the way the wish was fulfilled was really not flattering, and it was not expected that Zheng Zibu could come up with any new tricks.

"Let's do it as agreed."

"What if we can't make it across?" Zhang Zhiwei worried.

Chen Ruoan stood up, brushed the dust off his black clothes, and laughed, "Being struck by lightning means I didn't succeed in my cultivation in this life. I'll try again in the next."

Zhang Zhiwei was taken aback upon hearing this.

His fellow students who died in the war left behind similar messages.

Which day will you choose to advance to the next level?

"Next month on the first. I heard from Lin Zifeng of Liuyun Sword that there's something big happening in Kyoto. That day will be festive and lively."

"That means there are only three days left!?"

"Yes, I've come today to say goodbye." Chen Ruoan stood up and prepared to leave.

Zhang Zhiwei sighed, wondering where the boastful, somewhat pretentious fox he remembered had gone. He felt that the "fox" before him was very different from the one in his memory.

"Fox, take care."

"Farewell, Taoist priest."

A faint, ethereal light rippled around the fox. With a leap, it soared and tumbled through the clouds and mist, soaring over the towering pines and precipitous cliffs of Pipa Mountain, its movements carried by the wind. The fox's shadow quickly swept past the rolling peaks, gradually merging into the distant mountain mists.

Two days later, Zhang Zhiwei set up a simple altar in front of Zhengyi Temple, with incense and candles offered in a simple and unadorned manner.

He dipped his brush in cinnabar and, with fluid strokes, wrote several talismans in one go. After finishing, he made hand seals and stood before the altar, facing the sky and praying aloud, earnestly asking Heaven to be lenient and protect the fox in the distance so that it could safely pass through the tribulation of lightning, without harming its spiritual essence, and that it could live a peaceful and prosperous life.

Swish!Swish!Swish!

Zhang Zhiwei exuded a warm and vast aura. With a wave of his hand, the talismans arranged on the altar shot into the sky like serpents, leaving wisps of light in the heavens.

"May all be well with you, fox."

On October 1st, the autumn wind swept across thousands of miles of mountains and rivers.

Red flags fluttered in front of Kyoto, and similarly, red flags were hung in streets and alleys throughout the country. A solemn declaration was broadcast across the land of Kyushu via radio waves.

The sounds of gongs, drums, and firecrackers resounded, the mountains and rivers were reborn, and all people celebrated together. The gloom of the old year was completely dispelled, leaving behind only burning joy and bright hope between heaven and earth.

Zhang Zhiwei never saw a fox again.

···

Whoosh!

Zhang Zhiwei's thoughts were interrupted by the fluctuations in the Qi in the courtyard. Looking back, he saw Lu Jin was furious, but his beloved great-granddaughter was right next to him, so he couldn't lash out. He had no choice but to deliberately suppress the boundless killing intent that should have been overwhelming.

"Old Lu, why are you suddenly so angry?"

Suppressing his anger, Lu Jin explained, "Master, a letter just arrived from the branch sect. That fat fox has been subdued by my disciples. It happened right here, and it did indeed touch a nerve with me."

Sany's branch is located in the Laoheishan area of ​​Northeast China. Amidst the beautiful mountain scenery, there is a park called Qingyue, where many people take a walk in the morning and evening.

People walking by in the early morning start their day full of energy; farmers returning home at dusk can relieve the day's fatigue by taking a stroll along the park paths.

Locals say the park is incredibly magical, and the animals in the surrounding forests are also intelligent.

The small hill behind the park is the burial place of the old gatekeeper, Zuo Ruotong.

For Lu Jin and the disciples of the Sanyi Sect, this place is also the place where their master (grandfather), the Great Ying Immortal, attained enlightenment.

Chapter 132 The Fox Offers You Bouquets

Lu Jin forced a smile and shoved Lu Linglong into Feng Baobao's arms: "This is a young lady from the company. Please take her away and make sure she covers her ears."

"Okay!" Feng Baobao took the little Linglong and ran to the backyard, hiding in the corner and covering the ears of the bewildered little girl.

Lu Jin's furious roar echoed from the Celestial Master's Mansion: "Damn beast! If I find out you've disrespected your master, I'll skin you alive and make you into a scarf!"

After venting his anger, the disciple's voice came from the still-connected phone: "Master, please calm down. The Grandmaster's memorial tablet is fine, but Grandpa An's memorial tablet was licked."

"The fox kept screaming 'Grandma' as if it was terrified of us."

"Ok?"

Lu Jin was puzzled.

Is it common for elves to beg for mercy by calling someone "Grandma"?

Even calling me grandpa won't work!

"Northeast, I want to transfer to the Sanyi branch in the Northeast!" Lu Jin shouted loudly, his noisy manner quite out of place with his neat suit.

Zhang Zhiwei pondered for a moment, then shook his head and laughed, "The fox has probably hidden somewhere. The assets behind you will be coveted by other foxes. Oh well, I'll just guard the incense for you."

Zhang Zhiwei looked up and saw the young Taoist boy carrying a change of clothes walk by. He waved to him and said, "Lingyu, tell your senior brothers that I'm going to the Northeast."

"Northeast? Master, do you have any new religious exchange activities?" Not long after the New Year, Zhang Lingyu remembered that there were many activities recently, which almost exhausted his fellow disciples and master.

"No, I'm just tidying up some things for an old friend."

"Well."

Zhang Lingyu left with the clothes in her arms, and Xu Xiang's phone rang again. The caller was Zhao Fangxu, who immediately sounded accusatory.

"Old Xu, why did investigating a fox cause such a stir? This operation isn't exactly secret, but it doesn't need to be publicized so much."

"I didn't say anything!" Xu Xiang looked at Lu Jin with a puzzled expression.

Lu Jin glanced at Zhang Zhiwei as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Why are you looking at me?" Zhang Zhiwei felt offended. He hadn't been a "big mouth" for many years, and he simply didn't have time to "commit crimes."

Finally, the three of them shrugged together.

"Mr. Zhao, does anyone know?"

Zhao Fangxu sighed: "The oldest one, who retired from Kyoto, is currently in a sanatorium in Qingdao. He is the former leader of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect, Lin Zifeng."

"The father of our company's Northeast region manager, 'The Witch Doctor' Guan Shihua, the two families of Tiangongtang and Momen, Liangshan Shamans, Lingyin Temple, Qinghe Miao Village, Huaxingmen, Xiangxi Liu Family, Jishetang, Huodezong..."

Those who knew the news accounted for almost two-thirds of all the factions recorded in the company's archives.

What Zhao Fangxu found strange was that the current leaders of the sect didn't care about the fox, and those who knew about the fox's investigation were all old fogies who had retired for many years.

"President Zhao, just tell them directly that this fox is not that fox, and tell the seniors to shut up." Xu Xiang hung up the phone after saying that, his chest pounding wildly.

No, no, absolutely not!

What exactly did this fox do during the Republic of China era? All the old hands in the circle have been exposed. If A-Wu, whose appearance has not changed over the years, is to continue to delve into the fox's affairs, his identity will inevitably be exposed and he will be coveted by others.

Xu Xiang prayed silently to himself, "I beg you, God, let this fox matter be resolved satisfactorily in Northeast China, and please don't let any further complications arise."

···

Northeast, Qingyue Park.