Becoming a Fox Spirit from Under One Person.

"Hehe~"

Chen Ruoan's mind wandered, but the harsh reality of his predicament was also before him—

The journey from Longhu Mountain to Changbai Mountain is a full five thousand miles. How can a frail little black fox, who is nothing but cute, avoid disaster and cross this distant mountain and sea?

Is it all about acting cute?

As Chen Ruoan hesitated, the young Taoist priest returned, tossed the bundle he was carrying on a bamboo pole onto a pile of straw in the corner, stretched out his arms, yawned, and lay down comfortably.

Zhang Zhiwei turned his head and glanced at the fox on the altar: "You haven't left yet. Is this your den? I'm truly sorry to bother you. Perhaps I should rest here for a while and continue my journey when the sun is high in the sky. Lack of sleep is a major taboo in cultivation. I was just woken up too early."

"Was that red fox your mate? Do foxes even have any romantic feelings for each other? It seems that male foxes only stay with female foxes for one breeding season, and then they will choose another mate... Hmm... saying 'a good mate' doesn't seem quite right."

“You live in the mountains and have a small temple to shelter you from the wind and rain, but I will be wandering from now on, without even a room to sleep in. My master sent me away to travel for a year to experience the coldness and warmth of the world and temper my heart in the mortal world, but what kind of world is this now? My master is really willing to give me up.”

"···"

"My fellow disciples are happy, though. These guys always say I talk too much and can't keep my mouth shut. Little fox, tell me, do I talk too much?"

······

Zhang Zhiwei spoke eloquently, recounting the events of nearly three years in just five or six minutes. Chen Ruoan, listening intently, raised her paw and pressed down on a pair of ears that were standing up high.

Everyone says that Zhang Zhiwei in Longhu Mountain has the loosest mouth and speaks without restraint, but I never expected that in addition to being a "big mouth", he also talks so much.

Despite the argument, after Zhang Zhiwei's incessant rambling, Chen Ruoan managed to piece together the timeline, which was around 1924.

Three years ago, in order to suppress Zhang Zhiwei's arrogance, Celestial Master Zhang Jingqing took him around to spar and seek a Daoist partner. As a result, Zhang Zhiwei defeated all the masters of his generation from various sects without ever being defeated.

In the same year, at the Lu family's birthday banquet, Zhang Zhiwei slapped the once-famous Lu Jin until he cried, thus gaining widespread fame.

Two years ago, Zhang Jingqing sensed that Huaiyi harbored treacherous intentions. After some investigation, she bestowed upon him the surname "Zhang," confirmed his status as the successor to the Celestial Master, and passed on her thunder magic.

This year, Zhang Huaiyi and Zhang Zhiwei had a nighttime martial arts sparring match, and Zhang Huaiyi was easily defeated. Zhang Jingqing knew that Zhang Zhiwei was already invincible among his peers, so she asked him to go down the mountain and travel for a year to experience the vicissitudes of life and cultivate his mind.

Today is the second day of Zhang Zhiwei's training after descending the mountain.

"Fox, given time, if you understand the Qi sensation and formally embark on cultivation, do not act like the red fox of today, committing all sorts of evil deeds. Drinking blood and eating flesh, absorbing vital energy and stealing essence—these methods are quick to take effect, but they are the easiest to accumulate karmic obstacles, and in the end, you will not escape divine retribution."

"That being said, animals find it hardest to suppress their instincts. If you're willing to leave this little nest, why don't you travel with me? With me by your side, I can keep an eye on you."

Zhang Zhiwei put his arms under his head and looked to the side. The black fox actually covered its drooping fox ears with its paws.

"Even the foxes think I talk too much? It's only the second day, who knows how many more boring days I'll have to endure. If we're meant to be..."

That's it.

What does a fox know?

Zhang Zhiwei closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

edge?

Upon hearing the word "fate" drift into Chen Ruoan's ears, he opened his narrow eyes. A faint, elegant red spiritual light condensed into a line, drifting from Zhang Zhiwei's body and landing in his mind.

The little black fox's soul was illuminated by a ray of spiritual light, and before its eyes appeared a precious tree with lush green leaves, its branches and leaves as abundant as a canopy, covered with precious prayer slips, and fluttering red silks blooming like flowers on the canopy.

Most of the treasure scrolls were white, except for one on the eastern branch, which emitted a faint, ethereal blue glow.

The thread that originated from Zhang Zhiwei was tied to the Azure Treasure Tablet in the tree; gently pulling the thread seemed to be enough to yank it off.

"My innate divine power! Holy crap, Su Daji! Could this be my cheat code?"

Chapter 3 Young Zhang Zhiwei

As the jade tree fully illuminated his mind, countless pieces of information about the wishing tree flowed into Chen Ruoan's mind.

The function of the tree is similar to that described in the legends of the strange and supernatural. It is said that foxes rely on forming connections to cultivate themselves. If they can form good connections, the precious tablets on the wishing tree will shine brightly. By "making a wish", they can realize the connection as a real and tangible power.

The depth of one's affinity with another determines the color of the imperial edict, ranging from white, blue, purple, to gold, from lowest to highest.

The threads that bind the precious deities are also divided into red and black; red represents a good karmic connection, while black represents a bad one.

For example, the precious document tied by the red thread in front of them means that Chen Ruoan and Zhang Zhiwei have a minimum level of good karma. By making a wish, they can define a certain range of rewards.

"It is fate to meet by chance. In the past six months, I have been forced to stay away from the world in order to make a living and have lost the instinct of foxes to form bonds and cultivate themselves."

Chen Ruoan's fox paws clung tightly to the Fate Thread, praying for a method to advance his cultivation.

With his wish fulfilled, the little black fox looked up and saw Zhang Zhiwei's name appear at the top of the azure treasure slip, while the words "Tongyu" were written on the back.

As Chen Ruoan thought, their chance encounter was merely a shallow connection, and the gift he received was a technique that allowed him to understand the language of all living beings.

It is fluent in human languages ​​and also in the languages ​​of birds from all over the world.

Legend has it that birds are messengers of the gods, and immortals, gods, and ghosts all like to use birds to convey messages. Among them, the most well-known is the bluebird – “The journey to Penglai is not far, and the bluebird diligently goes to inquire.”

"Alright."

At least I won't have to be a "whiny baby" anymore.

Chen Ruoan bypassed the altar and went to the mountains behind the temple to spend time with his friends in the mountains.

Having acquired supernatural powers, one must first comprehend their profound mystery.

Chen Ruoan remembered a few quails that liked to lay their eggs in low bushes. Whenever he got close, they would flap their wings and chirp. He never understood what they were saying, but now he could.

Foxes have a keen sense of smell and hearing, and usually ambush their parents when they are out foraging. This time, they approached openly, but the quails were still calmly guarding their nest.

Upon sensing Chen Ruoan's presence, the quail immediately flapped its wings and circled around the bushes, both angry and frightened.

The method of "Tongyu" requires foxes to understand bird language. However, bird calls are an expression of emotions, and Chen Ruoan's supernatural powers allowed the meaning to be expressed in linguistic form.

"You...you stay away!"

"You damned fox, I'll fuck your mother!"

···

Chen Ruoan was stunned by these rude words.

Where did this bird come from? Why is it swearing so rudely?

But when Chen Ruoan thought about how she had been getting protein from bird eggs all these days, she felt she deserved to be scolded. So she stopped bothering the quails and walked gracefully and gently toward the top of the mountain.

Standing at the highest point of the mountain and looking south, you can see the Taoist-inspired Longhu Mountain. Looking north, you can see the outlines of the surrounding villages, including Baiyuan Village.

When I was reborn as a fox, this remote mountain wilderness was still a winter day with snowflakes falling; now it is the lush spring of the Awakening of Insects.

After obtaining the [Communicative Language], the mountains were always more lively than usual. Egrets, mandarin ducks, macaques, and civets—Chen Ruoan could understand what they were saying. Unfortunately, there were very few animals among them who had attained Qi, let alone the cultivation methods unique to animals.

After surveying his territory, Chen Ruoan bid farewell to his pack of wild foxes. Soon after, the sound of birds flapping their wings came from the small temple at the foot of the mountain.

Those who cultivate themselves believe in the principle of "not thinking of sleep when the spirit is full." After a short rest, Zhang Zhiwei was already full of energy and it was almost time to set off on his journey.

Chen Ruoan hurriedly followed.

With the wishing tree here, I can no longer stay in the mountains as a homebody fox. Socially awkward foxes can't do things like forming connections and cultivating spirituality.

The little black fox darted through the rural mountain paths and caught up with Zhang Zhiwei: "Taoist!"

"Hmm?" The lion-like young Taoist priest turned around, smiled in surprise, "Fox, I guessed long ago that you are intelligent, and now you're willing to speak?"

"Many people who cultivate themselves also kill indiscriminately without distinguishing right from wrong. As a helpless fox, I have to be careful before I can understand people's character."

"Now you understand what kind of person I am?" Zhang Zhiwei pointed to himself.

"I've figured it out a bit," Chen Ruoan replied. "Taoist, which way are you going?"

"Traveling and practicing spirituality, going wherever fate dictates, sometimes heading north, sometimes east."

"Then why don't we travel together?"

Zhang Zhiwei examined the black fox and smiled helplessly.

The fox didn't listen to a word of the temple's invitation.

“Alright, Master said I’m arrogant, disdainful of others, and even indifferent to the schemes and plots in people’s hearts, so he wants me to go down the mountain to travel. I’m thinking, before I can ‘fill’ my eyes with people, I might as well ‘fill’ a fox first.”

Chen Ruoan took a step forward, walking briskly ahead, while Zhang Zhiwei tucked his Taoist robe into his hands and walked slowly towards the outside of the mountain.

A fox and a Taoist priest—this combination is sure to evoke a sense of wonder and whimsy in anyone who sees it.

Zhang Zhiwei walked through Baiyuan Village without stopping, completely disregarding the villagers' gifts of thanks for subduing the demon. He bowed his head, introduced himself, and then asked, "Fox, do you have a name?"

"If not, I can call you Xiao Hei."

What a straightforward and unpretentious name! Chen Ruoan felt that Zhang Zhiwei must have had a broken thought process when choosing the name.

"Chen Ruoan".

"Chen?" Zhang Zhiwei asked in confusion, "Foxes have the Tushan clan, the Chunhu clan, and the surnames Hu and Su. Why are you surnamed Chen?"

Why else could it be? The father's surname is Sui, and the mother chose the given name!

When the two elders got married and had children, they still had a bit of an artsy vibe. They insisted on taking two words from the phrase "If you are well, then it is a sunny day," which is how Chen Ruoan came to be, and his unfortunate younger sister was named Chen Yiqing.

However, there was no reason to tell Zhang Zhiwei about the secrets of his past life behind his name, so Chen Ruoan just made up an excuse to get rid of it.

The man and the fox continued north, leaving the village and stepping onto the official road.

The official road at that time was far inferior to the highways and national roads of later generations. It was a dilapidated dirt road full of potholes, with wildflowers and weeds growing on both sides.

"An Fox, do you want me to hold you?" Zhang Zhiwei suddenly asked.

"what?"

"We've come a long way."

In terms of endurance alone, foxes are indeed inferior to humans, especially to extraordinary individuals who have attained Qi cultivation.

Chen Ruoan was indeed tired from the journey, but the thought of himself, a fox, being held in the arms of another man made him feel strange.

"I am male."

Does it matter?

"That's true."

Whether it's a foxhound or a humpback, when people pet these furry creatures, they don't distinguish between male and female.

It's still strange.

Chen Ruoan chose to stand on Zhang Zhiwei's shoulders.

"It's a bit unbalanced, with one side being heavier than the other," Zhang Zhiwei said.