The Little White Fox's Name!

The matter of the demonic disturbances in Creek Stone Village has settled, though the process was far more uneventful than anticipated.

Wang Lang walked out of the village entrance carrying the Shadow Fox.

There was no moon that night, but with his cultivation at the ninth level of Qi Induction, his vision was as clear as in daylight, saving him the trouble of relying on a [Night Vision] trait like he did back then.

Logically, after the disaster was over, there should have been a feast. However, he politely declined the villagers' offer to hold a banquet to thank him.

Firstly, villagers had a hard time making a living these days, and he couldn't bear to consume their already meager rations.

Secondly, with the culinary standards of this era, he doubted anything delicious could be made. It was far inferior to the village banquets he remembered from his previous life.

Besides, he no longer needed to eat, so why bother?

He withdrew his thoughts, weighed the soft, furry lump in his hands, and broke the silence, "Little fox, do you have a name?"

The Little White Fox weakly replied, "A name? No."

Wang Lang raised an eyebrow, "Considering your intelligence isn't low and your strength is passable, you're actually nameless?"

"Who says foxes must have names?" The Little White Fox snorted, its tone rising, "We Yaos are born and raised by heaven and earth, growing naturally. What's the point of such a superficial name? You humans just have too many rules, it's troublesome!"

Wang Lang found its righteous indignation amusing, "Alright, then let me ask you again. You said earlier that you happened to pass by this place? Why would you pass through such a poor and remote area?"

This time, the Little White Fox couldn't even be bothered to lift its eyelids, muttering, "Why do you ask so many questions? Passing by is just passing by, what reason is needed?"

"Fine, you're unwilling to say," Wang Lang didn't press, his tone indifferent, "Then I won't bother asking anymore."

"However, there's one more thing. You said you encountered Lin Xiu'er's vengeful spirit in the Back Mountain of Creek Stone Village. But I thoroughly searched that hilly area in the Back Mountain during the day and found nothing unusual."

The Little White Fox rolled its eyes at him upon hearing this, though it wasn't very noticeable in the darkness, "Nonsense! What could you find if you went during the day?"

"I was in a hidden cave at the time, refining the residual malicious essence from the innards of those wicked people for my cultivation. Suddenly, I sensed a powerful and majestic Righteous Qi passing nearby, suppressing my demonic energy to the point of stagnation. I was at a critical juncture in my cultivation and didn't reveal myself. Now that I think about it, that person must have been you. The Qi you cultivate greatly suppresses us Yaos and ghosts. Lin Xiu'er's vengeful spirit was probably startled by you and concealed its tracks early on."

After explaining, the Little White Fox scrutinized Wang Lang again, a look of clear confusion on its foxy face, "I heard my mother say that most humans who cultivate Grand Righteous Qi are thin scholars who speak in 'yes' and 'no' all the time. How come with you... it's so unique?"

"With your physique, even a fierce tiger would probably weigh whether it should eat you or you eat it, and then choose to go around you, right?"

Wang Lang looked down at his bulging muscles and physique that strained his loose clothes, shaking his head helplessly, "You fox are truly superficial. How can you judge a person by their appearance? Although I am burly, I am a true scholar inside."

This wasn't entirely a lie. In the past year, he had indeed devoured all the ancient texts collected by Old Wang, and considered his knowledge to be solid.

The Little White Fox flicked its tail, perfunctorily saying, "I know, I know, that Grand Righteous Qi within you is undeniable."

Wang Lang nodded, no longer dwelling on the topic. He stopped walking and gently placed the Little White Fox on the ground, "Lead me to where Lin Xiu'er's remains are."

With its four paws on the ground, the Little White Fox elegantly shook its fur and glanced back at Wang Lang, "Oh? You're just letting me down like this? Aren't you afraid I'll run away?"

Wang Lang chuckled at this, startling a few owls.

"Why would I be afraid of you running away? When I saved you in the village earlier, it was partly because I didn't want to see you escorted to Yuan Province by Patrolman Li, with your fate uncertain. On the other hand, I was actually saving Patrolman Li's life too."

"You have considerable strength. If I hadn't captured you, with Patrolman Li's cultivation at the first level of Qi Induction, escorting you would have been extremely dangerous."

The Little White Fox snorted, "You certainly think things through, but you miscalculated. I heard that people from the Demon Subduing Division of the Limitless Dynasty are equipped with a special kind of Demon Binding Cuff, specifically designed to capture Yaos like us. Once shackled, all demonic energy is sealed, leaving us powerless to resist."

Wang Lang's heart stirred upon hearing this.

Demon Binding Cuffs? That was new. It seemed the authorities did have some methods for dealing with Yaos. He realized he still knew too little about this world.

He composed himself and said, "Enough talk, hurry up and lead the way."

The Little White Fox reluctantly snorted and trotted ahead.

After winding through twists and turns for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, they stopped in front of a steep rock face near a mountain stream.

"This is it," the Little White Fox pointed with its paw to a cave entrance obscured by vines.

"I cultivate here during the day. Lin Xiu'er's remains are in this natural crevice."

When Wang Lang had scouted the Back Mountain during the day, the area was too vast, and this place was too hidden. Its aura was almost completely masked by rocks and vegetation, so it was normal for it to be missed.

Wang Lang pushed aside the vines and saw that Daoist Xuan Cheng was already there.

He held a whisk, his eyes closed and head bowed, softly reciting obscure scriptures.

On the ground before him, a simple magic circle was drawn with cinnabar, and a woman's corpse lay in the center.

As the Daoist chanted, specks of golden light, carrying a sense of peace, rose from the magic circle.

Wang Lang was slightly surprised, then understood and quietly stood to the side, not disturbing him.

After a long while, Xuan Cheng's chanting stopped. He lightly waved the whisk in his hand, and a woman's phantom appeared. She bowed gracefully to him before vanishing into the heavens and earth.

Having finished, Xuan Cheng turned around and saw Wang Lang. There was no particular surprise on his face. He performed a Daoist salute:

"Immeasurable Heavenly Venerate, fellow Daoist Wang, you have arrived."

Wang Lang cupped his fists in return, "Daoist Master."

Xuan Cheng looked at Wang Lang, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration:

"Fellow Daoist Wang has impressive skills. When I first met you, I only sensed your extraordinary attainment in Qi Refinement. I never expected that your achievements in Body Refinement would be even more astonishing.

Earlier, in the village, your Blood Essence erupted, and the momentary power was like a mountain, like a peak. It was several times stronger than many martial artists specializing in Body Refinement I've seen in my life.

Could it be... that you have reached the Bedrock Realm in Body Refinement?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Lang quickly waved his hands: "Daoist Master, you flatter me."

"I, Wang, merely possess some brute strength. I am still far from the Bedrock Realm. I dare not accept such praise from the Daoist Master."

Now that Wang Lang had personally witnessed Xuan Cheng's method of transcending souls and purifying spirits, any lingering doubts he had due to the coincidental timing of his appearance completely vanished.

He sincerely praised, "The method you just used to transcend the departed soul was truly miraculous and extraordinary. This is the first time I've seen it, it's really opened my eyes."

Xuan Cheng chuckled, "It's merely a minor art, offering a chance for liberation to tormented souls in the sea of suffering. It's not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning."

He pointed to the woman's corpse and continued, "I will inform Patrolman Li to bring people to collect Lin Xiu'er's remains.

After this matter is concluded, I must travel elsewhere to roam, so I will take my leave first."

"Farewell, Daoist Master." Wang Lang cupped his fists again.

After Xuan Cheng departed, Wang Lang also turned to head back to Listening Waves Mountain Manor.

Unexpectedly, the Little White Fox followed him.

Wang Lang was a bit puzzled and stopped, "Why did you follow me?"

The Little White Fox tilted its head up, "Earlier in the village, didn't you tell Patrolman Li and the villagers that I'm under your protection from now on?

I know what 'under your protection' means! It means you're responsible for protecting me, so of course, I have to follow you!"

Wang Lang heard this and looked at the Little White Fox's determined stance of sticking with him, unable to help but smile faintly.

Oh well, this little thing isn't unintelligent and its strength is decent. Keeping it around might even help pass the time.

As for plotlines like a fox spirit repaying a kindness or transforming into a fox maiden... Wang Lang shook his head inwardly. He wouldn't have such unrealistic delusions.

Yeah, definitely not.

After walking a few steps, the Little White Fox suddenly spoke again, its voice a bit lower than before:

"Um... actually, I lied to you earlier... I have a name."

"Oh?" Wang Lang looked at it, signaling it to continue.

The Little White Fox puffed out its chest slightly and said with a bit of pride, "My surname is Su, and my given name is Yao. I am Su Yao."

"Su Yao..." Wang Lang repeated softly, then nodded, "Shimmering jade light is Yao. That's a beautiful name. Did your mother give it to you?"

The little fox Su Yao nodded its small head vigorously:

"Yes, my mother gave it to me. She said when I was born, my fur under the moonlight looked like beautiful jade..."

Wang Lang smiled slightly, "Then your mother must be a cultured fox."

Hearing Wang Lang praise her mother, Su Yao's tail wagged proudly, and her tone was full of shared honor: "Of course!"