Each Fox Has Its Ambition

When the foxes woke, they had no idea how much time had passed. The first to wake found that night had already fallen, yet some foxes still sat motionless beside the stream like statues. By the time nearly all the foxes had awakened, the sun had risen again on the horizon.

Huli was the last to wake. By the time he came to, the sky was already bright, and all the other foxes had gathered around him, watching.

"How long has it been?"

"Probably a day." "Yes, I feel the same way."

"Mm, it should have been a day."

"Great Grandpa, I found myself standing atop a mountain peak, admiring the moon." "I saw myself hopping about among flowers."

"M-Me, I saw myself turn into a human and even marry a wife!"

"Huh? Marry a wife? Was she human or fox?"

"Of course she was a fox. Humans are so ugly, with so little fur. How could anyone live like that?"

"That's true." "Makes sense..."

"Great Grandpa, Great Grandpa, what did you see?"

There was not much excitement on Huli's face. He merely steadied his breathing and calmed his heart, then glanced once more at the book on his knees. After closing it, he spoke to the foxes.

"I have already made up my mind to leave this place and travel far away. With this Roaming in the Clouds Dream, if I do not go far, Great Zhen will sooner or later put out a warrant for me."

"B-But this is Zuyue."

One fox said this, and Huli shook his head.

"Zuyue cannot amount to much at all. The farther away from here, the better. Of course, if you do not wish to come with me, that is fine too. You can return to the mountain; there should not be