Fox Immortal

"The Fox Immortal manifests to protect the people's livelihood, bringing favorable winds and timely rain, and peace to all! The Fox Immortal manifests!"

The strange, affected chant, accompanied by heartrending sobs, roused Yin Yunze from his stupor.

When he opened his eyes, Yin Yunze saw an old woman in rather peculiar clothes standing in front of him. She waved her arms and legs in an awkward dance while chanting strange, mystical words in a peculiar cadence.

It was a language Yin Yunze had never heard before, perhaps a local dialect. Strangely, though, he understood what she meant.

The spirit medium's chant, simply put, was a string of stock phrases praising a deity. Its muddled mixture of formal and plain speech was enough to give Yin Yunze secondhand embarrassment.

After all, the spirit medium was standing right in front of Yin Yunze, and he felt as though she were shouting straight at him.

Shifting his gaze slightly, Yin Yunze realized that he seemed to be in a dilapidated little wooden temple. Deep traces of age marked the surrounding walls.

Once he realized it was a temple, Yin Yunze instinctively wanted to see its master. But as he continued moving his gaze, he discovered that he seemed to be fixed in place.

After testing his view to either side, Yin Yunze found that he could apparently see only the 180 degrees in front of him. He simply could not see what was behind him.

From what he could see, however, Yin Yunze appeared to be inside the ruined temple, in the spot where the divine statue stood.

Listening to the spirit medium constantly calling out about a Fox Immortal, Yin Yunze could not help reaching a somewhat absurd conclusion.

Had he, Yin Yunze, transmigrated into a Fox Immortal?!

The thought made Yin Yunze laugh at himself. He had really read too many novels.

He felt floaty and insubstantial, with no real sense of having a body, and then there was this inexplicably fixed camera angle.

Compared with the utterly ridiculous possibility that he had transmigrated into a Fox Immortal, Yin Yunze thought it more likely that he was having a lucid dream.

After all, just before going to sleep, Yin Yunze had happened to watch some videos about fox immortals, praying for rain, and sacrifices.

What one thought about by day, one dreamed about by night. It was only natural.

Faced with this exceptionally rare experience of a lucid dream, Yin Yunze decided to have some fun in it.

With that thought, Yin Yunze turned his attention to the people in front of him.

First and foremost was the spirit medium, who looked rather mystical and had danced energetically for ages despite her advanced years.

Behind the spirit medium performing her ritual dance knelt a group of villagers in ragged ancient-style clothing, all looking somewhat malnourished.

The most conspicuous among them, however, was a woman whose eyes were red from crying. Though held down on the ground, she continued to struggle and wail.

The mournful sobbing Yin Yunze had heard earlier had come from this woman.

Following the direction the struggling woman was looking, Yin Yunze saw a little girl who was likewise being held down by two adults, her face full of terror.

Perhaps because the woman's cries were so piercing, an old man dressed somewhat more decently than the others walked up to her with a cane. "Listen, Widow Sun, we're doing this for the livelihood of the whole village! Carrying on like this, aren't you afraid you'll anger the deity?"

"What Orthodox God demands a child as an offering? This is an evil god!" Widow Sun howled at the old man's words like an enraged mother beast. "Besides, there are so many children in the village. Why does it have to be my Xiao Wan'er? Isn't it just because you're bullying a widow and her orphan..."

"Widow Sun! You've gone too far! Aren't you afraid the Fox Immortal will punish you?"

Having finally finished the ritual, Spirit Medium Wang shot Widow Sun a venomous glare. "We aren't bullying a widow and her orphan. The Fox Immortal asked for your little girl by name! Your little girl has an affinity with immortals, and the Fox Immortal wants to grant her immortal blessings. You should be happy!"

"Immortal blessings, my ass! Heaven-cursed Witch Wang!" Widow Sun struggled even harder. "Why don't you happily bring your own scabby-headed son over to this wild fox? A thing that doesn't even have a human form..."

If Orthodox Gods and evil gods were both gods, calling one a wild fox without a human form was truly taboo.

"Insolence!"

Seeing Widow Sun's words grow increasingly outrageous, the old man would no longer put up with her. He raised his cane and struck her on the back of the head.

Though he used a cane, the old man was actually still hale and hearty. He normally carried it only to look respectable.

The blow was no weaker than one from a man in his prime. Widow Sun grunted and immediately fell unconscious on the ground.

"Village Chief Song, don't... don't beat Widow Sun to death..."

Seeing Widow Sun collapse unconscious, someone among the villagers seemed unable to bear it and spoke up.

"So what if she dies? In times like these, what's another death or two?" Spirit Medium Wang glanced at Widow Sun and sneered. "Human lives are dirt cheap these days! If we still can't get rain, more than one or two people will die! Besides, Widow Sun loves her little girl so much. We might as well offer her to the Fox Immortal too!"

"So they're sacrificing people to an evil god?"

After watching the scene unfold, Yin Yunze finally understood that this appeared to be the site of a tragedy where a human sacrifice was about to take place.

"So am I really having this dream because of those videos I watched during the day?"

Just as Yin Yunze was pondering why he was having this dream, Spirit Medium Wang bowed respectfully in his direction and called out, "Lord Fox Immortal, your offerings are ready!"

"Holy crap!"

Though he had suspected as much, Yin Yunze had never imagined that his dream had actually cast him as an evil god who demanded human sacrifices.

At Spirit Medium Wang's words, the two men holding the little girl dragged her over to Yin Yunze.

Without another word, one man gripped the little girl tightly by the shoulders. The other pulled a sharp, coldly gleaming horn-handled knife from his waist and hesitantly moved it toward her neck.

He had slaughtered plenty of pigs and sheep, but this was his first time killing a person.

"Little girl, don't blame me. It's all for everyone's sake..."

Before long, however, the man had found himself a reason he considered perfectly righteous.

"Wait!"

Even if it was a dream, Yin Yunze could not bear to watch the terrified little girl and could not help calling out.

His shout stunned everyone, including Spirit Medium Wang.

"The Fox Immortal has manifested!"

Spirit Medium Wang was worthy of someone who made her living at this, however, and was the quickest of them all to react.

She dropped to her knees with a thump and called out, "Lord Fox Immortal, I've brought you the virgin girl you wanted! We only beg you to take pity on us common folk, have mercy on us mortals, and send down sweet rain!"

"Lord Fox Immortal, send down sweet rain!"

All the villagers kneeling behind her stared fixedly in Yin Yunze's direction and shouted in unison.

Uncontrollable longing now filled every sorrowful, suffering face.

The all-too-real scene made a tender spot in Yin Yunze's heart twitch.

"What difficulty is there in that!"

Since it was only a dream either way, Yin Yunze readily agreed.

Then Yin Yunze began trying hard to imagine a sky thick with dark clouds, serpents of lightning dancing, and heavy rain pouring down.

But one minute passed, then two, then three...

Looking at the blazing sun overhead and the cloudless sky stretching for miles, Yin Yunze could not help feeling a little embarrassed.

Wasn't he supposed to be able to do anything he wanted in a lucid dream?!

"Lord Fox Immortal?"

Having also noticed that nothing had happened, Spirit Medium Wang prompted him with a question. "Is there anything else you require us to do? Please, just give the order! Whatever you ask, the people of our village will certainly satisfy you!"

In Spirit Medium Wang's view, Lord Fox Immortal Yin Yunze plainly wanted something else in addition to the virgin girl.

Village Chief Song, still standing to one side with his cane and looking somewhat out of place, gave Spirit Medium Wang and Yin Yunze a long, searching look.

At a time like this, however, Yin Yunze naturally did not notice Village Chief Song's attitude.

Hearing the spirit medium provide him with an excuse, Yin Yunze could not help feeling relieved that he had only brainstormed in his head instead of actually shouting about summoning wind and rain.

Otherwise, even in a dream, it would have been far too embarrassing!

"Ahem." Yin Yunze cleared his throat and racked his brains for an excuse. "It's not that I have any other demands, but rain is the Dragon Lord's responsibility. Give me a few days to go to the Dragon Lord and obtain... an edict. Only then can I send down sweet rain for you!"

"Lord Fox Immortal even knows the Dragon Lord!"

Spirit Medium Wang let out a shrill cry at this. Her slightly hunched back immediately straightened, and she looked askance at Village Chief Song. "What did I tell you? I told you long ago to come beg Lord Fox Immortal! If you'd come sooner, this drought would have ended long ago! But no, you went and begged every useless wild god before you finally found Lord Fox Immortal..."

Watching Spirit Medium Wang actually believe his nonsense and throw her weight around, Yin Yunze felt utterly embarrassed.

Still, from Spirit Medium Wang's incessant chatter, Yin Yunze learned why they had come to him, the Fox Immortal, to pray for rain.

It was because the villagers had already called upon every god and immortal, great and small, in all the surrounding villages.

None had been any use, so only then had they thought to come to this ruined temple and try asking the Fox Immortal.

As for what had become of those useless predecessors...

Well, in a perfectly pragmatic fashion, their temples had all been destroyed and the gods cast down.

The ancient eastern nation did not keep idle gods.

Even the Dragon Kings-two of them had been burned already!

How should he put it...

Yin Yunze could only think that this dream was freaking realistic!

"All right. You may withdraw for now!"

Though he knew he was dreaming, Yin Yunze had gotten somewhat into character.

To keep anyone from spotting a flaw, Yin Yunze directly ordered them to leave.

At least until the lie was exposed, no one dared disobey the orders of Lord Fox Immortal Yin Yunze.

Only Spirit Medium Wang pointed at the little girl, who was still crying, and asked a question.

"And this little girl...?"

"Leave her here." After some thought, Yin Yunze still felt it would be better for the mother and daughter to stay here for the time being. "And her mother too. Leave her here."

To everyone else, however, the request took on a different meaning.

After all, no matter how one put it, the Fox Immortal was just a wild god in the villagers' eyes. Otherwise, they would not have come here only when they had run out of options.

And what good end could human sacrifices meet in the hands of an evil god?

Even so, no one said anything.

The kindhearted cast a few pitying glances their way. The coldhearted simply turned and left.

In any case, all several dozen people left without a single one raising an objection. Someone even thoughtfully shut the doors of the ruined temple.

Perhaps they were kindhearted and did not want to witness a scene that was too bloody.

After everyone had left, the little girl looked timidly at Yin Yunze, then at her mother lying on the ground.

Fear and indecision showed on her tear-streaked face. It was plain that the little girl wanted very much to leave, but was worried about her mother lying on the ground.

Seeing the little girl like this, Yin Yunze also found himself in a difficult position.

After all, as things stood, Yin Yunze appeared to be the Fox Immortal who wanted to eat children.

Even if Yin Yunze told the little girl not to be afraid, she probably would not believe him. He might even frighten her.

After thinking it over, Yin Yunze simply gave up trying. It was a dream anyway, so he might as well play dead and wait for it to end.

But while Yin Yunze was playing dead, the little girl hesitated for a long time before timidly kneeling in front of him.

"Lord Fox Immortal, could you please not eat Mother? If you want to eat someone, eat me instead. Mother is old, so she won't taste good... Only, if you do eat me, could you please not let Mother know? If Mother finds out you ate me, she'll be very sad..."

When he noticed the little girl moving, Yin Yunze guessed that she was most likely going to beg for mercy. He had not expected her to be begging on her mother's behalf, or that she had even prepared herself to be eaten.

Yin Yunze could not help reflecting that children of the poor really did learn to shoulder responsibility early.

In the modern world, a little girl her age might still be complaining that her parents had not bought her a pretty little dress.

Seeing that the girl looked no more than ten, Yin Yunze sighed softly. "I won't eat you or your mother. Actually, I don't eat people."

"Really?" The little girl's face visibly lit up, but then she asked doubtfully, "But I heard Fox Seventh Aunt likes eating children best."

Fox Seventh Aunt?

Yin Yunze was startled for a moment before realizing that it was probably the common name of the Fox Immortal whose place he had taken.

Well, judging by the name, she seemed to be a vixen.

But it was only natural for a fox spirit to be female, wasn't it?!

And calling her the Fox Immortal when they needed her and Seventh Aunt when they did not was also very much in keeping with the pragmatism of the ancients.

Though he grumbled inwardly, Yin Yunze explained, "That's all something adults made up to fool children. I don't eat people! Don't worry, you're safe staying here! I'll protect you."

"So that's how it is! Lord Fox Immortal is a good, good immortal!"

An adult most likely would not have believed Yin Yunze's nonsense, but the little girl truly did. She wiped away her tears and a small smile appeared on her face. "I've misunderstood Lord Fox Immortal all this time! Please forgive me, Lord Fox Immortal! Lord Fox Immortal, please bless Mother and me..."

Yin Yunze was just about to laugh at how quickly the little girl had changed her mind when he suddenly sensed a wisp of purple smoke drifting from her, catching his attention.

When the purple qi landed on him, a glimmer of understanding suddenly dawned in Yin Yunze's heart: this was incense of faith.

Incense of faith that could only be provided by someone who truly acknowledged and believed in Yin Yunze as an immortal.

True incense of faith existed in the heart, not in a few physical sticks of incense.

Yin Yunze had not expected it. There had been so many people, even including Spirit Medium Wang, who had spent so long performing that awkward dance.

Yet the first person to begin believing in him as the Fox Immortal was the little girl before him, who had nearly become a sacrifice.

"Oh, right. Mother said that after asking an immortal for blessings... you have to give an offering..." Mumbling to herself, the little girl fished three wild fruits from her clothes, neither quite green nor quite yellow.

Even so, the little girl looked very reluctant to part with the three wild fruits, which made Yin Yunze's teeth ache just to look at them. "Lord Fox Immortal, th-this is all I have to offer. Please don't look down on it."

"How could I look down on it...? I accept your offering."

Yin Yunze knew, of course, that under these circumstances, this was probably the best thing the little girl could offer.

But when Yin Yunze finished speaking, he suddenly discovered that the wild fruits had appeared before him.

Though he still had no body, Yin Yunze somehow felt that he could grasp the fruits.

Somewhat surprised, Yin Yunze nevertheless chose to take hold of them.

Suddenly, everything went black before Yin Yunze's eyes. When he opened them again, he saw a familiar ceiling.

"So it really was a dream."

Recalling what had happened earlier, Yin Yunze did not pay it much mind.

He instinctively raised his hand to check the time. Just as he was hesitating over whether to lie there a little longer or get out of bed, Yin Yunze suddenly noticed something amiss. He seemed to be holding something in his right hand.

He stretched out his hand and opened it to find three wild fruits, neither quite green nor quite yellow, somewhat squashed out of shape and still bearing a little dirt.

After a moment's silence, Yin Yunze wiped the dirt off the fruits and put one of them in his mouth.

Tsk, it really was sour...