Chapter Summaries

Yin Yunze encountered Wang Guisheng, who suspected the girl was a fox demon and sought revenge for Spirit Medium Wang. Wang Guisheng attacked him, and Yin Yunze prepared to defend himself with character slips as an unseen danger approached his neck.

• Yin Yunze passed an old man leading a chained fox and noticed the fox seemed afraid of him.
• The fox told Wang Guisheng that Yin Yunze carried a strange presence, and Wang Guisheng sent it toward Clear Creek Village with a Soul-Capturing Pearl to capture the fox demon he believed possessed the girl.
• Wang Guisheng caught up with Yin Yunze, asked about Wang Guihua, and revealed that she had been his sister.
• Yin Yunze recognized Wang Guihua as Spirit Medium Wang and suspected Song Ran might have told Wang Guisheng about him.
• Wang Guisheng called Yin Yunze a demon, and Yin Yunze drew four types of character slips as a chill gathered at the back of his neck.

Yin Yunze fought Wang Guisheng, who countered his illusions and Fox Fire with prepared techniques and a Flame-Extinguishing Whip. Yin Yunze overwhelmed him with a barrage of fire talismans and caught him off guard, leaving Wang Guisheng exposed to the rest of the attack.

• Wang Guisheng launched a sneak attack, but Yin Yunze used a talisman to dispel the ghostly threat and concealed himself with an illusion.
• Wang Guisheng saw through Yin Yunze’s illusion with his Dharma Eye of Illusion Breaking and extinguished Yin Yunze’s Fox Fire with dark streaks from his sleeve.
• Yin Yunze sent a wall of eight Fox Fire fireballs at Wang Guisheng, who split them with his Flame-Extinguishing Whip and claimed it could withstand any amount of Fox Fire.
• Yin Yunze hurled dozens of fire talismans at Wang Guisheng, forcing him to block the fireballs until his whip arm weakened and he began considering retreat.
• Yin Yunze made a fireball explode in front of Wang Guisheng, burning his face, then shouted for the remaining fireballs to explode.

Yin Yunze fought Wang Guisheng, countering his red ghost and underground attack with Expel Evil and Dispel Filth talismans before burning him apart. Afterward, Yin Yunze wondered whether his skills made him stronger than he had thought.

• Yin Yunze used Fox Fire to engulf Wang Guisheng, who stood up in the flames and summoned a red ghost to attack him.
• Yin Yunze destroyed the red ghost with two Expel Evil and Dispel Filth talismans, then used three more to drive black Qi from Wang Guisheng and bring him down.
• Yin Yunze sensed an attack beneath his feet, leaped away, and dispelled the ghostly arms that reached out of the earth.
• Yin Yunze burned Wang Guisheng's remains apart and concluded that he was most likely dead.
• Yin Yunze reconsidered his view of his own abilities and wondered whether he was actually quite strong.

After defeating Wang Guisheng, Yin Yunze looted his remains and reached Qingling County, where he found starving people selling themselves at the city gate. Moved by a little girl’s plea for food, Yin Yunze secretly gave her several objects, though the famine remained beyond his ability to solve at once.

• Yin Yunze considered how weak he was outside Clear Creek Village, then looted Wang Guisheng’s remains and took his Snake Bone Whip and silver.
• Yin Yunze hid the Snake Bone Whip and approached Qingling County’s city gate.
• Yin Yunze saw more than a hundred starving adults and children selling themselves, and Zhao Wan asked him to help them.
• Yin Yunze recognized that saving those at the gate would not end the famine and that the planting season had already passed.
• A starving little girl begged Yin Yunze for food, and Yin Yunze slipped several objects into her clothes.

Yin Yunze entered Qingling County after secretly giving food to a starving girl, then found Song Ran at the Song Grain Store and confronted him for revealing Yin Yunze’s presence to Wang Guisheng. Song Ran explained that the disclosure had been accidental and that Wang Guisheng had pieced together Yin Yunze’s connection to Spirit Medium Wang’s death, leading to the ambush.

• Yin Yunze secretly gave food to a little girl outside the city gate and hurried into Qingling County.
• Yin Yunze passed the barricade, saw the starving people kept outside, and sensed his believers to locate Song Ran and Song Zhao.
• Yin Yunze found Song Ran waiting at the Song Grain Store and accused him of bringing Wang Guisheng to harm him.
• Song Ran explained that Song Zhao had accidentally revealed Spirit Medium Wang’s death to Wang Guisheng, who had repeatedly pressed him for the truth.
• Song Ran said he had accidentally mentioned Yin Yunze while Wang Guisheng was present, prompting Wang Guisheng to infer that Yin Yunze had killed his sister and attempt an ambush.

Yin Yunze questioned Song Zhao about the county magistrate and learned that the magistrate’s son had suddenly fallen seriously ill. He ordered Song Zhao to bring Constable Peng Shulan to dinner that night, then returned to reality to prepare.

• Yin Yunze forgave Song Ran for the accidental disclosure and entered the Song Grain Shop, where constables were watching the grain sales.
• Yin Yunze asked Song Zhao what he knew about the county magistrate, and Song Zhao reported that the magistrate’s son had recently fallen gravely ill.
• Yin Yunze told Song Zhao to arrange a dinner with Peng Shulan that night and threatened punishment if the constable failed to come.
• Yin Yunze left Zhao Wan at the shop with instructions to stay put and use the characters if anyone bullied her, then returned to reality to make preparations.

Yin Yunze returned to the Fox Immortal Temple, joined Zhao Wan at the Song Grain Shop, and hosted Song Zhao, Song Ran, and Peng Shulan with a meal he conjured from drawings. The chapter ended with the guests discovering that the imagined dishes had become real.

• Yin Yunze found Zhao Wan waiting at the Fox Immortal Temple because she was away from Clear Creek Village.
• Yin Yunze sensed Peng Shulan nearby and left the inner room to greet him at the Song Grain Shop.
• Yin Yunze led Song Zhao, Song Ran, and Peng Shulan to an empty dining table and asked what they wanted to eat.
• Yin Yunze placed drawings of dishes, wine, and juice on the table, leaving the three guests confused and hungry.
• Yin Yunze turned their paper utensils into real ones, then revealed a table full of steaming food.

Yin Yunze hosted Peng Shulan, Song Zhao, and Song Ran with lavish modern dishes and baijiu, winning their trust through food and a playful drinking trick. After the men became drunk and relaxed, Yin Yunze asked Peng Shulan to answer some questions.

• Yin Yunze served the three men a feast, and Peng Shulan cautiously tried the food before praising it.
• Song Zhao and Song Ran tasted the dishes and marveled at their flavor, while Yin Yunze fed Zhao Wan until she was full.
• Yin Yunze tricked the men into gulping strong baijiu, prompting Song Zhao and Song Ran to spit it out and cough.
• Peng Shulan and the others learned to sip the baijiu and continued eating and drinking until they were drunk.
• Yin Yunze asked the half-drunk Peng Shulan how he had liked the food and wine, then requested answers to a few questions.

Yin Yunze hypnotized the drunken Peng Shulan and learned about county magistrate Xu Hanxian, his family, and his view of the fox immortal. He left the sleeping men behind and began planning how to approach Xu Hanxian.

• Yin Yunze used Illusion Character Talismans to put Song Zhao and Song Ran to sleep, then hypnotized Peng Shulan while he was drunk.
• Peng Shulan told Yin Yunze that Xu Hanxian was a rigid but decent official whose eight-year-old daughter had recently fallen ill, prompting Xu to move into the county yamen.
• Yin Yunze learned that Xu Hanxian favored sons and that his daughter was teased as a young master, making the magistrate potentially difficult to befriend.
• Peng Shulan revealed that Xu Hanxian thought Yin Yunze was an ordinary fox immortal who had happened upon grain, and believed he had run out after supplying rice.
• Yin Yunze dispelled the hypnosis, sent Peng Shulan to sleep, covered the three men with spare clothes, and returned to the real world to plan his approach to Xu Hanxian.

After waking from Lord Yi Yun’s banquet, Peng Shulan drank Zhao Wan’s honey lemon tea and escorted Yin Yunze to Shuntong Money House. Yin Yunze revealed a chest containing a thousand taels of silver and asked to exchange it for gold, while Peng Shulan pressured the money house to handle the transaction.

• Peng Shulan woke with a hangover and drank several cups of honey lemon tea that Zhao Wan had prepared.
• Yin Yunze caught Peng Shulan teasing Zhao Wan, then asked him to find a trustworthy money house that exchanged silver for gold.
• Peng Shulan took Yin Yunze to Shuntong Money House, where Yin Yunze transformed into a young man and produced a chest of silver bars.
• Yin Yunze asked the clerk to exchange the thousand taels of silver for gold and explained to Peng Shulan that he expected to profit from the exchange.
• Peng Shulan urged the clerk to summon the shopkeeper and complete the exchange for Young Master Qingqiu.

Yin Yunze exchanged pure silver for gold, then sold two glass beads for more than 170 taels of gold. He offered Peng Shulan an egg-sized bead and asked him to work for him.

• Peng Shulan and Yin Yunze exchanged their silver for gold at Shopkeeper Li’s money house, with Yin Yunze using an Illusion Character Talisman to influence Shopkeeper Li.
• Yin Yunze sold Shopkeeper Li a plum-sized glass bead for fifteen taels of gold.
• Yin Yunze and Peng Shulan went to a pawnshop, where Yin Yunze sold another glass bead for twenty taels of gold.
• Yin Yunze stopped selling beads, then showed Peng Shulan an egg-sized glass bead and asked him to work for him.

Yin Yunze rewarded Peng Shulan with glass beads and secured his help in reaching County Magistrate Xu Hanxian. After arranging a banquet in the real world, Yin Yunze sent Peng Shulan to invite the magistrate to discuss selling two million jin of grain at a low price.

• Peng Shulan accepted two glass beads from Yin Yunze and pledged to serve him, then agreed to help invite the county magistrate to a banquet.
• Yin Yunze entered the county yamen with Peng Shulan and noticed that its painted door gods briefly examined him.
• Peng Shulan learned that County Magistrate Xu Hanxian was looking for him, but Yin Yunze told him to wait while he prepared an empty room.
• Yin Yunze returned to the real world, arranged food and wine for the banquet, and then resumed his appearance in the county yamen.
• Yin Yunze transformed into an ancient young master and ordered Peng Shulan to invite Xu Hanxian to discuss selling two million jin of grain for five copper coins per jin.

Peng Shulan told Magistrate Xu Hanxian that Yin Yunze could supply Qingling County with two million jin of grain at five copper coins per jin, and brought him to meet the supposed merchant. Xu Hanxian arrived at Yin Yunze’s feast but mistook him for a girl and demanded to know where the grain merchant was.

• Peng Shulan diverted Xu Hanxian’s anger by announcing that Qingling County could be saved with grain from a merchant.
• Peng Shulan revealed that the merchant could provide two million jin of grain for five copper coins per jin, and Xu Hanxian eagerly agreed to meet him.
• Peng Shulan led Xu Hanxian to Yin Yunze, who had prepared a lavish feast and invited them to sit.
• Xu Hanxian mistook Yin Yunze for a little girl and demanded that Peng Shulan identify the grain merchant.

Yin Yunze revealed his identity as the Clear Creek Fox Immortal to Xu Hanxian and demonstrated that he could provide two million jin of grain for five copper coins. Xu Hanxian agreed to stay and eat, but the meal ended in a tense silence as he stopped Peng Shulan from discussing the deal.

• Xu Hanxian saw through Yin Yunze’s illusion, and Yin Yunze revealed Zhao Wan’s youthful appearance while explaining that his body was only a temporary vessel.
• Xu Hanxian tried to leave, but Yin Yunze conjured bags of pig feed, prompting Xu Hanxian to recognize him as the Clear Creek Fox Immortal.
• Xu Hanxian sampled the pig feed and accepted that it could fill people’s stomachs, then sat down to eat with Yin Yunze and Peng Shulan.
• Yin Yunze invited Peng Shulan to join the meal, and the three ate in silence while waiting for someone else to begin discussing the grain.
• Peng Shulan tried to start the conversation, but Xu Hanxian stopped him by insisting that no one talk while eating.

Yin Yunze tried to sell Qingling County two million jin of relief grain at a discount in exchange for public credit, but Xu Hanxian refused to protect the imperial court’s dignity. Yin Yunze then revealed that Prince Jing’s transformed corpse had caused the drought, and Xu Hanxian offered to pay more for the grain instead.

• Yin Yunze offered Xu Hanxian wine to smooth over their dispute and resumed negotiating the relief grain.
• Yin Yunze offered to lower the grain price if Xu Hanxian told the people that Green Hill Yi Yun had provided it, but Xu Hanxian refused.
• Yin Yunze argued that naming him as the donor would benefit the people, then mocked Xu Hanxian for prioritizing the imperial court’s dignity.
• Yin Yunze told Peng Shulan and Xu Hanxian that tomb robbers had released Prince Jing’s corpse, which had transformed into a Drought Demon and caused the drought.
• Xu Hanxian dismissed Yin Yunze’s account as a trick and offered to buy the grain for seven wen per jin instead.

Yin Yunze ended his grain deal with Xu Hanxian after realizing the magistrate cared more about protecting his career than helping the people. He left Xu Hanxian dreaming and headed to treat the magistrate’s daughter, intending to use the visit to get close to Xu Hanxian’s wife.

• Yin Yunze challenged Xu Hanxian over his concern for the court’s dignity, accusing him of fearing damage to his official career.
• Xu Hanxian flew into a rage but then drank several cups of wine and admitted nothing as Yin Yunze offered him a Beauty Dream Entry Technique.
• Xu Hanxian fell into a dream that Yin Yunze had extended to three years, and Yin Yunze returned the table, chairs, food, and pig feed to the real world, leaving Xu sprawled on the floor.
• Yin Yunze asked Peng Shulan to take him to Xu Hanxian’s residence so he could treat the magistrate’s gravely ill daughter.
• Yin Yunze planned to use the treatment to meet Xu Hanxian’s wife and stir trouble in the magistrate’s household.

Yin Yunze accompanied Peng Shulan to Xu Hanxian’s residence to treat his ill daughter, Yue'er, and convinced the skeptical household that he had supernatural healing powers. Zuo Xiaoyu accepted him as a divine fox and led him into the inner courtyard to see Yue'er.

• Peng Shulan brought Yin Yunze to Xu Hanxian’s home, where Steward Xu and Zuo Xiaoyu initially doubted that the young-looking visitor was a physician.
• Yin Yunze used healing talismans on Zuo Xiaoyu and Steward Xu, relieving their discomfort and restoring their vigor.
• Yin Yunze revealed himself as Green Hill Yi Yun, the Nine-Tail of Qingqiu Fox, and showed them the illusion of his nine tails.
• Zuo Xiaoyu knelt and begged Yin Yunze to save Yue'er, then led him into the inner courtyard while Steward Xu kept Peng Shulan outside.

Yin Yunze discovered that Xu Yue’s wasting sickness came from an evil entity stealing her Essence Blood and entered her nightmare to save her. Xu Yue woke believing a powerful white, nine-tailed fox had driven away the monsters.

• Zuo Xiaoyu brought Yin Yunze to see Xu Yue and explained that the girl had fallen ill seven days earlier and grown weaker despite seeing several physicians.
• Yin Yunze identified evil Qi and an evil entity as the cause, then used a dream talisman to enter Xu Yue’s nightmare.
• Yin Yunze found Xu Yue terrified in her parents’ bedroom, surrounded by dream ghosts and monsters.
• Yin Yunze transformed into a glowing white, nine-tailed fox and destroyed the monsters, restoring daylight to the dream.
• Yin Yunze left the dream, and Xu Yue soon woke and told Zuo Xiaoyu about the white fox that had rescued her.

Yin Yunze treated Xu Yue by driving out the Evil Qi and restoring her strength with talismans. He then offered to prepare her a healing meal, leaving Zuo Xiaoyu uneasy about the strange-looking mush he made.

• Zuo Xiaoyu thanked Yin Yunze for rescuing Xu Yue from her nightmare, and Xu Yue recognized him as the fox sister from her dream.
• Yin Yunze used an Expel Character Talisman to remove the Evil Qi from Xu Yue.
• Yin Yunze used a Heal Character Talisman to restore Xu Yue's strength, and she got out of bed feeling better.
• Xu Yue looked for Xu Hanxian, then asked Zuo Xiaoyu for food when she did not see him.
• Yin Yunze asked for boiling water and tableware, then made a bowl of mush from a compressed biscuit containing Heal Wounds and Cure Illness.
• Yin Yunze told Zuo Xiaoyu that the food would suit Xu Yue better than plain congee, though she could choose congee if Xu Yue disliked its taste.

Yin Yunze healed Xu Yue with fortified compressed biscuits and gave her a safety talisman, but warned Zuo Xiaoyu that an evil entity could harm her again until its method was uncovered. Xu Yue began recalling a possible clue and went to search a wardrobe.

• Zuo Xiaoyu tasted the fortified compressed biscuits before feeding them to Xu Yue, who eagerly ate the entire bowl.
• Yin Yunze realized he could seal divine powers into products such as biscuits, incense, paintings, and safety talismans.
• Yin Yunze gave Xu Yue a safety talisman and told Zuo Xiaoyu that Xu Yue needed a few more days to recover but remained in danger from the unknown evil entity.
• Zuo Xiaoyu offered to build Yin Yunze a temple and golden statue, but Yin Yunze declined and asked Xu Yue what she had encountered before falling ill.
• Xu Yue remembered something that might fit Yin Yunze's questions and climbed out of bed to search a wardrobe.