Chapter Thirteen: Tu Shan Ke

Zhou Hongxian had waited in bitter patience for nineteen years, and at last, in a single stroke, completed her cultivation—only to discover that she had transformed from a he into a she, a truth that left her with an unspoken sorrow. Yet when compared to the life of a fox, becoming human was, after all, a vast improvement. She could now walk upright and free her hands for work; such practical advantages could not be denied. To Zhou Hongxian, who remembered the awkwardness of first crossing into this world as a fox, this was, in its own way, progress.

Besides, there were many ways to console oneself. Zhou Hongxian thought, “If I can’t be a man, I’ll just stay single for life. In my past existence, I chased after more than a dozen girls, and not one liked me back—things can hardly get worse than that!”

After struggling with herself for a while in the water, Zhou Hongxian dutifully climbed ashore. But when her eyes fell on the red dress laid out by the pond, its bright hue made her hesitate once more.

Suddenly, the white fox’s voice rang out, “The color of this dress matches your own fur; why are you so indecisive? Are you perhaps disgusted with yourself?”

Zhou Hongxian was startled, and quickly asked, “Old Fox, how do you always know what I’m thinking? Do you have mind-reading powers?”

The white fox chuckled, “Mind-reading, yes, but only if I look into someone’s eyes. Now, even with my back to you, I can guess your thoughts—it’s simply because your mind is so easy to read!”

The last remark stung a bit, but Zhou Hongxian could only smile wryly. After all, Old Fox’s authority had loomed over her for years; she dared not voice her anger. Besides, her elders in her former life had often called her a silly boy—those words were usually affectionate scoldings. So she comforted herself by lumping Old Fox’s words into the same category.

Awkward and clumsy, she wrestled with the dress for quite some time before figuring out how to put it on. Once dressed, she couldn’t resist peering into the pond’s reflection. To her surprise, the dress fit perfectly, neither tight nor loose, accentuating every curve of her body. Even more thoughtful, the hem of the skirt concealed her tail completely. Every detail had been considered!

Suddenly, Zhou Hongxian snapped to her senses and scolded herself inwardly, “Why am I mooning over my own reflection? Have I no shame? This is perverse!”

“Old Fox, I’ve finished dressing.” Upon hearing this, the white fox turned slowly. When he saw Zhou Hongxian shyly tugging at her red skirt, her head bowed in embarrassment, his heart skipped a beat. In that instant, he was transported back to an evening long past, to the first encounter with the woman he had loved most.

“I still don’t know your name.”

“Your Majesty, I am Feng Xiaolian.”

“Xiaolian? How lovely! Don’t be shy, lift your head. Now that the Empress has recommended you to me, you are mine, and I shall love you more than any other woman in the world!”

As the man’s promises lingered in the air, the young woman lifted her head and smiled sweetly—a smile so radiant that it eclipsed all the lantern light around her. The man opened his arms, and she stepped forward, leaning into his embrace. The two melted into a passionate kiss.

The memory faded. The white fox returned to the present, staring at Zhou Hongxian, whose face mirrored that of his beloved. Emotions welled within him, and he spoke, “I used to call you Little Fox, but now that you’ve become human, it’s no longer fitting. Let me give you a new name. From now on, you shall be called Xiaolian.”

“Xiaolian?” Zhou Hongxian thought the name sounded far too feminine, and laughed, “No need, Old Fox—I already have a name!”

“You have a name?”

“Uh… I just thought of one. From now on, I’ll be Zhou Hongxian!”

The white fox was clearly displeased. “That’s not a good name. It sounds like a man’s name; it doesn’t suit your appearance at all.” Yet, turning away, he thought, “Never mind—she is only a substitute for Xiaolian. I gave her Xiaolian’s face so she could keep me company through this lonely millennium. I can’t let her take Xiaolian’s place in my heart.”

He spoke again, “If you dislike the name Xiaolian, I won’t force you. How about another name? Since you’re a red fox, I’ll call you Red Lady from now on.” This time, his tone brooked no refusal.

“Isn’t this still forcing me?” Zhou Hongxian felt bitter, but she knew Old Fox would be angry if she refused again. She could only sigh inwardly, “At least it’s not ‘Little Red’—that would remind me of the dark days as Xue Rengui’s pet! Since I still need his help, I’ll just go along with it. Red Lady it is, as long as I remember who I really am.”

In the end, she nodded obediently.

Seeing this, the white fox finally smiled. “Red Lady, come here. From today on, I’ll teach you some useful things.”

At this, Zhou Hongxian felt a little comforted. “So being forced to change my name comes with benefits—perhaps it’s not so bad after all.” Delighted, she ran to the white fox’s side. “Old Fox, are you going to teach me magic?”

“Magic?”

“Yes, yes! Could you teach me some illusions—at least ones that can fool ordinary people?” Zhou Hongxian grinned, plotting in secret to use such magic to turn herself into a handsome man and charm mortal women. Even if nothing real came of it, a Platonic romance would do—she meant to make up for a lifetime without love.

But the white fox only chuckled, “Red Lady, you’re overthinking things. Your cultivation is far too shallow for magic to be of any use to you.” As he finished speaking, he transformed before her eyes, assuming a human form.

But this time, he did not become the elderly man of before. Instead, he appeared as a young man in his twenties. He wore snow-white robes, his hair was lustrously black without a hint of gray, and his features were striking—his brows elegant, his lips red, his teeth white, his face as flawless as jade, and his beauty both delicate and handsome. He looked, Zhou Hongxian thought, like a celebrity idol with triple the star power.

Zhou Hongxian was startled, eyes wide. “Who—who are you? How dare you impersonate Old Fox?”

The young man laughed, but the voice that came from his lips was the same old, gravelly voice of the white fox. “I am Old Fox, and Old Fox is me. Red Lady, have you forgotten me?” Then his tone shifted to a youthful, melodious timbre. “The old fox form was just an illusion. This is my true second self.”

As he spoke, Zhou Hongxian suddenly recalled overhearing the conversation between Old Fox and the Fox King the day before. Thinking back, her confusion vanished, but all her feelings of respect for elders melted away, replaced by a sense of having been duped. She complained, “Old Fox, you deceived me for nineteen years—it was quite the trick!”

The young man laughed. “Red Lady, it was just a jest. It’s in the nature of us foxes—don’t be upset! Now that you’ve seen my second form, there’s no need to call me Old Fox anymore.”

Zhou Hongxian, too, found the term “Old Fox” hard to utter now. “Then what should I call you?”

“You overheard my conversation with the Fox King yesterday, so you may have guessed some things. In truth, I am the Fox King’s younger brother. My family name is Tushan, and my given name is Ke. I am the fifth among my brothers. From now on, you may call me Fifth Brother.”

“Tushan Ke? Fifth Brother Tushan?” Zhou Hongxian repeated the names inwardly as she gazed at the white fox, now a stranger to her.