Chapter 90: Two Little Foxes (Third Update)

Xu Yuan slipped over to Yang’s widow’s house and met Uncle Zheng Rongkui.

“What’s Lin Qi been up to today?”

Uncle Zheng Rongkui replied lazily: “He’s been stuck in the shop, as meek as a grandson—probably scared out of his wits.”

Master Qiao is dead; of course Lin Qi is afraid.

“Keep watching him.”

Uncle Zheng Rongkui nodded and asked: “Did you find anything in the mountains today?”

Xu Yuan shook his head: “Heavy losses.” Then he gave a brief account of what happened.

Uncle Zheng Rongkui said: “Why take on this miserable job? Come back with me to the Demon Extermination Army—we’ll build great futures together, wouldn’t that be better?”

Xu Yuan said nothing, didn’t want to linger, gave two more instructions, and turned to leave.

At the entrance to Zhao’s Fur Shop, Xu Yuan didn’t go in directly; instead, he turned into Liu’s Village Wine Shop across the street.

“What would the guest like… oh, it’s Ah Yuan—you’ve made it big now, come to support my business?”

Ah Guang, dozing behind the counter, hurried up at the sound.

It was just past noon.

Xu Yuan pointed to the four large wine jars, half a man’s height, behind the counter: “I’ll take them all.”

Ah Guang laughed: “You’ve got many men, but one jar’s enough—you won’t drink that much.”

Xu Yuan said: “I’m buying them all. Help me send a message to Wangxiang Village.”

Ah Guang shook his head without hesitation: “I won’t go.”

“Just like you normally deliver wine to the old mountain hunters—you agree, and I’ll give you ten taels of silver.”

Ah Guang stepped out from behind the counter, grabbed Xu Yuan’s arm, and pulled him toward the back courtyard: “Come with me.”

In the small courtyard behind, the old couple sat side by side in the sun, still fumbling with strands of straw.

Their bodies were hunched, frail and aged.

Their eyes were nothing but hollows.

Hearing the noise, Old Liu asked, squinting: “Ah Guang, is there a guest?”

“It’s Ah Yuan back—he’s come to visit you two.”

“Oh,” the old couple were delighted: “Pour Ah Yuan half a pound of good wine…”

Xu Yuan quickly declined: “Uncle Liu, no need—I don’t drink. I just came to see you. I’ll be going now.”

“Alright, alright, come by often.”

Ah Guang brought Xu Yuan back to the front shop and said: “You left this morning, and now it’s noon—you’ve only returned half your men. Ah Yuan, it’s not that I won’t help you, but with these two old folks like this, I must stay alive to care for them till their end!”

Xu Yuan nodded silently, had nothing more to say, turned and took two steps toward the door, then turned back: “Give me ten jin of the best—you know, these officials from the Purification Office can’t drink cheap wine.”

“Alright.” Ah Guang filled ten jin of good wine, but charged only the cost price.

…

Xu Yuan returned to Zhao’s Fur Shop and handed the wine jars to the Captains: “Drink tonight to ward off the cold—but don’t overdo it.”

Then he went upstairs; Yan Lao hurried out to meet him: “Have you thought of a plan?”

Xu Yuan sat down and said: “Ah Guang won’t go. I can’t force him.”

Yan Lao sat down, disappointed: “Oh, then we’re out of options.”

“It’s not entirely without options…”

Xu Yuan glanced at the sky: “Assign me a few men—hurry, we can still make it today.”

Yan Lao assigned two Captains to follow Xu Yuan, and they went out together.

Xu Yuan headed straight for the western edge of town.

When entering town yesterday, Xu Yuan had noticed a new restaurant here.

There hadn’t been one before—the only place in town worthy of the name “restaurant” was Master Qiao’s Yifang Pavilion.

Others couldn’t survive.

It was past mealtime; the shop was empty. Xu Yuan knocked on the table and called: “Waiter.”

Someone in the kitchen hurriedly answered: “Coming, coming!”

A waiter rushed out, recognized Xu Yuan, and grinned: “Ah Yuan! What’ll you have?”

The waiter was a familiar face from town—Xi Yaizi, a local.

“Do you have live chickens?”

No one in town raised chickens or ducks—except Ah Hua; the rest had been eaten by lurking demons.

“You’re lucky—we got two this morning, didn’t sell them by noon, and the boss is worried sick.”

“Give me both.” Xu Yuan paid, then asked: “Lately, have there been foxes around town?”

“Oh yes,” Xi Yaizi laughed: “A couple days ago, two little foxes showed up from somewhere—right after dark, they sneaked in to steal chickens.”

They ran straight into Ah Hua’s claws, squealing and scrambling out the east end—hahaha, definitely outsiders; anyone local knows better than to mess with Ah Hua…”

Xu Yuan nodded: “Where do they appear?”

“How would I know? I wouldn’t dare go look—but travelers say they’ve heard fox cries on the road when entering town—probably near the northeast road.”

Xu Yuan sent the two Captains off with the chickens.

On the northeast road outside town, they killed the chickens, spread the blood, and made some other preparations.

Half an hour later, the two foolish little foxes were caught.

The two little foxes had watery eyes, their front paws constantly bowing in pleading.

Family, who understands? This world is too hard!

We were happily living in a ruined temple outside the county, until some bloody mess showed up and scared us into fleeing back to the countryside to find our two aunts.

Turns out the countryside is even more dangerous.

We tried sneaking into a village to steal a chicken—and got pecked.

We picked up some wild scraps by the roadside—and got caught by crafty humans.

“Stop pretending to be pitiful,” Xu Yuan snapped. “I’m asking you: do you know the two at Plum Pond?”

The two little foxes’ eyes lit up: “You know our two aunts?”

But they quickly realized—the aunts liked to go naked; if this man knew them… he wasn’t good!

Xu Yuan was surprised too—he’d just wanted to find a fox to deliver a message, and now he’d found “relatives.”

Xu Yuan pointed at one: “You go back. Tell them both to come here—I have something to discuss. Tell them I have a great benefit for them.”

Then he pointed at the other: “You stay—human hostage… fox hostage. In two days, if I don’t see them, I’ll turn you into a fur collar!”

The released one still had watery eyes, crouched on the ground, unwilling to leave.

“Oh? Your kind’s quite loyal.”

The little fox rubbed its tiny front paws, mustered courage, and asked: “Who are you? How do I tell the two aunts about you?”

Xu Yuan slapped his forehead: “Tell them—the old friend who introduced them to that good deal recently.”

“Oh.” The little fox replied, then leapt up and vanished into the grass.

Xu Yuan picked up the other tearful little creature and returned with the two Captains.

“Don’t worry,” Xu Yuan said. “I’m on good terms with your two aunts—they won’t abandon you.”

Back at Zhao’s Fur Shop, Xu Yuan handed the little fox over to Da Fu to guard.

The great white goose strutted arrogantly, utterly disdainful!

The little fox trembled, cowering in a tight ball against the wall, avoiding Da Fu.

Why is my fate so cruel? Where did this strange thing come from—and why did I have to meet it?

After dinner, Xu Yuan told the Captains to rest: “I’ll stand watch tonight.”

A few Captains felt uneasy: “Young Master Xu, let us handle this.”

After the battle in the mountains today, everyone knew—if not for Xu Yuan, they’d all be dead.

Even those who’d once been jealous of him now accepted him.

They felt night watch and scouting duties were rightfully theirs.

Xu Yuan waved them off: “Something might happen tonight.”

The Captains understood, bowed, and returned to their rooms.

Xu Yuan wasn’t sure whether the two water ghosts would come.

But he urgently needed a channel of information to learn the true situation in the mountains.

Xu Yuan sat alone on the first floor; after darkness fell, he lit an oil lamp.

Only a goose and a fox accompanied him.

(End of Chapter)