Chapter 90: Two Little Foxes (Third Update)

Xu Yuan quietly went to Widow Yang's house and met Uncle Rong Kui.

"Any movement from Lin Qi today?"

Uncle Rong Kui answered lazily: "He's been in the shop the whole time, as honest as a grandson; I guess he's been scared out of his wits."

Since Old Man Qiao is dead, of course Lin Qi is afraid.

"Keep watching him."

Uncle Rong Kui agreed, then asked, "Did you have any gains going into the mountains today?"

Xu Yuan shook his head: "Heavy losses." Then he briefly explained the situation.

Uncle Rong Kui said, "Why take on this bitter task? Come back with me to the Demon-Extermination Army; we can head toward a great future together, wouldn't that be good?"

Xu Yuan didn't reply, nor did he want to stay here longer; after giving two more instructions, he turned and went back.

Arriving at the entrance of Zhao's Fur Shop, Xu Yuan did not go straight in; instead, he turned and entered the Liu Village Wine Shop across the street.

"What would the guest like... oh, it's Ah Yuan; you're doing well now, coming to support my business?"

Ah Guang was dozing behind the counter; hearing the noise, he quickly got up to greet him.

It was just past noon.

Xu Yuan pointed to the four half-man-high large wine jars behind the counter: "I want them all."

Ah Guang smiled: "There are many of you, but one jar is enough; you can't drink that much."

Xu Yuan said, "I'll buy them all; help me send a message to Wangxiang Village."

Ah Guang shook his head without hesitation: "I'm not going."

"Just like you usually deliver wine to the old mountain runners; if you agree, I'll give you another ten taels of silver."

Ah Guang came out from behind the counter, grabbed Xu Yuan's arm, and led him toward the backyard: "Come in with me."

In the small courtyard behind, the old couple sat side by side basking in the sun, still fumbling to weave straw ropes in their hands.

The two elders were hunched over, appearing aged and weak.

Their eyes were nothing but sockets.

Hearing the sound, Liu Laoguan tilted his ear and asked, "Ah Guang, is there a guest?"

"It's Ah Yuan back; he's come to visit you two elders."

"Oh," the old couple were very happy: "Pour Ah Yuan half a jin of good wine..."

Xu Yuan hurriedly declined: "Uncle Liu, no need; I don't drink alcohol. I just came to see you two; if there's nothing else, I'll head back now."

"Good, good, good; come sit often when you're free."

Ah Guang brought Xu Yuan back to the front shop and said, "You went out this morning; it's only noon now, and only half of you have returned. Ah Yuan, it's not that I won't help you, but with the old couple in this state, I must stay alive to care for them in their old age and bury them!"

Xu Yuan silently nodded, unable to say anything more; he turned and walked out two steps, then turned back: "Give me ten jin of the best; the lords of the Impurity-Dispelling Bureau can't drink inferior wine."

"Very well." Ah Guang poured ten jin of good wine for him but only charged the cost.

Xu Yuan returned to Zhao's Fur Shop and handed the wine jars to the Captains: "Warm yourselves tonight; don't drink too much."

Then he went upstairs; Master Yan hurried out to meet him: "Have you thought of a way?"

Xu Yuan sat down before saying, "Ah Guang won't go; I can't force him."

Master Yan sat down in disappointment: "Oh, then there's no way."

"Actually, there is a way..."

Xu Yuan looked at the sky and said, "Send a few men to me; hurry up, we can still make it today."

Master Yan assigned two Captains to accompany Xu Yuan, then went out again.

Xu Yuan headed straight for the west end of the town.

When entering the town yesterday, Xu Yuan had seen a new restaurant opened here.

It hadn't existed before; the only place in town that could be called a restaurant was Old Man Qiao's Yifang Pavilion.

Other families couldn't stay in business.

It was already past mealtime; no one was in the shop when Xu Yuan entered. Xu Yuan tapped the table and called out, "Waiter!"

Someone in the back kitchen quickly replied, "Coming, coming."

Then a waiter ran out; seeing Xu Yuan, he smiled: "Ah Yuan, what would you like to eat?"

The waiter was an acquaintance in town, Xi Yazi; he was a local of the town.

"Do you have live chickens?"

No one in town raised chickens or ducks; except for Ah Hua, they had all been eaten by evil spirits that slipped through doors and drilled holes.

"You're lucky; two were brought in this morning, none sold at noon, and the Shopkeeper is worried."

"Give me all of them." Xu Yuan paid, then asked, "Recently, have any foxes been appearing around the town?"

"Yes," Xi Yazi laughed heartily: "Two little foxes came running from somewhere two days ago; as soon as it got dark, they secretly slipped in to steal and eat chickens.

Then they ran into Ah Hua's hands, got pecked until they squealed wildly, and darted out the east end, hahaha; they must be foxes from out of town; who around here doesn't know Ah Hua..."

Xu Yuan nodded: "Where have they been appearing?"

"How would I know that? I wouldn't dare go look. But these past few days, merchants all say they heard foxes calling on the road when entering the town; it should be by the government road to the northeast."

Xu Yuan had the two Captains carry the chickens and leave.

Arriving at the government road to the northeast outside the town, they killed the chickens, scattered the chicken blood, and then made some arrangements.

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

The two little foxes had teary eyes, their front paws constantly clasping in a bow, begging for their lives.

Family, who understands? This world is too hard!

Originally, we were happily living in a ruined temple outside the county town, but then a blood-and-flesh-mangled thing came, scaring us into running back to the countryside to seek refuge with two aunts.

Who would have thought the countryside is even more dangerous.

Tried to sneak into a village to steal a chicken, only to get pecked by the chicken.

Picked up some wild food by the roadside, and was caught by cunning humans.

【63】 "Stop pretending to be pitiful." Xu Yuan shouted: "I'm here to ask you, do you recognize those two at Plum Blossom Pool?"

"Stop pretending to be pitiful," Xu Yuan roared. "I'm asking you: do you recognize those two at Plum Blossom Pool?"

Light appeared in the eyes of the two little foxes: "You know two aunts?"

But they quickly realized, the aunts like to go naked; if this person knows them... he is not a good person!

Xu Yuan was also surprised; he originally just wanted to find a fox to deliver a message, yet he found "relatives."

Xu Yuan pointed casually at one of them: "You go back, tell those two to come here, I have matters to discuss with them. Tell them I have great benefits for them."

Then he pointed at the other: "You stay, as a hostage... a fox hostage. If I don't see them within two days, I'll turn you into a scarf!"

The released one still had teary eyes, lying on the side and refusing to leave.

"Oh, your clan is quite valuing emotion deeply."

The little fox rubbed its small front paws, forcing itself to ask: "Who are you? How should I tell the two aunts about you?"

Xu Yuan slapped his forehead: "Tell them I'm an old friend who introduced them to a good deal recently."

"Oh." The little fox responded, then leaped up and burrowed into the grass, disappearing.

Xu Yuan, carrying the other teary-eyed little creature, returned with the two Captains.

"Rest assured," Xu Yuan said, "I have a very good relationship with your two aunts; they won't abandon you."

Back at the Zhao Fur Shop, Xu Yuan handed the little fox over to Dafu for care.

The big white goose strutted arrogantly, looking down on everyone!

The little fox trembled, hiding from Dafu and curling into a small ball against the wall corner.

Why is my life so bitter? Where did this strange creature come from, and why did I have to meet it?

After dinner, Xu Yuan told the Captains to go rest: "I will take the watch tonight."

A few Captains felt uneasy: "Young Master Xu, let us handle this matter."

After the battle in the mountains during the day, everyone actually understood in their hearts that without Xu Yuan, they would all have perished.

Even those among them who had previously felt jealousy towards Xu Yuan were now convinced.

They felt that night watch and scouting were bitter tasks that should be their duty.

Xu Yuan waved his hand: "Things might happen tonight."

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

Xu Yuan was not certain either if the pair of water ghost sisters would come.

But he urgently needed a channel for information to understand the true situation in the mountains.

Xu Yuan sat alone on the first floor; after the sky turned completely dark, he lit an oil lamp.

Only a goose and a fox accompanied him.

(End of this chapter)