[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-nothing-is-taboo":3,"chapter-nothing-is-taboo-nothing-is-taboo-chapter-90":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Nothing Is Taboo",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2310475,4514,"Chapter 90: Two Little Foxes (Third Update)","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-90",90,"\u003Cp>Xu Yuan slipped over to Yang’s widow’s house and met Uncle Zheng Rongkui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s Lin Qi been up to today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Zheng Rongkui replied lazily: “He’s been stuck in the shop, as meek as a grandson—probably scared out of his wits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Qiao is dead; of course Lin Qi is afraid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keep watching him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Zheng Rongkui nodded and asked: “Did you find anything in the mountains today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan shook his head: “Heavy losses.” Then he gave a brief account of what happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan said nothing, didn’t want to linger, gave two more instructions, and turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What would the guest like… oh, it’s Ah Yuan—you’ve made it big now, come to support my business?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah Guang, dozing behind the counter, hurried up at the sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just past noon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan pointed to the four large wine jars, half a man’s height, behind the counter: “I’ll take them all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah Guang laughed: “You’ve got many men, but one jar’s enough—you won’t drink that much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan said: “I’m buying them all. Help me send a message to Wangxiang Village.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah Guang shook his head without hesitation: “I won’t go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just like you normally deliver wine to the old mountain hunters—you agree, and I’ll give you ten taels of silver.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah Guang stepped out from behind the counter, grabbed Xu Yuan’s arm, and pulled him toward the back courtyard: “Come with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the small courtyard behind, the old couple sat side by side in the sun, still fumbling with strands of straw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their bodies were hunched, frail and aged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes were nothing but hollows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the noise, Old Liu asked, squinting: “Ah Guang, is there a guest?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s Ah Yuan back—he’s come to visit you two.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh,” the old couple were delighted: “Pour Ah Yuan half a pound of good wine…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan quickly declined: “Uncle Liu, no need—I don’t drink. I just came to see you. I’ll be going now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, alright, come by often.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright.” Ah Guang filled ten jin of good wine, but charged only the cost price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he went upstairs; Yan Lao hurried out to meet him: “Have you thought of a plan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan sat down and said: “Ah Guang won’t go. I can’t force him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Lao sat down, disappointed: “Oh, then we’re out of options.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not entirely without options…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan glanced at the sky: “Assign me a few men—hurry, we can still make it today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Lao assigned two Captains to follow Xu Yuan, and they went out together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan headed straight for the western edge of town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When entering town yesterday, Xu Yuan had noticed a new restaurant here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There hadn’t been one before—the only place in town worthy of the name “restaurant” was Master Qiao’s Yifang Pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others couldn’t survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was past mealtime; the shop was empty. Xu Yuan knocked on the table and called: “Waiter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone in the kitchen hurriedly answered: “Coming, coming!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A waiter rushed out, recognized Xu Yuan, and grinned: “Ah Yuan! What’ll you have?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The waiter was a familiar face from town—Xi Yaizi, a local.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you have live chickens?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one in town raised chickens or ducks—except Ah Hua; the rest had been eaten by lurking demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re lucky—we got two this morning, didn’t sell them by noon, and the boss is worried sick.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Give me both.” Xu Yuan paid, then asked: “Lately, have there been foxes around town?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan nodded: “Where do they appear?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan sent the two Captains off with the chickens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the northeast road outside town, they killed the chickens, spread the blood, and made some other preparations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later, the two foolish little foxes were caught.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two little foxes had watery eyes, their front paws constantly bowing in pleading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Family, who understands? This world is too hard!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turns out the countryside is even more dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We tried sneaking into a village to steal a chicken—and got pecked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We picked up some wild scraps by the roadside—and got caught by crafty humans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop pretending to be pitiful,” Xu Yuan snapped. “I’m asking you: do you know the two at Plum Pond?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two little foxes’ eyes lit up: “You know our two aunts?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they quickly realized—the aunts liked to go naked; if this man knew them… he wasn’t good!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan was surprised too—he’d just wanted to find a fox to deliver a message, and now he’d found “relatives.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The released one still had watery eyes, crouched on the ground, unwilling to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Your kind’s quite loyal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The little fox rubbed its tiny front paws, mustered courage, and asked: “Who are you? How do I tell the two aunts about you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan slapped his forehead: “Tell them—the old friend who introduced them to that good deal recently.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.” The little fox replied, then leapt up and vanished into the grass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan picked up the other tearful little creature and returned with the two Captains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry,” Xu Yuan said. “I’m on good terms with your two aunts—they won’t abandon you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back at Zhao’s Fur Shop, Xu Yuan handed the little fox over to Da Fu to guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The great white goose strutted arrogantly, utterly disdainful!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The little fox trembled, cowering in a tight ball against the wall, avoiding Da Fu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why is my fate so cruel? Where did this strange thing come from—and why did I have to meet it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After dinner, Xu Yuan told the Captains to rest: “I’ll stand watch tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few Captains felt uneasy: “Young Master Xu, let us handle this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the battle in the mountains today, everyone knew—if not for Xu Yuan, they’d all be dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even those who’d once been jealous of him now accepted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They felt night watch and scouting duties were rightfully theirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan waved them off: “Something might happen tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Captains understood, bowed, and returned to their rooms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan wasn’t sure whether the two water ghosts would come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he urgently needed a channel of information to learn the true situation in the mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan sat alone on the first floor; after darkness fell, he lit an oil lamp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a goose and a fox accompanied him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1370,"2026-06-20T12:07:23.516Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f033cf02ec53fe9e4c39de0582f7da1ad7f710d26840c2288499e638abe1a829","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-91","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-89",413,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fnothing-is-taboo-cover.jpg"]