Chapter 94: Fond of Being a Fox Master (Bonus Chapter 2)

Xu Fu and Xu Mu followed Xu Jia out the door just like that, sat on a donkey cart, and headed toward the Fox Immortal Hall in Niu Jiaji.

Hu Jinhua in the Fox Immortal Hall sensed them and stopped the foxes and weasels who were still fighting: "Are you all trying to revolt? Master Xu is bringing his parents here, and you are still brawling!"

The foxes immediately looked at one another, stopped fighting, pretended to be well-behaved, and quickly tidied up the scene.

Those who had not taken human form hid themselves up on the Back Mountain.

Xu Fu and Xu Mu were also at this secret base for the first time, and they saw Niu Congcong sitting there wearing a five-colored skirt and decorating a mask with chicken feathers: "Congcong? Why are you here too?"

Niu Congcong went "Aha," stood up, and said: "Uncle!"

Then he pretended to be simple-minded and laughed.

He did not yet know that Xu Jia had confessed the matter of his cultivation to his parents.

Xu Jia said: "I invited the two elders here to eat chicken; this counts as a family banquet. Why didn't you invite your father and mother to come as well?"

"Ah? Is that allowed?" Niu Congcong was somewhat surprised.

Xu Jia said: "Our two families have always been on good terms. We are schoolmates, and my father and your father are also schoolmates. As for them, I will naturally give instructions so that they won't be frightened."

"But, that Ginseng was something I stole!"

Niu Congcong sighed: "But then again, this Century-Old Ginseng is common, but a Century-Old Rooster is truly rare!"

Xu Jia laughed: "That's true, go quickly. Right, I will write a post; you find someone to send it to the Earth Temple and Jinsha Creek. We are going to host them for a banquet tonight too."

Xu Jia was using this chicken for many dishes and many purposes.

One could only say that this Reverse-Feather Chicken demon died for a worthy cause and died very valuably.

Xu Fu and Xu Mu entered the Fox Immortal Hall, looking left and right. They were first attracted by the large tree, then captivated by various Talismans. As they stepped into the main hall, they saw several strange-looking people lined up in two rows, respectfully saying: "Greetings, Grandmaster!"

Xu Fu was startled. Looking closely, although these people had initially taken human form, their clothes moved behind them as if tails were twitching, or their eyes were a ghostly green, or they had animal whiskers on their faces, or the teeth revealed by their smiles were sharp canine teeth.

Yet, they all wore ingratiating smiles.

Xu Mu chanted repeatedly: "Amitabha!"

Xu Fu feigned composure, but a sense of urgency to urinate still surged into his bladder.

Xu Jia introduced them: "Father, Mother, these few are the disciples under my tutelage: Hu Jinhua, Hu Duxiu, Hu Butang, and Hu Delu."

"These two are Huang Silang and Huang Jiuniang. Although they are not my disciples, they have some Karmic Connection and count as students."

Xu Fu deliberated and said: "These disciples and students of yours truly have strange appearances!"

Huang Silang, wearing a small cap, asked curiously: "What does 'strange appearance' mean? Is it a compliment to us? Grandmaster, do you think I look like a human?"

Xu Jia: Hmm? You certainly know how to take advantage.

Xu Fu deliberated and said: "How many human virtues do you possess? Like the four beginnings of man, how many do you have? To possess the four beginnings is to be a human. Do you have the heart of compassion, the heart of shame and dislike, the heart of modesty and yielding, and the heart of right and wrong?"

Huang Silang was shocked. Master Xu, who just made us write essays on eating chicken, was already a heavyweight; what is this "four beginnings" thing? Is it for eating? Using? Playing? Xu Fu shook his head: "Ignorant and muddled."

He then looked at Xu Jia: Is this the result of your teaching?

Xu Jia made a mental note against Huang Silang.

Hu Jinhua pulled Huang Silang down and said: "They are all young and ignorant, Grandmaster, please do not blame them!"

Hu Jinhua appeared to be a very kind old lady. Xu Fu did not dare to act superior, as respecting the elderly was a traditional virtue.

"How old are you this year, old lady? How can my son teach you?" "I dare not call myself 'honorable' in front of Grandmaster; I am fifty this year."

Xu Fu: Only a few years older than me? No, is she also a fox? Hu Jinhua, having been enlightened by Xu Jia, already had a kind expression and full human nature. When she moved, she was like a truly old, experienced lady. Her tail was well-hidden, and she was basically a complete human form.

Xu Jia unfolded the table from the previous altar, personally preparing bowls, plates, and chopsticks. The little foxes volunteered, taking rags to wipe here and there.

They used their tails to sweep away the dust, being very sensible.

Xu Mu was delighted to see this: "They have a better eye for things than your father; they see work to be done, which is very pleasing."

She was no longer afraid and asked: "What is your situation? Why are you following my son to cultivate?"

"We first formed a Karmic Connection with Master Xu. Master Xu was harmed by an Evil Master; that day he crawled out of the coffin and even gave us a fright!"

"Later, we worshipped the stars and cultivated our life force to save Master Xu, which led to everything that followed."

Xu Fu suddenly remembered: "That day my son was helped back by an old lady. We wanted to thank her, but the person had already left. Could it have been you?"

"Haha, it was indeed me." Hu Jinhua did not expect Xu Fu to still remember her and was very happy. She said: "I didn't expect that to be the beginning of our fate, to the point where Master Xu felt we were teachable, passed down the true Dharma to us, taught us the principles of being human, and arranged this place for us to settle."

Xu Fu said: "What principles of being human could he have? He has no life experience."

He then asked: "What books does he teach you to read?"

The foxes: Numb!

Why is this whole family like this!

"We read primers to learn characters, and also the Shurangama Mantra," Hu Jinhua said honestly.

"Primers to learn characters—that is at least down-to-earth." Xu Fu stroked his beard, already looking like a Master: "Have you read the Family Instructions?"

"No..."

"Then have you read the Thousand Character Classic?"

"Neither."

Xu Fu glanced at Xu Jia: "You taught them nothing! How do you have the nerve to talk about your teaching philosophy of 'education without discrimination'?"

But Xu Jia had outsourced all of this to Niu Congcong; one could only say Niu Congcong's level was not up to par.

Xu Fu deliberated and said: "I happen to be building an Earth Temple, and there is a schoolhouse behind the temple. After the schoolhouse is built, you can go in to study. Before that, since I have some free time now, you can come to the Xu Family Study. I will teach you myself. Not teaching this and not teaching that is simply misleading the students. Although you are ignorant, you are thirsty for knowledge; you must not waste your time."

Xu Mu also said: "You have actually learned the Shurangama Mantra, but have you learned the Guanyin Heart Sutra?"

Hu Jinhua then explained that their ancestors practiced Wild Fox Zen.

Xu Mu was curious: "What kind of Zen method is that?"

Hu Jinhua stammered, finding it difficult to say it was Joyful Yoga.

Xu Jia said: "Their Karmic Connection with the Buddha is ordinary, and they have strayed into heterodox paths. I am working hard to pull them back to the right path."

Xu Fu, meanwhile, was still talking incessantly, explaining the principles of the scriptures to the foxes.

By the time Niu Congcong's parents arrived, Xu Jia also took a moment to check how the pot of chicken soup was coming along.

Although there were no boiled eggs, there was boiled chicken soup; this pot of chicken soup was just right for starting Xu Jia on the path of "Hundred Days Foundation Establishment."

Because Hu Jinhua had been fanning the flames with a Wind Fan, coupled with the enhancement of the Fire Qi Incantation, the chicken soup had been stewed to perfection; the soup was thick and white, and a Ginseng was swimming about in it.

Xu Jia tasted a spoonful: Mmm, delicious! (End of chapter)