“…Real or fake? It can be like that? Huh?” The Daoist spoke incoherently. “What do we do? How’s it doing now? It’s okay, right?”
“It’s fine for the moment.” Chen Ji shrugged. “It’s that fox spirit I mentioned last time… Want me to show you?”
Chen Ji grabbed his phone and headed to the chicken coop. He hadn’t even stepped inside when he heard the snoring. Shining his phone light inside, he saw the Red Fox curled up asleep like a little piglet. He went in, scooped it up, and propped up its chin with his arm. “Here, this is it. Pretty pitiful, huh.”
“…”
The Daoist fell silent for a moment before roaring, “Put it down! Put it down right now!”
The Daoist’s bellow startled the Red Fox awake. It snapped open its big, glossy black eyes and stared at the phone screen, spotting the priest. All the Daoist could see in the dim video was a pair of glowing green lights glaring right at him, sending chills down his spine.
Chen Ji watched as the man and fox locked eyes, both looking utterly baffled.
He adjusted his angle and stepped into the sunlight. The screen brightened instantly. The Red Fox noticed Chen Ji and let out a pitiful whimper before burying its head in his arms, shivering all over.
Chen Ji held it with one arm and patted it gently. “Don’t be scared. This is my friend. He’s not here to catch you.”
The Red Fox had just eaten a free-range chicken that Chen Ji brought back that day, and it was at the peak of its affection for him. When Chen Ji set it down, it clung desperately to his leg, its stubby little legs kicking frantically as it tried to climb right back into his arms.
The Daoist: “…”
He knew Chen Ji was no good! Who else went to the City God Temple terrified out of their mind just a little while ago—begging and pleading with every trick in the book—only to turn around and dive headfirst into all this supernatural nonsense?
What kind of decent person kept a fox spirit in their home, the kind that brought ruin to entire families?
Look at how clingy it was. No one would buy that he’d only picked it up a few days ago!
Chen Ji casually showed the Daoist the Red Fox’s injuries. “What should it eat to heal these wounds fastest?”
The Daoist snorted coldly. “Feed it two people. It’ll be dancing up a storm on the spot afterward.”
Chen Ji replied offhandedly, “Should I drop it off at the City God Temple then?”
The Daoist: “…Give it some aged tonic herbs.”
“Thanks!” Chen Ji ruffled the fox’s head. “Tomorrow I’ll head into the mountains and see if there’s anything you can eat…”
Before he could finish, an urgent voice cut in: 【What food? What food?!】
A streak of brown flashed in from outside the coop and landed squarely on Chen Ji’s shoulder. Second Master Huang settled in expertly, tugging at a lock of Chen Ji’s stray hair with his paw. 【Chen Ji! Did you eat chicken at your place? Why didn’t you call me?… Hey? Are you on the phone with someone?】
The Red Fox, which had been trying to stick to Chen Ji, let out a whimper and bolted to the corner.
Chen Ji was a bit surprised. He turned his head to Second Master Huang. “Does Second Grandpa know about this?”
Second Master Huang lifted his head proudly. 【It’s just a phone, right? I’ve seen tons of people using them!】
Chen Ji stood up and tucked Second Master Huang into his arms. The weasel’s sleek, flexible body molded perfectly to his forearm, its long tail swaying leisurely. It looked utterly content.
After studying it carefully for a few moments, the Daoist flipped Chen Ji the bird, ended the video call with a smack, blocked him in a flash, struck a corpse pose, and prepared for his afternoon nap.
Less than five seconds later, the Daoist popped his eyes open and flipped Chen Ji off telepathically from afar.
—Damn it, no need to cleanse him anymore. This guy’s seriously unclean!
—Damn it, he still wants to save him?! Save what?! Who’s saving who here?!
Chen Ji just shrugged, unperturbed by the Daoist’s outburst. If the Daoist hadn’t been so impulsive—if he hadn’t blurted something out—Chen Ji wouldn’t have been able to threaten him so easily. Kind of cute, really.
“Second Grandpa, what brings you here?” Chen Ji carried Second Master Huang back to the bedroom, thinking he’d snap a photo of the yellow talisman later and have the Daoist analyze it. After all, pros should handle pro stuff.
【Out for a stroll~!】 Second Master Huang rolled onto his back, exposing his milk-tea-colored belly. Chen Ji couldn’t resist giving the soft fur a rub. Second Master Huang squinted in bliss and asked lazily, 【Any packages? If there are, I’ll swing down the mountain later and grab them for you.】
“Second Grandpa’s heading down the mountain?” Chen Ji asked curiously.
There seemed to be an invisible line between the mountain and the village below. Plenty of demons and ghosts lurked up here, and not all of them were good folk who stuck to their morals and left mortals alone. Yet Shangyang Village hadn’t had any trouble in over a decade. Grandpa Mountain Lord must have laid down the law, keeping them from venturing down easily.
【Got some business to handle!】 Second Grandpa replied vaguely. Then, with a nimble somersault, he clambered onto Chen Ji’s chest. 【There are a few good things in the mountains. Tomorrow I’ll have the little ones take you to pick some and eat ’em for fun!】
Chen Ji sensed something was off. He probed, “What kind of urgent business?”
Second Master Huang flicked his tail, his beady eyes sparkling. But he said, 【Mind your own business, kid!】
Chen Ji said casually, “If you’re going down to find the Wang family, you won’t. They’re still in the hospital.”
Second Master Huang: 【Who said anything about the Wang family? As if I’d bother with trash like that!】
Chen Ji thought of Second Master Huang’s two-meter-eight dharma image and figured it wasn’t that petty. Was Grandpa Mountain Lord such a grudge-holder? Did he know the Wangs had survived and plan to keep tormenting them?
“Second Grandpa must be hungry. Let me get you something to eat.” Chen Ji changed the subject. Second Master Huang nodded eagerly. 【Egg yolk pastries!】
Chen Ji took him straight to the storage room, hauled out a whole box of egg yolk pastries, set Second Master Huang inside to munch away, and cracked open a bottle of soda nearby so he could poke his head out and sip. From the corner of his eye, Chen Ji spotted the new shipment of chocolate, tore it open, and tossed it into the box too.
—Dogs die from chocolate, but whether regular weasels do was unknown. A weasel spirit, though? Probably fine.
Second Master Huang was instantly enchanted by the sweet, fragrant treats. 【Mmm? This smells amazing!】
Chen Ji tweaked one of Second Master Huang’s half-round ears with his fingertip, making it twitch sensitively. “Second Grandpa, try a little first. Some animals can’t have this…”
Second Master Huang chomped one down immediately. He chewed voraciously, the high-sugar treat turning him into a blissed-out fool. He mumbled around it, 【Your Huang Grandpa’s eaten raw rat poison and been fine—!】
Chen Ji chuckled. “Then I’m off for my nap?”
Second Master Huang swished his tail. 【Go on, go on!】
True to his word, Chen Ji headed back to the bedroom. He snapped a photo of the yellow talisman and sent it to the Daoist—earning a red exclamation mark, as expected. Without waiting for a reply, he fired off an MMS.
System Cat: 【Chen Ji, I’ve lined up the construction crew. Got the price down to eight thousand. They’re starting tomorrow morning.】
Chen Ji ruffled the System Cat’s head. 【Baobao’s the best!】
The System Cat nuzzled against him habitually, then flipped over and sprawled beside him. The afternoon sun streamed through the window, warming the quilt to a toasty glow. Before long, man and cat were both fast asleep.
…
“Master Chen! Master Chen?! Wake up!” Chen Ji was shaken awake by a somewhat unfamiliar middle-aged man who gazed at him anxiously. “Master Chen, come on, wake up! It’s almost too late!”
Chen Ji blinked at him in confusion. Who was this guy? And how had he suddenly appeared in the Mountain Lord Temple?
The man’s hand waved in front of Chen Ji’s face, snapping him back. Chen Ji studied his features and suddenly remembered. Oh, right—Uncle Zhou!
“Uncle Zhou, what’s going on?” Chen Ji asked.
Uncle Zhou’s furrowed brow eased as Chen Ji came around. He spoke rapidly. “Everyone’s waiting for Master Chen! Come with me!”
“What do you mean, come with—?” Chen Ji started, but Uncle Zhou had already slung a satchel over his back—stuffed with what looked like Chen Ji’s things. Uncle Zhou grabbed his arm and hustled him outside, chattering all the way. “Didn’t Master Chen agree earlier? How could you forget? The sedan chair’s waiting out front!”
Chen Ji took two steps after him and immediately felt an unnatural heaviness in his limbs, bone-deep exhaustion washing over him. Those few steps nearly buckled his knees; Uncle Zhou’s support was the only thing keeping him upright. Uncle Zhou pushed open the door, and Chen Ji saw two young men waiting by a litter. They stubbed out their cigarettes and chorused, “Master!”
Chen Ji wobbled as if unsteady and gripped the doorframe. Glancing sideways, he spotted the scratches he’d left there a couple days ago while moving stuff. Uncle Zhou asked with concern, “Master, you alright?”
“…” Chen Ji paused a moment before saying, “Forgot something. Wait outside. Don’t come in.”
Uncle Zhou blinked in surprise, then stepped out and closed the door behind him.
【Xiao Ba.】 Chen Ji called mentally a couple times. No response. He tried again. Still silence.
Something was definitely wrong.
He’d clearly been napping. So why had this group shown up out of nowhere? Either way, it was obvious—he shouldn’t leave the Mountain Lord Temple with them.
Chen Ji folded the yellow talisman from his nightstand and slipped it into his pocket.
He scanned the room, wondering what else he had for self-defense… On impulse, he touched his chest—where the Daoist had given him a protective charm. Pulling it out, he saw the yellow talisman inside had turned to black ash.
…What the hell was going on?
“Master Chen? Master? You ready?” Uncle Zhou’s voice came from outside.
Chen Ji opened the door and said calmly to him, “I have to pay respects to Grandpa Mountain Lord first.”
Uncle Zhou bowed his head. “Of course, of course…”
He stepped forward to help Chen Ji, but Chen Ji waved him off and sidestepped. Slowly, he made his way into the main hall and looked up at the statue.
The idol was still weathered, but faint traces of gilding and paint peeked through.
Three fruits and two flowers sat fresh and dewy on the incense table.
He lit three sticks of incense and bowed three times reverently.
Chen Ji came to the main hall every day to light incense, kowtow, offer tribute, and pay respects. How could he not recognize the statue he saw daily?
—Grandpa Mountain Lord’s statue… it looked a little newer?
Chen Ji rose to his feet and inserted the incense into the burner. Right at that moment, the three sticks suddenly snapped clean off at the base in his palm!
Without batting an eye, he forcefully pushed the incense into the burner. Then, acting as if nothing had happened, he said to Uncle Zhou, who stood guard at the entrance to the main hall, “You guys can go.”
