Chapter 2

Sang Chi hadn’t expected Qixue to suddenly hit him. He froze in place, and taking advantage of his daze, Qixue immediately transformed back into Rabbit Tuan and fled, hiding in his rabbit burrow.

As the saying goes, even a crafty rabbit has three burrows. Qixue had several rabbit nests, each one cleaned spotlessly by him, padded with thick layers of dried flowers and grass—warm and soft, mixed with some herbs that filled the air with a fresh medicinal fragrance.

The wild fruits and vegetables he had gathered at dawn were still fresh and plump. Qixue enjoyed a hearty meal, but he noticed that Sang Chi and the others hadn’t come looking for him.

He had thought Sang Chi would come to settle the score. Why hadn’t he? Had he been beaten senseless?

Rabbit Tuan stuck out his pink little tongue and licked his three-petaled mouth, letting out a satisfied burp before quickly putting Sang Chi out of his mind.

Revenge felt good, but there were many important things waiting for him to do. A mere fox wasn’t worth wasting more energy on.

Following the method taught by Lady Shanyin, Qixue summoned the novel with his intent, planning to read through the entire book first to understand the future plot developments.

A problem soon arose: Qixue was illiterate and couldn’t read the book.

This novel, titled Jade Heng Chronicles, was written in human script. Qixue knew over a dozen demon clan scripts and could speak the human language, but he didn’t understand human writing. Of the three characters on the cover, he only recognized “Jade.”

Naturally, Qixue wouldn’t entrust the novel to someone else to read. The only solution was to teach himself human characters and slowly finish the book.

Rabbit Tuan sighed and stored the novel back in his sea of consciousness, rethinking what he should do next.

First, learn human common sense—like walking on two legs, wearing clothes, and eating with utensils. At least make himself look like a normal person to avoid suspicion.

Then, pass the mountain trial.

To descend Dali Mountain, the little demons had to pass the trial set by the Spirit Fox Clan.

There hadn’t been this rule before, but after Qixue had nearly lost his life outside over a dozen years ago, the Mountain Lord had added it to ensure that any demon going down the mountain had the power to protect itself.

Finally, find Wei Huai and have him take him into the palace. This was the path Lady Shanyin had pointed out for him—it surely wouldn’t be wrong.

With his mind made up, Qixue dug out many of his treasured melon seeds and dried fruits from the burrow, packed them into a small basket, and set out with it in his mouth.

This time, he was going to visit his friend Luxiangqiu. She was a peony parrot, well-traveled and knowledgeable, with many little bird friends. If he asked her to help find Wei Huai, there would surely be results soon.

Qixue arrived under the ancient tree where the parrots perched. The towering old tree was crowded with colorful, vibrant little parrots. When they saw the basket full of melon seeds Qixue carried, they all chirped and flew down, scrambling to peck at them.

“Don’t fight, line up! This is what A Xue brought for me. I’ll distribute them.”

An orange-headed, green-tailed little parrot landed on the basket, spreading her wings to guard the whole basket of seeds.

She was Luxiangqiu, who held high status in the flock. The little parrots all obeyed her and obediently lined up, waiting for her to share the seeds.

Luxiangqiu quickly distributed all the seeds, leaving almost none for herself. She leaned close to Qixue and affectionately pecked his rabbit ears. “Why did you suddenly come over? Is something up?”

Because he was always being chased by Sang Chi, Qixue rarely went out, and Luxiangqiu knew this. Qixue explained his purpose and asked her to find Wei Huai. The righteous Luxiangqiu agreed immediately. “No problem. I guarantee I’ll find him within three days.”

“Thank you,” Qixue said gratefully.

“But why do you want to find him?” Luxiangqiu asked.

“I’ve formed my human shape and am preparing to descend the mountain,” Qixue replied. “Wei Huai can help me enter the palace.”

“Wow!”

Luxiangqiu flapped her wings excitedly. “You have a human form now? Show me quick!”

“But I still can’t conjure clothes.”

As he spoke, Qixue transformed into his human form again. He was completely naked, showing no shame whatsoever—after all, he wasn’t truly human and didn’t care for their etiquette and morals.

The moment Qixue turned human, the massive ancient tree erupted in chaos. The little parrots screeched in admiration of his otherworldly beauty, and a few even tumbled from the branches, fainted by his allure.

The mountain had never been so lively. Thanks to the chattering of these little birds, news of Qixue transforming into a peerless beauty quickly spread throughout Dali Mountain. Many demons came rushing, eager just to catch a glimpse of how stunning Qixue was.

Harassed beyond endurance, Qixue hid in his rabbit burrow all day, practicing walking on two legs, studying human common knowledge from books, and learning the simplest human characters.

Three days passed quickly. Luxiangqiu brought back news: by coincidence, Wei Huai was nearby, just over a hundred li from Dali Mountain, leading a cavalry of ten thousand stationed in a camp, sweeping away the vicious man-eating demons plaguing Qing County.

“I heard they’ll leave Qing County in a few more days.”

Luxiangqiu said, “If you want to see Wei Huai, you must pass the trial quickly, or he’ll be gone.”

“I’ll go find the elder tomorrow,” Qixue said confidently. “It shouldn’t be a problem.”

The mountain trial wasn’t too difficult—only demons who had formed a human shape or had self-protection abilities could participate. It mainly tested common knowledge and how to deal with demon-hunting Daoists. Qixue felt well-prepared and was sure to get a good score.

The next day.

Qixue gathered with over a dozen demons in an old mansion halfway up the mountain—this was their exam hall. With so many demons on the mountain, trials were held daily for those wanting to descend.

Usually, three elders from the Spirit Fox Clan oversaw the exams, but today was different—one examiner had been replaced.

Seeing that familiar detestable face, Qixue’s rabbit fur instantly bristled. “Why are you here?”

Sang Chi, in the form of a youth, lounged with his leg crossed at the head seat. He flashed a sly grin. “As the young master of the Fox Clan, I naturally qualify as an examiner. I came because I wanted to. Guess if I’ll let you pass?”

Rabbit Tuan stomped in fury, wanting nothing more than to shred that handsome face. This red-furred fox had clearly become an examiner just to get revenge—he was definitely going to sabotage him and prevent him from passing!

The exam soon began. The first test was transforming into human form and dressing.

The examiners had prepared small rooms for each candidate, with clothes inside. Qixue entered his room and found an extremely elaborate women’s dress on the bed, complete with matching gold hairpins, jade ornaments, and rouge and powder.

Women’s attire was obviously far more complex than men’s. Qixue didn’t need his rabbit tail to know this was Sang Chi deliberately making things difficult.

Unfortunately, he truly hadn’t studied how to dress as a woman and couldn’t even manage the skirt properly. In the end, he left the old mansion dejectedly. Even after passing through the gate, he could still hear Sang Chi’s laughter behind him.

But Qixue was resolute and wouldn’t give up so easily. He spent the night studying all knowledge related to women and took the exam again the next day.

Many little demons friendly with Qixue gathered in front of the old mansion, cheering him on. “A Xue, we all believe in you. You’ll definitely pass!”

Even the little spirit foxes who usually chased Qixue urged Sang Chi. “Young Master, stop making things hard for A Xue. Do you really plan to fail him every time?”

“So what if I do?”

Sang Chi’s face darkened as he stared at the Rabbit Tuan surrounded by the little animals. “You don’t understand how chaotic and cruel the human world is. A dumb bunny like him would be eaten down to the bones if he went down.”

He had begged his father to institute the descent trial precisely to stop Qixue from leaving. No matter what, he didn’t want to hear news of Qixue being gravely injured again.

Today, only Qixue was taking the exam, and Sang Chi was the sole examiner. The elders hadn’t come—they couldn’t bear to sabotage Qixue in good conscience.

The moment Qixue entered, Sang Chi said coldly, “Right foot first over the threshold—not qualified.”

Rabbit Tuan ignored him, hopped onto the table, and opened the exam questions. Just like yesterday: transform into human form and change clothes.

Sang Chi slammed the table. “I said you’re not qualified. Are you deaf?”

Rabbit Tuan perked up his two ears high, asserting their presence, and continued ignoring Sang Chi as he hopped into the small room.

Sang Chi stood and chased after him, kicking the door open. “Don’t get too arrogant—”

He stood in the doorway, his raised right foot forgotten as he stared dumbly at Qixue.

Qixue had just transformed into human form, wearing nothing. He turned back to look at Sang Chi.

Compared to the shrine, the lighting in the old mansion was brighter. Sunlight fell on Qixue’s body—his frame slender, skin whiter than snow, like the finest sheep-fat jade. Only at the joints did a faint pink show, glowing with a soft, delicate luster that dazzled Sang Chi’s eyes.

Sang Chi’s face flushed red. He quickly shut the door, but Qixue chased after him and grabbed his sleeve. “Watch me dress.”

“I’m not watching!”

Sang Chi shook off his hand and strode outward.

Qixue, still naked, followed behind. “Then I’ll dress in front of everyone and let them judge if I did it right.”

“You dare!”

Sang Chi stopped in fury and whirled around to glare at Qixue. Qixue’s clear eyes met his without a hint of joking—he was utterly indifferent.

“…” Sang Chi took a deep breath and followed Qixue back to the small room. Lowering his eyes, he said, “Change.”

Qixue started with the undergarments, lifting his snow-white thigh to pull on the thin, sheer fabric. Sang Chi uncomfortably tried to look away, but Qixue scolded him. “Where are you looking?”

Sang Chi forced his gaze back, watching Qixue’s pert rear as he finished the undergarments and layered on the dress. Today it was still a women’s skirt, even more complex than yesterday’s, but it posed no challenge.

Qixue donned the two inner layers of plain silk skirts, then the outer ornate flower cage skirt. The fabric was light and thin, silver threads outlining patterns like flowing silver ribbons, shimmering with shifting light.

He sat before the vanity mirror, picking up comb, beaded flowers, and hairpins to style his hair into the simplest updo, adorning it with a few beaded flowers. His practice time was too short—this was his limit; anything more complex was beyond him.

Next came applying powder, drawing brows… When it came time to dot his lips, Qixue suddenly set down the rouge box and glanced back at Sang Chi, saying softly, “A Chi, help me apply the lip color, okay?”

He wanted to test what Lady Shanyin had said.

“Your beauty is your greatest asset. No one can resist loving you…”

Indeed, he knew he was beautiful. If his looks truly enchanted everyone, what about Sang Chi? Would he be so bewitched that he stopped opposing him and let him descend obediently?

Qixue gazed at Sang Chi. In the long silence, Sang Chi slowly walked over and took the rouge box from his hand.

Without a word, he opened the lid, pressed his fingertip into the rouge, and picked up a dab of crimson. He leaned close to Qixue’s lips.

Qixue keenly noticed Sang Chi’s fingertip trembling. Just before touching his lips, his hand halted, not making contact.

Qixue suddenly bloomed into a smile.

It really worked.

The more Sang Chi hesitated, the more it proved he was moved.

Even the Fox Clan young master, accustomed to beauties, couldn’t remain unmoved by his looks…

Qixue secretly rejoiced, lowering his head slightly to kiss Sang Chi’s fingertip, gently rubbing his lips against it to stain them rouge-red.

Sang Chi startled and yanked back his hand in panic, but Qixue had already stood, his hands sliding up Sang Chi’s chest to hook around his neck.

“Let me descend the mountain, A Chi. I just want to see my benefactor. Once I’ve repaid the favor, I’ll come back—very soon.”

His lips nearly brushed Sang Chi’s ear as he murmured.

“Then I’ll never descend again. You can do whatever you want to me…”

“…”

Struggle flickered across Sang Chi’s face.

He knew he couldn’t agree to Qixue’s request.

Yet, despite knowing better, he couldn’t resist the temptation. Slowly, he nodded.

“…Fine.”