Chapter 18: Truly a Vixen

With no one at home, of course, there was no fire left smoldering in the hearth. Shen Shi had to light it himself. The firewood was damp, having not been dried in the sun, so it took some effort to get it going.

Once the fire was crackling and the water set to boil, Shen Shi brought out the wooden bath barrel, poured in the hot water, tested the temperature, and then placed the little fox girl into it.

It was a simple act, devoid of any improper thoughts. With a chest so flat, what improper thoughts could there be?

Yet, once submerged, the little fox’s skin was revealed to be flawless—delicate as fine porcelain. The water shimmered, and her ivory skin gleamed even whiter, almost dazzling beneath the surface.

She looked as though she’d just had a facelift, though hers was surely all natural, untouched by artifice.

And for some reason, the longer he looked, the more beautiful she seemed to him.

Mind you, Shen Shi had never fancied tomboyish girls.

To avoid being led astray, his thoughts drifted elsewhere. He recalled how just a moment ago, he’d been at the oxygen plant, and in the next, he’d found himself in ancient times. Why? Had there been an explosion at the plant?

Lost in these wild speculations, a faint, elusive fragrance wafted into his nose—the scent came from the little fox spirit in the water. How enchanting it was! Shen Shi found his attention drawn back to her despite himself.

Looking closer, he noticed her brows were furrowed and her lips moved ever so slightly. Was she trying to speak, or something else? Quickly, he took the cooled boiled water and offered it to her.

But when he touched her forehead, it was burning hot. “This is bad! She’s got a fever.”

Shen Shi knew that in ancient times, a fever could be deadly. But having transmigrated here, he had no cold medicine. What to do?

After a moment’s thought, he decided to boil more water. Plain boiled water was the simplest and most natural remedy for a cold.

So he set about feeding her water.

Freshly boiled and naturally cooled, plain water not only quenches thirst but also best promotes cellular metabolism, regulates body temperature, increases hemoglobin in the blood, boosts immunity, and strengthens resistance to illness. Warm water raises the activity of lactic dehydrogenase in the organs, helping to quickly break down the “fatigue toxin”—lactic acid—that accumulates in muscles, thereby relieving fatigue and restoring vigor. Moreover, water possesses physiological properties not found in other beverages. Nutrients and metabolic wastes in body tissues and cells are transported by water. Water regulates body temperature, preventing drastic fluctuations. It lubricates the friction between body tissues. Its powerful solubility makes it easy to dissolve both inorganic and organic substances, helping the body to expel metabolic waste.

After three large bowls of boiled water, the little fox could finally open her eyes. Shen Shi, flustered, set the bowl aside.

“You’re awake. You had a high fever just now. Fortunately, I know a little about medicine…” Shen Shi began to explain.

“Thank you, sir,” the little fox replied, her cheeks flushing like rosy clouds. She lowered her head and spoke softly.

“What… exactly happened to you?” Shen Shi asked.

Truthfully, he wanted to ask if she was a fox spirit, but “fox spirit” was an insult, so he dared not say it aloud.

“Aren’t you afraid, sir?” the little fox inquired.

“Afraid? Ha, what’s there to fear?” Shen Shi had considered many things, but fear was not one of them.

“Have you met others like us before?”

Shen Shi’s lack of fear made the little fox all the more curious.

“I’ve seen plenty. My bird sisters—both elder and younger—have been feeding on dog food for three months now…”

Yes, there was truly nothing to fear. In the twenty-first century, dog food streamers were all the rage, and so were the bird sisters.

Shen Shi was no man of the Song dynasty. In his era, celestial beings and fox spirits were not frightening—if anything, they were idols.

The little fox frowned. She understood every word Shen Shi said, yet the meaning eluded her. What did he mean by “feeding on dog food”? Had he raised “demons” before?

This realization delighted her. “Sir, you are a good man. Most people are afraid of us, but many of us spirits mean no harm.”

“Wait, did you say you’re a spirit?”

“Are you frightened, sir?”

“Why should I be? I want to ask—what kind of spirit are you? And how did you fall ill—can spirits get sick?”

Shen Shi found himself with a thousand questions.

The little fox slowly raised her head. Shen Shi saw that her beautiful yet sorrowful face now bore a delicate dimple—she was smiling! A gentle warmth, like spring sunlight, enveloped Shen Shi.

“Sir, I am Xin Fourteenth Maiden of the fox tribe. Spirits are living beings too; naturally, we can fall ill. But just now, I wasn’t ill—I’d just awakened to sentience and taken human form by virtue of your help. I wasn’t yet used to being human and got my breath tangled,” she said.

“I awakened your sentience and form?” Shen Shi asked.

“Yes. To awaken intelligence and take human form is a rare skill, understood by very few, even among my kind. I never expected you would possess it, sir.”

Shen Shi nodded. He had acquired this ability in a muddle and had no idea when or how he’d used it on the little fox.

Never mind, he thought. Best not to dwell on it.

“By the way, I heard this is the Age of Decline, is that true?” Shen Shi asked.

“I did not expect you to know of the Age of Decline,” the little fox replied. “The world is in decay. Cultivation and transformation have become exceedingly difficult. If we act with malice, the very act of transformation can bring disaster—thunder from the heavens may strike us. Humans are the most intelligent of all races—my great-grandmother did not lie. Truly, I met you, sir, and took human form.”

Speaking of her transformation, the little fox chattered happily, unable to stop.

She spoke of the world’s waning spiritual energy, of her long-held belief that she would never take human form…

In short, she was brimming with joy, until her stomach grumbled in protest, her face reddening with embarrassment.

Shen Shi did not laugh at her. Instead, he took the initiative to cook some porridge.

As she watched him, her curiosity was boundless—indeed, she was curious about everything.

“All right, whatever questions you have, save them for tomorrow. Tonight, eat your porridge and get some rest,” Shen Shi said.

At first, the little fox was tense, but gradually she relaxed.

The night passed without incident. When Shen Shi opened his eyes, he was still here—he had not returned to his steel-framed bed. The little fox was up even earlier. Somehow, she had fashioned herself an outfit from someone’s fabric and was wearing it.

At that moment, Little Gulu appeared—dragging a massive rat into the room. His small eyes brimmed with aggrieved affection, as though he’d been abandoned. When he saw Shen Shi awake, he yelped with joy and bounded over, licking Shen Shi’s face and hands with such exuberance that tears welled up in Shen Shi’s eyes.

A Chinese countryside dog is nothing if not loyal.

“Good boy! You know how to come back home!” Liu Zhenhan—secretly wiping away tears—pinched Gulu’s cheeks as he spoke.

Little Gulu’s response was all canine—tongue lolling, he slobbered all over Shen Shi.

The little fox watched the pair with a beaming smile, her large, beautiful eyes misted with emotion.

Shen Shi gently pushed Gulu away. “You really are hopeless. Look at Fourteenth Maiden—she only heard me recite a poem and managed to transform and speak like a human. But you? I’ve read you so many essays. Forget transformation—you still haven’t broken that habit of licking people. Isn’t it time you changed?”

Little Gulu stared at him with big, black eyes, tail wagging furiously.

Ah well—he hears, but he does not understand.

The little fox tittered. “Sir, your dog is just an ordinary dog, not a spirit—how could he understand human speech?”

“He can’t understand? Hey, boy, breakfast time…”

Before Shen Shi could finish, Little Gulu had already found his spot and sat down, ready.

The little fox’s cherry lips parted in astonishment, as though she’d been struck dumb.

He’s not a spirit?