After the White Fox wolfed down the braised pork belly and then nearly choked to death on a chicken neck, Gu Zhao let down most of his guard.
'A clumsy foodie that knows how to suck up to people can't be all that bad.'
After dinner, the Silk Embroideress went to wash the dishes and clean up, while Gu Zhao sat down beside the White Fox.
The White Fox let out a satisfied burp, used a paw to wipe its mouth, and looked back at Gu Zhao. There was no longer any fear in its eyes, only curiosity.
"You can understand us when we talk, right?" Gu Zhao asked.
The White Fox blinked, giving Gu Zhao a fleeting look as if he were an idiot. The expression vanished in an instant, replaced by a clear gaze, and it nodded.
"So, can you speak?" Gu Zhao asked again.
The White Fox fought the urge to give him another one of *those* looks and simply shook its head.
Gu Zhao nodded and continued, "Can you use Transformation to become human, then?"
The White Fox couldn't take it anymore. It shot Gu Zhao that "you're an idiot" look again before shaking its head in resignation.
Gu Zhao stroked his chin, frowning. "That's not what Elder He said. He told me Demons can speak and take human form. Is it because you're too weak?"
The White Fox felt an urge to snarl.
'Don't you know you're not supposed to hit where it hurts? If I could speak and use Transformation, would I have ended up being hunted by that Ghost God?'
'And did you have to say that out loud?'
The White Fox turned its head away, pointedly ignoring Gu Zhao.
Of course, Gu Zhao didn't catch the meaning in the White Fox's expression. He just sized it up from head to tail, his eyes glinting with an unreadable light.
A sudden chill ran down the White Fox's spine as it heard Gu Zhao say, "I have a few Magic techniques I've never used in a real fight. I have no idea how effective they are. How about you help me test them out?"
The White Fox whipped its head around, the fur on its tail standing on end.
'I saw him obliterate that Ghost God's Divine Soul with just three bolts of lightning! I can't even speak or use Transformation right now—I wouldn't survive a single one!'
'Was that dinner just now my last meal?'
Just then, the Silk Embroideress emerged from the kitchen. With a flash of white, she felt a sudden weight against her chest. When she looked down, she saw the White Fox had already burrowed into her arms, pressing itself tightly against her.
The Silk Embroideress was overjoyed. "Sir," she said to Gu Zhao, "it really likes me."
Gu Zhao thought for a moment but decided not to shatter her illusion. "That's because you both saved each other," he said instead.
When they first returned, the Silk Embroideress had told Gu Zhao about her ordeal in the forest. He now knew the White Fox had already intervened to help her once before. 'Looks like it really is a good Demon after all.'
"Uh-huh!" The Silk Embroideress cuddled the White Fox and looked down to ask, "Do you want to sleep with me tonight?"
The White Fox nodded eagerly. All it wanted was to get away from Gu Zhao. If it weren't still savoring the memory of the five-spice roast chicken, it might have already made a run for it.
...
「Nightfall. The main house.」
A window was open a crack. The White Fox lay in a corner, positioned perfectly in a patch of moonlight.
As rays of moonlight streamed into the room, the White Fox began its breathing exercises, drawing the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and moonlight into its body. It was cultivating and healing its injuries simultaneously, all while stealing glances at the adjacent room.
'Where in the world did this Grand Mage come from?'
'According to the Silk Embroideress, he went into the mountains for Cultivation, so how did he bring back such delicious food? I've never had meat this good, not even in Changping Prefecture!'
'And another thing—he's clearly capable of such powerful Magic, yet he acts like he doesn't know anything. He's definitely not from the Spirit Court, and he doesn't seem like a member of any of those sects, either.'
'He's a human, yet he can grant others the ability to use Magic? That's the power of a god! And that girl obviously hasn't formed a Harmony with him. How did he do it?'
'Pah, pah, pah! He's a human. How could two humans form a Harmony?'
'I wonder if I could form one with him...'
As this thought crossed its mind, the White Fox seemed to sense something. It turned its head in astonishment, only to see the wisps of Spiritual Power leaking from its Cultivation being completely absorbed by the Silk Embroideress on the bed with her every breath.
"Huh?" The White Fox's eyes widened. 'No way...'
...
Meanwhile, Gu Zhao sensed the rhythmic breathing from the next room and knew the White Fox was also practicing its Cultivation.
'So Fairies really do cultivate by absorbing moonlight!' Gu Zhao's musing was followed by a flood of questions. 'Were Demons real in ancient times? Was the story of Liu Bowen severing the dragon veins true? Did the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi only start to vanish in the last few centuries?'
The Tao Scripture he had studied since childhood actually worked. It was no wonder Gu Zhao had these questions, especially since the Five Thunders Order was a genuine family heirloom.
'Which of the ancient myths and legends are true, and which are fake?'
'Is it because Spiritual Qi gradually faded away that the Tang and Song Dynasties had the Eight Immortals, while the Qing Dynasty was left with only the tales of Liaozhai?'
'If that's the case... are The Three Pristine Ones real?'
"My head hurts." Gu Zhao pressed his thumbs to his temples. "I'm not thinking about this anymore. Time for sleep!"
...
「The next day.」
Gu Zhao didn't travel between worlds from his room. Instead, he headed to the back mountain for his Cultivation. He made a stop at a courier station to pick up a delivery of Yellow Paper before returning to the Otherworld to resume Drawing Talismans.
When Gu Zhao returned to the village that afternoon, he found the Silk Embroideress waiting for him at the entrance, just as before. The difference this time was the White Fox nestled in her arms.
However, upon seeing Gu Zhao's empty hands, the White Fox couldn't help but let out a soft "YIP, YIP," its disappointment palpable.
"Isn't there still food left from yesterday?" Gu Zhao asked, pointing at the White Fox.
"Xiaobai finished it all at lunch," the Silk Embroideress said sheepishly, then quickly added, "Grandfather and I had some too, but I saved five slices of roast pork and a chicken leg for you, Sir. I didn't let her eat them."
"Xiaobai?" Gu Zhao gave the White Fox an odd look.
The White Fox let out a soft "YIP!" and turned its head away.
"I named her Xiaobai, and she answered to it!" the Silk Embroideress said happily. "And she's a little girl, too."
Gu Zhao raised an eyebrow. "She's cultivated long enough to become a Demon. How could she be a 'little girl'? She's probably an old lady."
Enraged, the White Fox's eyes flew open. It snarled at Gu Zhao, baring its fangs, completely forgetting that it was no match for him.
"YIP YIP! YIP YIP YIP!"
He couldn't understand a word, but Gu Zhao was pretty sure it was a string of rather colorful curses.
Unfortunately for her, the current situation was a one-way street: she could understand him, but he couldn't understand her.
"See? She admits it," Gu Zhao said with a grin.
The White Fox froze. It was about to kick its legs wildly, but sensing the Silk Embroideress was struggling to hold on, it settled for swiping its paws at the empty air a couple of times. After another two sharp YIPS, it decisively turned its head away, refusing to look at Gu Zhao again.
Gu Zhao burst out laughing. 'Teasing a highly intelligent pet is just too much fun. No wonder all those short videos of border collies are so popular online.'