Chapter 3: Fishing for Clams

After carefully bandaging the white fox’s wound and tying a lovely butterfly knot, Xu Xuan finally nodded in satisfaction. The white fox, grateful, nuzzled his trouser leg, then, to his surprise, spoke in human tongue:

“I am Tu Shanxue. My benefactor, thank you for your righteous aid.”

“It was a trifling matter, not worth mentioning,” Xu Xuan replied with a wave of his hand, unconcerned.

“May I ask your honored name, benefactor? I would like to set up a longevity tablet in your honor and offer incense day and night.”

“My name is Xu Xuan. Saving you was no effort at all—there’s no need for such ceremony.”

“That won’t do. A kindness received must be repaid.”

“You’re a stubborn little fox, aren’t you? Very well, have it your way,” he said, shaking his head in resignation as he realized this little white fox was quite headstrong.

“Benefactor, you’ve killed Badger Da Lang. I fear trouble may be coming your way,” Tu Shanxue said, her tone suddenly anxious.

“Oh? And why do you say that?”

“Badger Da Lang was a spirit that had cultivated on West Mountain for a hundred years. He relied on the reputation of his foster father, Lord Bear, to wreak havoc in the area. Now that you’ve killed him, Lord Bear will hardly let this go.”

Xu Xuan laughed, “We scholars aspire to greatness, never letting our spirits falter! Why should I fear a mere spirit? If he dares seek revenge, I’ll deal with him as well. Bear paws are said to be a great delicacy, after all.”

He smiled, his handsome face lighting up, and unconsciously licked his lips, already debating in his mind whether a bear paw was better steamed or stewed.

Tu Shanxue could never have imagined that her dashing benefactor would turn out to be so daring—and such a glutton.

Lord Bear was a spirit who had cultivated for five hundred years; his yin spirit could leave his body, and he had already taken on human form. He would not be easy to handle.

Yet, thinking further, she realized that as a scholar with an official title, Xu Xuan possessed a righteous aura and magical treasures for protection. Even if Lord Bear sought revenge, it would not be so easily accomplished. If things truly came to a head, she could always return to her kin in the mountains for help; she could not allow her benefactor to come to harm.

“Enough, Miss Tu Shan, you needn’t worry about me. If Lord Bear dares bring trouble to my door, I have ways of dealing with him.”

Having said this, Xu Xuan produced the Merit Mirror, and shined it upon the dead badger. A golden light shone out, and the numbers within the mirror increased significantly.

With that done, Xu Xuan waved farewell to Tu Shanxue, hoisted the badger’s corpse, and headed home.

The badger weighed about twenty pounds; once cleaned and stewed, it would make a fine meal and brighten their lives a little. As the saying goes, waste is even more shameful than… well, one knows what.

Since passing the provincial exam two years before, Xu Xuan’s skills in Daoist and martial arts had both matured, and he had slain his share of troublesome minor spirits.

As for a demon with five hundred years of cultivation, Xu Xuan was not entirely sure he could subdue such a being. But, having lived two lives, he was broad-minded and knew he had already offended Lord Bear; he could hardly show weakness in front of the little fox. Otherwise, the image of a mighty benefactor would be ruined. For a man, sometimes, pride is more important than life.

Over the past two years, through encounters with mountain spirits and monsters, Xu Xuan had come to understand that, like humans, not all spirits were evil. Not every mountain demon was a heartless fiend. Some, like the little fox before him, might well be household guardians, enjoying incense offerings in exchange for protecting a family’s peace.

Such guardian spirits rarely committed evil; receiving incense, they became local deities, and their cultivation was less fraught with hardship. Ordinary mountain demons were indeed wild and difficult to tame, craving blood and flesh—mankind being the pinnacle of all beings, their flesh a great tonic for spirits. The flesh of scholars, imbued with the aura of sages, was especially tempting to them. That is why so many tales of spirits involve scholars.

There were also spirits who, having gained sufficient cultivation, protected a region and were granted official titles such as Mountain God, Lake God, or River Lord. They might even have a shrine erected for them, receiving incense as formal deities. Such spirits, officially recognized, were mostly benevolent and protective.

As for Lord Bear, he was likely a great demon cultivated deep in the mountains—hardly a paragon of virtue. As the saying goes, ‘A crooked beam makes a crooked house’; given what his godson Badger Da Lang was like, Lord Bear himself was unlikely to be any better.

If Lord Bear truly sought revenge, Xu Xuan would have to be prepared.

Lost in thought, Xu Xuan soon found himself at his own doorstep.

His brother-in-law Lin Luo was the constable of Wuliu County—a proper official, akin to a modern-day police chief. The Lin household was thus a spacious compound, and life was comfortable.

“You little rascal, coming home so late—have you been fooling around in the pleasure quarters? Wait till I get my hands on you!” No sooner had he stepped inside than he was met by a beautiful, stately woman wielding a broom, her large, expressive eyes fixed on him in mock fury.

“Elder sister, I swear to heaven and earth, I would never visit such a sordid place. Tonight, Huang Jizu invited me to discuss business matters.”

In his sister’s eyes, Xu Xuan had always played the gentleman; how could he sully himself with such places?

“Very well, tell me what you discussed. If you can’t, my broom will show no mercy.”

“You wouldn’t understand even if I explained—it was all about import-export trade, and some issues of consolidation and flexibility.”

“???”

“All right, enough, sister. I’m starving. Before I left, Huang Jizu gave me a big badger. It’s proper game for the table.” Xu Xuan, as if seeking praise, handed her the badger.

Xu Rongjun, having grown up in poverty, was unfazed by the prospect of cooking a badger.

“Supper’s been ready for a while—it’s cooled a bit, but I’ll have Wanyue warm it up for you.”

Having muddled through, Xu Xuan let out a long sigh of relief. His sister, though a virtuous wife and mother, was also sharp-tongued and strict with him, fearing he might go astray.

Inside, red candles burned brightly, filling the hall with a warm glow. A gentle aroma of food wafted through the air as a young girl of seventeen or eighteen entered, carrying a tray of dishes. She wore a deep blue dress embroidered with silver butterflies, beaded shoes on her feet, and her lustrous black hair was tied back with a ribbon in a casual, lazy style.

Her fair, oval face was still a touch youthful, lips rosy, eyes bright as stars, nose straight and well-shaped—her features exquisitely balanced and beautiful.

This was Lin Wanyue, Lin Luo’s younger sister, three months younger than Xu Xuan. Still unwed, she had lived with Lin Luo since their parents’ passing.

Xu Xuan had always been fond of this gentle and lovely “Sister Lin.”

“Brother Hanqing, eat while the food is hot. If it’s not enough, I’ll bring you more,” she said with a sweet smile, resting her chin on one hand, her quiet demeanor as delightful as a feast for the eyes.

Such a beautiful girl—who knows which lucky scoundrel will win her hand in the future? At that thought, Xu Xuan could only console himself by eating another bowl of rice.

As they ate, Xu Xuan noticed how quiet the house was tonight and asked curiously, “Is brother-in-law on duty tonight? Why isn’t he home so late?”

“Brother sent word two hours ago; the county magistrate is fond of night fishing and asked him to accompany him for safety.”

“Night fishing? For what?”

“Supposedly… for clams.”

“…”