Tang Nanxi and Ling Wanxing fell silent, unsure what to make of it all, while Yun Zhou continued raising his wine jar and asked, “Why aren’t you two drinking anymore?”
Ling Wanxing, who could never sit still for long, suddenly recalled something interesting and chimed in, “Qingchen, have you ever heard of the vernacular storybooks circulating in the mortal realm about the White Fox Immortal? The protagonist in them is supposedly based on Immortal Venerable Yun Zhou.”
Yun Zhou’s interest was instantly piqued. Back when he used to wander around playing everywhere, he only knew of his own reputation, never the specific details.
Seeing that neither Shen Qingchen nor Tang Nanxi knew the story, Ling Wanxing proceeded to regale the two poorly informed companions with the legend of the White Fox Immortal.
“The origin of the tale is a small village. It’s said that the village was shrouded in choking black smoke and utter lifelessness outsiders didn’t even know a village existed there, and the villagers were trapped, unable to leave. Everyone in that village was destined to become a sacrifice for a monster.
“Just as the entire village was being controlled and marched toward the sacrificial altar, a thunderous roar echoed across the sky. A mighty, awe-inspiring nine-tailed white fox descended from the heavens, wreathed in auspicious light with a radiant pearl adorning its brow. In a single instant, it smashed the sacrificial altar worshipped by the village to pieces.
“Then, it dug out that ancient monster with its very claws and slapped it down with a single swipe, sending gravel and dust flying in all directions. Left with barely half its life remaining, the monster tried to flee, but the White Fox Immortal swallowed it whole in one gulp, leaving not a trace behind.
“Afterwards, amidst the swirling dust and sand, the nine-tailed immortal fox transformed into a dashing, handsome young gentleman. The immortal lord stayed for a few days, and it felt as though even the surrounding heavens and earth grew clear and bright. He came without a shadow and left without a trace, with a blue dragon serving as his mount to escort him back to the immortal mountains.
“And believe it or not, some people even hoped to find themselves a wife, and the White Fox Immortal ended up granting all their wishes! The village that was supposedly helped by him built shrines and devotedly worshipped the White Fox Immortal with utmost piety.”
As Ling Wanxing spoke, Tang Nanxi gazed quietly at his profile, completely entranced. As for what was actually being said? Probably just that the White Fox Immortal was exceedingly powerful.
Meanwhile, Yun Zhou felt as though his brain was struggling to function. Why was the ending correct, but the entire process wrong? No, even the ending wasn’t right!
Yun Zhou offered a dry, stiff smile, confirming that what he said was entirely accurate and that the prototype was indeed Yun Zhou his very own self.
Inwardly, however, he had already replayed the scene several times over. When he visited that place back then, he had merely been passing by and sensed something was amiss. Upon entering, however, he suffered a sudden disruption and failed to control his spiritual energy steadily, causing him to instantly revert to his true form. There was no helping it he had been too strong at the time and hadn’t fully adjusted.
Yet was his grand entrance really that… thunderous and dramatic? And what was this business about eating an ancient monster? That thing was filthy; touching it would make one feel their hands were dirty. He had clearly just turned the wretch straight into ashes to scatter with the dust!
And the blue dragon wasn’t his mount, either. That was just Shi An worrying when he saw his master running off to play around again no, wandering out on his travels and coming out to look for him and escort him back.
As for granting people’s romantic wishes… what on earth was that about? He was no matchmaker deity. He had simply helped rescue someone’s kidnapped wife and brought her back.
Oh well, let it be. Things had already reached this point; as long as they were happy, it didn’t matter. He had seen far more absurd things in his life what was there to fuss over in the face of such tiny ripples?
Ling Wanxing continued chattering away for quite a while longer, even asking questions like whether Immortal Venerable Yun Zhou and Immortal Lord Shi An shared a bond that went far beyond ordinary master and disciple.
Before waiting for Yun Zhou to reply, however, Ling Wanxing had already drunk himself into a stupor and passed out. When youths gather to drink, they seek the sheer joy of uninhibited indulgence and deliberately choose not to use their spiritual energy to purge the alcohol.
Tang Nanxi scooped up Ling Wanxing and carried him away, while Yun Zhou made his way back to Zhanlan Peak. Sensing an unfamiliar aura waiting for him, he shifted into his white fox form, masked his presence, and melted into the shadows beneath the window lattice.