He first scanned his surroundings out of habit. Once satisfied he was safe, he looked down at his own body.
He still wore his black robes, but the fastenings had been undone. His wounds had been cleaned and dressed, and even the poison running through his veins had been neutralized. Clearly, the past two days had not been a dream—someone had truly saved him.
Lu Tingxiao sat up slowly, refastening his clothing as he sorted through his fragmented memories. Everything remained hazy, yet one thing stood clear: his rescuer had been a woman. He had heard no voice belonging to a little fox—naturally so, for Xia Yuge and Xiao Jiu had communicated entirely through mind-to-mind transmission, silent to all others.
A careful search revealed little: a woman’s footprints, and alongside them, tracks left by some sort of animal. In these deep mountains, wild creatures were nothing out of the ordinary. He found no further clues.
His hand drifted absently into his pocket—and brushed something amiss. He pulled it out. A significant portion of his money and notes was gone. Left behind, however, was a folded sheet of paper.
“What is this?”
Bewildered, he unfolded it. On it was a prescription, and beneath it, a short note written in graceful characters. The gist of it:
You owe your life to me. My first thought was that you should offer yourself in marriage as repayment. Then I considered that you might already have a wife and family. So instead, I have taken half your funds as payment for your treatment. The prescription is a gift—no need for excessive gratitude.
Lu Tingxiao traced the elegant script, imagining the woman who had written those words. A strange warmth stirred within his chest. To give one’s self in return for a life saved… he mused. Perhaps that would not be so unacceptable at all.
For now, though, he had no way of knowing where to find her.
He sighed. If fate wills it, we shall meet again.
Little did he know that their reunion would come far sooner than he expected.
Back at the guesthouse after three days and three nights in the cave, the very first thing Xia Yuge did was collapse face-first onto her bed.
“Ughhhh… I am utterly spent. That’s it. Xiao Jiu, I’m going to sleep. Block out everything and everyone. Under no circumstances am I to be woken until I naturally rouse myself. My beauty sleep… my chance to put on weight…!”
Her voice trailed off instantly.
Xiao Jiu turned to see his mistress already fast asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. He gazed at the dark, heavy shadows beneath her eyes and felt a pang of sorrow. He had hoped to find her a handsome husband—and instead, he had only gotten her toiling nonstop for three days straight. All she had to show for it was that scrap of paper.
To him, the paper meant nothing at all. How could it possibly be worth more than a living, breathing handsome husband? Then again, she had explained that such paper—like gold and jewels—could buy food and sustain life. If that was what it meant, he supposed he would accept it.
That night, Xiao Jiu did not retreat into his spirit space. He stayed quietly by her bedside throughout the day, slipping away only after dark. Where he went, no one could say. Still, this time he was not gone long.
Xia Yuge slept for a full day and night. Eventually, hunger woke her. It was the dead of night—no shops, no meals to be found. She rubbed her growling stomach and gazed out at the stars with a helpless, bitter smile.
Just then, a flash of white streaked past the window. The next instant, Xiao Jiu stood before her.
【Master! You are awake?】 He asked, eyes bright with delight.
“Mm. Awake. Xiao Jiu… where on earth have you been at this hour? If you had delayed any longer, your mistress would have starved to death.” She spoke with mock reproach, though her tone was soft.
【Master, I am so sorry! I set out to find you food and should have returned ages ago—something delayed me along the way. Please do not be cross! I have everything right here…】
Even as he spoke, he began swiftly drawing items out from his spirit pouch. Autumn had arrived, and the mountain fruits were fully ripe. Within moments, the table was piled high with glowing red berries of every kind, their names unknown to her.
Xia Yuge fell upon the feast at once.
“Mmm… this red one is delicious! Xiao Jiu, gather plenty of these next time. And the purple ones are wonderful too—oh, and this one, so soft and sweet… truly wonderful!” She munched happily, offering running commentary.
Xiao Jiu said nothing. He sat quietly beside her, placing one fruit before her with his little paws at a time—each kind offered but once, so he might remember exactly which ones she preferred. And so it went: one eating, one serving.
Burp!
Xia Yuge spat out a seed and patted her full belly contentedly.
【Master… are you satisfied now?】 Xiao Jiu asked, gazing up at her hopefully.
“Mm, completely. Xiao Jiu… you have something you wish to tell me, don’t you?” She asked, smiling knowingly.
【Indeed I do. Master… I have something for you.】
“Something more than wild fruit? Truly?” Xia Yuge asked, intrigued.
【Truly! Look—here it is!】
From his pouch he produced a massive solid gold brick. It gleamed so brilliantly it nearly blinded her.
“Go… gold… solid gold… is this real? Xiao Jiu… where on earth did you get this?” Xia Yuge stammered, her mind reeling in utter shock.
Heavens! If this was genuine, it must weigh several catties. What on earth might it be worth? Wealth… unimaginable wealth…
【Master… you do not like it?】 Misinterpreting her stunned silence, Xiao Jiu casually tossed the gold brick onto the table. 【Then what of these? Do you like these?】
He pulled out several more gleaming, solid gold bracelets. Xia Yuge could scarcely breathe.
“Xiao Jiu… tell me the truth. While I slept—beyond gathering fruit—what exactly have you been doing? Did you… did you somehow rob someone’s vault? How much more of this do you have stashed away? Confess to me at once!” Her voice trembled.
They were stationed within an army compound. If word got out she was in possession of stolen treasure… the consequences would be fatal.
But what Xiao Jiu said next came close to striking her dead from sheer astonishment.