Becoming a Fox Spirit from Under One Person

Foxes have access to the underworld and can command ghosts. Chen Ruoan has not yet mastered the supernatural power of commanding souls, so he can only use his mouth and belly as a resting place for the female ghost.

call out!

A plume of black smoke swirled and entered the fox's mouth.

Newly acquired Qi animals, when they encounter spirits like "Qingfeng Yanzhi," are most eager to devour them whole and enjoy a hearty meal.

Having only inhaled a little of the spirit's flavor, Chen Ruoan's palate began to stir, and he almost couldn't resist chewing and eating the ghost named "Zhilan".

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Foxes are greedy by nature; this is precisely the time for them to cultivate themselves.

···

A ray of morning light pierced through the thin mist in the forest, and Zhang Zhiwei, who had slept soundly all night, woke up. He saw that the fox looked tired and its eyes had lost some of their sparkle.

"You said you'd improved, so why do you look so exhausted?"

Chen Ruoan didn't know how to explain.

That's obvious. A ghost is more delicious than roast chicken or pork chop. A fox spirit that can resist the temptation of its appetite is truly divine.

Call ~

The fox opened its mouth, releasing a thin mist, and Zhang Zhilan appeared from within.

Zhang Zhiwei sensed a chilling aura yesterday morning, but he never expected that the fox had hidden a lingering, resentful ghost in its belly.

After Chen Ruoan explained the reason, Zhang Zhiwei nodded silently in agreement.

His master wanted him to go down the mountain and experience life, to be open to "people". But the more he experienced, the more determined Zhang Zhiwei became to pursue the Tao.

In this world, there are many things that are beyond human control. If one cannot attain enlightenment and become a true immortal, looking back on the journey, one will likely be filled with sorrow and regret.

Chen Ruoan arrived in the town and went to the noodle shop that the warlord's son had ruined.

The stalls in front of the shop were already set up, with a pot of water boiling vigorously, a cutting board covered with flour, dough, and a pot of braised beef.

The stall was clean and tidy, and the hot soup exuded a lively atmosphere. The owner prepared the cold dishes and braised dishes with exquisite care, which were very tempting.

The street was bustling with pedestrians, but for some reason, not a single person stopped by. The little stall stood alone, as lonely as a deserted island in a vast ocean.

Zhang Zhiwei pulled out a stool, sat down, and called out to the owner, "Excuse me, two bowls of noodles."

"By the way, I don't eat beef."

"Hmm?" Upon hearing this, Chen Ruoan immediately looked puzzled, but upon closer reflection, it seemed that the Taoist priests of the Zhengyi sect really did not eat beef.

Zhengyi allows drinking alcohol and eating meat on non-fasting days, but oxen, which work hard in the fields all their lives, are regarded as "pure and virtuous creatures". In addition, there is the legend of Laozi riding a green ox westward out of Hangu Pass. Therefore, oxen, along with dogs symbolizing loyalty, black fish symbolizing filial piety, and wild geese symbolizing steadfastness, are listed as special taboos.

Chen Ruoan then added, "Two bowls of noodles, one without beef, and one without noodles."

The haggard-looking noodle shop owner didn't say a word, but he did indeed serve a bowl of clear soup noodles, plus a large bowl full of beef.

But after thinking about it, he poured the noodles and beef back into the pot.

"Thank you for your patronage, but I will not be entertaining any more guests today."

Chen Ruoan replied, "You went through all that trouble to set up the stall, and now you're saying you're not doing business anymore?"

"You two are from out of town, aren't you?"

"We have indeed just arrived at this precious place today."

"You'll understand if you just look at the way passersby look at you..."

Chen Ruoan and Zhang Zhiwei scanned the passersby, many of whom were walking in groups, and couldn't help but point and whisper about the man and the fox.

Their gaze was different from the curiosity and astonishment they felt upon seeing the pairing of "Taoist priest and fox"; instead, it carried an almost pitying sympathy.

Chen Ruoan even felt that, in the eyes of passersby, he had already been placed on the death penalty list.

"I understand. Come inside and we'll talk."

After hearing the fox's words, the noodle shop owner finally raised his head, which had been drooping for a long time. When he saw the black fox, he was so startled that he almost knocked over the hot soup pot.

"The two of you are... a Taoist priest, and the fox..."

After stammering a few words, the shopkeeper followed Chen Ruoan back to the noodle shop. He was an older man in his forties, and he was so reserved that it seemed as if he had entered someone else's place.

Chen Ruoan squatted on the bench, and when the time was right, he lazily opened his mouth.

A wisp of blue mist emanated from its mouth, like smoke and fog, and then condensed into a slender soul shadow.

As soon as the female ghost Zhilan appeared, she let out a broken sob, then rushed forward and cried out, "Father—"

The noodle shop owner was not an extraordinary person and could not see the soul. He only felt a cool breeze on the back of his neck. The breeze was not like the wild wind that blows through the hall, but had a somewhat familiar feel to it.

"Master, fox spirit... what is this? What have you done? Why do I want to cry? Why does my heart feel like it's being squeezed?"

The female ghost Zhilan held her old father's face in her hands, trying to wipe away his tears, but in the end, her last bit of obsession dissipated, and she became a wisp of breeze in the world.

The shopkeeper collapsed to the ground with a "thud," a thought almost exploding in his mind.

His daughter came back to see him, but his precious daughter was gone.

After crying for a while, the shopkeeper waved his hand and advised, "You two should hurry up and leave this place of trouble. You shouldn't have come into my noodle shop."

"That warlord's son, Cao Wenqing, is a wicked and vindictive scoundrel. If you enter this door, you'll be at least subjected to his revenge!"

According to the shopkeeper, his daughter was pretty and quiet. She was raped by Cao Wenqing. In the struggle, she grabbed him and left several bloody marks on the warlord's son's left eye before being shot to death.

The father had no way to seek justice and was beaten several times. He wasn't shot to death, but his livelihood was constantly being targeted. It was as if Cao Wenqing wanted him to live a miserable life filled with hatred.

Nowadays, hardly anyone dares to come to our door to eat noodles.

Chen Ruoan then asked, "Then why don't you try to get out?"

"I'm scared. I'm scared that if I leave, I won't have a chance to get revenge in the future. The world is so chaotic now. What if he loses power one day?"

Comforting people wasn't Zhang Zhiwei's forte. Instead, he laid out some money and said, "In any case, have a bowl of noodles. Go ahead and do it with confidence."

"This is."

Snapped!

A bowl of clear broth noodles and a bowl of braised beef are served.

Business was suspended, and the prepared cold dishes would go to waste if left out for too long, so the shopkeeper kindly gave us a few plates as a gift.

Zhang Zhiwei pulled out his chopsticks from the bamboo tube, and was about to blow on them to cool them before slurping his noodles when a hurried, loud throng of footsteps came from outside the shop. A group of people shoved the vendors away and made pedestrians scatter, clearly indicating that the newcomers were up to no good.

Leading the group was an overweight man with several scars near his left eye that had not yet fully scabbed over.

"You two, you should go now!"

"The one surnamed Cao is here!"

Zhang Zhiwei ate his noodles and replied unhurriedly, "Judging from the sound, there are probably dozens of people. Such a big fuss to deal with a noodle shop owner, this warlord's stupid son is really beneath him."

"Don't worry, don't worry."

As Chen Ruoan chewed on the beef, his ears suddenly perked up. The footsteps that had gathered outside the door had dispersed and were now coming from all directions.

"Taoist priest, we are surrounded."

"Cough cough cough!" Zhang Zhiwei choked: "Can anyone be this stingy? What's wrong with me eating a bowl of noodles?"

"Wait, the guy on the other side is armed! Are you a fox or a crow? How come your words have come true?"

Am I, a mere mortal with flesh and blood, really supposed to test the weight of a gun and take a few bullets?