Chapter 9

In the Cave Abode amidst the wilderness, there was a Deep Pool, and above the pool, the Bright Moon could be seen.

The moon’s reflection shimmered on the rippling water, and also upon the shore-upon my white bones.

In just thirty short years, I had cultivated the Indestructible Bone.

Feeding on Moon Yin Energy, I would live as long as the moon itself.

Yet I was so, so lonely.

Alone, I lay by the shore, gazing at my moon, thinking of my Fox Sister.

Then, sorrowful and desolate, I closed my eyes, wishing to sleep for a very, very long time.

Apart from this Cave Abode, I dared not go anywhere, fearing a strike of Heavenly Thunder.

Until one day, a red fox came into the cave, transformed in a swirl, and became a graceful young man in red robes, with slender brows and eyes.

He, like Fox Sister, had a palm-sized face and peach blossom eyes.

I was suspicious, wanting to seize him, but the fox spirit laughed heartily and spoke-

“Niannian, long time no see. I have a new name now: Chiyuan.”

Though his voice was that of a pleasant young man, I still recognized him: “Fox Sister?”

“It’s me. I am now in a male body. You may call me Brother Yuan, or simply brother.”

I stared in shock: “Weren’t you killed by a Daoist?”

“That was a trick. If I hadn’t staged such a scene, how could you have steeled your heart to get rid of Shen Qilang? I saw long ago that you had feelings for him.”

The man with peach blossom eyes looked at me with a soft, sly smile: “Let me tell you a secret. The Silver Needle in the Study Room of Shen Mansion was indeed given to Shen Qilang by a great Daoist from Qingtai Temple. Not long after you arrived at the Shen Family, he began to suspect your identity. He obtained the Silver Needle, but kept it in a box and never used it. You once said Shen Qilang liked you, and now it seems you were right.”

I had once sworn that Shen Qilang liked me, and at that time, Fox Sister had scoffed.

Now he stood before me, confirming it with his own mouth, yet I could not bring myself to believe it.

I opened my mouth, forcing a smile: “Don’t be ridiculous. He doesn’t like me. If he did, why would he burn Talisman Paper in the chicken soup, and try to harm me with the Silver Needle?”

“Silly Niannian, silly Niannian. I always said you only grow in Cultivation, not in wisdom, and it’s true.”

Fox Sister looked regretful: “There was no Talisman Paper in the chicken soup. It was you who could not hold on any longer, showing signs of Annihilation. Shen Qilang did like you, and he was truly a good man. He never intended to harm you. When he married you and wished to consummate the marriage, it was only to keep you alive.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“It doesn’t matter whether you believe it or not. Now I am the Fox Immortal of this Mountain, titled Chiyuan Immortal Maiden. Foxes can cultivate both genders; I chose the male body. You have now cultivated the Indestructible Bone. From now on, you and I will cultivate together in this Mountain…”

Before he could finish, I transformed my white bones into a sword-the White Bone Sword-and pressed it to his throat.

“Why? Since Shen Yutang never intended to harm me, and was ready to die for me, why did you do all this? Why did you go so far?”

The entire family was executed.

The Shen Family, a noble clan, was destroyed overnight.

Thirty years passed in a flash, like smoke, and nothing remained.

I stared at him coldly. The fox named Chiyuan curled his lips in a meaningful smile: “I had already traded the Official Grain to the Shen Family. If I didn’t see it through, wouldn’t it be a waste?”

“Silly Niannian, we already had a better choice. If Shen Qilang died because of you, Heavenly Thunder would surely strike, perhaps shattering you to pieces. Even after five hundred years of Cultivation, you might never take human form.”

“But now, he died in Prison, killed by the Imperial Court-or rather, by himself.”

“Shen Qilang took his own life. Do you know, before his death, he met their Majesty? The emperor cherished talent and was willing to give him a chance, to grant him a new identity and keep him as an official in the palace.”

“My heart sank at the time, thinking it was all settled. If he entered the palace, we’d never have another chance to harm him, and you would vanish.”

“But unexpectedly, Shen Qilang refused. He said the Official Grain case was caused by his Second Uncle’s greed, but the disaster that befell the clan was all because of him. He felt ashamed before his Family Elder, and could not bear to live, so he chose death to atone.”

A disaster for the whole clan, caused by him alone.

My hand holding the sword was already trembling, but the fox before me was still smug, oblivious-

“Marvelous, he died so marvelously. He had a chance to live, but chose death himself, so no one can be blamed. Niannian, do you know, before dying, he wrote the word ‘repay’ in blood on the Prison wall. From now on, you need not hide; there will be no Heavenly Thunder chasing you…”

With a low laugh, I lowered the White Bone Sword, closed my eyes in exhaustion: “You did all this for me.”

“Of course. I wanted you to live.”

Chiyuan smiled at me: “After a thousand years of cultivation in the Mountain, I finally met an interesting little Jiangshi like you. Since you cultivated the Indestructible Bone, I chose to cultivate as a man. Niannian, we are the same kind. I like you. We should be together forever.”

“Thanks to your great kindness, I, Li Niannian, have achieved my Cultivation. Now, I willingly break off two Floating Ribs to repay your favor.”

I cultivated the Indestructible Bone for over two hundred years, and in the end, my success and failure both lay in those two Floating Ribs.

They were the softest bones in my body, and the hardest to perfect.

Now I had cultivated them, but I no longer wanted them.

From now on, I would become the most useless White Bone Spirit in the world, with no Cultivation left.

Chiyuan could not stop me in time; I had already destroyed those two bones.

He glared at me, eyes nearly bursting, screaming madly: “Niannian! Why! Why are you like this! Humans should be like ants in our eyes, fleeting as the sun and moon cycle. Only we are the true rulers of this world. For a mere Shen Qilang, you would give up your Cultivation!”

“Yes, for a mere Shen Qilang. But he was good and sincere. Since he treated me with true heart, I, Li Niannian, should return it in kind.”

I gave a bitter laugh: “All humans may be like ants, but you and I are ants as well. There is no such thing as a ruler in this world. All things grow together and should not harm one another. This is the truth Shen Lang taught me. I realized it too late. From now on, I will leave Deer Enclosure Mountain, and you and I will never meet again.”