Chapter 6: Fox’s Laughter

Words : 1614 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 6 - 6: Fox's LaughterThe laughter of the women outside the yard startled Xu Qing. He stopped his recitation and habitually observed the bronze mirror, which showed slight changes in the text. The words "Soul Stabilization" darkened a bit. He could vaguely perceive that this was a precursor to the bronze mirror changing its evaluation of his Daoist Level. Coupled with the recent days, when reading and nurturing his spirit gave him a floating sensation, Xu Qing was even more certain his judgment was correct. He was not very excited. Because such changes might mean his Divine Soul was departing its shell, it was hard to say whether it was good or bad. With a fleeting thought, Xu Qing pushed open the door of the house. The gate of the courtyard was already open, and Zhou Family was talking with several neighbors. Hearing the movement in the yard, she naturally turned her head and saw Xu Qing. Xu Qing naturally came forward to greet them, and after some laughter and chatting, everyone went back to their homes. "Qing, are you hungry? I'll go make you some food." "Um, thank you, Aunt Zhou." "Oh, you are getting more and more polite these days." Xu Qing smiled and changed the subject: "I'll go start the fire first." Talking with women didn't require sticking to one topic because they often cared more about whether someone was talking to them than the topic of conversation itself. That's why they often say "it's the thought that counts." Xu Qing made the fire while Zhou Family washed rice and prepared vegetables. Thanks to his precise control over his body, Xu Qing was very efficient at starting the fire. He pumped the bellows while adding firewood and still managed to chat with Zhou Family. Zhou Family attended a sermon today by a young monk Fanyue at Golden Ray Monastery outside the city. She could not remember much of what the master had spoken about, just that Monk Fanyue was quite handsome. Well, Now Xu Qing understood why Aunt Zhou was so eager to go out. In the territory of South Zhili, with its developed economy, the customs were more liberal compared to the North. Jiangning Prefecture was the headquarters of the entertainment industry, with countless places of frolic along and around the Jiangning River. Hence, if someone could write excellent lyrics, they would definitely dominate the pleasure quarters, just like writing songs for celebrities in later generations. Xu Qing did remember some poems and songs that did not belong to this era, but he had no fame or even the qualifications to compete with others. That's why there's a phrase called competing on the same stage; first, you ought to be on the same stage. Chatting with Zhou Family was also a way for Xu Qing to further understand the local customs. Before they knew it, the meal was ready, and after eating and cleaning up, Zhou Family recalled something and said, "Qing'er, there has been a chicken thief on the west side of the town lately. Be careful when I'm not home." "A chicken thief? Hasn't anyone reported it?" Xu Qing casually asked. Zhou Family: "When has the Government Office ever solved such cases? By the time they come to investigate, a few more chickens would have been taken. And I heard this thief is quite strange, not a sound is made when the chickens disappear. They said no sedatives were found either, no idea how it was done." Xu Qing: "It does sound quite strange, but if it were a thief, the neighbors would know not to mess with us since your uncle is the Team Leader at the Government Office." "Right, that's what I thought too. That's about the only good thing about your uncle." After more idle chat, they each returned to their rooms. Xu Qing pondered the incident Zhou Family mentioned. Unlike most people who firmly believed in ghosts and spirits, Xu Qing was convinced that there truly were bizarre and ghostly things in this world, like himself and the bronze mirror... S~eaʀᴄh the Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It might not necessarily be a human stealing the chickens; perhaps it's some demon. Since it's sneaking around, it might not be too powerful." Xu Qing made his judgment; he wasn't nervous but rather vaguely looking forward to it. He ultimately was not purely a "human"; he was also an outlier. Not long after, night fell, and moonlight shone through the holes in the window paper, casting serene and ethereal gleams, the clarity of the night moon known without looking. Xu Qing liked the moonlight—quiet, distant, ancient. The moon has always carried the emotions of many people. Especially when Xu Qing was younger, he often felt the moon came out to keep him company. Xu Qing quietly pushed open the window, gazing at the moon. In the unpolluted night sky, it naturally shone bright and pure. Over the Jiangning River, it was only natural for the moon to cast its reflection on the river. Oh, that's not right. Over the Jiangning River, the boats were decorated with lights, brightening the entire river. It was bustling and flourishing, but not tranquil enough to be crystal clear inside and out. "Oh moon, oh moon, can you illuminate my path ahead?" Xu Qing relaxed for a moment, a trace of melancholy surfacing in his heart. Unknowingly, a north wind began to blow in the courtyard. This year's county examination was postponed to May; it was usually in February. Now, it's late February, the east wind makes the pear blossoms white and the willows green, it had already taken main stage in Jiangning Prefecture, but the sudden rise of the north wind was quite unusual. With the howling north wind, Xu Qing felt a bit of a sting in his spirit, as he seemed to hear a strange sound. "Is something laughing?" The thought crossed Xu's mind. He noticed this laughter, and thus the sound in his mind became sharper and clearer. It sounded like the laughter of a wolf or a fox. Standing in the north wind, with the eerie laughter of a fox or wolf surrounding him, was truly a terrifying scene. "To know when to stop is to be secure, to be secure is to be tranquil..." Xu Qing recited in his mind. The laughter of the fox and wolf soon dispersed, and the north wind gradually faded. He felt something, and looked towards the west of the city. On the horizon outside the city, there was a faint golden light; if one didn't have excellent eyesight and sharp senses, one might not notice it. "That direction is toward the Golden Ray Monastery." Combining the previous oddities, Xu Qing imagined a scenario of a high monk at Golden Ray Monastery subduing demons. Is that really the case? And that fox-wolf laughter, he wondered if others could hear it too. Since it was nighttime, Xu Qing didn't go to Aunt Zhou to verify. He temporarily set aside the matter and spent the night. Last night, Li Gongpu had to stay overnight at the Government Office and didn't come home. Normally, Li Gongpu would return at dawn, catch up on some sleep, and then take Xu Qing to the Government Office for a visit in the afternoon. But it was almost noon when Li Gongpu finally returned home, looking exhausted. "Old Li, what happened?" Aunt Zhou asked worriedly, bringing a bowl of tea to quench Li Gongpu's thirst. Li Gongpu said, "Old Dong has run into big trouble." Old Dong was the steward of the warehouse at the Government Office. In the Government Office, although stewards like Old Dong were Government Officials, they were usually upright citizens responsible for guarding the County Government's warehouse. Thus, this position was quite sought after in the Government Office, typically held by someone with connections. After Li Gongpu explained, Xu Qing and Aunt Zhou finally understood what had happened. Apparently, the treasury silver had been stolen. About a thousand taels of freshly minted Official Silver, which was not a small amount by any means. In Jiangning Prefecture now, even the best restaurant's feast costs only twenty taels of silver. For an average family of three, the expenses for a whole year come to just over ten taels. Moreover, this Official Silver was supposed to be delivered to the National Treasury. The County Magistrate was due to leave his post this year, and if he could not make up for this deficit before leaving, it would indeed be troublesome. The stewards responsible for the warehouse were naturally to be questioned by the County Magistrate. "In the past, the Old Master used to consider Old Dong's local connections; this time he's been severe, even Old Dong received ten strikes, and he was given a deadline of three days to recover the silver, or else he would face fifty more..." Li Gongpu sighed deeply, mentioning the unusual aspects of this incident. Because the warehouse door was locked, leaving only a small window the size of a palm for ventilation, it seemed impossible for an outsider to steal the silver without inside help. But these stewards weren't fools, it made no sense for them to cause trouble just as the Old Master was leaving his post. The County Magistrate was a governor, his anger could lead to drastic actions like confiscating property or execution.

Chapter 6: Fox’s Laughter

Comments (0)