The Lady Scholar and the Fox - Chapter 1

Disguised as a man, I was traveling to the capital to sit the imperial examinations when I passed West Mountain and rescued a white fox with an injured right hind leg.

So far, nothing too unusual.

But while I held it in a dilapidated thatched hut, sheltering from the rain, it suddenly flashed with white light.

It wriggled out of my arms, jumped down in front of me, and transformed into a handsome young man in white.

He looked himself over, paying particular attention to a certain part of his body, then cried out in disbelief:

“How did I turn into a male fox spirit?”

Then he examined me, his voice turning wary.

“Don’t tell me you’re a scholar who fancies men!”

I leaped to my feet in outrage.

“You’re the one who fancies men! Your whole family fancies men!”

He stepped back half a pace, keeping his distance.

“We foxes of West Mountain choose humans for our trials. But our sex is determined by the first human we choose. We become whatever they like.”

“And you still have the nerve to deny you’re some damned man-lover?”

He gave me another disgruntled look.

“Having to court a damned man-lover. What a pain.”

I cleared my throat twice.

“I haven’t even agreed to court you, and you’re already complaining?”

He folded his arms across his chest.

“Once we’ve chosen someone for our trial, we can’t change them. If you want to get rid of me, either you fall in love with me, or you die so I can choose someone else. Those are your two options. Pick one.”

Two options on paper. One in practice.

“But you’re not really my type…” I mumbled.

“Bullshit! Where else are you going to find a male fox spirit this beautiful?”

“But I don’t think your personality is very nice…”

“Maybe I should just strangle you and pick someone else.”

I waved my hands frantically. “Let’s not! Let’s really not!”

Then I took to my heels!

I had no idea how far I ran. All I knew was that he hadn’t followed.

Not much farther along, I reached an inn. I might as well rest there for the night.

But in the small hours, I jolted awake to find him walking straight toward me. He stopped in front of me, his face expressionless.

“I didn’t want to kill you at first. But unless we both sincerely fall in love, there’s no point. To be honest, I could never fall for a man. So I’m giving up.”

“Please die.”

The next instant, his hands turned into claws, and he lunged at me. He meant it!

I drew the dagger from my sleeve to block him, then rolled sideways, putting a safe distance between us.

He looked surprised. “A scholar like you knows how to fight?”

I smiled. “Well, I’m going to the capital to compete for top honors in the imperial military examinations.”

His eyes narrowed. “Doesn’t matter. You’re dying today anyway.”

About seven minutes later, I had him pinned to the floor. He shouted that if I had any guts, I’d let him go and try again.

So I let him go.

This time, it didn’t even take seven minutes to pin him down again.

He went quiet.

“Another round?”

“No.”

“Then I’ll let you go. No more laying hands on me.”

“Fine.”

The instant I released him, he turned back into a fox and sank his teeth hard into the web between my thumb and forefinger.

Then he ran, yelling that he hadn’t laid hands on me—only teeth.

Clutching my bleeding hand, I silently cursed the stinking fox. He’d bitten deep.

If I caught him, I’d… bite him back?

No. That would leave me with a mouthful of fox fur.

I’d pluck his tail bald instead.

Full marks for my wickedness!

I just hadn’t expected to catch him quite so soon.

The next time we met was on the street.

An old Daoist had him caged, barely alive, with strange talismans pressing him down.

The Daoist was selling furs from a stall, his face impassive. His sign advertised slaughter and sale on the spot.

We did know each other, after all. I went over to buy him, but the Daoist insisted on killing him first.

“I only want him alive.”

“I don’t sell them alive.”

“Why?”

“You won’t be able to handle this creature once you take it home. Wouldn’t it be better if I dealt with it for you first?”

“I want to keep him as a pet. I don’t want him dead.”

The Daoist’s expression didn’t change. “Then I can’t sell to you. Try somewhere else.”

The fox in the cage was already terribly weak. If this went on much longer, he’d probably die.

So I threw down a string of cash coins, grabbed the cage, and ran!

The old Daoist cursed furiously behind me. I knew he was worried that an ordinary person couldn’t control a fox spirit and might be harmed by it. But there was no way he could catch me and take the fox back.

I ducked into a corner of an alley and lifted the fox out of the cage.

His clear eyes stared straight at me, but his body was trembling. All I could do was reassure him.

“Don’t worry. That old Daoist can’t possibly keep up with me. You’re safe.”

If we stayed in town, we’d run into him sooner or later, so I left earlier than planned. Carrying the fox until nightfall, I stopped to sleep among a heap of rocks.

At some point, the fox had fallen asleep. His snowy white coat looked wonderfully soft.

So I sneaked a hand over, ready to pluck his tail bald!

That would teach the bastard to bite me!

I’d barely pulled out a little loose fur before he woke. He looked at me in silence, then silently drew his tail out of my hand and hugged it to himself.

He didn’t say a word the entire time.

For some reason, I thought he looked… shy?