The Monk Turns the Tables on the Nine-Tailed Fox - Chapter 1

Today was the day I took human form. All the elders of my clan came to protect me through the transformation.

In a blaze of light from my nine tails, I succeeded.

Every last one of my kin stared. In all the countless ages of our clan’s existence, no fox had ever taken a prettier human form.

Even though I was male.

Once a fox took human form, he could leave the mountain.

I bounded along without a care, making my way onto another mountain. From far off, I spotted a waterfall cascading down ahead.

Someone was sitting beneath it.

Up close, he turned out to be a pretty, pale-faced fellow with a bald head, soaked through.

Mother had told me that men without hair were monks.

And monks were our fox clan’s favorite people to tease.

He was meditating beneath the waterfall. The water had soaked his pristine robes until they clung to the skin they barely concealed.

What respectable monk dressed like this to tempt spirits?

Faced with a sight like that, wholesome thoughts were rather hard to come by.

It was only natural that I wanted to play with him.

I slipped behind him, slowly wound myself around his chest from the back, and climbed into his lap.

A curl of my finger undid the fastening on the only robe he had left.

“Monk, what sutra are you chanting? Your clothes keep falling off.”

I toyed, bead by bead, with the prayer beads hanging around his neck.

His lashes trembled. His fingertips curled slightly. His thin lips kept quivering.

Enough to tempt any fox.

I cupped his cheeks in both hands and pressed my lips to that cool mouth.

His eyes snapped open, anger in their chilly amber depths.

Watching his lowered lashes, I pressed against him with wicked delight.

I brushed my fox ears lightly against his nose, licked his earlobe, and gave a mischievous little laugh.

“Monk, you’ve just been molested by me.”

He struck me in the chest with his palm, pushing me a good distance away.

Clutching the sore spot, I gazed at him through my alluring eyes and complained in a coaxing voice.

“Monk, you’re so rough. That hurt.”

“I only want your body. I don’t mean any harm.”

He flicked his prayer beads, sending rays of Buddhist light flying at me.

I darted aside, but the beads wound around my ankle, setting the bells tied there jingling.

He recited a spell, and the beads dragged me back against him.

In my panic, my bare foot came down on him.

He grunted, flipped me over, and pinned me in the pool. The beads wrapped around my wrists, which he held above my head.

I ran my tongue over my lips with a teasing air.

“Oh? Losing control already, Monk?”

When he didn’t speak, I stirred the water with my toes, splashing droplets onto his back.

Something kept shifting in his eyes.

One moment they were cold and emotionless; the next, they studied me with mocking amusement.

“Take a good look. I’m a male fox.”

He abruptly seized my throat.

We were so close that I could hear his heart pounding like thunder.

His body was burning hot, yet he looked at me with a calm face. His thin lips parted.

“Wicked creature.”

My face flushed as I struggled to get the words out.

“Yes… I’m a wicked creature… Monk… you’re supposed to be celibate… Your… is poking me.”

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

I carried a seductive fragrance, and I was deliberately teasing him. Biting his tongue to keep control wouldn’t do him any good.

Struggling, I lifted my head to meet him. My mouth touched that bright red blood, and I rolled my tongue, spreading it over my lips.

The corners of his eyes changed, vivid red markings flaring there.

The loop of prayer beads suddenly expanded and bound me.

The more I struggled, the tighter it grew.

When the monk spoke again, he sounded like a careless libertine.

“Little fox, you’ve provoked the wrong man.”

Looking at the monk, whose whole manner had changed, I knew I was in trouble.

He tore my clothes, roughly turned me so my back faced him, and swung himself astride me.

Then he forced my face around to look straight at him.

“Remember this. My name is Zhiyuan.”

Zhiyuan smiled, but his voice carried unmistakable menace. “You were the one who came after me. If you get my name wrong—”

“Heh. With those skinny little arms and legs, fox, you won’t stand being broken too many times.”