“I’m not, I’m not!” This statement was really too misleading, so Lan He quickly explained to the others: “I didn’t mean it that way, it’s just a fox spirit raised with incense.”
The only living person: “โฆUnderstood.”
First Lady Hu’s mouth was almost protruding, her eyes increasingly slanted upwards. When her handkerchief brushed past her cheek, it accidentally touched her sharp, gleaming teeth. “Tell me, who is it? Is there any fox spirit in the capital better than me! If you have to raise a fox, wouldn’t it be better to raise me?”
Song Futan sighed inwardly. Xiao Lai was so popular that even a fox spirit wanted to go home with him. But Xiao Lai had lived for more than two hundred years, seen a lot, and wore a mask, clearly feeling insecure. He had never taken it off in front of him, so how could he be the type to keep a pet?
Lan He reminded her, “First Lady Hu, calm down, you’re drooling.”
First Lady Hu quickly retracted her mouth, flattened it, and wiped away the saliva that was about to drip down her sharp teeth, while muttering indistinctly, “Speak, speak!”
Old Bai couldn’t stand it anymore: “Alright, alright, stop arguing. Why are you questioning like this? If anyone should be questioning, it should be me. I’m the partner here, you all came later and took away my affection.”
Lan He: “โฆ”
It’s paternal love. And, was this unfilial son trying to mediate?
First Lady Hu still seemed ready to argue with Old Bai over this matter, so Lan He quickly intervened: “First Lady Hu, it’s a misunderstanding. I called you here to talk about this. I saved a fox spirit earlier, and she said she was robbed by a yellow spirit. Also, Brother Yan was attacked by a yellow spirit today and lost his official hat.”
First Lady Hu’s quick mind immediately turned serious, “Are you sure it’s a yellow spirit?”
“It should be. You can smell it.” Lan He looked at Song Futan and chose to let First Lady Hu smell the donkey.
The four major families of spirits were somewhat sinister by nature, just like humans, with good and bad among them, some devout and some with evil intentions. Even so, First Lady Hu was furious that they took this opportunity to cause trouble, grinding her teeth in frustration.
“Outrageous, daring to break the law, they clearly don’t respect Miao Gan Mountain!” First Lady Hu said to Yan San, “Don’t worry, once I catch this culprit, I’ll fry it in oil and make it a thousand-year candle on Miao Gan Mountain!”
Recently, First Lady Hu had been very tired dealing with the situation. Though there were occasional conflicts with the Eastern Peak faction, they were generally united. Yan San quickly said, “It’s my lack of skill that let it succeed. I’ll report this and atone for my mistake by joining First Lady Hu in investigating this matter.”
First Lady Hu nodded and pondered, “Tomorrow, I’ll ask Granny Wang San to issue an order, summoning all the yellow spirits in the capital for interrogation!”
It seemed First Lady Hu was determined, realizing this matter couldn’t be delayed and required decisive action to capture the culprit immediately.
First Lady Hu served at Bixia Temple, but the top authority of the four major families was actually Granny Wang San, a folk deity. Granny Wang San was from eastern Beijing and was worshipped as a deity after falling to her death while making incense offerings on Miao Gan Mountain. Her shrine was also on Miao Gan Mountain, and she oversaw the affairs of the four major families in northern China.
Animals capable of becoming spirits were found everywhere, not just in northern China. Where there were animals, there were animal spirits, and thus beliefs in animal spirits. This led to similar industries across various regions, although with different names.
For instance, the fusion of incense culture with northeastern shaman culture resulted in the creation of spirit mediums who also worshipped foxes and other spirits. However, Granny Wang San’s jurisdiction didn’t extend to the northeast unless northeastern spirits came to northern China, where they would then be subject to local authority.
There’s a saying, “Foxes and yellow spirits don’t cross Shanhaiguan,” meaning that spirits from beyond Shanhaiguan would have limited power if they entered. Some say it’s because spirits need to guard the northeast, but it’s mainly a territorial issue.
โOf course, all foxes universally revere Bixia Yuanjun.
“Good luck, First Lady Hu!” said Lan He, using Song Futan as a shield to slip away.
First Lady Hu’s beautiful eyes sharply scanned the area. As the current leader of the Hu family, she exuded a mix of intimidation and slight resentment, truly blending strength and softness.
Lan He inwardly lamented and stopped moving, placing his hand on Song Futan’s shoulder as if he were doing so for First Lady Hu’s sake. “First Lady Hu, this is my friend, Xiao Song.”
Song Futan: “โฆ”
First Lady Hu cast a wary glance at the prayer beads around Song Futan’s neck and, though she initially intended to approach, she stopped.
From a distance, she began her heartfelt lamentation again. Even if it was a rescue, that fox spirit now knew Lan He’s identity in the mortal world. Clearly, any fox with a brain wouldn’t miss such an advantage.
“Why leave? Haven’t I treated you well? I even gave you my claws! What more do you want?”
Lan He: “Uhโฆ”
First Lady Hu then sorrowfully asked Yan San, “What do you think he really wants?”
Yan San was even more sorrowful: “I only know I want my hat back.”
“โฆ” First Lady Hu couldn’t vent her anger on him, so she turned to Song Futan, who was blocking Lan He, and asked emotionally, “Do you know?”
Song Futan replied coldly, “No idea. Perhaps ‘gathering from the flocks’?”
First Lady Hu’s armpit ached faintly: “โฆโฆโฆโฆ”
She couldn’t afford itโฆ
Lan He: “Stop making me sound like a jerk. I just helped treat a wild animal, nothing more. If it were you injured, I’d definitely help too.”
“Then walk with me later, or tell me that fox’s name?” First Lady Hu, ever perceptive, realized Lan He hadn’t let Xiao Song know he was a ghostly being, so she subtly urged him to join her, while also probing for the competitor’s identity.
Lan He merely played Tai Chi with herโexperiences like these later honed Lan He’s impeccable skill in dealing with probing media.
Despite her resentment, First Lady Hu, bound by her duty, couldn’t make Lan He reveal the fox’s identity. She could only harbor a grudge and handed Lan He another claw, saying, “Try this one next timeโฆ”
What? A new shadeโฆ This was indeed a good thing. Lan He obediently wrapped up the sample.
Everyone had their own business to attend to. Before leaving, Lan He worriedly told Song Futan, “I’ll lend you a stamp to keep on you. It’s chaotic latelyโฆ Maybe some ghosts will spare you because of my bad reputation.” He had a certain degree of fame now; not just ghosts, but colleagues should recognize him too.
Despite his liking for Xiao Lai, Song Futan didn’t blindly take sides: “Like a quarantine certificate?”
Lan He: “โฆ”
Now that he mentioned it, it didn’t sound too good.
Lan He took out some paper, rolled and folded it into a round tag, writing “Eastern Peak Underworld, Lai’s First Donkey” on it, and hung it around the lame donkey’s neck. Since Song Futan often brought it along, this way, even unfamiliar ghosts would recognize it.
Song Futan fiddled with the tag and praised, “Nice.”
First Lady Hu called out from behind, “Alright then, that fox spirit and the hedgehog aren’t significant; the donkey is the real deal. This girl here counts for nothingโฆ”
Song Futan and Lan He: “โฆ”
Was there really a need for such bitterness?
ใใโฆโฆ
When Lan He returned, the crew had just finished for the day. Because he had told everyone beforehand that he was going to rest, they assumed he had just found a place to sleep. A few actors, who had nothing to do, did the same, seizing every spare moment to sleep.
Back in his room, Lan He mustered up his energy to change Yi Ping’s bandages before going to bed himself.
Yi Ping had stayed with Lan He for a few days, and being a spiritual being, his wounds healed quickly. However, growing back his spikes proved to be challenging due to his spiritual nature.
Lan He had bought a toy car, claiming it was for Miao Miao, but he hadn’t let Yi Ping try it out.
That night, he had also asked First Lady Hu if the toy car would be useful and how to determine if a white spirit was worth nurturing.
First Lady Hu had talked at length about the cultivation of the four major families of spirits and how it related to one’s character, though it wasn’t absolute. Otherwise, where would the sinister spirits come from? She spoke more about factors like opportunities and fortunes.
In recent times, the Bai Family had been relatively unfortunate, influenced by humans. Opportunities were even more mysterious. If luck was exceptional, or if the spirit’s cultivation reached a certain level, or if the human helping them was competent, then even a toy car might count.
โIn essence, it was a very mystical explanation from the perspective of a spirit. Lan He just wanted to know if he should be a good person. The recent trouble with the Huang family made him hesitate, even though white spirits were generally passive and melancholic, but not always.
Should he ask Yi Ping what his dreams were? It was about attaining the Dao, not debuting in showbiz.
Uncertain, he left the toy car unused, and by the time Yi Ping had recovered, it remained so.
Lan He sought out Zhang Qingyou and arranged for him and Shi Xuan to help release Yi Ping back into the wild.
“Sure,” Zhang Qingyou agreed, then added, “Did you know Shi Xuan hasn’t been doing well lately? I talked to her, and she said that night at the amusement park, sheโฆ got lost. Luckily, you brought her back.”
Shi Xuan had been very cautious, not daring to tell anyone about this until Zhang Qingyou asked her directly.
Lan He hadn’t had any scenes with her in the past couple of days, and she hadn’t mentioned anything, so he didn’t notice.
“Yes, she got lost that day,” Lan He said simply.
Zhang Qingyou: “โฆ”
Zhang Qingyou: “I meanโฆ she experienced a ghost wall.”
“Haha.” Lan He laughed in a way that suggested he didn’t believe it but didn’t want to argue, then asked, “How is she not doing well now?”
“She’s a bit weak, has nightmares at night. She even got a talisman to put under her pillow, but it hasn’t helped,” Zhang Qingyou said. “Let’s go see her now, maybe finding something to do will improve her spirits.”
It seemed she had been scaredโฆ Although the ghost didn’t succeed, encountering a supernatural event can cause serious fright, leading many to fall ill. Severe cases might involve losing one’s soul, while milder cases, like Shi Xuan’s, involve lingering bad luck and poor spirits.
Lan He wondered if he should take the opportunity to burn a claw and help Shi Xuan resolve this issue. But since Shi Xuan was quite superstitious, he needed to be careful not to let her notice anything unusual.
They went together to find Shi Xuan, who opened the door looking haggard.
Shi Xuan hadn’t told many people about it, only consulting a familiar shaman, but the talisman she got didn’t work, making her even more discouraged and feeling she had misplaced her faith in the shaman’s abilities.
“We’re here to release Yi Ping. He’s almost fully recovered,” Lan He said, then added, “Yi Ping sleeps fine with his toy, why are you having trouble sleeping? Are you too tired during the day? Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”
“Sigh, you probably still don’t believe it, but I really don’t know what’s going onโฆ” Shi Xuan pointed to her phone, “Wait a moment, I’m chatting with a friend who wants to introduce me to a new folk master. I’m going to film releasing Yi Ping as a vlog.”
Shi Xuan looked troubled, “Actually, I want to go to a more legitimate place. Even if the media catches it, at most they’ll say I’m secretly married and seeking a child. But if I go to someone unconventional and it gets out, they’ll say I’m raising ghostsโฆ”
Lan He and Zhang Qingyou both laughed.
Actually, the previous master was also introduced by Xiao Cong and turned out to be ineffective, which was why Shi Xuan was hesitant but didn’t say it out loud. Instead, she texted on WeChat, “Xiao Cong, Xiao Cong, what kind of master are you talking about?”
Xiao Cong quickly replied: “It’s a ‘chuma xian’ (spirit medium). I just talked to their company; they have several ‘chuma xian’. I’ll see which one can talk to you first.”
Shi Xuan immediately felt uneasy. A company? That didn’t sound reliable to her. She preferred traditional practices. She didn’t like modern mystic apps, using them only out of courtesy. She replied, “Uh, whatever. Is there one with more experience, who’s been around longer, and is well-known?”
Zhang Qingyou teased, “You just want a top-tier one.”
Xiao Cong overheard this and laughed, “Sis, you don’t understand. The so-called ‘top-tier’ masters are experienced and famous, but the new ones are the most accurate! Because they need to make a name for themselves, the old masters are most inspired then. But I understand your concerns; sometimes the experienced ones are more stable and can offer clear guidance. I’ll find someone in between for you.”
Shi Xuan: “โฆOkay.”
Xiao Cong sent her a business card: “Add him on WeChat and chat a bit. If you feel good about it, then go for a consultation.”
Shi Xuan, out of courtesy, decided to chat with the master. She decided that if there were any red flags, she would tell Xiao Cong not to introduce anyone else. She used a secondary account to add the master, who quickly sent her a message:
ใZhen Fu Tang, nine generations of secret transmission of ‘chuma xian’, specializing in communication with the underworld, spirit consultations, fortune-telling, geomancy, and more. Welcome to inquire! Teacher Zhang Dongdong’s office phone: XXXXXXXXXใ
After a while: “Hello, are you recommended by Xiao Cong? What do you need to check?”
Shi Xuan couldn’t help but cover her forehead. This screamed scam artist! She glanced at Lan He and Zhang Qingyou, and as expected, even Zhang Qingyou, who was usually more serious, was grinning widely.
Shi Xuan, slightly embarrassed, replied: “Uh, hello. I think I encountered a ‘ghost wall’ and haven’t been sleeping well since. Can you help with that?”
Zhen Fu Tang: “Of course! Our hall has dozens of spirits. This is a simple matter, related to encountering yin energy and bad luck. Just come over, and we’ll resolve it for you.”
Shi Xuan scratched her head, feeling even more doubtful: “Uh, can I understand more first? You said you have dozens of spiritsโฆ?”
Zhen Fu Tang: “Yes! Different spirits handle different matters. We have Hu (fox), Huang (weasel), Chang (hedgehog), Mang (python), and Bei (ghost) spirits!”
Shi Xuan hesitantly said, “I heard it was Hu, Huang, Bai, and Liu?”
Zhen Fu Tang: “Haha! What you mentioned are the four major families in Beijing. We’re from the northeast, so while our origins are the same, there are some differences. Only some roles overlap.”
The ‘chuma xian’ practice involves summoning spirits, a mix of incense culture and shamanism. A proper hall typically has Hu, Huang, Chang, Mang, and Bei spirits, and larger ones might include other animals, known as miscellaneous spirits.
Hu, Huang, Chang, Mang are easy to understand. Bei refers to ghost spirits, known as Bei Wang ghost spirits. The spirits are divided into departments, each with specific roles, like Hu for prescriptions, Huang for patrols, Chang for herbs, and Mang for medicine.
Shi Xuan thought for a moment and tentatively asked: “Ohโฆ What if it doesn’t work? Will I get a refund? I’m in the media industry and can expose you.”
Zhen Fu Tang quickly replied: “Of course! I suggest you come tomorrowโฆ Wait a moment, wait a moment.”
After a while, he returned, sounding serious: “Sorry, we might not be able to receive you temporarily. The spirits indicated that the local deities have summoned the presiding Huang spirit for a meeting, and we don’t know when it will returnโฆ”
Before the voice message ended, Shi Xuan angrily closed WeChat: “See? A scam!”
She was superstitious but not easily fooled.
Lan He: “โฆโฆโฆโฆ”
He hesitated to speak because, well, First Lady Hu really was summoning the Yellow Spirits for a meeting…
Lan He couldn’t reveal the truth, so he pretended not to know and went to retrieve Yi Ping for release.
Shi Xuan was filming a vlog with a compact camera, while Lan He carried a cardboard box with Yi Ping inside and a toy car in his bag, pondering how to give Yi Ping this opportunity. Zhang Qingyou and the driver, along with the assistant from the other day, were also present, and they all left the hotel together.
“Hey, Lan He, where are you guys going?” Wang Mao, standing in the lobby with hands on his hips, called out when he saw them.
Wang Mao stopped the trio to discuss the details for the next day’s shoot, reminding them to prepare in advance, and mentioned that Shi Xuan seemed off. As Wang Mao went on without stopping, Lan He set down the cardboard box.
In the lobby, a child actor from another crew was playing in costume, riding a children’s car. Suddenly, the child began to cry loudly. Though it’s not unusual for children to cry, none of the adults paid much attention. Lan He noticed a spider on the child’s foot.
Lan He had a bit of a phobia of spiders, so he paused. In that moment, Yi Ping managed to climb out of the box. The spider climbed off the child’s foot and approached Yi Ping, who grabbed the spider and ate it!
Lan He felt a bit nauseated at first, but then he realized the spider had willingly approached Yi Ping, likely drawn by him. Was Yi Ping hungry or trying to help the child?
Lan He hesitated for a moment, but then he saw Yi Ping spit out half the spider. Over the past few days, he had been eating only clean fruit at Lan He’s place and seemed unaccustomed to such heavy tastes.
“Hey, Yi Ping got out,” Shi Xuan said, stepping back in disgust. She remembered Lan He saying that hedgehogs carried many germs.
Hedgehog: “โฆโฆ”
The child, seeing Yi Ping, cried even harder than before and hurriedly pedaled away.
Lan He, feeling a sudden insight into the concept of opportunities, said subtly, “Be careful riding your bike, little one.”
This counts as a vehicle too. The rest was up to Yi Ping.
Yi Ping, catching the keyword, stood still for three seconds before darting forward with an agility uncommon for ordinary hedgehogs, positioning himself in front of the child’s wheel.
The child didn’t notice at first and rode over him. Realizing what had happened only afterward, the child cried loudly and abandoned the bike, running away.
Shi Xuan, on the verge of tears, exclaimed, “Why did Yi Ping do that againโฆ”
The hedgehog was also about to cry. It counts, it counts!
He flipped over, lying on his back, feeling the transformation after crossing the threshold.
From now on, he would no longer be a timid, mundane hedgehog but a Taoist White Spirit! He could proudly declare that the century-long humiliation of the Bai Family would be washed away starting with Bai Wuโ
Lan He picked up the cardboard box and placed it over the hedgehog’s head, “Yi Ping, why are you always faking accidents?”
Bai Wu: “โฆโฆโฆโฆ”
In the darkness, he shed a tear. From now on, he would no longer be a timid, mundane hedgehog but a timid, immortal spirit.
Lan He said to Shi Xuan and the others, “I suspect Yi Ping might have a skin condition, causing his back to itch, so he keeps looking for something to scratch it with.”
With this, he lightened the atmosphere again, and Shi Xuan’s tears receded.
“I read that hedgehogs have poor vision and are highly nearsighted,” Zhang Qingyou said, peeking into the box. “Good thing it didn’t get seriously hurt; the car and the child were light enough.”
Wang Mao, noticing Shi Xuan’s odd expression, decided to talk to her privately later. The group then took Yi Ping to a secluded spot to release him, filming the entire process.
As she filmed, Shi Xuan remarked, “It would look so much better if it weren’t so bald.”
Bai Wu: “โฆโฆ”
โฆ
Lan He had dinner with the others before returning to his room.
When he entered and turned on the light, he saw a young man standing inside. He had short brown hair, matching brown eyes, a tall build, wore a black robe, and had gold-rimmed glasses. His delicate features showed nervousness.
Lan He glanced at him for half a second before looking away, closing the door nonchalantly and walking to the table to sit down.
โWhat was going on? Wasn’t Yi Ping released? How did he come back!
Moreover, how was he not bald in human form? That didn’t make sense.
“Iโฆ umโฆ” Bai Wu stuttered. Although he knew ordinary humans couldn’t see him, he still turned away and faced the corner before speaking more fluently, “Although you gave me a random name and ran me overโฆ”
Lan He slowly turned his head, watching him talk to the wall. “??”
Your Bai Familyโฆ I mean, you White Spirits, are way too introverted.
Bai Wu, unaware that Lan He was watching him, continued his declaration: “But if you hadn’t run me over, I would’ve been crushed. Your words inadvertently awakened me and helped me achieve my spiritual destiny. This is a rare fortune for the Bai Family. Now that I have gained some Taoist skills, I, as a White Spirit, must repay your kindness.”
No need for that, Lan He thought, surprised by Yi Ping’s sense of gratitude. He saw Yi Ping about to turn around and quickly shifted his gaze to the window, pretending to look outside.
Bai Wu sighed in relief. Even though it was an unheard declaration, he still wasn’t used to looking people in the eye while speaking.
Feeling unsafe even in the corner, he crouched down, buried his head, and mustered the courage to say, “Iโฆ I can, um, bless you with wealthโฆ”
Lan He: “โฆโฆ”
A wealth god? Can you be more confident?!
Bai Wu scratched at the wall corner, muttering, “So, I’ll visit you often. But as for staying at your place and becoming your guardian spirit, I still need to think about it. I prefer living in a courtyard, but you seem homeless and your job is unstable. You can’t afford a courtyard house.”
Lan He: “โฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆ”
He felt a pang in his heart. This hedgehog wasn’t just insecure about his job; his spikes pierced the heart of the invisible man.
Sure, I can’t afford a courtyard house, but don’t forget that hedgehogs’ natural enemies are foxes. Dream on about moving into my apartment and becoming my guardian spirit!
Author’s note:
Lan He: Frustrated.gif
Hahahaha Bai Wu is such a cutie ! thank you for the chapters!
Bai wu so cute ๐ฅบ๐๐๐๐