Chapter 77: The Past

Soon enough, the wealthy merchant suffered the consequences of his actions. First, the hunters he had recruited began to meet with misfortune one after another. In just a few days, more than a dozen died unnatural deaths. The remaining hunters, terrified by what they saw, cried out that the fox spirit had come to claim their lives and promptly abandoned their posts.

Yet the merchant was unwilling to give up so easily. Ever since he started hunting foxes in the mountains, his profits had soared. The thought of returning to the uncertain days of old filled him with reluctance; he craved an endless stream of pelts. Even aware of the strange happenings, the lure of wealth was enough for him to risk it all.

He then offered rewards so tempting that many hunters could not refuse. Indeed, under the promise of riches, a portion of the hunters decided to stay. Although the yield of pelts was less than before, it was still considerable. To safeguard his interests for the long term, the merchant invited several renowned Taoist priests and magicians from far and wide to handle the strange events.

Among them, Xuanyangzi was undoubtedly the most famous, but unfortunately, his first visit ended in failure. The merchant, a man of considerable standing, was accustomed to flattery wherever he went and had never suffered such treatment. Had it been an ordinary person, he would never have swallowed his pride so easily. Businessmen like him believe in the maxim: more friends, more paths; fewer enemies, fewer obstacles. If Xuanyangzi were ordinary, he might have let it go, but the ways of those who practice the occult are unpredictable, and the merchant saw no need to make a powerful enemy over a moment’s anger.

Though he failed to secure Xuanyangzi’s help, he did manage to enlist several other priests and magicians. Upon bringing them home, the merchant immediately asked them to heal his wife and children. As expected, his family had fallen victim to occult arts, but with the combined efforts of the priests and magicians, his wife and children recovered within three days.

The merchant’s previous worries dissipated. With newfound confidence, he became more arrogant than ever. Under his solemn promises, the hunters who had left returned. Yet the merchant underestimated the forces of evil; all the previous strangeness was merely a warning from the spirit. The merchant stubbornly pressed on, even hiring Taoist priests to confront it.

At last, the fox spirit’s wrath was provoked. This spirit, a fox demon who had achieved enlightenment, had long devoted itself to cultivation, shunning worldly affairs. The mountains had been tranquil and elegant, with the fox clan, birds, and beasts living in harmony. The emergence of the merchant shattered that peace.

Despite repeated warnings, the merchant only grew more reckless. Unable to endure further, the fox spirit unleashed its fury, slaughtering most of the hunters.

As for the priests and magicians, most were mere dabblers, capable of dealing with minor spirits but outmatched by the fox demon’s profound powers. After a fierce magical battle, most of them were killed or wounded, with only two escaping by chance.

When the merchant learned of the outcome, he was dumbfounded, gripped by fear and anxiety. He knew the fox spirit would not let him go; he could already foresee his miserable fate. Desperate, he thought again of the legendary powers of Xuanyangzi. When one’s back is against the wall, the so-called dignity and pride pale in comparison to survival.

Upon meeting Xuanyangzi again, the merchant’s attitude was utterly changed—sincere and humble, nothing like before. Had Xuanyangzi not witnessed his previous arrogance, he might have been fooled by this new demeanor.

Xuanyangzi did not immediately agree to help. He first questioned the merchant about the events. At first, the merchant tried to twist the truth, claiming to be a legitimate fur trader and blaming everything on the fox spirit. Yet he underestimated Xuanyangzi.

Xuanyangzi, seeing the merchant’s uneasy expression and obvious guilt, promptly expelled him from the temple once more.

The merchant was horrified and quickly confessed the truth. Upon learning the real story, Xuanyangzi’s face darkened. Clearly, the merchant wanted to use him as a tool, and moreover, all the fault lay with the merchant; the fox spirit, who had killed, was actually the innocent party. If Xuanyangzi helped the merchant, he would be aiding the wicked.

With this realization, Xuanyangzi refused the merchant’s request. In his eyes, the merchant had brought all this upon himself and deserved to pay the price for his grievous sins.

Divine justice is ever clear; retribution never fails.

Yet the merchant would not accept this. He camped at Xuanyangzi’s door, refusing to leave for days. Xuanyangzi grew frustrated as the merchant declared he would not leave unless helped, or else Xuanyangzi might as well kill him outright, for he faced death either way.

Xuanyangzi was at a loss—he could not truly kill him. Suddenly, he devised a perfect solution: he told the merchant that only by renouncing his wealth and using it to aid the poor would he agree to resolve the vendetta.

The merchant, who valued money above all, found the prospect of surrendering his fortune akin to losing half his life. Yet seeing Xuanyangzi’s resolute manner, he wavered. With his skills, he could always rebuild his fortunes, but if he lost his life, all future possibilities would vanish.

Thus, he made a decisive choice, gritted his teeth, and agreed. Xuanyangzi was satisfied; he feared no deception, for he had countless ways to ensure the merchant fulfilled his promise.

When he finally met the fox spirit, Xuanyangzi did not immediately resort to violence. He first spoke calmly, hoping to resolve the grudge. Fortunately, the fox spirit was not malicious. With Xuanyangzi’s persuasion, both rational and heartfelt, the spirit agreed to the proposed solution.

After dispersing his wealth, the merchant was not disheartened. He made full use of his old connections, preparing to start anew. Yet upon putting his plans into action, he found his luck had turned abysmally; every venture lost money without exception. In a few months, not only had he failed to earn anything, but he was deeply in debt, just a step away from being destitute.