Chapter Six: Hu Family’s Ajie

I gazed at Old Zhao, who was sitting on the floor, shivering uncontrollably, and suddenly felt a deep sense of pity for him. From what I had gathered, he hadn’t done anything wrong, yet he was tormented night after night, unable to find any rest.

In the northeast, the five great wild spirits—Fox, Weasel, Snake, Willow, and Rat—are collectively known as the Five Guardian Spirits. Among these, the Fox Spirit, revered as Third Master Fox and Madam Fox, is regarded as the foremost. Their prominence comes not just from legend but from the qualities that set them apart from ordinary spirits: intelligence, a sense of propriety, gratitude, and a code of conduct. Despite these virtues, they are called “wild” because they are fiercely vengeful and can be ruthless. In truth, if you maintain a good relationship with them, the rewards are immense. Cross them, however, and you may bring disaster upon yourself.

China is vast, and there are countless mysteries that defy scientific explanation. I grew up hearing stories from my grandfather about strange folk and mountain spirits, but this close encounter chilled me to the bone. Had I not called out to Old Zhao in time, he might not have survived the ordeal.

Turning slightly, I looked at Old Ma. He was staring intently at Old Zhao, his eyes cold and indifferent. Just as I was wondering about his demeanor, a young woman in her early thirties hurried in from outside. She squatted beside Old Zhao and gently patted his back. Old Ma greeted her enthusiastically, “Sister-in-law, you’re here! Come quick, Zhao is seeing that fox spirit again!”

Xiao Wei sidled up to me and whispered, “Bro Xu, talk about a beauty and the beast—Mrs. Zhao’s looks and figure are wasted if she’s not a star.”

I punched Xiao Wei hard behind his back and hurried to help Old Zhao up. Joking aside, this was my first real client; if anything happened to him, who would pay my wages?

Once we’d settled Old Zhao on the sofa, I asked, “Mrs. Zhao, is it true that your husband often hears the fox spirit calling him at night, and that he’s threatened in his dreams?”

She frowned prettily and replied in a sweet, coquettish tone, “Oh, it’s true. Every time it happens, he starts convulsing in bed like he’s having a seizure, muttering about Madam Fox. It’s terrifying. He’s even hysterical during the day, isn’t he, Old Ma?” She nudged Old Ma, who scratched his head awkwardly and smiled.

“Damn, what a femme fatale,” I thought. “Even if the fox spirit doesn’t get him, Old Zhao might be doomed by his own wife.” Suddenly, an idea formed in my mind. “Sister-in-law, could we spend a night at your house? I’d like to see for myself what happens when the haunting occurs. It’s hard to judge based on hearsay alone.”

“Of course. I’ll take Old Zhao home now. Meet me at the gate of Lijing Gardens at nine tonight.” With that, she handed Old Zhao over to Old Ma and sashayed out of the office.

It was only mid-afternoon when we left Old Zhao’s company. The sun was scorching. Xiao Wei and I bought popsicles and squatted on the curb, enjoying them.

“Xiao Wei, what do you think? Do you believe in fox spirits?”

“I do, and I think they’re fierce. Be careful tonight. I won’t leave the shop open for you. If you get scared, ask Uncle Jin to go with you.”

“What do you mean? You’re not coming? Weren’t you the one clamoring to hunt ghosts?”

“Heh, causing mischief is one thing, but hunting spirits is another. If I see something I shouldn’t, I’ll never deliver food at night again.”

“….” I sighed. Not only was I dealing with this mess, but now my buddy was abandoning me. When I finished my popsicle, I tossed the stick into a trash can from several meters away and told Xiao Wei, “You go back to the shop. I’m heading to Uncle Jin’s.” I hailed a cab, leaving him in the exhaust and confusion.

Uncle Jin’s dye shop wasn’t large. Entering through the main hall, massive dye vats lined the sides. But dyeing wasn’t all Uncle Jin did.

He was an old hand at the occult, with expertise in calligraphy, paintings, jade, and porcelain. His collection of antiques filled a side room—the spoils from loans that hadn’t been repaid. Though not formally educated, Uncle Jin enjoyed losing himself among these treasures. I made a beeline for his room as soon as I arrived.

“Uncle Jin, have you ever seen a fox spirit?”

“Why so anxious? You took Old Zhao’s case, didn’t you? I knew you’d end up in our line of work. But in this business, your word is your bond. You must do everything in your power to resolve this, unless you die trying.” Uncle Jin stared at me, his eyes clouded. Embarrassed by his scrutiny, I stammered, “Actually… I was hoping you could come with me to Old Zhao’s tonight.”

“Afraid, are you? I’m playing mahjong with a Taoist from Dragon Tiger Mountain tonight. But I know someone who can help—he’s visiting from the south and just arrived. I drank him under the table last night, so he’s probably only just woken up. He’s in the first guest room—go see him.” With that, Uncle Jin ushered me out and went back to fiddling with his blue-and-white porcelain, leaving me no choice but to see who this guest was.

I quietly pushed open the guest room door. “Excuse me, is anyone here?” I called softly. By the bed, a young man of about twenty sat playing a mobile game, muttering, “My Fox Spirit Li Bai fears no Zhao Yun—damn, how did I die…” As the screen went gray, he looked up at me. “You’re the inheritor of Yin-Yang Embroidery?”

I studied him closely. His long, fine hair was tied back, giving him a resemblance to Shun Oguri. His face was pale, with arched brows and phoenix eyes. Tall and slender, he was the striking, androgynous type.

“Hey, stop staring. My name’s Hu Ji. Uncle Jin filled me in. I hear there’s a wild spirit causing trouble around here—well, I’m from the Fox family myself. I’ll join you tonight.”

It was like a bolt from the blue—so the Fox family was real, and wild spirits truly existed?

“Hey, do you play Honor of Kings? I’ve lost five games in a row. I’m about to drop to Silver. These teammates are ruthless. What’s your rank? Help me duo.”

“Um… I’m at Star Glory.”

“Damn, a pro! Carry me!”

I let out a long breath. This wasn’t some mountain spirit, just a college kid obsessed with games.

After dinner at Uncle Jin’s, I called Xiao Wei to remind him to close up early and stay in—just in case the fox spirit brought trouble his way.

With that settled, I grabbed Hu Ji and we took a cab. He played Hearthstone the whole ride, and I watched, exasperated, as he kept stacking armor while getting pummeled, occasionally sending “I’m sorry” emotes. He didn’t seem the least bit afraid of what the night might bring. Then again, as a Guardian Spirit himself, what was there to fear?

Night fell as we arrived at Old Zhao’s complex. From afar, I spotted his wife waiting at the gate, dressed in nothing but a sheer nightgown. Men around her whistled, but she responded with flirtatious smiles and laughter.

Hu Ji put away his phone, his playful demeanor vanishing. He lowered his voice and said, “There’s something off about this woman.”