Chap 4: Do One Good Deed Every Day

 

Yan Dan had grown noticeably thinner, her spirit almost completely worn down.

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The little fox nuzzled against her side, calling out softly. Out of the twelve hours in a day, it clung to her for at least ten. No matter where she went, it always managed to find her, rubbing against her affectionately. At first, it had been endearing, but after ten days of this constant attachment, it became exhausting—like being stuck to a persistent shadow. Every time she tried to distance herself, the fox would latch on, whimpering, and she couldn't help but feel guilty for trying to push it away.

Even in the remaining two hours, she would hear the little fox in her dreams, see it leaping onto her, its voice echoing through her sleep.

One day, while visiting Zi Lin's place for a meal, she found Yu Mo and Linlang there as well.

"Zi Yan has always been clingy," Linlang explained. "Back in the fox tribe, he followed me everywhere. He wouldn’t let anyone else near him, so my father sent me this time. Now that you've broken his curse, he’s attached to you even more than he was to me."

Yan Dan glanced at the little fox tugging at her sleeve. "When will he stop being like this?" she asked, exhaustion seeping into her voice.

Linlang chuckled. "Maybe when he grows up. By then, he'll be able to transform into a human, and his behavior should change."

Yan Dan's brow furrowed. "How long until he reaches adulthood?"

Linlang thought for a while. "Probably another 150 years or so."

Yan Dan silently returned to cutting the meat on her roasted lamb leg, her expression unreadable.

Zi Lin, in high spirits, laughed heartily, crushing the bronze wine cup in his hand with a loud snap. The little fox continued rubbing against Yan Dan, making soft sounds of "hmmmm" and "ahhh."

Yu Mo, who had been sitting nearby, wiped his mouth with a towel and stood up. "I have an early start tomorrow, so I'll head back to prepare. Please, enjoy the rest of your evening."

Zi Lin nodded. "Rest well."

As Yu Mo passed by Yan Dan's table, she shifted slightly and murmured, "Mountain Master..."

Yu Mo paused. "There's no need for such formality. I don’t deserve it."

Yan Dan, not deterred, spoke up. "I’ve been feeling restless, so I was thinking of joining you. I could help with anything you need on the journey."

Zi Lin quickly chimed in, teasing, "And what about the three-tailed snow fox? If you leave, who will take care of him? He’s quite fond of you, after all."

Yu Mo smiled faintly. "Exactly, don’t let him down."

The little fox leapt onto Yan Dan's shoulder, nuzzling against her neck with its familiar "hmmmm" and "ahhh."

After a moment's thought, Yan Dan sighed. "I have one last thing to say."

Yu Mo turned back slightly. "Go ahead."

"After I die, I’ll leave the little fox in your care. Make sure you take good care of him for me."

Without a word, Yu Mo walked away.

Zi Lin, amused, let the small tiger on his lap lick a wine-stained chopstick and pointed toward Yan Dan. "Do you know what it means to have a black heart? Hers is the blackest. Do you know what it means to have a wicked heart? Hers is the worst. And do you know what poison is? The deadliest arsenic can’t compare to how poisonous she is..."

Yan Dan couldn’t resist correcting him. "Arsenic isn’t the most poisonous."

As dawn broke and spring strengthened, the days grew longer and brighter.

Yu Mo placed his bundle in the cabin, then sat on a wooden post by the shore, his legs crossed as he gazed into the distance. It wasn’t long before a familiar figure approached, drawing closer until Yan Dan stood in front of him, clutching her own bundle. She looked back over her shoulder and exhaled. "Finally got rid of it. Let’s go."

Yu Mo raised a hand, stopping her. "I never said I agreed."

Yan Dan pouted, stepping closer with a teasing tone. "Yu Mo, Yu Mo..."

Yu Mo smiled gently, "Since when did you start acting like the three-tailed snow fox, all spoiled?"

Yan Dan shot back, her voice dripping with mock threat, "If you don't help me this time, I'll cling to you every second of every day, make sure you can't sleep at night, haunt your dreams—like a dog-skin plaster you’ll never shake off."

Yu Mo raised an eyebrow, nodding calmly, "Go ahead. Stick to me."

Yan Dan blinked, momentarily speechless. Just then, a small black dot appeared on the horizon, bouncing towards them. She groaned, "Here he comes again. Even a hound's nose isn't as sharp as his."

Yu Mo stood, brushing off his sleeves. "Let me show you something. Watch closely." He traced his fingers through the air, creating a transparent barrier in an instant. The little fox leapt but smacked into it, rolling on the ground, showing its tiny claws and barking twice.

Yu Mo closed his eyes, then opened them, now gleaming red. The little fox froze, its fur standing on end as it stumbled backward. Yu Mo stepped forward, pulling Yan Dan by the waist and planting a kiss on her lips. Looking at the little fox, he said coldly, "What can you do to me? You’ve got another 150 years before you even become human. What could you possibly fight me with?"

The little fox's ears drooped, its eyes filled with sorrow, staring pitifully at Yan Dan. But she was already far removed from reality, completely caught off guard.

Yu Mo tugged Yan Dan toward the boat. "Don’t worry, he won’t dare bother you anymore."

Yan Dan sat at the bow, sighing in relief. "Yu Mo, that was a ruthless move—cutting off the firewood under the cauldron."

Pushing off from the shore with a bamboo pole, Yu Mo glanced at her. "That was more like cutting the grass at the roots."

Yan Dan crawled into the cabin, pulled a blanket around her, and collapsed onto the cushion. "I'm exhausted. Wake me when we get to shore..."

By the time she woke, it was already dark. She poked her head out of the cabin and yawned. "So, where are we headed for your daily act of kindness?"

Yu Mo chuckled, "How do you always know what I’m thinking?"

"I've known you long enough. I can tell just by looking at your eyes."

"Oh, really?"

"Even if I see a strand of your hair, I can figure you out."

Yu Mo’s smile deepened. "We’re heading to Nandu—the capital of Da Zhou, the most prosperous place. Plenty of mortals there to be of service to."

Yan Dan raised an eyebrow. "Mortals? Their souls are mostly tainted. You're not bothered by that?"

Yu Mo's expression softened, and after a pause, he said, "There are pure souls among them. Once, a long time ago, I met one. She was waiting for her husband, hoping he'd pass the imperial exam and come back for her. But after he did, he never returned. She waited for years, and she's still waiting."

Yan Dan scoffed, "Is that man still alive? If so, I'll tear him apart."

Yu Mo shook his head. "It’s been nearly twenty years. Mortals don’t live that long." He paused, then continued, "Back then, I’d never seen such a pure soul. I was curious, so I took on the scholar’s form and found her. She passed away thinking her lover had come for her, content in her final moments."

Yan Dan frowned. "Though your intentions were good, logically, it’s still wrong."

Yu Mo laughed lightly. "I paid the price. The cultivation I gained from her vanished, and I lost much of my own practice too."

Yan Dan’s eyes widened. "Wait, someone actually reduced you to your original form? Who could do that?" When Yu Mo remained silent, realization dawned on her. "It’s the beautiful flower fairy, isn’t it? The one who took your strange eye? You’re still hung up on her, even after all she did to you. How could you not hold a grudge?"

Yu Mo’s face turned serious. "Who said I liked her? I obviously don’t..."

Yan Dan, uninterested, waved him off. "There have always been lovesick fools in the world. Don’t get too hung up on it, Yu Mo. I see you in a whole new light now. But let’s be honest, that beautiful flower fairy clearly doesn’t want you, which is why you’ve been all alone. But as they say, what’s gone is like yesterday’s death, or water flowing east. It won’t come back. No point dwelling on the past!"

Yu Mo finally snapped. "Yan Dan!"

"What?"

Pointing to the cabin, he sighed. "You’re still half-asleep. Go take a nap."

Zhou Shiming was a well-known bully. His family owned a large number of properties, allowing him to run wild in the village for nearly ten years. He had hoped to extend his reign of terror into the bustling city of Nandu, but the wise and virtuous emperor’s rule ensured peace and prosperity. Nandu was so safe that doors were left open at night, and no one dared to pick things off the streets. Zhou’s ambitions for dominance were crushed.

Zhou Shanren, his adopted son, followed in his footsteps. Formerly named Shanren, he kept the name “Zhou” to honor his adoptive father, who was pleased enough to leave it unchanged. Zhou Shanren’s favorite pastime was preying on any attractive girl he came across, snatching her up and running off. The nearby villages were well aware of him and avoided his path.

In March, the river sparkled a vivid blue-green, and the first few peach blossoms began to bloom, their beauty reflecting in the people beneath the trees. The scene was like a painting, serene and lovely.

"Jiangnan is beautiful, the bamboo is straight. I made a flute for my brother and played a tune, asking if this flute pleases him..." Along the riverbanks, the fishermen hummed as they cast their nets, sharing laughter and gossip.

Mr. Zhou charged into their midst, puffing out his chest like an overfed tiger. The fishermen scattered, diving into the water in fear. One unlucky fisherwoman didn’t escape in time. Zhou caught her, his grip firm, her clothes wet and clinging as she trembled in fear. But just as he prepared to carry her away, he heard a light, musical laugh from the shore. He looked up, and his eyes locked onto a girl.

She stood beneath the peach blossom tree, a slender white hand reaching to shake down a bloom. The petals floated to the ground as she wrinkled her nose, laughing and turning to speak to the young man beside her. He gently pulled her hand away from the branch, smiling as he replied.

Zhou stood frozen, too far away to hear their conversation, but close enough to watch as the young man walked toward the distant grove of peach trees, leaving the girl alone beneath the blossoms. Letting the fisherwoman go, Zhou hurried across the embankment and scooped the girl into his arms.

She playfully punched his back, but it was half-hearted, more like a teasing tap. Growing bored of the game, she stopped, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips. Zhou, however, only ran faster.

Ahead, a pleasure boat drifted downstream. Zhou shouted, "Stop the boat! Dock it!" The boatmen steered towards the shore, and before it had fully docked, Zhou leapt aboard. His face was flushed with excitement. "I’ve struck gold today! Father-in-law, consider this a gift from me!"

The girl muttered something under her breath, something like, "What a beast..." 

Zhou didn’t catch it. Patting her back, he grinned. "Don’t be afraid. Stick with us, and you’ll live the high life." He barged into the cabin, tossing the girl onto a brocade cushion. Turning with a wide grin, he called out, "Father-in-law, what do you think of this one?"

Zhou Shiming lay reclined on a cushion, two maids massaging his legs while fragrant agarwood smoke curled in the air. Dressed in a fine Sichuan brocade robe, he was a plump, well-kept man with pale skin. In his left hand, he idly held a jade snuff bottle, his fingers as white as porcelain.

With a wave of his hand, the maids stopped their work and retreated. Zhou Shanren, sensing the mood, also quickly left the cabin.

Shiming eyed the girl, his voice calm. "What’s your name?"

Seated on the cushion, she glanced around before offering a small smile. "My name is Yan Dan. 'Yan' for color, 'Dan' for light like water."

Shiming raised an eyebrow. "And do you know who I am?" 

Yan Dan sighed, her tone light yet resigned: "At first, I had no idea, but now it's clear." She gave Zhou Shiming a once-over and added with sincerity, "You don’t look like a bully. More like a wealthy man enjoying life’s luxuries."

Zhou Shiming let out a hearty laugh. "You’re a funny one, aren’t you? Let me tell you something—never judge a person by appearances alone. Got that?"

Yan Dan nodded knowingly. Of all the lessons she had learned, this one rang truest.

Zhou Shiming's expression shifted, and he slowly moved closer to her. "Now that you understand who I am, you should also realize it’s in your best interest to behave. If not, I have plenty of ways to make you regret it."

Yan Dan tilted her head, her tone still playful. "Uncle, you’ve got five stubble hairs on your chin, three nose hairs sticking out of your left nostril, and one on that mole near your right eyebrow—" 

Zhou Shiming’s face drained of color, fury boiling over as he lunged at her. Just as he reached out to grab her, his body was suddenly lifted and flung through the air, crashing through the cabin wall with a loud thud.

Yu Mo stood in the doorway, his expression calm as ever. He dusted off his hands, then looked at Yan Dan. "Were you really going to wait until you were in trouble to step in?"

Yan Dan flicked her sleeves dismissively, bending down to exit through the hole Zhou Shiming had made. Her voice full of indignation, she quipped, "You took your sweet time! I was this close to being harassed by that bloated pig."

Out on the deck, Zhou Shiming's gang—about a dozen men armed with sticks and knives—stood ready. Rubbing his aching back, Zhou Shiming cursed at his adopted son, Zhou Shanren. "I told you to bring back some beauties, and this is what you get? A loudmouth and her bodyguard!"

Yu Mo stepped onto the deck with an air of grace. He didn’t even bother to look at the weapons aimed his way. With a casual flick of his sleeve, every weapon flew from their hands, splashing into the river below.

"If you want to live," Yu Mo said, his voice calm but firm, "jump off the boat. I’ll give you until the count of five." He started counting, but by the time he reached three, the men had already scrambled over the railing and leapt into the water. Zhou Shiming, despite his size, was surprisingly nimble. He tried to join them but found his leg caught. 

Yu Mo reached five, glancing down at Zhou Shiming with mild disappointment. "One left is better than none, I suppose."

Yan Dan crouched beside Zhou Shiming, casually holding the end of the hemp rope that had wrapped around his leg. "You know," she said thoughtfully, "you shouldn’t judge a person by their looks. Didn’t you tell me that earlier?" She gave the rope a playful tug, grinning at him with bright eyes and pearly teeth. "You look soft. Bet you taste good too."

Zhou Shiming let out a terrified howl, scrambling to get away. But before he could escape, he came face-to-face with Yu Mo, whose soft smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. 

"She’s messing with you," Yu Mo assured him. "She’d never eat human flesh—too dirty for her tastes." He paused for effect, then added with a chilling calm, "But I might."

Zhou Shiming's eyes rolled back, and he fainted on the spot.

Yu Mo calmly drew a dagger and placed it against Zhou Shiming’s double chin. "Where should we start?"

Yan Dan, crouching beside them, raised a finger. "Best to get the essence first. No point cutting if it’s going to hurt too much."

Yu Mo, without missing a beat, responded, "Cut first, then get the essence."

Zhou Shiming came to his senses and, in a panic, threw himself at their feet, begging. "Please, have mercy! I know I’ve done wrong—bullying the weak, tormenting the innocent! I swear, I’ll never do it again! Please, spare me!"

Just as Yu Mo was about to respond, he suddenly tensed, pulling Yan Dan close and rolling out of the way. A sharp clang rang through the air as a blade sliced into the boat, sending a wave of water crashing over the deck.

A young man in an ink-and-wash robe stood on the side of the boat, his sleeves fluttering, his eyebrows were fine and his eyes were handsome. He flipped the long sword in his hand and pointed at them.

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