Chapter Text
HuliJing
HuliJing… The Fox Immortal, still in his disguise, wonders about these foolish mortals. HuXian is the correct term to describe his kind, but he doesn’t hold it against them, especially since he is currently a dog.
A mistake – but one he made himself and so he can’t blame them for reaching the wrong conclusion. They are mortals after all, still so young and rather ignorant. Children really. They don’t compare to the likes of him, but these mortals do intrigue him.
Resting his head on his front paws, he studies Li LianHua. The fool tries luring him with treats and promises him pats, and normally he would run over and play their little game, but not now, as Li LianHua did something he can’t possibly condone.
Granted, giving the Styx Flower to the Emperor is a noble thing to do, but also stupid. Alas, Li LianHua is still determined to die. There will be hell to pay now Fang DuoBing knows the Styx Flower is gone and things will be even worse once Di FeiSheng arrives.
But aren’t those two even bigger idiots?
Di FeiSheng should have known better than to entrust the cure to Li LianHua. Doesn’t the man know Li LianHua wants to die?
And don’t get him started on Fang DuoBing, who locks away the Styx Flower – which is the smart thing to do - but then hands the treasure to Li LianHua for safekeeping? Seriously, is he the only one with a working brain?
“HuliJing, don’t be like that. You can’t accompany me on this trip.” Taking the dog along is hardly fair now that his health has taken a turn for the worst. “XiaoBao and A-Fei will take care of you once I am gone.” And maybe that is the one good thing to come out of this. Those two will look after Lotus Tower, HuliJing, and comfort each other while they grieve.
Di FeiSheng and Fang DuoBing should accept the truth – namely that the BiCha poison is about to kill him. However, Li LianHua refuses to stick around until madness claims him and turns him into a raving lunatic. They don’t deserve having to go through that hell with him.
Trip? One Li LianHua doesn’t plan to return from. Take care of him? That is what his idiot worries about? The Fox Immortal has different concerns though.
Does Fang DuoBing really think that Li LianHua is that easily incapacitated? Just by locking his acupoints? And then the boy left, trusting Li LianHua to be unable to run? Idiots, the whole lot of them!
“HuliJing, how about going into your shelter if I put some delicious chicken in there?” Maybe food will do the trick? Li LianHua certainly hopes so as he is running out of time. The BiCha poison has a tight hold on him, making its way into his brain after fully corrupting his organs. At the most he has a few hours left and he needs to leave now!
Delicious? He shakes his head and growls his disapproval. Does Li LianHua have any idea how inedible his cooking is? The only reason why he is still alive is the fact that he’s a Fox Immortal and not a mere dog.
“HuliJing, be a good dog and listen to me.”
Does Li LianHua have to rub it in? He grunts, recalling his shapeshifting gone wrong and instead of turning into a fox, he shapeshifted into this sorry excuse for a dog! He is a glorious nine-tailed fox for crying out loud! Not a dog! If his human shape hadn’t been that badly injured the shapeshifting wouldn’t have been a problem.
“HuliJing, you are making things most difficult.” Li LianHua bends, intending to pick up his stubborn pet, but HuliJing growling makes him step back. “HuliJing?” His dog never growled at him before! He is about to chide his pet when a coughing fit doubles him over. Blood drips from his lips and he quickly wipes it away, illustrating that he is running out of time. “Fine, I give up, but don’t follow me.” He turns, walks toward the entrance and heavily leans against the wall when sudden vertigo overwhelms him. Did he waste too much time?
That’s it. That fool will fall and probably hit his head. He’s done with this charade. Hopefully his human shape has sufficiently healed for him to shapeshift.
Li LianHua braces himself when Lotus Tower trembles beneath his feet. Oh, it’s not Lotus Tower that’s moving. No, it’s him, spectacularly falling and ending up in a pathetic heap in the grass.
//
Shifting into his human form after having been a dog for years (such humiliation!) is painful but long overdue. He should have changed back a long time ago, but he enjoys being Li LianHua’s pet and staying like this enables him to help Li LianHua, But the time has come to face his true self.
Sweeping back his unruly hair, he grins at its familiar red hue. Although he doesn’t care about being naked since there is nothing wrong with his body, he prefers not being found like this. The only clothes that are around are Li LianHua’s though.
After searching the available robes, he deems a blue outfit worthy of clothing a Fox Immortal. Or should he try green instead? Green does amazing things for him, but the blue ones are soft to the touch and so he gives in. He’s a luxurious fox after all!
Annoying strands of hair obscure his vision and he quickly searches Li LianHua’s hair pin collection. A sigh escapes him at finding them all lotus-themed. Rolling back his eyes, he glances at a now peacefully sleeping Li LianHua. Being back in human form is odd and carrying Li LianHua inside tired him, which worries him. Next time he shouldn’t remain in an animal shape for too long.
“We need to talk.” The sound of his voice briefly startles him, but then again he hasn’t heard it in years. “But first things first.”
He quickly runs his fingers through his hair to make himself look presentable and after smoothing out the fabric, he twirls for effect. These robes definitely look better on him than on Li LianHua! He’s tempted to look for food, but he had better wait till Fang DuoBing returns since that boy can actually cook.
“Now back to you,” he whispers and sits down on the bed. “You’re too stubborn for your own good. Li LianHua, I am not giving up my treats and pets. Life at Lotus Tower is easy and I detest change.” Maybe he took on some dog characteristics over the years, because he thinks of Li LianHua as his person and no one -certainly not some dumb poison– is going to take this comfortable life away from him.
“You’re incredibly lucky to have me around. Not a mere Fox Spirit, but a Fox Immortal. Li LianHua, do you know my blood can neutralize poison?” And he wants his person healed. “I want treats, pets, Fang DuoBing’s cooking and A-Fei,” and he giggles, clearly envisioning the mischief he can pull on the man, “A-Fei to make you happy, because when you are happy so am I.”
But what about free will and permission? Shouldn’t he give Li LianHua a choice?
“No,” he decides, “You had your chances and you threw them all away. No more.” After biting a fingertip, one drop of blood lands on Li LianHua’s tongue “Let’s see how you deal with being alive.”
//
He settles down outside, sitting on the grass, savoring the sensation of the wind moving through his hair. The scents, the wind, the sun caressing his face, they almost prove too much and he closes his eyes. Fully focusing on his senses, physical and supernatural alike, he finally starts to feel like himself again. A part of him wants to shift – not necessarily into a dog – but into a fox and run.
But he can’t, at least not yet, as Li LianHua is still his responsibility. Come to think of it, what is taking Fang DuoBing? Is the fool still searching for Di FeiSheng? Shouldn’t common sense tell the boy to hurry back and check on Li LianHua?
Knowing Li LianHua is safe makes him purr. Life is good and it will be even better with Li LianHua petting him and Fang DuoBing slipping him treats.
Then the purrs stop. Oh, they only know him as a dog. If a fox suddenly shows up they might chase him away. It’s a problem, one he needs to seriously consider. Wait, now that he is in his human form he can tell them the truth. They can pet and feed him in his fox form. They won’t miss the dog, will they? But what if they do and they don’t want a fox around? Too caught up in his musings, he fails to pick up on the sounds coming from behind him.
TBC
And just to give you an idea about said Fox...
