Hunting the Fox Monster

"It was precisely because I saw that length of sheep intestine that I surmised Hao Yongnian might have gone looking for an unlicensed prostitute." "Yet in the end, he was attacked by a monster, which naturally made me wonder whether he had been lured in by one." "In this world, the creatures most adept at seducing men are none other than fox monsters and female ghosts," Chu Qiguang said. "Fox monsters are lecherous by nature and skilled in bewitchment. They thrive on absorbing human essence and qi for their cultivation. Some are even born able to assume human form, speaking human tongues and conducting human affairs, making it difficult for ordinary people to tell them apart." This was clearly information about fox monsters that Chu Qiguang had heard from Qiao Zhi. Daoist Fayuan listened and asked, "Is this not what is stated in *Fox Lore*?" Chu Qiguang continued, "Indeed. It also records that the blood of a fox monster possesses aphrodisiac properties and is often used to make love potions. Whether the killer in this case is a fox monster can be verified simply by testing the bloodstains from the scene." Hearing this, Daoist Fayuan's eyes lit up. To the side, Magistrate He asked dubiously, "So much time has passed—is that blood still potent?" Although they had suspected the killer was a monster earlier, they had had no idea what kind of monster it was, so naturally no one had thought to test whether the blood acted as an aphrodisiac. Fayuan nodded. "Though fox monster blood spoils over time, the aphrodisiac elements within it remain, allowing it to serve as the primary ingredient in love potions. After just a few days, it should still be effective. In any case, we will know once we test it, and there is nothing to lose." The magistrate immediately ordered the yamen runners to fetch the bloodstained clothes from the crime scene and had several dogs lick them. Moments later, watching the dogs enter heat one after another, all three men looked on in surprise. Magistrate He exclaimed with excitement, "It truly is a fox monster?" The magistrate's son, He Xian, looked at Chu Qiguang with a hint of admiration. "Brother Chu is truly sharp-witted and well-versed in the classics on monsters." Perched on the eaves, Qiao Zhi curled his lip. *He arranged the crime scene himself, of course he knows everything.* Chu Qiguang's explanation gave the magistrate confidence. Magistrate He asked, "Do you have a way to track down where the fox monster is?" "Of course," Chu Qiguang said. "Judging by the bloodstains at the scene, the wounds on the deceased's hands, and the paw prints the fox monster left behind, the beast suffered severe injuries. It was precisely due to those wounds that it reverted to its true form. "Such a fox monster stands out far too much in the county seat. It could not have fled far. "If I can mobilize the Fast and Strong squads of yamen runners, I guarantee that within a single day, the fox monster will be captured." Magistrate He pondered for a moment, then looked at Chu Qiguang. "And if you fail to catch it?" Chu Qiguang replied, "If I fail to capture the fox monster this time, I will withdraw from Yinglue Academy." Magistrate He looked at Chu Qiguang in slight surprise. For a youth from a farming family, entering Yinglue Academy was no small feat; withdrawing would be akin to tumbling from the clouds straight back into the mud. From these words, he sensed the youth's utter determination. Magistrate He nodded. "Good. Commendable courage. Remember, you said it yourself." However, actually placing the two squads of runners under Chu Qiguang's command was out of the question. Even so, Magistrate He permitted him to participate in the yamen's investigation. And so, Magistrate He oversaw the overall situation, Head Bailiff Gu Wei personally led the yamen runners to apprehend the fox monster, Daoist Fayuan supervised the operation, and Chu Qiguang assisted from the sidelines. With Magistrate He firmly backing the matter, there was naturally no resistance throughout the yamen. Daoist Fayuan and Chu Qiguang soon met with Head Bailiff Gu Wei. Toward this Chu Qiguang who had appeared out of nowhere, Head Bailiff Gu Wei wore a lukewarm, sullen expression and made no move to initiate conversation. He was evidently displeased that the magistrate had shoehorned an outsider into their ranks. Chu Qiguang then looked at Daoist Fayuan beside him. As the representative of Qingyang Temple, he was an authority on demons and monsters and an important consultant to the magistrate, with substantial influence over the imperial court's judgment of the Bloody Corpse Case. Smiling, Chu Qiguang stepped forward and reached out to shake hands with both Bailiff Gu and Daoist Fayuan. Handshakes existed in this world as well, though only people on very familiar terms used them. Seeing Chu Qiguang display such warmth right from the start made both men somewhat uncomfortable. "Bailiff Gu, you are shrewd and capable, and Daoist Fayuan has slain demons and eliminated monsters for years, making quite a name across Qingyang—tales I have heard since childhood. For this search, I must ask for your generous guidance." Bailiff Gu felt a sudden weight in his hand. With a subtle flick of the youth's right hand... ten taels of silver had been slipped to him. Only then did his stiff face squeeze out a faint smile. "Young Master Chu flatters me." Fayuan likewise felt a silver ingot pressed into his palm. Feeling its weight, he felt a flicker of joy. *Ten taels of silver? This Chu Qiguang is indeed a pious believer, and he knows how the world works.* Without batting an eye, Fayuan tucked the silver into his robe and said, "Young Master Chu is very thoughtful." Chu Qiguang did not want to hand over silver either, but for one, his foundation in the county was far too shallow, and for another, corruption had long been rampant in this world. Bestowing benefits and slipping silver had become the most fundamental unspoken rule. Even back in Wang Family Village, when runners came to collect grain taxes, they had to be treated to a hearty lunch, let alone the county's head bailiff and a Daoist master from the temple. ... "Corrupt! Utterly corrupt!" Right then, Qiao Zhi, who had slipped into a flower bed in the courtyard, grumbled indignantly in Chu Qiguang's mind. "Did you really have to slip them so much silver? Especially the Heavenly Master Sect—they love nothing more than slaying monsters, swindling the common folk out of their money, seizing land at the drop of a hat, and inciting foolish men and women to donate their fortunes. From top to bottom, there's hardly a decent soul among them." Chu Qiguang responded mentally, "The Heavenly Master Sect is the state religion of the Great Han Dynasty. No matter what we do in the future, we won't be able to bypass them. Besides, since we're colluding with monsters, the Heavenly Master Sect is practically our local magistrate—all the more reason to keep close tabs on their moves. "Hmph. If not for the mountain of rules and precepts required to join the Heavenly Master Sect, and the fact that it would be inconvenient for you, I would have found a way to join long ago. It's not like I can't be religious—I can bow to Dao Lord Xuantian just fine." Qiao Zhi was speechless. "..." "Besides, if you want to talk about rotten..." Chu Qiguang could not help but remark, "in my eyes... this entire world, inside and out, is equally rotten—rotten to the core. High officials and yamen clerks at court, Daoist priests and masters of the Heavenly Master Sect, or you monsters—all of you are just as rotten. "If I were in charge of running the government, given twenty or thirty years to carry out reforms, I could make this world brand new. It would be infinitely better than it is now." Having said that, Chu Qiguang secretly added in his own thoughts: *Of course... the best scenario would still be finding a way to travel between this world and Earth. If that happens... I could thoroughly develop this world, maybe even set up a 'One Belt, One Realm' initiative and build common prosperity with you all.* *If I can't go back, then I'll just have to transform this world myself—at least enough to make my stay comfortable.* Chu Qiguang continued speaking to Qiao Zhi in his mind: "In short, we have to blend in and bide our time. Once we climb to the top, Master Qiao, I'll help you deal with the Heavenly Master Sect however you like." Qiao Zhi nodded thoughtfully, though another thought crossed his mind: *You damn well reformed it, alright, but then people impeached you with Ten Great Crimes...* In Qiao Zhi's mind swirled accusations like appointing demons and monsters, letting hens crow at dawn, forsaking the virtuous and capable, being disloyal and unfilial...