Chapter 11: Edification, Cleansing Wind Elixir

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Mixing among the hordes of common rats, Ji Ming, though unable to learn any superior cultivation methods, had nonetheless become passably skilled in several lesser arts. For all spirits and monsters seeking the path, the highest form of cultivation was to refine the breath and transform the body, shedding their beastly forms and attaining humanity. Such a practice was painstakingly slow, often counted in centuries, and required exceptional talent along with a rare stroke of immortal fortune. Within the Celestial Fox Academy, the resident scholars followed this very path.

A step below was the method of dual cultivation, which, though it promised rapid progress, easily led to extremes and entanglements with karma. The lowest, most humble way was to subsist on the scraps of others, absorbing their leftover vital energies. This method, though slow, had the advantage of safety, free of karmic entanglement; most ordinary spirits adopted this path, sometimes in conjunction with others.

Ji Ming’s approach, though considered inferior, had its unique qualities. He lured rats with the promise of honey, recruiting the mice across the Hengshan hills and the villages nestled within. At first, there were but three or five rat spirits from his own circle; tempted by honey, they brought in acquaintances, who then brought others, and so the numbers swelled to more than twenty.

Outside of his society, few rats in the villages or temples could even speak, and in truth, not a single one could—this fact made Ji Ming all the more eager to enter the Fox Society of Hengshan.

On the slope, the rats he had gathered were already “captured” by the allure of honeyed syrup. These rats, yet unable to overcome their base instincts, yielded to their appetites, and even those within his circle were no exception. Each one offered up the human essence they had collected, presenting it to Ji Ming in exchange for more honey to satisfy their cravings.

Standing on one leg, wings outstretched, Ji Ming raised his avian head and parted his beak. With a deep inhale, the threads of human essence, like fledgling swallows returning to their nest, drifted into his open mouth. The sensation was strange and instinctive—a voice in the darkness told him that he could control and absorb this vital energy.

As the streams of human essence were absorbed into his flesh, a wisp of true energy began to sprout. This was the second time Ji Ming had sensed its presence—the first being at the moment of his success, at the cost of his own life. The true energy coursed through his body before being forced into his throat, clearing the blockage there. Instantly, his tongue felt as if it had been unbound. From then on, his speech was unhindered.

He exhaled with satisfaction, folded his wings, and stood tall, instructing several of the society rats to distribute the honey syrup. In his efforts to entice the rats, he had nearly emptied every cliffside hive nearby; the wild honey from the mountains was inferior to the precious cliff honey, yet still, the rats flocked to it eagerly.

“Rat Four!” Ji Ming had long since spotted Rat Four hiding in the undergrowth and called out. A large, trembling rat rolled out, its plump form proof of a comfortable life lately.

Rat Four reported the patriarch’s reaction to Ji Ming, confirming that his plan was taking effect. It was now a matter of persistence.

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This next step was crucial—he had to make the old patriarch realize he could bring benefit to the young master of the Hu family.

“Rat Four, do you have any news?” Rat Four looked bewildered, glancing nervously at four familiar society rats on the slope. He realized he was no longer Wu Songzi’s only informant; there were now others to choose from.

Ji Ming, seeing Rat Four understood his predicament, pressed on, “It’s said that Young Master Tu has already found a spirit skilled in flight.”

“Yes…” Rat Four thought back; he’d been basking in the flattery of the society rats lately and had failed to notice such matters.

“I’ll give you a few days. Investigate thoroughly and report back to me.”

“I…” Rat Four was suddenly indignant. He was, after all, a society rat himself; even before the patriarch he had not been treated so coldly. Why should he be so easily ordered about?

Noting Rat Four’s attitude, Ji Ming’s tone turned cold. “Do you remember the Weeping Bamboo?”

Rat Four’s anger faded as quickly as it had come. How had this flying spirit come to know about the weeping jade bamboo he and his brothers had used as gambling stakes? Now he was both anxious and afraid, terrified Ji Ming would reveal this to the patriarch.

Ji Ming sneered inwardly. How dare a mere rat spirit challenge him? Were it not for his current need for secrecy, he would have sent Rat Four to join his brother in the afterlife. He recalled the temple that day quite clearly—their wager, the judgment of Muddy Duke who called the bamboo a true material for the Celestial Fox Academy, and mocked the brothers as thieves.

Ji Ming truly wondered whether Rat Four was bold or witless, so unafraid of exposure. He spread his wings like two curved blades, frightening Rat Four into pleading for mercy and promising to investigate the matter properly.

“No, one matter is not another. You have insulted me, and I am always reasonable—you must offer compensation.”

“I am willing to offer up human essence, just like the others.”

“No,” Ji Ming refused, his sights set on something greater. “That day, when you faced the Yellow Wolf’s illusion, how did you counter it?”

“I don’t know.” Ji Ming’s taloned foot flicked sharply at Rat Four’s head.

“I truly don’t know! I spend my days in the society’s study with the fox scholars. After so long, I simply picked up the art of transformation without a teacher. The patriarch has said that for any beast to attain the path, the first step is to master ‘phantom form’.”

Ji Ming believed Rat Four was telling the truth and withdrew his claws, releasing him. This rat could read, understood cultivation, and had some ability to transform—making entry into the Fox Society all the more imperative for Ji Ming.

His earlier grand vows were a bid to prove his goodwill toward his kind; the patriarch might be pleased at first, but over time would surely see through the ruse. He needed to create more disturbances, diversions enough to muddle the old fox’s judgment.

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This would be difficult, but Ji Ming possessed the knowledge and perspective of another world—a resource more valuable than even his treasured gaze.

“Come!” he called to the rats on the slope and began chanting in a loud, clear voice,

“When man is born, his nature is good; Their natures are alike, but habits diverge. Without instruction, nature will stray; The right way of teaching lies in devotion. Failing to teach, the father’s fault; Not teaching strictly, the teacher’s laziness. A child unlearned is not as he should be; If young ones don’t study, what will age bring? Uncut jade cannot become a vessel; Unlearned men cannot know virtue…”

“What kind of text is this, so easy to recite, so clear and direct?” In the study, the old patriarch, overhearing a rat softly reciting these three-character verses, immediately inquired.

The society rat questioned darted his eyes about, unsure how to reply.

“It’s that flying spirit, Wu Songzi.” The patriarch, always well-informed, was aware of the recent antics among his rat servants: the flying spirit pretending to be divine, making vows; the rats bribed with honey, submitting to his orders and offering up human essence—a truly ridiculous affair.

“But…” The patriarch called Rat Four over again, instructing him to write out the verses, and found himself unconsciously reading them aloud.

Within the Fox Society, classical texts and primers abounded; even the most learned families of the world might not boast such a complete collection. Yet these three-character verses were utterly unfamiliar.

Rat Four stood meekly by, bowing his head, and said, “To let the patriarch know, we rats have memorized this only because Wu Songzi wished to educate us, offering three spoonfuls of honey syrup to those who could recite it fluently.”

“How rare!” A sudden inspiration flashed through the patriarch’s mind. “So, his earlier vows to the rats established trust and faith, and now he follows through with true education. That is his real intent.”

“Quick…” The old fox felt an overwhelming urge—he must bring Wu Songzi into the society, to serve as companion, teacher, and friend to young Tu.

“Invite him again… No, he has already refused once. I must go in person this time.”

No longer as composed as before, the patriarch now felt both hope and fear, understanding the stakes and unable to treat Wu Songzi with the same detachment.

“Go to the treasury and bring a generous gift—let it be…”

Rat Four, panicked that the patriarch might choose the segment of weeping bamboo, hastily suggested, “Why not choose the ‘Wind-cleansing Pill’?”

“Good, that pill will surely please Wu Songzi.”