Chapter Two: Is Immortality Within Reach?

On the old Taoist’s smiling face, Liu Ping could clearly read the words “I am a charlatan,” yet out of politeness he still asked, “Master, is there something you need?”

“My young friend, you carry fortune atop your head, tinged with red—a sign of modest prosperity. However, your fate is mottled and chaotic, so much so that even with all my cultivation, I cannot decipher it clearly. Truly, you are extraordinary.” The old priest shook his head from side to side as he spoke.

Liu Ping eyed the old Taoist suspiciously and asked, “Speak plainly. What do you want?”

The old priest looked thoroughly worldly: his Daoist robes were ragged, his lips shiny with grease—a sure sign of a down-and-out, half-hearted ascetic, his gaze frequently darting toward the white fox on Liu Ping’s shoulder. No doubt, he was much like that hunter from before, drawn by the beauty of the fox.

“You are quite straightforward,” the Taoist chuckled, revealing a trace of genuine refinement. “Your destiny is as unpredictable as shifting clouds. In my life, I have never heard of or seen such a fate. For such a pattern to be lost to the mundane world is truly a pity. If you wish, you may become my disciple. One day, you will transcend the world, achieve immortality, and roam free. What do you say?”

Liu Ping stared at the old priest, mouth agape. He and his little companion, the white fox, were both stunned.

“Become immortal?” Liu Ping asked.

“Indeed.” The old Taoist stroked his beard and nodded with a smile.

Damn! Liu Ping felt as though a thousand alpacas were galloping across his mind. This guy’s line and demeanor were almost identical to that shabby old man in Stephen Chow’s movie “Kung Fu”: “Kid, I see your bones are extraordinary! Surely, you are a martial arts prodigy. The future of justice and peace in the universe depends on you! I have here the ‘Buddha’s Palm’ manual, originally 13.8 yuan, but for you, just 10 yuan a copy.” The resemblance was uncanny.

Does he take me for a fool? Not only does this old man want to trick me out of my fox, but now he wants to trick me away as well?

This world is far too dangerous! If only I could return to Earth! Liu Ping felt thoroughly disoriented.

“No, thank you,” Liu Ping turned to leave.

“Wait! You’ll regret this!” the old Taoist exclaimed in haste. “Must I perform magic before you’ll believe me?”

“Magic?” Liu Ping scoffed inwardly. Even if he did know some, it would only be some trickery. If he were truly an enlightened master, why would he casually display his magic like some street performer?

Without looking back, he affected an air of detached arrogance and asked, “Of all the myriad arts and endless paths, tell me this: can they grant immortality?”

The old priest froze, regarding Liu Ping with a mix of surprise and uncertainty, clearly taken aback by this question. Indeed, of all the boundless arts and countless paths, can any grant true immortality? The freedom, fearlessness, and carefree life he sought—was it truly attainable?

Suddenly, as he watched Liu Ping’s retreating figure, he called out, “Young friend! The fox on your shoulder is a demon. Let her cultivate with me! It will do you no good!”

A fraud, just as I thought. Now he’s slipped up—calling her a demon? Your whole family are demons! Liu Ping cursed inwardly, but to avoid further entanglement, he replied, “Heaven has its unpredictable storms, and man his fleeting fortunes and misfortunes. If it is fate, you cannot avoid it; if it is calamity, you cannot escape. Why bother trying to run? Taoist, your cultivation is clearly lacking.”

With that, he quickened his pace and left the old Taoist behind for good.

The old Taoist could only stand there, muttering Liu Ping’s words to himself: “Heaven has its unpredictable storms, and man his fleeting fortunes and misfortunes. Marvelous, truly marvelous. This young man is truly interesting.”

As Liu Ping walked along the mountain path, he glanced back—no sign of the Taoist remained. Only then did he sigh in relief. Thinking back on the encounter, he couldn’t help but mutter, “There are no good people in this world!”

“Who says there aren’t good people? Young master, aren’t you a good person yourself?”

A sweet, delicate voice suddenly echoed in his ear, making Liu Ping’s hair stand on end. He jumped, looking around, but saw no one. Wide-eyed, he stared at the white fox on his shoulder and asked, incredulous, “Was that you just now?”

“Yes, it was me,” said the little fox.

“You’re kidding!” Liu Ping jumped again, mouth agape. “A monster?”

“Yes.” The little fox nodded.

“That makes no sense. Monsters really do exist…” But after learning the truth, Liu Ping was not afraid at all. He scooped up the little fox, studying her intently, thinking, “But I’ve already transmigrated to another world—if such an unscientific thing can happen, then perhaps monsters aren’t so strange after all. I suppose I can accept it, more or less.”

He didn’t fear the fox spirit for two reasons: first, the former owner of this body had saved her, so at worst she’d turn into a lovely maiden to repay the debt—a thought that was oddly appealing. Second, Liu Ping’s modern curiosity made him less superstitious than the locals and thus less afraid of ghosts and spirits.

Lost in thought, Liu Ping was startled as the little fox leapt from his hands to the ground. “Come with me, young master,” she said. “I have something to give you.”

Liu Ping hurried after her, suddenly recalling that the old Taoist had claimed the fox was a demon. Did that mean the priest had some real ability? But on reflection, Liu Ping shook his head—he had been so easily fooled by a few words, and hardly seemed an enlightened master. It must have been a lucky guess.

The path grew more difficult as they ventured deeper into the forest. Liu Ping, bored, asked, “So… what’s your name, Miss Fox?”

“Aren’t you afraid of me?” the little fox asked in return.

“Why should I be?” Liu Ping laughed. Surely, as a transmigrator, he had nothing to fear!

“Because I’m a monster.”

“So what? Didn’t I save you? Monsters can be grateful too, right?”

“Yes, that’s true.”

“Then will you turn into a lovely maiden and marry me?” Liu Ping suddenly asked.

“No,” she replied firmly.

“Ah…” Liu Ping was a little embarrassed.

“I’m still young. I haven’t grown up yet,” said the little fox.

“Then I’ll wait until you do. By the way, what’s your name?”

“My surname is Hu, but I don’t have a given name.”

“Then I’ll call you Miss Hu. ‘Monster’ sounds too harsh.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

As the fox led the way deeper into the woods, the terrain became more rugged. Just as Liu Ping began to feel uneasy, the little fox said, “We’re here.”

Liu Ping looked around and spotted a towering ancient tree, so large it would take ten men to encircle it. At its base was a hole, into which the white fox immediately disappeared.

A moment later, she emerged, carrying a small bundle in her mouth, which she set on the ground.

Liu Ping crouched down. “Is this for me?”

“Yes. Eat it,” the little fox replied.

Liu Ping opened the bundle to find three greenish fruits, each about the size of a plum, along with a piece of animal hide covered in tiny writing.

Were these immortal fruits? Or perhaps poison… Liu Ping was cautious—not out of suspicion toward the fox, but because he had just died and come back; to be poisoned now would be a real joke.

“I’ll eat two, and you have one,” he said, holding a fruit out to the fox.

“Are you sure?” the fox asked.

“It’s fine. If I ate them all, I’d feel bad. Things are always better when shared.” Liu Ping lied without batting an eye.

“Alright… Thank you, young master. You really are a good person.” The little fox lowered her head and began to eat.

“A good person…” Liu Ping murmured self-mockingly as he picked up the animal hide and examined the writing.

“‘The Path of Three Lives’? It’s a short story… but seems only half complete. Miss Hu, where did you get this?”

The little fox licked her snowy paws, looking very content, and replied, “My grandfather gave me this scripture.”

“Your grandfather? Is it really okay to give me something so meaningful?” Liu Ping was taken aback.

“My grandfather told me to give it to someone with a destined connection.”

“I see… Well, I’ll gladly accept it, then.”

He tucked the hide into his bag, then swallowed the remaining two fruits whole. They were a bit sour, tasting much like plums. Afterward, he said, “I’d better head back. If I stay out any longer, I’ll get scolded.”

“If you have time, come play with me… and take this.” The little fox handed him a small yellow jade—it was only the size of a pinky nail.

Liu Ping accepted it, then hurried home.

Along the way, he felt a bit conflicted. Soon, he would have to call two complete strangers his parents—that was a strange feeling. But then again, he had taken over their son’s body and been granted a new life; what did a few words matter?

Reaching Liujia Village at the foot of the mountain, he followed his memories home.

Touching his stomach, Liu Ping muttered, “I haven’t felt anything since eating those fruits. I thought they might have been immortal fruit, but clearly I was overthinking—how could such things be so common…”

At that moment, a bright-eyed little girl walked out of the inner room. She looked at Liu Ping in surprise and asked, “Brother, what happened to you? Why are your clothes all torn?”

Looking at this likely child-bride-to-be, Liu Ping’s mood brightened—she was sure to be a beauty one day! Instead of answering, he asked, “Where are Mother and Father?”

“They had something to do and went out…” The girl, Liu Yue, hesitated, then answered truthfully. Noticing her brother staring at her, her cheeks flushed and she muttered, “What are you looking at?”

“Never mind that. Get me some clean clothes—I need a wash. I fell just now,” Liu Ping said.

“How do you even manage to fall like that…?” Liu Yue watched her brother’s retreating figure with exasperation.

※※※※※※

On the mountaintop, the wind howled.

The old Taoist sat cross-legged on a great boulder, looking down at Liujia Village.

After a while, he stroked his beard and said, “He is indeed a remarkable one—‘Heaven has its unpredictable storms, and man his fleeting fortunes and misfortunes.’ How fitting… A mortal meets a fox spirit, and gains such fortune. Truly, there are many interesting people in this mortal world.”