The snow had been falling for a long time.
The mountains were blanketed in white. Tree branches bent under the weight, and the mountain paths were no longer visible. Icicles hung from the entrance of the rock cave, gleaming with crystalline light under the sun.
Bai Heng crouched at the cave entrance, gazing out at the snow.
In recent days, the girl Qin Yu had not come up the mountain.
The weather was cold and the roads slippery. Qin Shi kept a tight watch and refused to let her leave the house no matter what. Qin Yu had thrown several tantrums, but each time her mother, Li Lianhua, managed to coax her back.
Qin Yun, however, was occasionally allowed to go up the mountain.
He had been hunting for years and had a strong, sturdy body. He was used to traveling through the mountains. After a few words of caution from Qin Shi, he was permitted to go.
Thus, the important task of delivering food to Bai Heng fell to Qin Yun.
Each time he came up the mountain, he carried a small bundle containing food. Sometimes it was glutinous rice cakes, sometimes roasted or fresh meat, and sometimes pastries that Qin Yu had specifically saved for her.
Bai Heng crouched on the rock, watching him walk along the mountain path.
The snow was deep, reaching past his calves. He walked slowly, step by step, leaving two deep trails behind him.
When he drew near, he stopped roughly two zhang away from her, crouched down, and took the food out of his bundle.
“Miss White, I brought glutinous rice cakes today.”
He arranged them neatly and took a few steps back.
Bai Heng walked over slowly and lowered her head to eat.
Qin Yun crouched nearby, watching her quietly.
After she finished, Bai Heng lifted her head and glanced at him.
Qin Yun stood up and brushed the snow from his knees.
“I’ll head back then. I’ll come again in a few days.”
He turned and followed his own footprints back the way he had come.
Bai Heng watched his figure disappear into the wind and snow before slowly returning to her rock cave.
This scene repeated many times.
Qin Shi and his wife had also vaguely noticed the changes in the village.
The sudden appearance of so many strangers, along with those “distant relatives” who kept finding excuses to befriend them, made them feel uneasy.
But they were only ordinary mortals. Even if they sensed something, what could they do?
They could only pretend they knew nothing and continue living as usual.
As for the white fox in the mountains, they had heard Qin Yun and Qin Yu mention it many times.
At first they treated it as nothing more than a children’s amusing story. But later, when more and more “distant visitors” came asking about the mountains and indirectly inquiring about the white fox, they realized the fox might not be ordinary.
Qin Shi and his wife Li Lianhua had discussed it several times.
In the end, Li Lianhua said, “No matter what, that fox has been kind to the children and has never harmed anyone. If we show it some goodwill and build a good connection, it can’t hurt.”
Qin Shi nodded in agreement.
From then on, they began preparing food for Bai Heng on purpose.
Li Lianhua was skillful with her hands. The glutinous rice cakes she made were softer and more chewy than others. She would make extra and have Qin Yun take them up the mountain.
One day, Li Lianhua suddenly thought of something.
“That fox is white with beautiful fur, but it must be cold in the mountains during winter. I wonder if she’s freezing?”
Qin Yu, who was listening nearby, lit up.
“Mom, do you want to make clothes for White Fox Immortal?”
Li Lianhua thought for a moment.
“Wild animals in the mountains have their own fur, so they shouldn’t be afraid of the cold. But since she’s intelligent, maybe she’s like humans and would like to wear something?”
Qin Yu nodded vigorously.
“Yes, yes! White Fox Immortal would definitely want one!”
Li Lianhua turned to Qin Yun.
“Yun’er, you’ve seen her many times. About how big is she?”
Qin Yun thought for a moment and gestured with his hands.
“About this long, this tall. A bit bigger than an ordinary fox, but not too big.”
Li Lianhua nodded.
“I’ll try making one then. I don’t know if it will fit.”
Qin Yu jumped with joy.
“Mom, you’re the best!”
Qin Yun, however, shook his head.
“Mom, just going by what I say might not give you accurate measurements. It would be best if I could measure her myself.”
Li Lianhua paused.
“Measure? Would she let you?”
Qin Yun was not entirely sure.
“I’ll… I’ll try.”
That day when he went up the mountain, Qin Yun brought something extra.
A roll of measuring tape that his mother used for sewing.
Bai Heng crouched on the rock as usual, watching him approach.
Qin Yun set out the food and stepped back, watching her eat.
As Bai Heng ate, she sensed something was different.
The youth’s gaze today was more focused than usual. It was as if he were studying something, or hesitating over something.
After she finished the last piece of glutinous rice cake, she lifted her head and looked at him.
Qin Yun hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Miss White, there’s something I’d like to ask of you.”
Bai Heng’s ears twitched slightly.
Qin Yun took out the roll of measuring tape from his clothes.
“My mother wants to make you a little jacket so you’ll be warmer this winter. But she doesn’t know your size and is afraid it won’t fit properly.”
He looked at Bai Heng with sincere eyes.
“Could you let me take your measurements?”
Bai Heng was slightly stunned.
Make her a little jacket?
She recalled things from her previous life.
Back then, many people liked dressing their pets in clothes. Cats and dogs in colorful little outfits looked quite cute. But she had never quite understood it and always found it a bit ridiculous.
She never expected the same thing would happen to her now.
She looked at Qin Yun, thoughts turning in her mind.
The Qin family was not treating her like a pet. They genuinely saw her as an intelligent fox immortal and wanted to show their sincerity.
It would be unkind to refuse such goodwill.
After a moment of silence, Bai Heng slowly stood up.
She walked over to Qin Yun and stopped in front of him.
Qin Yun was stunned.
Did this mean she agreed?
Looking at the white fox so close to him, he suddenly felt nervous.
He had hunted for years and encountered countless wild animals, but at this moment, facing this snow-white fox, he felt strangely at a loss.
He took a deep breath, crouched down, and unrolled the measuring tape.
“I’ll… I’ll start with your body length.”
His hand gently touched Bai Heng’s back.
In that instant, he froze.
The fur was far softer and warmer than he had imagined. His fingers sank into it as if touching the finest velvet.
And the scent.
It was not the usual musky or gamey smell of wild animals. It was a faint, clear fragrance that reminded him of the mountains after snowfall, or flowers blooming under moonlight.
Thinking this, he suddenly recalled the scent on Lin Lan.
It was a similar, refreshing fragrance.
Qin Yun’s face flushed red.
He quickly lowered his head, not daring to look into Bai Heng’s eyes, and focused solely on the measuring tape.
Body length, chest circumference, neck circumference, waist circumference—he measured carefully, committing every measurement to memory.
His hands were steady and unhurried.
But his breathing had grown noticeably heavier.
Bai Heng stood still, allowing him to measure.
She noticed the youth’s face turning red and felt his warm breath against her fur.
What was wrong with him?
She quietly extended her divine sense to check.
The youth was perfectly healthy. His heart was simply beating faster than usual—thump, thump, thump—much quicker than normal.
Bai Heng felt a little amused.
Was he afraid she would bite him?
He usually seemed so eager to get close, but now that he actually was, he became nervous.
She suddenly recalled the story of Lord Ye who loved dragons. Mortals always carried a trace of fear toward mountain spirits and wild creatures, after all.
Thinking this, she did not mind.
After measuring the last part, Qin Yun straightened up and put away the tape.
“All… all done.”
His voice was a little hoarse.
Bai Heng looked at him and tilted her head slightly.
Qin Yun grew even more uncomfortable under her gaze and quickly looked away.
“Um… I’ll head back now. I’ll bring the coat in a few days.”
He turned and left, walking much faster than when he had arrived.
After a few steps, he remembered something and turned back.
“Thank you, Miss White.”
With that, he hurried away without looking back.
Bai Heng remained crouched in place, watching his figure stumble through the deep snow until it disappeared into the wind and blizzard. A trace of amusement rose in her heart.
She turned and slowly walked back to her rock cave.
Outside, the wind and snow continued. Inside the cave, the brief contact seemed to have left a trace of warmth.
Bai Heng lay down on the dry leaves, eyes half-closed.
Recalling how nervous Qin Yun had looked, the corners of her mouth curved up slightly.
He really was still just a young man.
A few days later, Qin Yun came up the mountain again.
This time his bundle was much larger and noticeably bulging.
When he drew near, he took out a small jacket from the bundle.
It was red.
Made of bright red satin with white trim, the stitches fine and neat, the craftsmanship exquisite.
“My mother made it.”
He placed the little jacket on a clean patch of snow and stepped back.
Bai Heng walked over and lowered her head to sniff it.
It carried the scent of cotton and velvet, along with a faint fragrance of soapberries.
She lifted her head and looked at Qin Yun.
Qin Yun scratched his head.
“My mother said red is festive. I don’t know if you’ll like it.”
Bai Heng looked at the little jacket, then at Qin Yun.
She slowly lowered her head, picked up the jacket in her mouth, and carried it back to the rock.
But she did not put it on.
She simply placed the jacket on the rock and crouched beside it.
Qin Yun was stunned.
“You’re not going to wear it?”
Bai Heng looked at him without moving.
Qin Yun thought for a moment and suddenly understood.
“You want to wait until I’m gone before wearing it?”
Bai Heng gently swished her tail.
Qin Yun smiled.
“Alright, then I’ll leave now.”
He turned and walked down the mountain through the snow.
After walking quite a distance, he looked back.
The white fox was still crouched on the rock. The red jacket stood out vividly against the white snow. She still had not put it on. She simply sat there quietly, watching in his direction.
Qin Yun waved, then continued on his way.
The snow kept falling.
Flurrying and silent.