The next morning, as soon as the sunlight peeked over the mountain ridge, Qin Yun entered the mountains.
He carried a bow and arrows on his back, a hunting knife at his waist, and held a large oil-paper package in his hand. The package was bulging, its contents unknown.
Bai Heng was crouched on a rock sunbathing when she spotted the familiar figure walking along the mountain path from afar.
She did not move, only narrowing her eyes slightly.
Qin Yun stopped roughly three zhang away from her and did not approach. He raised the oil-paper package and shook it toward her.
“Miss Little White.”
He spoke, his tone careful.
“I said the wrong thing last night. I came especially today to apologize.”
Bai Heng’s ears twitched slightly.
Miss Little White?
She looked at the youth and still did not move.
Seeing that she did not run away, Qin Yun breathed a small sigh of relief.
He took two steps forward, stopped again, placed the oil-paper package on the ground, and opened it.
Inside was a roasted deer leg, golden-brown and glistening with oil, still giving off faint steam. It had clearly just been reheated.
“This is leftover from last night’s feast. I saved it on purpose and reheated it this morning. It’s from Old Zhou’s family in the village. His roasted deer leg is the best in the whole village.”
Qin Yun stood up and took a few steps back.
Bai Heng looked at the deer leg, then at the youth, but did not approach immediately.
Qin Yun stood in place. Suddenly remembering something, he scratched his head.
“By the way, I’m not entirely sure about calling you Miss Little White…”
He looked at Bai Heng earnestly.
“The name Little White is also used by a dog in the village. I feel like calling you by a dog’s name isn’t very appropriate.”
Bai Heng’s tail dipped slightly.
Qin Yun did not notice and continued.
“So I was wondering if I should call you Fox Girl? But that sounds a bit strange too…”
Before he could finish, he suddenly saw the white fox stand up and glare at him.
There was clear displeasure in that glance.
Then she lightly stamped her front paw.
Qin Yun froze.
The reaction was exactly the same as last night.
His mind raced, and a flash of insight struck him.
“Miss White!”
He blurted out.
“May I call you Miss White?”
Bai Heng looked at him. She neither glared nor stamped her paw.
After a moment, she gently swished her tail.
The swish was unhurried, like a signal.
Qin Yun looked at the gently swaying tail and suddenly understood.
This meant… she had forgiven him?
He asked tentatively, “Then… will you accept this deer leg?”
Bai Heng glanced at him, then slowly walked over to the deer leg. She lowered her head to sniff it, picked it up in her mouth, turned, and walked back to the rock. She crouched down and began eating it slowly.
Qin Yun watched, the corners of his mouth curving up.
“Miss White, take your time eating. I’m going into the mountains to hunt.”
He turned and headed deeper into the woods. After a few steps, he glanced back.
The white fox was lowering her head, focused on eating the deer leg. Her tail swayed gently behind her.
Qin Yun smiled and did not look back again.
Around mid-morning, Qin Yu arrived.
The little girl carried her small basket on her back and skipped cheerfully along the mountain path. When she reached the edge of the woods, she looked around.
“Little White!”
She called out.
Bai Heng was crouched on the rock digesting her food. Hearing the call, her ears twitched slightly.
Little White.
Again with Little White.
She looked at the little girl with a trace of helplessness in her heart.
Qin Yu’s eyes lit up when she saw her. She hurried over, crouched down, and began taking things out of her basket.
“Little White, I brought you some good food.”
She pulled out a handful of wild fruit, then a piece of pastry, and then a small cloth bundle. When opened, it contained several pieces of malt candy.
Bai Heng watched her without moving.
Qin Yu arranged the food neatly and looked up at her.
“Little White, my brother didn’t mean it last night. He’s just bad with words. Don’t be mad at him.”
Looking into those sparkling eyes, the trace of helplessness in Bai Heng’s heart gradually melted away.
She slowly walked over, lowered her head to sniff the offerings, then picked up a wild fruit in her mouth and began eating it slowly.
Qin Yu smiled until her eyes curved into crescents.
“You’re not angry anymore, right?”
Bai Heng did not reply. She simply continued eating the wild fruit.
Qin Yu crouched there, watching her eat while chattering away.
“By the way, Little White, before I came up the mountain today, I ran into that dog at the village entrance.”
Bai Heng’s ears twitched slightly.
Qin Yu continued.
“You know, the one that’s also called Little White. It’s black and chubby—I don’t know why they named it that. It’s really fierce though, always chasing and barking at people.”
She wrinkled her nose as she spoke.
“So I thought, calling you by a dog’s name really isn’t appropriate. You’re a fox immortal after all.”
Bai Heng stopped chewing and lifted her head to look at her.
Qin Yu blinked.
“I need to give you a new name.”
She thought seriously, her small face full of concentration.
“How about White Fox Immortal?”
She asked tentatively.
Bai Heng looked at her and gently swished her tail.
Qin Yu’s eyes brightened.
“You agree? Then it’s White Fox Immortal!”
She nearly jumped with joy but quickly covered her mouth, afraid of startling Bai Heng.
Bai Heng looked at her excited expression, and her heart softened.
She lowered her head and continued eating the wild fruit.
Qin Yu crouched beside her, chattering about village matters. Whose chicken had laid double-yolk eggs, whose child had fallen into the stream, whose grandmother had scolded someone again—all trivial, insignificant little things.
Bai Heng listened, occasionally swishing her tail in response.
Qin Yu stayed for about half an hour before reluctantly standing up.
“White Fox Immortal, I’m going back now. I’ll come again tomorrow.”
She picked up her small basket, waved at Bai Heng, and skipped down the mountain.
After a few steps, she looked back.
Bai Heng was still crouched on the rock, watching her.
Qin Yu smiled brightly and ran off.
Not long after Qin Yu left, someone else arrived.
It was Lin Lan.
She carried a small cloth bundle and walked slowly up the mountain path with calm, unhurried steps.
Bai Heng crouched on the rock, watching the approaching figure. A faint stir rose in her heart.
Why had this girl come as well?
Lin Lan stopped roughly two zhang away from Bai Heng. She did not approach immediately. She simply stood there quietly, looking at her.
“Miss White.”
She spoke, her voice gentle.
“I came to apologize on behalf of Qin Yun.”
Bai Heng did not move. She simply watched her.
Lin Lan smiled softly.
“That boy means well, but he’s clumsy with words. He said something he shouldn’t have and didn’t even realize it. Last night when he got home, Qin Yu scolded him for half the night. This morning his father lectured him too. Only then did he understand that he had truly upset you.”
She paused.
“Early this morning, he came up the mountain to apologize, didn’t he? That deer leg was specially saved by him. He asked Uncle Zhou to reheat it early in the morning before bringing it up.”
Bai Heng listened without responding.
Lin Lan did not mind and continued.
“Qin Yu is the same. She got up this morning without even eating breakfast before preparing food to bring you. She really likes you.”
She looked at Bai Heng with soft eyes.
“Miss White, you are a spiritual fox immortal with a heart clearer than most humans. You should be able to see what kind of people the brother and sister are.”
Bai Heng remained silent for a moment, then slowly leaped down from the rock.
She walked up to Lin Lan, lifted her head, and looked at her.
Lin Lan was slightly startled, then smiled.
She opened the small cloth bundle. Inside were several exquisitely made pastries, different from the ones Qin Yu had brought—more delicately made.
“I made these myself. Try them.”
Bai Heng lowered her head to sniff them, then picked one up in her mouth and ate slowly.
Lin Lan crouched down, watching her eat.
“Qin Yu gave you the name White Fox Immortal?”
She asked softly.
Bai Heng’s ears twitched slightly.
Lin Lan smiled.
“That girl came back and showed off to me, saying she gave you a nice name.”
She paused.
“White Fox Immortal sounds quite good.”
Bai Heng did not respond. She simply continued eating the pastries.
Lin Lan watched her eat, her gaze gentle and the corners of her mouth holding a faint smile.
“It’s a blessing for Qin Yun to have friends like you.”
She said softly.
Bai Heng lifted her head and looked at her. This glance lingered a little longer.
Lin Lan said nothing more. She simply crouched there quietly, keeping her company until she finished the pastries.
After a long while, Lin Lan stood up.
“I should head back. Granny is waiting for me to cook.”
She waved at Bai Heng.
“Take care, Miss White.”
Bai Heng looked at her and gently swished her tail.
Lin Lan smiled, turned, and walked down the mountain.
Her steps were calm and graceful. Her slender figure soon disappeared at the end of the trail.
Bai Heng remained crouched in place, staring in that direction for a long time without moving.
This girl’s way of speaking was truly pleasant to listen to.
She truly lived up to her background as a young lady from a prominent family.
In the afternoon, the sunlight felt somewhat lazy.
Bai Heng crouched on the rock with her eyes half-closed, basking in the sun.
The mountain forest was quiet, broken only by occasional bird calls and the rustling of leaves in the wind.
Suddenly, her ears twitched.
Someone was coming.
And without making any sound of footsteps.
Bai Heng opened her eyes and extended her divine sense.
A figure was slowly approaching through the woods.
Moon-white scholar robes, unhurried steps, and a faint smile on his face.
It was Xu Cheng.
Bai Heng’s tail tightened slightly.
This person had approached completely silently. If she had not remained constantly alert, she might not have noticed him at all.
Mid-stage Foundation Establishment was indeed far beyond her current level.
Xu Cheng stopped roughly three zhang away from her, standing with his hands behind his back as he looked at her.
“Fellow Daoist Bai Heng.”
He spoke, his tone calm.
“It has been a while.”
Bai Heng’s pupils contracted slightly.
Fellow Daoist Bai Heng.
This form of address…
She looked at that refined face and suddenly thought of someone.
Lu Liang? Liang Lu?
The youth who had called himself a rogue cultivator and later a scion of a noble family. The one who had left a wine gourd at the mountain god temple and had stepped in to save Hong Jin from the Yu Ling Sect disciples.
That face bore no resemblance whatsoever to the one before her now.
Yet the look in his eyes, his tone, and the way he stood there were far too similar.
Bai Heng remained silent for a moment, then spoke slowly.
“Young Master Liang changes names as easily as he changes clothes. I didn’t expect you could even change faces.”
Her voice was calm, showing no emotion.
“With such talent, it’s a shame you don’t become an actor.”
Xu Cheng—or rather, the person who should now be called Liang Lu—paused slightly.
Then he laughed.
The smile spread across his face without a trace of anger. Instead, it carried genuine amusement.
“Fellow Daoist Bai Heng is as sharp as ever.”
He waved his hand, his tone carrying both sincere and slightly exaggerated admiration.
“I thought my disguise this time was quite good. I didn’t expect to be recognized the moment I spoke.”
Bai Heng did not respond. She simply watched him quietly.
Liang Lu did not mind and continued.
“Fellow Daoist Bai Heng mentioning actors actually surprised me a little.”
He looked at Bai Heng with curiosity in his eyes.
“You even know about such worldly entertainments?”
Bai Heng replied indifferently, “When one has lived long enough, one knows a little about everything.”
Liang Lu nodded and did not press further.
He was silent for a moment. The smile on his face gradually faded, and his expression became serious.
“Fellow Daoist Bai Heng, I have no ill intentions in coming here today. Nor am I deliberately following or pestering you.”
He looked at Bai Heng with honest eyes.
“I came to Qingxi Village this time because I have a family mission to fulfill.”
Bai Heng said nothing.
Liang Lu continued.
“Although I dislike many of the rules of noble families, I cannot forget the kindness they have shown me. The Liang family raised and taught me. Some things must still be done.”
He paused.
“A few days ago in the village, I heard people talking about a white fox in the mountains. It reminded me that Fellow Daoist Bai Heng had also been heading south. The direction roughly matched.”
He looked at Bai Heng.
“I thought I would try my luck and check. I didn’t expect to have such a pleasant surprise.”
Bai Heng was silent for a moment.
“I only have the surprise. There is no joy.”
Liang Lu smiled, completely unconcerned.
“Fellow Daoist Bai Heng is still as straightforward as ever.”
He stood with his hands behind his back, looking at her. His expression suddenly turned solemn.
“Fellow Daoist Bai Heng, let me give you a piece of advice: leave this place.”
Bai Heng’s ears twitched slightly.
She did not respond. She simply watched him.
Liang Lu did not urge her. He simply waited.
After a moment, Bai Heng spoke.
“Why?”
Liang Lu shook his head.
“I cannot say.”
Bai Heng looked at him.
“Then in what capacity are you telling me to leave?”
Liang Lu was silent for a moment, then said slowly, “I consider us to have met a few times. We can be considered half acquaintances.”
He looked at Bai Heng with clear eyes.
“A word of reminder from an acquaintance may not be useful, but it still needs to be said.”
Bai Heng said nothing.
The mountain forest was quiet, filled only with the rustling of leaves in the wind.
After a long while, Liang Lu smiled faintly.
“Very well. The message has been delivered. Whether Miss White listens or not is entirely up to you.”
He turned to leave.
After two steps, he suddenly stopped and looked back.
“By the way, how did the deer leg taste?”
Bai Heng paused slightly.
Liang Lu smiled.
“Old Zhou’s cooking is indeed excellent. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to taste it. Qin Yun took it all.”
With that, he turned and left, hands clasped behind his back.
The figure in moon-white robes soon disappeared deep into the woods.
Bai Heng remained crouched on the rock. She looked toward the depths of the forest, then in the direction of the village, and stayed motionless for a long time.
The wind blew past, ruffling her snow-white fur.
She narrowed her eyes slightly, lost in thought.
No matter what you say how do you not look like a stalker rn?