Chapter 43: The Twelfth Lunar Month

As the Twelfth Lunar Month approached, the snow fell in fits and starts.

The days in the mountains grew monotonous. There was nothing but endless white snow. Occasionally sunlight would break through the clouds and shine on the snow-covered ground, so bright it made one’s eyes hurt.

Bai Heng had grown accustomed to this kind of life.

Cultivating, sunbathing, and waiting for Qin Yun to come up the mountain.

The youth came every few days. Each time he carried a bundle on his back and trudged through the deep snow along the mountain path. The food he brought varied—sometimes dried fruits, sometimes cured meat, sometimes fresh pastries that Li Lianhua had just steamed.

Bai Heng would wait for him on that same rock every time.

Wearing the red jacket, she stood out strikingly against the snow.

When Qin Yun arrived, he would lay out the food and then sit at the edge of the rock. While Bai Heng ate, he would talk beside her about trivial matters—things from home, from the village, or things he had heard.

Bai Heng ate and listened, occasionally glancing up at him.

Qin Yun would then continue speaking.

Unknowingly, the distance between them grew smaller and smaller.

From the initial two zhang, to one zhang, to seven or eight chi, and now he sat right at the edge of the rock, close enough to reach out and touch her.

Bai Heng did not mind.

The youth harbored no malice. His aura was clean and comforting.

The white vapor from his breath as he spoke would occasionally drift onto her. The scent of the young man, mixed with the smell of the mountain forest, had gradually become familiar.

One day, Qin Yun suddenly said, “Miss White, I think I’ve gotten used to your scent.”

He spoke casually, as if commenting on the heavy snow that day.

“It makes me feel at ease.”

Bai Heng lifted her head and glanced at him.

Qin Yun smiled and said nothing more.

After he left that day, Bai Heng crouched on the rock, watching his figure disappear into the snow. She suddenly recalled Granny Jiang’s words.

There was a seal on the youth.

Beneath the seal was Yun Zhuo—the one whose Heavenly Spiritual Root had been stolen and whose memories had been sealed.

But right now, he was just an ordinary village boy. He could feel nervous, he could blush, and he could chatter endlessly about trivial things.

Perhaps this was better.

Bai Heng withdrew her gaze and slowly walked back into the rock cave.

One day, Qin Yun came up the mountain again.

He carried his bundle and held something else in his hand.

The object was wrapped in cloth, its contents unknown.

Bai Heng crouched on the rock, watching him approach.

When Qin Yun drew near, he first laid out the food as usual. Only after Bai Heng started eating did he unwrap the cloth bundle.

It was a mirror.

Not very large, about the size of a palm, oval-shaped with a wooden frame. The mirror surface was smooth and clear, reflecting a sharp image.

Bai Heng glanced at it without much surprise.

A glass mirror. This world’s metallurgy was more advanced than that of ancient times in her previous life. It was not unusual for them to be able to make such mirrors.

Qin Yun held the mirror out to her.

“Miss White, take a look.”

Bai Heng lifted her head and looked at him.

Qin Yun smiled and said, “You’ve probably never seen yourself wearing clothes. I brought this so you could see.”

He paused.

“Sister Lin Lan said that every girl should have her own mirror. So I bought one from the village peddler and brought it for you.”

Bai Heng looked at the mirror, then at Qin Yun, feeling a trace of helplessness.

She had divine sense. She could see her own appearance anytime she wanted. This mirror was quite unnecessary for her.

But the youth had good intentions, so she could not refuse.

She lowered her head and looked into the mirror.

Reflected in it was a white fox wearing a bright red jacket, crouched on a rock. Her eyes were clear and bright as she gazed at herself in the mirror.

Bai Heng looked for a moment, then tilted her head slightly.

The white fox in the mirror tilted its head as well.

Qin Yun watched from the side and could not help laughing.

“Look, how beautiful.”

Bai Heng lifted her head and glanced at him.

Then she reached out with her front paw and gently touched the mirror.

Qin Yun understood and placed the mirror on the rock in front of her.

Bai Heng looked down at it, then up at Qin Yun, and gently swished her tail.

Qin Yun’s eyes brightened.

“You’re keeping it?”

Bai Heng nodded.

Qin Yun smiled happily.

“That’s wonderful.”

He carefully set the mirror aside, chatted with Bai Heng for a while longer, then stood up to leave.

Bai Heng watched him walk away, then looked down at the mirror and shook her head slightly.

The boy was quite thoughtful.

She had no plans to give him a gift in return.

Bringing the mirror was clearly something Qin Yun had done on his own. Unlike the jacket and food from the Qin family, this was the youth’s personal gesture.

Bai Heng thought for a moment and decided she would treat the mirror as advance payment.

When the time came to take him and flee, this would make up for his kindness.

With that thought, she stored the mirror in her sea of consciousness.

On the day of the Laba Festival, the sun finally came out.

Sunlight spilled across the snow, making the world dazzlingly bright. Some of the snow had begun to melt. Water droplets dripped steadily from the eaves.

Qin Yu was exceptionally allowed to go up the mountain.

She had been cooped up for a long time. Hearing that she could visit White Fox Immortal, she woke up early and urged Qin Yun to hurry.

Lin Lan came along as well.

The three of them walked up the mountain path. Qin Yu ran ahead, skipping along and calling out “White Fox Immortal” the whole way.

Bai Heng crouched on the rock and heard the girl’s voice from afar.

She was wearing the red jacket, standing out vividly against the snow.

When Qin Yu reached her, her eyes lit up instantly.

“White Fox Immortal!”

She ran over, stopped roughly two zhang away, crouched down, and stared carefully.

“You look so beautiful!”

Bai Heng looked at her and gently swished her tail.

Qin Yun and Lin Lan arrived shortly after.

Qin Yun took several bowls out of his bundle. They were filled with steaming hot porridge.

“Laba porridge. My mother made it especially.”

He set the bowls on the snow and, for appearance’s sake, also took out a few pairs of chopsticks.

Bai Heng walked over and lowered her head to sniff.

The porridge contained red dates, lotus seeds, longan, and several kinds of beans. It had been cooked until soft and fragrant.

She took a small lick.

It was sweet.

Qin Yu crouched nearby, watching with sparkling eyes.

“Is it good?”

Bai Heng lifted her head, glanced at her, and continued eating.

Qin Yu smiled until her eyes curved into crescents.

Lin Lan also crouched down and took out a garment from her own bundle.

It was green.

Made of azure satin with moon-white trim, the same fine craftsmanship and neat stitching as the red jacket.

“Miss White, I made this for you.”

She placed the green jacket on the snow.

“You can alternate between this and the red one. Wear the green one on sunny days.”

Bai Heng lifted her head, looked at the green jacket, then at Lin Lan.

Lin Lan smiled gently.

“I don’t know if you like green. I thought it would complement your fur, so I made it.”

Bai Heng was silent for a moment, then gently swished her tail.

Lin Lan smiled.

Qin Yu, watching from the side, suddenly said, “White Fox Immortal, you look so pretty in red.”

She struggled to find the right words.

“It’s just… really pretty. Especially pretty.”

Bai Heng looked at her, her tail gently swaying.

This girl was so clumsy at giving compliments.

Yet her sincerity was more precious than anything.

Seeing Bai Heng swish her tail, Qin Yu became even happier.

“White Fox Immortal, let’s play in the snow!”

She scooped up a handful of snow, packed it into a small ball, and threw it into the distance.

The snowball landed with a soft puff of white powder.

Bai Heng looked at her, then at the snow on the ground.

After a moment’s thought, she leaped down from the rock and used her front paw to make a small snowball.

It was much smaller than Qin Yu’s and not very round—crooked and misshapen.

She gave it a gentle push with her telekinesis, and the snowball rolled toward Qin Yu.

Qin Yu stared at the lopsided snowball for a second, then burst out laughing.

“White Fox Immortal, yours is so ugly!”

She ran over, picked up the crooked snowball, and examined it carefully.

“But I like it!”

She made another snowball and threw it at Bai Heng.

Bai Heng dodged to the side and made another one, pushing it back.

The human and fox played together in the snow.

Qin Yun and Lin Lan stood to the side, smiling as they watched.

Sunlight poured over the snow, illuminating the white fox in her red jacket and the little girl with her pigtails.

Snowballs flew back and forth. Laughter echoed through the mountain forest.

After playing for a long time, Qin Yu grew tired. She ran back to Qin Yun, panting.

“White Fox Immortal… you’re so good… I couldn’t hit you at all…”

Bai Heng crouched not far away, looking at her, her tail gently swaying.

After resting for a while, Qin Yu suddenly remembered something.

“Oh right, White Fox Immortal! The New Year is coming soon. Will you come to our house to celebrate? My mom will make lots and lots of delicious food. You can try them all.”

Her eyes sparkled.

“I’ll let you sleep in my room. I’ll give you the softest blanket.”

Bai Heng looked at her without responding.

Qin Yu was not disappointed and continued, “You can sleep with me. I’ll make you the softest bed.”

Bai Heng still did not move.

Qin Yun walked over and ruffled his sister’s hair.

“Miss White is a fox immortal. She has her own matters to attend to. Don’t force her.”

Qin Yu pouted but still nodded.

Lin Lan also walked over and said softly, “It’s getting late. We should head back.”

Though reluctant, Qin Yu stood up.

“White Fox Immortal, I’ll go now. I’ll come see you again in a few days.”

She waved at Bai Heng, then turned and followed Qin Yun and Lin Lan down the mountain.

After a few steps, she suddenly stopped.

“Wait!”

She turned around and shouted toward Bai Heng.

“White Fox Immortal, I finally figured out how to compliment you properly!”

Bai Heng lifted her head and looked at her.

Qin Yu shouted loudly, “You look as beautiful in red as a bride!”

Her eyes were shining.

“Two years ago when the village chief’s family had a wedding, I saw the bride. She was wearing bright red clothes and looked so beautiful. When you were running around playing in the snow earlier, your clothes were fluttering—it looked just like the bride!”

Bai Heng froze.

So did Qin Yun.

Lin Lan, standing beside them, could not help laughing.

Qin Yu had no idea what she had just said and continued happily.

“I thought about it for so long! Right, White Fox Immortal? You look just like a bride in that red outfit!”

Bai Heng looked at the little girl’s sparkling eyes, momentarily at a loss for how to react.

After a moment of silence, she gently swished her tail.

Qin Yu jumped with joy when she saw it.

“You agree! White Fox Immortal agrees that I’m right!”

She turned and ran down the mountain as fast as she could, shouting as she went.

“I’m going to tell Mom that White Fox Immortal looks like a bride in red!”

Qin Yun snapped out of his daze and hurriedly chased after her.

“Qin Yu! Slow down! Don’t fall!”

Lin Lan shook her head with a smile, waved at Bai Heng, and followed them.

The three figures soon disappeared into the snowy woods.

Bai Heng remained crouched where she was, staring in that direction for a long time without moving.

The wind blew past, lifting the hem of her red jacket.

She lowered her head and looked at the red jacket on her body, then at the green jacket beside her.

A bride?

She shook her head slightly and let out a soft, helpless laugh.

She turned and slowly walked back into the rock cave.