Distorted World

Fox Spirit

　　Between heaven and earth, at first glance, there is a bustling sea of red dust, with people coming and going in lively scenes. Yet, it speaks to the constant cycle of birth and death, an endless process. The comings and goings flow continuously, while only the Yin and Yang energies perpetually transform within the universe, circulating spiritual essence.

　　Not only do humans have the potential for enlightenment and cultivation of the heart, but animals and plants with special endowments also possess this capacity. By absorbing the quintessence of heaven and earth, they refine their powers into magical abilities, transforming into demons or spirits with long lifespans and varied dispositions. Gifted humans, upon receiving opportune guidance, may advance to become monks, buddhas, or Taoist priests, wielding divine power to protect all living beings, control demon beasts, and seek liberation of the mind.

　　Demons come in countless varieties. Those with a cruel nature and deep-seated b********y take pleasure in devouring the essence, blood, and flesh of humans, wreaking havoc across the land; there are also those with solitary and indifferent dispositions who merely seek to coexist without interference, maintaining clear boundaries with humans; and then there are those with inherently benevolent and gentle hearts who enjoy forming connections with people....However, overall, the demon world generally adopts an attitude of "if it doesn't concern us, why should we get involved" towards humans.

　　Foxes, as a species of higher spirituality, when transformed into demons, possess excellent aptitude for cultivation. They have a talent for magic that allows them to easily master various forms and abilities, effortlessly assuming countless disguises. Renowned for their intelligence and resourcefulness, foxes have always been considered top-tier entities in the demon world.

　　Baihu Mingxuan is a white fox demon who has lived for over three hundred years, an age that can only be considered "youthful" in the world of fox demons. The lifespan of demons is exceedingly long, so long that the fleeting lives and fervent vows of humans, the transformation from youthful beauty to skeletal remains, pass by him in the blink of an eye. The love and hate, the passions between humans and demons—without a second thought, he knows these must stem from young demons whose instincts have clouded their judgment, believing they must kill to cultivate or emulate the intense loves and hates of humans to feel truly alive.

　　Despite his relatively young age, he has dedicated himself to refining his magical powers alone, with a calm demeanor. He resides in solitude within Sahel City, where he spends his leisure time studying herbs and spices, as well as esoteric arts like the Eight Trigrams and the Five Elements. Surrounded by mountains, Sahel City is located hundreds of kilometers away from the nearest inhabited village. Naturally, he keeps his distance from human affairs, observing them with detached eyes. As the sun rises and sets, the joys and sorrows of humanity are occasionally captured in this demon's deep gaze, leaving not a ripple in his composed spirit.

　　The brevity of human life is akin to that of summer insects or ephemeral mayflies, their physical forms inherently fragile. Yet they plunge headlong into the mundanity of daily life, ensnared in trivialities and noise from which there seems no escape. Today, they might revel in minor joys; tomorrow, they could be devastated by some setback, weeping bitterly. They love each other deeply yet can also harbor intense enmity. Capable of laughing off past grievances, they are equally ready to draw swords against one another without mercy. Though the red dust world occasionally offers amusing moments, these too become insipid when stretched across the span of time. The loneliness in this world is light, but hopelessness weighs heavily. He neither understands nor believes it worth understanding, merely watching from afar, uninterested in becoming involved.

　　On a summer evening, during the Jiwei month and Renyin day,

　　against the backdrop of mountains, the stars twinkle brightly, the night sky clear and serene.

　　Mingxuan had just finished practicing swordsmanship in an open field and sat down, looking up at the heavens. Above him, the celestial orbits moved silently, steadfast and unshakeable.

　　He recalled his last journey, where he met an elderly man with white hair and a youthful complexion who was well-versed in the study of fate. The old man had stopped him and said, "Everyone's life follows a fixed path; one’s birth time and astrological pillars can roughly predict their destiny. In all my years of divination, I've seen many with lofty ambitions, but few truly transcend their fates..." After returning from that trip, out of curiosity, Mingxuan began to study the principles of fate, which only deepened his sense of the world's illusory and insignificant nature.

　　As he was carefully observing the movement of the stars, a flash of golden light appeared on the nearby open ground. A monk, draped in a kasaya robe and holding prayer beads, stood still, his expression solemn.

　　The oppressive presence and sense of alertness made Mingxuan rise to his feet immediately, standing face-to-face with the monk, his hand hidden under his long sleeves, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly.

　　He had long heard that some highly skilled monks could track the aura of demons, carrying many unknown blessed ritual objects, their strength unfathomable. And this monk before him also brought an ominous premonition.

　　"One heart encompasses the three worlds, one thought spans three thousand realms. Amitabha Buddha, such is the karmic connection," the monk remarked, surprise evident on his face. The prayer beads in his hands rolled, emitting a faint golden glow.

　　"Fox demon, my name is Wu Zhu. I have come today to resolve a calamity that lies in your path."

　　Mingxuan’s brows furrowed, knowing well that he could not win a fight. He took a half-step backward, secretly contemplating an escape while maintaining a facade of engagement with Wu Zhu. "What calamity? I hope the venerable monk can explain in more detail."

　　One hand gripped his sword, while the other was hidden within his sleeve, half-closed—a prelude to using the lightness skill “Walking on Empty Air.” Once this skill was activated, his body would be as light as a swallow, swift as the wind, and with just a few light taps of his feet, he could flee the forest.

　　Seeing this, Wu Zhu sighed silently, removed his prayer beads, and swung them. The twelve bodhi beads instantly expanded several times in size, and a halo half the height of a man appeared between the beads, descending directly toward Mingxuan.

　　Mingxuan hurriedly retreated, but could not resist the powerful suction force; it was a power beyond his own magical abilities to counteract. Might makes right—the truth of survival in this world. That was what he thought in the moment before being completely drawn into the prayer beads.

　　"Amitabha. All conditioned things, like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows,

　　are transient, like dewdrops or lightning; they should be perceived as such.

　　May all sentient beings in the desire realm, demons, beasts, gods, and spirits,

　　not be attached to gains and losses, soon leave delusion for truth, let go of their attachments, and attain Nirvana."

　　Wu Zhu’s voice echoed from afar, ethereal and solemn. Yet, all Mingxuan felt was a surging anger—resentment at being manipulated, fury over an unjust calamity, and rage toward the weak overpowering the strong. He did not hear a word Wu Zhu said.

　　When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a strange and unfamiliar world.