Tian Hao, still in his fox form, felt a chill run down his spine—or rather, his fluffy, silver-furred spine—as he processed Jiuwei’s words.

  “Wait, wait, wait,” he squeaked, his voice a high-pitched yip that made his newly acquired fox ears twitch. “So, you’re saying… I’m stuck like this? As a… a pint-sized furball? Permanently?!”

  Jiuwei, perched gracefully on a nearby crate, flicked her tail dismissively. "Do not be ridiculous, mortal. Of course not. It’s a… temporary transformation. A side effect of your… underdeveloped shapeshifting ability. Think of it as a… training exercise. A chance to experience the world from a different perspective."

  “A training exercise?” Tian Hao yipped again, his voice rising in disbelief, his tail puffing out slightly as he tried to make sense of what she was saying, his little fox-body quivering as though attempting to shake off what felt like a bad dream. “You call this a training exercise?! I can’t even reach the top shelf, let alone fight off rogue cultivators! How am I supposed to ‘blend in’ when I look like something someone’s fluffy pet?”

  Jiuwei sighed dramatically, her golden eyes gleaming with amusement. “Patience, young one. The shift is not permanent. It merely requires… focus. A centering of your will. A return to your… natural form.”

  "Natural form? I’m a human, not a fox!” He protested, his paws flailing. “How am I supposed to shift back? You haven’t exactly given me a manual!”

  “Details, details,” Jiuwei waved a paw dismissively. “Just… visualize yourself. As a human, obviously. Connect with your… essence.” She paused, her nose twitching. “Focus on that which makes you… you.”

  “Visualize myself? What does that even mean?” Tian Hao protested, his tiny fox-voice rising in pitch, his frustration mounting. “I’m a cultivator, not a… a philosopher!”

  He swished his tail, a gesture that felt strangely natural, yet utterly ridiculous, his tiny claws scrabbling against the stone as he tried to find purchase, to make sense of his current, inconvenient predicament.

  “Empty your mind, little fox,” Jiuwei said, her voice softer now, laced with an almost gentle tone. “Release the chaos, the fear, the… incessant whining. Reach inward, towards the core of your being. Seek the stillness that lies beneath the surface. The essence that defines your… human self.”

  She paused, tilting her head. “Picture your meridians, your dantian. See the flow of Qi, the pathways of energy that make you… who you are. Not this… fluffy exterior, but the inner landscape. Focus on the… human elements.”

  Tian Hao, despite his initial resistance, decided to try. He closed his eyes—or rather, he narrowed his fox-eyes, his whiskers twitching, the sensation both alien and strangely familiar—and took a deep breath, attempting to follow Jiuwei’s cryptic instructions.

  He pictured his human body, tried to recall the familiar weight of his limbs, the feel of his clothes against his skin, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. But all he could sense was fur, paws, and a ridiculously fluffy tail that seemed to have a mind of its own.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  He tried to visualize his meridians, his dantian, but all he saw was a confusing jumble of fluffy fur and twitching whiskers.

  “This is ridiculous,” he muttered under his breath. “I feel like a… a… spirit beast trying to herd chickens."

  “Think,” Jiuwei prodded gently. “What defines you? What resonates with your… human self? Your memories? Your desires? Your… pleasures?”

  Pleasures. The word struck a chord, and a thought sparked to mind.

  He focused, letting the images flood his consciousness. The taste of Fatty Wu’s roasted duck, the warmth of fine wine, the feel of silken robes against his skin, the soothing rhythm of the guqin at the Celestial Harmony, the scent of the herbs from the bath in his room, the intoxicating aroma of the Celestial Jade Spirit, the brief but gentle press of Lin Mei’s hand against his arm.

  Then, other images pushed through—the teasing laughter of the Pure Path disciples, the exhilarating rush of shared experience, the way the celestial wine had opened his mind, the unexpected breakthroughs.

  Finally, the memories that were uniquely his own—the soft curves of Zhao Fei’s body beneath his fingertips, the scent of her hair, the whispered promises of Lian and Xia in the Silken Shadows Parlor, and the warmth of their embrace…

  As he focused on these memories, he felt a shift, a subtle tingling sensation spreading through his… well, through his everything. His paws, his snout, his fur, everything. It was as if his very essence was rearranging itself, reshaping his form, pushing him back towards something familiar, something human.

  The tingling intensified, becoming a warmth that spread through his limbs, a pleasant heat that chased away the lingering chill of the night. He could feel his muscles stretching, his bones shifting, his fur receding.

  Opening his eyes, his vision still blurred, he saw, to his immense relief, that his paws were slowly transforming back into hands, his fluffy tail shrinking, andhis snout receding.

  He stumbled, his newly regained legs shaky beneath him, his center of balance suddenly altered.

  Then, with a final lurch, he was human again.

  He stood there, naked, his body shivering slightly in the cool night air, his skin tingling from the transformation. He looked down at himself, his hands running over his arms, his chest, confirming his return to human form.

  “Well,” he said, his voice a relieved sigh. “That was… interesting.”

  Jiuwei, her golden eyes gleaming with amusement, let out a soft chuckle.

  “Indeed. Though, perhaps next time, you might want to consider your surroundings before… losing yourself in pleasant memories.” She paused, her gaze fixed on his… lack of attire. “Modesty, young one, is a virtue.”

  Tian Hao, suddenly realizing his state of undress, blushed crimson. He quickly reached for his spatial ring, retrieving a set of spare robes, his face burning with embarrassment. “Right. Modesty. Noted.”

  He glanced at Jiuwei, adding wryly as he gestured to where his old clothes had fallen, scattered around in the dark of the Skyveil City back-street. "How, exactly, did my ring stay with me during my… little shapeshifting episode? Does that mean I can use these new skills to carry small objects?"

  Jiuwei tilted her head, her eyes twinkling. "Don't get any ideas, little thief. I can assure you there are more elegant solutions for storage and travel than your little tricks. You’ll learn, eventually, that the power of a true shapeshifter has little to do with what you perceive, though there are many who strive for what is not possible and a rare few who stumble their way through those secrets. Still," she paused, "the ring stayed because it is part of you, for now. Bound to your cultivation, your spirit, and the technique I have graced you with."

  She turned, as if dismissing the topic entirely. "Now get dressed, mortal. We have much to do, and your lack of attire is hardly conducive to stealth.”

  As he pulled on his robes, he shot Jiuwei a mock glare. “Easy for you to say. You’re the one who’s always conveniently… fur-covered.”

  He grumbled, the humiliation of his near-naked arrival still making his cheeks flush, "Maybe there are better ways for you to deliver your ‘wisdom,’ instead of… turning me into a fox.”

  Jiuwei merely flicked her tail dismissively. "A true teacher never makes learning easy, mortal."