Before I knew it, dawn had broken. After daybreak, someone came in to attend to me. Once they were done, the fox spirit returned, its attitude extremely respectful, thanking me profusely.

  Although Fang Xin didn't say anything, he was secretly unhappy and thought it wasn't right. Seeing her enthusiasm, he simply said: "I'm an outsider, I have some goods to appraise, if you go with me, maybe they'll lower the price unfairly, since you're familiar here, just help me with this matter!"

  After finishing, he took out a few things and said: "We do things, no need to add any cause and effect, it's just that much, don't add one more point. Got the money, see if there are any horses, buy me one, and deal with it in the same way. Do you understand what I mean?"

  The fox replied: "Yes!"

  She took the things and left, while Fang Xin saw that she was being sent away, so he didn't mind, just got up, tidied up his luggage, but there were still four volumes of Hou Tu's Rebirth Sutra inside. He hadn't thought that in a short while, the fox spirit came in again, saying: "The master wants to leave, I don't dare to stop him, but for the great kindness and virtue, please have lunch in the backyard at noon, and then leave after the banquet. Besides, it takes some time to handle these things."

  Fang Xin thought for a moment and said, "Alright, let's do it this way."

  Having arrived at the inner courtyard, I suddenly realized that it was connected to a residential garden. The houses inside were not particularly exquisite, but they were made of bamboo and wood, which truly possessed a natural charm.

  In the garden, many flowers and trees were planted. As soon as they entered, a girl wearing a light yellow dress floated by, transmitting a playful laugh. Looking at her appearance, she was still 13 or 14 years old, with an innocent expression, but naturally exuding a charming beauty that pierced one's bones. She stared straight at Fang Xin and said: "Sixth sister, is this the husband you mentioned?"

  Hu Lüjū felt a wave of embarrassment and hastily said: "Jiǔmeì go have fun!"

  She then turned to Fang Xian and apologized, saying: "Please forgive me, sir. Ninth Sister is the youngest. Until now, there are many things she doesn't understand. And also, she hasn't asked for your esteemed name yet!"

  "I am from Jiangfu Li Rui." Fang Xin smiled, this little loli wearing yellow clothes, remembered some records, and asked: "I don't know much about the Hu family, is your sister also in yellow clothes?"

  "Mr. Li said that my family, the Hu, were multicolored for a hundred years, yellow from a hundred to five hundred years, and could occasionally take human form but not last long, with many taboos. After five hundred years, we can turn white, stay in human form, and many taboos disappear. However, only after completing three thousand good deeds can we truly transform into a human body. It is the path of spiritual immortals, no longer returning to the fox body." Hu Lüyun quietly took note of the address and name, explaining as she spoke.

  So that's how it is, this little girl looks like a young fox spirit who hasn't even shed her yellow fur yet. Although she is one, the aura of evil is extremely faint. This must be due to the accumulation of good deeds over the past 120 years. Day by day, month by month, this family has done countless good things, and only when I realized this did Fang Rou reveal a smile.

  "My mother, in fact, has been doing good deeds for herself alone, and the three thousand merits have already been fulfilled. However, she has been sharing them with her family members, so until now, the three thousand merits are still not enough." As she said this, she couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. Upon hearing these words, Fang Xin thought of his mother, He Shi, and his expression became even more relaxed.

  Led by Hu Lüjing, along the winding path, I toured this garden thoroughly. Although it was a hurried trip, the scenery was breathtakingly beautiful, and the environment was indeed not bad.

  As soon as I walked into the hall, I smelled a fragrance and looked up to see a magnificent feast with over thirty dishes stacked up, all served in silverware. It was clear that Hu Lüjing had just been directing the gardeners, but it was actually to buy time for cooking this banquet. And yet, within just a moment's notice, they managed to put together such a spread, which even if it were a restaurant or wine house opening, one could tell how much effort went into it.

  "Master, please take a seat!" Fang Xin then took his seat, but saw that there was no one sitting with him, and Hu Lü Yue was just waiting on him. Suddenly, he realized that this was a solo banquet for himself alone. He immediately said: "So many dishes are already enough, there's no need to be too extravagant."

  In the main world, the custom there is that ordering food is okay, eating two-thirds of it is not wasteful, and ordering more is a waste. Fang Xin unknowingly already has this habit.

  "Yes, sir!" Hu Lüjing checked his expression and knew his true intentions, so she ordered the servant girl not to bring up the dishes anymore.

  He raised his cup to toast Fang Xin, and as he poured the wine, several women came forward to perform for him. They first bowed to Fang Xin before taking their seats, and when he looked over, he saw that there were six young women, the youngest of whom was only fifteen or sixteen years old, while the oldest was around twenty years old. Each wore a white long dress adorned with colors, and they all had bright eyes and teeth, with eyebrows and eyes like paintings. Their eyes shone like autumn water, and their upper garments revealed half of their snowy white skin, which seemed to be full and plump as they moved, exuding an air of seduction that was everywhere.

  The woman, who was the first in line, smiled slightly and said: "I am the third daughter of the Hu family. I have brought my sisters to sing a song for you, sir. If you praise our singing, we will be satisfied."

  Having said that, she didn't say much more, leading the women, perhaps singing and dancing, or playing the zither.

  Fang Xin also took a sip and listened attentively.

  The other women, all singing and dancing, mostly in white dresses, each one extremely beautiful, with charming expressions. Fang Xin suddenly realized that if he wanted to, he could have these fox spirits at his beck and call, but was this really what he was after?

  Fang Xin listened intently, eating and drinking, carefully savoring the flavors. He felt that the entrance was extremely fresh and delicious, and with just one turn of his tongue, many flavors filled his mouth, involuntarily earning his silent praise.

  After three rounds of wine, Fang Xin had drunk a bit too much. Seeing these beauties in their flowing long dresses, like jade, amidst the songs and dances, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of longing and romance. Unfortunately, he wasn't good at poetry, or else he would have recited a few poems as well.

  After sitting for a while, he felt that he had almost had enough and was about to leave. Hu Lüjing had been paying attention to him all along and knew his intention. She also saw that although he was admiring her, he didn't have any intention of taking her as his wife, which made her feel somewhat disappointed, so she secretly sent a message.

  Not much time had passed when a lady arrived with several people, among whom was a beautiful young man. Upon closer inspection, the young man had a refined appearance, slender and tall, with a face as smooth as jade, and an intelligent aura about him. He truly did not lose out to his sisters, including that Jiu Xiao Tian.

  The lady in the lead, looking no more than thirty, with a radiant and nimble appearance, both inside and out, without any hint of vulgarity, seemed like an immortal fairy. At this moment, she curtsied deeply, her skirt folds fluttering: "I bring the Hu family to pay respects to you, sir, thank you for your great kindness!"

  Among the dozens of people present, all knelt down and thanked him.

  "What kindness have I shown to deserve such a grand gift? Hurry up and get up." It seems that this lady is the fox who made a vow back then.

  "How can the Marquis not have great kindness? For us, a different tribe, it's difficult to describe how hard it is to attain the Tao. Five hundred years to transform into human form, three thousand merits to transform into spirit. In these hundreds and thousands of years, every hundred years there will be thunder tribulations, each one more severe than the last. And yet we must also open up the nine orifices, transform our bodies into truth, it's truly difficult. If we were to harm people, it would be even harder to escape the calamities."

  "Even if one in a million were to attain the status of a Transcendent Immortal, it would still be difficult to obtain the Heavenly Mandate, receive the Celestial Seal, and have their name listed on the Jade Register. At most, they could only become a lone wandering immortal. Moreover, there is the calamity of the Wandering Immortals that occurs once every 1,500 years, with each occurrence being more severe than the last. Who knows how many heterodox practitioners have been destroyed in this way? And yet, there are still human calamities to contend with. Every time I think about it, my heart trembles with fear and cold sweat breaks out. Now, Sir has bestowed upon me the precious scripture of the Earth Goddess, and the Goddess has acknowledged me, truly opening a great door for our heterodox tribe. This kindness is so profound that even if we were to sacrifice our lives and be torn apart, it would still be difficult to repay. How could this possibly be repaid with just a simple ceremony?" The lady spoke with a gloomy expression, but as she finished speaking, her face was filled with joy.

  Fang Xin suddenly realized, and was stunned. He thought to himself: "I originally wanted to control my own influence, never wanting to overstep my bounds, yet I've already interfered with the grand affairs of this world's destiny. How can this be good? No wonder there are such consequences!"

  However, these merits are not easy to obtain, just like a scald. But thinking again: "This matter still needs the Queen of Earth to take care of it for me, she is the virtue of thick earth in heaven and earth, and change is also due."

  Thinking of this, his heart calmed down, and he said: "Everyone, please get up. I just happened to send a volume of scriptures, which is not worth such great blame."

  "After some thought, he said: 'This matter cannot be spread outside for the time being, only within your family is allowed. You can follow the example of the Earth Mother Temple in Jiangfu Prefecture and build a temple at home to receive her blessings. As for other things, the timing is not yet ripe, at least not within a hundred years, it cannot be spread outside!'"

  "She must have grasped the public's intention and acted accordingly." The lady's face was solemn and stern, obviously aware of the danger involved.

  Fang Xin said at this time, "Since that's the case, you all can withdraw. I'll set off immediately. As long as one is sincere, everything will be handled by the princess. Outsiders won't have any room to interfere."

  "Master, these three items are antiques, worth 700 taels of silver. They have all been sold and the horse has been bought. There is still 500 taels of silver left over. I think Master's journey will be long, so this 500 taels is still too heavy to carry. I've exchanged it for gold leaves instead. Please accept them." At this time, Hu Lüjing stepped forward and presented a package.

  Fang Xin took a look, opened it and found that it was indeed gold leaves, each weighing ten taels. There were only five pieces, not only small in size but also light in weight. In addition to these, there were three ingots, each weighing twenty taels. Besides these, there were some copper coins. He said: "Well done, very good!"

  There was a fine horse outside, Fang Xin was overjoyed, he mounted it and left after a slight bow.