Chapter Thirty-Seven: Li Xinyi of the Corpse-Driving Sect

Beneath a great tree, Fang You sat naked, his body exposed to the morning air. Before him, a tiny, snow-white fox circled restlessly at his side.

The little fox would leap and bound, darting back and forth, occasionally nipping playfully at Fang You’s fingertips—its movements were utterly charming.

Yet Fang You himself sat with eyes tightly shut, lost in profound contemplation.

Blood. Slaughter. Desire. Death.

His heart was a tumult of emotions.

He could not understand how he had become so violent in that moment. Was it the fear born of having faced death? Or was it the pressure of confronting a powerful demon that had driven him to lose control?

Three days and three nights passed. Enlightenment eluded him. Only the little fox kept him company, but even its presence could not soothe the chaotic thoughts in his mind.

A gentle breeze stirred the air, still fresh and invigorating after the heavy rain—an atmosphere well suited for quiet reflection upon the Way.

Occasionally, a passerby would glance in his direction, but seeing his state, none dared disturb him.

Time slipped by. The sun rose higher; it was already morning.

“A true free spirit, I see—a man who sits naked to the world in broad daylight, seeking insight into the Dao. But what sort of enlightenment is this, I wonder?” A crisp, ringing voice called out from afar, tinged with amusement.

Fang You opened his eyes. In the distance approached a corpse-herder, holding a corpse bell in one hand, a corpse talisman in the other, three animated corpses trailing obediently behind.

“I am Li Xinyi of the Corpse-Herding Sect. May I have the honor of your acquaintance?” The man named Li Xinyi smiled courteously.

“Ah… I am Fang You, third and last disciple of Maoshan.” Fang You’s voice was hoarse, as though days of meditation had left him chilled and weary.

“You have a broad mind, my friend, but to sit naked under the sun seems rather lacking in decorum. Here, if you do not mind, take these clothes.” As he spoke, Li Xinyi rummaged through his traveling sack and produced a black robe.

“Thank you…” Fang You shifted his numb legs and accepted the robe from Li Xinyi’s hands.

Li Xinyi studied Fang You’s exhausted face, noting the loss of spiritual energy in his eyes. “You seem troubled—has a demon of desire and obsession invaded your heart?”

“It is so,” Fang You admitted without shame. For those who cultivate the Dao, inner demons are a trial all must face.

It is said that humans are ruled by seven emotions and six desires—greed, anger, infatuation, laziness, and ignorance. The pursuit of the Dao is to master one’s heart and purge such demons; thus, the heart’s trial is a test of the highest order.

“A calm heart brings harmony, a quiet mind breeds clarity. If your cultivation is insufficient, you must perform more good deeds to quell the violent stirrings within,” Li Xinyi advised, moving to the riverbank to scoop up a bowl of water, which he drank before washing the mud from his body.

“You are right, Corpse-Herder,” Fang You said, donning the robe and lifting the little fox onto his right shoulder. “Those who walk the Dao should cultivate themselves, aid the suffering, and dispel evil—that way, one’s own karmic sins may be lessened.”

Li Xinyi glanced at the fox on Fang You’s shoulder, surprised. “This fox is unlike an ordinary beast. Its fur is pure white, and there’s a faint spiritual aura about its brow—could this be a spiritual creature?”

Fang You looked down at the little fox and smiled bitterly. “It is a mark of my own karma.”

Understanding dawned in Li Xinyi’s eyes. “Just days ago, the Corpse-Herding Sect, Dragon-Tiger Mountain, the Spirit-Taming Sect, Emei Mountain, and the Sword Sect all gathered their experts to exterminate the fox demons of Shankou Village. Word is, a single yin-yang master wielding dual swords of peachwood and copper coins slew every last fox demon there.”

“Such a feat is almost unbelievable. Even minor spirits like these had acquired considerable cultivation; to destroy them all alone is astonishing. They say not a single one was spared.”

At this, Li Xinyi looked at Fang You again. “Yet you do not appear to be a man of great evil. Perhaps this white fox is a fated companion. In any case, to wipe out an entire clan for the sake of a single spiritual beast would be an act of monstrous cruelty.”

With that, Li Xinyi picked up his corpse bell and talisman once more.

“I did not… I am not one to kill lightly—!”

“No need to explain. A man’s deeds are plain for all to see, and for every killing, Heaven delivers its own punishment. If your conscience is clear, let go of your doubts. If your heart is guilty, explanations are pointless. Walk the path of kindness, do good, and your heart will find peace.”

Li Xinyi rang the corpse bell and activated the soul-controlling talisman. “Yin spirits on the move, living souls make way!”

With the corpses hopping behind him, Li Xinyi departed, disappearing down the road.

Fang You gazed at the pale light spreading across the sky and smiled wryly. “The karma is already sown. All I can do now is do good and help the world to redeem myself.”

Having awakened to this truth, Fang You took the little fox and left his place of meditation, returning to the fortune-telling hall.

There, in front of the hall, Zhang Shengnan waited, leaning by the door with Fang You’s crimson peachwood sword and demon-slaying copper coin sword in her hands.

When Fang You returned and saw her, he asked in puzzlement, “Officer Zhang, what are you doing here?”

“Fang You, little Daoist, you’re finally back! Where did you go? You didn’t answer your phone or reply to my messages. I was so worried!” Zhang Shengnan rushed over, thrusting his swords into his hands. “Here, these must be your ritual tools—every Daoist should have some!”

“You waited for me all this time?” A warmth stirred in Fang You’s heart. His fated star brought disaster to those close to him, and it had been so long since anyone had shown him such care.

“Of course! You rid Shankou Village of the fox demons in the mountain—I haven’t even had a chance to thank you properly!” Zhang Shengnan’s face broke into a bright smile.

Just then, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and answered. On the other end, Zhou Shen’s voice spoke: “Xiaonan, have you delivered the ritual tools to Mr. Fang?”

“Yes, I have. Fang You is back now. I was so worried!” Zhang Shengnan finally sounded relieved.

“Be sure to thank him properly, then come back. We still have plenty of small cases to handle,” Zhou Shen replied.

“What, just chasing chickens and ducks or dealing with illegal buildings? Ah, I wish I could be promoted to a better team!” Zhang Shengnan pouted.

“Just stay in Group Nine. With your luck, you wouldn’t last seven seconds if you ran into real trouble. Now that you’ve delivered the tools, come back at once—I’m drowning in work here!” Zhou Shen grumbled.

“Alright, I’ll be right back, Master!”

Hanging up, Zhang Shengnan pulled an envelope from her pocket. “This is your reward from the police bureau—a bonus for saving lives and eliminating evil. Please accept it, Fang You.”

Though Fang You believed helping others was a Daoist’s duty, he had been struggling financially of late. Somewhat embarrassed, he accepted the envelope.

“I’ll be off, then. If I ever need help, I’ll come to you again!” With those words, Zhang Shengnan climbed into her patrol car and disappeared from Fang You’s sight.