Riding up the sordid and dreary path, Zhou Shang finally reached the mountain's peak where the Ever Eclipse monastery was located. The setting orange sun glowed ominously over the horizon, a blanket of thick mist cascaded through the gradually darkening mountainside. Wolves could be heard howling mournfully in the distance, adding to the already menacing atmosphere.
Zhou Shang may have been a hardened Demon Hunter, a man who dealt with the threat of death often, but even for him, the ambiance was a touch too unpleasant. He reached the foot of the stairs that led up to the monastery and dismounted from his horse. Collecting his demon hides and other such treasures, he slung the fox demon's limp body across his shoulders. His destination lay at the top of a long staircase made of stone that wound up to the mountain's peak.
Slowly, Zhou trudged up the steps. The higher he climbed, the thinner and colder the air became. He cursed the added weight of his bounty, as he felt his muscles ache. Wheezing and dragging his feet, he finally reached the top.
The entrance to the monastery was protected by a decorative glazed archway, adorned with a pair of sculpted lion guardian statues. As Zhou Shang passed through the archway and began approaching the front doors of the building, a crow swooped down with a loud shriek, just barely missing his face before veering off in a different direction. Cursing the bird under his breath, he stopped and watched it fly away for a moment before hastily proceeding to knock on one of the heavy wooden doors.
A young child, with not a single hair on his head, garbed in a traditional brightly colored robe opened the door and signaled for Zhou Shang to come inside. The monastery was lively with monks bustling to and fro through the cavernous space. The structure was built in a very traditional fashion, the interior permeated a strong, fragrant scent of sandalwood. In one area were a few young children reading scriptures, and, in another, a group of young priests chanting in unison.
Looking cautiously in the far right corner, Zhou Shang saw a long platform holding an endless row of cages in varying shapes and sizes. Some of the inhabitants of these cages were tiny, whilst others were as large as a regular sized man. The cages contained creatures ranging from wood sprites and elemental spirits to small, harmless demonic entities, such as cat, rabbit and weasel demons. Most of them were rather weak beings, ones that moved slowly and were easy to catch. They were perfect to use for experimental purposes, as well as for familiar bonding.
In front of one of the cages, Zhou Shang spotted a young priest clutching a scroll. He appeared to be writing down notes. Seizing this opportunity, Zhou Shang hurried across the hall to speak with the young priest and collect his reward. The very thought of staying any longer in this inauspicious place made his hackles rise.
Luckily for him, the process was swift and efficient. He described his stock to the young priest. He had a White Fox Demon, possibly a cub. It was difficult to tell its age since demons shrink in size upon losing their powers. The Head Priest, who was personally in charge of handling the beasts, was called over to approve the transaction. After a quick inspection of the goods, the priest handed a heavy bag filled with coins to Zhou Shang, then promptly shooed him out of the monastery.
Once Zhou Shang had been escorted off the premises, Bai Qingyue's limp fox form was unceremoniously tossed into a small wooden cage. A day later, the paralyzed Fox God managed to regain a slight measure of his strength, but decided to keep playing dead until he could properly execute an escape plan. Regardless, he was too tired to stay awake. He needed more rest in order to recover enough energy to act.
The bloodied little fox blinked several times, then slowly shut his eyes.
After a few more hours had passed, Bai Qingyue perked up his ears. He couldn't suppress this involuntary movement, as there were too many noisy humans bustling around outside of his cage. He opened his eyes slightly and looked around, squinting in the bright light. The time had come where he could no longer pretend to be dead.
The white furred cub was surrounded by more than a dozen priests, all of them gawking at him curiously. They pillared around him, whispering sharply to one another.
"Is this really a Fox Demon?"
"I sense very little power, but no demonic origin."
"Actually, he is kind of cute. Perhaps we can keep him as a familiar?"
Bai Qingyue felt his blood pressure rise with his anger. Hearing such remarks caused a vein to pop out of his forehead. His tiny fluffy paws curled inward, resembling small mittened fists. 'How dare these pesky little worms even think of keeping me as their servant?!' Bai Qingyue thought wildly, trying his hardest to cage his anger.
Suddenly, the room fell silent as a venerable man, trembling with old age, walked into the circle of priests. It was the Head Abbot, who held respect and authority over all of the monastery and its two hundred disciples. The gathered priests immediately ceased their prattling once they caught sight of their holy leader. With his many years of experience, there was little that the senior priest had not seen. And yet, he had no answer as to what this fox really was. The only conclusion he could reach at this point was that this fox was definitely not dead, as the Demon Hunter had suggested. Also, it was also definitely not of this realm.
"This fox is very much alive," the Head Abbot announced as he came to his conclusion. "He is merely weak. However, I am uncertain of its origins. I believe it is not from our land, but from a different plane entirely."
Indeed, the fox's aura was too bright: it shined with a godly halo. All of the other priests began to sense it too as they stared at the small furred beast in awe. Nobody present at the monastery had encountered a creature from another realm before. The Head Abbot sensed that, as time passed, this little fox would gradually become stronger and more dangerous. His apprehension towards the creature spiked, and he knew he had to make a swift decision. Not just for himself, but for the safety of the monastery. He addressed the muttering crowd once more. They fell silent to hear his words.
"I sense that now he might be weak, but he grows more powerful by the second. His spiritual aura shows a force that even I would have trouble contending with. It would be risky to keep him alive. Therefore, we should kill it and absorb his life essence in order to heighten our most talented disciples' cultivation."
"It shall be done." The other priests silently bowed at their leader's worldly hindsight.