The Shadow of the Fox
My father didn't show up alone at the door—he had a large black dog with him. Just as he arrived, the corpse demon formed from Ma Laosan's wife was heading straight toward him. When my father caught sight of the horrifying creature, his legs trembled uncontrollably, and he froze in place, unable to move.
"Get out of the way!" my grandfather shouted, his voice filled with urgency.
But my father was paralyzed by fear. His legs, as if rooted to the ground, refused to budge. At this critical moment, the big black dog at his side barked ferociously and lunged at the corpse demon. Leaping high into the air, it landed directly on her, though it failed to knock her down.
Seizing the opportunity, the swarm of weasels and foxes surged forward once again, attacking her in a frenzy. Yet, her corpse was as tough as iron, impervious to their teeth and claws. They could only hang onto her, resembling ornaments more than threats. Only the largest weasel, the one with a white stripe on its back, managed to make an impact. It grabbed onto her legs and toppled her to the ground.
"Everyone, get inside and take cover!" Liu Granny shouted, her voice carrying over the chaos. She raised her smoking pipe and smashed it down on the corpse demon's head. A bloodcurdling scream erupted from the creature.
At this point, my father finally snapped out of his stupor and stumbled away from the gate. My grandfather, too, hurried back into the house, heading straight for the bedroom.
Inside, my mother and I were already awake, startled by the eerie commotion outside. Clutching me tightly, my mother shivered with fear, her face pale as she listened to the ghostly wails and howls.
As my grandfather entered the room, gripping his slightly dulled blade, my mother let out a startled cry.
"Xiaojuan, don't panic. Hurry and put the shroud on the boy. That's what Liu Granny instructed," my grandfather reminded her.
Shaken by his words, my mother, still trembling, hastily dressed me in the shroud with fumbling hands.
The plan was now in disarray. My father's untimely arrival complicated matters. The three roosters Liu Granny had instructed my father to bring were supposed to frighten off the corpse demon. Roosters typically crow before dawn, a sound these dark creatures fear, as they associate it with the coming of daylight. Sunlight would reduce a corpse demon to nothing more than a puddle of foul-smelling pus.
Liu Granny's intention was to scare the demon off with the roosters' crowing, then figure out a way to deal with her later. However, the presence of my father and the black dog at the gate muddled the plan. The black dog, known for its strong yang energy, was meant to block the demon's escape, not confront her prematurely.
Just as my mother finished dressing me in the shroud, a low grunt came from outside—it was Liu Granny's voice.
Alarmed, my grandfather turned back toward the courtyard, gripping his blade tightly. But before he could step outside, an enormous shadow loomed by the window.
A sickening "crack" echoed through the room as long, clawed hands burst through the wooden frame. Moments later, Ma Laosan's wife's grotesque, twisted face appeared, grinning wickedly as she leaped inside with inhuman agility.
My mother, always easily frightened, nearly fainted at the sight of the demon's horrifying features. She let out a piercing scream.
My grandfather, though terrified, raised his blade and slashed at the corpse demon. But she was prepared. With one swift motion, she caught the blade in her clawed hand and kicked my grandfather hard, sending him crashing to the ground. He groaned in pain, struggling to get back up.
"Wu Jie... Wu Jie... I'm here for you," the demon crooned, her voice chilling. She sniffed the air, her ghastly white eyes narrowing in confusion.
Despite her sharp senses, she couldn't locate me. Corpse demons rely on sensing the life energy of the living, and she was particularly attuned to mine. But the shroud I was wearing masked my life energy, making me invisible to her.
"Third Sister-in-law... I beg you, please spare my son! He's my only child!" my mother cried, tears streaming down her face as she held me protectively.
The demon, frustrated by her inability to detect me, turned her anger toward my mother. Her ghastly smile widened as she hissed, "Wu Jie, come out now... If you don't, I'll kill your mother."
With that, her clawed hands shot toward my mother's neck.
At just three years old, I was too young to understand fear. I stared blankly as the claws closed in. But then, something inexplicable happened.
In the dim light, a massive shadow appeared in the room—a fox with eight tails.
In that moment, a strange sensation buzzed through my head. My mind went blank.
"Leave!"
The word exploded from my mouth like a clap of thunder, though it wasn't my voice. It was the voice of a woman.
As I spoke, a golden light burst from my body, striking the corpse demon squarely in the face. She let out a horrendous scream and was hurled out through the window.
The golden light vanished as quickly as it had appeared. My eyes rolled back, and I collapsed in my mother's arms, convulsing slightly before going completely still.
The sudden turn of events left my mother petrified, clutching me tightly as she struggled to comprehend what had just happened.
My father didn't show up alone at the door—he had a large black dog with him. Just as he arrived, the corpse demon formed from Ma Laosan's wife was heading straight toward him. When my father caught sight of the horrifying creature, his legs trembled uncontrollably, and he froze in place, unable to move.
"Get out of the way!" my grandfather shouted, his voice filled with urgency.
But my father was paralyzed by fear. His legs, as if rooted to the ground, refused to budge. At this critical moment, the big black dog at his side barked ferociously and lunged at the corpse demon. Leaping high into the air, it landed directly on her, though it failed to knock her down.
Seizing the opportunity, the swarm of weasels and foxes surged forward once again, attacking her in a frenzy. Yet, her corpse was as tough as iron, impervious to their teeth and claws. They could only hang onto her, resembling ornaments more than threats. Only the largest weasel, the one with a white stripe on its back, managed to make an impact. It grabbed onto her legs and toppled her to the ground.
"Everyone, get inside and take cover!" Liu Granny shouted, her voice carrying over the chaos. She raised her smoking pipe and smashed it down on the corpse demon's head. A bloodcurdling scream erupted from the creature.
At this point, my father finally snapped out of his stupor and stumbled away from the gate. My grandfather, too, hurried back into the house, heading straight for the bedroom.
Inside, my mother and I were already awake, startled by the eerie commotion outside. Clutching me tightly, my mother shivered with fear, her face pale as she listened to the ghostly wails and howls.
As my grandfather entered the room, gripping his slightly dulled blade, my mother let out a startled cry.
"Xiaojuan, don't panic. Hurry and put the shroud on the boy. That's what Liu Granny instructed," my grandfather reminded her.
Shaken by his words, my mother, still trembling, hastily dressed me in the shroud with fumbling hands.
The plan was now in disarray. My father's untimely arrival complicated matters. The three roosters Liu Granny had instructed my father to bring were supposed to frighten off the corpse demon. Roosters typically crow before dawn, a sound these dark creatures fear, as they associate it with the coming of daylight. Sunlight would reduce a corpse demon to nothing more than a puddle of foul-smelling pus.
Liu Granny's intention was to scare the demon off with the roosters' crowing, then figure out a way to deal with her later. However, the presence of my father and the black dog at the gate muddled the plan. The black dog, known for its strong yang energy, was meant to block the demon's escape, not confront her prematurely.
Just as my mother finished dressing me in the shroud, a low grunt came from outside—it was Liu Granny's voice.
Alarmed, my grandfather turned back toward the courtyard, gripping his blade tightly. But before he could step outside, an enormous shadow loomed by the window.
A sickening "crack" echoed through the room as long, clawed hands burst through the wooden frame. Moments later, Ma Laosan's wife's grotesque, twisted face appeared, grinning wickedly as she leaped inside with inhuman agility.
My mother, always easily frightened, nearly fainted at the sight of the demon's horrifying features. She let out a piercing scream.
My grandfather, though terrified, raised his blade and slashed at the corpse demon. But she was prepared. With one swift motion, she caught the blade in her clawed hand and kicked my grandfather hard, sending him crashing to the ground. He groaned in pain, struggling to get back up.
"Wu Jie... Wu Jie... I'm here for you," the demon crooned, her voice chilling. She sniffed the air, her ghastly white eyes narrowing in confusion.
Despite her sharp senses, she couldn't locate me. Corpse demons rely on sensing the life energy of the living, and she was particularly attuned to mine. But the shroud I was wearing masked my life energy, making me invisible to her.
"Third Sister-in-law... I beg you, please spare my son! He's my only child!" my mother cried, tears streaming down her face as she held me protectively.
The demon, frustrated by her inability to detect me, turned her anger toward my mother. Her ghastly smile widened as she hissed, "Wu Jie, come out now... If you don't, I'll kill your mother."
With that, her clawed hands shot toward my mother's neck.
At just three years old, I was too young to understand fear. I stared blankly as the claws closed in. But then, something inexplicable happened.
In the dim light, a massive shadow appeared in the room—a fox with eight tails.
In that moment, a strange sensation buzzed through my head. My mind went blank.
"Leave!"
The word exploded from my mouth like a clap of thunder, though it wasn't my voice. It was the voice of a woman.
As I spoke, a golden light burst from my body, striking the corpse demon squarely in the face. She let out a horrendous scream and was hurled out through the window.
The golden light vanished as quickly as it had appeared. My eyes rolled back, and I collapsed in my mother's arms, convulsing slightly before going completely still.
The sudden turn of events left my mother petrified, clutching me tightly as she struggled to comprehend what had just happened.