How to Catch a Celestial Fox

The next few days were surreal. Huo Huli was still recovering after two days, and his cousin and brother’s staunch refusal to let him help investigate meant he had to spend his time in the village, which proved to be even more taxing than solving the mystery of the drought corpses.

 

Aunty Li’s restaurant became a de facto temple overnight. Villagers came and dropped gifts off for him, incense was lit, and when he made his first appearance after a day of bed rest, people asked for his blessings. It felt like it was three years ago all over again back in Anyang.

 

Back then a flood in a nearby village wiped out half of the population the year before he turned sixteen. By his birthday, the spirits of those villagers turned into drought corpses that came back and headed to the city of Anyang, lured by the large number of people and the sect in the valley behind it. He used the sword formation he altered to deal with the threat because he was the first one to see them. The witnesses who saw what he’d done reacted the same way these villagers did. 

 

Even back then, he wasn’t upset by it, but he felt confused. He wasn’t sure he liked being placed on a pedestal, but it helped elevate his status and make him a bit untouchable to alphas, which he was more than happy for. He didn’t want people to think of him as high and mighty, so he worked hard to be of service and not let the title go to his head. But when he saw the drawings of him being sold, that was a first for him, and Huo Huli was embarrassed,

 

“They are really selling these as protection seals?” He turned the paper in his hands towards his brother seated across from him at a table in Aunty Li’s. 

 

“For just two wen, you too can have protection and good fortune with six portraits.” Huo Ningjing repeated the salesperson at the stall who’d been selling them.

 

Bai Luo and Zhang Yong, who sat with them, leaned in close to examine the sheet. Bai Luo looked at the portrait, then at him.

 

“It’s a pretty good likeness, but you have a lot of makeup on in this drawing. Do you normally do that?”

 

He set the papers down at the center of the table with a sigh, “No. I only wear the huadian like the rest of our sect.”

 

“There was that one time with the sword dance at the festival,” Huo Cheng chimed in as he approached their table, setting down his own stack of Tianshanghuo-jun portraits. “But I have to admit, this is hilarious.”

 

“I am glad you can laugh at my expense.” He rolled his eyes and rested his chin in his hand, head angled to the window to peer out of it.

 

“Gege, don’t be so down!” Huo Ningjing patted his other hand then turned to Bai Luo. “Is Wu Kuan almost finished with the bodies?”

 

“Yes, the last of them are being disposed of.” Hua Cheng took a chair between him and Bai Luo. “We couldn’t find a scrap of evidence who summoned them, but I spoke with some of the older people in the village and they said there hasn’t been a big calamity for over fifty years here, but there have been small ones at several other villages over the years. Elder Ming is sending a messenger to them to see if anything strange happened recently.”

 

“Well, that gets us a little bit closer.” Zhang Yong sighed and took off his glasses which still had a tiny crack on the edge of one of the lenses. The bags under his eyes made him look much older than his eighteen years.

 

From the window, he caught Zhou Rong and the other three alphas from their group walking towards the restaurant. His face heated at the memory of his latest dream about Zhou Rong and his stomach clenched. He quickly turned his head away and stared intently at the bottom of his empty tea cup as they entered.

 

Wu Kuan waved at them, but the Seven Star members just gave them passing nods and they went to a table nearby. It became a bit of a routine to gather here for food instead of at the inn. Aunty Li was happy to serve them, but he insisted on paying her often for her generosity.

 

Aunty Li’s son, who he stayed with, took their orders while a curious looking young alpha approached their table. The alpha walked up to him, standing directly beside his chair, so he turned and looked up at him from his seat.

 

“Hello,” he greeted him politely. He assumed that this villager was like the others and wanted to ask him for something, or receive a blessing. “Is there something I can help you with?”

 

“Um...ah, n-no, Tianshanghuo-jun. I came to speak to you about something, and to perhaps help you.” The alpha stood a little under his cousin’s height and his blonde hair was much lighter than Huo Cheng’s too. His dark eyes darted around everyone at his table, then back at him.

 

He tilted his head, “Do you know something about the attack?”

 

“Wh-what? No!” The alpha’s eyes went wide, “No, no. It’s nothing like that. It’s, um…” The strange alpha knelt down in front of him. “There’s word going around the village that the omegas in Anyang Huo Clan seek surrogates to help with their heat. This humble one heard that Tianshanghuo-jun has alphas compete with one another to have the honor to be your surrogate.”

 

The man bent forward and kowtowed to him, “Please allow me to compete!”

 

Huo Cheng stood up, his hand on his sword. Curiously, Bai Luo and Zhou Rong also stood up in the same defensive stance. Huo Ningjing just gasped and covered his open mouth. Huo Huli, however, felt like he’d been dipped in ice and his brain was struggling to process what was just said.

 

They’re...they’re even talking about me...like that? He couldn’t wrack his mind over how such a rumor started until he heard snickering. He lifted his head and saw Fan Su and Mu Yi glowing bright red with mouths covered and cheeks puffed as they strained to hide their laughter. 

 

Several patrons turned to face their table, openly watching the display. Aunty Li’s son rushed away to the back, and shortly after Aunty Li’s head poked out from the door of the kitchen. Embarrassment filled him and he almost shook with anger but he clenched his fists in his lap to keep it at bay. Huo Huli slowly turned in his chair to face the alpha.

 

“You may get up.” He spoke quietly, and he waved at his cousin to sit down. Huo Huli took a deep, deep breath and mustered everything in himself not to yell.

 

“It is true that my sect works with dual cultivation,” he began, keeping his voice low and neutral. “However, it is by choice. I do not practice dual cultivation, and I would not sleep with you or anyone else here even if they were the last alpha on earth.” He swiftly stood up, though his joints loudly protested with a sting of pain. “You would do well to help dispel such rumors and only believe what you hear about me from my own mouth.”

 

The man crumbled under his glare, his eyes wide in fright and he scrambled back onto his feet. “M-my apologies, Tianshanghuo-jun! Many, many apologies!”

 

Aunty Li came over with a broom and whacked the straw bristles against the man’s back. “Get out! How dare you disrespect Huo Laoda and my business!”

 

The alpha turned red from head to toe and was successfully shooed away by Aunty Li. He rubbed his forehead and shut his eyes, trying to block out the image of everyone staring at him. His ears heated like he had a fever, and he was suddenly restless.

 

“I’m going to the clinic.” He announced to no one in particular. He just wanted to get away, but when he turned to leave Huo Cheng grabbed his wrist.

 

“Hey, don’t--”

 

“I am fine.” He gently pulled his hand away and Huo Cheng let go easily. “I could use the distraction, and being outside will help.”

 

Bai Luo spoke next, “At least let one of us go with you. If we are right about a rogue cultivator, and they see you in this condition--”

 

“I’ll go.” Zhou Rong stepped up, startling him. He looked at Zhou Rong’s face, which aside from the furrowed brow was mostly expressionless. His heart skipped a beat when the intense, hungry look of Dream Zhou Rong projected over the real one’s face. Flashes of the most recent dream where Zhou Rong pinned him to the bed flooded his brain.

 

You’re so soft, Tianshanghuo-jun...I wonder if you feel softer inside.

 

He swallowed hard and blinked several times to get rid of the mirage fogging his mind. Zhou Rong’s yellow eyes stared at him head on, forcing Huo Huli to turn away, his neck flushed and goosebumps rose over his back. He had no outright reason to deny the offer and just because his subconscious and body betrayed him and acted inappropriately, it was still no excuse to be rude.

 

“O-okay.” He spoke to the ground, unwilling to look back at him to see if he was still interested in coming along, “That is fine.”

 

He left in a hurry and marched out of the restaurant, but as soon as he reached the main road, he slowed his pace. That burst of energy aggravated his sore back, and he wanted to start the garden of medicinal herbs, meaning he had to pace himself accordingly. It would do him well for his recovery, since being around nature helped him recover his depleted resources. He took note that he was recovering at a much faster rate than the first time he used that technique. He was up on his feet after the second day, while the last time he did it, he was unconscious for two weeks, and an additional week to get to normal.

 

Maybe I am strong enough to cultivate a breakthrough soon?

 

It wouldn’t hurt to try when his body felt better. If the rogue cultivator saw his capabilities, it would be better to improve on them now. It was also a strong possibility that the rogue cultivator anticipated this, so the question was how much stronger would he have to get in order to surpass the cultivator’s expectations? And can I even cultivate to Intermediate so soon?

 

The sensation of being watched made his neck prickle, and he turned his head and met Zhou Rong’s intense gaze.

 

Oh, right… Zhou Rong was acting as his shadow, quite literally so, with his all black clothes and ink black hair. Though Zhou Rong kept his distance, he could feel the man’s presence right against his back. He forced his attention elsewhere in case his mind wandered into dangerous territory again. Once he made it to the slope in the road leading to the fields, he stopped just below it and stared out at the farmland. Only a quarter of it was damaged, but it still looked gruesome to see burned fields withered into nothing but ash.

 

They may need more food to compensate for the loss of their crops. Guilt carved a hole in his heart. Rationally, he knew that he had to do what he did, and that it was most likely the fields that were stained by the corpses that had to be ruined, but it didn’t lessen the harsh reality of the sight. He was lucky that there were only two deaths from the attack and that most of the people had manageable injuries. I should ask Papa for some additional resources to help compensate them.

 

With a deep sigh and heavy shoulders, he shook his head and continued down the rest of the way to the barn. It was empty for now, as those injured had already been treated. This gave him some alone time - well, relatively alone, since Zhou Rong was beside him. He glanced back at him over his shoulder curiously as he went inside the barn.

 

He’d never seen Zhou Rong speak too much, but he was not rude by doing so. Instead it seemed like he was intent on listening and watching first. Is he shy? It was hard to imagine a beast of a man being timid, but it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. He went to the chest by the far wall and opened it to take out one of the smaller sacks he packed with the medicine herb seeds inside.

 

Zhou Rong was at his side in an instant with his hand extended, “Do you want me to help you with that?”

 

He tilted his head up to look at Zhou Rong and arched a brow, “It’s very light, I promise. I won’t be crushed by it.”

 

Zhou Rong nodded, then something of a smile ghosted over his lips, the corners of them trembling like his muscles were unused to the gesture. Huo Huli looked him up and down but offered a real smile in return. Zhou Rong opened his mouth, only to quickly close it and stare down at him wordlessly.

 

Does he want to say something? He blinked and waited for a moment, but with nothing but a blank stare in response, Huo Huli moved around Zhou Rong and went to the door. He walked outside and went around the corner of the barn and knelt down on the ground. Zhou Rong appeared when he got settled on the ground, standing just outside of his peripheral vision. Why is he just watching me…?

 

Suddenly he remembered what his brother said about Zhou Rong carrying him. Is he waiting for a thank you? He couldn’t believe how rude he was being. In his effort to try and avoid Zhou Rong because he kept bringing up such vivid dreams, he forgot to properly thank the alpha. He set his sack down and looked towards Zhou Rong.

 

“I forgot to thank you for helping me that day. Please excuse my rudeness for not saying it earlier.”

 

Zhou Rong’s eyebrows lifted in a small show of surprise. His eyes softened in that moment, and his lips managed to curl upward. He looked both pleased and genuinely surprised at his gratitude.

 

“It was the least I can do, Tianshanghuo-jun.”

 

“Please, feel free to call me Huo Laoda.” He unpacked the small bundles of medicinal herb seeds from his sack. They were wrapped into individual balls with clay to bind them, making it easy to transport and plant, and they’d grow well within the next two weeks. 

 

Another moment of hesitancy that didn’t escape Huo Huli’s notice. He organized the balls carefully and asked, “Is there something you want to speak to me about?”

 

“Ah, well…Huo Laoda…” The tone in which he said his name was just like how he said his title; full of respect and conviction behind it. It was a strange thing for him, and even weirder was his curiosity at how his birth name would sound from Zhuo Rong’s lips. “I wanted to ask you, about the day of the attack…”

 

Zhou Rong’s voice trailed off. Huo Huli waited patiently, but he figured that Zhou Rong wanted to ask some questions but wasn’t sure how to without seeming improper. The man was well-mannered, unlike his sect brothers, and was very mindful as well. Does he think I will get upset about being reminded of it?

 

“I can answer your questions, certainly.” He passed an easy smile over to him as he dug three little sections in the dirt. “Please, don’t be shy.”

 

“I appreciate your patience, Huo Laoda.” Zhou Rong dipped his head and that tiny smile slid across his lips once more. The smile made his jaw look even stronger, more pronounced. It didn’t make his stern face look any gentler, but it made his icy exterior look warm and inviting.

 

He looks scary, but I can’t find myself being afraid of him. Yes, Huo Huli would always be afraid of alphas, but it was funny that the one that looked the toughest and scariest of the bunch did not intimidate him, purposefully or otherwise. 

 

Zhou Rong scratched the bridge of his nose and looked down at the ground, “I wanted to ask you about the techniques you used…”

 

Huo Huli chuckled. He should have known it was likely to be a question like that, and he spoke while continuing with his task of planting the seed balls. “You want to ask me if I used the Eight Immortals Sword Formation.”

 

“Is it that obvious?” Zhou Rong’s deep voice sounded amused, and it was the most inflection Huo Huli had ever heard from the solemn man.

 

“You are a sword cultivator,” Huo Huli shrugged and sunk his fingers into the patch of dirt. “I figured you may have recognized it.”

 

A low rumble came from him, “Hmm...would you be willing to tell me why you altered it for a bow?” 

 

“What would you say if I did it just because I could?” He pulled out a vial of some ground-up fish bones and other healthy herbs to help speed the growth and drizzled it around the dirt.

 

“That’s…” Zhou Rong chuckled - it was as deep as his voice was and sounded almost like a villain’s evil laugh. If Huo Huli was a different person, he might have assumed Zhou Rong was in fact a demon king. “You handled that many drought corpses in one strike. Surely you could have done that back at the mine. Why didn’t you?”

 

He responded with the simple truth, “Then the others would not have had an opportunity to practice.”

 

If he went all out with his abilities like he’d done that day, the disciples wouldn’t have the chance to gain valuable experience. It could have developed a habit of leaning on him for everything, or they could accuse him of showing off and thus resent him. 

 

“Besides, I did not want to ruin any evidence at the mine. The attack was an emergency, and whoever was controlling the drought corpses knew I was here. Clearly they are testing me, so I wanted to give them a message.” He unwrapped the seed pods and plopped them in their respective spots. He was careful to match up the little sticks that told which plant is which for the villagers so they could practice identifying them.

 

“I think whoever it is will get the message.” There was a huff of air that sounded something like a chuckle. “Huo Laoda, your skills are quite amazing, despite being--”

 

“Let me guess…” Huo Huli’s blood chilled and he interrupted Zhou Rong before he could give his backhanded compliment. It was one he heard many times, but it never was any easier to hear. He smiled to himself bitterly and spread the dirt over the seeds to cover them. “You want to say that I am impressive, even though I am an omega?”

 

“Yes…” Zhou Rong took a step closer, at which Huo Huli stood up from his kneeling position. “You have a lot of talent, it’s--”

 

“Would you ask a flower why it exists in a field?” He cut off Zhou Rong’s words again to ask a second question. He brushed the dirt off his knees and some that clung to the hem of his short outer robe, but did not turn to face Zhou Rong.

 

“...Pardon me?”

 

He asked the question, but he was merely repeating back the words his cousin, Huo Guowang, once told him when he came to live in the sect and he lamented about how he did not want to be an omega anymore. It took a while for the words to have meaning, but it gave him confidence, and it was a good tool for teaching.

 

He turned now, seeing the soft, kind expression on Zhou Rong’s face. He asked another, “Or would you ask the flower why it wilts in winter?”

 

“I…” Zhuo Rong’s lips opened and closed again, and Huo Laoda could see the subtle shifts of expression in his bright yellow eyes as they grew nervous. He opened his mouth once again and actually spoke, “I am not familiar with these sorts of philosophical teachings, Huo Laoda.”

 

He did not want to yell at Zhou Rong, nor disrespect him, since he owed the man his thanks for helping him. He was a decent man from what little Huo Huli had seen, so he could not judge him too harshly just because he was like many alphas in the outside world. He kept his face neutral, and his tone polite.

 

“If these are questions you would not ask because it is natural for a flower to exist in a field, happy and content, then die by the winter time...then why would you ask those things of me?

 

Zhou Rong’s perpetually sullen expression returned, his brows furrowed into a line.

 

Huo Huli sighed, then shook his head. “I understand people may think that it is a compliment to tell me that I am talented despite being an omega. Or despite being a defective omega.”

 

Zhou Rong stepped forward, his arms outstretched towards him with his palms up in surrender, “I am not calling you defective--”

 

Huo Huli held up his hand and the man stopped his approach. Assured he would not speak up, he continued, “I am simply reciting what many people before you have said because it is all the same to me. It means nothing for someone to think I have to exist despite what I am, instead of understanding that I do not find anything negative about being an omega. I exist as an omega, and what I choose to do all while being an omega.”

 

The alpha before him frowned, his cold, calculating eyes darkening. It was a shame that his calm, cheerful face was gone because Zhou Rong looked so handsome when he smiled. A part of Huo Huli was sad that he had to smother it. He took a deep breath and turned around to make his way over to the well to get some water. He looked over his shoulder as he left to have the last word.

 

“While I understand your intention, I do not appreciate your praise, nor do I desire it.”