After Becoming the Pope’s Disciple - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Monster

Fortunately, the scene Ye Shaoqing had imagined did not occur; the other exotic beasts in the room remained obediently in their cages, looking at him as if he were no different from thin air.

The little fox, however, spent a good while sucking and licking his finger, showing no intention of leaving his arms. Old Mr. Zhou watched from the side, caught between worry and joy. He was glad that the white fox’s aura was gradually becoming less weak, but worried that this fellow followed the principle of “whoever has the milk is mother” and was completely ignoring him.

“Um, Mr. Ye.” Old Mr. Zhou’s earlier traces of doubt had vanished into thin air. After a long internal struggle, he said very politely, “Could I trouble you to…”

“No.” Ye Shaoqing cut him off decisively, picking up the little fox by the scruff of its neck and holding it out toward the man.

What are these people thinking? He was a member of the “impoverished household” category; he couldn’t even support a human, let alone raise a fox for someone else.

Unable to reach the “delicious treat,” the little fox flailed its paws in a frantic struggle, its eyes brimming with tears, looking utterly aggrieved.

The moment Mr. Zhou reached out, he was met with a scratch. His hand froze in mid-air—taking the fox felt wrong, yet not taking it was equally awkward. It was an incredibly embarrassing moment.

In contrast, the servant who had been as quiet as a mouse until now leaned in and whispered a few words to his master. Mr. Zhou had a sudden realization and smiled: “Mr. Ye, this white fox saved my life, and I truly cannot bear to see it die. If you are willing to raise it for me, I will provide a reward of ten thousand Star Coins. Should you encounter any difficulties in the future, you may come find me at any time.”

Ye Shaoqing gave him a surprised look, but eventually, he slowly retracted his hand. The little fox lunged back into his arms, sniffing around until it found his finger and began licking it happily again.

Seeing Ye Shaoqing accept the reward and the fox, Mr. Zhou chatted with Old Tao for a bit longer before taking his leave, cradling the Red Radiance with a look of total satisfaction.

A cool night breeze blew, and a light rain began to fall. Upon parting, Old Tao gave him an old umbrella. In the hazy moonlight, Ye Shaoqing entered the house draped in a layer of dampness. He seemed to be in a good mood—or he would have been, if not for the white fox constantly clinging to him in his arms.

“You’re back?” Wen Qingze had already gone to bed, but hearing the door open, he walked out of the bedroom in his pajamas. Seeing the little thing in the other’s arms, he was stunned. “This is…”

Ye Shaoqing pulled a red envelope from his inner pocket and placed it on the table, saying casually, “This is money.”

Then he lifted the little fox. “And this is a lot of money.”

Noticing the thickness of the red envelope, Wen Qingze was a bit dazed. “…” He instinctively wiped his glasses, thinking to himself: This guy didn’t go and commit a robbery, did he?

Ye Shaoqing, unaware of the wild thoughts in the other’s head, recounted the important bits of what had happened at Old Tao’s shop. During this time, the little fox circled curiously a few times on the palm-sized table before jumping onto Ye Shaoqing’s lap and settling down motionlessly.

The expression of surprise on Wen Qingze’s face slowly transformed into admiration. He smiled and said, “You really are… just how many more times are you going to shock me?”

Ye Shaoqing said, “First thing tomorrow morning, we go find that local thug and get the Bodhi Lotus back. The money in there is more than enough.”

Wen Qingze said worriedly, “I’m afraid he won’t be willing to spit out a duck that’s already been cooked.”

Ye Shaoqing smiled. “I just hope he doesn’t end up ‘stealing a chicken only to lose the rice.'”

After two consecutive days without proper rest, Ye Shaoqing took a comfortable hot bath and gave the little fox a wash while he was at it. After shaking off the water droplets, its fur was snowy white and fluffy—a fragrant, soft little bundle to hold.

He found a cardboard box to make a simple little nest for it, then flopped face-up onto his bed and quickly drifted into dreamland…

Ye Shaoqing had a dream. In the dream, there was a magnificent, golden hall where countless voices of praise and chanting drifted from afar. Within this solemn and dignified singing, shadows of people knelt like a rising tide, prostrating themselves in worship while devoutly reciting beautiful prayers.

At the highest point of the hall was a massive divine throne. A golden scepter floated in the air, the gemstone at its tip emitting a radiance that filled the sky. Beneath this dazzling brilliance, a figure sat on the throne with their back to the light, their face hidden in shadow, noble as a deity, receiving the awe and worship of thousands.

Ye Shaoqing followed the crowd, walking and kneeling, unsure of where he was. Yet his eyes were possessed, staring at the person high atop the throne, struggling to see what they looked like—but he never could.

Suddenly, the great hall began to shake, growing more and more violent. Large pieces of colored glaze fell, crashing into him. Finally, the entire roof collapsed into ruins, pressing down on him like a mountain.

In his fright, he opened his eyes in a daze, finding himself still lying on that spring bed, surrounded by a cramped but reassuring atmosphere. However, his chest still felt very heavy. Ye Shaoqing’s gaze shifted, only to see the white-furred fox lying on top of him. Its body was now nearly the size of an adult—no longer appearing like a cub. Its dark golden eyes shifted from round to oval, finally contracting into two thin golden lines as it stared at him quietly.

Alarm bells rang in Ye Shaoqing’s heart. This white fox—it had become different from yesterday!

He remembered Mr. Zhou saying that this fellow had bitten a powerful Blood Wolf Beast to death. Was that previous cute and innocent appearance just a disguise? Truly a cunning fox.

The white fox showed no intention of attacking, so Ye Shaoqing didn’t move either, lying stiffly on the bed and meeting its gaze in silence.

After a long while, the white fox slowly straightened up. Its pupils returned to normal as it moved off him, quickly raising a front paw to shove Ye Shaoqing off the bed—and then it claimed the entire bed for itself.

Ye Shaoqing: “…” You beast! If I’d known, I wouldn’t have saved you!

The white fox elegantly smoothed the fur that had been flattened by its front paw and flicked its eyelids to glance at him. That look was as if it were looking at a foolish mortal, a mentally challenged “poop-scooper.”

Ye Shaoqing suddenly missed yesterday’s little fox cub.

“Have you already recovered? You can understand what I’m saying, right?” He stood up, looking down at the white fox from his height. He pointed a finger toward the door and said, “Since you’ve regained your health, I consider my task complete. Old Mr. Zhou’s manor has good food and drink; it’s better for you to stay there.”

The white fox stared at him with those narrow, dangerous eyes. It slowly opened its mouth, revealing two rows of white, sharp teeth. With a half-smile, it spoke in human tongue: “But you promised that old man you would raise me well.”

Ye Shaoqing was startled: “…A monster!”

The white fox’s ears twipped. It looked left and right, saying in surprise, “A monster? Where?”

Ye Shaoqing: “…”

The white fox seemed unaccustomed to the fact that it was the “monster.” Only after seeing his bizarre expression did it react, sneering, “What an uncultured brat. I am no monster.”

Ye Shaoqing thought to himself: Could this be the legendary ‘Fox Spirit’?

“Regardless of what you are, I have nothing here. Are you sure you want to stay?”

The white fox stretched, its body flopping softly back onto the bed. It said leisurely, “To be able to serve me is something countless people would beg for, yet you want to drive me away. If word of this got out, I’m afraid you’d be sent to the stake. However, considering your youthful ignorance, I shall forgive you this once.”

…Such a stuck-up fox was truly a rare sight.

Ye Shaoqing concluded that this fox spirit definitely had a screw loose.

He shrugged, not bothered to argue. No matter how big the personality flaw, it was usually pampered into existence—a few missed meals would surely straighten it out.

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