Chapter 62: Fox City 12

Chapter 62: Fox City 12

Bai Qi almost jumped in fright, turning around with a trembling body.

Pei Yi smiled, "Nothing much, she didn't tell me anything."

"Is that so?" Hong Jiu grabbed Bai Qi's arm, "Let's go."

After they left, Pei Yi, deep in thought, wrote a word in his notebook: 'Spirit Possession'.

Pei Yi returned to his room and glanced at Ying Jun, who seemed on the verge of collapse after just one night; gaunt and hollow-cheeked. Approaching Ying Jun, Pei Yi saw him open his eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Jiang Meili cried out, "I gave him some sleeping pills, but he's awake again. Why has he become like this?"

Pei Yi reassured, "It'll be okay."

Struggling to sit up, Ying Jun said, "Leave us. I want to talk to Pei Yi alone." The effort seemed to drain him, and he lay back down after speaking.

Jiang Meili stepped out but stayed by the door, her eyes never leaving the room. Ying Jun grasped Pei Yi's hand, scribbling something. After writing, Pei Yi left. He had written the character for 'person' and crossed it out. "Not human." Who else could be not human?

Pei Yi pondered over the words these people had shared with him. How could he ascertain the mental state of these people, or even his own? Could he be under control too?

Exiting, Jiang Meili said, "Pei Yi, I won't participate in today's system task. I'll stay with my husband."

Pei Yi nodded. Today's task involved visiting the Fox Dye Workshop and paying respects to the Fox God.

As guide Ali led them to the dye workshop, Pei Yi observed Starlight and Starshine, who appeared normal, indistinguishable from regular people.

Arriving at the Fox Dye Workshop, they found a vast dyeing area with many colorful wax-dyed fabrics hanging in the central square.

Ali introduced, "This is the Fox City's dye workshop. Our clothes are dyed here, and it has a long history."

There were many dyeing vats of green, yellow, and various colors, which merged into each other. Pei Yi witnessed red and yellow merging into bright orange, and blue and red turning purple.

Watching the colors blend was fascinating.

"In Fox City, there's an old saying that human souls have various colors. When dead, all colors are gone, merging with nature," said Ali. "It's like a chameleon changing its colors; the animal remains the same, just with a different hue."

At the dye workshop square, they saw an ancient portrait of Black Mother, dignified and graceful, bearing some resemblance to the current "Black Mother."

Pei Yi pointed and asked, "Was this dye workshop also founded by Black Mother?"

"Yes. Back when Fox City was impoverished, it was Black Mother who led everyone in their endeavors. Many women workers started dyeing fabrics under her guidance, slowly bringing prosperity to the town."

Hong Jiu remarked, "She was truly great!"

Ali smiled, "Miss Hong Jiu, you too can be as great as Black Mother."

Hearing this, Hong Jiu smiled sweetly.

Pei Yi looked around and then asked, "Why so much water blue?"

Ali explained, "Water blue is made from indigo grass. Clothes dyed with it never fade."

"I see."

Ali continued, "There's a lot to learn about dyeing. There's an introduction to the dye workshop in the front building, and some fox-themed crafts for sale as you exit. Feel free to explore."

Saying this, he walked away.

If it's just a dye workshop, what's its connection to foxes? They realized the connection upon reaching the crafts section: all crafts were fox-themed carvings, depicting the Fox God in various colored garments.

Spotting a charming little fox figurine, Pei Yi found it quite endearing and picked one to hold in his palm.

Joining him, Lu Zai Chun asked, "How many souls do you think a person can have?" He examined a mini nine-tailed fox figurine in his hand.

"Legends say a nine-tailed fox has nine lives. Each time we kill it, we only destroy one of its souls, but its essence remains immortal. What can truly achieve immortality? Buddhism speaks of the emptiness of all phenomena, unarisen and indestructible, neither defiled nor pure. This emptiness is illusionary. Each death of the nine-tailed fox is an illusion it creates, making people believe it has nine lives. I think it must be adept at creating illusions, giving the false impression of its multiple lives."

Pei Yi chuckled, "So how many souls does a person have?"

Suddenly, Lu Zai Chun stretched out his hand towards Pei Yi, almost touching his nose, "How do we know we're not just illusions now? It should be an illusion. Yet everything feels so real. It's strange. It only shows how impressive the game created by the officials is."

After saying this, he brushed past Pei Yi, whispering in his ear, "A person can have two souls."

Pei Yi glanced at Lu Zai Chun. His eyes briefly regained a calm and beautiful look before turning dark and cold again.

After their tour, they went to the usual restaurant for lunch. Pei Yi observed the Starlight brothers eating, indistinguishable from normal people.

Yet, he couldn't shake off the feeling, as if through a colored filter, that their mouths seemed rigid, moving stiffly as they ate. Their arms sported bluish spots, resembling bruises of a corpse, making them look more like walking dead.

Since the task of meeting the Fox God was scheduled for the evening, and the afternoon was free, Pei Yi decided to look for more clues.

Bai Qi emerged nervously, "Pei Yi, I... I..."

Before she could finish, Hong Jiu approached, "Bai Qi, you wouldn't leave me for a man, would you?"

Bai Qi shook her head, "That's not what I mean."

Hong Jiu grabbed her hand, "Then stay with me." She smiled softly.

Pei Yi suggested to Bai Qi, "You can also talk to Chen Mo if you need to."

Bai Qi nodded in agreement.

After leaving, Pei Yi followed the Starlight brothers, observing them heading towards the residences of Fox City locals. If it weren't for yesterday's incident, he would have joined Lu Zai Chun and the others, but now he preferred to complete the task alone.

To his surprise, they vanished upon entering an alley.

Feeling like he had been spotted, Pei Yi gave up and decided to explore other areas.

After shaking off Pei Yi, the Starlight brothers entered a dimly lit house where the woman known as Black Mama was seated.

They whispered among themselves for a while.

Black Mama advised, "If you want to survive, eat as much as you can. The more you eat, the longer you live. But be cautious and don't get caught."

"Understood," they replied, leaving the room like zombies.

Black Mama, holding a black cat, let it down and shakily walked to the altar with her bound feet. She lit incense and worshiped a smiling fox statue, murmuring,

"Oh great Fox God, please grant me immortality. I am willing to serve you for a lifetime."

After her prayer, someone entered the room.

"Xiao Hui," it was her husband, "the evening's clothing ceremony is all set. Come and take a look."

"Alright."

Outside, the townspeople greeted her, "Black Mama, you're so capable. Fox City is lucky to have you; that's how we all make a living!"

"They say Black Mama, but you don’t look old at all, under forty, right? You appear to be in your twenties!"

Hearing about her age, Black Mama's expression shifted subtly, but she smiled warmly, "Well, I am thirty-nine now."

"Thirty-nine? No big deal! You’re so amazing, we all need you!"

"But there's still a problem in the attic of the old house – someone always speaks ill of you and even slanders your mother! Why don’t you just get rid of her?"

Black Mama, with a kind and gentle look, responded, "She’s also a poor soul, her mind has been damaged since she was young. Let's be more understanding. My mother always said, saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda."

"How shameless she is to call herself 'Hui Yun'. She must be too envious of your mother."

Black Mama smiled faintly, not responding further, and went to check on the clothing ceremony.

……

At the start of the evening clothing ceremony, Pei Yi noticed Bai Qi and Hong Jiu were missing. Puzzled, he observed as the ritual began.

The night was pitch-black with a light drizzle, yet many people gathered at the door, kneeling, seeking clothes.

This 'seeking clothes' ceremony involved kneeling in front of a row of identical wooden doors outside the Fox Clan Shrine, with about five or six doors. The central door was slightly different, adorned with a large fox face, similar to the one seen in the CG.

The fox's face, smiling gently, radiated kindness and amiability.

Bathed in yellow light, the fox appeared almost lifelike, as if it were about to spring to life.

They chanted earnestly, "Oh great Fox God, please bestow upon me a splendid robe, to add beauty to my soul!"

"Fox God, please! Red, yellow, purple, any color will do! But the best is blue, the color of immortality, the color of the Fox God!"

"Me too, Fox God, if possible, please grant me a blue robe!"

The fervent reverence resembled a cult, and Zhou You considered participating.

Pei Yi advised, "There's no point in doing that; better not go."

Zhou You replied, "Participating might yield a new garment, a new 'skin' like yours, Pei Yi."

Pei Yi: "…………"

'Skin'... So that's it. He realized the true significance of the clothing colors.

Everyone was immersed in the allure of the colorful garments, believing that wearing them could transform their lives.

These weren't just garments but 'skins' to be exchanged. The true aim of worshipping the Fox God in this city was indeed immortality, the desire for eternal youth. However, this method wasn't through mere belief but through possession – taking over the young and vibrant bodies of others.

He wasn't sure how they executed this. But clearly, upon entering the city, these notions were incessantly ingrained in the visitors, not only to win their trust in the magic but also to lower their guard, preparing them.

Free food, accommodation, and drinks were tools to disarm them, fattening them up for the eventual hunt.

They were not mere sightseeing tourists, but prey, the best offerings for possession.