Chapter 34: May You Live a Thousand Years
Through the vast distance, harsh conditions, arduous trek, and the long journey ahead.
Inside the Great Wilderness, countless dangers lie beyond. Within this domain, there exists an abundance of uncertainties.
As long as one can barely get by in life, people can always move forward.
Bai Wei and the immortal fox slowly proceed along the same path they came from, becoming each other's spiritual companions during the journey.
When the immortal fox learned to speak, Bai Wei was pleasantly surprised. He had not expected it to learn to speak so quickly.
Throughout this long journey, if there is someone who can accompany him in conversation, why would he care whether or not it is a human?
…
"You learn very quickly; next time, don't learn so quickly."
"Why?"
"I have almost nothing left to teach you."
"Why?"
"After all, you are just a little fox. There is no need for you to learn too many complicated things. You have a long time ahead of you in the future."
"Why…?"
"Why keep asking why? It will only leave you utterly perplexed."
…
"I'm hungry."
"I am too. The last time I had a meal seems to be ages ago."
"It has been five days already."
"Enough said, it's already a challenge for me to resist the temptation of simmering you."
"I'm hungry…"
"Alright, stop calling. I remember there's a lake ahead where we can catch fish to eat."
"Um…"
"You're at least a fox, why don't you unleash some feral instincts?"
"If I were to unleash my feral instincts, I would have bitten you long ago."
…
"Ah, having eaten and drunk to my heart's content, this time I must make sure to purchase sufficient provisions before returning. Let me see, I've already covered half of the journey, it has been quite swift indeed, it's only been about a year."
"Do we still have to walk for another two years? It's unbearable!"
"Hahaha, lighten up, perhaps it won't take two years, and yet we may end up perishing on this journey."
"Woof!"
"Neigh! Are you a dog? Always biting people!"
"The fox is a member of the canine family!"
…
"Sir."
"Oh?"
"Why don't you give me a name? Everyone has a name, after all."
"Don't ask, unless you like the name Dog Egg."
"I'd better pass on this."
"Understand now? What good thing can others give you? The best name is either bestowed by parents or self-chosen."
"Do I really have to think for myself? It's quite challenging, as every thought triggers an itch in my head."
"Having an itchy head means needing to use your brain, stupid fox. Is there anything in the world that is simple? Being just one person and one dog, do I seem easily fooled?"
…
"Have you gained weight recently?"
"Meow, meow, meow?"
"Your foreign language skills are quite good, but useless. You should walk on your own. How old are you and still relying on me?"
"You didn't say it like that three months ago."
"Can winter and summer be the same? Who wears a fur scarf in scorching weather? Furthermore, I'm certain that you have gained a whole size, almost the size of a broken washbasin."
"?"
"It is possible that you have finally transitioned from the period of childhood and entered the stage of growth, but you are still far from reaching adulthood."
"What will adulthood look like?"
"After the immortal fox reaches adulthood, it will become exceptionally mature."
"You are spouting nonsense again."
"Nonsense, I am not an immortal fox, how would I know? What I do know is that immortal foxes have a lifespan of nine hundred years, and they only reach adulthood at around two hundred years old as Fairy Beasts. Meanwhile, even if we account for every last bit, you are barely ten years old. So, just endure it patiently."
"Whimper…"
"However, the book mentions that adult immortal foxes will be very beautiful, truly exquisite… I really hope to have the opportunity to witness it firsthand."
"I will show it to you once I become an adult."
"Truly, a foolish fox."
"Hmm?"
"What I meant was… sure, why not."
…
Every journey will reach its destination, and each day brings us closer to the long-awaited destination.
Bai Wei quickened his pace, even disregarding his own concealment, solely focused on returning as soon as possible.
However, the remaining one-tenth of the journey abruptly came to a halt, forcibly interrupted.
The Demon-hunting Legion stood in the way, blocking Bai Wei's path back home.
"Hey there, young man, it has been almost three years, hasn't it?"
The face of the member from the Demon-hunting Legion bore a few scars, adding to their fierceness. Their left hand was missing, replaced by a prosthetic.
The number of personnel in the team had decreased to less than ten, and each person carried wounds. Every individual stared at him with eyes filled with hatred.
Bai Wei knew what they had come for.
"I initially had many things I wanted to say, to talk to you about. After losing that fox, we came to understand its true value. I wanted to tell you how, after you alone took away the wealth that could secure the livelihoods of dozens of us for the rest of our lives, we went searching for you, traversing countless places… But now that I see you, suddenly, none of it seems to matter anymore."
The leader of the Demon-hunting Legion tightly gripped the knife in hand, gritted his teeth in a deep voice, and said, "Hand it over, and I'll let you go."
Bai Wei responded with a cold smirk. He didn't believe a word coming from these people. After three years of separation, he knew they had been corrupted by their desires and completely enslaved.
They believed that Bai Wei had taken away the wealth that rightfully belonged to them, unaware that the immortal fox was, in fact, ownerless. It is a Fairy Beast and has never belonged to anyone.
No explanation needed.
Different paths. No collaboration.
Bai Wei, of course, cannot kneel down, nor can he be silenced by a mere sentence.
He chose to confront them, standing alone against the entire Demon-hunting Legion. Along the final stretch of the Great Wilderness, he initiated a series of confrontations and counter-confrontations, hunting and pursuing each other.
He killed nearly half of them, but he also paid a great price himself.
Upon reaching the final stretch of the journey, he had completely lost his sense of direction.
The Demon-hunting Legion chased him into a desolate desert.
They wandered in the desert for three months, running out of supplies, trapped in a lose-lose situation where turning back meant death and moving forward meant death as well.
The Demon-hunting Legion fell into internal strife.
This is a method of mutual destruction.
At the final moment, Bai Wei engaged in a final battle with the Demon-hunting Legion's leader within the oasis.
After both sides exhausted their entire arsenal, it was still Bai Wei who had the fortune on his side. He plunged the blade into the heart of his adversary.
The leader of the Demon-hunting Legion remained perplexed until the final moment.
Clutching Bai Wei's neck tightly, he hoarsely asked.
"Why are you so greedy?"
He believed that Bai Wei, like him, was willing to go to any lengths for the immense benefits or vanity brought by the immortal fox.
He was mistaken.
Bai Wei couldn't be bothered to explain, and simply watched as he reluctantly breathed his last.
After this battle, he had little strength left, and could only recuperate within the oasis.
But as each day passed, the situation grew increasingly worse.
The sandstorm in the Great Wilderness is approaching; this oasis won't last much longer. He must leave, he must evacuate, otherwise both he and the immortal fox will perish here.
He was also uncertain how much longer it would take for him to escape from this place.
In the end, he finally reached a point where he could no longer proceed.
Having persevered for a month, it felt as if his very life force was about to be drained.
The immortal fox pulled him forward, gripping his sleeve, and dragged him ahead.
Bai Wei, relying on the dwindling strength of his willpower, moved forward inch by inch.
By the evening of the third day, he became completely immobile.
Cold, feeble, and exhaustion seeped into every bone, depleting every ounce of strength.
The seemingly endless road stretched out ahead.
He no longer wished to proceed, nor was he able to move any further.
Only the immortal fox refused to give up, the weary little creature incessantly tugging at his sleeves, attempting to lead him out of this hellish realm.
It emitted a whimpering cry.
But it lacked strength, being so frail and thin, unable to pull Bai Wei, even though he was almost drained of all his blood.
It made strenuous efforts for a long time, exerting such force that its bones were on the brink of breaking.
However, Bai Wei ultimately collapsed motionless onto the desolate ground.
"Rise, sir, rise…"
The immortal fox emitted cries akin to that of a young child.
"Sir, don't sleep, don't sleep…"
It repeatedly licked the wounds on the young man's face, its expression filled with anxiety, even its once glossy fur losing its beautiful hue and turning a withered yellow.
Bai Wei deeply desired to close his eyes and peacefully drift away into an eternal slumber.
Lifting his gaze and catching sight of it, an involuntary surge of newfound strength welled up within him.
This strength, though unable to sustain him for the rest of the journey, was sufficient to allow him to utter the words he hadn't had the opportunity to speak.
"…stupid fox."
The immortal fox twitched its ears.
"Sir!"
"I'm leaving," he whispered, "I have to go to a faraway place alone, this time, I cannot take you with me."
"You have to go on your own. Just follow the direction of the setting sun, keep walking straight ahead, and you will find your way out. Take my belongings with you, you know the characters."
"Go to the place I marked on the map, there… is very safe, with my friends, your own kind, and other celestial beings…"
It froze, gazing at the young man. They had been together day and night for three years, and this was the first time they faced separation.
It shook its head instinctively and tearfully asked, "Sir, do you no longer want me?"
"Don't wear a mournful face, my dear little fox. I was merely a passing guest in your long life; it was never possible for me to accompany you till the very end. When I depart, your story is just beginning… The reason I am going back is to guide you to your own homeland."
Bai Wei's tone was gentle and soft, his words carried such feebleness that they could barely stir a dandelion.
The immortal fox lowered its head and wept, shedding tears of profound sorrow.
Bai Wei extended his hand, gently cupping its little face. "Haven't you always wanted a name?" he asked as he caressed it.
It simply cried, unable to listen to anything else.
Bai Wei's tone grew even more gentle and leisurely.
"Qiansui… your name is Qiansui." (Translator: Qiansui means 1000 years)
"Live well, live to be a thousand years old."
He reached out his hand, gently embracing the immortal fox, gazing into the high sky as his line of sight gradually dispersed.
"In the book, it is said that when the immortal fox grows up, it becomes the most beautiful being in the world, adorned with colorful clouds as its garments, adorned with white frost as its embellishment, and wearing falling cherry blossoms as its crown…"
"You must abide by the agreement, live on diligently."
"Let me see what you will look like when you grow up."
The immortal fox Qiansui, nestled in his arms, its body trembling ever so slightly, able to hear each subsequent heartbeat becoming gentler.
It could only agree, promising with determination, "Yes, I promise you, I will abide by the agreement, and I will live on diligently."
The young man smiled with satisfaction and said, "Then I can rest assured."
It felt as if it had been waiting for this line for a long time, "There is one last thing."
He mustered his last ounce of strength, pressing himself against its ear, and whispered softly, "Wait for me after I pass away…"
"Devour me."
