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Malevolent fox

In a remote village nestled deep within the misty mountains of ancient China, there lived a malevolent fox spirit known as Hu Li Jing. Unlike the benevolent fox spirits who sought enlightenment and harmony, Hu Li Jing was a creature of chaos and malice. Her sleek, crimson fur shimmered like fire in the moonlight, and her eyes glowed with an eerie, golden light. She had lived for centuries, feeding on the fear and suffering of mortals.

The villagers feared Hu Li Jing deeply. They spoke of her in hushed tones, warning their children not to wander too far into the woods, for the fox spirit was known to lure the unsuspecting with her enchanting beauty. She could shape-shift into the form of a stunning woman, her voice as sweet as honey, but her intentions were always cruel. Those who fell under her spell would vanish, never to be seen again.

One autumn evening, a young scholar named Wei arrived in the village. He was traveling to the capital to take the imperial exams, seeking fame and fortune. Wei was a kind and curious man, but he was also naive, having spent most of his life buried in books. When he heard the villagers' tales of the fox spirit, he dismissed them as superstition. "Surely," he thought, "such creatures are nothing more than stories meant to frighten children."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Wei decided to take a shortcut through the forest to save time. The villagers pleaded with him to stay, but he laughed off their warnings. "I am a man of reason," he said. "I have no fear of spirits or demons."

The forest was eerily quiet, the only sound the crunch of leaves beneath Wei's feet. The moon cast long shadows through the trees, and a cold wind whispered through the branches. Unbeknownst to Wei, Hu Li Jing had been watching him from the moment he entered the forest. She had grown bored with the simple villagers and was intrigued by the scholar's arrogance. "This one will be fun to play with," she thought, a wicked smile curling her lips.

As Wei walked deeper into the forest, he began to feel uneasy. The air grew colder, and the shadows seemed to move on their own. Suddenly, he heard a soft, melodic voice singing in the distance. Drawn by the sound, he followed it until he came upon a clearing bathed in moonlight. There, standing by a bubbling stream, was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her long, black hair cascaded down her back, and her robes shimmered like starlight.

"Who are you?" Wei asked, his voice trembling.

The woman turned to him, her golden eyes gleaming. "I am but a lonely traveler," she said, her voice like a gentle breeze. "I heard your footsteps and hoped for some company."

Wei, enchanted by her beauty, quickly forgot his unease. They sat by the stream, and the woman spoke of poetry, philosophy, and the mysteries of the world. Wei was captivated, feeling as though he had finally found someone who understood him. But as the night wore on, he began to notice strange things. The woman's reflection in the water was not her own—it was that of a fox with glowing eyes. The air around her grew colder, and her laughter, once sweet, now carried a sinister edge.

Before Wei could react, the woman's form began to shift. Her delicate features twisted into something monstrous, her fingers elongating into sharp claws. Wei tried to run, but his legs would not obey. He was paralyzed, trapped by the fox spirit's magic.

Hu Li Jing leaned in close, her breath cold against his skin. "You mortals are so easily deceived," she hissed. "Your arrogance will be your undoing."

Wei's heart pounded as he realized the truth of the villagers' warnings. Desperate, he remembered an old tale he had once read about fox spirits. It was said that they could be repelled by the scent of burning mulberry wood. Summoning all his strength, he reached into his satchel and pulled out a small charm he had bought from a Taoist monk. The charm was made of mulberry wood, and he quickly struck a flint to light it.

The moment the wood began to burn, Hu Li Jing recoiled, her golden eyes widening in fear. The scent of the smoke weakened her magic, and Wei felt the paralysis lift. He stumbled to his feet and ran, the fox spirit's enraged screams echoing through the forest.

Wei did not stop running until he reached the village, where he collapsed at the feet of the villagers. They tended to his wounds and listened in horror as he recounted his encounter. From that day on, Wei never doubted the existence of spirits again. He stayed in the village for a time, teaching the children to respect the old tales and to always carry a piece of mulberry wood for protection.

As for Hu Li Jing, she retreated deeper into the forest, nursing her wounded pride. But she did not forget the scholar who had escaped her grasp. She bided her time, waiting for the day when she would cross paths with him again—or with another mortal foolish enough to underestimate her power.

And so, the legend of the malevolent fox spirit lived on, a cautionary tale for generations to come.