Volume One - The Hundred Coffin Tomb Chapter Sixteen - Catching the Pheasant

Not long ago, a group of mountain villagers was hurrying home from the county town on a rainy day. As they reached the foot of the mountain, their path was suddenly blocked by a large white fox. When the villagers tried to drive it away, the white fox bared its teeth at them. Startled by this display, the villagers dared not approach. But within minutes, they witnessed something that left them utterly shocked.

Just ahead, the mountain to the right began to tremble, and soon enormous boulders of various sizes came tumbling down. The rain had soaked the earth, and the deluge loosened the mountainside, causing a massive landslide that buried the path the villagers had been walking on beneath a pile of rocks. Seeing this, every one of the villagers drew a sharp breath, their nerves chilled. Then, almost in unison, they realized—could it be that the white fox had blocked their way to save their lives?

Glancing about, the villagers searched for the fox, but it had vanished without a trace. At that moment, understanding dawned: the white fox had known the landslide would occur and had intervened to save them. From then on, the villagers referred to the creature as the Fox Immortal. And this was not the only tale of the white fox’s miraculous rescues.

My grandfather often spoke to me of the legend of the white fox. One thing he said remains vivid in my memory: “Little Jie, if you ever encounter a Fox Immortal, you must show respect. Fox Immortals are spiritual beings, and those who have cultivated for centuries can take human form. Such beings possess immense power—enough to destroy a living soul with a mere gesture. Remember, if a Fox Immortal asks something of you, you must agree, for it can only bring you good, never harm.”

When I saw the white fox myself, I sensed something unusual. Normally, the white fox was not afraid of people—if anything, it was friendly. Why, then, did it retreat upon seeing us? As I puzzled over this, Li Kun began searching the ground, then walked a few steps ahead and picked up a sturdy stick as thick as an arm. Turning to me, he exclaimed, “Old Liu, what are you waiting for? It’s a white fox! If we catch it and take it to the county brigade, we can exchange it for two jin of strong liquor!”

With those words, I understood why the white fox had been afraid of us. Without thinking, I snatched the stick from Li Kun’s hands and said sternly, “Old Li, don’t be reckless—this is a Fox Immortal.”

Li Kun stared at me in surprise. “A Fox Immortal? Isn’t it just a big white fox? Come on, let’s go after it—think of the liquor!”

Alarmed by his rashness, I quickly stopped him. Sensing something was wrong, Li Kun lowered his voice and asked, “Old Liu, what’s going on?”

I threw the stick to the ground and replied, “That white fox isn’t like the ordinary ones you’ve seen—it’s saved countless lives, a true Fox Immortal.”

Li Kun fell silent, glancing back at the spot where the white fox had been. “How do you know?” he asked.

I explained the legends of the Fox Immortal to him. After listening, Li Kun nodded, then turned back toward where the fox had vanished, muttering quietly under his breath.

I clapped him on the shoulder. “What are you mumbling about?”

He scratched his head sheepishly. “Oh, nothing—just apologizing to the Fox Immortal.”

I couldn’t help but smile. When it comes to such things, it’s better to believe than to dismiss them outright—just as with ghosts and spirits. You may not believe, but you must show respect. I have always held a certain reverence for these matters.

I said to Li Kun, “Enough about the white fox. Let’s go up the mountain and see if we can catch a pheasant or something.”

Li Kun nodded, and the two of us made our way up toward a plateau on the mountainside.

As we reached the slope, we stopped in our tracks. Li Kun, seeing the scene before us, was astonished. “Well, who would have thought—so many boulders below, but up here it’s like a fairyland.”

The sight surprised me as well. Before us lay a gently sloping stretch of flat land, descending and then rising again, surrounded by towering trees. The ground was carpeted with fallen leaves. Not far to the right, a small river flowed, its upper reaches fed by a mountain spring—a source that kept the stream running steadily all year round.

If we had come here in the summer, it would have been a breathtaking place, a hidden gem atop the mountain. Li Kun let out an admiring whistle. Just then, a pheasant’s cry rang out from nearby.

Hearing the call, both of us brightened. I turned to Li Kun and said, “Old Li, grab your stick—let’s go!”

Li Kun snatched up a stick from the ground and followed behind me in pursuit of the pheasant.

We hadn’t gone far before we spotted the bird standing on a rock, craning its neck and calling out.

I nodded to Li Kun and said, “Old Li, you go left, I’ll go right. Drive it toward me and I’ll block the other side—we’ll catch it for sure.”

Li Kun agreed. “Alright, listen for my signal. Once it comes down, we’ll corner it together.”

“Be careful,” I reminded him. “Don’t let it get away.”

He nodded, and we began to circle the rock, preparing to surround the bird. Once I was in position, I saw a small stone fly toward the pheasant a few minutes later. It missed, striking the rock beneath its feet. Startled by the noise, the pheasant flew straight toward me.

“Now, Old Liu!” Li Kun shouted from the other side.

As the bird came at me, I sprang up and lunged, catching it before it could react. Pheasants can only fly in straight lines and cannot change direction mid-flight, so it crashed right into my arms.

I seized the bird firmly. Li Kun hurried over, grinning broadly. “Ha! Now we’ll have a proper meal tonight!”

I smiled, but before I could reply, another pheasant’s call sounded behind me. We exchanged a glance. I pulled a piece of string from my pocket and quickly tied the bird’s legs.

“If we catch another one, we’ll be eating well for days,” Li Kun said, looking toward the source of the cry.

I nodded. “Let’s leave this one here and go.”

He agreed, and the two of us crept quietly toward the sound, hoping for another catch.