Chapter Text
Shen Yuan lived alone.
Even in an isolated house with the nearest town quite a walk away, Shen Yuan was more connected to the world then any of his fellow spirits have ever been. Most spirits, like Shen Yuan’s brother Shen Jiu, hated humans, thought of them as a plague on this earth.
Shen Yuan was not the same of course—he could see their value, could see their compassion and ability to empathize. These were traits that spirits like him had slowly but surely lost in the blur of time.
As a human, the townspeople nearby knew him as a healer, and a proficient one at that. The ailments of humans were usually easily cured with the right herbs which Shen Yuan had plenty of. Anything more complicated Shen Yuan could use a small amount of spiritual power, which even in his human form he had plenty of. In exchange for his healing, the townspeople nearby were kind to him—some of them, like Ning Yingying and Ming Fan, even brought him food. They weren’t always fit for a fox spirit’s diet, but he appreciated the sentiment.
His brother called him sentimental. Liu Qingge, a human cultivator who knew his secret, called him foolish. Shen Yuan could not deny either of these accusations, but it was fine, even if it was a little lonely sometimes, he was happy.
Shen Yuan was putting away the new supply of mint leaves he’d picked, using spiritual power to float them onto a rack to be dried when he could feel a familiar presence approaching. The spiritual energy of a Huli Jing, a fox spirit, was always bright but even from this distance Shen Yuan could tell his brother was in especially high spirits for some reason.
Sighing, he finished up with the leaves. Walking outside into the dark of night, he transformed into his other form. To do greet his brother in human form would only infuriate him.
In the woods, a glowing snowy white form approached. The graceful form of a giant fox, half the size of Shen Yuan’s house approached, it’s nine tails waving behind it. Shen Jiu stopped before Shen Yuan, red eyes glowing brightly.
Shen Yuan’s own fur was as bright as his brother’s, his fox body just a slender and graceful—they would be like mirror images if it weren’t for the fact Shen Yuan had one less tail then his brother’s. When Shen Yuan would eventually grow his last tail, he’d be a powerful immortal like his brother. Shen Jiu liked to provoke him sometimes, saying he never would grow his ninth tail living among humans. There was some truth to it, considering Shen Yuan spent most of his time as a human—who knows if he could become immortal while in that form.
The fur around Shen Jiu’s mouth was bloody, and he was holding something in his jaws. He lowered his head, dropping something onto the grassy forest floor.
It was a tiny ball of black fluff. Shen Yuan could make out two pointed ears, a tiny button nose—it was definitely some kind of canine, maybe a wolf. More fur then actual flesh and bone, the pup was tiny, even by human standards. It was probably the runt of its litter.
It didn’t seem to be moving, its black fur matted with blood—perhaps it was dead. Shen Yuan couldn’t help but feel a wave of pity for it. Creatures his brother toyed with did not last long.
“…What’s this?” Shen Yuan said, speaking directly into his brother’s mind. This was how spirits communicated. His brother licked at the blood on his muzzle, barring his teeth in a disturbing grin.
“A toy,” Shen Jiu poked at the pup with a claw. “It’s surprisingly sturdy, for something so tiny.”
To Shen Yuan’s surprise the pup trembled, the miniscule life energy left flaring ever so slightly in fear. His brother bat at the creature, rolling it in his paws. The little furball whimpered in pain, seeming too tired to truly cry out. Shen Yuan wondered how long his brother had been torturing the poor thing.
Shen Yuan felt his heart crying for him to help the poor thing. Perhaps Shen Yuan really was too sentimental—to pity humans was one thing, but for a small, insignificant creature like this? Not so long ago, Shen Yuan couldn’t have cared less.
“That’s enough,” he sighed, moving forward to gently push his brother out of the way. “Let the poor thing be, it would hardly be a good snack. It’s more fur and bones then meat.”
“I already said, it’s not for eating it’s for playing. Although it has been slowing down recently—it’s not running and making noises like it used to.” His brother flicked at the pup with a claw again, sending it tumbling towards Shen Yuan. “You can have the tail end of it’s pathetic little existence.” His brother eyed the little creature, licking his muzzle. “Although maybe it would make a good snack...”
Alright, that was enough of that. Shen Yuan straightened, glancing towards his house. After a few seconds, a large chunk of cooled meat floated out of the back door. It was the leftovers of a deer he’d caught earlier that week.
His brother’s face scrunched up.
“You know I like meat warm,” he said, and Shen Yuan just rolled his eyes in response, tossing the meat at his brother. His brother caught it in his mouth easily.
“Just take it and get out of here before a human spots you,” Shen Yuan said. With a shrug and a flick of his tails, Shen Jiu turned, running back into the woods as fast as he came.
Once his brother was gone, Shen Yuan lowered his head to sniff at the creature.
“It’s alright, little one,” he said, attempting to speak in the fluffball’s mind. Normal animals could hear and understand spirit speech but could not respond. The creature’s eyes opened, revealing dark eyes. However, as soon as it laid it’s eyes on Shen Yuan it whimpered, burying its head behind it’s tiny paws.
Perhaps it thought Shen Yuan was his brother? After a moment of contemplation, Shen Yuan changed back into his human form. Kneeling next to the ball of fur, he spoke to it soothingly.
“Hello,” he said softly. The bundle of fluff opened its eyes again, seeming startled as the sudden appearance of a human. “It’s alright. I won’t hurt you.”
He extended a hand slowly, letting the pup sniff his hand. Its eyes brightened a little, although it still seemed rather wary. He didn’t blame it.
Shen Yuan approached carefully, petting the pup’s neck before moving his hand downward, towards the creature’s wounds. Luckily, the damage wasn’t nearly as bad as he’d expected. There were a few puncture wounds, some few scratches and bruises. He could sense a few broken ribs under the pup’s skin.
His hand glowed as he passed spiritual energy into the creature. The pup jerked, whining, although it didn’t seem to be in pain.
Unlike with humans, Shen Yuan didn’t have to be discrete when using spiritual power on the little creature. It only took a couple minutes before all the wounds were healed. He sighed with relief, drawing his hand back once he’d checked the creature over.
“There you go,” he said. The pup sniffed at its side in astonishment. “All better now.”
The pup looked up at him, it’s eyes wide in awe and tail wagging almost tentatively.
Shen Yuan offered a soft smile.
The bundle of black fur barrelled into his arms.
Shen Yuan couldn’t help but chuckle as the pup licked at his face enthusiastically, paws scrambling over him in its excitement. Its tail was wagging so hard its whole body seemed to move side to side with it. Such innocent, honest delight.
“Okay, okay,” he laughed, using both hands to scratching the sides of the pup’s head. It whimpered in happiness, twisting its head in an attempt to lick both Shen Yuan’s hands at once. “Your welcome.”
He lifted the wiggling pup, placing it back onto the ground before he pushed himself back to his feet. The pup continued to throw itself at him eagerly, whining when he could no longer reach Shen Yuan’s face.
“Okay, shoo, go back to your family now.” Shen Yuan attempted to wave the pup away but it didn’t seem to understand, sticking to his legs like glue. Sighing, Shen Yuan transformed to his fox form again.
The pup seemed startled by the transformation, but after sniffing one of Shen Yuan’s paws it seemed to recognize his scent. It sat back on its back legs as it stared up at Shen Yuan’s head, tail wagging happily.
Shen Yuan lowered his head to the pup’s level.
“You’re fine now,” he said. The pup’s head perked at the voice in its head, head tilting in a rather cute manner. “You can return to your home.”
The pup’s tongue stuck out as it panted, looking almost as if it were smiling.
“I don’t have a home,” the voice of a young male responded. The voice was bright and happy despite the words, and without a doubt belonged to the little pup sitting in front of him.
Shen Yuan blinked down at the creature. He hadn’t been expecting a response—normal animals could only respond in abstract thoughts and emotions. For this pup to be able to respond to him… could it be that it was some sort of supernatural being? He spread focused his awareness, using his spiritual eye to probe deeper into the cub's body. There was only the smallest lick of spiritual power, barely there.
“I am Shen Yuan,” he said eventually. Even if it was only a little spiritual power, it still changed everything. “What’s your name?”
“Binghe,” the pup chirped eagerly.
“Do you have a family, Binghe?” The pup shook his head. “I could bring you to a spirit wolf pack, if you’d like. Creatures like you should not be alone.”
Binghe's ears dropped, his tail stalling. He looked up at Shen Yuan with such sad eyes the fox spirit felt his heart, hard and frigid from years alone, melt a little at the sight.
The cub’s little body trembled. Shen Yuan couldn’t help but sweep one tail forward, curling it around the little creature for warmth.
“Are you cold?” Shen Yuan asked, concerned. The creature didn’t answer, but snuggled into Shen Yuan’s fur happily, eyes slitting in bliss. So easy to please, this creature.
Shen Yuan watched the bundle of fur for a few moments. He’d never seen something so happy, just from a little warmth—it’s as if it hadn’t experienced the warmth of another body for something other then pain in a long time, if ever. It was truly pitiful—no family, no home, and so tiny, nothing but it’s cute looks to protect it. Would Binghe even be able to survive in the wild like this? There were scarier things in the forest, worse then even Shen Jiu. Shen Yuan shuddered at the thought of such an innocent creature being caught and eaten by a Taotie or worse.
Nonetheless…the fact that Binghe was able to communicate meant that he had potential. Shen Yuan wondered how his brother had found such a creature. His brother looked down on smaller lifeforms, never bothering to communicate with them—perhaps that’s why he’d thought of it as just another piece of meat.
Knowing his brother though, he probably wouldn’t care either way.
Shen Yuan had lived alone for so long, nothing but occasional visits staving him over. Even if humans were kind to him, his secret always hung over him like a sharp blade.
It would be nice, he thought, if he had someone to stay with him.
“Binghe,” Shen Yuan said. “If you’d like, you can stay with me. I don’t have much here…but I can feed you and give you shelter. And you behave and don’t hurt humans, I can teach you how to live, as a spiritual animal.”
The pup opened his eyes. Shen Yuan could feel the thump thump thump of the pup’s tail fluttering against his own. Binghe looked up with him with wide eyes, as if he could barely believe what it was hearing.
“A…a home?” The voice was shaky with emotion.
“If you’d like.”
“Really?”
If Shen Yuan were human, he’d be smiling at the incredulous delight in Binghe’s voice.
“Really.”
Binghe wiggled in happiness, bounding out of the warmth of Shen Yuan’s tail to leap at his muzzle.
“Yes, yes yes!” Binghe cried. He seemed to be struggling to lick higher up Shen Yuan’s face so he transformed back into human form.
As soon as he’d transformed, Binghe tackled him, surprisingly strong for such a tiny body. Shen Yuan toppled over, caught of guard, and soon the tiny pup was slobbering all over his face.
Even if Binghe couldn’t communicate when Shen Yuan was in this form, that didn’t mean the ball of fluff could express its delight.
Despite the slobber all over him, Shen Yuan couldn’t bring himself to stop Binghe. Afterall, how could he deny such happiness?