Work Text:
Shen Zechuan snapped his white fan shut as he casted his eyes upon the small form with blood trailing behind it. It was a little dirty fluff ball with its fur matted and dirt clinging to every inch of its body. He was certain it couldn’t even see him properly due to the dried-up blood sealing its eyes shut. Yet the small wolf pup struggled after him, it made low whines as it crawled towards him, its tail weakly wagging side to side.
Shen Zechuan sighed. He could be described with many words, including cruel, however, he wouldn’t allow a poor helpless wolf pup die in the woods, not when it had tried to follow him instead of seeking its pack. He eyed the long trail of blood that stained the snowy grounds from the wolf pup. It had been terribly injured, perhaps by something magical. He was almost certain that the wolf pup wasn’t in its healthy form. It was too much blood loss for an ordinary animal.
He lifted his hand and snapped his fingers. Instantly, the cold wind seemed to deviate from them, an invisible shield forming around the fox and in turn sheltering the wolf pup.
He crouched down and flailed his white sleeves, pulling his fur coat—made from the furs of those who dared to cross him—tighter around himself, he extended both of his hands at the wolf pup who continued to inch towards him.
“This fox shall offer you a deal, little wolf pup,” he paused and noticed how the wolf pup raised its head, its ears tilting forward as if capturing his voice, “You may come with me, but if you do, I’ll count every single little bit of time you spend with me and call it a debt. I’ll save your life and you’ll pay me back until I’m satisfied. Want to make a deal wolf pup? There’s no backing out if you refuse unless Heaven strikes you back for every minute you dare to waste of my precious time.”
The wolf pup showed no hesitation as it continued to whine and crawl to Shen Zechuan’s awaiting hands. It pulled itself through the snow, injured and blind, but into the warm flesh of another. It settled itself in his hands and made a low cry.
“Very well, wolf pup, may our time together keep me entertained.” Shen Zechuan stood up with the fluff ball in his arms. Its injuries began to leave red stains on the fox’s white robes. Shen Zechuan lowered his head while bringing the smaller canine’s head towards his red lips. With a low whisper, he spoke, “Remember your promise little wolf, I won’t let you go since you’ve willingly entered my hands.” With a flick of his white ears, he used a spell and transported them into his humble abode.
Although he called it humble, it was by no means a simple living space. It was a large courtyard that contained multiple buildings all carefully made, each with their own elegance. The courtyard was surrounded by high walls thick enough to defend against almost any intruder who didn’t know a word of magic. As for those who knew magic, they had better hoped they prepared enough spells to avoid retaliation from the courtyard’s owner. A fox who sported trickery had to be wary of his enemies.
Shen Zechuan walked into his courtyard, orange jasmine trees lined the walls and a pond in the center of the courtyard had clear flowing water. Shen Zechuan ignored the welcoming nature and entered the bathhouse where he placed the wolf pup into a wooden tub. With a wave of his hand, hot water begins to fill the tub from a rock that sits snug on the wall, a built-in magic tool. He pulled up his sleeves and began to rub the dirt and scum from the wolf pup. It was a slow and grueling process, with the wolf’s fur deep and long, even as a pup it was a task for Shen Zechuan. But at least the pup didn’t fight him, it allowed him to run his fingers through its fur and gently brush away the matted mess around its eyes. Yet it never opened its eyes, it simply licked at his fingers, occasionally making low cries if Shen Zechuan pulled too hard at a knot in its fur.
When Shen Zechuan was finished with the process, he wrapped it in a towel and proceeded to rub at its glistening black fur. He could have used a spell to instantly dry off the pup, but he enjoyed squishing the little thing in his hands. It made low whines when he was particularly rough around its ears and face, but made no move to bite its benefactor. A smart dog. Now that the wolf pup was clean, he noticed how it appeared so similar to a much larger and older wolf he knew. Shen Zechuan quirked a corner of his lips. He tossed the wet blanket to the side and poked the wolf pup on its nose.
“Open your eyes for me won’t you?”
It revealed a pair of moist dark eyes. Shen Zechuan smiled, he was even more convinced of the wolf pup’s origins. It had to be a pup from the Xiao Clan. With its distinctive pitch black fur and deep dark eyes, the wolf pup had to have originated from their pack. Not to mention, there was a suppressed underlying scent of magic that had lingered in the wolf pup’s blood. A familiar scent that gave the fox enough of an idea of the little wolf’s origins. Shen Zechuan’s white fox ears flicked in the air, as he brought the pup up so that they were face to face. How lucky was he! The Xiao Clan would surely owe him more once he made an official contract with a member of their family.
With a small smirk, he brought the dry wolf pup into his arms and carried him by his upper body so that his lower body dangled carelessly by his waist out of the bathhouse. He quickly walked through the courtyard until he was standing at the doors of his den. Even though he was a fox spirit, he was a fox. Every fox had to have their own den, a place of safety, rest, and most importantly privacy. He had debated leaving the little wolf outside in one of the guest bedrooms but none of his servants could watch over the small thing. He had them dismissed when he was in private seclusion, perhaps it was time to let them return. The courtyard was getting quite quiet.
“Little wolf, shall you spend a night with me?” Shen Zechuan asked with a careless smile upon his lips. One of his ears flicked forward, as he hugged the small thing into his chest and brought it into his safely enchanted quarters. “Be good.” He whispered into the pup’s ears. With one hand, he covered its eyes to which it immediately began whining only to be lightly shushed by the fox. “Little wolf pup, I can’t let you see the way to my bed, even if you’re just a pup, you are a wolf. I don’t fancy an attack by your pack with you leading the way.”
It was true. Shen Zechuan’s den appeared as an ordinary building from the outside, at most it was slightly more elegant than the others around it with its carefully painted walls and dashes of vegetation that dripped out of the windows and roof, but it hid the maze within it.
His den was made of six floors, four above ground, one below, and one that shifted to the fox’s wishes. Each floor had its own floor plan with numerous hallways and rooms created by the fox’s powerful magic. It had layers of traps and curses imbued into both ordinary, exquisite, and everything in between objects that were all enchanted to protect its master. However, Shen Zechuan had his bedroom, his most private floor, shifted to his liking. Unlike the other floors, it did not possess traps or curses, it was arguably not even a floor, but rather a room. A room that allowed Shen Zechuan to open any door and access his bedroom.
He made a few steps through his den, whisking himself quickly through the building, his steps leaving light pitters and patters as the wolf pup began to paw at the air. After about thirty seconds of random wandering, the fox opened a random door and entered his bedroom.
His bedroom was smaller than what one would believe one of the richest spirits in Dazhou to possess. After stepping through the door, you were greeted by an enormous window on the wall across. Depending on where his room was, the view changed. Typically, Shen Zechuan preferred to have it covered with blinds and thick fabrics to prevent the wind from entering his bedroom. The left wall was covered with a wide variety of books and in front of the shelves was a small desk with a neat stack of paper and ink. The right wall was split into two sections. One had a screen with a pattern of cherry blossoms, behind it was a wide variety of clothes. Most of them thick enough to keep him warm, but light enough that they didn’t restrict his movements, perks of magic. The other half of the right wall had a small entrance to his private bathroom, its entryway was blocked by long red clothes.
But the center of the room was the fox’s true masterpiece. There a circle was carved deeply into the floor like a bowl, it had a padded step that served as a brim, another step into the bowl would allow you to sit in the softest and fluffiest mattress. The “bed” was covered with dark blue fabrics and fluffy pillows covered the entire border. Countless blankets intertwined with each other creating a cascade of waves that mimicked the sea. It was warm, adaptable, and easily shifted with magic. Perfect for Shen Zechuan.
He placed the wolf pup into the center of his masterpiece and let out a small laugh when the pup looked at him confusedly.
“Explore.” He said as he walked towards the screen on the right of his room and removed his fur coat. With a few quick changes, he removed the rest of his outer clothes for sleepwear. He wore silky white baggy clothing that seemed to float around him. The clothing matched the color of his ears and tail.
After changing, he leaned down peering at the wolf pup that was having trouble walking on his bed. When it saw him, it let out a low whine as if begging for his attention. Shen Zechuan’s fox ear twitched, his tail slightly swaying behind him, as he stepped into his bed. He made a blind grab for one of the pillows and placed it under his head, then grabbed a blanket and buried himself into it. The wolf pup on shaky legs, approached his face, its black eyes glistening.
“Hm? Never slept without your pack before?” Shen Zechuan stretched out his hand and placed it around the pup’s cheeks and chin. “Should have searched for your pack then. Who told you to follow after a fox like me?”
The wolf pup began to slowly wag its tail.
Shen Zechuan gave it a hard look. He sent out a second hand and grabbed the puppy bringing it on top of his chest as he gazed at it. “Surely, you wouldn’t be a spy sent by the Xiao Clan hm?”
The wolf pup seemed to have a reaction when he said “Xiao Clan”, its tail began to wag a bit faster. Shen Zechuan rolled his eyes and held its tail still. “Little wolf pup, if you follow this fox, you belong to me. Don’t wag your tail for those you chose to leave.”
Shen Zechuan paused for a moment. “You know, I wonder who you belong to. Your fur is quite dark, so you must be close to the main family. Little wolf, are you some stray they took in? A normal wolf achieving cultivation? Or perhaps Xiao Fangxu had a little affair?” He laughed.
The wolf pup instantly growled.
“Don’t like me speaking of Xiao Fangxu hm?” He flicked the wolf pup on the nose, silencing it. “I’ll figure your origins later little wolf pup, the magic in your veins can’t be hidden forever.”
His eyes flashed. “And when I find out who you are, you’re going to be a good dog for me.” He patted its head with a feather-like touch. “Won’t you bark for me?”
The wolf pup stared at him innocently. Shen Zechuan flicked his wrist and the lights in the room went out. Without a care in the world, Shen Zechuan closed his eyes unaware of the wolf’s eyes that remained trained upon him until midnight where it fell asleep on top of his chest.
When morning arrived, the wolf pup blearily opened its eyes and spotted Shen Zechuan in the process of putting on his new robes. He revealed pale shoulders and arms, it was a shame the fox’s long black hair and snow white tail covers his back and nape.
The wolf pup, healthier than yesterday, jumped out of the fox’s bed and walked to Shen Zechuan’s snow-white legs where it took a playful nip at the fox’s ankles. It was about to go for a second nip when a tail covered its vision. The little wolf, unaware of the tail’s owner watching him, made an experimental nibble on the fox’s tail.
“Bad dog.” Shen Zechuan lightly slaps the wolf pup off his tail with his white fan. “Growling and biting your benefactor, how should I account for this?”
The wolf pup tilted its head at him and let out a small bark.
The fox covered his smile behind his fan. “No worries. I’m sure I’ll figure something.” He lifted his tail into the air so that the wolf pup couldn't use him as a chew toy unless it wanted to jump after him, which the wolf pup appeared to have no interest in. Instead, it followed after his heels as he left his room, not even paying attention to its surroundings. It simply followed after those two long legs that led them outside.
Outside of his den, two figures stood out in the courtyard awaiting their young master. Shen Zechuan greeted them cordially.
“Qiao Tianya, Fei Sheng.”
The two bowed to the fox.
Qiao Tianya pointed at the fluff ball staring at them vigilantly while sitting next to Shen Zechuan. “A wolf pup?”
Shen Zechuan lazily fanned himself, “Mm.”
Qiao Tianya squatted down and looked at the dark black thing. “He looks pure. The Xiao Clan had more pups than those two brothers?” He gave the pup another look ignoring the annoyance that began to boil in its eyes, then he looked up at Shen Zechuan who continued to lazily stare at him. “You didn’t kidnap Xiao Xun did you?” He looked at him with concern evident in his gaze.
The wolf pup let out an aggressive bark and tried to bite Qiao Tianya’s fingers who quickly stood up and avoided the pup’s bite.
“Definitely not Xiao Xun!” He bit back a smirk. “Xiao Xun isn’t as aggressive.” He tried to use one of his hands to pat the thing on its head.
Shen Zechuan smacked Qiao Tianya away on the head with his fan. “Stupid tiger, this obviously isn’t Xiao Xun. If it was, we would be hearing about the Xiao Clan burning the other clans down, this wolf,” his eyes narrowed, “Is someone unknown, but once the magic in his veins begins to run… I’ll know who is in my clutches for sure.”
Fei Sheng snorted. “Bless the poor wolf pup’s soul.” He looked at the ball of darkness that had returned to sitting right in front of Shen Zechuan’s feet. “He’s going to regret acting like a loyal dog for his new master soon.”
Shen Zechuan casted a steel gaze on him. “Do you have something to say to me?”
Fei Sheng straightened up. “Breakfast is ready. Should we prepare something for the wolf pup?”
Shen Zechuan waved a hand. “Unless you wish to take responsibility for starving a wolf of the Xiao Clan, you decide.”
The two bowed and disappeared out of the courtyard.
Shen Zechuan slowly began to walk towards one of the dining buildings. He had two, one larger one for the entertainment of guests and a second smaller one for daily usage. He steadily walked to the building, enjoying the peaceful scenery around him as the wolf pup trailed after him. His ears kept listening to the actions of the pup. It had gone from crawling to lively movement in the span of one night. It appeared the magic would soon reveal its owner. Shen Zechuan lightly frowned, he had to speed up the contract. He wasn’t willing to let such a chess piece that crawled to his lap go. It would be an utter waste.
He opened the door of the dining room with a swipe of his finger, revealing a warm interior made of an array of reds, oranges, and muddy yellows. In the center of the room, a table sat with a few steaming dishes. Shen Zechuan took his seat at the table so that he was facing the entryway. He gazed at the wolf pup that was no longer circling his legs but sniffing at the dishes on the table.
There was a small bowl of rice and two other small dishes for Shen Zechuan. One with vegetables and the other with some chopped-up pork ribs. The fox blew some air from his nose and glanced at the wolf pup, he lifted his hand and picked up the plate with ribs and placed them to the side of his feet. The pup gave him a curious look.
Shen Zechuan’s eyes narrowed into upturned crescent moons as he squinted. “Eat well little wolf.”
With his permission, the wolf pup dug into his meal while Shen Zechuan slowly consumed his own, watching as the wolf pup gorged itself on its meal. The fox’s tail swayed side to side as he watched him. He rhythmically tapped his fingers along the table, it was quite… relaxing dare he say watching the wolf pup enjoy itself without a care in the world.
There was a knock on the door. Shen Zechuan responded with a low hum and Fei Sheng entered the room carrying a gyrfalcon upside down by its legs. His other hand was holding its head, most importantly its beak, as far away from him as possible while the falcon flapped its large wings at him, beating his arms.
Shen Zechuan opened his fan and covered his lower face. He eyed the white bird with questions in his eyes. “Fei Sheng… why do you have a falcon of the Xiao Clan in your possession?”
The Xiao Clan was known to raise falcons. As a wolf pack, they were extremely collaborative with each other, as well as other animals. They were said to even tame horses. Falcons served as their eyes in the sky and horses for speed, as if running as wolves weren’t fast enough already. But he supposed it was a strategy, it was easier to feel the aura of a wolf than a horse after all.
Fei Sheng grimaced. He was certain he would have bruises on his arms tomorrow with how violent the bird was. “Saw it on my way while hunting for pheasants, it’s too close to Young Master’s courtyard to be a coincidence.”
Shen Zechuan nodded and looked at the wolf pup who was licking the plate clean. “Cook the pheasants, leave the falcon to me.”
Fei Sheng nodded and practically threw the falcon at the ground, as he quickly darted out the door leaving a ruffled falcon with its legs facing the sky, staring at Shen Zechuan who placed down his fan.
The wolf pup looked up from its plate, its pink tongue licking its snout clean. Shen Zechuan watched its actions from the corner of his eye and took out a handkerchief. He expertly pulled the pup onto his lap and held it up by its front paws and used his other hand to wipe at its mouth. “Little wolf, what sharp teeth you have.” He mused.
The wolf pup with its face getting scrubbed couldn’t respond to him and just made a low whine which Shen Zechuan laughed at. The eagle had picked itself up and shook its head a few times, causing white feathers to fall onto the wooden floor.
It made hesitant steps to the pair, looking more like a flustered chick than a majestic emperor of the skies. Shen Zechuan raised a single eyebrow looking at it, his ears twitching as its sharp claws drew shallow marks into the floor.
“A white bird of prey.” Shen Zechuan smiled and tilted his head. “Here to check on one of your own hm?”
The falcon inched closer. Its steps hesitant as if sensing the hidden scent of blood behind the fox. Shen Zechuan placed the wolf pup down after rubbing its face. He extended an arm toward the falcon, “Come.”
The white bird took a few more experimental steps to Shen Zechuan before flapping its wings and landing on the fox’s arm. The two pale white creatures met eye to eye, leaving a black wolf pup circling Shen Zechuan’s legs alone.
Suddenly, Shen Zechuan broke their eye contact. He lifted his other hand and stroked the eagle’s head. “You are permitted to stay. Don’t sell out this fox or I’ll use your feathers to stuff my pillows.”
The falcon gave an affectionate rub on his fingers before leaving his arm and landing on the floor next to the wolf pup. The falcon stood taller than the wolf pup, which Shen Zechuan hid a snicker at.
The wolf pup gave a fake bite at the bird, which had it fluttering away to sit on the dining table. The wolf pup wandered around under the table trying to find a way up, which Shen Zechuan delightfully watched for several minutes before Fei Sheng returned with a chopped-up and roasted pheasant.
“Roasted pheasant.” Fei Sheng muttered as he quickly placed the dish on the table avoiding the gaze drilling into him from the raptor. “Young Master, are you going to keep the falcon?”
Shen Zechuan stroked the snow-white bird’s beak. His pale fingers a direct contrast to its grey bodied then black-tipped beak. “I shall.”
His eyes fell upon the wolf pup who had stopped trying to climb the table leg but chose to rest right by his legs. He lowered his tail, allowing the tip to tickle the wolf pup’s snout. Then, he playfully jerked his white tail up, just out of reach. “I believe the wolf pup will find company with one of his pack’s companions.”
Fei Sheng nodded. “Shall Qiao Tianya and I watch the Xiao Clan?”
“No hurry. Let them come to me.”
The servant bowed and excused himself from the room.
Shen Zechuan glanced at the plate of meat. As he reached for the plate, his fingernails lengthened, becoming a formidable set of claws. He easily tore the meat apart and carelessly tossed chunks at the wolf pup and falcon in turns until the entire plate dwindled into nothing.
The falcon who had eaten its fill began to preen its feathers, surprisingly it had been quite an elegant eater–Shen Zechuan did feed it smaller pieces that fit perfectly into its mouth–and avoided any large stains on its beak. Shen Zechuan’s eyes shifted toward the wolf pup who dirtied himself again. He let out a breath of air and lazily glanced at his sauce-stained fingers.
“You two are the first this Young Master has ever fed, you best treasure this moment.”
He got up and opened the door with magic, an eagle and wolf following after him. He walked towards the pond in the middle of the courtyard where he sank his slender fingers into its clear water. He wiggled his fingers a couple of times in the water cleaning off the stains.
When his fingers were spotless, he flicked off the droplets and rubbed his hands dry on his white sleeves. “White falcon, won’t you go flying? Won’t you go stretch your wings?”
The falcon stared at him for a few seconds. The fox’s ear twitched. It immediately shot itself into the sky, disappearing into the clouds.
Shen Zechuan glanced at the wolf pup at his feet. “It’s time to make a contract little wolf.”
He brought them both into his den, but instead of leading the wolf pup through the maze, he led them to a stairwell where both of them ascended until they reached the top of the tower. The top floor was more of a roof than an enclosed space. There were four pillars that held a roof above and no walls. Instead, at the peak, you could see frost-covered land stretch for miles with leafless trees creating a natural barrier around the fox’s courtyard.
The fox pulled the fur coat closer to him. He smiled at the wolf pup and gestured at a fire pit that sat in the center of the tower. “Little wolf pup, you’ll be mine won’t you?”
The wolf pup stared at him with its innocent eyes.
The fox tilted its head and flicked its tail. A fire began to burn within the pit. Shen Zechuan picked up the wolf pup and approached the warm flames. With clawed fingers, he drew a wound on the pup’s arm, earning a low whine. Shen Zechuan lifted the wolf pup’s paw over the flame and squeezed a single drop of blood into the ravenous blaze. He stroked his finger over the small cut and it sealed itself shut.
He pressed his face into the wolf pup’s ears. “As your Young Master, I shall shed two drops of blood for you, little wolf pup.” He whispered. “If you betray me, I’ll make you into a fur coat.”
He held the wolf pup in one arm and brought his free wrist to his lips. With his eyes trained on the wolf pup, he bit his pale wrist, then casted a seductive smile, pink tongue licking the corner of his lips. The pup watched him raise his hand over the flame, two droplets of blood clung onto that pale hand, quivering like autumn leaves about to drop from their branches.
The wolf pup watched, eyes focused, ears forward, as the blood slipped through the air into the flame.
The fire appeared to roar to life. Its fiery red hue transformed into a pitch-black flame as the fire consumed the droplets of blood.
“Lang-zai.”
A voice whispered as the flames burst. The black flame transformed into a howling navy blue, nearly black, wolf with sparkling blue eyes the color of the ocean that slowly uncurled itself from a second smaller flame. The second flame was white with dazzling red ruby eyes with the figure of a fox. It seemed to stretch itself before staring at its much larger companion. Both flames glanced at their physical counterparts before sprinting into the air, the heat from their forms blasting Shen Zechuan’s hair wildly behind him. His eyes sparkled as he watched the two animals launch themselves into the air.
But the wolf never saw the flames enter the sky, he was focused on the wild smile of the fox. The red highlights that seemed to form around the corners of his eyes. The white fox ears that swayed from the force of the two animals combining into a comet to find their place amongst the stars. That nape which begged him to bite it so.
The wolf was completely utterly enthralled by the beauty of the fox.
Shen Zechuan smiled. He reached his hand into the fire pit left without a fire. The wolf pup watched curiously as that hand pulled out a chain.
“Lang-zai,” the fox whispered, “You are my Lang-zai.”
The thin gold piece was made of countless tiny interlocked chains, with careful movements, Shen Zechuan single-handedly placed the chain around the wolf pup’s neck.
A long tail for the chain made its way around Shen Zechuan’s right wrist, which he strung through his fingers. He maneuvered the wolf pup so that it met him, eye to eye.
“Did you know dog chains were originally used to leash wolves? I’ve put a chain around your neck. For each bark you make, I’ll yank it once.”
The wolf pup stared at him with steel in its eyes.
Shen Zechuan stroked its head affectionately. “Lang-zai, Lang-zai,” he repeated like a beauty acting coquettishly with her lover, “You won’t let anyone else call you this won’t you?”
The wolf pup gave him a lick on his fingers.
“My Lang-zai.”
Their trip back down the tower was uneventful. Granted the wolf pup still toyed around with its chain, curious of how it worked. Shen Zechuan waved his fan as he watched the pup wander around him, clearly testing the limits of the chain.
“Do you want to run?” The fox asked when they arrived back at his courtyard. The wolf pup wagged its tail in response.
Shen Zechuan raised his hand to his lips and gave a light blow. The chain shimmered away from fox and wolf, setting the wolf pup free to rush into the courtyard.
Qiao Tianya pounced down from a nearby building’s roof. His white tiger ears slightly twitched when he stood up. “Young Master,” he greeted.
Shen Zechuan nodded. “You don’t need to tell me. I know who he is.”
Qiao Tianya snickered, earning a displeased look from the fox. “I scouted the Xiao Clan. Their ferocious wolf pup is missing.”
“He isn’t missing.”
“Their wolf pup has merely chosen to follow a new master.”
Qiao Tianya let out a breath of air. “You know wolf packs don’t work like that. Especially not wolf packs with an alpha like Xiao Fangxu.”
Shen Zechuan stared at the wolf pup who seemed to have been injected with excitement as it ran circles in the yard.
“Even with Xiao Jiming heading the hunts, Xiao Fangxu is the one the pack answers to.”
“You think the wolf pup will follow his father instead of his Young Master?”
Qiao Tianya shrugged, tiger tail waving behind him. “You never know.”
Shen Zechuan frowned. As if sensing the fox’s displeasure, the wolf pup came bounding over.
“Don’t get attached.” Qiao Tianya warned.
Shen Zechuan picked up the wolf pup into his arms. It gave small licks to his fingers. Their eyes met as Shen Zechuan spoke each word softly. “I won’t.”
Several days passed and one particularly warm afternoon in the winter had Shen Zechuan sunbathing while Fei Sheng and Qiao Tianya tossed a stick around for the wolf pup to fetch.
The white falcon sat in a tree nearby, its eyes trained on the wolf pup who tumbled in the yard.
“Young Master,” Fei Sheng tossed the stick. “When do you think the wolf pup will remember who he is?”
Shen Zechuan lazily opened one eye. “He will when he is ready.”
“Young Master wants him to humiliate himself a few more times before he regains his memory.” Qiao Tianya added.
Fei Sheng faked a wince. “Poor wolf pup.”
Shen Zechuan closed his eyes briefly. “It’s a warm day, heat up water for my bath.”
The two servants bowed and left.
Shen Zechuan remained in the sun, letting its warm rays heat his pale skin. A nudge on his foot brought him out of his thoughts. The black mass of fur held a stick in its mouth and steadily wagged its tail.
“Lang-zai, you want to play?”
Shen Zechuan took the stick from its mouth and threw it. He watched the wolf pup chase after the stick. The wolf pup had gotten larger, a few days ago it was slightly taller than his ankles, about half as tall as his calves, but now it was a little taller than his knees. The wolf’s magic was recovering.
Shen Zechuan was certain it would remember everything soon. However, he wasn’t certain on how he should feel about that, it had been peaceful falling asleep with a companion, the nightmares heated away from him.
His ears twitched when he noticed the bathhouse was ready. He stood up, his robes swaying behind him as he walked away. The wolf pup dropped the stick it was biting and ran towards him. So together, a wolf pup and a fox entered the bathhouse.
Unlike the first time, Shen Zechuan brought them to a different part of the bathhouse. He quietly led the pup to a hot spring. The area was enclosed and steam rose periodically covering the scenery from any prying eyes.
Shen Zechuan ignored the wolf pup as he walked towards a smooth spanse of rock. He lifted his hands and slowly took off the material. His movements were slow as he peeled off the fur coat, then he slowly shifted the pale silver outer cloth with the emblems of lotuses from his form. His white fox ears twitched and his tail slowly swayed, as his pale hands stopped at his shoulders. Shen Zechuan smirked to himself, his back was facing the wolf, but he knew where it was looking. He lifted the robes at his shoulders, then he dropped them. Instantly the fabric slid down his upper arms and pooled around his legs. His long black hair and smooth white tail blocked the wolf’s eyes from his behind, but it did nothing to hide his long slender arms and legs. With a slight shake of his head, his black hair cascaded around his back revealing a pale white nape. Shen Zechuan lowered himself, folding up the robes neatly and slowly, his tail dragging along the floor as if begging to be caught. The fox stood up and without peering over his back, he tossed his robes into the wolf’s face, blocking its vision.
The wolf pup growled when the white material landed on its snout. It shook its head and backed up to see the fox peacefully soaking in the pool of water. He had his sparkling silver eyes trained upon it, with only the upper half of his face above the misty water. The wolf pup gave an annoyed bark at him, which the fox responded with a flick of his ears.
The fox tilted back his head, revealing a pale white throat. “Lang-zai.” He breathed out. He lowered his head, so his eyes remained on the wolf. He stretched a thin arm out of the water to the spring’s edge and curled his fingers, beckoning for the wolf. “Lang-zai.”
The wolf pup scrambled to him as if under a spell. It ignored how its body seemed to grow once more, its size enlarging so that if it stood it would just be slightly lower than Shen Zechuan’s hip. No, it was currently focused on the redness of the fox’s eyes. His voice that begged to be silenced. His pale unblemished skin that needed the markings of a lover’s fingerprints and bites.
Shen Zechuan danced in the water, as fluid as a fish, he backed away deeper and deeper into the water. His soft laughs draw the wolf further and further into the epitome of seduction. The wolf chased after him into the water, its paws batted the water, yet it never came close enough to reach the figure that escaped his jaws. Shen Zechuan swam around him, inching closer and farther with every breath, his black hair dragging through the water.
“Lang-zai.”
The tips of the fox’s eyes curled. The white steam surrounded the fox, and he disappeared under the spring. The wolf pup anxiously whined. Then he felt his body soar into the air, his paws touching smooth skin, as his face was smothered into a thin chest.
The fox looked down at him, ears playfully twitching. “Did you miss me?”
The wolf pup stared at him.
Shen Zechuan gave a fox’s smile. They soaked in the spring together for a few hours. The fox closed his eyes and rested along the wall, the wolf followed its master and closed its eyes. They remained together in tranquility until Shen Zechuan decided he wanted both of them to dry off. He ushered the wolf pup to the spring’s edge. “Go.”
The wolf pup gave him a hard stare. Its deep eyes full of distrust. The fox merely made a small smile and turned around, disappearing into the mist.
“Little wolf?” Qiao Tianya’s voice came from outside the bathhouse. “Little wolf?”
The black wolf gave a huff of annoyance and exited the bathhouse, his claws making deep clicking sounds on the wood floors.
Qiao Tianya stared at the dripping wolf who exited the bathhouse. It was far larger than before with its thicker pelt and broader form. A sign of its juvenility, perhaps it would become an adult soon. Qiao Tianya frowned at that thought.
“Alright not that little anymore.” He said while the wolf took a few steps closer. “Smells like wet dog.” Qiao Tianya wrinkled his nose.
The wolf bared its teeth at him.
Qiao Tianya shrugged, tail lashing around behind him.
“Right right, bite the servant, I’m sure the Young Master won’t mind you stinking.”
With quick movements, Qiao Tianya dried off the wolf with a mixture of magic and rough towel work. The wolf let out a breath and lay down on the wooden floor. Qiao Tianya glanced at it from the corner of his eye. “You know, the Young Master seems happier with you around.”
The wolf didn’t respond, but its ears were raised, a tell-tale sign of its attention.
Qiao Tianya stretched, shoulder muscles stretching. “I don’t know when you’ll recover your memories, Second Young Master, but on behalf of my Young Master, I hope you won’t leave him.”
“Even with me and Fei Sheng, he is lonely.” Qiao Tianya looked down at his calloused hands. “He was in seclusion before you came, recovering from invisible wounds. Don’t look at how he carelessly uses magic, he’s using it every second of the day to maintain this courtyard.”
The wolf stared at him, head on top of its paws.
“The Young Master needs to rest.” Qiao Tianya glanced at the entryway of the courtyard. “I know you made a contract with him. Honor it.”
A sharp whistling called for the wolf. It rose to its feet and rushed towards the fox’s den, whether it understood Qiao Tianya’s words or not was unknown.
The moment the wolf stood in front of the fox’s door, the entrance opened, and the wolf stepped into the fox’s bedroom, the door whisking shut behind it.
Shen Zechuan sat by the window, blinds open, wind brushing through his long black strands of hair like a willow tree. He was only wearing his inner clothes, clothing obviously not thick enough for the cold night. But he seemed immune to it like an immortal watching the world from the room, Shen Zechuan was untouchable.
“Little wolf pup.”
The wolf walked to him. It placed its head on his thighs. Shen Zechuan rubbed the area where the wolf’s ears met its head with his left hand. Without a glance, he spoke, “Your falcon has left to the Xiao Clan. It will communicate with its brothers and sisters, soon they will come for me.”
The fox closed his eyes. “I won’t be able to stop them. Nor will I attempt to.” He opens his eyes, an emptiness within them. He opened his hand, a snowflake sitting in his palm. “Little wolf pup, your family calls for you.” He closed his hand into a fist, crushing the delicate art of ice. “Do you hear them?” He asked.
But his heart asked a different question. Will you leave me? The words of the heart were said to be the hardest to say, especially for foxes who relied on their glib tongues to protect their fragile lives.
Shen Zechuan rose to his feet and turned around, the blinds snapping shut behind him. The candles in the den disappeared leaving the room in complete darkness. Shen Zechuan trudged to his bed and laid within it, his pale skin a direct contrast to its dark covers. The golden chain materialized around his right hand and the wolf’s neck. He tugged.
The wolf fell into his bed. Shen Zechuan stroked its fur in the darkness. The midnight locks that he curled around his fingers, blindly grabbing and stroking, setting off little sparks of fire throughout the wolf’s body. But tonight, Shen Zechuan wasn’t seeking to provoke it. He simply wanted, yearned, desired for a companion. Someone he wouldn’t have to reason with, a kindred soul that would accompany him if they go wild with abandon.
Shen Zechuan maneuvered the wolf so that it served as his pillow. “Lang-zai.” He whispered to the wolf and to the wolf alone. He closed his eyes.
In the darkness, when Shen Zechuan’s breathing had evened, the wolf began to stir. It raised its head, then looked at the body snuggled against its pelt. Both of the fox’s hands had bunched around his fur, his form facing towards the wolf, trying to absorb his heat.
The wolf slowly shifted, his movements light. His transformation was subtle, if you blinked you would have missed the change from wolf to man. The large fur Shen Zechuan grasped became what it was, a large fur coat meant to act as extra warmth for the wolves of Libei who ran ferociously through the northern mountains. But underneath the fur coat, strong muscular legs slowly stretched out from the blanket. Large hands left the shadows of the coat and gently maneuvered the fox, tilting the fox’s head to lean on a pillow he had managed to blindly stumble upon in the enormous bed. An angular face peeked from the coat, predatory eyes lingering on the vulnerable throat of the fox. His lips slightly parted as he let out a breath, his eyes focused on the microscopic movements of the fox. His eyes traced over each of the fox’s little twitches and gasps. The fox shifted in the darkness, his hands loosening their hold on the coat. The fox let out a low whine, his ears twitching, his body began to curl into himself. The male lightly sighed, he pulled the fur coat over them and pulled the fox into his arms. His movements stilled when he felt soft ears and a smooth cheek make contact with his chest. He relaxed only after feeling the fox soften his tense body. Until the fox began to nuzzle his chest. Shen Zechuan was rubbing his face across his bare chest.
The wolf would be lying if he said he didn’t want to bite into that small form that had presented himself to him. He was not a gentleman, he was not a man. He couldn’t help it, he used one hand to tilt the fox’s head up and leaned down. Their lips were so close, he could feel the soft exhales, but at the last moment, he pulled himself back.
He took a deep breath of air. His steel-grey eyes watched the rise and falls of the fox’s back. He slowly reluctantly twisted himself out of the sweet clutches of the fox. With quiet steps, he left the bed and approached the large window. He lifted one of the blinds, allowing a single ray of moonlight to penetrate the room. The sight that greeted him was the snow-covered forest, the same sight he had seen when he had been forced to transform into his child form to conserve his magic. But unlike before where he had been in the midst of bloodshed and anguish, the snow today was pure white with nothing but serene quietness.
His black ears flicked, his large pitch dark bushy tail swayed behind him. It would be easy to leave. All he had to do was… His thoughts paused. He could leave the fox and the courtyard behind, it would be easy, but he looked over his shoulder at the slumbering form of the fox. If he left, he would likely never see the fox again.
Shen Lanzhou. The last of the vulpine blood. He was a lonely star in the world. Too immortal to walk amongst their wars, but mortal enough to perish in their wars. His father had joined one of the wars, his life lost when he burned himself alive. Unlike his father, Shen Lanzhou did not involve himself in their affairs, but he remained aware. Even if none had ever seen his face, he was known to slay any who dared to cross him. The fox of a thousand faces is who left a trail of blood in his wake. Shen Lanzhou.
It was pure luck for him to stumble across the white-furred fox. It was pure mercy for the fox to take a wolf pup to his home. To allow him to slumber in his chambers. To care for him who was immature and would have torn out the fox’s throat had their positions been reversed. Did he dare to let this beauty slip from his fingers? The male covered his face with his palms, he took a deep breath. He had to leave. He needed to return to his pack. But one little last look wouldn’t hurt, his black eyes traced over the curves of the fox who continued to hold onto his fur coat. He was delicate, a single soul in their boundless world.
“Goodbye little fox.” He whispered into the darkness and slipped himself through the blinds into the wilderness.
A few heartbeats after the wolf left, Shen Zechuan sat up from his bed. He stared at the open blinds letting both the wind and moonlight into his room. He carried the black fur coat in his arms, stumbled towards the window, and peered at his empty courtyard. The wolf long gone into the woods.
He shook his right hand. A dim gold chain appeared in his clawed hands. He smiled with liquid crystals in his eyes. His ears flattened against his head and his tail drooped. He dropped the chain from his hand.
“Did you know dog chains were originally used to leash wolves? I’ve put a chain around your neck. For each bark you make, I’ll yank it once.” He whispered into the wind. “You’ve barked for me once, but this fox is merciful. I won’t yank you back. Go home Ce’an.”
He stared at the moon, moisture glistening in his eyes, the corners red against his pale skin. “Our contract is finished. You’ve paid your debts, Lang-zai.
The fox closed his eyes. The wind hummed around his ears. Abruptly, his eyes snapped open, then narrowed. “It seems I have a few nightly visitors.”
The woods were not silent tonight.
The enormous black wolf bounded through the land. Every stride sent deep marks into the snow, as he threw himself into his sprint. The ink-black branches of the trees bounced off his pelt, as he charged through their arms that seemed to stretch towards him, a reminder of the fox who had mystified the dead forest around him. The fox was powerful, his magic permeating more than just his courtyard. The wolf speculated the entire mountain had been transformed into a living, breathing, piece of the fox’s territory. Why else had the strikes of the branches felt more like the fox’s strokes? Why had the wind never blown frost into his eyes? How could he find his way so easily down a mountain that countless others lost their lives upon?
The fox was letting him leave.
He gazed at the moon. She was one of the sources of the Xiao Clan’s magic. Her moonlight rejuvenated their blood, allowed them to cross the lines of beast and man. She had blessed him with strength while ascending into her fullest form. Tonight he was at his strongest, yet he felt weak. He had never confronted the fox, never given him his thanks. He froze, halfway transforming into his human form. He raised a clawed hand towards his neck. His claws gently pinched the rapidly rusting metal. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
The scent of frost and sharp air. The scent of blood. Familiar blood. Sweet blood. Blood he had never tasted yet distinctively recognized from his second day with the fox. Blood that had been spilt without his permission.
The transformation was instant. His howl a symbol of death. He ran, faster than he ever had in his twenty-three winters, to the courtyard. He was unwilling to witness the demise of the fox. Branches whipped across his pelt, ice sliced at his snout, but none of it mattered. He had to see the fox.
His arrival was nothing short of blood. The courtyard was in flames, countless bodies strewn across the ground. Ravenous flames ate the few buildings and transformed the orange jasmine trees into beacons of fury. The wolf bit madly into his enemies. His thick pelt protected him from their swords and magic. The moon was watching him tonight, he would not lose a drop of blood. His claws and teeth destroyed nameless faces, his tail strong enough to shatter bone with a single swing.
In battle, he made contact with a man with scales on his skin, Fei Sheng, who shot him a look of approval. The wolf waved his tail in acknowledgment, then proceeded to shred his enemies.
The wolf returned to protect his fox.
He looked at the top of the den, where a single white figure seemed to be battling tens of men in black.
He released a battle-hardened howl. He prepared to pounce up the rooftops to his destiny. Then something crashed into his side, which he threw back with a sway of his steel-like form.
His crazed grey eyes met blue feline ones. A white tiger stood in his path, growling at him. The tiger was smaller than him, the wolf pup had grown to his matured form. The Xiao Clan’s blood running through his system to make him stronger and larger than the rest. He snapped his jaws at the tiger, making it heel as he ascended the building. His steps made roof tiles scrape and clatter to the ground as he scrambled higher and higher.
He would never be prepared for the sight that greeted him on the roof of the den. Twenty bodies were haphazardly slain with some missing limbs and others with a clean line across their throat around the fox.
His clean white-robed fox was no less of a beauty than before. However, his robes had become a painting of red plum blossoms in snow. His eyes were steel as he gazed at his last opponent. But none of this caught the wolf’s attention. His fox had nine tails. Nine long luscious tails that danced behind him menacingly. His white tails were soaked in blood, doubtless had the fox used his own flesh as a shield with the appearance of scars and wounds across all nine. But the fox himself seemed ignorant of his own blood mixing with the distasteful blood of his enemies.
Shen Zechuan made eye contact with him. He smiled, that stupid smile that made Xiao Chiye’s heart race, that smile that said he was fine. That stupid beauty treated Xiao Chiye like he couldn’t see the moisture in his eyes. The shaking of his form, the blood loss, the tiredness from casting so much magic.
Shen Zechuan struck his clawed hand through the last enemy, pulling out their still-beating heart.
“Why did you come back? You repaid your part of the contract long ago.”
Xiao Chiye shifted into his clothless human form. Shen Zechuan’s eyes softened as he traced over his facial features, then his broad shoulders, and even below. The fox was in a miserable condition, no less bloody than when Xiao Chiye had first appeared before him.
Xiao Chiye barked out a laugh. Even when the fox was spent, he was trying to strike up a flame. A little seductress to the very end.
“I have nothing for you.” Shen Zechuan squinted and tilted his head to the side, breaking eye contact. He glanced at the fire pit they had used to create their contract. He took slow purposeful steps to it. He held his hand over the small blue flame, then closed a fist. Plop .
“Did it help?” Xiao Chiye took a few strides forward and met him in the center, then he forcefully yet gently held the fox by his chin to gaze into his eyes. “My pelt, did it help?”
Shen Zechuan’s eyes shifted downward at the blood-stained pelt that pooled around his legs. His nine tails lowered themselves, no longer maintaining his fake bravado. “It’s dirty.”
Xiao Chiye let go of his chin. He pulled the fur coat off the ground and stretched it around them, covering more of Shen Zechuan than himself. The fox had always been more sensitive to the cold than him.
“Rest.” He commanded.
Shen Zechuan’s eyes darted beyond Xiao Chiye at the carnage around his courtyard. “It’s dirty.”
Xiao Chiye brought his arms around the smaller male and held him into his chest. “Rest.”
Shen Zechuan’s eyes glistened as he stared at him. “It’s dirty.” His ears flattened. “I need it clean. Teacher won’t like it dirty. Teacher won’t like it dirty. Teacher won’t like it dirty.”
Shen Zechuan’s claws began to scratch at Xiao Chiye who tightened his hold on him. “We can clean it tomorrow.”
“Now.” Shen Zechuan looked desperate with his hair stuck to his forehead from sweat. His nails dug into Xiao Chiye’s arms. “Now.” He emphasized.
Xiao Chiye frowned. “You need to rest.”
But Shen Zechuan couldn’t hear him, his eyes were misty, his movements irregular, disjointed. “The. Courtyard. Must. Be. Clean.” He attempted to break out of Xiao Chiye’s hold, body thrashing against him.
Xiao Chiye kept a firm hold over the smaller male, until he lost his grip, sending him forwards when he stumbled. Plop . The man disappeared from his arms, like grasping air, a fox jumped from him.
The fox was pure white, under silver moonlight, he glowed like pure jade. Pale, molten silver eyes gazed back at him, while nine tails languidly floated around his form, their tips stained red.
The fox slowly blinked, before his tails shot open like a flower blooming.
Xiao Chiye lifted his hands to block the sharp wind. A whirlpool of magic formed with the fox at its center, it felt like an eternity yet less than a second, a smoke spread around the entire courtyard before vaporizing. The courtyard was clean. Shen Zechuan lay on the ground, eyes closed, with all of his tails splayed around his form.
A single drop of blood slid into the fire pit. The blue flame dimmed.
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
Shen Zechuan slowly opened his eyes. The room was a dim yellow, his blinds down yet unable to keep the sunset from bleeding into his room. He lifted his snout only to come in contact with a mass of black fur. He let out a snort, his eyes scanned his surroundings, he appeared to be in his bedroom.
A deep rumbling caused his ears to flick. He glanced up and crossed eyes with a wolf. The wolf stared at him for a few seconds before giving him a wet lick across the face. Shen Zechuan hissed at him and buried himself into the wolf’s chest, the wolf let out an amused growl and placed his head on top of him. The two snuggled into one another, their fur brushing against each other, a reminder of the lost shell of solitude.
If Shen Zechuan’s nine tails tangled with the wolf’s, then no one had to know.
When Shen Zechuan woke up again, it was pure darkness. Only a few slivers of silver light peeked into his cozy room. He wasn’t a fox anymore, nor was Xiao Chiye a wolf. Shen Zechuan pulled his white fur coat closer to himself, he glanced at the black fur the other male had across his shoulders.
Xiao Chiye was holding him by his waist, his warmth a reminder of how Shen Zechuan was still alive.
“Why did you come back? Couldn’t bear to leave me?”
Xiao Chiye smiled deviously. He leaned towards Shen Zechuan invading all of his territory. He licked his lips and opened his mouth. A hot breath of air made contact with Shen Zechuan’s lips. “Woof.”
Shen Zechuan gazed at him, then lifted his right hand. A gold chain materialized in his hand, he followed the gold line up to Xiao Chiye’s neck.
The man continued to speak in a husky voice. “ Dog chains were originally used to leash wolves.” He stared directly at Shen Zechuan, his arms held down the latter’s wrists, “I want to put a gold chain around your neck too. For each word you say, I’ll yank it once.”
He released his wrists and placed one hand behind his nape, the other to his waists, and kissed him. Their mouths collided and they licked and nipped at each other. Tails intertwined, legs tangled, hands gripped each other as if they were each other's driftwood in the sea.
“Won’t you keep a stray dog?” Xiao Chiye whispered, his hand fondling a white ear.
Shen Zechuan smirked. “Bark for me.”