725 That Sly Fox
Sunny day.
The old white fox, Bai Hu, sat and relaxed in his sloping chair, enjoying his exquisite and fragrant tea under the big umbrella that protected him from the sun. He happily sat and looked at Luo Xiangâs face that appeared on the surface of the water in the large basin right in front of him. he smiled.
âHeh, that stupid human, letâs see how long you are going to stay there. A man like you, how could you have such a cutie, a King of Realm, who was unexpectedly, so beautiful? Oh, this isnât fair, how come I canât have that much luck? And have to wait at this damn valley for eternity good. Unlucky!â
His eyes rolled up when he heard the thunder strike at the very bright sky.
âWhat, thatâs is the truth, right? Until when do you think you going to force labor me in here without giving me anything in return, except for the prettiest man on earth.â
He sips his tea, raises his pinky, and watches the basin with clear water and canât stop to smile.
Meanwhile, on the field. Bai Ying look so happy by running around and playing with rabbits and chicken and Bai Hu deliberately put them there to accompany him from his loneliness. And it turned out to be a great idea. Someone enjoys them more than he.
âHey, you guys are so cute. Look at your stomach, did you eat too much earlier? Look at your belly like this, hahahaâ Bai Ying couldnât help but laugh at the small white rabbit with a round belly from eating too much. Itâs impossible for a rabbit to be pregnant at such a young age, right?
Bai Ying carried a few cubs in his arms, soon the other rabbits followed suit as he walk carefully so as not to step on the other cubs in the vicinity, approached the cool tree area and sat down on a sticking-out root. The place is very beautiful and clean, with fresh air and a beautiful blue sky. Who wouldnât love it? Even though he didnât know whether the Crown Prince would be able to arrive before this night ended or not, he could only wait. Bai Ying believed, the Crown Prince would be able to find him soon before the day ended.
.....
Bai Hu, that sly White Fox, how could he trick people like this? If he didnât think their fate was in the hands of the old man he would have beaten him and asked him to show him the way out of the valley. But, he thought, he wouldnât be able to get out of there if it wasnât for the Crown Prince coming to get him. Was it just bluffing because he was lonely and needed a friend to accompany him there?
Bai Ying pursed his mouth. Well, how else, he will wait patiently there.
âHehe look at your feet, theyâre so dirty, where were you running around earlier?â
Meanwhile Bai Hu couldnât stop laughing. Look at the water where he could watch whatever the Crown Prince did.
âHahaha that guy is so hilariousâ
It had been ten days since Luo Xiang had come and gone from the White Fox forest outside of the White Fox Valley. Whether itâs helping the old man pull his shabby carriage. Carrying baskets belonging to grandmothers who fell on the way and finally send her homes. He hasnât managed to get back to the forest to look for Bai Ying, again, he was confronted by a group of buffalo that blocked the road, and had to help his herdsman pull the buffalo to his house. Which is very far from the forest. This is crazy, Luo Xiang thought, when will it all end?
A huge full moon hung above the clear ceiling over the valley of the White Fox. The moon was so big as if it was right above Bai Yingâs head who finally sat on a tree trunk alone, away from the sly white fox.
A gentle breeze caressed Bai Yingâs long hair, his light clothes waved down to the bottom of a tree trunk that was quite high from the ground. It was about twice as tall as his body and he managed to climb it because of his large and sturdy trunk. The bright moon showed his shining face with round eyes with curled eyelashes that looked far ahead, towards the big moon hanging right in front of him as if it had been put there on purpose.
Bai Ying took a deep breath. The moon is so big, like during the Lantern Festival in San Po or Xian Yang. The moon was huge and beautiful as if it were right above their heads. Bai Ying put his hand under his chin, thinking what if he couldnât keep his promise and return to Xian Yang in time to celebrate the Lantern Festival together?
What if he would end up staying there forever, or even not being able to see the Crown Prince again?
Em, wait, Bai Ying raised his head.
This was strange, why should he listen to the White Foxâs words? He could meet him anytime if he could get out of that place, right? He couldnât possibly lock her up there forever, that White Fox had no power to imprison a Realm King. He only bluffs him. He couldnât possibly keep him in there forever.
Bai Ying turned his head to look at the small, beautiful hut that was the blink of an eye at the edge of the waterfall. All this time he had lived there, and now he was sitting quietly enjoying music and poetry that had come from nowhere. Does he have a magical pet that plays music for him? Thatâs why Bai Ying didnât want to sleep in there too, it must be a ghost, he thought.
âUgly and cunning old fox. How could you trick me, is Ying er really a child that you can just scare?â Bai Ying cursed. And it seemed Bai Hu who was quite far away in his bright little hut heard it. He waved his hand and smiled coquettishly at Bai Ying.
âYoung man, I heard that you can get struck by lightning for swearing at an old man from above such a height, get down from there quickly, you can fall if you sleep there all nightâ
Bai Ying pursed his lips, averting his gaze.
âNo, there are ghosts in that house, who wants to sleep there, itâs more comfortable hereâ
Actually, he canât wait to enjoy his soft bed and bathe in flower water in his palace, the tree trunk is very uncomfortable. But at least it was much more comfortable than living with that old man in there.
But.
His stomach growled, even though he had just eaten the full course, of vegetables, and meat that the White Fox had served him this afternoon, donât ask where he got it from. And now that he was starving again, there should be a snack at this hour before he sleeps.
Bai Ying looked around him. What tree did he climb? Why canât you see any fruit there? He looked around until, through the dim moonlight, he saw something pink far away at the end of a stalk at the top. Those are fresh plums.
âWow, I got luckyâ
Excitedly, Bai Ying tried to get up from his seat. Holding on to the tree trunk to keep it from getting far he tried to head towards where some ripe plums were looking so tempting. It was a bit high up, and a bit in front of it, and he might have to tiptoe or at least climb over one of the other bars to get to it. It was too far for him, but, his hunger meant that he didnât think it was that hard.
âOh, why are you so far anywayâ
With utmost care, based on his experience climbing trees, which, never not to fall, Bai Ying should be able to get to the fruit no matter what. He was very hungry and now beyond the control of his own body controlled by a very hungry stomach.
âEh, a little moreâ
Bai Yingâs hand managed to grab another stalk at the top, and with his body slightly hanging down, he tried to grab a fruit that was slightly bigger than a fist with his other hand.
âJust a little moreâ and he did it. Bai Ying was so happy to have the fruit in his hand that he didnât mind that his foot missed the tree trunk when he released his grip.
âAhâ and inevitably Bai Yingâs body fell sliding from the top of a fairly high tree down.
âAh help me!â Bai Ying shouted loudly.
This was ridiculous, how could he such a great King of the Realm always fall from the top of the tree every time he climbed?
Bai Ying gave up as his body slid down rapidly until something grabbed him.
A ray of light from the moonlight flashed a clear face in the corner of Bai Yingâs eyes, which grabbed his body from below just before he hit the ground. Carrying him shot fast to stop not far in front of the tree with his two feet on the ground.
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