Hu Li care for Hei the whole night. Yang Yang is afraid of this strange person who smells bad. His clothes are not wash for a long time thus he smell bad. Hu Li strip him and ask Yang Yang to go wash his clothes. She cover his lower part of the body with her tail like a blanket. Through out the night, they stay quietly in the barn. Yang Yang hanging up the wet clothes after a good wash. She curl up in the corner and sleep.
In the middle of the night, Hei morph back to his fox form. His fur is dark and shining and his paws are sparkling like as if there are diamonds on it. His ears are less furry, it is long and pointy. In the middle of his forehead, there is a symbol of water. He only have a long bushy tail that sparkles at the tip. Hu Li pick him up into her arms and cuddle him like a child. Till the sunrises, he still remains in the same state. Hu Li pack up his clothes which are dry. She put him in it and carry the bundle of clothes. Together with Yang Yang they continue to walk. Fortunately they don't get hungry nor thirsty. Occasionally at some creeks, they use the water there to refresh their faces Hu Li also use the water to refresh Hei and check his condition. Sometimes he open his eye slightly and close back. Most of the time he sleeps.
Hu Li stop walking when they reach a long stretch of road with carriages lining up to get in the main gate. She realise that her son have enter the county where she used to live with Sheng Qin. Yang Yang wonder how are they able to go in since there are men with spears standing guard. Hu Li brings Yang Yang to a corner where they can slip in without being notice.
Inside they walk around. Everything is different. Everyone is staring at they as they walk pass. Her feet brings her to the first house that he originally lived in. Now there is another family living inside. She walk to the second house, the wooden tablet that hangs high on the front main door still says 'the house of Yue'. She peek inside, there seems to be no one walking about. It very quiet in there.
"If you are here to visit Lord Yue, he is not here."
Hu Li turn around to see an old man standing beside her with a basket of fruits.
"Where is everyone?"
"Everyone? I am not sure. Most of the servants left. Only a few of them are around.Lord Yue doesn't live here anymore. He now lives in the capital city. Four hours walk from here."
"He is a Lord now..."
"Yes since he marry that princess, his status moves up. His son is a duke soon, i heard."
"He have a son..."
Hu Li feels disappointed yet this i s the truth. She thank him and walk away. Yang yang follow closely behind.
"Let's try to find them and go home."
Yang Yang nod her head. They walk around with Hu Li sniff around. She is sure that he is around this county. While walking around, someone rush up to her.
"Master!"
That familiar voice, it's Meng Lan. She did not change however her dressing is not as lavish as before.
"Meng Lan!"
"Master come! Come to my tavern! There is food and rooms for you to stay."
"Will i effect your ..."
"No master! Come, there is so much we can talk about."
Hu Li agree and they come to her business establishment. Although it is at the far end corner, it seems like it did not effect her business. It is rather busy. She is still the good luck cat of this county.
Meng Lan show them to a big private room.
"Even though we don't need food. I still have to order something. If not my workers will find it strange. Wait for me."
She head down stairs and order simple dishes and get the key to the private room for them. While Hu Li in the private room, she unwrap to check Hei. He is still sleeping. Yang Yang shiver when she takes a look at him however Hu Li encourage her to stroke his fur. Yang Yang refuse to touch him but Hu Li keep pushing it. She finally use her middle finger and stroke his forehead. Surpassingly it feels nice to do that. She smile as she watch him sleep.
"He is a nice person... no wait. He is a nice fox. He doesn't harm the innocent. You are an innocent girl. He won't harm you. Don't be afraid of him."
Yang yang bleat softy and continue to stroke his head. After awhile Hu Li walk to the bed and put him down. She pull down the curtains and walk back to table. While Yang Yang is smelling the flowers at the corner and wants to take a bite at it. Hu Li pretend to cough and look at her. Yang Yang sheeply walk back and sit down. Hu Li pour tea into a cup and ask her to try it. All her life she have been drinking water. She have to drink tea to blend in with the humans in this county. Yang Yang drink it but spit it out. She stick her tongue out and bleat softy. Just then the door open and Meng Lan walk in. Behind her is her worker with some dishes. After he put it down, he close the door. They hear the foot steps of him going downstairs.
"Don't worry about people coming up here. This is the only room on this floor. Hence no one will come up unless you request room cleaning. The workers will come up here."
"Meng Lan, this is own by you?"
"Yes. I am the owner now. Meow!"
Yang Yang is surprise that she bleat. Hu Li giggle.
"My owner have pass away a few years after you left. The spiritual animals along with you are gone too. So i was alone for a long time. I decided to open this tavern with the gold nuggets i have."
"How did you manage to get through the government official documents? Don't they need your identification? What about the age problem?"
"Well i use my charm, my luck and my nuggets to get through all those sticky problems. I am lucky." She laugh.
"Meng Lan, do you know what happen to Sheng Qin..."
Meng Lan look at Hu Li who looks sad. She hold Hu Li's hands.
"They said that he married the princess in the capital city. It wasn't a love marriage but an order from the king. After that, the king send his army down here to search for you but you are gone at that time. Which is good... He doesn't want his daughter to become a second wife, they say. So his spread rumours that the first wife had pass away and his daughter, the princess falls in love with Sheng Qin. Hence they are married. Now Sheng Qin is a Lord, he have a son."
"Why is the house of Yue still in this county?"
"They said that he still love here. He is also keeping all his ancestors tablets in there."
"Did you see the spiritual dogs and a little boy?"
"I did see them for a while."
"Do you know where they are now?"
"Master, the little one is wanting to know... what Sheng Qin is like. So he is somewhere near him, i fear."
What Hu Li fear is coming true. Bai Lu is curios how his father is as a person. Bai Lu is a child that have hear all those years in her tummy what his father is like. How much his parents adore each other. Now he wants to know who his father is like.
"In your opinion, is Cheng Qin different from the past and now?"
"I never personally meet nor talk to him. Hence it's hard for me to say. But i do know that he miss you. He only writes your name in an empty scroll that he hangs up in his room. The servants tell me that..."
That night, Hu Li sit on the bed watching Hei. She look at Yang Yang who is still awake.
"Yang Yang i go take a look. You take care of Hei."
Yang Yang bow and sit beside Hei. While Hu Li Climb out of the window and leap from rooftop to rooftop to the house of Yue. Inside, the layout is the same. Nothing change. The plot of land what grows vegetables and fruits is still growing healthy food. The light floats come flying to her and morph to their human form to greet her.