The Fox's Eternal Star: A Tale of Love and Fate

What's so good about grass?

The rabbit Zheng had caught nibbled on the grass outside the cave, a small, fluffy ball trembling with every bite. Each time it took a mouthful of green leaves, it would lift its head and glance around nervously.

Zheng had said it was afraid, so Shining Li suppressed the wild, predatory aura that naturally radiated from him. He stood still as a stone, his eyes following the rabbit's every move from a distance.

What was once "prey" had now become a "pet."

It was his, something he could look at but not eat. And when the little ball of fur wandered too far, it was his responsibility to bring it back.

Whenever he touched it, the rabbit would let out a piercing scream. He had never heard a rabbit make such a racket before, and he found it utterly amusing. So he let it run around, only to catch it again when it strayed too far.

"Shining Li…" Zheng sighed, torn between laughter and pity for the rabbit he had named Little Li.

With a swift pounce, Shining Li caught the rabbit in one hand. Amid its frantic squeals, he turned back with a grin. "I won't eat it!" The little rabbit, terrified by his sudden move, seemed on the verge of collapse.

Shining Li's smile was radiant, his otherworldly beauty tinged with an innocent purity.

Zheng gazed at his carefree expression, his heart swelling with a strange sense of fulfillment.

Since the dawn of chaos, he and the other stars had guarded the heavens and the earth. They were taught to remain detached, to harbor no personal desires. To be a celestial being, one had to possess a selfless heart, capable of observing and guiding all living beings. But now, his heart and eyes had been invaded by this jade-like creature. His thoughts were consumed, leaving no room for the vastness of the cosmos.

From this moment on, his heart was no longer clear, his vision no longer pure. Perhaps his end was near.

But before that, however much time remained, he wanted to spend it by Shining Li's side.

"Zheng!"

Shining Li's face was suddenly close to his, his expression carefree, completely unaware of what was to come.

"What is it?" Zheng smiled softly, amused by his innocence.

Shining Li's lips curved into a smile, his narrow eyes forming crescents like the moon, a gentle silver light shimmering within them. "Keep talking. I like your voice."

"About what?" Though not a man of few words, Zheng had run out of topics after days of being pestered by Shining Li.

"About anything! Anything at all!" Shining Li leaned closer, his eyes flickering between Zheng's lips and his gaze.

"Don't bite me," Zheng said, already guessing what Shining Li was thinking.

Shining Li looked up, meeting Zheng's eyes. "I wasn't going to bite you!" The taste of Zheng's lips was sweet. He wanted to savor it again.

Shining Li's pink tongue darted out, lightly brushing the seam of Zheng's lips. A strange, tingling sensation spread through him, warm and intoxicating, like the sweetness of ripe fruit. It made him feel lightheaded, almost drunk.

"Shining Li…" Zheng's voice was soft as he looked down, noticing how Shining Li's eyelashes fluttered. As Zheng spoke, Shining Li's tongue slipped past his lips, touching his teeth. Zheng shuddered as if struck by lightning. "Enough… that's enough… You can't kiss me. This isn't right…"

Like coaxing a child, Zheng spoke gently, slowly pulling Shining Li away.

But his hands were weak, and the shock of their lips meeting lingered long after Shining Li had moved back. He was stunned by his own lack of resistance, by the flicker of desire that had ignited within him.

But he couldn't. He couldn't. His original purpose for descending to the mortal realm was to save Shining Li from the thunder tribulation. He knew he would eventually have to return to the heavens and face punishment for breaking celestial laws. Given that, their relationship should remain as pure as water, untouched by the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm them.

"So this is what a kiss is," Shining Li said bluntly. "Didn't you like it?"

"Some things aren't meant to be done, even if you like them."

"So you did like it. But I still don't understand. If you like it, why can't we do it?" Shining Li frowned, puzzled. "Then… how about just one more kiss?"

Without waiting for an answer, he pressed his lips to Zheng's in a deep, insistent kiss, refusing to let go. He loved Zheng so much that he could think of nothing else, waking or sleeping. Besides, he had even obeyed Zheng by not eating Little Li. Why couldn't Zheng indulge him this once?

Zheng struggled, closing his eyes as he lost himself in the intoxicating kiss. A soft moan escaped him, not because of Shining Li's naivety, but because of his own inability to resist.

Since descending to the mortal realm, Shining Li's presence had filled his heart with a sense of fulfillment he had never known before.

When he looked at Shining Li, Shining Li would gaze back at him with the same intensity.

Shining Li was a piece of flawless white jade, pure and untainted. His clarity was neither good nor evil, a mirror that reflected the true nature of all things.

At some point, Zheng had seen himself in Shining Li's eyes.

Love could not be faked. He had truly fallen for him.

But the premonition of their eventual separation lingered, never fading from his heart. And as the days passed, it only grew stronger.

Until one day, an overwhelming sense of foreboding struck him.

He told himself it was time to let go.

"Zheng, the sky's gone dark outside!" Shining Li returned to the cave, carrying the rabbit in his arms.

The cave was simple, with no unnecessary decorations. There was only the stone bed Zheng had made, where they slept together, day and night. They had lived here for so long that Shining Li had grown accustomed to Little Li, who no longer squealed at his approach. Still, he missed the days when the rabbit would dart around frantically at the sight of him. Zheng had said it was because Little Li now knew Shining Li wouldn't eat it.

"The sun hasn't set yet, but it's been covered by dark clouds." Shining Li tossed Little Li onto the bed of dry grass. He had wanted to bask in the sun, but the sudden chill had dampened his mood.

"Is that so?" A shadow of worry crossed Zheng's handsome face. He tried to force a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.

Shining Li pulled a few wild fruits from his robe, gathered that morning in the forest. Lately, influenced by Zheng and Little Li, he had stopped hunting. Though the fruits did little to fill his stomach, he wanted to please Zheng. Seeing him eat fruit instead of hunting lions and tigers always earned him a look of approval from Zheng.

If Zheng was happy, Shining Li was happy.

Unaware of Zheng's somber mood, Shining Li handed him a ripe red fruit. "There seem to be people around here lately. They carry things made of bamboo to shoot rabbits and deer. Every day, they shoot and shoot, then start fires to roast their prey."

"That's called a bow and arrow," Zheng said, his voice low as he tucked the fruit into his robe.

"A bow and arrow? That's convenient for humans. They're not as fast as me. Without those, they'd starve."

"Do you still crave blood and meat?" Zheng asked quietly.

"Me?" Shining Li shook his head. "I'm not hungry, so I don't eat. Ask Little Li. I haven't eaten it." He grabbed the ball of fur beside him and shook it vigorously. "Little Li, isn't that right?"

The rabbit, shaken by his rough handling, let out a pitiful squeal, as if on the verge of death.

"See? Little Li agrees," Shining Li said with a laugh.

"Then I can leave with peace of mind." Zheng looked out of the cave, where dark clouds had descended.

In an instant, he waved his sleeve, casting a barrier over the cave entrance. The celestial soldiers had arrived. There was no escape, nor should there be.

His only concern now was Shining Li. Though Shining Li's true form was that of a stone, his appearance was that of a fox. In the eyes of the celestial beings, he was still a demon, a creature unfit for the immortal realm.

To protect Shining Li, he had set up the barrier. It would dissolve after he left, but until then, no one would be able to see or harm Shining Li within the cave.

"Leave? Where are you going?" Shining Li didn't fully understand what Zheng was saying. He thought Zheng meant he was going to the river for a drink or taking a walk in the forest. But then, a dark cloud descended outside the cave, transforming into a crowd of shadowy figures.

The cave entrance slowly solidified into a wall of yellow rock, separating the inside from the outside world.

"Zheng?" Shining Li looked up at him, confused. Only then did he notice the sorrow hidden in Zheng's smile.

"Listen to me," Zheng said, kneeling before him. He forced a smile, though his voice was heavy with worry. "I don't belong here. I descended to the mortal realm for you. The celestial soldiers outside have come to take me back to face judgment. Don't think of me. I deserve this. I must go with them. Now that I've seen you return to the right path, I can rest easy. If you focus on your cultivation, perhaps we'll meet again in the future."

"In the future? How long is that?" Shining Li's eyes widened. Had he heard correctly? Zheng was leaving him!

"Maybe ten years, maybe a hundred," Zheng said, gently caressing Shining Li's cheek. His hand trembled, just as it had on the night of the thunder tribulation when he had taken Shining Li's hand and refused to let go.

He had wanted to do this before, but he had always told himself it was wrong. He shouldn't have desires, shouldn't indulge, shouldn't love him knowing it was forbidden. How had he come to feel this way?

Now that he was leaving, perhaps he could allow himself this one indulgence.

He had wanted to do this for so long. Gently stroking Shining Li's face, he pressed a kiss to his forehead.

His trembling lips were tender yet cautious.

Alas, if heaven had feelings, it too would grow old. Fate had decreed this, and there was no escaping it.

"Ten years, a hundred years… what if it's a thousand? What if you never come back?" Shining Li grabbed his hand. How could Zheng leave? He had waited so long for him. He didn't want him to go!

"Silly, I'll be in the heavens, watching over you every night."

"But I won't be able to see you or hear your voice!" Shining Li was afraid. He was terrified that the loneliness he had endured before would come crashing back. If he couldn't see Zheng, he didn't know what would become of him.

"Shining Li, don't…" Zheng's voice was gentle but firm as he pried Shining Li's fingers from his arm and stood up.

"You can't leave me! You can't leave me!" Shining Li cried, but Zheng was already walking away.

Zheng couldn't bring himself to look back. He knew the depth of Shining Li's pain, but he felt it just as keenly.

"You're not coming back, are you?" Tears blurred Shining Li's vision, distorting Zheng's figure as if seen through layers of gauze. He couldn't see clearly anymore. He wanted to chase after him, but Zheng had already disappeared into the wall of rock, leaving his world behind.

Zheng didn't answer.

Hot tears streamed down Shining Li's face. He didn't know what they were, only that his chest hurt so much he collapsed back onto the stone bed.

"Don't leave me!"

Clutching his chest, he struggled to get up. He knew this was the end. If he couldn't catch up to Zheng, they would never meet again.

With clenched fists, Shining Li pounded against the rock wall separating him from Zheng, muttering frantically. But the wall was too thick, a cruel barrier Zheng had erected to shatter his hopes. He could only stay in the dark, narrow cave, pounding until his hands bled, with no response from Zheng.

Why had Zheng left? He couldn't understand.

Outside the cave, faint voices echoed, distant and indistinct.

"Where is the nine-tailed fox?"

"I cannot say."

"That fox is fated to die. Do not interfere, Star Lord."

"All sins are mine to bear. Please, let this matter rest."

But Shining Li couldn't hear them. He kept muttering, "Don't leave me… don't leave me…"

Darkness closed in, and with it came boundless fear. Abandoned in the cave, no matter how much he cried or screamed, Zheng wouldn't answer.

It was a lie.

He was alone in the stone chamber, and Zheng never returned.

Zheng had broken his promise, leaving him to wait in vain. Day after day, season after season, he sat motionless, his eyes fixed on the empty wilderness outside the cave. He didn't dare move, afraid that if Zheng returned, he wouldn't be able to find him.

He knew Zheng had deceived him, knew Zheng would never come back, yet he stubbornly clung to the fragile promise, silent and still, waiting.

In the forest, things had grown restless. Little Li nibbled on grass not far from the cave, glancing back occasionally at its motionless owner. It tilted its head, puzzled. Shining Li hadn't played with it in so long. But after a moment, it turned its attention back to the lush green grass.

Suddenly, a rustling came from the distant undergrowth. The rabbit hopped a few steps, its large eyes scanning the area, thinking Zheng had returned.

But then, with a whoosh, a long, dark shadow shot out. The rabbit tried to flee, but it was too late.

A sharp object pierced its throat.

"Squeak—" Shining Li, hunters, it's the hunters!

Its throat burned with pain, and it could no longer make a sound. The hunters had come to kill them. Its eyes widened in terror as it tried to call out to Shining Li, but the pain was too much.

"Squeak…" Shining Li, run, the hunters are here…

From the grass emerged two hunters, dressed in clothes made of animal pelts, their bodies adorned with the spoils of their hunt. In their hands, they carried large bows for shooting beasts and birds.

"Tch, not much meat on this rabbit," said the older hunter as he stepped forward.

"Don't complain. Today's haul isn't bad. Winter's coming, and all the beasts are hiding. Look at me—I only got two birds," said the younger hunter, following behind.

"Fine, fine. This rabbit's fur is nice, though. I'll skin it and make a coat for my grandson," the older hunter said, plucking the rabbit from the arrow and examining its pelt.

"Wait, wait! Look inside the cave!" The younger hunter's eyes lit up as he quickly nocked an arrow.

The older hunter followed his gaze and saw a white fox with snow-colored fur standing at the cave entrance. Its silver eyes glowed with an eerie light, and a low, guttural growl rumbled from its throat. Its fur bristled with rage, and its sharp fangs were bared, aimed directly at them.

"Kill it, and your grandson can have a whole winter's worth of clothes," the younger hunter said, aiming his arrow at the fox.

The older hunter, who had spent his life hunting, needed only one look at the proud, fearless creature to know it was no ordinary beast.

"No, that's a fox spirit!" he shouted.

The younger hunter turned in surprise, but his arrow was already loosed, flying straight toward the fox.

A sudden gust of wind swept through, and blood sprayed everywhere. When the older hunter looked again, the arrow lay in the mud, and the younger hunter collapsed beside him, his throat torn open by sharp teeth, his eyes wide with shock. A pool of crimson stained the yellow earth.

The white fox stood atop the hunter's corpse, its fur stained with blood. The rage that had been building in its eyes ignited, unleashing the demonic nature it had long suppressed.

A fierce wind swept through the mountains, whipping up sand and dust that blotted out the autumn sun.

"Fox spirit!" The older hunter wailed, vomiting green bile before collapsing, his eyes rolling back as fear stopped his heart.

Darkness descended.

Shining Li curled up against the cold stone wall. His silver eyes, once bright, now dimmed. His radiant smile was gone.

With bloodstained fingers, he gently pushed the lifeless body of the rabbit. Its soft, fluffy form had stiffened and grown cold. Its incessant chattering had ceased.

"Little Li…" He nudged it, but it didn't move. He called to it, but there was no response.

Zheng had said that naming it Little Li was to make it a part of him, to teach him compassion and mercy.

Now, after becoming a part of him, it had been torn away.

What use were compassion and mercy?

They were gone…

In the cave, no one spoke to him, no one played with him. Everything he cared about had disappeared, leaving only him, guarding this stone chamber where no one would ever return.

Day after day, he sat in silence.

Darkness enveloped him.

His heart was empty.

A cold, desolate aura lingered, and the only sound was his mournful, solitary whimper...