Chapter 35: A Feast in the Boar Forest

Early in the morning, Xiao Bugui was awakened by a full bladder. Finding Hu Jiao sleeping beside him, he carefully dressed and hurried outside. Hu Jiao, having also woken up, sat up with a messy mane of hair. She watched him leave with drowsy eyes, then immediately bolted the door. She took out a chamber pot from under the bed and raised her fox tail; she, too, was in need. Such is the way of the world—the call of nature visits the foul-smelling brute and the beautiful maiden alike.

Xiao Bugui washed his face by the stream, and once refreshed, returned to the room. Finding the door locked, he knocked and asked, "Sister Hu Jiao, are you awake?"

"Wait a moment." Hu Jiao got dressed, opened the door, and said to him, "Help me empty the chamber pot, wash it clean, and bring it back inside."

Blushing, Xiao Bugui picked up the pot, walked to a secluded spot by the stream, rolled up his sleeves, and scrubbed it clean.

Seeing his bashful demeanor upon his return, Hu Jiao remarked, "Do you find me repulsive?"

Xiao Bugui replied, "You are my savior and my roommate; how could I ever find you repulsive?"

Hu Jiao said, "Last night, I feared you had nowhere to sleep, which is why I let you share my bed. Today, you must find your own place. After all, you are a buck rabbit and I am a vixen—it is not proper for us to live together."

Xiao Bugui asked, "Where is Senior Fang’s former residence? I shall go live there."

Hu Jiao replied, "Fang Dabai lives on a small boat in the pond; that place offers no shelter from the wind and rain."

Xiao Bugui asked, "Is there anywhere else?"

Hu Jiao explained, "Yuan Lang, Yin Wuxiang, and Crow all live in the Demon Sect’s quarters. Only we live by the stream on the mountainside. Pig Sha and his lot live in the Wild Boar Forest at the foot of the mountain. We demons lack skilled craftsmen; if you want to live alone, you must find an empty plot and build your own house."

Xiao Bugui said, "Then I would rather stay here."

Hu Jiao hesitated, "That won't do. If you stay with me permanently, I fear others will gossip."

Xiao Bugui proposed, "I will sleep on the floor, and you on the bed. Will that work?"

Hu Jiao agreed, "Then you must clean for me every day and boil water for tea to cover your rent."

Unable to sleep in the open, Xiao Bugui agreed, "Very well."

By the time the room was tidied, it was already noon. Hu Jiao, feeling hungry, said, "Let's go eat."

Xiao Bugui asked, "Where?"

Hu Jiao replied, "The Wild Boar Forest."

At the foot of the demon mountain lay the Wild Boar Forest, the territory of Pig Sha. There, he raised a few sheep, several water buffaloes, and over thirty black pigs. Pig Sha, appearing as a man with a boar’s head, lay on a rocking chair, clutching a jug of wine. When he woke up thirsty, he would drain half the jug, get drunk, and drift back to sleep. He had set a large bird net in the forest, planning to harvest his catch at midday; any sparrows caught were minced into meat for dumplings.

Not far from the pigsty stood an adobe house with a heated brick bed, where Xue Ke’ai and Pan Yingjun were fast asleep. Their snoring was thunderous, yet neither could wake the other. The three of them were inseparable friends.

Hu Jiao arrived and began by banging a ladle against a pot right next to Pig Sha’s ear, jolting him from his chair. He shouted, "I forgot to check the bird net!"

Hu Jiao then marched to the house, kicked open the door, and called out to Xue Ke’ai and Pan Yingjun, "Aren't you going to help Pig Sha? Everyone will be here soon."

Xue Ke’ai and Pan Yingjun sat up slowly, eyes half-closed, ignoring Hu Jiao as they trudged outside.

Yu Datou arrived carrying a basket of duck eggs and two grass carp. He said to Hu Jiao, "Bring the pot; I’ll boil these eggs first."

Hu Jiao asked, "How did you find so many duck eggs?"

There was a duck coop by the pond. Yu Datou explained, "The ducks laid them in the water. I had to dive in to find them."

As the eggs boiled, Yu Datou began cleaning the fish. Pig Sha returned with a pile of sparrows and various birds, plucking them and cleaning their innards. Xue Ke’ai chopped heads, removed bones, and minced the meat. Pan Yingjun set up another stove, chopping wood and fetching water.

"The mortal world is not worth it, yet life as a demon in the wilds is a joy. Let the world's affairs drift like clouds; better to lie high and feast," recited Yin Wuxiang, who had crafted himself a new face, wearing a chrysanthemum in his hair and holding a folding fan.

Yuan Lang used his eight arms to carry eight jugs of wine, glancing sharply at Yin Wuxiang as if complaining, *All you do is play with your flowery nonsense; why don't you help me carry a jug, you heartless creature?*

Crow arrived with boxes of pastries and fruit, saying, "I flew quite a distance to buy these from the town."

Hu Jiao, who had been kneading dough to make dumplings, saw the treats and ran over. "Give them to me!" She fed a piece of red bean cake to Xiao Bugui and said happily, "Is it delicious? This is my favorite. Come, help me wash the fruit." With that, she abandoned the dumplings, grabbed Xiao Bugui’s hand, and ran off with the fruit.

Crow couldn't help but curse behind her, "You traitor, abandoning friends for a lover! I curse you to birth a litter of little foxes that turn into fat, ugly, grumpy old women."

With so many friends gathered, a large table was set in the Wild Boar Forest. As the food and wine were laid out, Shang Qiufeng flew down, extending his long tongue to wrap around a wine jug and drink deeply.

Hu Jiao returned after washing the fruit and asked, "Where is Hua Lan? Why hasn't he come?"

Shang Qiufeng replied, "Hua Lan is sunning himself by the stream. He said he hasn't digested last night's meal yet, so he cannot eat today."

Hu Jiao asked again, "And the Sect Leader?"

Yuan Lang chuckled, "Yesterday, I slipped a cup of 'Ten-Thousand-Year Drunk' into her honey wine. I reckon the Sect Leader is still fast asleep."

Yin Wuxiang said, "I have something to discuss with everyone at this gathering. Let us first have a drink."

After everyone finished a bowl of wine, Hu Jiao asked, "Protector Yin, speak quickly, we are listening."

Yin Wuxiang said, "As you all know, Sect Leader Shi’s Demon Box is missing. She doesn't know yet, but if she finds out, we are all doomed."

Pig Sha said, "Protector Yin, if you have a plan, tell us, and we shall follow it."

Pan Yingjun added, "Ever since the box went missing, I’ve had a headache. Now that you've mentioned it, I’ve lost all interest in drinking."

Xue Ke’ai agreed, "Indeed, tell us quickly so we can find the box and ease everyone’s mind."

Yin Wuxiang said, "The box is likely at the Falling Leaf Manor."

Hu Jiao remarked, "The Lin family of Falling Leaf Manor is not to be trifled with. Lin Fengmian, the former head of Mount Qingcheng, has been living there in retirement since he stepped down."

Yu Datou suggested, "Let us seven go together."

Yin Wuxiang replied, "No. Sect Leader Shi is here; we cannot all leave without her orders. How about this: let Xiao Bugui go first to scout the location of the box, and then we shall act."

Hu Jiao said, "Then I will accompany Xiao Bugui; he cannot go alone."

"If Sect Leader Shi finds you missing, I will have no excuse. I shall accompany him instead. I possess the art of duplication and can split myself in two." Yin Wuxiang walked to the stove, took a large kitchen knife, and without flinching, cleaved himself in half. From the severed halves, he molded two complete, living forms of himself.