After the funeral, Mr. Wang gave me a set of red clothes.

He instructed me to wear them and not take them off, to stay indoors for five days, and to drink the talisman-infused water he provided every night before bed; this was called "warding off evil spirits."

A substitute is essentially a trick to deceive gods and ghosts. I, a living person, must disguise myself and disappear for a few days, making the deities and spirits believe I have obeyed fate.

"During these five days, don't easily trust anyone’s words. Those fox demons are adept at confusing people and causing harm."

Mr. Wang solemnly reminded me.

That night, I had a persistent high fever. I got up to drink water and was startled by the figure squatting in front of the family deity shrine.

"Aunt?"

What was she doing squatting there in the middle of the night?

The figure slowly turned around, and a pair of green, cunning eyes glowed in the darkness.

Covering my mouth, I stepped back, wanting to escape, but found my feet rooted to the ground.

"Young friend, don't you remember this old woman?"

A sharp and hoarse voice rang out, and the figure slowly approached me.

It was an old lady with wrinkled skin, an unusually pointed and slender face, smiling slyly, resembling a fox.

"Who are you? How did you get in here?"

The doors and windows were tightly shut, how did she appear?

The old lady didn't answer but instead chuckled strangely, moving closer to sniff my face.

"Your grandmother's old item, today I return it to its rightful owner."

She pulled out an antique-looking mirror and unceremoniously stuffed it into my bosom.

Just as I was about to take it out, she pressed my hand down.

"Didn't your grandmother give you anything before she passed away?"

I stared at her blankly, suddenly remembering the silver bracelet my grandmother had given me when she was ill, telling me to keep it well, saying the bracelet was imbued with the spirit's aura.

The bracelet had an ancient design, with a vividly carved fox face.

Two bright green gemstones were embedded in the fox’s face, just like the eyes of the old fox-faced lady.

"Ah, I remember who you are."

The old lady cackled.

Memories from my childhood surged back. On the day my grandmother passed away, an eccentric old fox-faced woman came to our village.

She wandered around the village all day, crouching in front of the theater entrance at noon to listen to opera.

The fox-faced old lady was reclusive and unfriendly, and after her arrival, chickens, ducks, and geese often went missing in the village.

Everyone said she was a thief who stole poultry.

But I didn't think so.

When my grandmother was buried, everyone said a spirit fox cried at her tomb every night.

I saw it too, but it wasn't a spirit fox—it was clearly this old fox-faced lady!

She cried so sorrowfully in front of my grandmother's tomb, how could she be a thief?

No wonder I felt inexplicably familiar with her; it turns out she was an old acquaintance of my grandmother?

Seeing my guard lowered, the old fox-faced lady laughed and said:

"This Bagua Heart-Protection Mirror can keep you safe. In these next few nights, don't open the door for anyone! Remember my words—anyone!"

Before the old fox-faced lady's words finished echoing, she vanished.

I found it strange, but remembering Mr. Wang's instruction not to trust anyone, I was unsure whether to keep what she gave me.

As I was hesitating, I suddenly sat up from the bed.

I looked around blankly, seeing nothing but pitch-black darkness...

The mirror in my chest disappeared with a "swish."

I immediately felt refreshed, my high fever miraculously gone!

Amazing, huh~ I felt more assured by the old fox-faced lady, thereby dispelling my previous doubts.