“Speaking of priorities,” said Sen as he pulled out a healing elixir, “you should take this.”

The fox shook his head. “It won’t help.”

“It won’t hurt, either. And if it speeds things along by even an hour, that’s an hour we can’t get back another way.”

“Oh, fine. Give it here.”

Sen handed over the elixir and casually loomed until the fox drank it. Sen didn’t expect that it would work any more than the fox did, but he did think it could take at least a little bit of pressure off Laughing River’s natural healing. Sen took a few minutes to clean up the spilled food and turn it into ash with a quick application of fire qi. The blood on the floor got similar treatment. He lingered over the shattered teapot, feeling another quiet surge of anger. It had been a good teapot. It distributed heat well and did a reasonably good job of keeping its contents warm. He’d have to pick up another one somewhere on his way back to Fu Ruolan’s place. In the meantime, he gathered up the shattered remains and, uncertain what to do with them, put them into a storage ring. Sen turned his attention back to Laughing River, who looked like the elixir might have helped him a bit.

“So, where do you suppose your granddaughter took Li Yi Nuo?”

The fox lifted an eyebrow. “Is that question the product of some naïve, sentimental streak? We’re rid of her. That’s a good thing.”

“No, it’s a short-term convenience. When this was all over, I planned to get her back to her sect. Well, most of the way back to her sect. If she never comes back, they’ll just send someone else to bother me. The most advantageous outcome for me is that she survives and goes home to tell them that bothering me is bad for the sect’s long-term survival.”

The fox made an annoyed face. “That’s the kind of thinking that leads to a boring life. Embrace the convenience. Forget about her. Let future you deal with those pesky sect problems.”

“Tempting, but no. And, no, I’m not going to ignore what we came here for or try to help your granddaughter kill you.”

The fox tried to hide it, but he could see the relief on Laughing River’s face. “Well, good, you shouldn’t ignore favors like that.”

“However,” continued Sen, “all of this has moved us well beyond the bounds of any favor I might owe you.”

The fox opened his mouth to say something until he saw the look on Sen’s face. The look that simply dared the fox to disagree.

“I suppose we have,” admitted Laughing River. “So, what is it that you want?”

“You seem rather knowledgeable about transforming between a human and animal form. Is that a true transformation or just an illusion?”

The fox gave Sen a suspicious look. “It’s a true transformation.”

“Excellent. Well, a friend of mine transformed herself from a panther to a human form. I get the impression that she’d like to go back or be able to transform at will. You’re going to help her with that.”

“It won’t work,” said Laughing River. “Foxes are supposed to be able to change their forms. It’s not like that with other spirit beasts. It’s all one-way for them.”

“You’re going to try anyway,” said Sen.

“Why?”

“Even if you’re right, she isn’t absolutely sure of that yet. I don’t want her spending the rest of what will probably be a very long life wondering if she missed something. If an elder spirit beast who is an expert in changing forms tells her that it’s impossible, she’ll probably believe it. If that same expert tries to help her change back and it still fails, she’ll almost certainly believe it.”

“You’re assuming that being sure she can’t change will be good for Falling Leaf.”

Sen nodded. “I am making that assumption. I might be wrong. She may just tell you she’s not interested. Maybe false hope is what she needs. If that’s the case, your job is done, and we’re even. I just want her to have the option. Besides, you might be wrong. Maybe she can change back.”If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“All of known spirit beast history would suggest that you’re wrong about that. Do you think she’s the first spirit beast who ever regretted that transformation? There are a lot of benefits but also a lot of sacrifices. There were spirit beasts who spent centuries trying to undo what they did to themselves once the costs became clear. They failed. All of them. Without exception.”

“That you know of,” countered Sen.

“Please don’t tell me that you’re counting on the infinitesimal odds that some spirit beast genius, somewhere, managed to pull it off and didn’t tell anyone. I’ve met Falling Leaf. She’s got more than a little talent and has, I’m sure, been helped along in no small part by the field of cosmic absurdity that surrounds you. But she’s not a once in ten-thousand-years genius.”

Sen snorted. “I’m not. I think that you’re probably both right that it’s not possible. I’m just hoping that getting that confirmation will provide her with a path to move forward.”

“You’re a ridiculous creature,” said the fox. “You could have asked me for damn near anything, and all you want is for me to help your other girlfriend.”

“She’s not my girlfriend. She’s my friend. And I owe her, which means that you now owe her.”

Laughing River shook his head. “Fine. Fine. Fine. I suppose if there’s anyone in the entire world that can help that foolish panther, it would be this glorious, gifted, and generous nine-tailed fox. The very paragon of…”

“Humility?” asked Sen.

The fox gave Sen a penetrating look. “Did my granddaughter hit you in the head? Don’t answer. She must have if you asked such an absurd question. Perhaps you should drink one of those healing elixirs.”

Sen decided that he didn’t need to share that Sun Linglu had, in fact, hit him in the head. No need to give that fox a gift like that, thought Sen.

“Speaking of your beloved kin, do you have any thoughts about what she did with Li Yi Nuo?”

“Gods, you’re really not going to let that go, are you?”

“I’m not.”

“I don’t know what to tell you other than the obvious. She took your sect sweetheart and dragged her away. There’s no reason to do that unless she means to trade the girl to you. She knows that a ploy like that wouldn’t work on me. I expect that we’ll get a message of some sort in the next day or two. Or, she’ll find you again while you’re working on that formation of yours.”

“Then, it seems prudent that you should come along for that.”

“Not really. She’d likely just avoid us. She already tried a frontal assault against me and failed. Well, I guess my coming along would be good for getting the formation done, but it’d be less helpful for getting that girl back.”

Sen eyed the nine-tailed fox. “Couldn’t you just, I don’t know, sniff them out?”

Laughing River tapped a finger against his chin for a little while before he answered. “Maybe. Probably not. Misty Peak would have taken measures to hide their trails.”

“Is she so good that she could fool you?”

“You’re assuming again. If it was just a straight competition between her and me, I’d always come out on top because…”

“You’re grand, magnificent, excellent. Yes, I’m aware,” said Sen impatiently.

“A good nephew would listen to me boast and take notes. It’s an edifying experience,” replied Laughing River with a judgmental expression. “As for my granddaughter, I have no idea what kind of resources she brought with her. She knew full well what she’d be up against. If I was in her shoes, I’d have spent a lot of time, effort, and money gathering tools and techniques that could counter me. Or ones that could counter me for long enough to make good an escape.”

“Do such things exist?”

“Of course, they exist. Whether she could have gotten them, learned them, or afforded them is an open question. But, it’s more likely that she has them than she doesn’t.”

“Unless she’s desperate. If she figured out what you were up to before she was ready, she might have had to make her move prematurely. Without all of those resources.”

“It’s possible,” said Laughing River with a shrug. “I can go out and try to find their trail, but I’m warning you now not to get your hopes up.”

“That’s fair.”

Sen gave real consideration to pressing the fox for details about why his granddaughter was willing to go through so much effort to keep him from ascending. He was sure that there was a story there. He just wasn’t entirely sure it was worth the effort of trying to drag it out of Laughing River. If Sen pushed, he was sure that the fox would tell him a story. Given his reluctance to discuss that matter, though, it was all too likely that it wouldn’t be the story. The fox might just weave some convoluted fiction of internecine intrigue and familial woe. Sen suspected that he’d get more from Sun Linglu if they crossed paths again. She’d been downright eager to tell him about what a bastard her grandfather was until he made it clear that it wouldn’t change anything. He’d have to try to get her talking about it, assuming she didn’t just try to kill him again. That was a real concern. She might well try again, but she might wait until they were actually trying to implement the plan. That would be the best time for it. Sen sighed.

“So, we need some contingency plans for if and when your darling granddaughter tries to disrupt me getting into the ruins.”

“Such as?”

“I don’t know, but I do know we need them.”

“Ever helpful, nephew,” said Laughing River. “Well, why don’t you cook something up? I think we could both use a meal. Then, we’ll see about some contingency planning.”