Don't Lie to Your Therapist—She Already Knows Your Fate

Perhaps Xu Jiali’s voice gave Song Jiayan some comfort, a tether to the real world. He tried to psych himself up. ’It’s an illusion, just an illusion. I’m just hearing things.’

’Song Jiayan, you have to believe it. This has to be a trick of your mind.’

’This is a world governed by materialism, a world of rapid technological advancement, a world teeming with scams...’

’Did something not quite fit in there?’

’But that wasn’t important.’

’The important thing was, foxes can’t talk!’

Song Jiayan slowly opened his eyes. He could feel the boat gliding steadily forward.

Xu Jiali looked at Song Jiayan with curiosity. "Are you okay?"

Song Jiayan shook his head but still didn’t say a word.

His thoughts were a mess. ’Am I just not cut out for this line of work? Why am I having so many mental issues right at the starting line?’

’Is this a sign from the heavens?’

The boat reached the opposite shore much faster than Song Jiayan had imagined.

On the other side of the lake lay a vast expanse of forest.

Little White leaped off the boat and followed behind Wen Ying.

Song Jiayan stood beside Xu Jiali, a conflicted look on his face. As they disembarked, he couldn’t stop himself from asking in a low voice, "Jiali, is Little White really a fox?"

"Yeah. Does Little White not look like a fox to you?"

There was no doubt in Song Jiayan’s mind that Little White looked like a fox, but he just had this strange feeling.

"I just feel like it’s too... perceptive. It’s as if it can understand what Doctor Wen says, and what we say, too."

"Of course it is." Xu Jiali’s matter-of-fact expression struck Song Jiayan as odd, but she didn’t elaborate.

Song Jiayan kept his mouth shut and said nothing more.

And so the three humans and one fox...

...ventured into the forest on the other side of Xuanyang Lake, a place rumored to be plagued by strange occurrences this year.

Song Jiayan still looked tense and worried. Xu Jiali, on the other hand, was curious, and with Immortal Xiao Bai by her side, she felt completely confident.

’After all,’ she thought, ’what kind of unclean spirit could be more powerful than the Fox Immortal?’

Only Song Jiayan was genuinely trembling.

"Doc... Doctor Wen," Song Jiayan stammered, "I have a bad feeling about this place. It feels strange, unsafe. Why don’t we just go back?"

The woods weren’t quiet. On the contrary, they could hear the chirping of birds and the rustling of unknown animals.

The sounds were faint, but Wen Ying and her two companions heard them clearly.

The forest looked normal, yet it gave off an unsettling feeling.

The feeling was jarring, yet it was undeniably present.

"Song Jiayan, don’t worry," Jiali said. "The Great... I mean, Little White will protect us."

Xu Jiali’s attempt at reassurance only made Song Jiayan more frightened, confused, and bewildered.

"Sister Yingying, is something wrong with this forest?"

Wen Ying listened intently for a moment before smiling. "Nothing major. It’s actually quite fun. You two want to play?"

"I do!" Jiali chirped.

Song Jiayan: ???

’Why am I the only one who feels completely out of place?’ he wondered.

"Little Song, don’t worry," Wen Ying said. "I’ll protect you. I definitely won’t let you get hurt before the show’s taping."

Song Jiayan nodded, though he still looked ill at ease.

It was hard to tell whether he believed her or not.

WHOOSH!

Something shot out of nowhere, heading straight for Song Jiayan’s face.

Song Jiayan’s vision went dark. His expression changed in an instant—clearly terrified, he shuddered, on the verge of fainting.

Just then, he saw a white shadow flash before his eyes. ’Was that the fox?’

The fox had pinned whatever was hurtling toward his face with one paw...

’What is this thing?’

’A little squirrel?’

’From the looks of it, it must be a squirrel.’

’Did I really just get attacked by a squirrel?’

’And Little White saved me?’

He saw Little White perched on a nearby tree trunk, a squirrel clutched in its paw. With a flick, it tossed the squirrel to the ground.

The squirrel was left dizzy and dazed from the toss.

It staggered about unsteadily.

"CHITTER CHITTER CHITTER!"

The squirrel let out a series of frantic chitters.

"It’s just a squirrel. It should... it should be okay, right?"

Song Jiayan felt a little sorry for the squirrel. "Little White, I’m not hurt. Let’s let it go."

Song Jiayan tried to reason with Little White, hoping the fox would understand him and spare the little squirrel.

"Fine," Little White answered.

Song Jiayan stared at Little White, a newfound courage suddenly bolstering him. "Little White, were you just talking to me? Why can I hear your voice in my head?"

’Do I have the ability to talk to animals?’

’Why else would this keep happening?’

"Little White, don’t scare Song Jiayan," Xu Jiali warned.

"Jiali, can you hear Little White talk, too?"

Xu Jiali gave Song Jiayan a look that was hard to put into words. Not knowing how to answer, she finally turned to Wen Ying with a plea for help in her eyes.

Wen Ying sighed and picked up Little White. "From now on, you’re not allowed to talk in front of other people without my permission. Got it?"

Song Jiayan was completely baffled. ’What does Doctor Wen mean by that?’

"I know," Little White replied, sounding aggrieved.

That voice reached Song Jiayan’s ears again, and this time, things started to click into place.

’Little White was clearly talking to Doctor Wen, so why could I hear it?’

’Don’t tell me Little White actually spoke out loud?’

’And it wasn’t the psychic communication I thought it was?’

’Little White actually talked?’ 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"Doctor Wen, is... is Little White really talking?"

Perhaps because of all the build-up and his own mental gymnastics, Song Jiayan was taking it much better than before.

Especially when he saw that Doctor Wen and Xu Jiali were completely unfazed.

"Master, I think this Song Jiayan is an idiot."

Little White finally declared.

’I’ve spoken several times now. Why does this idiot keep thinking he’s hallucinating?’

’Haven’t I been obvious enough?’

Xu Jiali’s expression was clearly one of excitement, the kind of thrill you get from being in on a secret.

"Song Jiayan, you didn’t know, did you? Little White can talk! I saw you doubting your sanity earlier. Is it all making sense now? The truth is, Little White is..."

Xu Jiali glanced at Wen Ying, ready to stop if she gave any sign.

But Wen Ying clearly had no intention of stopping her.

"Little White is actually a Fox Immortal!"

"What’s a Fox Immortal?" Song Jiayan asked Xu Jiali, completely lost.

"You’ve never even heard of a Fox Immortal?"

Song Jiayan pursed his lips in thought before finally venturing, "Like... a spirit dancer?"

Xu Jiali was exasperated. "How is a fox going to be a spirit dancer? Are you for real, or are you just playing dumb?"

"Probably for real..." Song Jiayan’s voice trailed off, seemingly embarrassed by his own ignorance.

"A Fox Immortal! You know, from the Northeast! Haven’t you ever read any of those folklore books? About weasels seeking favor and becoming Yellow Immortals? Little White is a Fox Immortal, and there are also Willow Immortals, White Immortals, and Gray Immortals. And what about Outsider Disciples? Ever heard of them? Of all the household gods, the Fox Immortal is the most powerful!"

Song Jiayan shook his head. He wasn’t from the Northeast.