The Complete Tale of Foxes [Plain-Language Edition]

This book stays true to the original, retelling Fox-Fated Romance in modern language. Its main purpose is to make the relationships between the characters and the development of the story easier to understand. It preserves as much of the original text's most captivating passages as possible, so the book retains the charm of the original without feeling too dry. It also incorporates the author's own style, making the whole story more entertaining to read!

Fox-Fated Romance consists of twenty-two chapters and was written by Zuiyue Shanren. It is a novel adapted from the ballad Qingshi Mountain during the Guangxu era. The story follows Zhou Xin, a clever, charming, and dashing scholar who falls in love with Yumei Xiangu, a nine-tailed fox from Qingshi Mountain, before eventually falling ill. Zhou Xin's servants and tenant farmers successively summon Lu Dongbin, Li Tianwang, Nezha, and Erlang Shen to suppress and drive her away. Yumei Xiangu, in turn, calls on Yunluo Xiangu and Fengxiao Xianzi for help. After a fierce battle, the celestial soldiers capture the Jade-Faced Fox. But Zhou Xin has always loved her, and she has loved him right up until her death. Their devotion moves the immortals, who make them husband and wife in name and deed. This novel has a strong folk flavor. It's a little mysterious and strange, yet also deeply romantic and a delightful read, making it a fine example of vernacular supernatural fiction.