Page 3 of Two Thousand Promises

“Be careful now. Those are sharp little teeth, and I’m not sure vampire blood is good for you, even if you are a huli jing.”

The fox made another chirping noise that appeared to mean he was happy.

“Is that what you are? A huli jing?”

The creature flopped its fluffy tail across its stomach and bit at it a second before rubbing the top of its head against Xiao Dan’s chest. He was too cute for words. The more he stared at the fox spirit, the more his heart melted. Maybe he would be dangerous when he got older, but if he was raised with love and compassion, he could grow to be a benevolent huli jing rather than an evil one.

Xiao Dan glanced up at the distant horizon one more time and frowned. Was it really necessary for him to meet the dawn on this particular day? Wouldn’t it be better if he waited a while longer? The sweet huli jing in his arms would not grow up to be a benevolent, magical creature if he didn’t get another meal in him. He certainly seemed to need some help to survive.

But just a tiny bit of help. He was a wild spirit.

“How about you come with me? I think Jiejie has a few more baozi tucked away for later. Let’s get something to fill that empty belly of yours.”

A soft yip jumped from the fox’s throat, and he snuggled deeper into the crook of Xiao Dan’s arm as the vampire rose to his feet and carried him through the woods toward the Zhang manor.

Eternity could wait. This little fox spirit needed him.

1 Shifu – master of a clan or sect

2 Naihe Bridge – the bridge of forgetfulness

(In traditional Taoist culture, the dead will drink a special soup/tea brewed by Meng Po (goddess of forgetfulness) that will give them complete and permanent amnesia, wiping away all memories of their last life. The spirit will then cross Naihe Bridge and be reincarnated.)

3 Jiejie – older sister (opposite of meimei)

4 Baozi – steamed bun that contains a meat, vegetable, or meat and vegetable filling

5 Huli jing – fox spirit, a mischievous spirit that can be an omen of good luck or bad luck. It is believed to be able to change into male or female human form and seduce humans. Different from a nine-tailed fox (jiuweihu in Mandarin or kitsune in Japanese or gumiho in Korean – just depends on whether you’re a donghua, anime, or K-drama watcher. ??).

Chapter 1

Zhang Xiao Dan

October 22, 2023

Zhang Manor, Connecticut

Xiao Dan stepped outside through the door off the kitchen and strolled through the rear garden. The sun had set a couple of hours earlier and the stars were twinkling overhead in a clear sky. The night air had become crisp and cool. Summer was long gone, and autumn blanketed the region. Each morning now woke to a thin white frost covering all the grass and edging the few flowers that remained. The nights were silent except for the occasional hoot of an owl or a fox scream. Leaves had changed to shades of bright yellow, orange, and red.

Following the winding stone path, Xiao Dan wandered over the small, curved bridge into the thicket of trees at the rear of the property. Just as he was about to turn toward the house, he caught a flash of movement out of the corner of his eye.

A smile grew on his lips. This couldn’t be Leo. He’d heard the cat’s voice echoing down the hall as he’d played with Erik.

Another flash to the left caught his eye. This one looked like the fluff of that multi-tailed fiend.

“Huli, what nonsense are you up to now?” Xiao Dan called out.

But the huli jing didn’t come bouncing up to him. There was a blur of color as he darted from one tree to another, circling Xiao Dan.

“If you’re not in the mood to help me pack…” Xiao Dan left the rest unsaid as he turned to the house.

This time, the fox stepped out from behind the tree, coming between Xiao Dan and the building.

Xiao Dan’s smile tumbled from his lips and his heart sped up.

That was not Huli.

The fox facing him now was mostly white, with touches of orange on its chest and tails. Its eyes glowed a startling red, and its stance was both curious and aggressive.

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