General Zhao Liangdong(趙良棟)’s son, posthumously named Xiangmin(襄敏公), held the position of Governor of Baoding(保定).
One night, Xiangmin was studying in the west tower with all doors and windows closed. Suddenly, a flat-shaped entity squeezed through the window crack and entered the room. It rubbed itself from head to toe, gradually transforming into a complete form. Wearing a square scarf and red boots, dressed like a scholar, it bowed deeply to Xiangmin, clasping its hands, and said, ‘I am a fox immortal scholar living in this tower for a hundred years, fortunate to have received the permission of the esteemed lords, leading a peaceful existence. As a mere scholar, I dare not disobey the imperial envoy, hence, I have come to seek your guidance. If you insist on using this tower for study, I will vacate it within three days. But if you show compassion for a fellow being and allow me to dwell here, I request that you keep the tower locked as before.’
Startled, Xiangmin laughed, ‘You are a fox spirit, yet you claim to be a scholar?’
The fox immortal replied, ‘The Taimountain goddess conducts an annual examination for foxes, enrolling those proficient in literature and science as scholars while categorizing the less competent as wild foxes. Scholars are allowed to cultivate immortality, unlike wild foxes.’
Continuing, the fox scholar advised Xiangmin, ‘It’s a pity for nobles like yourself not to study immortality. Learning the ways of immortality is arduous. First, one must learn to take human form, then learn human speech after mastering bird language. Mastering bird language entails learning all the dialects of birds across the land, a process taking 500 years. People who pursue immortality can save themselves from this hardship. Nobles and literati who pursue immortality can save 300 years of training compared to commoners. Generally, becoming an immortal takes around 1000 years, an unalterable truth.’
Delighted by the fox scholar’s words, Xiangmin locked the west tower the next day, giving it to the fox. However, he regretted not asking what topics the Taimountain goddess used when examining the foxes.
Original text from 《狐生員勸人修仙》 in 《子不語》:
趙大將軍之子襄敏公總督保定，夜讀書西樓，門戶已閉，有自窗縫中側身入者，形甚扁；至樓中，以手搓頭及手足，漸次而圓，方巾朱履，向上長揖拱手曰：「生員狐仙也，居此百年，蒙諸大人俱許在此。公忽來讀書，生員不敢抗天子之大臣，故來請示。公必欲在此讀書，某宜遷讓，須寬限三日。如公見憐，容其卵息於此，則請扃鎖如平時。」趙公大駭，笑曰：「爾狐矣，安得有生員？」曰：「群狐蒙泰山娘娘考試，每歲一次。取其文理精通者為生員，劣者為野狐。生員可以修仙，野狐不許修仙。」因勸趙公曰：「公等貴人，可惜不學仙耳。如某等，學仙最難。先學人形，再學人語。學人語者，先學鳥語；學鳥語者，又必須盡學四海九州之鳥語；無所不能，然後能為人聲，以成人形，其功已五百年矣。人學仙，較異類學仙少五百年功苦。若貴人、文人學仙，較凡人又省三百年功苦。大率學仙者，千年而成，此定理也。」公喜其言，即於次日扃西樓讓之。
此二事得於鎮遠太守諱之壇者，即將軍之孫，且曰：「吾父後悔未問泰山娘娘出何題目考狐也。」
illust: Fang Chuxiong