Haoran used to be a cheerful person. He was loved by everyone—kind-hearted, intelligent, skilled in combat, always willing to help, and quick-witted. One day, a mysterious man came to the village, asking for help. He claimed that a fox demon was on a rampage and was gradually expanding its territory closer and closer to their village. Fearing the danger that might soon reach their home, Haoran volunteered to help eliminate the threat, along with several other villagers who also stepped forward.

But once they set out on their journey, none of them ever returned. Weeks passed—almost a full month—and hope began to fade.

At last, a faint light emerged when they thought all was lost. Haoran returned to the village, exhausted and barely alive. No one else had survived the encounter with the fox demon. Though he was the only one who made it back, he himself was in terrible condition. And from the moment he returned, something about him was different. He was no longer cheerful. He withdrew from everyone, cold and distant. He rarely left his house and often claimed to be ill.

Even when the village chief sent doctors to examine him, none of them could cure him. In fact, every doctor who visited left in a hurry, looking uneasy...