Zong Xiangruo, a scholar from Huzhou, was inspecting the fields one day when he noticed the crops shaking violently. Suspicious, he approached and found a man and a woman engaged in an intimate act amidst the tall stalks. Zong Xiangruo merely smiled. The man, looking ashamed, quickly dressed and hurried away. The woman slowly rose; her beauty struck Zong Xiangruo immediately. Taking a liking to her, he reached out to brush the dust from her clothes and asked, "Was the outdoor pleasure satisfying?"

The woman smiled but said nothing. Zong Xiangruo reached out and undid her garments. Her skin was soft and smooth as congealed fat. Overcome with desire, his hands explored her body, filling him with joy. The woman laughed, "Bookworm, have you touched enough? Since I am in a good mood, do as you wish." Zong Xiangruo inquired, "May I ask your surname, miss?" The woman replied, "One encounter in the spring breeze, and then we go our separate ways—why ask my name? Are you planning to erect a memorial arch for chastity?"

Zong Xiangruo said, "Such casual intimacy in the wild is beneath the dignity of a scholar. You possess natural beauty; even in a private rendezvous, you should maintain some self-respect. Why such haste?" The woman seemed to agree and laughed, "Speak plainly; I dislike beating around the bush."

Zong Xiangruo then offered, "My study is not far from here. If you are interested, please come over for a drink." The woman demurred, "I have been out for some time; others might become suspicious. Come by tonight." After learning the location of his study, she took her leave.

That night, the woman indeed arrived, and they spent the hours in joyous embrace, their mutual pleasure complete. For several months, their association remained a secret from outsiders.

Coincidentally, a foreign monk was staying at the temple at the edge of the village. He met Zong one day and exclaimed in alarm, "Young Master, you carry a foul aura. Have you encountered a yao?" Zong Xiangruo insisted, "Absolutely not." A few days later, Zong suddenly fell ill. The woman visited him every evening, bringing fruit and tending to him with the dedication of a devoted wife. However, once they were in bed, she would insistently demand intimacy. Zong, weakened by his sickness, found the encounters unbearable and began to suspect, "Could this woman not be human?" The thought left him uneasy, yet he could not find a way to make her leave. Seizing an opportunity, he decided to test her, saying, "Long ago, a monk predicted I was entangled by a demon, and now I am indeed ill—his words were not empty claims. I will ask him to visit tomorrow to treat my illness and perhaps provide some talismans." At this, the woman’s face turned ashen. Seeing this reaction, Zong’s suspicions deepened.

The next day, Zong sent someone to tell the monk the truth and ask for help in capturing the woman. The monk laughed, "This is a Fox Demon, her powers are still shallow; she won't be hard to deal with." He quickly wrote two spiritual talismans and instructed, "Prepare an earthen jar when you return, place it by the bed, and seal the mouth of the jar with one talisman. When the Fox Demon darts into the jar, immediately cover it with an iron basin, affix the second talisman to the basin, and throw the entire vessel into the fire for boiling. The Fox Demon will surely perish."

The servants memorized every instruction and prepared the necessary items that evening. Late at night, the woman arrived as expected, pulling several golden kumquats from her robes. "Bookworm, look what I brought you," she began. Before she could finish, there was a whoosh from the jar, and a strong current sucked her inside. The servants leaped forward, covered the jar with the iron basin, affixed the talisman, and prepared to boil the contents.

Zong Xiangruo looked at the scattered pile of kumquats, remembering the woman’s past kindness, and was deeply moved. He cried out, "Stop! A debt of kindness exists between us for a day and night together; spare her this once." The servants were helpless and removed the talisman. The woman escaped the jar, looking disheveled, and bowed her head in thanks. "A century of cultivation nearly turned to ash. Your kindness is immense, Young Master; I shall surely repay it." With that, she vanished.

Several days later, Zong’s illness worsened; he hung precariously between life and death. His family went to the market to purchase a coffin, preparing for the worst. On their way back, they encountered the Fox Demon. She asked, "Are you related to the Zong family?" The servant replied, "Yes." She continued, "Young Master Zong is my cousin; I heard he is ill. I was preparing to visit, but I have been tied up with secular matters. By the way, I have a dose of miraculous medicine here; please deliver it to my cousin for me."

The servant took the medicine and returned to the manor, reporting the encounter to Zong. Zong thought, "I have no cousin; this must be the Fox Demon repaying a favor." He took the medicine, and his condition immediately showed marked improvement. Ten days later, he was fully recovered. He felt profound gratitude for the Fox Demon’s benevolence and wished desperately to see her again.

That night, Zong was drinking alone when a sharp flicking sound came from the window. Zong went to investigate and saw the Fox Girl, smiling sweetly, standing right before him. Zong was overjoyed, grabbed her arm, and ushered her into the room, where they drank together.

The Fox Girl said, "Since our separation, I have been unable to forget the kindness you showed me; I constantly thought of how to repay you. Now I have found a suitable match for you, and I can finally ease this burden from my heart." Zong asked, "Who is the lady?" The Fox Girl replied, "Heaven’s secrets cannot be revealed. Tomorrow, at the Chen hour, proceed to South Lake. Among the water-lily gatherers, one will be wearing a white veil—she is to be your wife. Once you see her, do not hesitate; approach her and declare your affection. If she vanishes, do not despair. Search carefully: amidst the lotus leaves, there is one short-stemmed lotus. Pluck it, bring it home, and roast it over candlelight; you will surely win the beauty and gain longevity."

Zong accepted her advice meekly. The Fox Girl then prepared to leave, but Zong begged her to stay. The Fox Girl sighed, "Since surviving that ordeal, I have gained understanding of the Great Dao. I will never again delude men. Young Master, please respect yourself." With that, she disappeared.

The next day, Zong traveled to South Lake. Amidst the vast expanse of water, he indeed spotted a young girl with her hair in two buns, wearing a white veil, possessing unparalleled beauty. Zong rowed closer, and suddenly the girl vanished. Pushing aside the lotus leaves, he found a short-stemmed red lotus, less than a foot long. Without hesitation, Zong gently plucked the flower and took it home.

Upon entering, Zong placed the lotus on the table, lit a candle, and was about to begin roasting it when he turned around. The lotus had transformed into a stunning beauty. Zong was overwhelmed with surprise and joy, falling to his knees in homage. The girl said, "Foolish scholar, I am a Fox Demon. Are you not afraid I will harm you?" Zong shook his head, "No." The woman sighed, "Who told you to do this?" Zong replied, "I had the capability to find you myself; why would I need instruction?"

As he spoke, he reached out to take her arm, but the girl collapsed to the floor, transforming into a strange, eight-sided stone about a foot high. Zong picked up the stone and reverently placed it on the table, burning incense and offering prayers. By deep night, Zong locked the doors and windows, terrified the maiden might escape. When he awoke at dawn, the stone had turned back into a piece of white gauze, emitting a fragrance so potent it could be smelled from afar.

Zong held the gauze to his chest and lay down to rest, his mind filled with thoughts of the maiden's grace. That evening, Zong rose to light a lamp. When he turned back, the gauze had returned to the maiden. Zong was ecstatic, fearing she might shift forms again, and pleaded repeatedly to be allowed to possess her.

The maiden laughed, "Such vexing fate! I don't know who gossiped and exposed my whereabouts. Now that you pester me, it is truly a headache." She refused no longer. They went to bed and embraced. During their lovemaking, the girl seemed unable to withstand his vigor and repeatedly begged for mercy, but Zong would not stop.

The girl angrily warned, "If you don't let go, I am leaving." Zong, filled with fear, finally ceased. From then on, they lived together, their relationship harmonious. Gold and silver flowed endlessly into the household; the source of this wealth remained unknown to the family. The girl rarely spoke, merely nodding and smiling when meeting the servants.

Ten months later, the girl’s belly swelled, and her confinement was near. She calculated the day for labor herself. When the day arrived, the couple barred the doors and windows. The girl produced a sharp knife, cut open her own abdomen, extracted the infant, bandaged the wound with silk, and by the next morning, the cut had healed.

Six or seven years passed in this manner, until one day the girl told Zong, "Our fate together is complete; we must part ways now." Zong burst into tears, weeping, "When you married me, our household was steeped in poverty. I owe our prosperity entirely to your support. Why leave now, just as we finally enjoy a few good days? Moreover, you have no relatives. If our son grows up without knowing his birth mother, will that not be a great source of regret?"

The girl sighed, "Gathering and scattering are the natural course of human affairs. Our son is blessed with good fortune, and you yourself have a long life ahead—what more could you ask? My humble maiden name was He. If you miss me someday, simply take out the white gauze and call out, 'Lotus Flower Third Lady'; I will appear. Do not try to keep me; I must go."

Before Zong could fully process his shock, the girl ascended into the air. Zong sprang up in distress, reaching to pull his wife back, but in his haste, he managed to strip off only one embroidered shoe. It fell to the ground with a ding, transforming into a stone swallow, red as cinnabar, crystal clear inside and out.

Zong carefully stored the stone swallow in a wooden box. Thereafter, whenever he missed his wife, he would take out the white gauze and call out "Third Lady." The gauze would stir, instantly transforming into the maiden, her features and appearance exactly as before, though she remained silent.