A certain man in Jinling made his living selling wine. Every time he brewed a batch, he would mix in water and an anesthetic. Even those who could hold their liquor would fall into a deep stupor after just a few cups of this brew. For this very reason, the man’s wine became infamous; the common folk rushed to buy it, and he amassed a fortune, becoming wealthy beyond measure.

One morning, rising early, he discovered a drunken fox passed out beside the fermentation vat. The man tied the creature’s four paws with rope, preparing to slaughter it. The fox suddenly awoke and pleaded, "Do not kill me; I will grant you any wish you desire." The man nodded, released the fox, and watched it instantly transform into a young man.

At that time, a man named Sun lived on the street, whose eldest daughter-in-law was being harassed by a fox spirit. The wine seller asked the youth, "Do you know that fox spirit?" The young man replied, "The fox spirit is me." The wine seller had once seen the daughter-in-law’s younger sister; the girl was exquisitely beautiful, and he had long desired her. He immediately begged the youth to help him arrange a meeting with the beauty.

The youth looked troubled but could not withstand the wine seller’s persistent entreaties, eventually agreeing. He led the man to a cave and retrieved a brown robe from within, saying, "This is my deceased brother’s relic; it possesses the power of invisibility. Put it on first." The man donned the robe, and together with the youth, they walked out onto the street. The townsfolk could not see him at all. Soon, the pair arrived at the Sun residence, where they saw an efficacy talisman pasted on the wall, depicting a huge dragon, baring its fangs and claws.

Seeing this, the youth’s face changed color. "The monk is too formidable; I dare not enter," he declared, and vanished. The wine seller, consumed by thoughts of the fair maiden, refused to leave, lingering nearby. Suddenly, a furious roar erupted from the talisman, and the giant dragon burst forth, coiling itself onto the wall, poised to strike at any moment. The wine seller was terrified and fled in haste.

It turned out that Mr. Sun, in order to deal with the fox spirit, had hired a high monk at great expense to perform an exorcism. The monk, being occupied with other duties, could not come immediately, so he first drew the talisman and instructed Mr. Sun to post it on the wall, promising to arrive himself shortly thereafter.

The next day, the high monk arrived as promised and began setting up his ritual altar. The nearby residents flocked to watch, and the wine seller and his wife were nestled within the crowd. Just as the wine seller was engrossed in the spectacle, his face suddenly contorted, as if seized by an invisible hand. He scrambled toward the exit, but upon reaching the doorway, his body collapsed, transforming back into a fox, still wearing the human clothes. The monk prepared to strike it down, but the fox’s supposed wife knelt, weeping and begging for mercy. The monk waved his hand, commanding the woman to lead the creature away.

Back at home, the wife fed the fox daily, but the wine seller had committed too many wicked deeds, and his lifespan was spent. Within a few months, he perished.