Taboo Mage - Chapter 118 - Visiting Lin Huan's Home

Lin Huan carefully recounted the events of that night to me, leaving me both curious and disgusted… and slightly amused.

It turned out that Lin Huan was worried his father was being deceived by a fox spirit¹, so he deliberately stayed at home for a few days. However, ever since Lin Huan moved in, he heard strange noises coming from his father’s room every night.

Even if he didn’t tell me, I could guess what the noises were. Lin Huan stayed for a week, and the noises persisted for the entire week.

One must admire Uncle Lin’s vigor, although the young woman was at an age where her desires were quite strong. If Uncle Lin couldn’t satisfy her, it would only be a matter of time before he’d be cuckolded.

Sure enough, on the last night, Lin Huan had just lain down on his bed, still fully dressed, when his stepmother pushed the door open and walked in. She was wearing a slip dress that revealed her seductive figure, with red lips and long hair, as alluring as an actress stepping out of a TV screen.

The woman lay on the bed and beckoned to Lin Huan with her finger. Lin Huan kept reminding himself that this was his father’s woman, his nominal stepmother.

But unexpectedly, the woman suddenly leaned in, and Lin Huan was knocked out without knowing what she did. The next morning, he was awakened by his father’s feather duster.

When he awoke, Lin Huan found himself disheveled, lying on the bed next to his naked stepmother!

At that moment, he realized he was in big trouble. Before he could beg for mercy, his stepmother wrapped herself in the bedsheet and dramatically knelt on the floor, crying and accusing Lin Huan of violating her.

Lin Huan was taken aback, not even sure what had really happened, yet he was being labeled as seducing his stepmother. His father immediately kicked him out, declaring their father-son relationship over.

Only a day or two had passed since the incident, and as Lin Huan recounted it, he helplessly lifted his shirt.

I looked at the crisscrossing red welts on his back from the feather duster, and even without witnessing it firsthand, I could feel that Uncle Lin had the intention of beating his son to death at the time.

However, in such matters, I didn’t know what to say, so I just patted his shoulder comfortingly and asked, “Lin Huan… did you actually do anything?”

“I really don’t know! Damn it, if I really did something, I’d accept my dad beating me to death. But if I didn’t do anything, wouldn’t that mean I was fooled by that fox spirit?” he exclaimed.

“The way you put it, your family doesn’t have a huge inheritance waiting, so why would your stepmother accuse you?” I said, holding back a laugh and giving a little cough.

Lin Huan was stumped by my comment, struggling to find words.

“After that night, did you notice anything strange?” Although the situation sounded both tragic and amusing, I felt something was off, so I asked.

Lin Huan seemed puzzled and asked, “What strange feeling?”

I gave him a look, “You’re a virgin. If you lost it, wouldn’t you feel different somehow?”

Lin Huan blushed and stammered before finally admitting, “No… everything feels the same as before…”

If that’s the case, then this situation is a bit tricky. With women, you might be able to tell if something happened, but with a man, it’s impossible to determine just by looking…

Lin Huan vented his frustrations for a while before heading back to his room.

I reassured him, saying that his father was just angry right now. No matter how appealing that woman might be, she’s ultimately an outsider. Lin Huan has been his father’s son for decades; surely, he wouldn’t really abandon his son for a fox spirit.

To put Lin Huan’s mind at ease, I took a few days off to rest, then bought some gifts and accompanied Lin Huan back to his hometown to visit the old man and try to get to the bottom of things.

Lin Huan’s home was in a local town, nestled between the mountains and a river. Even though it was autumn, the cold hadn’t set in, and the wildflowers on the streets were still blooming vividly.

Once we drove into town, I suggested Lin Huan find a place to sit and wait, while I went ahead to his home to gauge the old man’s mood and perhaps catch a glimpse of the fox spirit causing all the chaos at the Lin Family.

Lin Huan’s home was in a dormitory allocated by an old factory, where the security wasn’t the best, but there was a strong sense of community.

Having visited with Lin Huan a couple of times before, as soon as I entered the neighborhood gate, their neighbor across the hall greeted me with a smile and curiously asked about Lin Huan’s recent whereabouts.

I deflected, saying I had just returned from a business trip and hadn’t even stopped by the shop yet, and happened to be passing by to see Uncle Lin.

At the door, I placed the items I was carrying at my feet and knocked.

Footsteps approached from inside, and soon Uncle Lin opened the door. His expression shifted upon seeing me, and he glanced behind me, relaxing only after confirming that Lin Huan wasn’t there, before inviting me in.

Engaging in small talk with Uncle Lin, my eyes wandered around the room. I didn’t spot the fox spirit, but I did notice some unfamiliar additions to their home.

Uncle Lin’s place wasn’t large, and the layout was visible from the entrance, so I remembered it clearly. But as I sat on the sofa, I saw a new altar near the entrance.

Candles and fruits were neatly arranged on it, but the centerpiece was covered with a red cloth.

I frowned, puzzled because I had never heard of Uncle Lin being particularly religious. Most households would typically display deities like the God of Wealth or Guanyin, perhaps even a statue of Maitreya, none of which needed to be covered with a red cloth.

So, what exactly was concealed behind that red cloth?

Curious, I stood up and, while Uncle Lin was in the kitchen pouring water, quickly moved in front of the altar, reaching out to lift the red cloth.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me, and before I could withdraw my hand, a sultry voice called from behind.

“Sir, who are you looking for?”

The voice sent a shiver down my spine, prompting me to pull back my hand quickly and turn around, immediately captivated by the figure behind me.

Standing there was a woman, wearing a long floral dress that revealed a bit of her slender waist. Her face was adorned with meticulous makeup, her eyes captivating and fixed on me, and she radiated an unusual fragrance.

I felt my mind grow hazy, as the scent enveloped me, compelling me to turn back and gaze at her…

Footnote:

1. Fox Spirit(狐狸精): A mythical creature in Chinese folklore, often depicted as a fox that can transform into a beautiful woman, sometimes portrayed as a trickster or seductress.