新六狐传 New Chronicles of the Six Kitsune

新六狐传·序 New Chronicles of the Six Kitsune: Prologue

有关记忆的故事，总是与得而复失的瞬间相连。本书并非全然新作，而是名作《有乐斋六狐传》之改写

Stories about memories are always closely intertwined with transience. This book is not all-new, but is an adaptation of "Urakusai's Chronicles of the Six Kitsune."

序

Prologue

有关记忆的故事，总是与得而复失的瞬间相连。

Stories relating to memory always seem to have to do with those moments where you gain something and lose it straight away.

若要谈起拙作动笔缘由，其实也并不是什么大不了的事。

If you're wondering how I came to write about it, it's hardly the most exciting story.

那夜，我正在乌有亭饮酒消闲，不巧偶遇了阔别已久的友人——不知何时起，她便坐在了一边的雅座上。

That night, I was drinking and killing time at the Uyuu Restaurant when I happened to run into an old friend that I hadn't seen in forever. I don't know when she arrived, but at some point I suddenly noticed her sitting there in one of the booths.

「哎呀，是谁今天难得好兴致，却又一个人孤零零喝酒呢？」

"My, my, now, who could this be, sitting there in such a good mood, yet drinking all alone?"

见她这样问，我随口便答：

Since she was asking, I thought I might as well mutter something in response:

「好酒总是待价而沽，难免要一个人耐着性子苦等。」

"The best liquor comes at the highest price, and sometimes that price is waiting alone."

「老套的说辞…你还是一点意思都没有。

"Pff, I've definitely heard that one before... Still as boring as ever, I see."

如今贵为总编的她手握小盏，一副酒兴将起的模样。

Thus remarked the chief editor as she stood there with a liquor cup in hand, looking very enthusiastic about the prospect of having a drink or two.

「不如为自己赚些酒钱如何？反正闲着也是闲着。」

"Why not earn yourself some drinking money? It's not like you've got anything better to do."

「至于今夜的酒，我来买单就好。」

"Tonight, though, the drinks are on me."

她又笑着如是说，恐怕已经是第三次了。

She laughed, and reiterated this a couple more times.

「你回来了。」

"You're back."

我看见夜风携着几点神樱花瓣落在她的酒盏中，打碎了小小的月亮。

I watched as the evening breeze brought a few flower petals from the Sacred Sakura and landed them in her cup, making ripples that disturbed the reflection of the moon.

一种似曾相识的感触袭来，不知怎的便丢人地吐出了这四个字。

Overcome by a strong sense of déjà vu, my mouth took it upon itself to proceed with an utterance that would prove to be something of an embarrassment to my brain.

「你喝醉了。」

"You're drunk."

她面生不悦，语气带着某种不容动摇的威严。

She didn't look very happy to hear that, and retorted with a firm and defiant tone in her voice.

可是很快，她便放下酒盏，叹了口气：

But her countenance quickly changed again as she placed her cup down on the table and let out a sigh:

「她离开的时候，我还没有出生。」

"I wasn't even born yet when she left."

而我那时也不过一介少年。

And I was still in my youth back then.

「她曾讲过的故事，或许只有你才能复述了吧。」

"You must be the only one still able to recite the stories she once told."

就这样，说来好笑，我便着了道，要为八重堂再动一次笔了。

And just like that, I found myself roped into writing for the Yae Publishing House one more time. It's quite amusing, now I think about it.

也请诸位老读者莫要气恼，这并非我擅自爽却歇笔的承诺。

To my faithful readers, please don't be upset. This should not be taken to mean that I am committed to no longer writing save for when it becomes a selfish indulgence.

毕竟我也要为即将降价的佳酿早做准备，再者说，更不能亏欠了那夜总编大人请我的好酒。

After all, there's some great liquor that's soon to decrease in price, and I have to make sure I'm prepared. Besides, I have to pay the chief editor back for the wine she so kindly bought me that night.

新六狐传·一 New Chronicles of the Six Kitsune (I)

被称为「黑狐」阿达及其故事，本是《有乐斋六狐传》的第三章。由于笔者的特别偏爱，特别被提至第一个故事

The story of the "Black Fox" Itaru was actually the third volume in the original "Urakusai's Chronicles of the Six Kitsune." It appears at the front of this edition due to the writer's personal preference.

各位请原谅我唠叨，在故事开始之前，还要先介绍一番——

Forgive my garrulousness, but there are still some things to get out of the way before the story begins in earnest.

何谓「新」六狐传？

Why the "new" chronicles of the six kitsune?

众所周知，有新即有旧。本书正是基于五百年前一度流行的《有乐斋六狐传》，稍加改编而成之世俗新本也。本人文笔鄙陋，还望有乐斋大人与诸位读者见谅。

Naturally, the word "new" here presumes the existence of an "old." This book is a slightly revised edition of Urakusai's Chronicles of the Six Kitsune, which enjoyed a period of great popularity five hundred years ago. I possess but limited writing skills, and can only hope that Urakusai and my other readers will peruse these pages with forgiving eyes.

说起有乐斋大人，其人在我幼时便已颇有名气。那时候斋宫大人亦对其文字与茶品青睐有加，在狐狸一族之中，有乐斋大人算是第一等的风雅之士了。

Urakusai was already famous when I was but a small child. By that time, the Saiguu had already taken great interest in Urakusai's literary abilities and expertise on tea, making Urakusai one of the most cultured and sophisticated of all the kitsune.

只可惜，往事随风，自有乐斋大人不幸犯下大罪引咎离去，至今已有五百余年矣…

Unfortunately, that is all in the past now. Urakusai made a grave mistake and had to leave. It has now been 500 years since then...

闲话不再多说，《新六狐传》之开端，正在高耸的影向山中。

Without further ado, the story of the New Chronicles of the Six Kitsune begins on the towering Mt. Yougou.

传说在大狐白辰在世的年月里，其手下有六位弟子，皆是法术高强、变化多端之士，平日里负责辅助主母白辰协调神社事务、守卫影向山之安全无虞。

Legend has it that in the time of the Great Kitsune Hakushin, she had six apprentices. All were greatly skilled in magic and in shape-shifting. Day-to-day, they were tasked with assisting their matriarch, Hakushin, in managing the shrine and defending Mt. Yougou.

六狐之首名曰黑狐阿达，虽是女儿身，却生得虎背熊腰，魁伟壮大。其性情奔放不羁，因在神社正殿醉酒大闹，摔坏了将军神体，而惹得白辰大怒，将她放逐山下，好生反省。

The eldest of the six was Itaru the Black Fox, who, unlike most other females, was built as broad as a bear and as strong as a tiger. She also had a wild and unruly personality. One day, she was being drunk and disorderly in the main hall of the shrine, and destroyed a shintai that represented the Shogun. Incensed, Hakushin banished Itaru from the mountain for a period of much-needed self-reflection.

却说这黑狐阿达，方才好声好气下山，便将主母的诫诲忘个精光。打上一壶好酒，直往村庄寻衅去了。

But Black Fox Itaru was all too happy to leave the mountain behind. She put Hakushin's warnings completely out of her mind, found a bottle of good-quality liquor, and headed straight for the nearest village to look for trouble.

新六狐传·二 New Chronicles of the Six Kitsune (II)

本册讲述了「黑狐阿达」与「户隐的双鬼」之间的对决故事。该故事在《有乐斋六狐传》中不幸佚失，今幸而寻回，加以改编而成。

This volume recounts the clash between "Black Fox Itaru" and the "Twin Oni of Tokaku." This tale was missing from the original text, but it was fortunately rediscovered at a later date. It is presented here in an edited form.

书接上回，话说那黑狐阿达直往村庄寻衅去了，只见路旁却立着两位女子作樵夫打扮，腰间却各挎着一柄七尺野太刀、一柄短太刀，又一柄胁差，真个是全副武装，锋芒毕露。

Continuing where we left off, Black Fox Itaru was on her way to the village looking for trouble when she saw two women standing at the side of the road dressed like lumberjacks. Both had three blades hanging from their waist: a seven-foot-long nodachi, a kodachi, and a wakizashi. They were armed to the teeth, and they weren't hiding it.

两女子见黑壮身影大步而来，搞得尘土飞扬，地面振动，便警戒起来，手扶刀柄同声问道：

As her big, bulky silhouette approached from a distance, the ground shook and dust went flying with each step she took — all of which put the two women on high alert. They grasped the hilts of their blades, ready to draw them at any moment, and asked in unison:

「来者何人？莫不是妖怪！」

"Who are you? Are you a youkai!?"

那身影便道：

The silhouette answered:

「哈哈，正是妖怪！」

"Haha, that's exactly what I am!"

二女未敢含糊，抽刀上前便斩。却不想被那妖怪一步闪过，侧过身来捉住两人手腕顺势一拧，七尺长的大太刀便当啷落地。二女吃痛一惊，又去拔胁侧的短太刀，但为时已晚——只见黑狐奋起一掌将一人击飞，又挟住另一人，拎小鸡一样提将起来。就这样提着一人，蹬木屐的大脚踏上了另一人胸口。

Without hesitation, the two women immediately drew their swords and stepped forward, intending to slay Itaru. But this was one youkai they had underestimated. She dodged their attacks in a single step, grabbed their wrists, and twisted them as she turned sideways, sending both of their seven-foot-long nodachi clattering to the ground. Alarmed by the pain, the two reached for their kodachi, but they were too late. Itaru sent one of them flying to the ground with an almighty slap, while placing the other into a headlock. Then, she grabbed the one under her arm by the scruff of the neck and lifted her up into the air, placing her foot on the other's chest to pin her to the ground.

「『户隐的双鬼』？去年便见你姐妹二人欺压村民，让我好生收拾一番。今次还是不生教训！」

"The Twin Oni of Tokaku? Looks like neither of you have learned anything from the beating I gave you last year for harassing the villagers!"

二位女强盗一听这话，又羞又恼，一时间只顾道歉求饶。却不想黑狐阿达直接把她俩丢在地上，兀自开了腔：

When the two bandits heard this, they panicked and started begging for their lives. Black Fox Itaru threw them to the ground and begin to speak:

「也罢，既然我被白辰大人赶下了山，是个无主的妖怪了。不如你二人陪我行侠仗义，也不至太无聊！」

"Fair enough. Well, I'm a masterless youkai now that I've been banished from the mountain by Hakushin. Why don't the two of you join me? We'll go around helping those in need. It'll be fun!"

新六狐传·三 New Chronicles of the Six Kitsune (III)

在五百年前的《有乐斋六狐传》中，叶山与阿优亦有独立的故事。但在此时，这对母女还要仰赖阿达的搭救。

In the 500-year-old "Urakusai's Chronicles of the Six Kitsune," Youzan and Yui went on to have their own tales. But at this time, the mother-daughter pair are still reliant on Itaru to rescue them.

书接上回，黑狐阿达收服了「户隐的双鬼」两位女强盗，踏上了行侠仗义之路。

Continuing where we left off, Black Fox Itaru successfully tamed the bandit duo, the Twin Oni of Tokaku, and the three set off on their new journey of chivalry.

三人在绀田村歇脚不久，便偶遇一对母女。

As the chivalric trio was resting in Konda Village, they ran into a mother and her daughter.

攀谈起来，这母女二人乃是清籁岛远来的乐人，老妇姓叶山，少女名阿优。她们正准备进稻妻城庆祝祭典，结果却被村里卖堇瓜的大户诈了，一定要她们用离谱的高价买下堇瓜，只因为他此前「好心」提供了几个堇瓜供她们解渴。但巡游艺人哪来那么多钱？又不能把回家的盘缠花掉…

After striking up a conversation, they learned that the mother's surname was Youzan, the daughter's given name was Yui, and that both were musicians from the distant Seirai Island visiting Inazuma City to join in the festival. On their way, they had been scammed by a Lavender Melon seller from the village: He had offered them a few melons to quench their thirst, ostensibly out of the goodness of his heart, before then insisting that they purchase more of his melons at an extortionate price. But touring musicians aren't exactly wealthy, and they couldn't afford to spend the entirety of their budget for the return trip on overpriced melons...

「户隐的双鬼」一向暴烈，闻听此言，登时咬牙切齿，你唱我和，非要找这奸商算账，把他大卸八块不可。可黑狐阿达此时却有了主意。一声沉吟止住了双鬼姐妹：

The Twin Oni of Tokaku are an impulsive pair. Upon hearing the story, they instantly began fuming with rage, and unanimously decided that they needed to teach this dishonest merchant a lesson by cutting him into tiny pieces. But Black Fox Itaru had another idea, and spoke up to stop the two sisters:

「行了，我明白了。」

"Enough. I know what to do."

然后又对母女稍加安抚：

She comforted the mother and daughter:

「你二位不必担心，大姐我已经有了分寸，只看我去理论一番便可。」

"You two have nothing to worry about. Just watch, I'll talk to the merchant, and he'll come to his senses."

说完，便又大步离去，去找那奸商去了。

Itaru marched off to look for the dishonest merchant.

新六狐传·四 New Chronicles of the Six Kitsune (IV)

《有乐斋六狐传》中最具张力的故事片段，据说乃是有乐斋大人自璃月归来所写。亦被笔者全文收录。

This is the tensest tale of the series, said to have been written by Urakusai upon his return from Liyue. It is featured in full in this writer's adaptation.

书接上回，黑狐阿达大步离去，找那奸商理论去了。

Continuing where we left off, Black Fox Itaru marched off to talk some sense into the dishonest merchant.

这卖堇瓜的土左卫门原本也是一位武士，只是稻妻承平日久，好刀也无处施展，便在村里做了商户。学了些威逼敲诈、取巧经营的手段，又多亏面相凶恶无人敢惹，一来二去，也便成了村里的大户。

The Lavender Melon merchant, Dozaemon, was once a samurai. But with peace having prevailed in Inazuma for so long, his sword skills offered no further use, so he became a merchant in the village instead. After learning a few swindler's tricks, such as extortion, intimidation, and judicious use of his fierce appearance, no one dared confront him no matter how much he took from them. Over time, he had become one of the wealthiest people in the village.

这天，土左卫门正在摊子前乘凉，只见一阵尘土飞扬，土地动振，比棚子更大的阴影便罩在了他的头上：

On this day, Dozaemon was relaxing in front of his shop when all of a sudden, he saw dust flying and felt the ground shaking. Then, a shadow large enough to dwarf his shop slowly fell over his face.

「大哥，买瓜！」

"Hey! I want to buy some melons!"

土左卫门微睁一眼，打量了一下来客：只见来者身形魁梧，黑壮凶猛，站相毫无礼节，似要斫人，却是一个女人！

Dozaemon narrowed his eyes and sized up the muscular, fierce-looking, and ill-mannered customer standing over him like an executioner, before finally realizing — oh, she's a woman...!

「要多少？」

"How many?"

来者也不着急回答，只是望着案板上的胁差：

Apparently, this customer was in no hurry to answer. She was too busy admiring his wakizashi, which was lying on the chopping board:

「好刀，好刀。」

"Mighty fine blade you got there."

「确实好刀，我也曾是武家门下人，总要有点上眼的家宝。」

"You got that right. I'll have you know I'm from a samurai clan. It's only fitting that I keep an heirloom nearby."

土左卫门不明就里，随声应和。

Dozaemon went along with the conversation, unaware of where it was heading.

「只可惜拿来切了瓜。」

"Shame. It's wasted on chopping melons."

见来者话里有刺，土左卫门面露不悦：

Dozaemon sensed that this was an intentionally barbed remark, and he did not look happy about it:

「你是来买瓜的不是？如何恁多言语？」

"What's with all the chit-chat? Are you buying melons or not?"

「是，是。」

"Oh, I am, I am."

黑狐阿达嘿嘿一笑，权作赔礼。

Itaru smiled at Dozaemon as a gesture of apology.

「切一升堇瓜块，瓜皮全部削掉。」

"Four pounds of chopped Lavender Melon, without the skins, please."

土左卫门满脸狐疑，却也无意质疑。便切了一升堇瓜块，上秤称量。

Dozaemon's suspicions were aroused, but he did not question the request. He promptly chopped four pounds of melon and placed it onto the scale.

「大哥这秤杆如何不平？」

"Hey, how come your scale's all wonky?"

土左卫门闻听此言，便握紧了刀。

Dozaemon grasped his blade the moment Itaru said this.

「我说你这秤，好像还有点脾气呢！」

"Well, isn't that something — this scale's got a mind of its own!"

「大姐你若是有心消遣，不如先将摩拉给我。」

"Glad you're so amused. But it's time to pay up now."

土左卫门按捺不住怒火，理论起来。

Dozaemon could no longer hold back his anger. The time for pleasantries was over — it was time to talk sense.

「嘿嘿，不是我不愿先付账，只是怕你不肯接。」

"Heh, I don't have a problem with paying you what you're due... I'm just not sure you'd be able to take it."

「你肯付我就肯接！」

"Oh, don't you worry — I'll take whatever you've got to give!"

「当真如此？！」

"You sure about that!?"

「还能有假！」

"Try me!"

只见黑狐怒吼一声「接着！」，便将手中一包满满的摩拉劈头砸在土左卫门脸上。土左卫门躲闪不及，直接挨了个七荤八素，后仰着摔了下去，手里的宝贝胁差也飞脱出去，落在身边。仔细一看可不得了，那奸商的鼻子被摩拉袋砸成扁扁的一坨，活像是装烟管的荷包。

Suddenly, Itaru yelled "take this!" and threw a bag full of Mora directly at Dozaemon's face. Dozaemon didn't react in time, and took the full force of the impact square on the nose. He fell backwards onto the ground as his precious wakizashi went flying from his hand and fell beside him. On closer inspection, his nose had been squashed completely flat by the bag of Mora: It looked just like the kind of pouch one might use to store a pipe, only without the pipe inside.

黑狐阿达又两步过来，踩住那奸商胸口。也不言语，当面便是一拳。打得奸商脑内金鼓齐鸣，简直像是开了个璃月跨海武道会。土左卫门挣扎着要爬起身，拿起刚刚落在地上的胁差。却被黑狐发现，一怒之下又是一拳，打得土左卫门头顶一对狸猫耳朵「噗」地蹦出来，口中止不住地求饶。

Itaru walked over and pressed her foot down on the dishonest merchant's chest. Without a word, she hit Dozaemon so hard it felt like a Liyue martial arts tournament was being hosted on his face. With great difficulty, he fought to get back on his feet, but just as he had stood up and grabbed his blade, Itaru noticed and landed another ferocious blow to his head. This time, it hit so hard that a pair of tanuki ears popped out in response. He began to beg for mercy.

阿达见状哈哈大笑，这奸商原来也是妖怪，而且竟是个脏兮兮的狸猫！

Itaru burst out laughing at the sight in front of her. So, the merchant is a youkai in disguise — and a filthy tanuki at that!

于是，收了狸猫偷来的胁差，将这恶霸的财产分与全村，又将剩余的钱财交予那对落难母女，黑狐阿达便姑且饶了这狸妖的性命，继续上路去也。

Itaru promptly confiscated the tanuki's stolen wakizashi, distributed most of its ill-gotten wealth among the villagers, and handed the rest to the mother and daughter who had fallen victim to its scheme earlier. Itaru spared the tanuki's life — albeit not without some reluctance — and continued on her way.

新六狐传·五 New Chronicles of the Six Kitsune (V)

《新六狐传》中特意新增了对于旧事的评论，如读者读之烦闷，可特别略过本册。但对于笔者而言，不得不谈之事，不得不抒发之感慨，仍是要浪费笔墨言明的。

Commentary regarding ancient matters that was specially added to the "New Chronicles of the Six Kitsune." If you find it an insipid, monotonous slog, dear reader, you may skip this volume. But as far as the author is concerned, this is one waste of words and emotion that cannot be avoided.

黑狐阿达的逸事暂告一段落，还请宽恕笔者唠叨，仍要为些许年前的旧事多加评论。

We shall bring the anecdotes of Black Fox Itaru to a close for now. Please forgive me for nagging, but I have some old matters I wish to comment on.

关于当年有乐斋大人因何事引得斋宫震怒，如今早已不再清楚。不过彼时八重大人因为多喝了两三四五六七八杯，愿意为我讲讲亲历的史料。

Now, it is no longer well-known how exactly Urakusai angered Lady Saiguu at that time. However, Lady Yae did offer to tell me some snippets of the history she experienced after having between two and eight drinks.

此文本是小说家言，我自是要把真话改变成稗抄野史的。

This is a novel, of course, so I naturally would like to turn these words into a story of what history has not recorded.

当初狐斋宫离开白辰之野，赴任鸣神大社之时，八重大人尚未出生。因此她的新狐幼童年岁里，都是听闻斋宫之事长大的。她对斋宫之大爱自是敬仰。

When the Kitsune Saiguu departed from the Hakushin Lands to take up her post at the Grand Narukami Shrine, Lady Yae still had yet to be born. As such, her early years were filled with stories and tales about Saiguu, and she loved and respected her greatly.

因此八重大人之游历生涯，最后也以赴任鸣神大社作结。

This is also why Lady Yae would eventually come to the Grand Narukami Shrine herself after embarking on her own travels.

因其血脉相亲，斋宫大人对年幼的八重大人照顾颇多，但今日的八重大人却总是尽可能避免回忆那段日子…

Due to their closeness by blood, Lady Saiguu doted upon Lady Yae quite a bit, though Lady Yae speaks as little as possible about those times as she may nowadays...

——虽说已保证是小说家言，八重大人的身世，为避免主编审核删改，笔者也不便透露太多就是了。

—And while I as a novelist write to entertain, I shall refrain from revealing too much about Lady Yae's past, lest I suffer under the editor-in-chief's mighty pen.

话说回有乐斋之事。当年有乐斋大人因何事引得斋宫震怒，如今早已不再清楚。只知或许他的所为，与日后深渊之入侵或许有所关联。

But back to Urakusai. It is no longer clear how Urakusai angered Lady Saiguu back in the day, but it is known that his deeds may have had some connection to the later incursion of the Abyss.

但在有乐斋大人被迫离去之后，狐斋宫大人便也不再驻留鸣神大社，而是前往城中天守长居了。

However, after Urakusai had been driven out, the Kitsune Saiguu would no longer dwell at the Grand Narukami Shrine, but would instead set up permanent residence at Tenshukaku.

「天变地异之浩劫将至。此身须尽到御侧之人、生灵护主的义务，因此尽快前往将军身侧才行。」

"A disaster that will engulf heaven and earth is coming. My duty is to defend the people and protect our lord, and so I must go to the Shogun's side."

斋宫大人的第二次离去之时，八重大人也不过少女之龄。一直追随之人，再度离她而去了。岂料不多时灾厄席卷列岛，我们才得以了解其中深意…

When Lady Saiguu departed the second time, Lady Yae was but a young girl. The person she had pursued all this time now left her again. It was not until the untimely disaster swept across the archipelago that we understood the meaning of Lady Saiguu's words...

只是一切为时已晚，一切事与愿违。

But it was too late, and things had not turned out as we would have wished.

这时，斋宫大人第三次离去，也是永远地离开了。

This time, Lady Saiguu left a third time. This time, she departed forever.

五百年的时光或许于凡人而言过于漫长，但其事变留下的悲欢伤痛，不论对于朝生夕死者、或是常生难灭者而言，都是难以抹除的。

Five centuries may seem long to mortals, but the joys and sorrows left by the things that happened during that time, whether to fleeting existences or enduring ones, are not easy to erase.