When my sister’s life-lamp went out, I was actually quite puzzled.

Because I had read her fortune. She was destined to live to a hundred, blessed with both fortune and prosperity.

How could she be dead after barely ten years in the lowlands?

Not until I drew my sword and descended the mountain did I see the man she had married.

He carried within him the inner core I had left with my sister to protect her.

I leveled my sword at his throat and asked him how my sister had truly died.

Instead, several black barrels of guns were pointed at my head.

The man’s smile was both mocking and self-satisfied.

“Times have changed.”

I smiled too, and slit his throat with my sword.

Times have changed. And then what?

No one expected I would actually strike, including the man who died.

The tip of my spirit-embroidered sword was still dripping with warm blood when the man’s self-satisfied smile had not yet faded.

Two sharp cracks rang out beside my ears. Something fell to the ground in front of me.

It was what those people in matching uniforms had fired from those black tubes. No—uniforms, I should say.

My sister had taught me. Down here they are called police. They use guns and cannons, like the constables of ancient government offices.

My sister said these things could take lives, and told me that if I ever went down the mountain, I must not do anything criminal.

I’m sorry, Sister. On my very first day down the mountain, I’ve already committed a crime.

The man’s blood sprayed everywhere. The scene descended into chaos after several shots were fired.

Someone was speaking into a small metal box about something called 120. Someone else was reporting an assault on an officer into theirs.

I could see fear and bewilderment on their faces. But they still bravely surrounded me, shields raised, gates sealed.

After the man died, my inner core floated out from his mouth.

I caught it carefully, wiped it clean with a cloth, and placed it in a cloth bag.

That cloth and bag were made by my sister before she descended the mountain. Embroidered on them was a nine-tailed fox.

That was what I looked like when I was small. Pity—they were worn now, and no one would make me a new one.

With my core recovered, I prepared to return to the mountain.

But a kindly-looking old man stepped out from behind the shields, holding a rectangular metal box.

Someone tried to stop him, looking worried, but the old man paid no heed and walked straight up to me.

He held out the box for me to see:

“He was your sister’s husband. His name was Fang Mingrui. He came to the station early this morning to report that he discovered your sister was a monster—a fox demon—and killed her in a panic. This is his voluntary confession video. Watch it first.”

This “video” thing was quite novel. Inside it, Fang Mingrui spoke calmly into the camera, saying he had discovered his wife of ten years was a monster, a fox spirit, and that in his terror he had accidentally killed her.

Because he was so frightened, he immediately came to the police station for protection.

“That excuse is a bit far-fetched. I suspect this murderer has something wrong with his head, so I wanted to detain him first. Of course, someone has already gone to his home to check the scene. But now you’ve killed him too, so this matter has become difficult.”

The old man calmly pulled out a cigarette, lit it, took a deep drag, and exhaled.

“The scene just sent me word. Your sister was indeed killed by him—with a firewood chopper. Who in the city uses one of those? It was clearly premeditated.”

“Someone like that deserved to die. But this is a society governed by law. Even a demon has to give us an explanation, right? Otherwise, how am I supposed to answer to my superiors?”

This old man was asking me for an explanation.

I thought for a moment, then told him:

“Bury my sister’s body. She never liked the mountain. I won’t take her back.”

“Fine. We’ll find a good plot—the one in the south of the city. Lots of flowers. My wife is there too. Send her there once you’ve handled everything.”

“Wait—how much silver… I mean, money?”

I was somewhat worried I couldn’t afford it. After all, when my sister’s parents died, they were cremated because the cemetery was too expensive.

The old man smiled. “How much money do you have?”

I produced a handful of lustrous purple pearls from thin air, brimming with spiritual energy.

The old man adjusted his glasses, the corner of his mouth curving up. “Enough!”

He gave instructions into the metal box about the burial plot, then added: “Bring a jade box. There are spiritual treasures here—great nourishment!”

Then he asked if I wanted to sit inside and chat, since they had other citizens’ reports to handle and couldn’t let it interfere with work.

I handed him the things and said fine.

I knew what they wanted to find out, so I spoke before they could ask:

“My sister went down the mountain ten years ago. She told me she had found someone she loved. I knew she didn’t like life on the mountain, so I didn’t stop her.

“But I told her—she had raised me for eight years, so I had to place a binding seal on her. If anything ever went wrong, I could avenge her.

“Early this morning, the seal on my sister scattered. I knew something had happened. I followed the trace of power to find you.

“My inner core was on him. I don’t know what method he used to claim a demon’s inner core as his own, but he killed my sister. Kill him, and the matter is settled.”

As I spoke, someone nearby was recording everything—one with the metal box, another with a pen.

The old man ground out his cigarette and seized on the key point: “Your inner core? Isn’t your sister the demon?”

I shook my head. “My sister was human. An ordinary person. I’m the fox spirit.

“I just placed my core on her for protection in case of accidents. I never expected an accident to happen anyway.

“Actually, she never wanted to harm that man even at the moment of her death, which is why my core didn’t attack him.

“But there’s no point discussing it now. The person involved is dead.”

The old man made an “oh” sound. The two policemen beside him trembled upon learning I was a demon, but still persisted in taking notes.

I thought to myself that times truly had changed. Humans no longer feared demons. In the old days, they would have been shouting to kill us.

They asked many questions—how old I was, where I usually lived, whether there were other demons on the mountain, whether I still had parents.

I ignored them all, keeping my eyes fixed on the young policeman with the pen.

The old man saw I wouldn’t answer and didn’t get angry. Instead, he pulled out a few White Rabbit creamy candies from his pocket and asked why I kept staring at the young officer.

White Rabbit candies were very sweet. Honestly, I truly admired humans. Though weak, they could make so many delicacies. My sister was the same.

I ate the candy and felt a bit better.

I mercifully pointed at the young policeman: “Right now, get off his body, and I can let you die a bit more painlessly.”

The young policeman was startled, leapt to his feet, and dropped his pen with a dull thud.

His face white as a sheet, he looked tremulously at the old man.

The old man frowned and pushed the young policeman back into his chair.

“Is there something dirty on him? Great immortal, take a look.”

“Mm. There’s a woman climbing all over him, draining his vital essence. If he weren’t young and full of vitality, he’d probably be gone by now.”

The young policeman shot up again, looking helplessly at the old man.

“Why are you looking at me? Look at her!”

The old man glared at him. The young policeman turned back to me, looking as if he might cry.

“Narrow eyes, slightly flat mouth, small ears, long face. That much resentment—did you cause it?”

Hearing this, the young policeman was no longer afraid. He said to me furiously:

“This was the case I was handling before! Her husband broke in to rob and assault someone and was bitten to death by their dog. Of course she was found not guilty.

“I told her the verdict and she wouldn’t accept it. She kept demanding the other party pay with their life. She came to the station every day causing a scene. When she saw we were ignoring her, she jumped off a building. Who would have thought she’d latch onto me?”

I made an “oh” sound. The female ghost climbed off him in fear.

The young policeman felt his body lighten, but everyone else could sense the temperature in the room dropping.

The female ghost wore a big red dress, gnashing her teeth, her face covered in blood, staring at me as if she wanted to bite me.

I figured I should let them see her, so they wouldn’t think I was playing tricks.

I tapped each of the three men’s eyelids. The room erupted with deafening screams.

The old man was still seated, unmoving, though his hand trembled slightly.

The other two young policemen rolled their eyes and nearly fainted.

But they held on, leaning against the wall, hands on the black tubes at their waists.

The female ghost, knowing we could all see her now, grinned eerily. Her skull burst open with a crack, brains splattering across the floor, intestines spilling out.

Honestly, it was a bit disgusting. I swallowed my White Rabbit candy and drew my spirit-embroidered sword.

“I’ll give you three seconds to decide. Either go to the underworld to reincarnate on your own, or I’ll send you a soul-scattering gift package.”

She ignored me and lunged for the young policeman’s throat, teeth bared.

That shouldn’t be right. I was this strong—even the King of Hell had to give me a wide berth. Was this female ghost really this powerful?

I scratched my head. Oh—she was a stupid ghost who had never opened her spiritual intelligence.

Watching the young policeman’s eyes go dark from her grip, I simply touched my sword tip to the ground. Ghostfire blazed, making her hiss and smoke until her soul scattered.

The young policeman’s clothes were soaked, his forehead covered in sweat. He slid down the wall, his voice carrying a sobbing tone:

“Director, there really are ghosts. Can we switch people out next time?”

The old man kicked the young policeman aside and pointed at a policewoman:

“Look at her—so composed. And look at you, coward!”

The praised young policewoman raised her hand shakily: “Report. I’d like to go out and throw up.”

…

“Go ahead.”

Both of them left. Only the old man remained, still seated.

He even pulled out a beef jerky from his pocket and handed it to me.

“You’re this powerful—want to come live in the lowlands? I can find you a job. Room and board included, good pay. There’s so much good food down here.”

Live long enough and you become a spirit—that saying applies not just to demons, but to humans too.

He’d figured out in just a few moves that I loved to eat.

I shook my head. “Why aren’t any of you afraid of me? I’m a demon. A man-eating demon.”

I manifested a fox tail, trying to intimidate him.

The old man glanced at my tail, then pulled out an ID card. He also took out the peach-wood pendant hanging around his neck.

“Let me introduce myself. My name is Zhou Kunze. I’m the head of Department Three of the Special Affairs Bureau—we handle all the supernatural matters in the Chinese territories.

I took the card and looked at it. The old man wasn’t lying—it indeed read “Special Affairs Bureau, Department Three, Zhou Kunze.”

“Sir, that peach-wood pendant of yours has a spell on it. A master made it for you, right? But don’t think you can use it to defend against me. I could still eat you. It can only ward off minor ghosts and small demons.”

The old man put the pendant away without changing expression and coughed once.

I actually very much wanted to refuse the old man’s offer, but I don’t know why—the door opened and the young policewoman pushed in a five-tier cart.

It was loaded with all kinds of food: chips, hamburgers, fried chicken—every snack my sister had ever brought me was there.

I hesitated for only an instant before immediately placing my spirit-embroidered sword on the table and grabbing food.

There wasn’t much good food on the mountain. I was a picky fox spirit—I didn’t eat raw meat, and I didn’t like going down the mountain. The last time I went down, people hit me for not paying.

This was my first time eating without having to pay.

I was very happy. So I agreed to the old man’s proposal.

The old man was delighted too, his face breaking into a broad smile:

“We’ll handle your sister’s affairs. I’ll take you to get an ID card tomorrow. Things aren’t like before—without an ID, you’re unregistered.

“But since your sister has passed, if you hold any grudge against humans, I’ll still send you back to the mountain. I’ll come visit you when I retire.”

“My sister had her own destiny. The debt of gratitude between us was settled today. I’ve lived long enough to tell right from wrong. I won’t blame others.”

“Great, then come with me. I’ll get you an ID card quickly. Unregistered demons are hard to deal with.”

The old man swiftly got me an ID cut in line. Everyone at the bureau seemed to know my identity when they saw me, but they weren’t afraid—they smiled and greeted me.

I found it remarkable. The old man noticed and explained:

“China went through a great catastrophe. Spiritual energy dispersed. In recent years it’s been reviving, and many spirits and ghosts have come out to commit crimes.

“We’ve actually encountered quite a few supernatural incidents. We just can’t talk about it publicly. But everyone knows.

“There are quite a few demons like you in the Special Affairs Bureau. They’re all our formal employees. You’ll see when you get there. Don’t be afraid.”

I stayed silent. The chips were just so crispy, and after eating too many I could drink some cola.

The happy fox spirit burped several times.

As the car entered a secluded estate, a bald monk blocked the old man’s path. Behind him stood a young man.

The young man held a feather fan. His true form was a green-winged bird—on my menu.

The bald monk smiled, but his words were unpleasant: “Director Zhou, you bring back a little girl from one trip. Looks like she’s not even eighteen. Barely transformed. You’re hiring child labor now?

“If Department Three is short on people, you can borrow from our Department Seven. We’re old acquaintances—I’ll give you a twenty percent discount on the appearance fee.”

The old man smiled back: “A couple days ago at a scene, didn’t your Department Seven let a yellow weasel escape? Have you caught it yet? Old Kuai, I need to remind you—that weasel gained cultivation by eating people. If you can’t handle it, hand the task over to our Department Three. Don’t be too proud to succeed, or you’ll face questions from above.”

The bald monk stopped smiling. His eyes slid over to me: “Just based on this newly transformed girl? Hmph.”

The green-winged bird behind him also stepped forward, waving his feather fan. A wind blade sharp as a knife slashed toward my vital points.

The wind blades dissipated before they reached me. I scratched my head. I truly didn’t understand why little demons always wanted to attack me. Was it because I was short?

That wasn’t my choice. When I transformed, I hadn’t seen many humans. I once rescued a child by accident—fifteen or sixteen—so I simply modeled my form after that figure.

Now I was being looked down on. Truly embarrassing for my Nine-Tailed Fox Clan.

I was displeased. My spirit-embroidered sword was one with my will. A sword qi, plain and unadorned, pierced straight through the green bird.

He did try to block it, but he couldn’t.

Blood covered his body. His white clothes turned red. His eyes turned red too. A pair of great wings burst from his back.

Seeing him about to fight me to the death, my spirit-embroidered sword circled lazily in front of him. He instantly calmed down.

His eyes were no longer red. His wings stopped flapping.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he said to the monk: “Director, maybe send me to see a doctor first. I think I’m about to die.”

Every time he thought about that first meeting afterward, he decided it was best for demons to stay calm.

No impulsiveness. Impulsiveness meant meeting the King of Hell.

With his green-winged bird having suffered a loss, the bald monk stopped smiling too. A string of prayer beads appeared in his hand, spinning round and round.

A group of people rushed in from behind, carrying a stretcher, and took the bird away.

The old man laughed. He patted my head and pulled out a handful of sunflower seeds from his Zhongshan suit pocket—five-spice flavor.

I suspected he was a treasure chest in disguise. His pockets always held endless snacks.

He said to the old monk: “My, your subordinate is injured. What shall we do? The girl is young and doesn’t know her own strength. Please bear with her.”

He pulled me along and left. The bald monk hurried off to tend to the green bird.

The old man brought me to a very tall building, about fifty or sixty stories.

We rode something called an elevator to the thirty-third floor.

He brought me into a large room full of people and slapped my newly made ID card on the table.

“This is our new member. Nine-tailed fox, Mo Ling. Don’t let her age fool you—she’s formidable.

“Just now downstairs, she put a sword through Qing Ying from Department Seven. We’re always mocked as the logistics department. Today we finally got some revenge.”

Besides the old man and me, Department Three had four men and one woman. Only three were human. The other was a spirit.

I went up and circled the spirit, examining it.

“With spiritual energy reviving, even spirits like you are emerging?”

“Yes, times are hard for everyone. Humans’ territory is too vast. I was drinking water on a mountain when someone discovered me. So I came here to work for humans.”

Spirits were naturally close to humans. They had no combat ability, and their blood could be used as medicine.

In earlier years, because they were innocent, kind, and easily tricked, they were hunted extensively by human cultivators. I had thought the species was extinct.

The others nodded politely at me.

The male spirit with glasses introduced himself:

“My name is Luo Chuan.”

The muscular big guy scratched his head: “I’m Zuo Pingya. Just call me Brother Zuo.”

Meng Xue smiled and, imitating Director Zhou, pulled out a handful of candy for me.

“Ling’er is the strongest fighter in our Department Three. Now no one can joke about us being the logistics department anymore.”

I voiced my confusion:

“Why aren’t any of you afraid of demons? You’re so weak.”

The refined middle-aged man Xie Ensheng smiled and pulled out his sidearm, showing it to me:

“Because our guns are specially made—designed specifically to counter demons and ghosts. We have some ability to fight back.”

Then Zuo Pingya pressed a button, and a screen displayed all of China.

“After spiritual energy revived, everything benefited. There’s competition between all sides. The conflict between humans and demons grows daily—that’s why our Special Affairs Bureau exists.”

Following the principle of recruiting those who could be recruited, coexisting peacefully with those who couldn’t, and completely eliminating those who terrorized the land, China had remained fairly stable over the years.

Director Zhou handed me a pack of spicy strips, his smile tempting:

“I believe our little Ling’er will be willing to help humans eliminate evil demons and ghosts.”

I stayed silent. Because even fox demons find chili peppers spicy.

The meeting dispersed. On the way out, Zuo Pingya grabbed a big handful of red-skinned peanuts for me.

I couldn’t carry them, so I balanced them on my spirit-embroidered sword.

My living quarters were quite nice—a pretty little apartment. Pink bed, pink curtains, pink dolls.

And a closet full of colorful dresses.

“Director Zhou said a little girl would be coming, so I rushed downstairs and emergency-scoured the shops. I don’t know if they’ll fit. Try them on first. If not, we’ll go buy more.”

Meng Xue tried dress after dress on me until I was exhausted, but for some reason her eyes were shining and she kept going “wow.”

Humans are truly noisy.

In the end she opened a video app and recorded me, posting it online.

“Our Ling’er is so pretty—just like a little princess! Versatile Ling’er~”

I acted cool on the outside, but inside I was blooming with joy. Though I’d lived for who knows how many years, I loved being called beautiful.

Hee hee.

No more hee hees. Because at three in the morning I was woken up.

“The Dulin Estate in the city center is suspected of a special incident. Pack up and depart immediately.”

Zuo Pingya carried a large bag. Luo Chuan followed close behind.

Meng Xue immediately went to the office and activated a bunch of instruments I couldn’t understand. Xie Ensheng and the old man were on the side.

“Go, little Ling’er. I’m sure you can handle it.”

They put something called “earphones” on my ears. Through them I could hear the others speaking.

Meng Xue pulled up information on the Dulin Estate and gave a quick briefing:

“The Dulin Estate is in the city center. Five years ago, a great fire killed an entire family of seven, plus the family doctor, chef, gardener, and others—twenty-two people in total. Since then it’s been haunted and unsellable.

“Now an unknown black mist has appeared near the estate, spreading rapidly. The situation is unclear. This is an A-level incident. Everyone be careful!”

I hummed in acknowledgment.

Meng Xue relayed the information on the deceased one by one.

Then our phones received the files Meng Xue sent, including the death roster.

“The cause was determined to be the youngest son, Zhang Fengzhi, playing with fire in his room. The house was mostly wooden furniture. The fire spread rapidly. All twenty-two people perished in their sleep.”

The area near the estate was indeed saturated with ghostly energy. The two men, faces grave, entered the black mist holding specially made flashlights.

A rope appeared from nowhere and yanked him violently back.

A voice spoke, somewhat irritated:

“Are you trying to die? This has already become a ghost domain. Rush in recklessly and you’ll be dead within a quarter hour.”

It was a man in a black overcoat, about twenty-six or twenty-seven, with hard features, sword-like brows and star-bright eyes. He reminded me of a star my sister used to follow—though I believe that one ended up in prison.

Zuo Pingya was very grateful. “Thank you, Director Lou.”

The man nodded casually. Behind him followed two more men.

About the same age. One wore Daoist robes and held a wooden sword.

I saw at once that the wooden sword was hundred-year lightning-struck peach wood—the most effective against ghosts and demons.

The other man wore loose white top and bottom. He didn’t look old. His true form was a leopard, with a century of cultivation and considerable strength.

As for Director Lou, he was human, with no cultivation.

But his body shimmered with golden light. If you didn’t know better, you’d think the Buddha himself had returned. That must be three lifetimes of accumulated merit!

“You three, stay behind us. This place has fully formed a ghost domain. The evil ghosts inside are filled with overwhelming malice. An ordinary person, a father with no combat ability, and a little fox who hasn’t even grown her fur in—it’s too dangerous.”

The “ordinary person” Zuo Pingya carried his bag and gun without any complaint about the arrangement. But he still pulled out a cheese stick to comfort me.

I, a fox spirit who had lived for who knows how many years, was once again complimented on my youth. I twirled the tassel on my sword somewhat happily.

There really are more good people in the lowlands. They say such nice things. Truly likable.

The three of us followed them into the ghost domain, alert on all sides.

Luo Chuan whispered their identities to me:

“The one leading is Lou Wensheng, head of Department Nine. The one in white is Feng Yu, a leopard demon. The one in Daoist robes is Zhao Qingfeng, the next Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain. Their Department Nine is quite strong. If you encounter danger, run toward them.”

I also warned the two of them:

“If you encounter danger, you two must run toward me.”

Luo Chuan’s cultivation was low. But I had lived for ten thousand years.

I knew well that humans were blessed by Heaven’s will, the foremost of all beings.

Even the gods in heaven did not dare to lightly interfere with human karma.

Twenty-two deaths. Five years to form such a large ghost domain. This karma—even if Lou Wensheng had three lifetimes of merit, it wouldn’t protect him.

The Dulin Estate was vast. The ghost domain was filled with dead trees. All the flowers and grass in the garden were scorched yellow, crumbling at a touch.

Long-neglected streetlights cast a ghastly white glow. Eerie whispers seemed to come and go at the edge of hearing.

The deeper toward the center they went, the colder it became. This was ghostly energy invading the body. Even after leaving, one would suffer a severe illness.

Suddenly, an icy small hand took mine. But only for an instant—the little hand pulled away as if burned, glancing at me in fear.

Then it darted forward and grabbed the hand of Lou Wensheng at the very front.

Lou Wensheng looked down. Holding his hand was a boy of about eight or nine, dressed in a small black suit.

His right hand gripped Lou’s firmly.

The leopard demon Feng Yu raised his hand to strike the child, but Zhao Qingfeng stopped him:

“This little ghost has an extremely powerful grudge. All the ghostly energy around is converging on him. If I’m not wrong, this child is the reason this ghost domain formed.”

“Then we should strike even more. Don’t you see the boss let the kid grab his hand? The boss is just an ordinary person. Prolonged exposure to ghostly energy will cost him years of yang vitality!”

The leopard demon unsheathed his claws, his hind legs coiling to spring—but Zhao Qingfeng knocked him flat with his peach-wood sword.

“Idiot. Don’t you remember that our boss can’t be approached by demons or ghosts? The first time you attacked the boss, how bad was the backlash? This little ghost can touch the boss unharmed—and you think you can beat him?”

Lou Wensheng thought to himself: you two idiots, can you stop pointing fingers at each other? My hand is going numb!

Seeing Lou Wensheng trying to shake off the little ghost, I shook my head at him.

“Your merit is so powerful that ordinary demons and ghosts can’t approach you. But if a demon or ghost can touch you without harm…”

Lou Wensheng: “Then what?”

I smiled: “Best not to move around. Go along with him. Or maybe think about what patterns you’d like carved on your coffin.”

The little ghost stared at Lou Wensheng with eyes that had no whites, his voice hoarse and dry like something burned:

“Help my sister.”

Lou Wensheng gritted his teeth: “Help!”

Before more could be said, Lou Wensheng felt the world spin.

When he looked again, no one else was beside him.

A room full of ghosts stared at him with pitch-black eyes. Cold sweat poured down his head.

Grandfather, no need to cook. Your grandson probably won’t be coming home.

“Boss!”

Zhao Qingfeng and Feng Yu shrieked, abandoning all caution.

One wielded his peach-wood sword, thunder magic clearing the way.

The other transformed into a three-meter-long leopard, legs kicking as he charged.

The instant the little ghost vanished, the ghosts hidden in the darkness could no longer hold back.

Four ghosts, all in matching uniforms—estate servants, presumably.

They moved with incredible speed. No ordinary person could dodge.

Icy ghostly energy carved several gashes straight across Zuo Pingya’s arm.

But his reaction was lightning-fast. Almost instantly, he fired two shots behind him.

Golden bullets struck the ghost behind him squarely in the forehead, hissing with black smoke.

I could feel a strange power disintegrating the ghost’s energy.

Unlike the power of demons, cultivators, Buddhists, or even immortals.

If those bullets hit a demon, it wouldn’t feel good either.

If the timing weren’t so wrong, I’d genuinely applaud them.

Humans—truly the creatures favored by Heaven’s way.

Their minds held the most powerful force. Through their own understanding, they had created the power to fight demons and ghosts.

Luo Chuan’s role as a support father became clear.

A spirit healing spell fell on Zuo Pingya’s wound, and it healed instantly.

“Little Ling’er, run forward! Catch up with Zhao Qingfeng and the others…”

Luo Chuan’s voice urging me to flee cut off abruptly, because in my hand I held the remaining three ghosts. Their pitch-black eyes conveyed terror. Their spectral forms were nearly dissipating.

I tilted my head: “What did you say? You didn’t finish.”

Luo Chuan pushed up his glasses and pulled out his phone to text the director.

“Director, our Department Three has finally made it.”

He pulled out a candy. “Nothing. I was asking if you’re tired. Have a candy and rest.”

Luo Chuan handed me a candy—black, slightly bitter, but very fragrant and delicious!

“It’s quite dangerous here. A father with just a pistol and a healer are too passive. I’ll go in to find them. Dead or alive, I’ll bring them out.

“But you two need to leave first. I’m afraid if something happens, I won’t be able to protect you while divided.”

Zuo Pingya was steady. He only needed a moment to know this was the best arrangement.

But he still refused.

“The ghost domain only allows entry, not exit—unless the source is resolved. And what about you? I know you’re powerful, but even Director Lou vanished without a trace. This is already S-level danger. Too risky.”

Zuo Pingya pulled a bottle of cola from his backpack to comfort me, then stuffed a handful of small breads into my pocket.

I opened a small bread—soft, with matcha cream inside. Sweet.

I casually shattered the three ghosts with a vibration, then grabbed one person in each hand.

“Brother Zuo, Brother Luo—about that cola from just now, I want to drink a lot of it when I get back. Remember to prepare it. With ice!”

The next instant, I threw them both out of the ghost domain.

Zuo Pingya’s affirmative reply hadn’t even left his mouth before he and Luo Chuan were outside the ghost domain.

Zuo Pingya was shocked.

“Mo Ling is this strong? Even the most powerful demon in the Special Affairs Bureau couldn’t do that, right?”

Luo Chuan pushed up his glasses, pulled out his phone, and sent another message to Director Zhou.

[Call for reinforcements. And—our Department Three finally has a backer!]

The signal inside the ghost domain was poor. The earphones had been silent for a long time.

I took them out and put them in my pocket.

My black pupils instantly turned emerald green. I locked onto Zhao Qingfeng’s position.

I was truly curious—how could a single ghost simultaneously possess the power of merit and overwhelming resentment?

So I went in to find them voluntarily.

But their situation wasn’t good.

Zhao Qingfeng’s flowing Daoist robes had been corroded by ghostly energy into several holes. He was hiding in a room with the little leopard.

On the bed slept a very beautiful female ghost… girl?

When I pushed open the door, they both yanked me down so hard I had an intimate encounter with the floor.

“What are you doing?”

“Are you reckless? That ghost on the bed is clearly not simple—not a trace of ghostly energy on her. Only a Ghost King who has devoured a hundred ghosts can conceal her aura so completely. And you dare stroll in?”

Zhao Qingfeng lectured me as if frustrated by my stupidity. But the leopard demon Feng Yu glanced at me and didn’t dare speak—he just quietly tugged at Zhao Qingfeng’s sleeve.

I truly couldn’t understand the brain of the next Celestial Master. I scrambled up.

“Are you breathing with the two eyes on top of your head? She’s not a ghost at all!”

The two of them scrambled up too. Hearing me say this, Zhao Qingfeng simply poked the girl on the bed with his peach-wood sword.

The little leopard sniffed too: “A living person! No breath?”

Zhao Qingfeng smacked the little leopard on the butt with his sword: “That’s a living corpse! Told you to read more.”

“But how would a living corpse be here? And she looks a bit like the Zhang family’s second daughter…”

He opened his phone, found the mission files, compared them with the girl on the bed, then gently moved her hair aside, revealing a mole above her right eyebrow.

“It IS Zhang Mengqi!”

“But all twenty-two people died in the fire. Why is she alive?

“The police did recover twenty-two bodies that year, and the count matched. So where did she come from?”

Unlike the little leopard’s shock, Zhao Qingfeng was considerably calmer.

“Time in a ghost domain can sometimes flow backward. This might be what the deceased looked like when alive.

“She’s not a living corpse. We’ve simply gone back to before the fire.”

Indeed, this room was warm and lovely, completely unlike the fire-scarred exterior.

Zhao Qingfeng’s heart went cold.

“If someone has mastered time regression, then unless my master descends the mountain, none of us will escape.”

They were about to go find Lou Wensheng, thinking that seeing the boss still held hope.

But noticing I hadn’t followed, Zhao Qingfeng tried to call me—only to find me standing by the bed, my slender fingers slowly tracing the girl’s face.

The scene was rather divine… if she hadn’t been unbuttoning the girl’s clothes.

“Pervert,” Zhao Qingfeng muttered.

I examined the girl’s body, then straightened her clothes and covered her with the blanket.

On the nightstand was a copy of Andersen’s Fairy Tales, open to the story of the sleeping princess.

I placed my beloved cola by the bed, next to her little bear.

Leaving that room, the air was thick with the smell of char. Some places had been burned beyond recognition.

Only that room retained its former appearance.

They were on the top floor—the fifth floor.

Down the spiral staircase, they opened doors floor by floor, searching.

The fifth floor had only that girl’s room. The fourth floor had three rooms, each with a servant cleaning—their bodies black and charred, faces unrecognizable.

Seeing them open the door, a female ghost with a pitch-black body pressed forward, a kitchen knife in her hand.

“Doctor, has Miss Mengqi’s condition improved?”

I looked at the female ghost. “A bit better. It will be completely cured soon.”

The female ghost nodded tremulously, looking at the little leopard beside me.

But Feng Yu quickly hid behind me. The female ghost glanced at me cautiously, then appeared before Zhao Qingfeng.

Zhao Qingfeng held his peach-wood sword and struck without a word, dispersing the female ghost. But in the blink of an eye, she reappeared.

And asked him: “Doctor, has Miss Mengqi’s condition improved?”

Zhao Qingfeng said nothing. Silver-white lightning struck the female ghost, also blasting the charred room to pieces.

I silently brushed the ash off myself as the female ghost reappeared again, asking the same question.

The difference was that each time she asked, the knife in her hand moved closer.

Zhao Qingfeng didn’t dare move rashly. But the door behind him had closed at some point.

Feng Yu tried the door. Useless.

With the kitchen knife about to fall, Zhao Qingfeng steeled his heart: “Miss Mengqi’s condition is about to be cured. She’s resting now. Keep your cleaning quieter.”

The knife stopped. Before Zhao Qingfeng could breathe a sigh of relief, the female ghost extended her left hand: “Money.”

“Huh?”

Zhao Qingfeng froze. Seeing him refuse to pay, the female ghost grew angry. Her scorched hair wrapped tightly around his neck.

The peach-wood sword struck and she scattered again, but moments later reappeared, still choking him.

I said: “Give her some money.”

Zhao Qingfeng fished a coin from his pocket with difficulty and tossed it to the female ghost.

She took the money and happily continued cleaning.

“She thinks I’m the doctor. I have to pay to treat patients? Is there no justice?!

“And she asked you too—why didn’t she make you pay?”

Zhao Qingfeng broke down, then looked at me thoughtfully: “Are you sure you’re just a nine-tailed fox demon?”

I displayed my snow-white tail. “What else could I be? Just a little fox who’s only just transformed.”

The Nine-Tailed Fox Clan of Qingqiu had an ancient lineage. But even they needed to survive nine heavenly tribulations to become a true Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox.

So why did this female ghost seem to fear her? Even that arrogant little leopard was nervous facing her.

Zhao Qingfeng had secretly observed her sword. It was clearly just an ordinary iron sword.

I ignored him and opened all the rooms on the fourth floor on my own.

As expected, every room’s servant asked the same question.

Zhao Qingfeng emptied all his money. He went from resentful about being targeted by the ghosts to resigned to his fate.

He figured he was probably overthinking it. He was just having bad luck.

In the first-floor doctor’s room, there was no one. Among the charred remains, some medicine names were still faintly visible.

He searched through the pile of medicines. Every ghost in this estate had mentioned one person—the doctor.

Perhaps this doctor was the key to solving everything.

Most of the bottles were burned beyond recognition. Zhao Qingfeng finally found one with legible text. His face turned grim.

“Flunitrazepam.”

Zhao Qingfeng read the words on the bottle, grinding his teeth.

“What is that? Brother, you’re so smart. I only recognize the character for ‘western.’”

The little leopard grinned foolishly. In his half-human, half-beast form, his tail wagged back and forth as he tried to hook the bottle with it.

Zhao Qingfeng said nothing. He just pocketed the bottle. But the door suddenly opened.

A tall man in a pressed suit scolded: “What are you rummaging through in the doctor’s room? Have no shame! Our Zhang family hired you to work, not to steal!”

He wore clean clothes, but from the neck down he looked human. From the neck up, his head was a charred skull.

Eyes askew, mouth crooked—features unrecognizable.

By his build and tone—the Zhang family’s eldest son, Zhang Heming.

He spoke to himself: “You two, hurry to the flower garden. Mother’s favorite roses have pests. You couldn’t afford to compensate half a year’s salary. Pay more attention!”

He pointed at Zhao Qingfeng and Feng Yu, ordering them to work.

The moment he saw me, he turned his head away, bending slightly to examine me cautiously: “Would you… like afternoon tea? I’ll have the servants prepare it.”

“No need. Go about your business.”

By his build and tone—the Zhang family’s eldest son, Zhang Heming.

Zhao Qingfeng eyed him sideways. The moment she’d arrived, they had all received Mo Ling’s message.

Only a century of cultivation, just transformed, with only one tail among the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan—why were the ghosts and demons here so afraid of her?

Along the way they also encountered Zhang Wanli and his wife, the third and fourth siblings.

Like Zhang Heming—charcoal from the neck up, well-dressed from the neck down.

Still repeating their behaviors from life.

The little leopard wagged his tail: “Brother, is this what you mean by ‘dressed like a human but acting like a ghost’?”

“It’s ‘dressed like a human but acting like a dog,’ you illiterate.”

Now it was certain that the one who took Lou Wensheng was the Zhang family’s fifth child, Zhang Fengzhi—the root cause of this ghost domain.

What I was curious about was why only Zhang Fengzhi and Zhang Mengqi retained human form, while everyone else appeared as they had at death.

And what did “help my sister” mean?

By a small lake in the back garden stood a great banyan tree. Lou Wensheng sat in it.

Behind him was the little ghost—the Zhang family’s fifth child, Zhang Fengzhi.

The little leopard, fearless as ever, transformed and leapt up in a few bounds, then nudged Lou Wensheng.

“Boss, are you sitting here enjoying the view? I can’t beat that little ghost behind you.”

Zhao Qingfeng: “Haha.”

Lou Wensheng: “Hmph.”

I was glad Director Lou had such an adorable subordinate. I hoped he’d keep it up.

Zhao Qingfeng gripped his lightning-struck peach-wood sword, thunder magic at his fingertips, carefully observing Zhang Fengzhi behind Lou Wensheng.

But the little ghost only glanced downward. His pitch-black eyes were full of fear, yet he calmly turned his head away.

Zhao Qingfeng noted all this, then squinted at me.

I pretended not to notice.

My spirit-embroidered sword carried me up to the tree fork.

I also saw what they had seen.

It was Zhang Mengqi’s room.

Zhao Qingfeng handed the medicine bottle to Lou Wensheng.

Clearly, Lou Wensheng recognized the drug too, because his expression was equally grim.

The little ghost pointed at the bottle: “This is it.”

Then pointed at Zhang Mengqi’s room.

Lou Wensheng didn’t understand. But somehow, the little ghost’s aura had weakened considerably. He wasn’t even chanting “help my sister” in his ear anymore.

He looked at me. I calmly let him examine me.

He told us what he knew.

He said from the moment he entered, the little ghost had brought him to a room full of ghosts.

His mother, father, and older siblings, all sitting around together.

The little ghost said he was the doctor, but his parents denied his identity.

The whole family wanted to devour him.

The little ghost brought him up this tree and kept making him watch Zhang Mengqi’s room.

Zhao Qingfeng also told Lou Wensheng what had happened since they entered. Lou Wensheng guessed something had happened to Zhang Mengqi.

With Zhao Qingfeng’s additions, he pieced together a story in his mind.

The question was whether the little ghost would be satisfied.

He asked the ghost: “Are you Zhang Fengzhi? Zhang Mengqi is your second sister. She was ill, so they arranged for her to live alone on the top floor. The family doctor checked her condition every day. Right?”

Zhang Fengzhi didn’t speak. He just nodded. He said he played in this tree every day. Sometimes he hid up here and even the servants couldn’t find him. He liked playing hide-and-seek.

“You stayed here, binding all the souls of the dead. For what?”

Lou Wensheng softened his voice. Zhang Fengzhi said nothing, only staring blankly at the fifth-floor room.

After a long while, he said: “That night, there were twenty-three people in the house. But only twenty-two died. One got away.”

When Zhang Fengzhi was born, he thought he only had two older brothers and two older sisters. Until at age five, he wandered playfully up into the great banyan tree.

The thick branches hid his small body.

Watching the servants search for him in a sweat, he was delighted.

Not only that—he discovered he could see into his second sister Zhang Mengqi’s room.

Sister was reading today. Reading again tomorrow.

Mother and Father said second sister had a weak heart, congenital. She had to rest on the fifth floor. They told the children not to disturb her.

He had never been to the fifth floor. But that day in the banyan tree, he saw the family doctor treating his sister.

He was five. He wasn’t stupid. But he didn’t understand why the family doctor in the white coat was lifting his sister’s dress. He only knew it certainly wasn’t normal treatment.

He jumped down from the banyan tree, hurting himself. But his parents were at the company. His older siblings were out playing.

Who could he turn to? He could turn to no one.

Then he took the Swiss folding knife his father had given him and carefully went up to the fifth floor.

When he pushed open the door, the bespectacled doctor was writing something. His sister sat quietly on the bed, looking at him gently—yet distantly.

There was a strange smell in the room, but heavy perfume covered it.

His sister asked why he had come rushing up. The family doctor packed his bag warmly and took his leave.

From the tree he had clearly heard his sister’s anguished moans. Had he misheard? Misseen? Had nothing happened at all?

He was too small. Even clever as he was, five years old couldn’t figure it out.

He apologized to his sister. But he kept a secret—he didn’t mention what he had seen.

From then on, the young boy formed a habit. He often hid in the great banyan tree, watching his second sister’s room.

The family doctor came on Mondays, Fridays, and Sundays. Each time, he would see his sister in pain, crying out.

There were a few times when his parents and siblings were home. He begged them to go check on second sister on the fifth floor. They always refused coldly, scolding him for disturbing her rest.

Until one midnight, he could no longer contain his curiosity. While everyone slept, he slipped out and ran to the fifth floor. There he saw his second “sister Zhang Mengqi.”

She looked exactly the same as his daytime sister, wearing a pretty dress, cute as a doll.

But she was vacant—different from his daytime sister.

She was happy to see him. She said her name was Baobao. She was his sister.

Then she led him to another small room—Baobao sister’s room.

It turned out the fifth floor didn’t have just one room. The other was a secret chamber. Without finding the switch, no one could enter.

The five-year-old spent two years in that room with his sister.

He often snuck away to play with Baobao sister. But cleverly, he never asked anyone why he had another sister.

Those two years were so happy. His older siblings didn’t like playing with him. His parents were too busy. He was always alone.

Now someone played with him. He was very happy. He liked Baobao sister.

He stopped going to the banyan tree so much. That oddity was forgotten.

Until at seven, he discovered Baobao sister had a fever. But he couldn’t find any fever medicine.

In his panic, he woke his sleeping second sister Zhang Mengqi and hurriedly gave medicine to Baobao sister.

The next day, his parents called him to the study and told him: their mother had actually given birth to twins for the second child.

Second sister Zhang Mengqi. Third sister Baobao.

But second sister was weak. Third sister was strong and healthy.

Unfortunately, third sister was born a bit late. Her brain was oxygen-deprived. The doctor said she would always be mentally disabled.

By then, Zhang Wanli was already a famous tycoon. He could have a daughter who was constitutionally weak, but not one who was stupid.

Third sister Baobao was never even given a proper name. They just called her “Baobao”—baby. She was raised on the fifth floor with second sister, hidden from the world.

All servants signed confidentiality agreements. No one would reveal her existence.

Once she had her heart transplant, there would be no more Baobao in this world.

They said third sister would give her heart to second sister, so second sister wouldn’t have to worry about dying young.

Mother said the other siblings all knew. He was the youngest—they didn’t want him knowing too much. But since he had seen, they couldn’t keep hiding it. Just—he couldn’t go to the fifth floor anymore.

I thought it was terrifying. I liked Baobao sister, not that cold second sister.

Why take one person’s heart for another? Just because she was slow?

But why?!

I returned to my room in a daze. From then on, they always watched me, not letting me go to the fifth floor at night.

I could only run to the great banyan tree and idly stare at second sister’s room.

Until at eight, once again I saw the doctor on top of second sister.

Second sister no longer screamed. She just numbly turned her head toward the window.

She saw me hidden behind the branches. I saw the brightness in her eyes.

I read her lips. She said: “Why don’t you come play with me anymore?”

I fell from the tree, trembling all over. The August sun couldn’t drive away the cold in my body.

I went numbly back to my room.

I finally knew what had happened.

My beloved third sister. My disregarded third sister. My third sister, who didn’t even deserve a name.

She had been violated by a disgusting middle-aged man for three years—perhaps longer.

And my quiet, clever second sister?

It was her room. It was supposed to be her medical examination. Where was she?

He remembered the first meeting at age five. In his blurry memory, Zhang Mengqi had denied that anything happened!

No. No. No. She knew! She knew that third sister—that “stupid” person—was being violated by the doctor. She was an accomplice. She was the one who harmed her own flesh and blood!

Zhang Fengzhi screamed and cried, grabbing his folding knife and trying to run to the fifth floor. Servants who heard the commotion stopped him.

His older siblings came out too and held him back.

He shouted that they must save his sister.

No one listened. His eldest brother locked him in the punishment room.

Inside, he cried and screamed until his tears ran dry, his strength spent, and he fell into a heavy, drowsy sleep.

When he woke, he was in his own room. Both parents were there.

They said he’d had a fever. He’d been frightened. He’d slept for a day and a night. Now the fever was gone.

He was dazed. He asked if they all knew.

He saw his parents’ stiff faces. Saw the strange looks from the attending servants.

He remembered how he often saw servants asking the family doctor something, and the doctor would hand them money.

He said nothing. He knew everyone knew. Except him.

Now he knew too.

At midnight, he entered the family doctor Liu Weiye’s room for the first time.

The middle-aged man still wore half-frame glasses, smiling gently, asking if he had any more discomfort.

He asked the doctor if he was very powerful—otherwise, why would his parents turn a blind eye?

The doctor smiled. His face held mockery and a trace of self-satisfaction.

He said his teacher was the most famous cardiac surgeon in China. He was the teacher’s prized student.

Only he was willing to perform second sister’s surgery, because it involved another life. The law would never allow life to be cheapened.

But he could bypass the regular hospitals and bring the best medical resources.

“I can save your second sister, Fifth Young Master.”

So he left, and went to the fifth floor one last time.

Second sister wasn’t asleep. He asked her why.

When third sister already had nothing left.

Second sister smiled brightly. She said Baobao sister deserved it.

If she hadn’t stolen nutrients in the womb, maybe second sister wouldn’t have had a weak heart, unable to live past twenty.

She said she did it on purpose. Liu Weiye had pedophilic tendencies. She discovered it the first time he examined her.

But she calmly reached an agreement with him. After all, Baobao was going to die anyway. No one cared about her. Better to use her to keep the doctor loyal, to tend to her body carefully.

She said: “But Mother softened. She was secretly searching for a matching heart. She wanted to save her stupid daughter.

“I thought—if she can’t find a suitable heart, and Mother can’t bear to let the idiot go—what if it’s a daughter who’s been violated? That kind of dirty goods—she wouldn’t feel tender about that.”

I watched her as if she were possessed. I watched the devilish filth beneath their kind, gentle exteriors.

Everyone knew about the harm she suffered.

Parents didn’t care. Siblings didn’t care. Servants cared even less.

They could even receive a generous hush-money payment from the doctor after he relieved his desires.

“But I cared. I cared!”

Zhang Fengzhi laughed madly. He grabbed the medicine bottle from Lou Wensheng’s hand.

“When the doctor died, he even bragged to me. He said when I grew up, he’d give me this as a gift—so I could taste what it was like to have a girl after giving her this drug.”

The bottle was crushed to powder in his fist. Then he gazed tenderly at the second floor.

“The night I set the fire, I had prepared everything. While they slept, I burned it all to ash. No one would suspect an eight-year-old child.

“I even prepared a generous sum of money—enough for Baobao sister and me to live carefree for a lifetime.”

But he failed. Second sister was the truly clever one.

She deliberately guided him to discover the truth. Deliberately laid bare her own dark thoughts that night to enrage him.

She coldly watched the eight-year-old make his poorly prepared plans. She had even secretly deposited a large sum into that card.

Zhang Mengqi tricked the disabled third sister into lying in her bed, put on Baobao sister’s clothes, and walked away.

Zhang Fengzhi only thought to burn the darkness. He never considered that night’s wind, how fast the fire spread.

By the time he realized Zhang Mengqi had escaped, it was too late.

He and everyone else perished in the flames—while the murderer got away.

“I don’t regret the fire I set. But I resent—why can the murderer live free? Why were you all so stupid that you couldn’t even notice someone was missing?”

The two men and one leopard said nothing. They only thought—if anyone had seduced a mentally disabled girl, they’d want to throw that person into the eighteenth level of hell.

The little ghost looked at me earnestly: “You’re here to take me, right? Send me to the eighteenth level of hell or scatter my soul—either is fine.

“But I beg you—find Zhang Mengqi. Let me kill her. You won’t have to bear the karma of a human life.”

I shook my head: “I have never feared karma. But I cannot agree to your request.”

Zhang Fengzhi was anxious: “Why! I can clearly sense that you…”

“Shh~”

I silenced him.

The two men and one leopard were startled by the ghost’s words and began secretly eyeing me again.

I told him: “Your second sister Zhang Mengqi died four years ago. She changed her name and fled with a fortune. She was targeted long ago. Thrown into the sea. Not a trace remains.

“Heaven’s justice is clear. Good and evil are rewarded. These words are never empty.”

Zhang Fengzhi froze, clearly never expecting his greatest obsession to already be dead.

“She entered the Hell of Yama. The Ten Courts of Hell will make her endure every punishment until her sins are cleansed, before she can enter reincarnation. The suffering of the eighteen levels of hell—no one can bear it.

“As for your Baobao sister—her life was too bitter. She has already been reborn into a happy family. This life, she is very happy.”

Zhang Fengzhi smiled from the heart.

But—his obsession was resolved. He was about to dissipate.

After all, he carried the lives of over twenty people. When he reached the underworld, his merits and sins would be judged.

I cast a spell to summon Black and White Impermanence, asking them to keep an eye on this child.

Black and White Impermanence, holding their mourning staffs, bowed respectfully to me.

They bound him in chains and led him to the underworld.

The two men and one leopard huddled to the side like quails, eyes wide, staring at Black and White Impermanence and that gate to the underworld.

Then they frantically recalled whether they had ever done anything wrong.

After all, until today they had thought the underworld was a joke.

Now Black and White Impermanence had come out with something—didn’t that mean the Ten Courts of Hell were real too!

Lou Wensheng and Zhao Qingfeng broke out in cold sweats. Working up the courage, they asked me:

“Are you… really a nine-tailed fox?”

I swished my tail and smiled with half-closed eyes:

“Yes~”

As for the little leopard, his eyes were full of pride that us demons were truly powerful.

His tail swished and swished—and smacked right into my spirit-embroidered sword.

Spirit-embroidered sword: this sensation… a bit like the tail of the Labrador my master’s sister used to raise when she was little. A bit painful. Disliked.

After the mission ended, the director held a grand celebration and formally introduced my existence to everyone.

Sister Meng Xue stuffed a handful of chocolates into my hand.

“Demons can eat chocolate, right? It won’t kill you?”

I said it was fine.

Then Lou Wensheng brought his Department Nine people over to thank me, and took the opportunity to invite me to join Department Nine.

Director Zhou greeted the other man’s grandfather with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

Right after, the bald monk I’d seen before came over too.

He obsequiously lit a cigarette for Director Zhou and asked if they could jointly capture that yellow weasel.

“That beast has eaten thirteen people already. We can’t catch it now. If we let it keep eating people, the consequences are unthinkable. Let’s prioritize the big picture. We split the credit sixty-forty!”

“Seventy-thirty. You get thirty, I get seventy.”

The bald monk gritted his teeth. “Done!”

（The End）