Looking at that living dead creature, I felt a chill run down my spine as I hid behind the door in the dead of night. Before long, he dragged the woman upstairs - probably to one of the hotel rooms.
To prevent her from screaming again, he gagged her with a piece of paper before hauling her up the staircase.
As soon as the living dead disappeared, I rushed out and asked Boss Qin, "Is that one of the Ghost Police living dead?"
Boss Qin nodded. "Yes. These things are active day and night, though they mostly sneak around after dark. But this one seems new - usually Mount Zhongnan rarely sees living dead. Sometimes years go by without a single sighting. No idea why dozens have appeared recently. It's unbelievable."
I pressed further about the woman the living dead had brought. "Why was she tied up like that? She clearly wasn't willing. Isn't that coercion? That's illegal!"
Boss Qin chuckled. "Probably tricked by the living dead. They're never compliant at first. But after one night, they always become obedient followers." As for why, Boss Qin claimed not to know - though his lewd smile as he spoke made the implication clear enough for any man to understand.
I remained skeptical. How could something neither human nor ghost, no matter how skilled, make a woman follow him devotedly? There had to be more to it than just deception - some other method at work.
Part of me wanted to help the poor woman, who seemed genuinely distressed. But this was unfamiliar territory, and discretion seemed wiser. Moreover, dealing with a Ghost Police officer could bring unpredictable consequences. Unless absolutely necessary, it was better not to provoke him. The woman should have known better than to wander around at night anyway - what was she thinking? Trouble was practically inevitable.
My hunger pangs reminded me I hadn't eaten dinner. I asked Boss Qin to prepare something and bring it to my room while I took a hot shower.
Boss Qin gave an OK sign. "No problem. Don't let our size fool you - our service is top-notch. With enough money, you can live like an emperor here."
After my nap, I wasn't just hungry - I felt grimy and reeked of sweat. My first priority upon returning to my room was to shower.
But halfway through, my room door suddenly opened. Assuming it was Boss Qin with my food, I called out, "Just put it on the table!" Then, seconds later - snap! - the bathroom door swung open too. Since I was alone, I hadn't locked it.
The intruder shocked me beyond words - it was the little fox. She stared wide-eyed at my naked form and exclaimed, "Huh? Master, why do you have a tail in the front?"
Startled, I grabbed a towel to cover myself. "What tail? Humans don't have tails! What are you doing barging in here? Can't you see I'm showering?"
"Of course I know!" The little fox poured out her grievances all at once, having clearly reached her limit. "I came to hide! I can't stand that Celestial Master anymore - staring at me all night like countless ants crawling over my skin. I refuse to stay with him!"
I gave a bitter laugh. Surely it wasn't that bad? But just then, the room door burst open again.
"Oh no! He's coming after me!" The little fox panicked. With a whoosh, she transformed from human back into fox form and dove into my bathrobe.
Rubbing my forehead in exasperation, I felt utterly embarrassed. Though the little fox had been in human form all day, I couldn't simply think of her as just a fox anymore. Her hiding in my bathrobe felt even more intimate than when she'd seen me naked.
"Get back in here and close your eyes," I ordered.
Instead of responding, the little fox squirmed nervously inside the robe, clearly distressed, which troubled me.
"Roger, have you seen the fox demon?" Philip's voice came from just outside the bathroom - he'd indeed tracked her here.
"Haven't seen her. Weren't you sharing a room?" I deliberately answered with a question.
"That crafty fox demon escaped while I was using the toilet," Philip grumbled.
Glancing at the lump in my bathrobe, I added, "If she ran off, she knows her way back. She's a demon - not likely to encounter danger."
"I'm not worried about her facing danger - I'm worried about her causing it," Philip retorted coldly, clearly still suspecting the little fox meant harm.
Exasperated, I said, "If you're so worried, go look for her. The little fox isn't here - search all you want. If you find her, I'll admit defeat."
But then - snap! - Philip pushed the bathroom door open again. Fortunately, he couldn't spot the little fox hidden in my robe.
"What the hell? Ever heard of privacy? Do you just barge in when people are showering?" I snapped.
Philip frowned. "'You guys'? Who else is here?"
"There's also... Stein! He used to pull this at the tattoo parlor too," I blurted hastily.
"Stein? That midget? You..." Philip's frown deepened.
"Ahem, don't get the wrong idea. We're just very close friends - nothing inappropriate." Why did my explanation only seem to make things worse?
Just then, Philip suddenly sniffed hard. "No... there's demonic energy here..."
At that moment, I abruptly turned on the shower - first to mask any demonic aura in the bathroom, and second to splash Philip as a distraction.
But Philip's reflexes were incredibly sharp. The instant the shower turned on, he dodged so quickly not a single drop touched him. He immediately backed out of the room.
"What demonic energy? It's just the shower gel I used - and it's expired, so it smells a bit off. The little fox really isn't here. The bathroom's tiny - you can see everything at a glance. Is there anywhere you can't see? Now get out - I'm trying to shower here." After my rushed explanation, I essentially kicked him out. Whether Philip believed me or not, he finally left, and both the little fox and I sighed in relief simultaneously.
Once Philip was gone, the little fox immediately crawled out and transformed back into human form.
"Thank you, master! Love you~" The little fox had somehow picked up this phrase somewhere, and it came out disgustingly cutesy.
"Go, go! No more washing. Can't you learn some basic manners as my servant? You can't just barge in everywhere!" I hurriedly pushed the little fox out with me.
"Huh? Master, your tail is different from mine. Mine is soft and nice to touch," the little fox said cheekily.
Me: "......"
If I had a tail like hers - that long and thick - would any woman in the world dare to take me? What nonsense. This little fox was still new to the human world and didn't understand anything. I couldn't really blame her!