The rope tied around the little fox's body was strange—no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't untie it. Instead, it only grew tighter. Growing desperate, I grabbed a fruit knife from the table, but to my shock, the rope was so tough even the blade couldn't cut through it.
"What kind of rope is this? How is it so strong that even a knife can't cut it?" I asked Philip in disbelief.
Philip replied calmly, "This is a Demon Binding Rope. It can restrain any demon—how could an ordinary knife cut it?"
"You're inhuman! Using a Demon Binding Rope on a small demon like me? Wuuuuh, Master, save me!" the little fox wailed pitifully.
"Philip, why did you tie her up? Just untie her—it's not like she's going to run away."
Since I couldn't break the rope myself, I had no choice but to plead with Philip.
"Why did you let her go last night?" Philip suddenly asked.
I froze. So he had noticed the little fox hiding in my bathrobe while I showered. That explained his question.
"Don't lie to me," Philip said sternly. "Even though my master sent me to protect you, and we're old friends—I hate being lied to."
With no other option, I confessed: I'd released the little fox so she could track the living dead Francesc and uncover what the Ghost Police were up to at night.
Philip sighed. "The Ghost Police are messengers between the mortal world and the underworld. Anyone who can travel freely between those realms isn't weak—otherwise, they'd have been killed long ago for stealing souls. I advise you not to provoke him."
"I didn't start this. He was the one doing evil—I just couldn't ignore it, so I stepped in to teach him a lesson," I argued.
Backing down from someone like him? Not a chance. There is justice in this world—if we let such vermin run rampant, what would become of everything?
(Of course, mostly I was just pissed he'd bullied Daphne. The whole 'righteousness' bit was just for Philip's benefit—I'm not exactly a saint.)
At that, Philip pressed two fingers to his lips and muttered an incantation—too fast to catch a single word—before finally booming, "Retract!"
With a sharp whoosh, the Demon Binding Rope slackened instantly, then dropped to the floor on its own.
"Since you're so 'noble,' I'll let it slide this time. But if this fox demon leaves again, you must tell me first—no more sending her out alone," Philip warned.
In the end, Philip still didn't trust the little fox, but that couldn't be helped. Perhaps Celestial Masters were naturally hostile to demons and monsters. Still, he meant well—he was just afraid the little fox might harm people.
"Okay, okay, I promise! But let the little fox sleep in my room first. She... she has a fox smell that might bother you." I quickly grabbed the little fox and dashed out, bringing her back to my room.
"Finally free from that stinking Celestial Master! I suffered so much! Wuuuuuh..." The little fox burst into tears again. It seemed being hung up all night had taken its toll, both physically and mentally.
I asked what had happened and why Philip had caught her again.
The little fox explained that Philip had indeed spotted her hiding in my bathrobe. When she went out later, he followed her the entire way—probably to see what she was up to.
But the little fox hadn't done anything wrong. She'd just tailed the Living Dead. On her way back, Philip caught her, tied her up, and hung her in his room as punishment for sneaking around. Luckily, after growing her second tail, the little fox had learned voice-transmission magic—otherwise, she might have been left hanging there much longer. That Celestial Master was truly ruthless. Now, the little fox was terrified of even seeing him.
Compared to someone like Stella, Philip was downright iron-fisted—never lenient with demons. If not for my intervention, the little fox would probably have been captured already.
"Foxie, never mind that. What did you see last night while following the Living Dead?" My curiosity got the better of me again.
Just then, the little fox's stomach growled—louder than thunder. She rubbed her belly and grinned. "Master, I haven't eaten anything until now. What about those two roasted chickens you promised me...?"
Faced with such a glutton, I had no choice but to ask Boss Qin for two roasted chickens. The little fox devoured them instantly, even licking her fingers clean afterward.
"Can we talk now?" I said sternly.
The little fox nodded, then recounted everything from last night's tracking mission. What I heard shocked me.
After leaving the hotel, the little fox had followed the Living Dead all the way to the foot of Mount Zhongnan.
But strangely, the Living Dead didn't climb the mountain or linger at the base. Instead, he circled around to the back of Mount Zhongnan Pass.
That area was even more desolate—no roads, just thick weeds and trees. Once inside, a person could barely see, as if the wilderness might swallow them whole.
The Living Dead stopped there, crouching as if waiting for someone.
After a few minutes, a black-robed man descended from the mountain. With his hooded robe and mask, the little fox couldn't make out his face.
The Living Dead stood up respectfully the moment he saw the black-robed man. The black-robed man then handed him a check, as if commissioning him for some task.
The Living Dead grinned from ear to ear upon receiving the check and immediately stuffed it into his pocket.
At this point, the black-robed man issued a stern warning: "The money has been given to you. When the time comes, you must help me transport all the newly deceased souls from here to the netherworld. Fail, and... your head won't remain on your shoulders."
"I understand, I understand! This is a trivial matter, please rest assured." The Living Dead hastily bowed, his posture obsequious. The man before him clearly held an exalted status—even a Ghost Police officer like the Living Dead dared not show the slightest disrespect in his speech.
"Just... one thing I don't quite grasp," the Living Dead ventured cautiously, his eyes never leaving the black-robed man's face, fearful of reprisal yet unable to suppress his curiosity. "You went through such pains to lure these people here—isn't it to use their departed souls to open Mount Zhongnan's secret door? Why then would you need me to redundantly transport their souls to the netherworld?"
As expected, the black-robed man immediately glared at him. "Don't ask what you shouldn't. After so many years as Ghost Police, haven't you learned this much? Money makes the devil turn the millstone—just focus on turning yours. Some secrets are meant only for the dead to know."
"My apologies! I shouldn't have asked. Let me punish myself—let me punish myself!" The Living Dead proceeded to slap himself hard twice across the face.
"Go now. Mount Zhongnan is crowded these days, teeming with Erebus profiteers. We shouldn't linger here." With these words, the black-robed man waved his hand and vanished like the wind.
Even the Living Dead stood shocked—let alone the little fox. Who but an immortal could disappear like that? What being but a celestial could achieve such a feat?
"That old demon's power is terrifying," the Living Dead muttered after a moment. After scanning his surroundings, he hurriedly left the area and returned to the inn.