“What are you doing!” I swung a punch at his face.

He was taken aback and quickly let go, stammering, “Sorry, sorry, I didn’t mean—”

“Not your ghost, huh!” I yelled and stomped on his foot with my heel.

The sharp heel made him cry out in pain, but he ignored his foot and lunged at me—

Was this an assault?

The word flashed through my mind in that instant.

The manager pinned me to the ground, his hand over my mouth, whispering urgently, “You can’t talk about… ghosts—”

As soon as he said that, I shivered.

There we were, sprawled in front of the women’s restroom…

The temperature around us dropped suddenly, and the manager, shaking like a leaf, desperately tried to back away, but an invisible barrier kept us from reaching the safety of the lit area just a step away.

I heard Song Wei’s scream and, ignoring my fear, I rushed inside.

“Song Wei! Where are you?!” I pushed open each stall door.

No one was there.

“Xiao Qiao, save me! I’m in the last one!”

The last one?

I dashed straight to it.

At that moment, I didn’t consider it might be a trap set by an evil spirit.

Reaching the last stall, I pushed the door open to find a gray, wrinkled thing crouched on the toilet seat.

A small baby…

“Play with me…” the baby suddenly spoke.

Terrified, I watched as the baby lunged at me like a projectile. As I screamed and dodged, a red halo of light blocked the baby.

It bounced off like a ball hitting tempered glass and crashed to the floor.

My god… it’s a child, not a ball! Instinctively, I reached out to help it, then remembered it was a specter.

“Hmph… big liar, you won’t play with me…” the baby turned away, sulking.

“Where is my friend!” I mustered the courage to ask—emboldened by the red light from the ring that had protected me.

I’ve dealt with ghosts before, doing this and that!

The baby cackled maliciously, its mouth splitting into a black grin, “I ate her! If I eat you too, you can see her—”

It lunged again, and I ran out, driven by pure reflex.

But those damn high heels! I wasn’t used to them!

With a snap, I twisted my ankle badly and fell hard on the cold tiles.

But the baby didn’t advance further.

I turned to see a figure standing behind me, dressed in black traditional Chinese attire, hair cascading down his back.

I heard a clear, male voice say, “Come, I’ll play with you.”

The baby crawled backward in terror, shaking its head, “No, no… I don’t want to play with you, don’t destroy me, I haven’t harmed anyone…”

“Then leave, you’re lucky I’m in a forgiving mood today,” the man said with a laugh, then pointed to the floor where a brass door more than a meter high emerged, adorned with demonic engravings and chains.

Reluctantly, the baby shrank back. The man’s tone turned icy, “Not leaving?!”

Terrified, the baby darted through the door like a skinned gray rat.

It disappeared, along with the door.

The icy atmosphere vanished instantly, and I heard crying.

“Song Wei, Song Wei! Come out, it’s safe now!” I sat on the cold floor, calling her name while staring at the tall figure of the man.

The inner door rattled, and Song Wei sobbed in response, “Xiao Qiao, the lock’s broken, I was so scared… wuwuwu…”

“It’s okay, I’ll get someone,” I reassured her while glancing at the stunned mall manager.

He was truly petrified, staring in disbelief.

I threw a shoe at him; it snapped him back to reality. He incredulously asked, “Did you get rid of that thing…?”

“Go get someone to open the door! The lock’s broken!” I shouted at him.

Realizing the ghost was gone, he scrambled away.

I couldn’t stand up.

My ankle was swollen; I just sat on the floor, hugging my knees, burying my head like an ostrich.

I couldn’t hear this man’s familiar voice.

I couldn’t see his familiar hands.

Nor could I feel his familiar icy aura.

He crouched in front of me, removing my other high heel.

“Mu Xiao Qiao.” His crisp voice was low in my ear.

I looked up, biting my lip.

No mask of a malevolent spirit.

I knew he had a smooth forehead and a widow’s peak just above his hairline.

But I didn’t know his eyes carried a dark golden iris.

Didn’t know about his high nose bridge and beautifully contoured lips.

Didn’t know that unmasked, he was even more terrifying.

He dangled my high heel by its strap in front of me.

His tone dangerous, he spoke deliberately, “Don’t let me see you wearing these kinds of high heels again.”

High heels?

I paused, wondering why he wasn’t concerned about my swollen ankle.

“If you hurt what’s inside you, I’ll make sure your whole family begs for death!” His gaze coldly fixed on my abdomen.

I realized then, he was worried about the “thing” he had left inside me.

I scoffed, “Fine, as you wish, Lord.”

His eyes darkened, displeased with my attitude.

Displeased or not, I’m just a vessel to him, isn’t it? He wouldn’t kill me.

He had sown his seeds in vain before, dealing with my rigid and unromantic body, it was tough for him.

Soon, the manager hurried back with a toolbox, at least he hadn’t fled. He shouted, “Excuse me, let me pick the lock.”

Two of us?

Two?!

I glanced at the man next to me, his expression cold and indifferent, unchanged.

The door opened, and Song Wei burst out crying, “Going to the restroom almost killed me! Hallucinations, broken locks, even a power outage! Your mall scared me half to death!”

She berated the manager, then ran to me, “Wuwuwu, Xiao Qiao, I was so scared—hey, who’s this male model? So handsome!! Handsome guy, can I get your WeChat?!”

Her tears were still on her face, but her fear had already been replaced by infatuation.

Jiang Qiyun.

I remembered he had mentioned this name.

But my great-grandfather had knelt before his jade token, trembling.

Lord Bei Tai, a revered deity of Daoism, a dignitary of the underworld.

To him, I’m merely a tool.

A tool for his unregulated travels between realms, and for bearing a spirit child.

Song Wei laughed heartily, “When did Xiao Qiao get such a handsome man! Oh, don’t be shy! Don’t think I can’t tell you’re blushing just because you bury your face in his back!”

He said nothing, and after Song Wei left, he carried me to a secluded corner, drew a talisman with his hand, and a flash of white light engulfed us…