Chapter 14: Is This a Fox Demon?

Hong Hui choked out, “Master Gu, did you see Xiaobao? Is she here?”

Just as Gu Wang was about to speak, there was a commotion in the courtyard.

The living room door moved, but He Xiaohua, as if startled, immediately ran to the corner of the courtyard.

The little Bone Child froze for a moment, then also ran over, softly comforting, “Don’t be scared, don’t be scared, I’ll protect you!”

The door opened, and a middle-aged man stumbled out, reeking of alcohol, unbuckling his belt and heading towards the wall.

Halfway, he tripped over a pebble the children had been playing with and suddenly erupted in a furious rage, brandishing his belt and roaring at Xiaohua in the corner, “Damn it! You damned brat, was that you?! How dare you trip me!”

Xiaohua trembled in fear, instinctively covering her head with her hands and crying, “Not Xiaohua, Daddy. Xiaohua didn’t do it…”

The man raised his belt to strike, “Who’s your damned daddy, your daddy’s long dead!”

As the belt was about to come down, Gu Wang had already formed a hand seal, but then saw the Bone Child stand in front of Xiaohua, indignantly cursing, “Bad person!”

Black energy emerged from the little skeleton’s seven orifices, transforming into seven black lines that crisscrossed, encircling the man.

Little Bone Child: “I’ll punish you to play hide-and-seek with baby!”

Standing right before Xiaohua, the man seemed not to see her, suspiciously lowering his hand. “Strange, why are there suddenly so many walls?”

He walked a few steps in the spacious courtyard, then suddenly bumped into something, crying “Ouch!” and falling to the ground, his expression gradually turning terrified.

Gu Wang witnessed the entire scene, his eyes curving into a smile. “Good child!”

He changed his hand seal, releasing a burst of spiritual energy to protect He Xiaohua, and told Hong Hui, “Call the police. Someone here is abusing a child.”

Hong Hui instinctively obeyed, pulling out her phone to call the police. Although unsure what was happening in the courtyard, He Xiaohua couldn’t help but cover her mouth and giggle, seeing the man stumble around as if lost.

About ten minutes later, police sirens could be heard.

Gu Wang immediately acted, removing the Bone Child’s little maze.

The man shook his head, finding himself back in the familiar courtyard.

Before he could react, the police had already entered.

The man’s face changed drastically. “Who are you! You…”

The team leader was the same police officer (Jing Hua) who had visited the amusement park before. She pinned the man down. “Where’s your ID? What’s your relationship with this child?”

The man’s face was pale. “My, my ID is in my pocket. The child is… is adopted…”

The police officer checking He Xiaohua shouted, “The child has injuries on her body, suspected of abuse!”

The police officer checking the ID was also shocked. “His ID is fake! Take him back for facial recognition!”

The police officer’s gaze sharpened. “Take him with me to check inside the house!”

Soon, reports came from inside the house: “There’s an injured woman inside!”

“Drugs found!”

The police officer holding down the man looked stern. “Well, well, you’re involved in all five vices!”

The man slumped to the ground, his forehead covered in cold sweat. It’s over, I’m finished…

But he couldn’t understand how these police officers got here when he hadn’t even left his house! Who called the police?!

The police acted quickly, and soon the injured woman, Xiaohua, and the man were all put into the car.

A police officer reported to the police officer: “Captain, the on-site evidence collection is complete, but we don’t know who the caller was. Should we investigate?”

The police officer frowned, looked up and around, and when her gaze landed in a particular direction, she suddenly raised an eyebrow. “No need.”

The police car carrying the injured and the criminals drove away.

Gu Wang bowed in a Taoist salute towards the direction they departed. He held immense respect for these individuals who bore such heavy burdens.

In the courtyard, the little Bone Child still didn’t understand what had happened, only seeing a group of people come and go, taking everyone with them. She wanted to run after them but was held back by the malevolent presence of the police car.

After a while, the little one stood alone in the empty courtyard, raising her tiny skeletal hand to pat her breastbone, comforting herself like the welfare institution teachers comforted children: “Don’t be scared, don’t be scared, baby can play by herself…”

Suddenly, she heard a familiar, trembling voice calling out, “Xiaobao—”

The Bone Child turned back in confusion, seeing a tear-stained face. Her tiny head couldn’t hold too many memories, but she instinctively called out two words, “Mommy…”

Mother and daughter were finally reunited.

Hong Hui felt that there were no regrets in this life.

Seeing that Hong Hui’s outpouring of longing wouldn’t be expressed anytime soon, Gu Wang had no choice but to take the two back to the amusement park.

It was only a little past ten in the morning, so if they went back now, he could still make it for today’s opening. He couldn’t help but lament again that the amusement park still lacked staff!

Taking a taxi to the amusement park, before they even reached the entrance, Gu Wang suddenly said, “Master, you can stop here.”

After getting out of the car, he told Hong Hui and her daughter, “Wait for me here. I’ll come out to pick you up in a bit.”

With that, he took a step forward.

They could already see the stone tablet at the amusement park’s entrance.

Walking straight ahead would lead them directly to the amusement park.

However, Gu Wang simply took a step forward and vanished.

Hong Hui froze for a moment, then lowered her head and asked the Bone Child, “Baby, did you feel anything?”

The Bone Child looked around and suddenly shrank into Hong Hui’s arms. “There’s something very scary.”

Hong Hui hugged her, just about to say, “Mommy will protect you,” when she heard the Bone Child say again, “But Brother Gu is even scarier!”

Though small, the Bone Child was a Yin entity and naturally felt the vast Yin energy on Gu Wang, as well as the boundless spiritual energy that suppressed it.

Hong Hui: “Oh, then it’s fine.”

Gu Wang took a few steps forward. Although the surrounding scenery hadn’t changed, he sensed something was different. He focused his senses for a moment, his expression subtle.

Footsteps came from behind him.

A female college student, dressed in a pure white dress and looking very innocent, caught up to him.

Beads of sweat dotted her forehead, and she asked breathlessly, “Ex-excuse me, how do I get to Fengdu Amusement Park?”

Gu Wang’s mouth twitched. He looked up ahead. “It’s right there.”

The girl’s eyes lit up. “Oh, I’ve already arrived! I thought I was lost!”

She smiled at Gu Wang, her eyes sparkling as if hiding little stars. “Are you also going to the amusement park? Let’s go together!”

Gu Wang glanced at her, his gaze suddenly shifting. “Ah, yes.”

The girl didn’t notice his abnormality. He chattered incessantly like a little bird, which was quite cute. However, Gu Wang was like a “saw-mouthed grunt,” trudging along without saying a word.

A flicker of anger flashed in the girl’s eyes.

Suddenly, she cried “Ouch!” and dropped to the ground, her pristine white dress spreading out like a calla lily. She reached out, whimpering, “It’s so hard to walk in high heels. Can you help me up?”

Gu Wang turned to look at her.

The girl delicately covered her mouth, feigning weakness, and playfully chided, “What are you looking at? Come help me up!”

Gu Wang suddenly covered his mouth too. “Blech!”

The girl’s eyebrows twitched. “What’s wrong with you?” she asked suspiciously.

Gu Wang looked up at the sky. “Ah, I’m sorry, seeing a grown man delicately falling to the ground, still…” He recited a few lines of the Qingjing Sutra, “The Three Pure Ones above, your disciple is bound by appearances.”

The girl was stunned momentarily, then her face darkened as she realized. “What did you say?!”

Gu Wang: “I said that human hobbies are free, but you can’t… well, don’t give me those sparkling smiles. Seeing a grown man wink at me, I’m truly afraid I’ll have nightmares tonight.”

The “girl” flew into a rage, slapping the ground and standing up, yelling anew, “You rotten Taoist, how dare you steal my fox clan’s enchantment bead!”

Gu Wang exhaled. “If you wanted to snatch the enchantment bead, you should’ve just said so. That whole act earlier startled me.”

The “girl”: “…”

The two exchanged a few blows. The “girl” said rather smugly, “Although your cultivation is high, most of your spiritual energy is used to suppress the Yin energy within you. While I can’t do anything to you right now, I can’t compete with you regarding consumption. Moreover, we are currently in my barrier!”

With that, he cast another spell to deplete Gu Wang’s spiritual energy.

Gu Wang: “I advise you not to do that.”

The “girl” snorted coldly. “If you’re scared, just surrender.”

Gu Wang: “Is your illusion barrier sturdy?”

The “girl”: “?”

Just as he was about to say, What the hell? he felt a powerful surge of Yin energy suddenly erupt within the barrier.

Like a small boat in a vast ocean, he was instantly caught in a dizzying spin.

The barrier, which should have been under his control, had lost its connection to him.

Luckily, this surge of Yin energy wasn’t trying to break free, so it barely managed to hold.

Outside the barrier.

Hong Hui and the little Bone Child only saw a huge black sphere appear out of nowhere, with faint human figures vaguely visible inside.

Hong Hui was somewhat apprehensive, but the Bone Child cautiously extended a finger bone, hooked a wisp of Yin energy escaping from the barrier, and put it into her mouth—

Instantly, the little one’s head gleamed with delight. “So delicious! This must be Brother Gu’s Yin energy, even tastier than a lollipop! If only I could have it every day!”

Inside the barrier, Gu Wang retracted the Yin energy within him.

Since gaining the amusement park’s energy, suppressing Yin energy had become increasingly simple for him, and he no longer felt cold all over.

The beautiful college student disappeared, leaving only a red-furred fox the size of a Samoyed, with three tails behind it. Its fur was disheveled as if it had been groomed by ten burly men.

Gu Wang: “Stop pretending to be dead, transform back into a human.”

The fox grunted twice, then transformed into a handsome man over 1.8 meters tall. Looking at his face, he had a full forehead and a square jaw, a nose like a hanging gall, and a strong, upright demeanor.

This was the type of righteous hero popular over ten years ago, his most original transformed appearance.

One can imagine the significant mental blow Gu Wang suffered seeing such a face delicately and helplessly slumped on the ground, winking at him.

A red light flashed on his body, and he transformed again into a voluptuous beauty in a red dress.

There was no helping it; no matter how masculine, he was still a fox spirit, and this was his preference.

Gu Wang closed his eyes, unable to bear the sight.

After a long moment, he rummaged in his bag and pulled out a pink bead.

The fox was filled with regret. If only I had known, I would have kept the enchantment bead on me. Wouldn’t it have been better to just grab the bag and leave?

Gu Wang also regretted it. If only I had known he was here for the enchantment bead, I would have just thrown the bag at him!

He handed over the enchantment bead. “I was only keeping it temporarily. If you had just come and asked for it, I would have given it to you.”

The fox was stunned. Seeing Gu Wang’s clear gaze, devoid of any covetousness for the enchantment bead, he couldn’t help but sigh. “Your resolve is firm, I was too small-minded.”

Gu Wang: “Then can you change back into male attire…”

Fox: “I don’t want to! Mind your own business!” Fox angry.JPG

He reached out for the enchantment bead. However, as his hand extended, the bead’s color gradually faded, finally disappearing.

Both were startled.

Gu Wang reacted, reaching into his bag again and pulling out the enchantment bead.

Both frowned.

The enchantment bead actually refused to return to the fox clan and instead wanted to follow an outsider?

The fox frowned for a moment and said, “A sacred object can sense the laws of heaven and earth. Since it wants to follow you, let it be. However, I must also stay.”

Gu Wang: “No, I can’t afford to keep you, unless you work.”

The fox proudly chuckled, “Isn’t it just being a haunted house NPC? Don’t think I didn’t see you got the Candle Maiden, the Lamp Shadow Hag, and a recently deceased little ghost. How can they compare to me? Tell me, do you want a palace or a celestial abode? I can conjure them all for you with illusions! I must stay to protect my fox clan’s supreme treasure!”

Gu Wang had a headache. He was mainly worried that this fox would be uncontrollable.

Given his tendency to resort to action at the slightest disagreement, if he were to be a scene NPC, what if he got carried away and injured someone? But what if he wasn’t a scene NPC?

He suddenly realized, deep in thought, “There is indeed a position that’s short on people, with specific appearance requirements. It’s quite suitable for you.”

The fox puffed out his chest. “There’s no position I can’t do!”

Half an hour later, the amusement park opened for business.

A ticket-selling young lady replaced the ticket-selling Taoist.