Ghoul in Chen City

The eastern side of Moonfall Continent joined the western side of Kaiyang Continent. High in the middle and low around the edges, it resembled a terraced pyramid.

The Ten-Thousand-Blade Plateau in the central region was one of the higher elevations on Moonfall Continent, second only to the towering Ten-Thousand-Blade Mountain Range beside it.

The Ten-Thousand-Blade Plateau was also the largest plateau on Ruolan Star.

It was flat and vast, with ample water and abundant resources, and its elevation was not too high for settlement. It was an ideal place to establish communities.

Many races had wanted to settle nearby, but after a long struggle, only three remained.

The Human Race, the Beastfolk, and the Demon Race.

The Human Race's Chen City stood on the Ten-Thousand-Fathom Plains and was one of the largest of the twelve human cities.

The moon and stars could be seen clearly here, and friendly merchants from other races were a common sight. Prosperity and wealth defined the city.

Though both cities had streetlights, the brilliant starlight made Chen City's nights a little brighter than Yin City's. The people of Chen City also enjoyed a livelier nightlife and went to bed somewhat later.

October 8, 11:30 p.m., Zi City time.

Lou Shisui leaned in the shadows amid the bright lights of Fuhua Commercial Street, his quiet, gentle gaze drifting over the passing crowd.

His unobtrusive attention was perfectly measured and drew no notice whatsoever.

He was choosing a desirable companion with whom to spend the night.

A breeze swept through the bustling district. The men and women enjoying the nightlife were all touched by the scent of alcohol, like liquor-filled chocolates giving off an intoxicating fragrance.

A fox-eared woman carrying a bottle of alcohol emerged from a quiet bar across the street. She was alone and had Fifth Realm Mid-Stage cultivation, immediately catching Shisui's attention.

A supple body, just the right amount of muscle, a lovely face, and a nonhuman identity.

One of the numerous Fox Clan of the Demon Race? From the outside, it looks as though she just has one or two extra animal features.

Once she's cut open, will she be any different from humans and Beastfolk?

Shisui had chosen his target.

He took off his mask, pulled up his hood, and walked toward the woman without drawing attention, bumping into her as he drew close.

"Sorry, are you all right?"

"Sorry, I'm a little drunk. I didn't hurt you, did I?"

Their apologies rang out at the same time, and they stopped amid the noisy flow of people.

Shisui's good looks did their job. The woman was momentarily dazzled by his handsome face, and her annoyance at being bumped into turned into a little thrill at encountering a handsome man.

"Sorry, ma'am, I wasn't watching where I was going."

"It's all right."

After the brief exchange, they left in different directions.

"Whoa! That human just now was pretty handsome!"

A faint, drunken blush on her face, the fox woman melted into the crowd.

A deep-purple Radiant Feather had been attached to her clothes. Shisui left the lively commercial street and headed for another bustling night market.

He intended to scout out more prey while waiting for this city with its vibrant nightlife to fall asleep.

Running into a handsome man had lifted Xu Xiao's spirits a little, but only a little. After all, she hadn't had her heart broken today; she'd lost her job.

She had followed the trading company all the way to the Human Race's Chen City for work because the pay and benefits were good and the city was well developed.

Yet after a year of work, her wages had all gone toward rent, food, clothing, and daily expenses. She hadn't managed to save as much as she had working back home in the Ten-Thousand-Blade Mountain Range.

And now, before she could find another job and resign, her boss had fired her. At least she didn't have to agonize over it anymore. She could just pack up and go home.

Whenever she thought about how hard it had been to find work in a more developed area, only to have to go back now, she felt miserable.

As for why she didn't stay in Chen City longer and take her time looking for work—come on, prices here were sky-high!

She could stay until the end of the month at most, since she'd already paid this month's rent.

But that was it. If she stayed any longer, she was afraid even her savings would run dry!

Boo-hoo, handsome men, fine wine, malls and supermarkets, farewell! I'll work hard to get hired by another trading company and come back!

Xu Xiao kicked off her heeled leather shoes and collapsed onto the sofa in her apartment's living room. She let out the fox tail she usually kept hidden, and it swayed lazily.

Her gaze swept over the slightly messy floor, the dusty open kitchen, and the plants quietly withering on the little balcony.

The dreams she'd had when she first moved in turned bitter now. Weariness wrapped around her body, and she sank into a heavy sleep as the clock struck three in the morning.

Click.

The Radiant Feather fell off, making a faint sound that seemed especially sharp in the silent apartment.

A spatial rift as tall as a person appeared in the living room.

Twisting tentacles emerged from the rift and wrapped around the woman's body.

The toxin on the Bikaku's scales entered her body, leaving her unconscious and insensible.

Shisui stepped out of the rift, and the quiet apartment received an uninvited guest.

His silver hair, paler and more deathly still than moonlight, stood out brazenly in the darkness, giving off a chilling aura of death.

Having just eaten his fill elsewhere, Shisui stretched and casually surveyed the apartment.

Passing the living room table, he spotted a notice of dismissal from the Youhe Trading Company. Beside it lay a casually stacked pile of job postings and basic introductions from numerous trading companies.

Hmm, trading companies. Entering other regions with one really wouldn't arouse suspicion.

Shisui put away the documents on the table and, catching sight of the kitchen, smiled with interest.

He swung his Bikaku to drag the woman into the kitchen, patiently cleaned the dusty countertop and utensils, then used his hard Koukaku to sharpen a kitchen knife that had sat unused for a long time.

Shisui casually spun the knife and skillfully pierced the fox's carotid artery.

First, he had to drain the blood.

A clean stainless-steel basin gradually filled with crimson. Then he turned his hand and snapped the neck bone beside him with a crack.

Next came a series of skinning, butchering, and deboning. Shisui's movements were fluid, as though he were carving a vivid rose.

He set the fluffy fox ears and tail aside separately, portioned and packed the various cuts, and stored them in his ring.

As Shisui passed the gas stove, he casually lit a burner.

Click.

Space was sliced open once more. Shisui turned and left, allowing crimson flames to engulf the apartment's kitchen.