Old Ties, an Awakened Fox Spirit

Several more days passed in a blink.

Since Hu Hao had gone to investigate the Wu Household, it had yielded no solid results. The family had operated in Anping County for years and had deep roots.

Chu Bai was in no hurry. He continued handling the Demon-Slaying Squad's routine affairs and honing his spiritual energy each day.

One day, a servant from the Academy knocked on his office door and handed him a letter.

Chu Bai opened it. The familiar, elegant handwriting belonged to his master, Daoist Zhang.

The letter was brief: Wu Shang of the Wu Household was an old friend of Daoist Zhang's.

Wu Shang had recently tracked Daoist Zhang down. Taking an exceedingly humble stance, he hoped his old friend would introduce him to Chu Bai so they could meet.

Daoist Zhang knew Chu Bai was now a Principal Ninth Rank Demon-Slaying Token holder, caught at the center of a whirlpool of power. He needed to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

But an old friend of many years had come asking, and Daoist Zhang could hardly refuse him outright.

So he had suggested tactfully in the letter that, if Chu Bai could spare the time, he might visit the Zhang Residence and let Daoist Zhang fulfill his obligation as an intermediary.

Chu Bai folded the letter and tapped his fingertips lightly against the desk.

He knew Wu Shang. In fact, he had once relied on him for sparring practice.

First a lavish gift, then an appeal to an old friend... Chu Bai thought.

The Wu Household's moves followed one after another. First, they had sent Hu Hao with a Mid-Grade Magical Artifact to test the waters. When Chu Bai refused, they immediately approached Daoist Zhang.

Chu Bai had always respected Daoist Zhang.

Since his master had asked,