A Contract Signed, a Lineage Guardian Appointed

Late at night, the duty room of the Demon-Suppression Office blazed with light.

Chu Bai entered at an even pace, a white fox cradled in his arms.

Hu Hao and Feng Qin followed close behind, their faces alight with excitement they could not contain.

As they saw it, their captain had single-handedly captured in a crowded, maze-like market district the Spirit Fox that had left even the Wu Household helpless. It was a display of his strength and another triumph for the Demon-Slaying Squad's reputation.

"Captain, this fox really is beautiful. Snow-white from head to tail, without a speck of another color. No wonder the Wu Household was willing to pay such a steep price."

Feng Qin rubbed his hands together and chuckled as he looked at the Fox Spirit lying motionless in Chu Bai's arms.

Chu Bai returned to the seat of honor and set the white fox on the broad desk.

The Fox Spirit was remarkably docile. It neither fled nor hissed, but simply watched Chu Bai with its large, dewy eyes.

"Thank you both for your efforts."

Chu Bai looked up at Hu Hao and Feng Qin, leaving out every detail concerning the Locust Elder. "The Fox Spirit did borrow the Life Qi of the old locust tree in Great Locust Alley to conceal itself. We can ease up on patrols in that market district from now on."

Hu Hao paused, then asked, puzzled, "Captain, we've caught the Fox Spirit, but that area is densely populated. What if another evil creature slips in..."

"Today's patrol showed that the area is stable. Evil creatures are unlikely to take root there."

Feng Qin and Hu Hao exchanged a glance. They were curious, but their trust in Chu Bai's judgment had long since become almost blind.

They did not know