Moments later, the fox spoke.
"Come out."
Mist curled.
Darkness gathered.
Then—
the ghost emerged.
A spectral version of the stag—
its form translucent, yet stable.
The moment it appeared, it lowered its head.
"Master."
The fox's turquoise eyes gleamed faintly.
Good.
That meant it remembered enough to be useful.
Her voice came from nowhere—
calm and disembodied in the dark.
"Tell me about this territory."
The stag ghost straightened slightly, spectral antlers faintly glowing.
Its voice was steady.
Obedient.
"The White Bone Tiger King rules the largest territory in the Broken Ridge."
Its hollow eyes stared forward.
"His domain stretches from the Blackfang Ravines to the northern cliffs."
A pause.
"Within his territory…"
"There are many demonic beasts under him."
"Foundation Establishment beasts are common."
"Lower-stage beasts patrol the outer regions."
"Mid-stage beasts control the inner hunting zones."
"Late-stage and peak beasts remain near the central domain."
The fox's eyes narrowed slightly.
"How many?"
The ghost answered without delay.
"I cannot give an exact number."
"But…"
"There should be at least several dozen Foundation Establishment beasts."
"Around ten or more at late-stage and above."
The fox was silent for a beat.
That alone was enough to make this dangerous.
Then her voice came again.
"The Meihu."
The name lingered in the night.
"The Bewitching Heart Fox."
"Tell me everything."
The stag ghost bowed its head slightly.
"Lady Meihu is the White Bone Tiger King's most trusted subordinate."
"She handles matters beyond direct combat."
"Territory exchanges."
"Disputes."
"Outside dealings."
The fox listened carefully.
"What about her cultivation?"
For the first time, the ghost hesitated.
Then answered.
"I have never seen her fight seriously."
"But…"
"She is at least late-stage Foundation Establishment."
"Likely peak."
The fox's gaze sharpened.
At least.
Not ideal.
"And where is she?"
The ghost lowered its head slightly.
"That…"
"I cannot say for certain."
A pause.
"But she often leaves the inner domain."
"For trade."
The fox's ears twitched.
"Trade?"
The ghost nodded.
"She has been seen visiting the…"
A brief pause as it searched its memory.
"…Five Veins Hollow."
The fox repeated the name quietly.
"Five Veins Hollow…"
A small pause.
"What is that?"
The ghost answered immediately.
"A neutral zone."
"A place where beasts from all five Demon Kings' territories gather."
"No open conflict is allowed there."
"It is protected by mutual understanding."
The fox's eyes gleamed faintly.
Interesting.
The ghost continued.
"It is like a market."
"A place to exchange what one needs…"
"…for something of equal value."
"Spirit herbs."
"Beast cores."
"Artifacts."
"Information."
The forest remained still around them.
But the fox's mind was already moving.
A neutral zone.
A market.
A place Meihu might appear.
That was far better than hunting blind.
A slow smile spread across her unseen face.
"Looks like we have somewhere to start."
The fox fell quiet for a moment, turning the name over in her mind.
Five Veins Hollow.
A neutral ground.
A market.
A place where information could be bought—
and targets could be found.
Her voice came again from the empty air.
"Do you need anything to enter?"
A pause.
"Some kind of token? Pass? Proof?"
The stag ghost shook its spectral head.
"No, Master."
"Anyone may enter."
"So long as they obey the rules there."
"No fighting."
"No stealing."
"No causing chaos."
The fox's ears twitched faintly.
"That simple?"
The ghost bowed its head slightly.
"Yes."
"It exists because all five territories need it."
"If conflict broke out there…"
"Trade between territories would collapse."
The fox's lips curved slightly.
*So it's basically just a night market.*
Interesting.
That made things easier.
"Then direct me."
There was no hesitation.
No wasted time.
The ghost obeyed at once.
"It lies east of the White Bone Tiger King's inner forest."
"Beyond Splitbone Creek."
"Past Hollow Spine Ridge."
"There is a valley hidden between five intersecting mountain veins."
"That is Five Veins Hollow."
The fox gave a soft, impatient huff.
"Just point."
Her voice was dry now, faintly annoyed.
"And stop repeating the name."
A small pause.
"I know what you mean."
The stag ghost immediately lowered its head further.
"My apologies, Master."
Then—
it turned.
Lifting one spectral hoof, it pointed silently toward the northeast.
Through the trees.
Past the deeper rise of the forest.
Toward the mountain shadows beyond.
The fox followed the line of its gesture, memorizing the direction instantly.
That was enough.
"Good."
The Ghost Banner appeared beside her once more.
The ghost dissolved without resistance, pulled back into the banner in a stream of pale mist.
Contained.
The banner dimmed.
Then vanished into her storage pouch.
The forest fell quiet again.
The fox adjusted her stance, already turning.
"Northeast."
Her voice brushed the lizard's mind.
*Looks like we've got a lead.*
Then, without another sound, the invisible fox slipped through the trees—
moving toward the distant mountain veins where answers might finally be waiting.
The forest deepened around them, ancient trunks rising like pillars into the night.
The fox moved swiftly, silent beneath the cover of invisibility.
Branches bent and swayed as she passed, but never enough to leave a trail.
Above them, moonlight filtered through the canopy in broken strips, scattering silver across the leaves.
The lizard remained still atop her head, golden eyes half-lidded.
Watching.
Calculating.
Neither of them spoke.
There was no need.
The direction was clear.
Northeast.
Toward the hidden valley.
Toward answers.
The deeper they went, the more signs of the White Bone Tiger King's influence began to appear.
Massive claw marks gouged into ancient bark.
Bones lay half-buried in the undergrowth.
The scent of stronger beasts lingered heavily in the air.
The fox noticed all of it—
and avoided every unnecessary path.
No wasted movement.
No risks.
At one point, a pack of Foundation Establishment wolves passed less than twenty paces away.
They never noticed her.
They only paused briefly, ears twitching at a disturbance they could not place.
Then they moved on.
The fox kept going.
Steady.
Patient.
Hours passed.
Gradually, the forest began to change.
The trees thinned.
The ground sloped upward.
Rock began replacing root and moss.