Chapter 20: Midnight Murder

The sensation of spiritual power surging through her body was truly wonderful. Once Fanxing’s hands returned to their original form, a look of pure enjoyment washed over her face.

It was especially satisfying because this had been a Malevolent Spirit, which was particularly to her taste.

"Let’s go." After digesting the Grudge-Hate Hound, Fanxing beckoned for Princess and Yato to follow.

However, no sooner had they left than a young man appeared by the trash heap. He, too, wore a spirit-patterned bracelet on his wrist. He scanned the area, his expression turning to one of confusion. "Strange. Wasn't it said there was a Grudge-Hate Hound here?"

He was a member of the patrol team stationed in the Surface World by the Alliance. These patrol teams were organizations dedicated to locating spirit breeds born in the Surface World and returning them to the Inner World. After searching the area several more times and failing to find any trace of the hound, he left in a state of bewilderment.

Meanwhile, Fanxing continued to wander through the streets and alleys of Rainbow City with Yato and Princess. Time slipped by until midnight, yet Fanxing remained energetic, without a hint of drowsiness. In truth, she had no need for sleep, nor did she need to eat or drink like an ordinary human. Her previous habits were simply lingering vestiges of the thirty-some years she had spent living as a human. Although the Taotie was a powerful evil god, it had been ignorant and muddled since its birth; after its consciousness merged with the young Fanxing’s memories, her consciousness had become dominant. Because she preferred it that way, she remained more like her human self.

As midnight approached, the number of pedestrians in Rainbow City dwindled, and some remote areas became completely deserted. Fanxing naturally sought out these secluded spots to avoid attracting attention. Even if she could ignore ordinary people, the Surface World still hid many spirit-users from the Alliance. According to Fan Honghong, many of these users held respectable positions in the Surface World; for instance, Fan Honghong’s own parents were expert doctors at a famous hospital.

Before she knew it, Fanxing had wandered onto a deserted street. As she passed a traffic light, a group of men approached, shoving a young girl between