Night Hunt (2)

Shen Minyao needed to wait for the nighttime to come before checking what was going on in this hospital. It was surprising, even for her, that no one had come after her in the previous days, considering that it wasn't easy to hide from other creatures of the night that she was like them. Her unspoken question was soon answered when the sun finally set. 

After leaving her daughter with a string of reminders, Cheng Lifan left the hospital with Fu Xiyan. Xiao Bai then appeared on her windowsill, still in his white cat form. Xiao Bai scratched his ear with his hind leg, while Shen Minyao made sure that the two women had completely gone away before acknowledging Xiao Bai's presence. 

"It took you three days to wake up from your long slumber. Yu Yan and I were starting to get worried that you wouldn't wake up and just die in your sleep. I haven't seen you this weak for such a long time, milady," the fat cat commented once Shen Minyao closed the door behind her. She wasn't allowed to lock it this time, as Cheng Lifan reminded her that nurses and doctors might see her during their rounds even if she's not comfortable with it. 

"Three days," the fox woman repeated. "Where's Yu Yan? How come you came here on your own?" She asked. It was rare to see the two not together. Although they always argued, Xiao Bai and Yu Yan understood each other more than anyone else. 

"Where else but with your human contractor? You do realize how dangerous this place could be for you and your contractor, milady, right?" Xiao Bai replied. His tone might be disrespectful to someone's ears, but the fox woman had grown used to his way of speaking a long time ago. 

"This place reeks with negative energy. No wonder so many have come here and swarmed around," he added. "Yu Yan and I think you should get out of this place as soon as possible, so you wouldn't attract unwanted attention." 

"I see." Shen Minyao nodded. If Yu Yan was with Zhao Yichen, then she didn't need to worry too much. Xiao Bai and Yu Yan might look harmless in their cat-like form, but they were certainly more powerful than the low-level demons here. 

With her current situation, the fox woman knew that it would be troublesome if she encountered a high-level creature like her. Thankfully, Cheng Lifan had already arranged her discharge request, so she would be able to go home in two days. 

"Do you have a plan?" Xiao Bai asked in return. "Yu Yan might be able to fend off some lower demons, but if a powerful one comes to steal your fox orb, then we would have no choice but to unleash our power." 

Of course, the fox woman knew what her familiar was trying to imply. If the two were to use their powers, it would attract attention from other creatures dwelling within the city. What's more, they might even attract the accursed Li family that had sealed them for centuries. That was something the fox woman wanted to avoid right now. 

She was so weak that she needed to rely on Xiao Bai and Yu Yan to protect her and her human contractor for the time being. If the Li family came to her doorstep right now, the fox woman wasn't certain that she would be able to beat them at the current state she was in. 

Furthermore, if they knew that her fox orb was inside a human, wouldn't it mean that Zhao Yichen's life would be in danger? Surely, the Li family or any shaman and exorcist that knew about it would hunt him down for being acquainted with her. 

"I want to see my human contractor," she said after a long silence between them. She needed to understand the situation they were in and know how dangerous the other demons were. This place looked basically like a feeding ground for creatures like them, and while it's normal to see low-level demons here, the fox woman was certain that there must be a high-level demon overseeing the area. 

"He's not far from here. Should I inform Yu Yan that you would come over to see them?" Xiao Bai asked. Since he and Yu Yan were partners, they were able to communicate using telepathy. 

"There's no need for that. Yu Yan should be able to sense my presence, no matter how faint it is." The fox woman declined his suggestion at once. "But I would need your assistance tonight. I should see what's lurking behind the shadows with my own eyes." 

The fox woman would be able to hide her identity with her human host, but it didn't mean that other demons wouldn't notice her strange scent. With Xiao Bai around, she would be able to roam around the place under his protection. Moreover, if there was a high-level demon somewhere, Xiao Bai could easily sense it from the crowd. 

The fox woman never thought that there would be a day when she would need to rely on their help to protect herself. If it was in the past, regardless of who tried to oppose her, they would surely meet their impending death. 

Nine-tailed foxes like her were highly territorial and liked being on their own. Unlike the other creatures of the night, they were solitary creatures. They preferred to hunt and sleep alone, except when they're busy dealing with a larger problem. Their greatest joy was to hear people cry in their physical suffering and despair. 

Shen Minyao needed to wait for the nurse to come and check up on her by eleven in the evening before she could go outside for a night hunt. Once the clock hit midnight, there was a sudden change in the atmosphere within the hospital premises. 

"It's time." Shen Minyao rose from her bed, her eyes turning amber momentarily as she tried to sense all presence around them.