The deeper they walked into the forest, the smaller Tang Sui’s steps became.
The dark night was quiet and somber. The wind blowing through the forest sent shivers down one's spine. Even the serene moonlight couldn't salvage the forest, which was even blacker in such a grim environment.
"Awooooo—"
The howl of a wolf-type spirit beast echoed from somewhere, carrying far.
Tang Sui hugged her ugly doll tightly, feeling nervous and alert to her surroundings.
The forest and the shadows, so peaceful during the day, seemed to sprout countless eerie dark figures under the cloak of night.
Looking back at the path, which was now completely enveloped by darkness, from her perspective, flashes of light flickered from the bushes, like the flames of the undead, instilling fear.
"Can you come out?
Tang Sui stopped and asked the empty air in a crisp voice.
Tang Hao, whose figure was hidden between the interlacing tree trunks, paused, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
*Suisui found me?*
*How is that possible?! She just awakened her martial soul, she hasn't even started cultivating spirit power!*
*Could it be... she's calling out to the person who secretly instructed Suisui to go out at night?*
As this thought crossed his mind, a murderous intent uncontrollably flashed in Tang Hao's eyes.
The system, detecting Tang Hao's murderous intent, paused and nudged the fox-faced spirit lying prone in its spiritual consciousness.
Then, Tang Hao saw a spot of light suddenly illuminate under his little daughter’s feet. A white jade fox-shaped mask emerged from the void, its narrow eyes accented with a crimson hue, emitting a faint, eerie glow in the darkness.
*A mask?*
Tang Hao was a little surprised but quickly realized that this was another martial soul Tang Sui had awakened.
*But...*
*How can Suisui talk to her martial soul? Martial souls are inanimate, not spirit beasts. How can they converse?*
*Could it be because Suisui has always been in poor health and had little contact with other children in the village, so she longs for friends and therefore treats her awakened martial soul as a friend?*
*After all, children's minds are always full of strange ideas.*
The more he thought about it, the more likely this possibility seemed to Tang Hao. He looked at Tang Sui’s pale little face, not even as large as his palm, gazing at the mask martial soul with sparkling eyes. A sour emotion surged in his heart, and his chest tightened.
They say daughters are like close-fitting cotton-padded jackets.
*This child should have been doted on and raised by me and Ah Yin...*
Thinking of his neglect over the years, Tang Hao suddenly dared not look at his little daughter.
Meanwhile, the oblivious Tang Sui was discussing with the fox-faced spirit about having it emit light and act as a readily available, morally bankrupt navigator, or rather, a guide.
She wasn’t afraid of ghosts. She had watched too many horror movies in her previous life; she always calmly treated them as movies to accompany her meals.
She was just a little afraid that unknown spirit beasts might be lurking in the bushes, ready to ambush her.
After all, she was penniless now. No spirit power, no demon power, just a frail body that constantly needed medicine. If she were to get caught, and there was no one else around, what if she died?
She didn't want to die an unexplained death.
Although she had just awakened her demon power and was a Level 1 Mian Ling Qi demon, she felt that at least the mask, once summoned, could block blades for her?
As for how to use the mask, she would figure it out slowly.
The fox-faced spirit, sensing Tang Sui's thoughts: ‘...’
Its floating mask-body swayed, the golden-red hue accenting its eye corners seemed even more alluring. The carved corners of the mask also tilted upwards, perfectly highlighting the fox's half-smile, and a faint voice, audible only to Tang Sui, echoed in her mind—
‘Alright.’
Seeing this, Tang Sui's face bloomed into a smile, and she said softly, "Thank you!"
Tang Hao, who witnessed this scene, felt an even sharper pang in his heart.
*Suisui really... treats her martial soul as a friend...*