Dead Man's Gully? What's all this scary talk about? Isn't it just a village ditch?
Stein explained that this was no ordinary ditch. During the war, when enemies invaded the village, many villagers hid in the ditch. The enemies found out and swept the ditch with gunfire, killing everyone inside.
At that time, the ditch was filled with corpses. Blood stained the mud red, and the living were too terrified to collect the bodies, leaving them to rot and stink in the ditch.
Later, when reinforcements arrived, the panicked enemies retreated and eventually jumped into that same ditch, thinking its defensible position would allow them to hold out longer.
But something horrifying happened. Those enemies who jumped in never moved again. When examined later, all were found dragged into the stinking mud, bleeding from all seven orifices with strangulation marks around their necks.
Yet the ditch contained nothing but corpses. People said it was haunted - the ghosts of those killed by the enemies had returned for vengeance.
The villagers' corpses combined with the enemies' bodies completely filled the ditch, earning it the name Dead Man's Gully.
Though the bodies were eventually buried, hauntings continued. For decades, people reported hearing wails from the ditch and seeing pairs of oozing green hands reaching out. Some even heard enemy gunfire and shouts.
At night it grew worse. Large groups of figures were seen emerging from the ditch and walking its edges. Anyone who witnessed this fell ill for days afterward.
Some insisted the ditch needed filling, its deathly aura and ghostly resentment being too strong.
But one village elder disagreed, warning that filling the ditch would bring disaster. Merely covering it wouldn't help - something needed to suppress the spirits.
When asked what could suppress them, the elder suggested building a Fox Fairy temple. He claimed each tail of a nine-tailed Fox Fairy could suppress evil spirits, and nine tails would completely control the ghosts.
The village followed his advice, constructing a Fox Fairy temple over Dead Man's Gully.
Since then, hauntings decreased significantly though didn't stop entirely. At night, large oozing green will-o'-the-wisps still floated along the gully's edge - but it was far better than before.
Now that the little fox had mentioned it, and with Stein recognizing Dead Man's Gulch, we immediately knew the location - including the Fox Fairy temple.
The village called Shili Gully sat just outside the city, not very large. Stein had been there once before and seen the infamous ditch, though during daytime it appeared no different from any ordinary ditch. The Fox Fairy temple, once worshipped, now stood derelict - old and dilapidated.
Hearing Stein's description, I became increasingly convinced the three-tailed fox was hiding there. Honestly, what safer place could exist?
An abandoned Fox Fairy temple. A death-haunted gully that terrified people from approaching. For a hiding spot, it was perfect - undisturbed and secure.
Moreover, as a fox appearing in a Fox Fairy temple, most ordinary people would probably kneel and worship it on sight.
After tossing the roast chicken to the little fox, I immediately called Stella. "I can't guarantee it," I said, "but there's an 80-90% chance that three-tailed fox is hiding in the Fox Fairy temple at Shili Gully."
Stella skipped class and rushed straight to the tattoo parlor with her crew. She demanded the address, swearing she'd slaughter that three-tailed fox single-handedly.
Her words came through gritted teeth - she wanted to chop that fox into pieces and use it for hotpot! It had hurt Harper, and Stella hated it with burning passion! Our help might be limited there anyway, since I knew nothing about exorcising ghosts or catching demons.
Foxes are naturally cunning, and this three-tailed one excelled at theft and deception. Of course I couldn't let Stella go alone. Though inexperienced in demon-catching, I insisted on accompanying her - an extra person meant extra precaution.
Stella didn't refuse. "Whatever," she waved dismissively. My presence mattered little as long as I helped locate that fox.
At this point, I pulled Stella aside. Before leaving, one task remained - getting the Copper Coin Sword activated. I asked Stella to introduce me to a reliable practitioner for this.
She poked my forehead. "You idiot, didn't Esteban tell you? This sword can't be activated! Otherwise he wouldn't have sold it to you!"
"How do we know unless we try?" I countered. "Maybe he just had bad luck. Results might differ for me."
Stella rolled her eyes in exasperation. Normally she'd have told me to get lost, but this time she needed my help finding the three-tailed fox.
For once, she relented. Hailing a taxi, she took me to a large courtyard.
The courtyard was adorned with exquisite elegance. Stella pressed the doorbell, and an elderly steward answered—though he clearly wasn't the master of the house. When Stella mentioned the Celestial Master's House, the old man's demeanor shifted to reverence. He clasped his hands in salute. "So you're Master Raul's disciple! Please, come in. I'll inform the young mistress at once."
He ushered us inside, served Longjing tea, and hurried off to summon his employer.
As we waited, I studied the interior decor to pass the time. The place exuded refined charm—every furnishing antique yet tasteful, the walls adorned with classical paintings and calligraphy. What sort of person owned such a residence?
"Hold on," I whispered to Stella. "Who exactly are we meeting? An artifact opener?"
Stella sipped her tea. "Indeed. Vervecity's premier opener—Massimo."
Massimo? The name suggested a female practitioner.
"Vervecity's top opener?" I hissed. "That must cost a fortune!" Money remained my primary concern, regardless of circumstances.
"Naturally. Being the best commands premium rates," Stella said airily.
I drew a sharp breath. Damn you, Stella! After I exhausted myself helping you track that three-tailed fox, you spring this trap on me? Some partnership!
Stella spread her hands in mock innocence. "How is this a trap? You wanted an opener. I secured the finest. What's the problem?"
I nearly choked. "With that kind of money, would I be buying discount artifacts? A five-thousand-dollar relic paired with a fifty-thousand-dollar opener—are you blind or just vengeful?"
That's when Stella flashed her most infuriating smirk. "Actually, Massimo's base rate is one hundred thousand per artifact."
Me: "..."
"Out!" I yanked Stella to her feet, already bolting for the exit.