Chapter 1
The brothel stood tall, a luxurious palace of pleasure nestled in the heart of the Lingxi village. The air around it was thick with mystery, as it had been for as long as anyone could remember.
The building was an elegant structure, adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures, their eyes watching over all who entered. The crimson lanterns hanging from the edges cast warm, inviting glows, but it was the kind of warmth that held a hint of danger, like a flame that could burn if touched too carelessly.
Inside, the atmosphere was just as rich and heavy. The scent of incense and perfume intertwined with the sweet, intoxicating sounds of music and laughter. Beautiful men and women, draped in silks of every shade, moved gracefully among the patrons, their laughter like the tinkling of bells. But none shone as brightly as Huo Ling, the brothel’s mysterious owner.
Huo Ling was a woman of unparalleled beauty, though few had seen her true face. She always appeared in public with her face hidden beneath a wide-brimmed hat, its veil cascading down like a waterfall of shadow, blurring her features. It only added to her allure, making her the object of countless fantasies, yet always just out of reach. Her presence commanded attention, and when she spoke, her voice was a silken whisper that held the power to hypnotise.
But Huo Ling held secrets darker than anyone could imagine. Beneath the veil, beneath the skin, she was no mere woman. She was a nine-tailed fox, a creature of legend, whose beauty was both a gift and a curse. For centuries, she had walked among humans; her tails hidden away.
Through the years, she had prolonged her life in ways only a fox spirit could. Her beauty, her charm, and her magic were all tools in her arsenal. And it was with these tools that she captured her prey—young women, drawn to her like moths to a flame.
Every year, twenty women would disappear, vanishing without a trace, only for their desiccated bodies to be discovered later, hidden away in the darkest corners of the village.
The truth was, Huo Ling drained them, sapping their life force to sustain her own. It was how she had lived for so long, how she cultivated her power. Each woman was hypnotised by her love spells, lured into her embrace, only to be drained dry when she was finished with them. And each time, she felt a little more powerful, a little more immortal.
But this year, something was different. This year, she had caught the attention of a woman who was far more dangerous than she appeared.
