“Just follow your instincts. Why deny yourself~?” A honeyed, utterly captivating voice whispered into Feitao’s ear. The seductive tone made her tall fox ears go slightly limp and tingly.

She twitched them, feeling the voice was oddly familiar—like she’d heard it somewhere before, yet couldn’t place it.

Without realizing it, her heart obeyed the whisper, guiding her feet out of the church courtyard.

“Foxie… Sniff, sniff, sniff!” Feitao’s delicate nose twitched nonstop. A thread-like scent drifted through the air, hooking her little nose like a lure.

She hesitated—but the whisper and the burning hunger in her stomach instantly burned away all reason.

So hungry… So, so hungry…

Feitao was starving enough to crawl on all fours like a monstrous creature. With her Fox Demon Bloodline taking over, her thoughts had shifted in ways even she hadn’t noticed.

Right now, driven by that inner voice, nothing mattered but filling her stomach.

The scent came from this direction—*that thing* had to be there!

She dashed out of the courtyard onto the pitch-black street. The ankle bell jingled merrily with her hurried steps, clapper tapping the brass wall in crisp, cheerful chimes.

Thankfully, the streets were empty. Otherwise, a white fox loli frantically hunting food at midnight might’ve made tomorrow’s headlines—or worse, drawn the Inquisition Tribunal’s attention.

Relations between the Empire, Jiuzhou, and the Nine Tailed Fox were far from friendly. Across nations, Divine Race factions were demonized. In the Empire, the Nine Tailed Fox was rumored to feast on adult men’s brain fluid, using their essence as nourishment.

In Jiuzhou, the reputation was slightly better—no murder accusations—but someone had linked fox demons to home-wrecking mistresses. Anyone spotting one would hiss, “Fox spirit!”

Compared to the Bloodkin, the Nine Tailed Fox’s name fared *slightly* better. But with the Fox Demon Bloodline’s innate allure, fox demons of any breed were often seen as shameless homewreckers who seduced men.

Not everyone hated them, though. Human women shouted loudest. Human men? Many would *wish* for such an encounter.

Feitao sprinted to a shop at the market’s heart. The scent definitely came from here.

Her fluffy white ears twitched. She looked up: the sign read *Exotic Eats* in Imperial script. Warm light spilled from the window—someone was still awake.

*Drip… drip…*

Hm? What’s that sound, I say?

She glanced down. A damp patch stained the ground beside her feet…

Her own drool.

*Gurgle… gurgle…*

Wiping her chin with a wide sleeve, her heterochromatic agate-like eyes blinked rapidly at the window. She couldn’t hold back anymore.

She scurried to the door, stood on tiptoe, and tapped with tiny paw-like hands.

“Excuse me, I say… Is anyone inside~?” She cleared her throat, weaving pitiful softness and bone-melting coyness into her voice—a subconscious act she didn’t notice.

“Sorry to bother you, I say… Open up? Pretty please~?”

“Who is it? It’s late.” Footsteps approached. The door opened. A pot-bellied, balding shopkeeper glanced around, looked down, and spotted Feitao.

“Whose kid are you? Can’t you see we’re closed? Wearing fake *dog* ears to scare people?” He frowned.

D-Dog ears?!

Feitao’s smile froze. Hands on hips, she puffed up angrily.

Not recognizing noble fox ears was one thing—but *dogs*?! How dare he?! You’re the dog! Your whole family’s dogs!

A clueless old man like you needs a little lesson~

“Oh~? Mister? You think my ears are fake, I say?” She covered her mouth with a delicate hand, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. Right before his eyes, her ears flicked rapidly like windshield wipers—then three fluffy white tails swayed behind her.

“Y-You…?!” Despite her otherworldly beauty, the man staggered back.

Clearly, this silver-haired girl wasn’t human.

“W-What *are* you?!”

“How rude~ Calling a girl a ‘thing,’ I say.” As he retreated, Feitao advanced with elegant strides into the shop.

“You are…?”

“I’m exactly what humans whisper about—a fox spirit who comes out at night to suck men’s brains~” She curled her hands into claws and let out an adorably fierce “Awooo!”

“Ahhh!” Realizing her ears and tails were real, the shopkeeper panicked, about to scream—but Feitao blinked her shimmering eyes and blew him a kiss.

“Mwah~”

“Ah… uh…” His expression went blank. Tiny hearts filled his eyes. Like a magnet, his gaze locked onto her.

“Mister~ Mister~” Feitao cooed in a voice that melted bones.

“Y-Yes! I’m here!”

“Mister, I’m hungry, I say… Could you prepare some offerings for me~?”

“Of course, of course!” He rushed to the kitchen and returned with a platter of snacks.

Feitao’s gaze skipped the colorful array and locked onto golden-brown tofu pieces at the edge. Her eyes sparkled.

“Aburaage, aburaage, I say~!” Wiping drool, she reached—but couldn’t touch the platter. Annoyed, she tapped his knee with her foot clad in white thigh-highs.

“Ugh, I can’t reach, I say… Lower it a bit?”

“At once, my little angel!” He lowered the platter, gazing at her with saccharine devotion.

Feitao shuddered inwardly. *Only for food would I charm this greasy man.*

“Phew~ Finally eating, I say!” Stars glittered in her eyes. Forgetting utensils, she pinched aburaage between thumb and forefinger and popped them in.

Just as expected… *This* was what her soul craved!