The server's sudden and hasty departure was actually entertaining, and the Nightmare King savoured the brief spike of fear from the server as much as Kevas was the platter food.

"I'm not undead," Pitch replied. "But yes, something did. Apparently that one was around for something of a--" The traces of fear were muted; something had dulled them, during the original event. "Hm. Jiangshi. Several years ago. Interesting, if the word means what it does on Earth."