My words have become law; I truly have no desire to display my divine power before others.

Zhao Damang nodded, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

"Remember the Taoist priest's words—stay together, don't scatter! Hold the torch high, don't let it go out!"

If you see anything that doesn't look human, no matter what it looks like, burn it! Burn it to death!

"yes!"

"Walk!"

The eight men rushed out of the security agency. Although their torches were not lit, the menacing aura they exuded had already alarmed half the street.

The people along the way scattered and watched as the group of镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) rushed towards the west of the city with murderous intent, all wondering what major incident had happened to the Weiyuan Escort Agency.

Three miles outside the city, the mass graves come into view.

Even before getting close, Zhao Damang sensed something was wrong.

it's too cold.

It's only early autumn now, and although the night breeze is cool, it shouldn't be this cold.

It was a bone-chilling cold, like countless icy hands caressing the skin and drilling into the cracks of the bones.

Moreover, the darkness ahead... is too thick.

It wasn't the darkness of a moonless night, but rather like ink spilled, so thick it couldn't be dissolved.

Even those of them who walk at night all year round felt their hearts tremble when they saw it.

"Chief Zhao..." one of the bodyguards swallowed hard. "Over there... there seems to be a light?"

Zhao Damang squinted at him.

Sure enough, a faint, warm yellow light shone from deep within the mass grave.

The light stood out starkly in the impenetrable darkness, yet it was also eerily strange—who would light a lamp in a mass grave?

"Light the torches!" Zhao Damang shouted in a low voice.

"Sizzle—sizzle—sizzle—"

The tinderbox was struck and lit, and torches were ignited one by one.

When pine resin comes into contact with fire, it bursts into a bright flame with a "boom," and the heat wave hits you, actually dispelling some of the surrounding chill.

Eight torches burned brightly, forming a continuous flame that illuminated the area within three zhang (approximately 10 meters) around the group as if it were daytime.

The heat was intense, and the white breath exhaled by the men surged in the firelight, creating a masculine aura belonging to the living.

"Let's go!" Zhao Damang took the lead, holding a torch as he stepped into the mass grave.

The ground beneath my feet was soft, decaying soil that made a "plop" sound when I stepped on it. Grave mounds stood on both sides, and the crooked tombstones cast menacing shadows in the firelight.

Startled by the presence of living people, the phosphorescent flames rose faintly, but suppressed by the firelight, they only dared to hover in the distance.

The further you go in, the heavier the yin energy becomes.

The torch flames began to flicker uneasily, as if blown by an invisible wind.

The torches carried by several young bodyguards had flames that had noticeably shrunk.

"Get closer!" Zhao Damang roared, "Don't scatter! Keep the fire burning in one place!"

The group immediately tightened their formation, shoulder to shoulder, torches held high, flames forming a wall of fire.

The heatwave was oppressive, the chill receded, and the flames stabilized once more.

After walking another half mile, the sight ahead made everyone gasp in shock.

A mansion.

The building features blue bricks and gray tiles, a vermilion gate, and two red lanterns hanging in front of it.

The lanterns cast a warm yellow light, illuminating the courtyard clearly and revealing the two large, gilded characters on the gate plaque:

婉宅

The house stood alone amidst the chaotic graves, with no other houses or roads around it, as if it had grown out of nowhere.

"This..." one of the bodyguards stammered, "I passed by here during the day, and there was clearly nothing there..."

Zhao Damang's expression was extremely solemn.

Having traveled all over the country for so many years, he had heard of legends about "haunted houses" and "fox houses," but this was the first time he had ever seen a house appear out of nowhere.

Moreover, the house is too "new".

The blue bricks looked like they had just been laid, the vermilion lacquer looked like it had just been applied, and even the lanterns looked unbelievably new.

In this place filled with desolate graves, this "newness" only amplifies the extreme eeriness.

"The chief镖头 and the others...have they gone in?" someone asked.

Zhao Damang did not answer.

Because he heard the sound.

The sound came from the courtyard.

First came the crisp sound of weapons clashing—"Clang! Clang! Clang!"—as dense as raindrops.

Then came the roars, groans, and screams of the people.

There was also a strange "rustling" sound, like many sheets of paper being crumpled at the same time.

fighting!

There's a battle going on inside!

"Big Brother!" Zhao Damang's eyes instantly turned red, and he rushed towards the gate with a torch in hand!

"Zhao, wait a minute!" an old bodyguard grabbed him. "There's something strange about this door!"

Zhao Damang stared intently.

The vermilion gate was tightly closed, and the door knocker was made of brass animal heads.

Under the firelight, the texture of the door panel was clearly visible—but the texture was so regular that it looked like it had been painted on.

He stepped forward and reached out to push the door open.

Not moving.

It wasn't the resistance of a latch, but rather like pushing against a solid wall.

"Let's crash together!" Zhao Damang took two steps back and shouted to the bodyguards behind him.

Six of the strongest bodyguards stepped forward, shoulder to shoulder, shouted in unison, and rammed into the gate with all their might!

"Bang--!!"

The dull thud was like the striking of a bell.

The door shook, and dust fell in clumps, but the door... remained closed.

Not even a crack appeared.

"What the hell is this door?!" one of the bodyguards cursed, rubbing his numb shoulder.

Zhao Damang drew his sword: "Cut it open!"

A flash of cold light, and the steel knife slammed into the door!

"when--!!!"

A deafening clang of metal clashing! Sparks flying everywhere!

Zhao Damang's hand went numb, and the blade trembled violently.

On the door panel... only a faint white mark remained.

He leaned closer to look, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

Deep within the white marks, there wasn't wood grain, but... layers upon layers of paper!

Paper door!

"This entire house..." A terrifying thought flashed through Zhao Damang's mind, "...is it all made of paper?!"

Just then, the fighting inside the door intensified.

He heard Lin Zhenyuan's roar, Li Tie's screams, and some kind of... tearing sound of paper being ripped.

Can't wait any longer!

Zhao Damang whirled around and roared at the bodyguards, "Torch! Bring the torches together! Burn down this gate of hell!"

Eight torches gathered together, their flames forming a sea of ​​fire, the heat scorching.

Zhao Damang pressed the torch in his hand against the door panel.

Initially, there was no reaction at all.

The paper door seemed to be immune to fire; flames licked at the door panel, leaving only a charred black mark.

"Not hot enough!" Zhao Damang gritted his teeth. "Get closer! Put the fire up!"

The bodyguards stepped forward, their torches almost touching the door panel.

The flames of the eight torches mingled, the temperature rose sharply, the pine resin sizzled, and billowing black smoke rose.

finally--

The door panel began to change.

It's not burning, but... melting.

Just like wax when heated, the thick paper with wood grain patterns begins to soften, bubble, and curl.

The charred parts continued to expand, revealing the bamboo frame underneath.

The bamboo strips were also roasted until they turned black, making a crackling sound.

"It works!" Zhao Damang's spirits lifted. "Keep burning!"

The flames greedily licked at the paper door, turning the paper to ashes and the bamboo strips to charcoal in their wake.

The door panel disappeared at a visible speed, revealing a hole that kept getting bigger and bigger.

Through the hole, the view inside the courtyard could be seen—

A cobblestone path, an exquisite garden, and... a crowd engaged in fierce combat!

Zhao Damang saw Lin Zhenyuan.

The chief镖头 (bodyguard/escort) was bleeding profusely from his left shoulder and was being attacked by two pale-faced "people" dressed as servants.

The two men moved stiffly, but they were incredibly strong. When their "knives" struck the bluestone slabs, sparks flew!

He also saw Zhang Kui, Li Tie, Wang Biao, and Lin Fu.

The four stood back to back, surrounded by several other "servants".