Luo Mei rejoiced and turned to speak with the Elder.
"Ahhhhh—!"
Before she could utter a single word, a terrifying roar froze her in place.
Her heart sank, and a chill crept up her back.
The moment he awoke, Zhang Yu began to scream deeply.
It was not a loud scream, but one just strong enough to make a person deaf to everything else around them.
The men outside noticed the sound, but they did not enter. The Elder raised his hand, stopping them.
"Why?!" Zhang Yu shouted, his voice trembling slightly.
To the Elder, the man beside him, and even the men outside, it was merely screaming. Frightening, perhaps—but nothing supernatural.
In the next moment, Luo Mei turned with extreme difficulty, as if chains bound her in place while she tried to move in the opposite direction.
She saw the young man sitting on the bed, clutching his head as though he wanted to crush it.
He screamed questions, his eyes bleeding blood instead of tears.
Luo Mei looked at him, trembling, her eyes completely dry.
She collapsed to the ground, her mind blank.
What she felt was unlike what anyone else felt.
For the instant she turned, she felt as though she were being squeezed inside an iron grip.
As if trapped between a thumb and forefinger, about to be crushed.
Cold sweat streamed down her back, and her spirit sank until it vanished.
At the same time, Zhang Yu stopped wailing and screaming.
He still held his head, while the Elder's group stared at him in shock.
He raised his head slightly. Some jumped back in fear, while others looked on with seriousness and concern.
All except the Elder, who maintained a nearly calm posture—until Zhang Yu's eyes met his.
Zhang Yu's gaze was terrifying, sharp. His crimson sclera and pupils that seemed almost transparent made it worse.
The Elder's forehead nearly filled with sweat, his face darkening.
Then, suddenly, Zhang Yu spoke.
"Wine! Bring me wine!" he said, changing his tone with every word.
Sweat dripped from the Elder's brow.
"Is he… mad?"
In a strange scene, the Elder did not respond to Zhang Yu. Instead, he raised his hand, and everyone—including himself and Luo Mei—left.
Click.
The door closed.
"Wine!!! I want wine!!!!!"
Zhang Yu's screams shook the walls of the dilapidated room.
They could be heard even from a considerable distance away.
After a period of screaming and sobbing, Zhang Yu finally stopped.
He sat on the bed.
"The game has only just begun," he said with a smile.
---
The Elder, with Luo Mei beside him, headed toward the center of the village, where a slightly wide stream encircled a cluster of buildings far more luxurious than the rest of the village, separating them from everything else.
There was only one path leading in—narrow enough to allow just two people to walk side by side.
They entered the area surrounded by the stream. At the end of the path stood a sign engraved with the words: Council Square.
They passed several buildings until they reached a large hall bearing the inscription: Council Chamber.
The Elder stepped forward and knocked.
A servant opened the door, bowed, and greeted him. "Please enter, Elder."
The Elder nodded and entered, with Luo Mei following closely behind.
She saw a magnificent corridor stretching straight from the gate until it ended at stairs leading to a small house.
On the left side of the corridor was a small lake with several carp swimming in it, and a side garden with two peach trees.
The right side was filled with rocks.
The Elder did not spare them a glance.
Only Luo Mei examined every corner with her eyes, as though seeing such a sight for the first time.
She followed the Elder to the stairs. There, he turned and said,
"Stay here. I will enter first. If I call you, come in. If I do not, wait here until I return."
Luo Mei nodded. She felt tense and anxious, but she suppressed her emotions and accepted the orders.
"What kind of people are inside, for the Elder to be this serious?" she wondered inwardly.
The Elder opened the door, entered, and closed it immediately.
Before him stood several rocks, somehow identical to those outside.
"Guan Mu, you are late," a voice emerged from one of the rocks.
The Elder lowered his head and clasped his hands together.
"This junior Guan Mu deeply apologizes to the Ancestor for his delay."
"Then, Guan Mu, what have you discovered?"
"Reporting to the Ancestor: he was unconscious, and with the efforts of the Spirit Approacher, we were able to determine the time of his awakening. But the problem is… I believe he suffered severe trauma that left his mind scattered. He may have gone mad."
"Bring in the Spirit Approacher."
The Elder nodded, then turned and ordered Luo Mei to enter.
Luo Mei was tense. Her hand trembled uncontrollably as she placed it on the door.
She pushed, and it opened slowly. She took a deep breath as she stepped inside.
In the next instant, her pupils shrank to the size of pinheads.
She trembled, and only frightened stuttering escaped her lips.
She felt something envelop her.
As though she were naked before it? No—that description was far too weak.
She felt as though every drop of blood in her body was completely exposed, like the pages of a book ready to be read.
She had been born, lived her entire life, only under this feeling.
In that moment, her senses vanished, her consciousness disappeared.
Like a fortress gate, its locks dissolved and were left wide open.
After a short while, that thing released Luo Mei, and she collapsed to the ground.
"Throw her out," the voice said.
"Yes, Ancestor," the Elder bowed.
He then grabbed Luo Mei by the hair and hurled her outside with force.
Before the voice fell silent, it spoke again.
"This person was never unconscious. He seems to have a goal for entering here. However, he is useful to me. Keep him under surveillance without his awareness, but never obstruct him. Help him slightly as well."
"Now, leave."
The Elder dared not show any expression—not even surprise. He simply kept his head lowered as he exited.
Once outside, his expression changed.
It became icy.
He fixed his cold gaze on Luo Mei's discarded body, as though looking at a rotten corpse, a filthy animal.
He spat on the ground as he approached and dragged her by the hair.
"Burn her when she wakes. Let her enjoy the last moments of her life," he said to the servant.
The servant did not speak. He merely nodded.
The Elder released Luo Mei's body. Before her head could hit the ground, the servant caught her.
The Elder did not stop. He continued walking until he left the Council Chamber.
He passed several buildings until he reached a small, doorless hut.
Inside was a small stone, no larger than a finger.
The Elder entered, picked up the stone, and crushed it in his hand.
It shattered easily, but when he opened his palm, there was no dust.
As though it had vanished the instant he loosened his grip.
The Elder remained there.
After a short while, distant shadows approached him.
As they drew closer, their forms became clearer—people wearing parts of wolf bodies as clothing.
There were three of them.
The one on the left wore a necklace made of a wolf's liver and lung, a bracelet crafted from wolf eyes, and robes entirely of wolf fur.
The one on the right wore a necklace containing a wolf's stomach and intestines. His wrist was flayed, and his shoulders bore decorations made of wolf teeth.
The one in the center wore a necklace containing an entire wolf's heart.
Fangs protruded from his mouth, wolf fur emerged from his skin, and his eyes resembled those of a wolf.
They stopped before Elder Guan Mu.
He clasped his hands and greeted them.
"Guan Mu welcomes the Commander and the two Elders."
The two beside the central man returned the gesture.
The man in the center did nothing.
His expression was rigid and terrifying.
"Guan Mu, you issued a summoning order. You know such an order may only be used by Elders with the Ancestor's permission. Speak. What is your justification?"
His voice was both thick and sharp. Combined with his imposing presence, his existence was overwhelming.
"Reporting to the Commander: the Ancestor ordered me to investigate the man found in the forest while being chased by wolves. With the Spirit Approacher's help, he awakened—but became insane."
"So I went to the Ancestor, requested the Spirit Approacher, and analyzed the situation. It turned out he was pretending to be unconscious and attempting to manipulate us. The Ancestor then ordered me to help him slightly in this matter."
The Commander's eyes flashed sharply.
"We shall see."
The Commander and the Elders advanced past Guan Mu, while the latter remained motionless, head lowered.
"You think yourself very great? We shall see… yes, we shall see very soon. Heh."
One corner of Guan Mu's mouth lifted.
---
Birds chirped softly, harmonizing with the wind as it passed through branches and leaves, creating a beautiful natural melody.
The music spread and filled the house where Zhang Yu was.
On the roof, Zhang Yu sat holding a jar.
The wind suddenly burst against his face, his long hair flying like a war banner.
He felt every sting of cold against his skin, and the exhilaration of music and air penetrating his body.
Zhang Yu closed his eyes, as though responding to them.
"The wind of the extension of mass flowed, and stars spilled within it.
The earth, up to the crimson horizon.
Beneath the branch of beginning."
He raised the jar, swallowed its contents in one gulp, then hurled it away and jumped down.
"As expected, the Elder came at night to help me. Surveillance has been lifted, and I will be transferred to live with the family of the boy who led the wolves away from me."
"When will they arrive? They should have—"
Zhang Yu turned and saw a boy waving enthusiastically.
"The strange man! It's me! The one who saved your life, haha!"
"Perfect timing," Zhang Yu thought, paying him no attention, still acting mad.
"Strange? You're strange, whoever you are! Ah! Alcohol!" Zhang Yu shouted.
The boy paused, then rushed over and grabbed Zhang Yu's robe.
"You dare pull me? Whoever you are, I fear nothing!" Zhang Yu said, his eyes rolling wildly.
Dragged by the boy, Zhang Yu crossed the village, shaking his head in every direction, until they reached a solitary house.
It was not very large, but its surroundings were.
It stood at the edge of a district, with a moderate distance separating it from other homes.
It was not luxurious—just ordinary.
When the boy arrived and opened the door, he pulled Zhang Yu to the left, toward a small hut in an isolated area beside the house.
The hut contained only a bed, a pillow, and a small desk.
"You'll live here, strange man," the boy said.
"Live? Who dares house me!" Zhang Yu shouted. "If not for alcohol—ah! Where am I?"
"Hahaha, you're really funny!" the boy smiled, slapped Zhang Yu on the back, and ran off.
Zhang Yu turned, resumed his mad act, then entered the hut shortly after and threw himself onto the bed in a grotesque posture. Soon, snoring filled the space.
"Interesting. This village is better than I expected. With some time to explore, I can proceed with the plan smoothly, without interference."
"I'll need about a week. If nothing happens, I can shorten it to four or three days. That's acceptable. I can't wait any longer—something feels off. Things are far too smooth."
As he thought, he allowed himself to fall into deep sleep.
---
Thus, two days passed without anything strange occurring.
Each morning, he wandered the village, fooling around and listening to villagers' words or insults.
When he finished exploring, he returned to find food on the bed.
At first, Zhang Yu was surprised, but he soon stopped caring—he even ate it without concern for poison.
What kind of madman cares about food quality?
On the third day, Zhang Yu lay on the bed, still pretending to snore.
"Well, I think I'm being exploited. Things can't go this smoothly. That means someone must be aware of my condition."
"But who in a trivial village like this could see through me? Whoever it is, they're not to be underestimated. I must hurry."
"Tomorrow, I'll set my targets. The day after, I must leave."
With that, he sank into deep sleep.
Slowly, the sun rose, warmth rising with it, as though embracing the world—casting its light upon all beings and covering countless things with its blessing.
At dawn, Zhang Yu awoke, ready to choose whom he would abduct.
"First, I need twelve children—boys and girls, with slightly more girls. Second, half must be healthy and half sick. Of the sick ones, half must be children close to death, regardless of the cause. Third, one must be a newborn no older than one month."
"I've already chosen where to dump them—a pit in the ground near the village boundary. It looks like it's been abandoned for a very long time."
As he thought, he wandered the village, his eyes seemingly roaming aimlessly, while in truth he studied the children he would take.
Fortunately, the village was full of sick orphans—and even abandoned infants left in desolate places.
The healthy ones, however… he would have to take from families.
One of them was the boy who led him home.
After searching, he found what he needed.
This time, he did not return to the hut. He waited until midnight, when everyone was inside their homes—except the homeless, of course.
For some reason, after midnight, no one remained outside. Everyone went to their places.
This greatly aided Zhang Yu, but it also increased his unease.
"This place is not safe at all."
He ignored it and began moving toward his targets.
In an abandoned alley stood his first targets—a boy and his sister.
The sister was extremely thin, as though she might die at any moment.
The brother, though not thin, was grotesquely ugly—covered in deformities, scars, and marks of every kind.
He looked like a disgusting piece of rotting flesh.
Even so, he hugged his sister tightly, trying to protect her and give her warmth.
The stench around him was suffocating—a mixture of sweat, blood, dirt, and filth.
Yet none of this stopped him from gazing at his sister with tenderness and affection, enduring hardship for her sake.
That was when Zhang Yu appeared, walking like a madman.
Suddenly, his face turned toward them in a terrifying scene.
The brother trembled and clutched his sister, shielding her senses.
"A—ah—!" he tried to speak, but his severed tongue prevented him.
Zhang Yu looked at them, madness gleaming in his eyes.
He entered the alley with extreme calm, though his expression planted fear and terror in the brother, who froze.
"Come now, child… it's time to complete the purpose of your existence in this world. Hehehe."
The brother's pupils trembled. He curled into himself, holding his sister.
A venomous insect bit him. He wanted to scream from pain and terror—but he stayed silent for his sister's sake.
She trembled. She was awake, but due to her illness and frailty, she could do nothing but shake and shed tears.
This did not stop Zhang Yu.
He stepped forward, struck their necks to knock them unconscious, and carried them out calmly.
He placed them in a sack and dragged it away.
The pit was nearby. He threw them in, turned around, and continued without looking back.
Thus, Zhang Yu completed the rest of the abductions.
Despite witnessing their miserable states—ranging from resistance to terror, even screams—he was not affected in the slightest.
Before sunrise, he was back on his bed.
"Eleven done. One remains—the boy. Today, I leave this cursed place."
After falling asleep, the day passed quickly.
It was noon when he awoke.
As usual, he found food—this time on his desk.
Two pieces of bread, water, and soup.
He ate, then went out again.
He wandered the village until nightfall.
When he returned, he waited patiently for the boy.
The boy had not appeared since bringing him to the hut.
If he did not come, Zhang Yu would simply take another child and leave.
The moon rose, illuminating the courtyard where Zhang Yu waited, reflecting the coldness in his eyes.
At the same time, anticipation filled him, a faint smile on his lips.
The boy arrived.
Though covered in wounds and mud, the basket on his back was full.
Zhang Yu did not wait for him to enter.
He approached, acting mad as usual.
The boy noticed him and waved.
"The strange man! Did you miss me? Haha! Don't worry, I went to the forest to gather plants—I've got a whole stash this time! My parents will be happy!"
The boy smiled brightly as Zhang Yu approached.
"Stash! A stash, hahaha! Give me alcohol!" Zhang Yu shouted harshly at the end.
The boy fell silent and moved to enter the house.
But at that moment, Zhang Yu was extremely close.
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he struck the boy's neck.
The boy trembled, let out a muffled sound, and collapsed into Zhang Yu's arms.
Zhang Yu smiled.
He did not leave immediately.
He checked the boy's belongings, emptied the bottles, placed the empty ones back in the basket, then carried him out of the village toward the pit.
He threw the boy in—and jumped after him.
Upon reaching the bottom, he raised his hands high and shouted:
"Let the ritual begin!"
---