I ignored the Plague God. In their eyes, anything outside orthodox traditions was considered heretical. Honestly, I was just relieved he hadn't attacked Big Black and the others. Following Little Green through a maze of narrow alleys, we arrived at a cluster of cramped, dilapidated apartment buildings. The area was a slum—crumbling roads pooled with murky sewage, the air thick with the stench of gutters. As cities expanded, suburban residents had become overnight millionaires through demolition payouts, leaving these crumbling ruins to migrant workers. Most were asleep at this hour, exhausted from manual labor. But the moment we entered the alley, feral cats began yowling incessantly. Unease prickled my spine. After Little Green marked the location, I sent Huang Jiu and Big Black to assist Hei Huang.
A "Void House" along the Kongwang Line is always surrounded by the Twenty-Four Mountains. The Plague God and I scanned the area, confirming these "mountains" were actually twenty-four aged seven-story red-brick buildings—a man-made Void House. Given their decay, this setup couldn't have been created by the Three Yin Sect. Even they couldn't have plotted this decades in advance.
With a powerhouse like the Plague God nearby, I seized the chance to probe. "This place feels off—deliberately constructed as a Void House."
He replied coldly, "Something happened here years ago."
"What?" I pressed, though his expression told me he'd say no more. "Never mind. You'd explain, and I still wouldn't get it."
The Plague God's corpse-like face actually twitched into a smile—chilling, like frostbite. I shuddered and hurried along the Kongwang Line. I'd only delayed briefly; the "Nine Paths Champion" had entered about half an hour prior.
Rounding a corner, I spotted two figures in the alley. Activating my Spirit Eye, I nearly laughed. *He Xiaolong* and *Lai Youwei*—fate truly loved throwing us together. Lai's knees were still bloodied, yet here he was, clinging to hatred. If they were here, the Void House had to be close.
I turned to the Plague God. "Wait here. Let me handle this."
He frowned. "Why the charade? I'll just go in."
"No! That'd ruin the fun," I insisted.
"Petty," he scoffed.
I shot back, "Petty? Isn't that what your 'righteous' sects bred?" before slipping into the shadows.
He Xiaolong's dantian was shattered; Lai's guard was low. I crept up unnoticed.
"Your senior's been inside forever. What if he's dead?" Lai whispered nervously.
"Relax. Liu Jian's with him. Any trouble, we'd hear," He Xiaolong said.
*Idiots*, I thought. A Void House seals all sound and energy—no signals escaped. If all orthodox factions were this clueless, my life'd be easy. But no—the mystical world had too many monsters like Hu Wenhui. Fools were rare.
Activating my third-layer Spirit Eye, I confirmed the Void House's isolated space. Then—*ahem*.
They jumped. He Xiaolong spun around. My fist smashed his eye, followed by a kick to his gut, doubling him over. Lai frantically wheeled his chair backward, unaware I'd lifted the rear wheels. "That bastard's here already?!" he cursed, speeding nowhere until he turned—and froze.
"G-Grandpa!" he stammered.
"Grandson." I smirked.
He actually *answered*, "Y-yes!" cutting off my retort.
The Plague God materialized, disgusted. "The Hemp Robe Sect's honor dies with you."
Lai groveled, "You're right, Grandpa! Just let this trash go!"
The Plague God sighed. "Do what you want."
I released Lai's brakes, tapping my Blood Spike. "How long's the 'Champion' been in?"
"Half an hour, Grandpa!"
"Get lost," I spat.
Lai scrambled away, wheeling He Xiaolong, who hissed, "You'll pay for this, Li Yang!"
"Save it. *Leave*."
As they vanished, I muttered, "The Nine Paths Champion matters. He can't die here."
The Plague God strode toward a half-open vermilion door. His umbrella *cracked* against an invisible barrier, but he stepped through. I followed—and gasped.
Inside, the world had warped.