The Azure Dragon Sky Sect's great gates loomed high, carved from jade and steelwood, guarded by dragon statues that pulsed faintly with qi. Morning bells rang across the peaks, announcing the start of another day. Yet this dawn felt heavier—six disciples stood ready for a mission that would take them beyond the sect's protective reach.
Haotian wore plain travel robes, the Fenglong Spear strapped across his back. His gaze was calm, but his golden Eyes of the Universe gleamed faintly, scanning the road ahead.
Lianhua stood beside him, her aura soft but steady, violet eyes shimmering with quiet determination.
Su Ming, spear in hand, grinned with unshaken confidence, though his stance was disciplined.
Wen Qingyao, dressed in the green-and-white of the Alchemy Hall, carried a slim case of herbs and pill bottles at her waist.
Duan Jian stretched noisily, broad-shouldered and unrefined, but radiating brute strength.
Zhao Yunfei (formation talismans tied neatly at his belt) and Lin Yue (scroll case across her back) stood slightly apart, the two quieter disciples of the group.
As the gates creaked open, Sect Master Long Tianzhao's voice echoed faintly from within the sect, though he did not appear:
"Disciples of the Azure Dragon Sky Sect, step forth. Remember—your strength belongs not only to yourselves but to your brothers and sisters who walk beside you. Return alive."
All six bowed once, their voices united. "Yes, Sect Master!"
And then they descended the mountain road, mist curling at their feet, the sect shrinking behind them.
At first, silence reigned. Only the crunch of boots on stone and the rustle of packs broke the quiet. But the tension eased as the sun rose higher, its light warming the mist.
Su Ming was the first to break the silence. "The mission scroll claimed it takes two months to reach the Whispering Abyss by foot. Honestly, who does that anymore?"
Duan Jian barked a laugh. "Idiots who don't want to live, that's who. You'd be half-dead by the time you arrived. Abyss beasts wouldn't even need to lift a claw."
Wen Qingyao smirked. "Perhaps the scroll was meant to discourage the unprepared. But with ships, the journey should take no more than fourteen days, including the final march."
Zhao Yunfei adjusted his talismans. "Even so, the distance is misleading. The Abyss warps space itself. Don't assume everything written is false."
Haotian inclined his head slightly, acknowledging the point. "Efficiency matters. But even with ships, we cannot treat this journey lightly."
Lianhua chuckled softly, her voice a calming balance to the group. "At least the road is pleasant for now. Let's save our grim faces for the shadows ahead."
Her words drew laughter, the tension dissolving further.
By midday, the road opened into a vast valley. Mist cascaded down sheer cliffs in silver ribbons, pooling into rivers that sparkled like crystal. Nestled within this valley was Silverveil City—its jade towers gleamed in the sunlight, while bridges of translucent stone arched over waterways alive with boats and markets.
The city buzzed with life. Merchants shouted their wares, spirit beasts drew carriages through crowded streets, and floating lanterns glowed even in daylight.
The disciples checked into an inn, their sect badges ensuring respect and discounted rates. With daylight left, they ventured into the city as a group.
Wen Qingyao led the group through the famed Herbal Market, a sprawling plaza lined with stalls selling dried roots, glowing herbs, and bottled elixirs. She quizzed vendors with sharp questions, muttering critiques under her breath: "Inferior drying technique… this batch lost thirty percent potency." Lin Yue trailed after her, scribbling notes.
Su Ming dragged Haotian into a weaponsmith's hall, where racks of spears and swords gleamed under firelight. "Come, Brother Zhenlong—let's test the balance of these wares."Haotian lifted one spear, spun it once, then set it down with a faint shake of his head. "Too heavy at the base. A flawed array."Su Ming laughed. "I knew you'd say that."
Duan Jian pulled them to a noisy street stall where skewered meat sizzled over glowing coals. "Trial food! Cheap, greasy, perfect!" He bit into one stick, eyes lighting up. "Heavenly! Try it, you cowards."Even Wen Qingyao relented, though she muttered about oil content.
Lianhua drifted toward a waterfall overlook on the city's edge, the mist sparkling around her as she gazed out. Haotian joined her quietly. "Traveling like this… feels like before the sect, doesn't it?" she whispered.Haotian's lips curved faintly. "Yes. But the road ahead won't be as kind as this valley."
The others found them standing together, framed by mist and sunlight, and exchanged knowing looks but said nothing.
That night, they returned to their inn. A large round table was brought to their room, covered in dishes: spirit beast stew, fragrant rice, spiced tea.
Conversation flowed easily:
Zhao Yunfei told a story of a formation gone wrong during training, nearly collapsing an entire practice hall.
Wen Qingyao rolled her eyes and added, "He's still banned from laying formations near the Pill Hall."
Duan Jian nearly spit out his tea from laughing.
Lianhua listened with a gentle smile, occasionally teasing Haotian with soft comments only he could hear. He said little, but his quiet presence kept the group grounded.
By the time lanterns dimmed, the disciples felt less like strangers and more like companions bound by shared purpose.
As the city settled into silence, Haotian lay awake for a time, the faint hum of qi flowing through his meridians. His mind turned, not to the laughter of his companions, but to the looming darkness of the Abyss, and the Nether Night Codex waiting within.
Tomorrow, they would take to the skies.
The next morning, the six disciples rose early and made their way through the heart of Silverveil City. Their destination: the Skyport, a colossal tower carved into the cliffs, its docking platforms bristling with vessels bound for every corner of the realm.
The sight drew collective awe:
Massive flying ships with jade-inlaid sails shimmered as they caught spiritual currents.
Spirit beasts were tethered in side stables, their wings folded, used to haul goods when ships could not.
Runes carved into stone pylons pulsed with qi, stabilizing the port against the sheer force of dozens of launches each hour.
Duan Jian whistled low. "Every time I see this, I feel like a farmer's child again."
Wen Qingyao arched an eyebrow. "You still eat like one, too."
The group laughed, easing into the excitement of departure.
Their vessel, The Azure Sojourner, floated at the far platform. Though smaller than the merchant leviathans nearby, it gleamed with reinforced wood, array-carved sails, and a hull etched with spirit-gathering patterns. This was no warship, but neither was it defenseless.
The crew, recognizing their sect insignias, bowed and ushered them aboard with respect.
Inside, polished wooden corridors hummed faintly with qi. Cabins were modest but neat, each equipped with a bed, writing desk, and meditation mat.
"Separate rooms for all of you," the deck officer announced—then blinked when Haotian and Lianhua requested only one.
Su Ming clapped Haotian's shoulder with a grin. "Already joined at the hip, are you?"
Lianhua smiled serenely, unfazed. "Efficiency. One less room wasted."
Haotian said nothing, only sliding a jade slip across their doorframe once they entered their shared cabin. Layers of concealment, silencing, and misdirection formations unfolded silently—his invisible assurance that no one would overhear what happened within.
The days quickly fell into rhythm:
Morning: The disciples gathered for breakfast in the small dining hall, sunlight spilling through round windows as the ship soared over valleys below. Conversation was lively, often dominated by Duan Jian's boasts and Su Ming's teasing.
Afternoon: Most retreated to their cabins to cultivate. The ship's spiritual sails drew in qi from the skies, circulating it through the hull. Sitting cross-legged in their rooms was nearly as efficient as meditating in a sect cultivation chamber.
Evening: They sometimes gathered on deck, watching the sun sink behind mountains, or sparred lightly in pairs to keep their bodies sharp. Wen Qingyao scolded Duan Jian more than once for trying to spar too close to the rail.
Night: The ship dimmed, its runes glowing faintly. Behind Haotian's sealed formations, he and Lianhua dual cultivated, weaving fire and water, yin and yang, their resonance deepening with each session.
On the second morning, the disciples trickled into the dining hall one by one. Su Ming was already halfway through a bowl of congee when Lianhua entered.
Her hair shimmered faintly like threads of moonlight, her skin radiant with a subtle glow, and a stream of light qi still coiled around her shoulders. She looked refreshed—almost too refreshed.
Duan Jian froze mid-bite. "…You're glowing."
Wen Qingyao's eyes narrowed with interest. "Indeed. That's not a trick of the lanterns."
Haotian's chopsticks paused mid-air. Not good.
But before the questions sharpened, Lianhua smiled gently, her tone calm. "It's the Radiant Dawn Sutra. Its circulation peaks at night. When I rise in the morning, the light lingers. That's all."
Zhao Yunfei tilted his head, curious. "A sutra that manifests visibly… fascinating."
Duan Jian muttered under his breath, "More like a walking lantern."
Su Ming chuckled, smirking as he raised his bowl. "Then let us be glad—if the ship lanterns fail, Senior Sister Bai can guide us safely through the skies."
The table laughed lightly. Lianhua accepted it gracefully, but Haotian's jaw tightened as he sipped his tea.
On the third day, Su Ming approached Haotian on deck, spear in hand. "Brother Zhenlong, spar with me. I want to test my progress against your eyes."
Haotian agreed silently, drawing his Fenglong Spear. Their bout was brief but sharp—Su Ming attacked with fierce precision, but Haotian saw flaws mid-strike, adjusting his stance only slightly to deflect each blow.
Panting, Su Ming lowered his spear. "As I thought. You see through everything. It's… frustrating. But enlightening."
Haotian only inclined his head. "Your foundation is solid. Refine the transitions."
Elsewhere, Wen Qingyao shared pill insights with Lin Yue, critiquing talismans that might fail under abyssal qi. Zhao Yunfei, more reserved, adjusted minor ship formations, much to the crew's gratitude.
By the fourth and fifth mornings, the glow around Lianhua intensified. She entered the hall with cheeks faintly pink, her body radiating light essence that made her appear almost ethereal.
Duan Jian dropped his spoon. "…She's brighter again!"
Su Ming clutched his chest dramatically. "Careful, brothers—soon we won't be able to look directly at her without going blind!"
Even Wen Qingyao smirked. "If Bai Lianhua continues this pace, she'll outshine the sect's lantern arrays."
Lianhua only smiled serenely. "It is simply the Radiant Dawn Sutra's nature."
Haotian pinched the bridge of his nose. This Bath Dao rumor will never die, will it…
On the sixth day, the Azure Sojourner descended toward their next destination: Ironclad Fortress City, a sprawling bastion built into black cliffs. Massive walls inscribed with arrays rose like mountains themselves, and giant ballistae carved from beast bones lined the battlements.
The city pulsed with martial discipline, its streets filled with armored patrols and merchants hawking abyss-warding charms.
For one night, the team stayed in an inn near the fortress gates. The mood had shifted subtly—lighter conversation gave way to quieter voices, each disciple aware they were leaving the safety of civilization behind.
Tomorrow, they would board their second vessel, and from there, the frontier—and the Abyss—awaited.
Dawn light glinted off the blackstone walls of Ironclad Fortress City. Patrol horns echoed as the disciples made their way to the skyport, where their second vessel awaited: The Wind Serpent.
Compared to their first ship, the Wind Serpent was sleeker and sharper, with sails inscribed in silver runes that shimmered like coiled dragons. It was built for speed across hostile skies, its hull narrower but reinforced with arrays that repelled aerial beasts.
Su Ming whistled as they boarded. "Now this—this is a ship. The Azure Sojourner felt like a caravan cart by comparison."
Wen Qingyao arched a brow. "A caravan cart that carried you safely for six days."
"Details." Su Ming grinned.
The crew showed them to their cabins. Again, each disciple received a private room, except Haotian and Lianhua, who shared as before. This time, no one even questioned it—it was already expected.
The rhythm aboard the Wind Serpent echoed their first flight, though the atmosphere grew heavier as they drew closer to the frontier.
Daytime: the disciples cultivated in silence. The qi drawn in by the ship was purer, sharper than before, rushing like wind through their meridians. Haotian worked on refining talismans in his cabin, while Lianhua cultivated the Radiant Dawn Sutra, her body glowing more steadily with each cycle.
Evening: they gathered in the dining hall or on deck, watching the clouds swirl below as the ship cut through the skies. Su Ming and Duan Jian often sparred lightly, their clashes drawing amused commentary from the others.
Night: once again, Haotian sealed their cabin with overlapping formations. He and Lianhua continued dual cultivation, weaving elemental resonance through their meridians. The combination of fire, water, yin, and yang grew smoother each night, but so too did the glow around Lianhua.
The Lantern Nickname
On the second morning of this flight, the disciples assembled in the dining hall for breakfast. Zhao Yunfei was pouring tea when Lianhua entered, her skin radiant with soft light, her violet eyes glimmering like gemstones.
Duan Jian slapped the table. "It's brighter again! I swear, she could guide a caravan through the darkest canyon."
Su Ming leaned back with a smirk. "Careful, Brother Duan. If you keep staring too long, you'll go blind. Better get used to it—looks like we've got our very own Lantern Fairy."
Wen Qingyao covered her mouth, hiding a smile. "Lantern Fairy… hm. It has a certain charm."
Even Zhao Yunfei, normally reserved, allowed himself the faintest chuckle.
Haotian, chopsticks frozen in midair, muttered under his breath: "…Lantern… Fairy…"
Lianhua, however, only laughed softly. "If my glow lights the path for my brothers and sisters, I'll accept the title gladly."
Her graciousness only cemented the nickname. By that evening, Su Ming was joking, "Don't worry about torches during the Abyss. As long as Lantern Fairy walks with us, we'll never get lost."
Duan Jian added with a grin, "First Bath Dao, now Lantern Dao. Zhenlong Haotian, you've birthed a whole lineage of strange cultivation methods."
Haotian nearly cracked his teacup in his grip.
Despite the teasing, the days deepened the group's bond.
Su Ming grew more earnest, often sparring with Haotian on deck. He struggled, but his respect was clear. "Even your smallest corrections change everything. No wonder you rose so fast."
Wen Qingyao and Lin Yue worked together to draft talisman-potion combinations, theorizing how best to resist abyssal corruption.
Zhao Yunfei occasionally joined Haotian in array discussions, quietly impressed by his subtle corrections. "Your insight runs deeper than I expected."
Duan Jian… simply ate, trained, and boasted. But his boisterous spirit kept morale high.
At dinners, laughter came more easily. Even Lianhua, often serene, joined in more openly, her voice bright. For all the jokes at her expense, it was clear the others admired her, too—her steady composure and warmth made the group feel anchored.
By the fourth morning, Lianhua's radiance had grown undeniable. She entered the hall glowing so brightly that even the ship's lanterns dimmed in comparison. Her hair shimmered like molten silver, her skin soft but luminous, her presence almost ethereal.
Duan Jian shielded his eyes with exaggerated groaning. "Too much! Lantern Fairy's turned into a beacon! Someone hang her off the mast—this ship could be seen for leagues!"
Su Ming grinned wickedly. "Careful, Brother Duan. At this rate, she'll outshine the Sect Master himself."
Even Wen Qingyao smiled wryly. "I should bottle your qi as a pill, Sister Bai. It'd fetch a fortune."
Lianhua only laughed softly, brushing her hair back. "If it brings light to the road ahead, let it be so."
Haotian drank his tea in silence, jaw tightening. This joke is becoming doctrine.
After six days, the Wind Serpent descended through heavy clouds toward Blackroot City—a fortress-town carved from blackened stone, its walls bristling with talisman wards. The air itself was thicker here, already tainted with faint threads of shadow qi.
The city was alive with mercenaries, adventurers, and sect disciples from distant lands, all buying supplies for forays toward the Whispering Abyss. Market stalls hawked abyss-resistant charms, beast-hunting talismans, and bottles of cleansing elixirs.
The group stayed in an inn that night, but the mood had shifted. The laughter of the voyage softened into quiet determination. The Abyss loomed close now—its whispers already brushing against their hearts.
And as they lay in their rooms, Haotian's mind lingered not on the jokes, but on the Nether Night Codex awaiting him. For all their camaraderie, only he and Lianhua knew the true purpose of entering the Whispering Abyss: to seize the final key to the Ten Elemental Body Physique.
At first light, the disciples departed Blackroot City, their boots clattering on the cobbled streets until stone gave way to cracked and uneven wilderness roads. The city gates shut behind them with a groan of blacksteel hinges, and the sound echoed strangely—hollow, final.
Duan Jian glanced back once, rolling his shoulders. "That's the last decent roof we'll see for a while."
Wen Qingyao's lips tightened. "Or the last warm hearth."
Ahead stretched a wasteland of jagged hills and barren soil. The path was marked by weather-worn milestones and crude cairns left by travelers, many of which were chipped or toppled. From the first mile onward, the very air felt heavier.
By midday, the world had changed.
The sky itself dulled—though no clouds obscured the sun, its light seemed faded, like a painting left too long in shadow. The disciples noticed their shadows had grown fainter on the road, edges blurred and indistinct.
The ground was scarred with fissures. Stunted gray shrubs clung stubbornly to life, their leaves cracked and brittle. Trees grew in twisted shapes, bark blackened as though charred, branches contorted toward the horizon like claws.
Su Ming shifted uneasily, spear resting against his shoulder. "Feels like the world is holding its breath."
Haotian scanned the land with faintly glowing eyes. "…No. It's whispering."
Indeed, if one stilled their breath, there were murmurs on the wind—not words, but impressions. Echoes brushing against the edges of thought. Some carried dread. Others, temptation.
Lin Yue rubbed her temples, voice low. "If you listen too long, they press against your mind."
Lianhua let her Radiant Dawn Sutra flare gently, a halo of light essence forming around her. The whispers recoiled from it, and the other disciples instinctively drew closer, comforted.
Su Ming smirked weakly. "Lantern Fairy lives up to her name, eh?"
Duan Jian muttered, "Not funny anymore."
On the second day of marching, their vigilance proved justified.
The group crested a ridge and froze. Below, in the valley, creatures roamed—a pack of abyssal wolves, their bodies half-dissolved into shadow, with eyes glowing blood-red. They padded silently across the plain, their paws leaving no prints on the earth.
Above, a flock of skeletal birds circled, their wings stretched too long, feathers drifting like ash. They cried out once, the sound a jagged screech that made the disciples' bones ache.
Further off, a stag-like beast moved slowly through the distance, its great antlers warped into spires of black crystal, dripping shadow with every step. Wherever it walked, the grass withered to dust.
The disciples instinctively drew weapons. Spears, talismans, swords—each hand tightened on hilts or scrolls.
But Haotian raised a hand, his eyes steady. "No. They haven't noticed us. Fighting now would only waste strength."
Zhao Yunfei exhaled slowly, nodding. "He's right. Avoidance is the better path."
Together, the six circled wide, crouching low to keep hidden. Not a word was spoken until they had passed out of the beasts' range. Only then did they breathe freely again.
That night, they camped in a shallow ravine. Wen Qingyao lit a formation lantern, but its glow seemed to die before reaching the rocks around them. Only Lianhua's light aura gave warmth, pushing the whispers back.
Duan Jian lay on his back, staring at the dim sky. "Even the stars don't look right here."
Lin Yue shivered. "Maybe they've been drowned out by the Abyss."
Haotian said nothing, sitting cross-legged in meditation. But in the depths of his vision, the Eyes of the Universe revealed the truth: strands of corrupted qi curled invisibly through the air like smoke, trying to seep into their meridians. Left unchecked, it would warp them.
He tightened his formations around the camp, silently resolving: We cannot linger long.
By the second afternoon, the ground leveled into a broad plateau. The air grew colder, heavier, until even breathing felt like dragging tar through their lungs.
And then they saw it.
At the far edge of the plateau stood a crooked wooden gate, warped and blackened as though it had stood there for centuries. Its beams were cracked, bound with rusted chains that clinked faintly though no wind blew.
Above the gate hung a rotting sign, suspended by iron hooks. Its carved letters pulsed faintly with residual qi, jagged strokes brimming with malice:
"Whispering Abyss."
A faint moan drifted from beyond—not air, not beast, but soundless whispers, brushing against their minds. Promises, fears, fragments of longing. Enough to set one's teeth on edge.
The disciples stood in silence, each feeling the weight of the threshold before them.
Su Ming broke the quiet, voice strained but steady. "…So this is it. The Abyss."
Wen Qingyao clutched a talisman tighter to her chest. "From this point on, every step risks corruption."
Duan Jian cracked his knuckles, though his grin looked forced. "Then we step hard."
Zhao Yunfei's lips moved silently as he began to prepare barrier charms. Lin Yue stood pale but resolute at his side.
Lianhua's hand found Haotian's. Her light qi pulsed softly, repelling the whispers for the group clustered closest. "We're ready," she said, her voice calm, though her eyes betrayed the tension within.
Haotian's golden eyes narrowed, the Eyes of the Universe seeing threads of corruption leaking through the gate. His voice was firm, steady, unshaken:
"This is where the mission truly begins. Do not falter."
The wooden gate creaked as though in answer. And then, one by one, the six disciples stepped forward—crossing beneath the crooked sign, and into the Whispering Abyss.
The crooked gate creaked as it swung shut behind them, sealing the group in. The moment the last hinge clanged, the air grew heavy, thick with whispers that gnawed at the edges of thought.
Haotian broke the silence."The scroll said we must subdue the Whispering Abyss. What does that mean exactly?"
Su Ming's expression hardened. His grip tightened on his spear."It means killing. The beasts and monsters here never stop breeding. If they're left alone, they gather into a tide. When that tide breaks, cities burn, sects fall. Our task is to thin them out before disaster strikes."
Wen Qingyao's tone was clipped, precise, like she was reciting a formula."Think of it as pruning weeds. Ruthless, but necessary. The Abyss cannot be destroyed, but its chaos can be managed."
Haotian frowned. His golden eyes flickered faintly."And how long does this pruning last?"
Zhao Yunfei answered without hesitation."A month, sometimes more. Depends on the numbers. There's no set end until the beasts themselves are cut down."
Haotian's brows drew tight."Then how do we know how many there are?"
At that, Lin Yue finally spoke. The quietest of their group, her lips curved faintly as she reached into her robes. A crystal orb rolled into her hand, its surface dull until she poured qi into it.
With a soft hum, light burst forth. A spectral map unfolded in the air above the orb, sketching the broken ridges and deep ravines of the Whispering Abyss.
Red dots pulsed across the map. Dozens scattered across the periphery. Hundreds clustered deeper within. The glow of each dot seemed to breathe faintly, like hearts beating in the dark.
Haotian's eyes sharpened."…A map?"
Lin Yue nodded."Linked to monitoring talismans left behind by past expeditions. Every abyss beast carries a trace of resonance. When they die, the orb reflects it. Each dot here marks a target. When enough vanish, the mission is considered complete."
Duan Jian leaned closer, eyes wide. "That's… insane. It really shows them all?"
Wen Qingyao corrected him sharply. "Not all. Enough to track their numbers. It's a measure. Not salvation."
Haotian studied the map in silence. The dots pulsed faintly, each one a challenge, each one a life waiting to be extinguished. And somewhere in the depths, beyond the sea of red, lay what he sought—the shadow essence to awaken the Nether Night Codex.
Zhao Yunfei slipped the orb back into Lin Yue's hands."We begin on the edges. Cull small packs first. Strength must be saved for the deeper dens. Anyone who charges too fast dies quickly."
Su Ming spun his spear, fire flickering in his eyes. "Good. I've been itching for this since we left the gates."
Duan Jian cracked his knuckles, a savage grin on his face. "Finally, beasts instead of empty roads."
Wen Qingyao only exhaled, adjusting the pill case at her side. "Control yourselves. We're here to kill, not to show off."
Haotian's golden gaze lingered on the map a heartbeat longer before he nodded."Then let's begin."
The group moved forward a few steps when the sound came: crunching footsteps, steady and deliberate. From the mist ahead, another squad emerged.
Six disciples. Black robes with scarlet trim. A coiled serpent stitched across each chest.
Blood Serpent Sect.
The leader was tall, lean, his presence sharp as a blade. A hooked glaive rested against his back. His smile was crooked, cruel."Well, well. I expected only beasts. But the Azure Dragon pups came slithering in too. Fate is generous today."
Behind him, five disciples spread in formation. Their stances were loose, but the hostility in their qi pressed forward like blades unsheathed.
Duan Jian spat to the side."Snakes. Of course it's you."
Wen Qingyao sneered openly."Always crawling where filth festers."
The glaive-bearer chuckled. His tone was light, but the killing intent beneath it was ice-cold."Careful, little alchemist. This Abyss belongs to no one. Every beast you kill is one less we claim. Don't expect we'll thank you for it."
The whispers in the air thickened, feeding on the tension.
The two groups stood a dozen paces apart, the mist curling around them, eyes locked.
Haotian's Eyes of the Universe flared faintly. Beneath their smiles, beneath their swagger, he saw the truth—coiled killing intent, sharp and waiting.
His voice cut the silence, calm but edged like tempered steel."Then stay out of our way. Cross us, and you'll be the first weeds cut down."
The Blood Serpent leader's smirk widened. His hand brushed the shaft of his glaive."Oh, I look forward to testing that mouth of yours, Zhenlong Haotian."
Neither side moved. The whispers hissed, hungry. The Abyss itself seemed to wait for blood.