The night wind on the roof of the old harbor was salty and biting. Li Xian and Luo Feng crouched behind a chimney, spreading out the parchment map they had found in Luo Feng's grandfather's journal. The map felt dry and brittle under their fingers, smelling of old, dried blood. It showed five red dots forming an unknown constellation. In the center, a double spiral engraving.
"The Dead Fish Market," Luo Feng muttered, pointing to one of the dots. "This is the only black market in Wuyang. It's run by Shanghai Hei."
The twin jade pendants from Wang Meng around their necks throbbed, warm and urgent, as if they wanted to jump out of their chests. Their pulse pointed straight down, to the labyrinth of alleys beneath the harbor.
Suddenly, a moonbeam pierced a gap in the roof, projecting their shadows on the wall. However, the shadows changed, becoming a larger and more terrifying silhouette. Shanghai Hei's shadow, with his long, flowing robe, was projected on the dusty wall. A deep, cold voice was heard, like the rustle of sand inside a skull, with an echo that made their ears buzz.
"I'll be waiting in the final labyrinth, you cursed children! Don't get lost."
The shadow disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. The nauseating smell of rotten fish and sulfur wafted from the gaps between the wooden planks, guiding them into the dark underground alley.
"It's a trap," Li Xian said, his gaze hardening. "That bastard! He knows our every move!"
"Of course, he knows," Luo Feng replied, trying to calm Li Xian down. "He's not just a murderer, but a mastermind. Now, we're entering his game. You have to stay calm, Li Xian. Your anger is the bait he wants."
Luo Feng smiled faintly. "A tiger that welcomes its prey into its den must have more dangerous tricks than just fangs."
They descended into the narrow alley under the old harbor. The air here was heavy, damp, and disgusting. The walls were slimy, brownish like dried blood mixed with fish scales. Every drop of water that fell into a puddle created a sound like a groan. The only light came from a pale green fish oil lantern hanging at every intersection, making the shadows dance and making them feel like mice entering the belly of a giant.
They passed through several districts. First, the Human Trafficking District. The smell of sweat and fear was pungent. Behind the iron bars, children with bright eyes stared blankly, like windows to souls that had been taken. Li Xian clenched his fists, the veins in his hands bulging. Luo Feng pulled his hand, signaling him to stay calm.
Next, the Ritual District. Here, on a wooden table covered with a black cloth, internal organs were kept in formalin jars, glowing strangely under the lantern light. A heart that still seemed to be beating, eyes that stared blankly, and other organs. All for sale.
They also saw the Weapon District. Shiny knives were neatly displayed, their blades made of human bone, with the same double spiral engraving. The weapons seemed to whisper, calling the souls they had taken.
"Look at that," Luo Feng pointed to a shabby coffee shop where several hard-faced men were gathered. "The Information District. Where all the spies gather."
They walked cautiously. The floor they stepped on felt slippery, coated in fish oil, making every step feel like walking on ice. Luo Feng pointed up. Small holes were hidden behind piles of fishing nets on the ceiling, where a lookout could watch them. And the poisonous opium smoke from a leaking pipe made their heads dizzy, almost making them lose consciousness. The smoke not only made them dizzy but also brought up faint, horrifying memories.
"Damn it," Li Xian muttered, coughing. "This place is like a labyrinth designed to kill."
"Exactly," Luo Feng nodded. "And we've only just passed the entrance."
They began their infiltration operation.
9:00 PM: Rat Ear's Stall. Luo Feng went in, disguised as an opium buyer from another province. He sat at the table closest to the guard, ordering tea.
"This tea is our secret recipe, sir," said the stall owner, a thin man with a hoarse laugh. "It makes you forget all your problems."
Luo Feng smelled the aroma. There was a strange sweetness behind it. "I already have enough problems here. I don't need a new one," he said, refusing. He saw a flash of disappointment in the stall owner's eyes and knew his guess was right: there was poison in the tea.
10:30 PM: Ritual Tools Shop. It was Li Xian's turn. The shop was small and dark, guarded by a blind man who seemed to be sleeping behind the counter. Li Xian moved silently, like a shadow. He touched every item on the shelf, looking for the codebook they believed was there.
"You can take whatever you want, boy," the blind man's voice suddenly sounded, "but I can smell your intention. Your intention smells of revenge."
Li Xian's heart pounded. He realized that the blind owner's sense of smell was very sharp. Li Xian found the codebook under the table, hidden behind a pile of incense.
11:15 PM: Warehouse 13. They entered a warehouse that smelled worse than the others. There, they saw mutant carnivorous dogs, their eyes glowing red, tearing apart a fish carcass.
"This is a ritual place," Luo Feng whispered, pointing to an area in the middle of the warehouse marked with a circle of blood. Li Xian took a sample of the ritual soil, while Luo Feng watched the dogs. Suddenly, one of the dogs turned, smelled them, and began to growl.
They had to escape, barely succeeding in getting away from the dogs. Outside, behind a pile of crates, Li Xian opened the codebook and found three things that made his blood run cold.
First, Shanghai Hei's order: "Prepare 5 jade-eyed children for the full moon. Collect their blood at the main altar."
Second, a more complex version of the "Dark Dragon Summoning" ritual diagram. This diagram showed that the ritual required not only blood but also the emotional power of the victim. The diagram was more detailed, with strange symbols and more complex energy lines.
Third, a small bottle containing a thick, blood-like liquid. The label read: "Sample of Moon Descendant Blood. Managed by Dr. M." Li Xian shivered as he realized it was a liquid very similar to his own blood. A sudden nausea attacked his stomach. Does this mean I am part of this ritual? Is my own blood their fuel?
Suddenly, a mechanical sound rumbled. Thick steel sliding doors came down at both ends of the alley, trapping them in the narrow corridor. They were trapped. The sound of the doors was deafening and deadly.
Then, a greenish gas began to spread from the vents in the walls. A hallucinogenic gas. Li Xian and Luo Feng staggered, flashes of the massacre in their village filling their minds. Li Xian saw his mother fall in front of him, blood soaking his hands. Luo Feng saw his grandfather begging for mercy, while a black shadow tore him apart. The sounds of crying and screaming filled their ears.
Shanghai Hei's voice was heard from a megaphone on the ceiling, his voice distorted. "Welcome to the final game, you cursed children. First choice: choose one of you to die. Or... let the boys in the human district be shark bait."
A holographic projection appeared on the wall. They saw children chained in a pool, sharks swimming under them, waiting. In front of them, an hourglass filled with poison began to count down. The time limit was 5 minutes.
"Damn you!" Li Xian roared, his anger overflowing. "You bastard! You'll pay for this!"
At the same time, small holes appeared in the wall. Poisoned arrows shot out, hundreds of them. Li Xian activated his dark energy, creating a black shield to block the arrows. Every vein felt like it was burning, and the energy felt like thousands of needles piercing his skin from within.
Luo Feng did not stand still. He took an iron rod from the ground, put his ear to the wall, and heard a faint sound of wind. "There's an air duct here! Hurry!" He broke the fake wall next to him.
They worked together. Li Xian created a distraction, gathering dark energy and exploding it, creating a hole in the wall. Meanwhile, Luo Feng infiltrated through the air duct, saving the chained children.
They managed to get out, running while carrying some of the children they had rescued. But the escape route split into two. To the left was a flimsy bridge over the shark pool, its fishing line swaying. To the right was a narrow tunnel filled with landmines, making a 'click' sound every time the wind blew.
At the end of the alley, the figure of Shanghai Hei appeared, his robe fluttering. "Final choice, children. One to be released, one to be sacrificed!"
Li Xian made a split-second decision. He pushed Luo Feng toward the bridge. "No! I won't let you die here! Go! Protect them! This is my mission now!"
Luo Feng tried to resist but was pushed with great force. "Our mission! Li Xian, don't be stupid!" he shouted.
Li Xian faced Shanghai Hei alone. The dark energy in his body reached a dangerous level. His skin felt like it was burning, and two small horns grew on his forehead, like shoots of darkness.
"So, you want to be a monster like me?" Shanghai Hei laughed, his voice shrill. "But you're too late!"
At that moment, the oldest boy Luo Feng had saved suddenly turned around. With a quick movement, he injected poison into Luo Feng's neck.
"I'm sorry," the boy shouted, tears streaming down his face. He looked scared, not evil. "Shanghai Hei promised me life! He said I would be safe if I betrayed you!"
Luo Feng collapsed, his body convulsing.
Li Xian roared, his anger turning into pure madness. He lunged at Shanghai Hei, releasing a wave of dark energy that tore through the walls. But Shanghai Hei disappeared, leaving behind a cold, echoing laugh.
Li Xian rushed to the dying Luo Feng. Without thinking, he bit his own arm. His blood dripped into Luo Feng's mouth. His blood was warm, bitter, and smelled of sulfur. The side effects were immediate. Luo Feng's eyes briefly glowed red, radiating the same light as Li Xian's dark energy, like a demonic reflection.
They arrived at the pier. A ghost ship with a crescent moon flag emerged from the fog, its engine silent. Its torn sails and mossy hull were clearly visible. On the stern, Shanghai Hei stood, waving, and throwing a challenge.
"This challenge is not over yet! The next ritual will perfect my power! I'll be waiting for you there, at the Blue Sky Temple! Try to stop me!"
On the ship's mast, the jade-eyed children Luo Feng had saved were chained, staring at them with terrified looks.
Li Xian dragged Luo Feng to a hidden cave in the sea cliff. Luo Feng shivered, the poison and Li Xian's blood reacting in his body, creating a battle within him.
"You... almost became a monster just now..." Luo Feng whispered, his voice hoarse.
"I almost lost control," Li Xian admitted, his breath ragged. "And you almost became a corpse."
"I know. I saw it," Luo Feng said. "But you saved us. In your own way."
Li Xian looked at the water mirror in the cave. The horns on his forehead were gone. But when he looked deeper, his reflection in the water looked darker, more cruel. The horns were gone, but faint bat wings still looked real on the back of the reflection. In the distance, the bell of the Blue Sky Temple rang, clearly audible, as if they were calling them directly, calling them to the next trap.