Mei Li advanced toward the gate of the Crimson Lotus Residence.
The symbol of the crimson lotus, carved into the stone above the dark wood, seemed inert at first glance. She raised her hand without hesitation. Two drops of blood welled from the tips of her fingers and fell onto the surface of the formation embedded in the gate.
The blood was absorbed silently.
For a brief instant, thin lines of red light ran across the gate like awakening veins. An almost imperceptible pulse passed through the entire wall, sweeping the inner area. Then, the gate opened inward, without a creak, revealing the interior of the residence.
The inner courtyard was spacious and enclosed, isolated from the outside world by multiple layers of formations. The ground was made of dark jade slabs, cold and perfectly aligned.
At the center, a shallow lotus-shaped pond reflected the light of the sky filtered through a translucent covering. The water had a subtle reddish hue, far too dense to be ordinary.
