The fresh scent of mint leaves lingered in the air.
Rain had only just passed. A cool breeze drifted through the room, carrying a faint trace of salt.
Li Mu sat quietly, facing his siblings.
He held no particular hostility toward their visit.
He already knew—
Today would decide the balance between them.
And yet…
Even with tension thick in the air—
His heart remained calm.
His mind, still.
Li Qian took the lead, sitting gracefully across from him.
She glanced at Li Chen—
A subtle signal.
Li Chen's gaze shifted toward the restroom.
"May I?"
Li Mu blinked once.
Then looked away.
"Allowed."
Li Chen walked off.
Click.
The door shut.
Silence lingered.
Then—
Swoosh!
A flash of white.
A butter knife—
Caught cleanly between two fingers.
The air shifted.
Behind Li Qian—
A figure materialized.
Budump.
A hand wrapped around her neck.
Cold.
Precise.
"If you wish to die…"
A voice whispered.
"…move."
Li Mu calmly lifted his cup.
Took a sip.
He had grown rather fond of this flavor.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
"My dear brother…"
Li Qian's voice was light.
Amused.
"You've hidden yourself well."
She didn't move.
Not even slightly.
"So tell me…"
A faint smile formed beneath her mask.
"What is this monstrosity…"
"…that dares to touch me?"
Crimson light erupted.
A blade formed instantly—
Shooting forward.
THUD!
The butler's body was pinned violently to the wall.
Dust scattered.
Sunlight filtered through it—
Turning the room golden.
Li Mu slowly lowered his cup.
His gaze sharpened.
He looked directly at the golden-masked figure.
"What would you like to discuss?"
Restroom
Li Chen frowned, digging through his pockets.
After a moment—
A cigarette appeared.
Squelch.
It lit.
He exhaled slowly.
"I hope they don't kill each other…"
He glanced at the mirror.
A bloodied reflection stared back.
A grin spread across his face.
"We have something else to kill."
Back in the room
"What do you want?" Li Mu asked.
Li Qian leaned forward slightly.
"I want your secret."
"How did you survive the massacre?"
Her finger pointed lazily toward the pinned creature.
"And how did you make that?"
Li Mu paused.
"Hmm… let me think."
"First, I studied the library for two years—"
"Enough."
"Enough!"
Her voice snapped.
A vein pulsed at her temple.
The sky outside darkened.
The sun turned—
Blood red.
A crimson glow flooded the room.
Grrr—!
Grotesque creatures began crawling inside.
One after another.
Each more twisted than the last.
Tap.
Tap.
Li Chen stepped back into the room.
"It seems…"
A faint smile formed.
"We have another guest."
As monsters flooded the room—
Li Mu stood.
Quietly.
He reached for a napkin.
Wiped his lips.
Then slowly stretched his fingers.
A strange contrast—
To the chaos unfolding around him.
Snap.
Snap.
Crack.
Crack.
Crack.
All around—
Glass jars shattered.
Their contents spilled outward—
Then surged toward the center.
Worm-like.
Writhing.
They gathered.
Merged.
Twisted together.
Forming—
Something grotesque.
Its body was black as iron.
Its face—
Two hands fused together.
Fingers interlocked.
Gnawed.
Four arms extended from its torso—
Each deformed.
Each wrong.
RRRRR—!
It roared.
A violent gust exploded outward—
Crushing into the incoming monsters.
Bodies folded.
Imploded.
Torn apart by invisible force.
Li Qian froze.
For a brief moment—
She said nothing.
Behind her—
Thud.
A cigarette dropped to the floor.
Li Chen stared.
Mouth slightly open.
"…Damn."
Then—
He grinned.
Wide.
Excited.
He stepped forward.
Then—
Charged.
Everything he touched—
Shattered.
Bones.
Flesh.
Pulverized.
No resistance.
Swoosh!
Light flashed.
Ten monsters—
Cleaved apart instantly.
Innards spilled across the floor.
Li Qian moved.
A crimson katana formed in her grasp.
She stepped forward—
Calm.
Focused.
Each strike—
Precise.
Each movement—
Effortless.
Meanwhile—
The grotesque construct rampaged.
Its arms swung wildly—
Destroying anything in reach.
The room began to collapse.
Stone cracked.
Dust filled the air.
The night wind rushed in—
Cold.
Sharp.
Then—
Clap.
Clap.
All three turned.
At the entrance—
Something crawled forward.
Slowly.
Tentacles dragged along the ground—
Slithering like snakes.
Within them—
Corpses.
Dozens.
Their eyes remained open.
Frozen in terror.
The air turned cold.
Heavy.
A voice followed.
Soft.
Mellow.
Almost… intimate.
"Finally…"
A pause.
"I get to see you…"
"My divine-blood pack."
Silence fell.
Then—
The wind howled.
Because tonight—
Blood would flow.