"----"
The still air was laced with a hint of ominousness, emanating from the stone building as though declaring that no one was permitted to approach.
Fang Li stood before the building and surveyed the scene. Completely ignoring the unsettling atmosphere, he stepped forward, reached the entrance, and grasped the door handle.
With an unexpectedly quiet sound, the door opened.
Almost at the same instant, dry air carrying a faint stench of decay drifted into Fang Li's nose.
"Ugh..."
Fang Li frowned and waved away the dry air, but his steps did not pause in the slightest as he walked straight inside.
The sight that greeted Fang Li looked utterly abandoned at first glance.
There were no signs of cleaning anywhere.
All sorts of objects lay scattered haphazardly before the surrounding walls.
The passageway felt as stifling as a train station during the Spring Festival travel rush.
That ominous atmosphere had also become more deeply ingrained, making it impossible to ignore.
Yet Fang Li headed toward his destination without the slightest hesitation.
At last, Fang Li arrived outside a room.
"This is it."
Sensing Sylvia's presence, Fang Li opened the door without hesitation.
At nearly the same moment, a light, melodious voice reached Fang Li's ears.
"Fang Li?"
Sylvia, who stood in the center of the room, turned around. Seeing Fang Li appear here, she looked somewhat surprised.
"You came too?"
From Sylvia's surprised tone, it was clear that she had not been focusing on her contract with Fang Li to sense his location.
But Fang Li could understand Sylvia.
Because no matter who it was, seeing the sight before them would leave them with no spare attention for anything else.
Fang Li included.
"This..."
Fang Li's eyes narrowed.
After confirming that Sylvia was safe and sound, his gaze was