A breeze swept through the forest, carrying a damp, decaying stench as it curled around the mysterious manor. Ang sat in the coachman's seat, his sharp gaze fixed on the open wrought-iron gates ahead.
Beyond the gates stretched a straight cobblestone path, flanked by tall, dense oaks. Their branches intertwined overhead, blocking out the moonlight and making the entire road seem eerie and sinister. A faint moldy smell hung in the air, causing a trace of discomfort.
Ang snorted coldly, gripping the reins as he muttered, "Putting on a show."
With that, he snapped the reins and drove the carriage straight into the manor. The wheels rumbled over the stone road. Quintina and Aisha sat on either side, watching their surroundings warily and occasionally exchanging glances as the unease in their hearts grew stronger.
At last, the carriage slowly stopped in front of a stone villa.
The villa's architecture was old-fashioned and oppressive. Black vines crawled over its exterior walls, and its tightly shut windows revealed not even the faintest light, making it resemble a tomb that had lain silent for ages. Several men in servant uniforms stood motionlessly on the steps before the door. Their postures were stiff, their skin deathly pale, and their lifeless eyes were hollow and vacant.
Aisha covered her nose and frowned. "Brother, they're walking corpses..."
Ang gave a slight nod, his cold gaze sweeping over the servants without a word.
One of the walking corpse servants slowly raised a hand and made a gesture of invitation, signaling for them to follow. Its movements were as stiff as a rusty puppet, and faint cracking sounds came from its joints, sending chills down their spines.
Ang jumped down from the carriage and said quietly to the two women, "Stay alert. Stick close to me."
Quintina and