Twenty miles out in the countryside stood an abandoned villa, surrounded by endless mountain forests.
It had been abandoned for years, and later, under the Divine Temple's careful orchestration, numerous supernatural deaths had occurred there. Over time, no one dared approach this ill-omened place.
At that moment, Cloaked Men guarded the villa's four corners. Bloodhand sat in the middle of the courtyard, wine laid out on the stone table before him, though he had not taken a single sip.
In a corner, more than a dozen children had been crammed into iron cages, trembling, their eyes full of fear.
Perhaps these "kidnappers" had already taught them a lesson, for not one dared cry out, though tear tracks remained on all their faces.
Bloodhand had just entered the hall when he heard several coughs from the inner room.
His expression shifted slightly. He hurried over and stood bowing outside the inner room's door. "My lord, it's cold and drafty here. You should head back. If that man dares come, I will take his head!"
Inside, Yan Hai coughed and waved a hand. "It's fine. I won't rest easy unless I see him die with my own eyes. Go, tell the men to stay sharp. Don't let a single one escape."
"Understood. But what worries me is, what if that man guesses our intentions and refuses to show himself?" Bloodhand asked hesitantly.
Yan Hai smiled faintly, seemingly unconcerned. "No, he'll come."
While Bloodhand was still puzzling over this, a sudden uproar erupted outside.
"Enemy attack!!!"
Hearing his subordinate's shout, Bloodhand hurriedly looked at Yan Hai.
Murderous intent chilled Yan Hai's narrowed eyes. "Kill him."
"Yes!" Bloodhand bowed with his hands clasped, then withdrew from the room.
He saw a huge hole blasted through the courtyard wall. More than a dozen figures leaped