The Candle Bearer

But when a low, hoarse laugh rang out, Luo He's eyes suddenly narrowed.

The laugh was full of mockery. It came from another old man, this one wearing a gray cloak. His hands were hidden beneath his sleeves, but one held a candlestick with a single white candle burning faintly atop it, casting a ghastly green light.

The candle flame was no bigger than a bean. It flickered as though buffeted by wind, pressed very low, yet stubbornly refused to go out. As the old man walked, the space around him began to change.

More precisely, the area within three or four meters of the candlestick was shrouded in darkness. The space there grew warped, with an eerie, viscous quality. Now and then, terrifying roars came from within the darkness, as though savage beasts from another world lurked inside.

When they had seen the chief judge, everyone had still held on to a sliver of hope. But the Candle Bearer's appearance cut that hope off completely.

The aura radiating from the old man told them that he was every bit as powerful as the chief judge.

"The Candle Bearer..." someone screamed. "He's the Candle Bearer!"

The name was somewhat unfamiliar, but no one standing there was a nobody. After a moment's recollection, they remembered a legend about the Night Watch.

It was said that deep beneath Night Watch headquarters lay a mysterious Confession Room. Few were qualified to enter, so many who had served in the Night Watch for years believed it was nothing more than a legend.

The master of that Confession Room was called the Candle Bearer.

According to the stories, every Night Watch member on the verge of being completely corrupted was sent there to make a final confession. Once the ritual ended, the Candle Bearer would