Deep within Immortal-Staying Valley.
The miasma was like ink, lingering all year without dispersing.
Within a hidden Cave Abode, the stone doors were heavy, exuding a grim, chilling aura.
Two gray-furred Wolf Demons, expressionless, carried the old human man and strode into the Cave Abode.
After passing through dark, winding stone corridors, the two demons stopped before a cage covered in restrictions.
The jackal and wolf demons casually tossed him inside.
Like a broken log, the old man was hurled heavily into the depths of the cage.
The stone door slammed shut.
The two Great Demons of the Eighth Rank of Chess-Player turned and left, their footsteps gradually fading away through the dark stone passage until they vanished completely.
The old man lay sprawled across the icy stone floor, gasping for breath.
After a long while.
Only after confirming that there was no movement around him did he dare shakily prop himself up and struggle to his feet.
He surveyed his surroundings uneasily. The cage was not large, and its four walls were built from some kind of black stone.
A faint glow emanated from several unknown patches of moss in the corners, barely illuminating this tiny space.
Only then.
Did the old man finally see clearly.
He was not the only one inside this cage.
Within the shadows of a corner.
Another figure lay quietly there.
That person wore tattered clothes, with disheveled hair and dried blood covering his entire body. He did not move at all; it was impossible to tell whether he was dead or alive.
The old man frowned slightly.
He instinctively shuffled two steps forward, wanting to see the man's face clearly.
By the faint light.
The old man saw most of the face hidden beneath that tangled hair.
He froze abruptly, then rubbed his