This old apartment building's stairwell did not even have windows, and its lights had long since all broken.
Bai Zhu walked at the front.
The moment he stepped onto a stair, a sticky, squelching sensation came from beneath his sole, as though he had crushed some rotten vegetable leaves that had fermented for days.
The higher they went, the stronger the stench of rotting flesh in the air became, so foul it made their eyelids twitch.
Bai Zhu did not rush to use a skill to scout ahead.
It was far too quiet around them—so quiet that not even the sound of a rat scurrying could be heard.
As they passed the second floor, he stopped.
The wooden doors of all three apartments on either side of the corridor stood wide open.
Bai Zhu glanced into one of them. The living room carpet was covered in large patches of dried, blackened blood, along with a long smear of blood dragged all the way into the kitchen.
It seemed the entire building had already been eaten clean.
"What a tragedy." Milluki followed behind, panting heavily. He disgustedly covered his chubby face. "What sins did I commit? Why am I running to this dump in the middle of the night instead of sleeping, just to smell this stink?"
Hisoka walked at the very back, his footsteps so light they made no sound at all.
He raised his head toward the third floor, his narrow eyes brimming with anticipation.
Third floor, Room 307.
The door was not fully shut, leaving a gap roughly two fingers wide.
Without even getting close, an indescribable stench was already pouring endlessly out through the crack.
Bai Zhu stopped outside the door and clamped a hand tightly over his nose.
Holding his breath, Bai Zhu slowly moved closer,