An ancient gladiatorial arena.
At its center lay a stretch of rough stone ground. The uneven slabs were covered in scratches and cracks, hacked apart by countless blades and heavy blows.
The ground was dark and somber. Bloodstains had long since dried and seeped into the stones, becoming those dusky streaks.
Towering stone walls surrounded the arena, covered in weathered patterns. The ancient carvings seemed to have been worn down by wind and sand, leaving them barely recognizable.
The sky was gloomy and lightless. Thick clouds hung above the arena like an enormous gray curtain.
The place was empty. A breeze swept past, stirring fine dust from the ground. It swirled in the air before settling back onto the stone slabs.
That faint rustling was the only disturbance in this deathly silent space.
Qin Siyang stared at the surroundings that had suddenly transformed, dumbstruck.
After a moment, he took a candy from his pocket, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth while looking around warily.
"I only took a couple of steps. Where the hell did I end up?"
Just then, a low voice suddenly sounded from the far end of the arena.
"Qin Siyang, I never thought you'd still dare to go out alone."
"Didn't Qin Yingguang warn you?"
The voice placed its stresses in very strange places, making Qin Siyang feel as though he were listening to someone mangle the saying "a wise man knows when to bend."
Qin Siyang looked around but couldn't see a soul.
Nor could he tell where the voice was coming from.
Not only was this person acting mysterious, but his words left Qin Siyang baffled too.
"What was Qin Yingguang supposed to warn me about?"
"He killed my younger brother but failed to catch me. Didn't he warn you not to