This was a deep, shadowy passageway.
There was not a trace of light within it.
Only two pale green Luminous Pearls embedded in the walls on either side of the black door at the end of the passageway lent it a faint, inconspicuous hint of Life Force.
From afar, it resembled a great snake lurking in the darkness, waiting to hunt.
The hazy pearl light spread outward, then finally gathered upon the ring-holding door knocker at the center of the door, making the bronze-cast Jiaotu Door-ring Beast appear especially ferocious.
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
Slightly muffled footsteps came from the entrance, bouncing repeatedly between the equally gloomy walls before finally merging into a muddled sound that awakened the sleeping Jiaotu.
Clang, clang!
The door knocker beast gripped the ring in its mouth and shook it hard, using the echoes to identify its visitor. Then it heaved a heavy sigh of relief, and the bronze studs beneath it, which had been glowing with faint blue light, went dark one after another.
"Didn't you just come yesterday? Why are you here again today?"
It watched the black figure gradually approach, let out an enormous yawn, and said with some displeasure, "And at such a late hour, too. You're disturbing my sleep!"
"I'm very sorry."
The unexpected visitor apologized softly, removing the hood over his head to reveal several strands of golden hair and a fair, sharply contoured face. Perhaps because of the lighting, the shadows beneath his sunken eyes were particularly deep, making him appear utterly exhausted.
"Mm, there's no need to be so polite."
The Jiaotu door knocker watched the dejected young wizard, uneasily gnawing on the finger-thick door ring with a creak, creak. Then it cleared its throat twice. "Besides, although we know each other well, you know the rules..."