The instant Lu Wenchuan's blood fell onto the door, the whole door shuddered.
The golden light on the Door Bone flared, then was suppressed by black mist again. The two forces tore at each other across the door, giving off faint cracking sounds.
Xu Zhihan looked at Lu Wenchuan's hand.
Blood flowed from his palm, seeping through the crack in the door.
Lu Wenchuan's expression barely changed. He even had the presence of mind to smile. "What are you looking at? Feeling sorry for me?"
Xu Zhihan said coolly, "Seeing if you'll die."
"Then I'm afraid you'll be disappointed," Lu Wenchuan said. "I've still got plenty of life left in me."
He had barely finished speaking when a shriek suddenly came from behind the door.
A pitch-black hand reached through the crack, grabbing straight for Lu Wenchuan's wrist.
Lu Wenchuan reacted fast. He slashed down with the Short Knife in a reverse grip, and Thunderfire severed the hand outright. Black mist exploded, and a bloody stench instantly filled the air.
Xu Zhihan frowned. "It stinks."
As Lu Wenchuan blocked the black mist pouring through the crack, he said, "You're being picky now?"
"It does stink."
"Fine. You're right."
The crack in the door grew wider and wider.
Beyond it was not a room, but a black void. Deep within that void, countless eyes opened, all fixing on them at once.
These things dared not look at Xu Zhihan for long. Their gazes soon shifted to Lu Wenchuan.
The Gatekeeper's blood held a powerful attraction for them.
Lu Wenchuan clicked his tongue. "Why are they looking at me again?"
Xu Zhihan said, "You smell better."
Lu Wenchuan looked at him. "You've said that before."
"Facts bear repeating."
Lu Wenchuan laughed in exasperation. "Fine."
He swept away the lunging black shadows with