The moment Jian Ran entered the secret chamber, he lit a sheet of Talisman Paper.
In an instant,
the pitch-black space was lit from end to end, and the gusts of chilling yin energy were swept away by a fierce wind.
The chamber's contents suddenly came into view, including Lu Yanting, who hung suspended in the middle, his bare upper body showing off his model's physique.
"Buddy, how come you're getting special treatment?" Jian Ran teased as he walked forward, a smile curling his lips as his gaze fell on the V-lines above Lu Yanting's trousers.
"Did the Lord take a fancy to you and pick you out for a private sacrifice?"
Lu Yanting's eyes were half closed, as though he was struggling to keep his consciousness from slipping away. His thin lips curved slightly. "If a demon counts as a lord,"
"then it probably wants me as a sacrifice."
A demon?
Lu Yanting's conclusion matched Jian Ran's suspicions exactly.
The latter turned toward the mural on the wall. Sure enough, he saw a creature with horns protruding from its head, a hideous face, and pale, bluish fangs, a composite of who knew how many wild beasts.
"This is their Lord?"
Jian Ran frowned, his smile mocking. "Not much to look at."
"Those shrewd tycoons actually fell for this?"
As he spoke, the beast in the mural seemed to widen its eyes, revealing a vicious gleam.
As Jian Ran untied the ropes suspending Lu Yanting, he muttered to himself, "This mural's no use. I need to find its actual body,"
"then burn it."
The beast's eyes grew fiercer.
Lu Yanting slumped onto Jian Ran's shoulder, forcing the latter to support him with his palm, which inevitably came into contact with his chest muscles.
"..."
Jian Ran, what are you thinking?!