The sound of a wooden clapper shattered the silence of the night, followed by a heavy knocking that brought a gust of freezing air into the warmth of the hall.
Huo Changfeng stepped forward to open the door. As the hinges creaked, a sharp scent of rust and blood rushed in. Moonlight spilled over his shoulder, casting the silhouette of a dark, blood-stained trail on the threshold.
Standing there was Sun Hongtao, his figure swaying precariously. The usually steady, reliable man was pale as a ghost, sweat pouring down his face as his soaked shirt clung to his chest. Dark red blood dripped from his trouser legs onto the gray bricks, forming a winding stream.
Chapter 129