The man reached out and steadily caught the key handed through the crack in the door. It felt cold to the touch, carrying a faint chill as if imbued with the mysterious aura of the residence itself.
He turned slightly and inserted the key into the lock, giving it a gentle twist. With a soft "click," the heavy lock that guarded the secrets of the courtyard sprang open.
The man then pushed the door open. The hinges let out a grating, screeching sound that felt jarringly out of place in the silent alley, as if the house itself were protesting against being disturbed.
Chapter 594