The Record of Unusual Creatures

“We have to split from here.” Hessiana looked at the witches, Hao Ren, and Lily. “This is the junction. From here, you can go to the north tower, the cemetery, and the Shadowy Cellar. I will go to the north tower to find a way to gain control of the Soulless Guards. The witches will proceed to the Shadowy Cellar, which is a node that maintains the boundary of the shadowy realm. The Shadowy Cellar is also a surveillance center where you can monitor the entire castle. I want you to keep an eye on the courtyard. Once you find the demon hunters, report it immediately.”

Hessiana’s eyes fell on Hao Ren and Lily. She hesitated for a while. “Both of you go to the cemetery. You will be very busy if the avatar that you have mentioned is already active.”

Hao Ren knew that Hessiana had no choice but to make such an arrangement. She would not let anyone other than herself go to the cemetery without supervision. But the Soulless had awakened, and the Butler’s appearance meant that those guards had lost control. Coupled with the fact that the demon hunters could enter the world at any time, Hessiana had to divide the team and do everything simultaneously to save time. She was the only person who could wrest control of the Soulless. Compared with the witches, whom Hessiana hardly knew, she was more comfortable with Vivian’s acquaintances: Hao Ren and Lily.

The witches had no objection to the arrangement. They were conscious of their abilities. The Soulless Guards in the courtyard had given them a hard time, and they risked life and limb battling the Butler. Madam Marie knew it; their combat strength could make little difference to the current situation.

The witches only had to monitor the shadowy realm’s border in a safe place. It seemed that the Shadowy Cellar was the safe zone that Hessiana mentioned earlier.

“How do we stay in touch?” a witch asked.

With the wave of her hand, Hessiana summoned a few blood-red crystals. “Inject these pieces of blood with magic, then we all can talk to each other. Everyone with a piece in hand will be able to hear the other. But be careful, it is prone to interference.”

Hao Ren looked on. Shortly after, he reached into his Dimensional Pocket and took out some communication devices. “Use these.”

Hessiana took the silvery-white metal box in her hand and fiddled with it. “What is this?”

“It works similarly to your gems, but much better. Not only can it transmit sounds and images, but itis also free from interference; no magic required. Press the button here, and you will be able to talk to one another through a direct mental connection. Anyone with an IQ level higher than that of a monkey will be able to use it.”

Hessiana stared in amazement at the hologram hovering on the device. The way she looked at Hao Ren was even more astounding. “Don’t tell me this thing is also sorcery. Did you dig it out from Odin or Zeus’s grave?”

“Why do you say that?”

“Such a beautiful thing could only come from the Mythological Era. This shiny look is either entirely of Olympus or Asgard. But then again, their products have never been so refined.”

Hao Ren had indeed shoveled the graves of those two gods before. He had even built factories on the housing foundations of the Norse gods. But he could not say it out loud there, of course. Anyway, he was now glad that Little Bat was also thinking likewise; his earlier effort to lead her into believing him had not gone to waste. “You see, Vivian and I are friends. And Vivian and Odin and Zeus were buddies too. Since those in the Mythological Era were all like sworn brothers and sisters, it is only natural that I’ve inherited stuff from the two deities.”

“Sworn brothers who dig the graves of their ancestors?” Little Bat rolled her eyes. “No wonder I had a feeling that you were unlike any human wizard—human wizard does not enjoy such high social status. So you must be the silver wizard from Mesopotamia. You have been tight-lipped about it, eh?”

“Well, I will not say you are wrong.” Hao Ren looked up at the sky.

“All right. People, carry this communication device with you.” Hessiana then waved, as though to say that she did not intend to harp on Hao Ren’s identity issue. “To go to the Shadowy Cellar, head to that door. When you reach the end, you will see an oak door with a black vortex pattern. Enter that door, follow the stairs and go down. To go to the cemetery, use that door over there. Turn right at every junction until you see a wall formed by thorns and roses. The Wall of Roses is an illusion, disregard it and walk straight through it. I think you two should not even be able to do that. I will go to the North Tower, which is close to here. If it goes well, I will have gain control before you arrive at your destinations.”

“Will we meet the Soulless again?” Witch Helen asked with concern.

“We have just defeated the Butler. The ‘death’ of the Butler will temporarily suppress the activities of the Soulless Guards in the inner court. The Butler takes longer than the Soulless to resurrect. So you have at least half an hour. If you cannot even make it to the Shadowy Cellar in half an hour, just kill yourselves. Garbage does not deserve to live in this place.”

Hessiana’s unsparing words sent a chill up the witches’ spines. Madam Marie said no more and brought her people into one of the three doors.

“We are going this way.” Hao Ren brought Lily and set off, not forgetting to leave some words of concern for Little Bat. “You, be safe. I can see that it is not easy to take control of the Soulless Guards.”

“It indeed takes some effort. But I am confident.” Hessiana said and smiled. She then frowned when saw Hasse that Lily still carried on her shoulder. “You really want to carry this guy along? I have no idea what you are thinking, but once you get to the cemetery, you are likely to face even greater danger. In my opinion, this demon hunter is completely a burden.”

Just then Hasse suddenly moved. But this time, before the old demon hunter could open his mouth, Lily had yanked out his alloy sword and hit Hasse on the head.

Klunk!

Hao Ren could not help but say, “Lily, take it easy. We need him later.”

He then nodded to Hessiana. “Do not worry, this demon hunter will come in handy later. We should go now. Let’s keep in touch.”

Without waiting for Little Bat to respond, Hao Ren brought Lily and strode toward the passage that led to the cemetery.

Nearly half of the castle was quiet after the Butler, the head of the inner-court guards, fell.

The Soulless no longer emerged from the murals and sculptures. Malicious limbs and weapons no longer popped out from the shadows. This castle, which Vivian had created in her dream, looked like frozen footage of a black-and-white film. There was not any color in the quiet corridor. If not for the sounds of their hurried footsteps, the silence could have driven them crazy.

The two of them hustled in the corridor and passed by some rooms occasionally. The doors of the rooms were all wide open, and the scenes in the rooms were weird. Hao Ren saw, from the corners of his eyes, mirrors of different sizes in some places, and men and women in suits and gowns were in some rooms, as though they were attending a banquet. But their faces appeared blank. Other places were filled with gold and silver, or gourmet. In the most bizarre room, Hao Ren even saw an ocean—a grayish-white one, undulating silently as the Vikings’ ships rode on the winds and waves. The scene of the rolling sea almost made Lily space out and go into the room.

“Don’t walk into any room.” Hessiana’s voice was heard through the communication device. “Most of the rooms lead to the deeper layers of nightmares or shadowy realms. Once you enter, you will not come out alive. For the past 200 years, many clueless chaps have walked into the rooms. Some of them were werewolves and Bloodthralls that Haron sent here as sacrifices. They have become part of the rooms, and they will suffer eternal torture and remorse until Lady Vivian wakes up.”

“Where are you now?” Hao Ren asked.

“I have arrived at the North Tower and am unlocking the first shadow lock,” Hessiana replied. “I have to concentrate. If you have other things to say, I will hang up now.”

“We see the door to the Shadowy Cellar now,” Witch Helen said through the communication device. “Just now, Jenna lost her mind after looking at the mirror in a room. She almost walked in there. That was a close call.”

Hao Ren and Lily finally ran out of the corridor to an open foyer.

In front of the foyer was a wall formed by twisted thorns and black roses entwined together. Under the wall were piles of skulls and bones.

“We have arrived too.”

Hao Ren spoke into the communication device.