Donghai City, Radiant Alliance Guild base.

"A pair of twos."

Qin Ming threw two cards onto the table, his movements somewhat agitated.

In the smoke-filled room, the smell of cheap beer and sweat mingled.

He had been here for a week.

This week, the guild's Person in charge didn't allow them to go out and level up in the wild, nor did they let them take missions from the mission center.

Every day was just playing cards, drinking, and sleeping.

Like a group of pigs being fattened up for the New Year.

He had subtly inquired and found that these dozens of people in the base were all recently recruited.

Some had even been idling like this for over a month.

Qin Ming grabbed the wine glass in front of him and took a gulp, unable to help but complain in a low voice.

"What exactly is the Radiant Alliance up to?"

"They couldn't really be feeding us for free, could they?"

Across from him, a burly man with a scarred face burped and casually threw out four cards.

"Bomb!"

He collected the loose change on the table, smiling casually.

"What's wrong with this?"

"No need to risk your life, you still get 20,000 great xia currency every month, and food and lodging are all included."

The burly man leaned back in his chair and patted his round belly.

"Even an immortal wouldn't trade this life!"

"I wish it could stay like this forever."

Qin Ming looked at his unmotivated appearance and said nothing more.

He had been sent by his Lord with great expectations.

If he just spent his days eating and drinking like this, unable to gather any intelligence, he would feel ashamed.

That night, things finally took a turn.

Two AM.

"Everyone, get the hell up!"

"Bang!"

The dormitory door was kicked open.

Blinding lights instantly illuminated the entire room.

Qin Ming shot up from his bed, all sleepiness gone.

A group of people in black special uniforms rushed in, expressionless, their eyes cold.

They roughly dragged everyone who was still sound asleep from their beds.

Soon, all newly recruited members in the base were herded onto the central training ground, lined up neatly.

Leading them was a middle-aged man with a full beard.

With his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze, sharp as a hawk, slowly swept over everyone.

"Who are you people?"

In the line, the burly man who had been playing cards yesterday bravely spoke up and asked.

"Why are you calling us up in the middle of the night?"

The bearded man didn't even lift an eyelid, his voice as cold as ice.

"Don't ask too many questions."

"Next, just cooperate with our actions."

Qin Ming stood in the crowd, feigning a dazed, sleepy expression, but his heart gradually grew excited.

Finally.

Finally, something was happening.

However, the next second, he saw two men in black quickly step forward, pull out a pair of special handcuffs, and with a "click," cuff the burly man's hands.

At the same time, a black hood was roughly pulled over the man's head.

The burly man immediately began to struggle, letting out a terrified scream.

"What do you mean by this?"

"Why are you putting a hood on me! Let me go!"

He began to instinctively resist, like a blindfolded bull, blindly charging around.

Swish!

A flash of bright blade light cut through the air under the lamp.

The burly man's charge came to an abrupt halt.

His large head flew into the air, tumbling twice before falling to the ground with a "thud."

Blood gushed from his neck, splattering the faces of several people in the front row.

Warm and viscous.

For a moment, the entire training ground was silent, with only the dull thud of the headless body falling to the ground.

A strong smell of blood filled the air.

The bearded man slowly withdrew the long blade in his hand, not a trace of blood on the blade.

He looked at the undisguised terror on everyone's faces, his voice still indifferent.

"I told you, cooperate with our actions."

"Otherwise, this is the consequence."

This time, no one dared to speak.

The men in black began to put handcuffs and hoods on everyone, one by one.

No one resisted; everyone was like a lamb to the slaughter, obediently extending their hands.

Soon, it was Qin Ming's turn.

Cold handcuffs locked his wrists, and a rough hood covered his head.

His vision instantly plunged into darkness.

He heard the bearded man's voice.

"Next, I will give you a rope."

"You will all hold onto the rope and follow me."

"No talking throughout, and no strange movements."

In the darkness, a rough hemp rope was placed into Qin Ming's hand.

He could feel the person in front of him pulling the rope and starting to move.

He could only follow suit and start walking.

Rumble—

A dull roar came from not far away, like a heavy stone door slowly opening.

Qin Ming held the rope, led through the darkness, and went down.

No one spoke.

In the dead silence of the dark, there were only the disordered footsteps of dozens of people, echoing on the empty stairs.

The stairs were very long, as if endless.

Qin Ming didn't know how long he had been walking, only feeling that he was constantly going down.

Where exactly were these people taking them?

An ominous premonition arose in his heart.

If he continued to go down like this, he might find it difficult to return to the surface.

But now, he had no choice.

He could only tighten his grip on the rope and silently follow the team.

After walking for a long time, the downward stairs finally ended.

The path underfoot became flat.

It was a long corridor.

The air was heavy, and the faint smell of blood became even stronger here.

The darkness and oppression began to break down some people's psychological defenses.

"You... where exactly are you taking us?"

A trembling voice broke the dead silence.

"What exactly do you want to do?"

No one answered him.

Qin Ming only heard the whistle of a sharp blade cutting through the air.

Immediately after, there was a short, dull scream.

Then, everything returned to silence.

This time, everyone was completely subdued.

The team continued to move forward in the darkness.

Not knowing where the end was... Meanwhile.

Eternal Night Guild Headquarters, in the bedroom on the third floor.

Zhou Huai, lying on the bed, suddenly opened his eyes.

In the darkness, the corners of his mouth curled into a cold arc.

"Is the Radiant Alliance finally making a move?"

He sat up, not turning on the light.

Through the Soul link with the demon slave Qin Ming, he could clearly sense Qin Ming's current predicament.

Darkness, oppression, and the increasingly strong smell of blood.