Even after we returned to the upper level, the stench continued to waft from Adam Dale, and Felix Hsu stayed by his side, comforting him.
Our top priority now is to find the locksmith.
Felix Hsu said, and the Earth Soul helped us open the entrance. A breeze swept by, and we returned outside. Below us, the city looked like a ring of lights, brilliantly illuminated, while above, there was only darkness.
The smell lessened a bit, and we started to walk slowly.
Be careful, I'll keep watch here.
The Earth Soul said. I turned to look at him, and he gave a wicked smile at the corner of his mouth. Something felt off about him. Though I couldn't pinpoint what, maybe it was related to his Endbringer's Power. Not only had he not forgotten his strength, but it seemed even stronger now.
Just then, Felix Hsu suddenly ran toward me with The Black Box in his hands. I hurried to catch it. Both Yin Choujian and Felix Hsu looked troubled, while Adam Dale glanced around nervously.
What's wrong with you two?
What's going on?
I immediately asked.
Brother, you go look for the locksmith. We'll stay here and search for something.
From Yin Choujian's expression, it looked like he'd found something. Felix Hsu pointed toward the city below.
Adam Dale, go with Ethan Zhang.
As they spoke, Yin Choujian moved left, Felix Hsu moved right, and the two quickly disappeared among the rubble without a word of explanation.
Heh, Ethan Zhang, let's go.
Adam Dale started walking straight ahead.
I quietly followed behind Adam Dale, watching him. I already knew about what happened between him and Felix Hsu—half told, half shown through Felix's memories. What I saw of Adam Dale was truly pitiful.
Abandoned by his birth mother due to intellectual disability, Adam Dale struggled to survive, emerging from piles of corpses, and was eventually sold to Felix Hsu's family as a medicine slave. He lived in a cramped room, subjected to daily drug experiments, and now, things are much the same.
Adam Dale, let me ask you something. Why do you follow Felix Hsu?
Adam Dale turned around with a puzzled look and gave me a silly smile.
Alfred Fu, that guy can't do without me. We've come this far together, I guess we're good friends.
He's using...
Suddenly, Adam Dale spun around, eyes wide, one hand clenched into a fist.
Don't talk bad about Alfred Fu, Ethan Zhang, or I'll beat you up.
I sneered and nodded, deciding not to think about their relationship anymore. They're both villains, but even villains have bonds. Maybe that's why Felix Hsu always insists he's human, not a monster—because humans have feelings, they cry, laugh, and get angry.
Back in the city, we walked onto the street. Immediately, people started covering their noses at the smell coming from Adam Dale. Some even cursed. I pulled Adam Dale into a familiar alley, and after a while, we reached a small pond at the city's edge.
Adam Dale splashed in the water for a while, then followed me in his soaked clothes. I knew a locksmith's shop on the street, right near Old Cat's clinic.
You're actually pretty decent, Ethan Zhang.
I don't want you, a villain, saying that about me.
Adam Dale scratched his head and laughed.
Yeah, I'm a villain, and you're the good guy, haha.
I'm not much of a good guy either. Enough, we're here.
In an old locksmith's shop, locks of all sizes and types hung everywhere, including some modern electronic ones. Inside was an old man, said to have been opening locks for hundreds of years.
Sir, we need a lock opened.
I handed the box to the old, white-haired man, who, despite his frail appearance, took it with strong arms. His eyes shone as he weighed the box by his ear and grunted.
Never seen a box like this before, but new things are always worth the challenge.
Adam Dale and I sat down in the shop. A little girl brought us tea and a plate of seeds, and we started eating and drinking.
The old man tried all sorts of tools—even cutting didn't work. The box was incredibly sturdy. He was sweating, but his excitement only grew.
Grandpa, take a break.
The little girl with pigtails called out, but the old man was lost in his world of locks, trying every method he could think of.
"You're overthinking it, Old Cat. By the way, I need to get some medicine from you—my wife is waiting."
I signaled Adam Dale with my eyes, but he didn't seem to notice and tried to follow.
Wait here.
At Old Cat's clinic, he prepared the medicine and told me how to boil it. But he looked puzzled—maybe he'd remembered something?
Old Cat, what's wrong? You look dazed. Are you too tired? Let me help you rest.
Old Cat stretched and laughed.
I'm not any worse than you young folks. There are still patients waiting—I have to see them.
Old Cat got busy. I watched him quietly. As the founder of Naraku, he once wanted to kill Yin Choujian, but now he's just an ordinary old man, and a good one—he often treats poor people for free. I remember when I was job-hunting on the street, broke, and Rachel Lan was sick, Old Cat not only refused to take our money but even gave us living expenses, though I paid him back later.
By the way, Old Cat, why did you want to become a doctor?
Old Cat thought about it, looking puzzled.
I've lived too long—I can't remember things from so far back. But I do remember meeting someone, I think his name was Yin something. Can't recall. That guy was very sick, unbearably so. He always hoped to be cured, so I promised I'd find a way to help him.
I stared in shock—Yin Choujian was sick?
Back at the locksmith's shop, Felix Hsu and Yin Choujian had arrived.
Where did you go, brother?
I told them about Old Cat.
He said you were sick—what's going on?
Probably just memory confusion.
Yin Choujian chuckled. Things seemed to be improving—the old locksmith had inserted two hard iron plates into the box, searching for something, looking very serious.
We kept waiting. Another ten hours passed. I went home, updated Rachel Lan, stayed for two hours, then returned to the locksmith's shop.
Still not open, but now every gap in the box was filled with black strips of varying lengths. The old locksmith was still searching for something.
With a crisp snap, we all stood up and crowded around.
Finally, it's open.
The old locksmith let out a long sigh, then slammed the box in front of us and sat back down.
A wisp of black smoke drifted from the box. We looked over immediately. Yin Choujian opened the box, and we all stared—inside was a thick stack of papers, covered in writing we couldn't understand.
Felix Hsu immediately took out the stack of papers.
Heavy paper—this kind.
Ah, I remember seeing this kind of writing thousands of years ago. Back then, people used it for letters. Brings back memories.
The old locksmith glanced at it and sighed.
Sir, do you know anyone who can read this writing?
Felix Hsu immediately asked, excited. I looked at the writing—it was heavy, dark paper, and the characters looked like weapons, sharp and fierce. But I couldn't recognize them; they were even harder than the ones used in the Underworld or on the Dark Banquet invitations.
I don't know. I had just arrived and can't remember exactly what happened. Anyone who could read this writing has probably been taken away by now.
Out on the street, we all carried the paper, asking every elderly person we met, but most had never seen this kind of writing.
We'll just have to ask everyone—search all thirteen districts.
Felix Hsu said, and I nodded. We each took some black paper, planning to canvass all thirteen districts in a few days.
Back at the shop, I prepared some food and drinks, set the table, and the four of us started eating.
Looks like we've got a lead, haha.
Felix Hsu grinned mischievously; Yin Choujian nodded.
By the way, where did you guys just go?
Brother, you don't really think that guy is a true Earth Soul, do you?
I stared at Yin Choujian; Felix Hsu burst out laughing.
Zhang Qingyuan, you're so easy to fool. That guy is probably an imitator or a copycat—he's pretty good at wielding the power of the End.
I swallowed.