Blood of Darkness
Almost simultaneously, a person wearing a black cloak appeared at the prison cell door.
Sun San saw that he held a short blade in his hand—two feet long, with blood dripping steadily from the blade’s tip! There was now a conspicuous crimson knife wound on Scarface Huang’s neck… The black-cloaked man’s gaze was sharp as a sword as he looked into the cell. “Your name is Sun San?”
Sun San nodded repeatedly in haste, his legs went weak, and with a “thud” he fell to his knees on the ground.
“You enjoy telling ghost stories?”
Sun San lowered his head, staring at the black-cloaked man’s shadow, and mumbled: “I… was just talking nonsense.”
“Good, very good.” The black-cloaked man revealed a ferocious smile. “However, ghost stories should be told to ghosts. Since you enjoy telling them, I’ll send you on your way—send you to meet the ghosts!”
The blade’s light flashed like a fleeting meteor streaking across the pitch-black prison cell! Even in death, Sun San could never forget the dazzling brilliance of that crimson liquid spurting from his chest. He widened his eyes, staring fixedly at the frozen space.
Everything once again returned to that silent, sluggish atmosphere.
Prologue: Blood Light Appears in the Deep Prison
Dim sunlight streamed in from outside the prison through the skylight, falling upon Sun San’s filthy face. Sun San rubbed his eyelids, spat out the two blades of grass he’d been chewing, and stretched languidly. This was already his fourth day locked in Yinshuang City’s great prison, or perhaps his fifth day—Sun San himself couldn’t quite figure it out. Life in a dark, sunless prison cell always made people forget many things.
The prison’s unique silent and sluggish atmosphere made Sun San feel suffocated. Beside him was his fellow cellmate. Sun San remembered his name was Scarface Huang. Scarface Huang yawned continuously. Noticing Sun San watching him, Scarface Huang moved closer and said: “This prison is about to suffocate a person to death. Sun San, tell that ghost story of yours again to relieve the boredom.”
Sun San’s body shuddered, and fear and unease appeared in his eyes. “I’ll say it one more time—it’s not a ghost story. That was something I personally experienced… a terrifying scene I can never forget for the rest of my life!”
“Right, right, that’s the feeling. Continue, continue. Tell me everything you saw that night.” Scarface Huang became interested and spoke hurriedly.
“It was several nights ago during a torrential rainstorm. I wanted to take advantage of the rainy night to sneak into the home of the wealthiest man, Cui Yunhai, and grab some gold, silver, and valuables. I slipped through the vast courtyards of the Cui residence and finally found Cui Yunhai’s study. I figured the study should have some valuable calligraphy, paintings, or antiques, so I prepared to break into the study. But just as I reached the corridor, the study door suddenly flew open. There was someone inside—it was Cui Yunhai! Then, I saw Cui Yunhai…”
Scarface Huang was listening with rapt attention when suddenly two loud “bang bang” sounds came from outside the prison cell, as if something had crashed against the wall.
“Damn it, those idle jailers won’t sleep properly—what trouble are they causing now?” Scarface Huang pressed his face against the door and peered outside. Suddenly, Sun San heard Scarface Huang let out a muffled grunt, and immediately his body went limp and collapsed.