Chapter 56: The Eerie Black Mist

Before his voice had even faded, the door to room 3001 was suddenly pounded violently from the outside with heavy thuds, accompanied by Xie Youyou’s tear-choked scream, "Brother Muchen! Open the door! Open the door quickly!"

Muchen’s brows furrowed tightly. Ignoring the eerie black mist, he took a stride forward and forcefully jerked the door open.

Outside stood Xie Youyou, her pretty face as pale as a sheet, still clad in thin pajamas with her hair in disarray. Clearly frightened out of her wits, she hurled herself straight into Muchen's arms.

"What happened?" Muchen steadied her, his voice sinking so low it seemed it could wring out water.

"Downstairs! Something's going on downstairs!" Xie Youyou gasped for breath, her chest heaving rapidly. "I was drawing by the window just now and saw seven or eight suspicious men gathering in the lobby downstairs!"

"What kind of men?"

"They all look fierce and menacing, definitely not good people!" Xie Youyou stamped her feet in anxiety. "They're all carrying gear—clubs, machetes, all sorts of things—and gesturing down there, up to no good, who knows what evil they're plotting!"

The temperature around Muchen dropped abruptly to freezing point.

Chen Jiahe quickly shuffled to his side, lowering her voice, "Could it be people sent by that Pan Guang from yesterday?"

"Nine times out of ten." The corners of Muchen's lips curved into an icy arc. "They came just in time, saving me the trouble of hunting them down myself."

Just as he finished speaking, the sound of chaotic footsteps mixed with deliberately lowered voices came clearly from the direction of the stairwell.

"No doubt about it, it's the 27th floor, room 3001."

"Keep your wits about you, all of you damn it. Follow Brother Guang's instructions: courtesy first, then force!"

"Damn it, if he doesn't know what's good for him, take him down directly! Let this kid know who's boss!"

The footsteps drew closer and closer.

Muchen turned swiftly and instructed Chen Jiahe, "Take Xie Youyou back to the room, call Chen Si as well. The three of you hide in the bedroom, lock the door tightly, and don't come out!"

"What about you?" Chen Jiahe grabbed his arm, her palms slick with cold sweat.

"I'll handle them." Muchen reached out and gently patted the back of her hand, his tone entirely devoid of ripples. "Don't panic. They're just a bunch of clowns who can't stir up any trouble."

Chen Jiahe bit her lip hard and said nothing more. She resolutely pulled Xie Youyou, who was still somewhat dazed, and quickly retreated toward the bedroom. The door slammed shut with a heavy thud.

Muchen stood alone in the center of the hallway like a straight spear.

A moment later, several figures swayed into view around the corner of the stairwell.

Leading them was Xiao Mu, the sharp-nosed, thin-faced man from yesterday. Behind him followed six burly, heavily muscled thugs, each gripping weapons and exuding a murderous aura.

"Yo, if it isn't Brother Muchen!" Xiao Mu split his mouth into a grin, revealing his signature yellow teeth, and tilted his chin with a fake smile. "Up so early!"

Muchen casually stuffed his hands into his pants pockets, raised his chin slightly, and spat out two words: "Something the matter?"

"Of course there's something the matter, and it's a huge deal!" Xiao Mu stooped, rubbing his dry, skinny hands together, and closed in within a few steps. "Brother Muchen, Brother Guang heard all about what happened at the trading convention yesterday. When Brother Guang heard it, oh boy, was he thrilled and full of praise!"

"So?" Muchen's tone remained flat and unruffled.

"So, the old man Brother Guang wants to discuss something important with you, Brother Muchen." Xiao Mu's beady eyes rolled around, his flattering smile almost creasing his face into folds. "Look at it this way, Brother division, in these turbulent times, if everyone wants to survive, we have to stick together for warmth—that's the ultimate truth, right? Our Brother Guang has been operating in this building for many years, has broad connections, and plenty of brothers under his command. Isn't it exhausting and unsafe for you to go it completely alone?"

Muchen showed no expression, uttering just three words: "Get to the point."

"The point is," Xiao Mu slapped his chest hard, spittle flying, "our Brother Guang is kind-hearted, cherishes talent, and sincerely wants to invite Brother Muchen to join us! From now on, we're a family! We share blessings and weather storms together! How's that? Generous enough, right?"

"Share blessings?" Muchen repeated, a trace of unfathomable meaning in his tone. "Tell me specifically, how do we share them?"

Xiao Mu rubbed his hands, smiling even more lewdly. "Hehe, isn't it obvious? The supplies in your hands, Brother Muchen, we'll divide and use together; those precious ability fruits you have, we'll enjoy them together too. Isn't that fair and reasonable?"

Upon hearing this, the broad-shouldered thugs behind him let out a suppressed, crude burst of laughter, the greed in their eyes turning almost tangible.

"Fair?" Muchen took a small step forward.

With that simple action, Xiao Mu on the opposite side instinctively shrank back half a step.

"My things—why should I share them with a bunch of trash like you?"

The smile on Xiao Mu's face froze instantly, turning overcast in an instant: "Brother Muchen, you can eat your words, but you can't just talk nonsense."

"In this building, there are rules—rules set by Brother Guang! It's not your place, a newcomer, to point fingers and gossip!" He lowered his voice, heavy with blatant threats. "I advise you to know what's good for you, honestly hand over half of your supplies, and contribute all the ability fruits. Considering we're all neighbors, Brother Guang might still let you live here in peace, otherwise..."

"And if I don't know what's good for me, what then?" Muchen asked casually, as if inquiring about the weather today.

Just as his words fell, a strong ripple of unease surged from the depths of the lobby—that eerie black mist! Muchen's inner anxiety sharply intensified.

Simultaneously, from the direction of the property management lobby, Big Mouth emitted a low, rumbling growl. All the fur on its body bristled slightly, and it assumed a defensive posture.

The black mist spread at an accelerating pace. In the blink of an eye, more than half of the trading lobby was completely engulfed; the light vanished, and visibility plummeted almost to zero.

"This fog... is bizarre!" Muchen barked, making a split-second decision. With a thought, the ability fruits scattered on the table instantly vanished as he pulled them back into his system space.

The ink-like black mist thoroughly swallowed the entire property management lobby, rendering it pitch black and impossible to see one's hand before one's face.

The air froze, and a mountain-like oppressive weight slammed heavily into everyone's heart, making even breathing sluggish and difficult.

"Muchen..." Chen Jiahe's voice carried an undisguised tremble, and she instinctively gripped Muchen's arm tighter.

Chen Si and Xie Youyou pressed even closer to him, their bodies shaking slightly from extreme terror. Xie Youyou even buried her entire face in Muchen's back, not daring to look at the suffocating darkness surrounding them.

"Woof—roar!" Big Mouth let out a low, warning growl, pressing its massive body tightly against Muchen's leg while emitting a deep, threatening rumble, facing a formidable enemy.