Chapter 67: The Pitch-Black Building

"It's collapsing! It's really going to collapse!" Liu San's voice was shrill, sounding as if someone were tightly choking his throat. He pointed at the widening crack, his eyes practically popping out of his sockets.

Through his [Wall Perspective], Muchen saw it clearly. The building's load-bearing structure was collapsing at an alarming rate, and those black crystals were writhing monstrously, frantically devouring the steel and concrete.

"Brother Muchen..." Xie Youyou cried out with a sob in her voice, which trembled as she gripped Chen Jiahe's arm for dear life.

Chen Jiahe's face was drained of all color, yet she forced herself to remain calm. "Muchen, we must find a way out of here!"

Dr. Li's expression was grave. "This building won't hold much longer. Besides, look across the way."

Following her gesture, everyone looked through the wall's fracture toward the pitch-black building opposite. Behind several windows, dark shadows loomed. More terrifyingly, the unique, echoing roars of those monsters drifted over from time to time, clearly ringing in their ears.

"Could it be... could this mutation spread to other buildings?" Chen Si asked weakly, leaning against the sofa. The very thought chilled her to the bone.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

At that exact moment, the front door, which was propped up by the sofa, was battered frantically once again—much more violently than any previous attempt.

"Lord Mu! Lord Mu! Open the door! It's me! Xiao Mu!" Xiao Mu's frantic screams from outside were laced with desperate sobs, his voice utterly exhausted.

Muchen frowned, motioned for Chen Jiahe to be on guard, and then pushed the sofa aside to yank the door open.

Xiao Mu tumbled inward with a thud, covered in blood and filth. One of his arms was twisted at an unnatural angle, and his face was a mask of mingled terror and desperate relief. "M... Lord Mu... I... I delivered the message! Scarface Qiang... he said... he said he's coming right up!"

"Oh?" Muchen raised an eyebrow. "What did he say?"

Gasping heavily, Xiao Mu rasped, "He said... he said he's also very interested in Lord Mu's 'Divine Water' and is willing... willing to 'have a good chat' with you! He also said... to let you know he'll come upstairs with 'sufficient sincerity'!"

"Sincerity?" Chen Jiahe sneered. "More like a weasel paying respects to a hen—no good intentions at all."

As her voice trailed off, a chaotic and heavy sound of footsteps echoed from the stairwell, accompanied by low, blood-curdling growls that made one's scalp tingle.

"They're here!" Terrorized, Xiao Mu shuddered and scrambled on all fours to hide behind Muchen.

Muchen's pupils contracted slightly. Exchanging a quick glance with Chen Jiahe, the two of them swiftly positioned themselves on either side of the doorway. Big Mouth, dragging its injured leg and baring its fangs, let out a threatening, low growl.

At the top of the stairs, a burly man with a ferocious scar running across his face appeared first. He hauled a fire axe, its blade still stained with dark, coagulated blood. Behind him followed seven or eight equally fierce and rugged men, every single one of them brandishing weapons and glaring with hostile intent.

What made the hearts of Muchen and the others sink even further was that at the very rear of the group followed seven or eight swaying figures—none other than the monsters mutated by the "Divine Water"! Their necks were tethered with thick hemp ropes, dragged along like dogs, emitting threatening "gargling" noises from their throats while their crimson eyes locked relentlessly upon the occupants inside Room 3001.

"You must be Brother Muchen?" Scarface Qiang broke into a grin, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. His gaze swept past Muchen and lingered greedily and appraisingly over the women: Chen Jiahe, Xie Youyou, and Chen Si, making no effort to conceal his lust. "I've heard a great deal about you! My name is Scarface Qiang, and all the brothers downstairs answer to me now!"

He jutted his chin upward, gesturing toward the monsters trailing behind him. "These are the 'sincerity gifts' I've brought for Brother Muchen. Well, what do you think? Packing quite a punch, aren't they? I had a hard time gathering these little darlings, but their combat prowess is top-notch!"

Looking at those monsters treated like mere weapons, Xie Youyou felt her stomach churn violently, and she nearly vomited.

"This is your sincerity?" Muchen's tone gave away neither joy nor anger. "You come to discuss a partnership using these things?"

"Hahaha! Brother Muchen is a straight shooter!" Scarface Qiang didn't care in the least about Muchen's sarcasm and burst into laughter. "I, Scarface Qiang, love dealing with straightforward men like you! These 'darlings' are just appetizers. I hear Brother Muchen is extraordinary in martial prowess and has a few capable helpers under your command—even that old bastard Pan Guang fell into your hands. I tip my hat to you, Scarface Qiang style!"

His tone abruptly shifted, turning sinister. "However, all the good loot in this building now belongs to me, Scarface Qiang. If Brother Muchen wants a slice of the pie, that's fine, but you'll have to show some real skills and prove to me that you're worth my investment."

"How would you like me to prove I'm 'worth it'?" Muchen countered.

"Very simple." Scarface Qiang pointed downstairs with his fire axe. "There are more and more monsters in this building. If we fight alone, sooner or later we're all going to be goners. My people, plus your people—combine our forces into one unit, and only then will we have a chance to fight our way out."

He paused, splitting his mouth into a grin that carried an eerie, wicked undertone. "I received intelligence that down in the South District, the military has established a temporary safe zone and is taking in survivors. As long as we can smash our way there, we'll live!"

"A safe zone?" Dr. Li frowned. "Is that intelligence reliable?"

Scarface Qiang glanced at her impatiently. "Naturally, I have my own channels. Believe it or not, it's up to you. However, the road from here to the South District won't be peaceful. Especially this building—it's a veritable monster nest right now. Therefore, I need Brother Muchen to help me carve out a path."

"You mean you want us to be your cannon fodder?" Chen Jiahe couldn't help snapping back.

"You shouldn't put it that way, little lady." Scarface Qiang chuckled. "This is called sharing risks and sharing rewards. As long as we make it out alive and reach the safe zone, given our strength, do you think we need to worry about not having a good life? When that time comes, women, food—what won't we have?"

His turbid eyes roamed without restraint up and down Chen Jiahe's and Xie Youyou's exquisite curves.

Right at that moment, the building suffered another violent tremor. Dust cascaded from the ceiling in flurries, and the cracks on the walls spread like spiderwebs, emitting a teeth-grating, grinding shriek.

Rumble—!

Suddenly, the entire apartment building shook with an intensity far surpassing any previous jolt! The fractures on the ceiling instantly widened, and large chunks of concrete mixed with steel bars crashed downward, producing a horrifying racket.

"Ah!" Xie Youyou screamed, nearly losing her footing.

Scarface Qiang's expression also shifted. He looked up at the crumbling ceiling, spat on the floor, and cursed, "Damn it! This piece-of-crap building really is collapsing! No time to dawdle! Muchen, give me a straight answer! Are we doing this or not?"

The burly men behind him also gripped their weapons nervously, and the leashed monsters grew even more restless, letting out bursts of low growls.

"Partnering with me is the only way you survive," Scarface Qiang said, a trace of urgency edging his voice. "I can provide the 'Divine Water' to make your people stronger too! Even though there are slight side effects, it's still better than being fed to the monsters!"