Chapter 72: The Gatekeepers of Twin Tomb Village
Although Shen Yu had earned some recognition after clearing an S-Rank dungeon, it still didn’t make sense.
It shouldn’t have been enough for the higher-ups to specifically name him for this operation.
What exactly was Mohan planning?
Was he trying to use Shen Yu as a test subject?
But that made no sense.
If someone truly needed to be tested, wouldn’t an experienced high-level participant be a far better choice than someone with an E-Rank registered talent?
Ho Yong narrowed his eyes.
"What exactly do you want?"
Mohan simply shrugged.
"That’s none of your concern."
"I only need one person."
"Shen Yu."
"This is my decision..."
"...and headquarters agrees."
His smile gradually faded.
"Or are you planning to disobey a direct order?"
The atmosphere instantly became oppressive.
Ho Yong clenched his fists before finally sighing in defeat.
He pulled out his phone and dialed Shen Yu’s number.
Meanwhile...
Inside Villa 627.
Shen Yu sat comfortably on the sofa while Yang Jin leaned against him, the two quietly browsing the latest international reports on the tablet.
Buzz... Buzz...
His phone suddenly vibrated.
Seeing Ho Yong’s name on the screen, Shen Yu answered.
"Captain Ho?"
After listening for several seconds, his expression slowly became strange.
"...You want me to join a team of high-level dungeon participants to suppress Twin Tomb Village?"
"...Are you serious?"
On the other end of the line, Ho Yong laughed bitterly.
"I don’t understand it either."
"But Mohan specifically requested you."
"And headquarters approved it."
Shen Yu frowned thoughtfully before finally nodding.
"...All right."
"I’ll come."
The call ended.
Yang Jin, who had been sitting beside him, looked puzzled.
As pink particles floated around her body, she gradually transformed back into a soft halo of light that settled behind Shen Yu like a pair of ethereal wings.
"Shen Yu..."
"Why did that man insist on choosing you?"
"Judging from appearances, your combat ability isn’t outstanding."
Shen Yu rubbed his chin.
"I’ve been wondering the same thing."
"If he specifically chose me..."
"...then it must be because of something only I can do."
"But what is it?"
Even he couldn’t figure it out.
With that lingering question in mind, Shen Yu left the villa.
A short while later...
Level Three of the Defense Department.
The underground parking lot was already crowded.
When Shen Yu arrived, everyone instinctively stepped aside, creating a clear path toward the red convertible.
Mohan leaned casually against the driver’s seat, smiling as though greeting an old acquaintance.
"Shen Yu."
"You finally came."
His tone sounded strangely familiar.
Yet Shen Yu was certain...
He had never met this man before.
"You were the one who insisted I come?"
Shen Yu asked directly.
Mohan nodded.
"That’s right."
"It had to be you."
"No more questions."
"Get in."
"We have no time to waste."
"Every minute we delay..."
"...Twin Tomb Village spreads farther."
The sports car’s engine roared to life.
Shen Yu looked toward Ho Yong.
The latter could only return an apologetic smile.
Left with little choice, Shen Yu climbed into the back seat.
Lu Xian gently patted his shoulder.
"Don’t worry."
"I’ll do everything I can to protect you."
Shen Yu smiled.
"Thanks."
Boom!
The red convertible shot out of the residential district and sped toward the outskirts.
The farther they drove...
The darker the sky became.
Eventually they crossed into the territory surrounding Lake Wu City.
Shen Yu stared silently out the window.
His pupils contracted.
The city...
...was gone.
The skyscrapers, roads, neighborhoods, and traffic had completely vanished.
In their place stretched an endless wasteland of black, muddy earth.
The soil looked as though it had absorbed countless years of dried blood.
Far away...
A lonely village appeared and disappeared within the drifting black mist like a mirage.
"So..."
"This is what a fully descended horror dungeon looks like..."
Even Shen Yu couldn’t hide the shock in his voice.
Mohan parked the car.
His expression finally became serious.
"Enough sightseeing."
"Let’s see for ourselves."
"Just how dangerous Twin Tomb Village really is."
Click.
The doors opened.
Mount Tai stepped out first, silently standing behind Mohan like an immovable mountain.
Lu Xian followed.
Shen Yu exchanged a glance with her before stepping into the dense black fog.
The mist swallowed everything.
Visibility dropped to only a few meters.
Crackle... Crackle... Crackle...
From somewhere deep within the darkness came the faint sound of firecrackers.
Then...
A weathered stone monument slowly emerged from the fog.
Three blood-red characters were carved across its surface.
Twin Tomb Village.
Standing motionless beneath the monument were two unnaturally thin men.
Their pale faces were expressionless as they silently watched the four intruders approaching from outside the village.
An icy wind swept across the barren land.
Lu Xian instinctively tightened her grip on her weapon.
Shen Yu narrowed his eyes.
Without a word, all four stepped toward the village entrance, disappearing into the endless black mist.
An icy wind swept through the black mist.
The temperature dropped sharply.
Even Lu Xian and Shen Yu instinctively tensed as they stared at the eerie village ahead.
Yet Mohan, who walked at the front of the group, merely narrowed his eyes.
Inside his mind, countless scenes flashed by.
Future Echo...
Among every dungeon participant in Joi City...
Only your future has never disappeared.
His gaze shifted toward Shen Yu.
Just what kind of ability do you possess...?
The question had haunted him ever since headquarters had handed him Shen Yu’s file.
According to the predictions generated by his talent, every possible future eventually reached a dead end.
Everyone’s future vanished.
Everyone...
Except Shen Yu’s.
No matter how many times Mohan simulated the coming operation...
Shen Yu’s future remained blank.
Not because he died.
But because it simply couldn’t be predicted.
That was why headquarters had ordered Mohan to bring him.
Not for combat...
But because he was an unpredictable variable.
Step.
Mohan suddenly stopped before the weathered village monument.
His eyes slowly lifted.
Standing beneath the wooden gate were two gaunt men wearing patched gray clothes.
Their expressions were savage, like wolves guarding their territory.
Yet the strangest thing wasn’t their appearance.
It was their backs.
Growing directly from each man’s spine was an enormous stone stele.
The gray-white monument appeared to have erupted from their flesh, fused seamlessly with bone and skin.
Even more horrifying...
Each stone tablet bore a carved face identical to its owner’s.
As the two gatekeepers turned toward the intruders...
The stone faces suddenly began twisting violently.
They writhed against the stone surface as though trying to crawl free.
"..."
Even Mohan frowned.
"What kind of monster is this...?"
Without hesitation, he raised one hand.
"Mount Tai."
"Come here."
Step!
The bald giant instantly moved.
But instead of approaching Mohan...
He suddenly reached toward Lu Xian.
His iron-like hand clamped firmly onto her shoulder.
Before she could react, he forcefully shoved her forward.
"What are you doing?"
Lu Xian’s expression changed dramatically.
She struggled instinctively.
Yet Mount Tai’s grip was like forged steel.
She couldn’t move an inch.
Her face darkened.
"Mohan!"
"What is the meaning of this?"
Mohan didn’t even bother looking back.
His indifferent voice drifted through the mist.
"You really thought..."
"...I brought you here because of your strength?"
Lu Xian froze.
Mohan finally glanced sideways.
His eyes were completely emotionless.
"No."
"You..."
"...are merely our ticket inside."
He continued walking toward the village entrance.
"Mount Tai."
"Bring her."
Without another word, the giant forced Lu Xian forward.
Shen Yu’s eyes narrowed.
He didn’t immediately intervene.
Instead, he silently observed.
He had long realized something was wrong.
From the very beginning...
Mohan’s objective had never been to assemble the strongest team.
He had been searching for something.
Or perhaps...
Someone.
Creak... Creak...
The two gatekeepers slowly raised their heads.
Their bodies remained motionless.
Only the grotesque faces carved into the stone steles behind them began moving.
Their mouths stretched unnaturally wide.
A hoarse voice echoed from the stone itself.
"Stop."
"The ceremony of Twin Tomb Village..."
"...is underway."
The entire village fell deathly silent.
Only the sound of the wind carried faint funeral music from somewhere deep within the black mist.
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