The chaos on the roof had reached a point of physical impossibility. The structure of the hut was screaming under the pressure of thousands of small, shifting bodies. The corrosive green bile continued to sizzle against the floorboards, creating a toxic fog that blurred the corners of the room. Tie Dan and Liu Er were huddled near the hearth, their senses overwhelmed by the sound of scratching claws and the stench of sulfur. The air felt thick, charged with a predatory energy that was meant to paralyze any living thing caught inside.
In the center of this frantic assault, Huang Bantian remained on his back. His eyes were closed, his breathing deep and unhurried. To a casual observer, he looked like a victim of a deep coma, oblivious to the fact that his shelter was being systematically di
