The wet stone steps of the deep catacombs beneath Sovereign Peak echoed with the frantic, uneven footsteps of young master Zhao Feng.
He stumbled through the dark granite tunnel, his dark red cultist robe trailing in the stagnant sludge, dragging the bleeding, half mutated Su Rou by her left wrist.
"Slow down, you fool!" Su Rou shrieked, her voice a harsh, double tonal rasp that bounced off the damp cave walls. "You are tearing my shoulder open!"
Zhao Feng did not stop. He gripped her wrist tighter, his face pale, his forehead dripping with cold sweat as he glanced fearfully back toward the upper stairwell.
"The commoners broke the North Gate, Su Rou!" Zhao Feng wheezed, his breath coming in short, panicked gasps. "High Priest Gui is dead! Ye Chen crushed his core with his bare fist, a
