After Skyfall

Heavy clouds loomed over the city, and the distant ruins of toppled buildings still stood crookedly. The air, thick with a slightly putrid stench, filled every corner of the city. The setting sun cast an eerie, crimson hue over the landscape.

Like many other places, Tianchang City was a wounded city.

Li Yi, having just finished his part-time job, now carried his belongings through the desolate and dilapidated streets of the old district. He skillfully and cautiously avoided the puddles on the uneven ground, then quickly ducked into an alley.

The alleys run in all directions, connecting various parts of the old district, significantly saving lots of travel time.

“Cough, cough!”

Walking along, Li Yi suddenly caught a whiff of a decaying odour. He could not help but cough a couple of times, but he dared not linger. Instead, he quickened his pace, swiftly moving away from the area engulfed by the foul odour.

He knew that this stench was caused by decomposing human corpses.

The lowest rung of the city’s inhabitants lived like rats in the gutter, struggling to maintain a semblance of normal life. Even in death, their bodies would quietly rot and breed maggots in dark corners until the overwhelming stench drew the sanitation team to clean up.

After all, the world had changed. Even in cities with law and order, the death rate remained high.

I wonder if I’m lucky enough to survive this time.

Li Yi, who was only twenty years old, sighed inwardly, his eyes revealing a hint of confusion and fatigue. But he soon steeled his gaze, quickening his pace even further.

Following an address in his memories, he navigated through the alleys and arrived at a decades-old district.

The district was not large, with only four buildings—a common sight in the old district.

Despite the poor environment, the old district was at least safer than other places, with fewer accidents. Hence, many people were crammed into this seemingly shabby and desolate area, scraping by like ants and barely surviving. Li Yi was one of them.

Wangmen District

Yes, this is the place. Li Yi found the location of the address.

Upon entering, he noticed a crowd gathered in the central square of the district, with investigators among them.

Did something happen? His face twitched slightly as he curiously moved closer.

“I heard the resident of Block 4, Unit 701, died a gruesome death—blood had flowed into the hallways. It can’t be a normal death; it’s probably some kind of unusual accident, otherwise, investigators wouldn’t come to such a rundown place.”

“Who lived in Unit 701? I have no recollection, did anyone know them?”

“Just that woman with the wavy hair and flashy clothes.”

“Oh, I remember now that you’ve mentioned it. Her name was Liu Li, thirty-two years old, unmarried, with large bosoms.”

“Huh?”

Hearing this, many people immediately looked at the speaker in surprise.

It was a middle-aged man in his thirties, emotionally shaking his head.

At this time, an investigator came down the stairway of Block 4, followed by several sanitation workers carrying a body bag, presumably containing Liu Li’s corpse.

“What’s the situation upstairs?” The lead investigator, Wang Jian, who was in charge of this old district, asked.

Though the modest-looking Wang Jian was only in his twenties, his sharp eyes seemed to emit a faint glow in the dim light, inducing inexplicable trepidation among people.

“Captain Wang, the victim’s body was dismembered into more than ten pieces. The scene was extremely bloody, but based on our investigation so far, it seems the cause of death was… suicide.” Another investigator had walked over and reported solemnly about what had happened in Unit 701.

Wang Jian nodded, remaining calm as if accustomed to such scenes; after all, he had encountered even more bizarre incidents.

“Any other clues?”

Another investigator replied, “There’s a resident opposite Unit 701 who seems to have seen something.”

After saying that, he signalled, and a young man around twenty-five years old was brought over.

“I’m Investigator Wang Jian. Tell me, what did you see in Unit 701?” Wang Jian asked.

The young man, visibly nervous, said, “I-I saw someone entering Unit 701 intermittently last night.”

“Intermittently?” Wang Jian frowned. “Are you playing games with me?”

“No, absolutely not. The person did enter intermittently,” the young man insisted with certainty.

Wang Jian’s face darkened as he suddenly grabbed the young man’s neck, staring coldly into his pupils, before flinging him aside. “Another one driven mad by spiritual practice. Take him away.”

“Yes, sir.”

The young man immediately struggled. “No, I’m not mad! Someone did enter Unit 701 intermittently. That person is the murderer. She didn’t commit suicide. It wasn’t suicide! I saw it clearly while cultivating at the door yesterday.”

However, the staff members ignored him, dragging him towards the district’s exit.

The middle-aged man watching the commotion shouted, “If Liu Li’s body could be brought out intermittently, why can’t the killer go in intermittently to commit the murders? Why do the investigators get to say that others are crazy?”

“He’s not acting normally. Are you not normal either?” Wang Jian glanced at him. “Do you want to be taken away too?”

The middle-aged man then immediately spat in the young man’s direction: “This lunatic should be taken away, I must have been influenced by him earlier. We absolutely cannot release this lunatic back here, he might be the one who killed Liu Li.”

“As I’ve said before, Liu Li committed suicide. The case is closed.” Wang Jian reiterated.

Seems like this suicide case is just a coincidence; not related to what I need to do.

Li Yi remained silent as he observed the commotion, then quietly left the crowd while carrying his bag and walked towards Block 1. This matter did not concern him. He was only here to earn money; he did not want any unnecessary trouble.

Wangmen District, Block 1, Unit 201.

Li Yi took a deep breath as he arrived at this unfamiliar address and knocked on the old door.

Thud, thud, thud!
The dull sound resonated in the dim hallway, the silence surrounding him.

Some time has passed.

The old door creaked open, and yellowed light spilled out while a voice came from within.

“Come in.” The voice was deep.

Li Yi stepped inside, slightly nervous.

The living room was sparsely furnished with a sofa and a few wooden chairs, and the doors to the bedrooms on either side were tightly closed. Under the yellow lighting, the space felt slightly claustrophobic.

“Hey, no need to look around. You’re late; you’re the last person we’re all waiting for.” There were several people sitting on the couch, both men and women, and the one who spoke was a young man in a hoodie.

Li Yi remained silent while his eyes were fixed on the figure sitting on the chair opposite him.

The figure, shrouded in the shadows cast by the light, raised his head slightly. His eyes were exceptionally bright, glimmering with a faint light, as if containing some special power that made people fear direct eye contact with him.

“My name is Crow. You’re Li Yi, right? You’re very young; you look like you’re barely in your early twenties. Tell me, why do you want to take on this dangerous task?” Crow asked, his voice still deep and carrying an unknown sense of pressure.

Li Yi steadied himself and answered seriously: “I need money.”

The man in the hoodie, sitting on the sofa behind them, chuckled and said, “No kidding, everyone who takes on dangerous jobs like this is short on cash. Nowadays, lives are worthless, and there are plenty of people eager to risk theirs.”

Ignoring him, Li Yi continued, “My parents are Mute*; they have been in a coma for six years.”

“Both your parents are Mute? They’ve survived for six years, meaning your family has two medical pods. Even second-hand, those are worth at least a million each. You don’t look like you’re short of money,” Crow’s voice grew cold. “Give me a reasonable explanation, no tricks.”

“The medical pods broke down and needed repairs. The repair cost is fifty thousand but I can’t afford it. I saw a job posting in the group chat offering a hundred thousand upon completion, so I decided to try my luck,” Li Yi explained his situation in detail as he felt his heart tightened in his chest.

Perhaps convinced by Li Yi’s words, or seeing the anxiety and urgency in his eyes, Crow’s tone shifted, followed by a light chuckle. “Taking care of two Mute patients for six years would indeed use up any savings. With the medical pods malfunctioning, you’ll definitely need money urgently. After all, without the medical pods, Mute patients can’t survive more than thirty days. It seems you’re willing to fight for your parents—that’s good—not many filial children like you are left these days. If that’s the case, I’ll give you this chance. Your explanation is accepted. Sit down.”

Relieved, Li Yi found a stool beside the sofa and sat down.

“Now that the last person is here, if anyone wants to leave before we start, you can do so now. I won’t stop you. In ten seconds, I’ll start explaining the task.” Crow’s eyes glinted with a hint of threat.

Clearly, he was warning them that once they stayed, they could not back out anymore.

In the dim living room, everyone fell silent.

Seconds ticked by.

No one left.

“Good. It seems you all have reasons to fight. Now, I will formally introduce the task.” Crow stood up.

At the same time, the door to one of the bedrooms opened, revealing a man dressed in a suit. He swiftly locked the main entrance, positioning himself like an impregnable wall at the doorway, ensuring no one could flee from the premises.

“Crow, stop wasting time and tell us what we need to do. We’re not cut out for anything too difficult; we’re just here to earn some cash, not to throw our lives away. We’re ordinary people without cultivation skills; there are limits to what we can do,” the man in the hoodie said nonchalantly, with a grin on his face.

Crow glanced at him and said, “Behave yourself.”

The man in the hoodie shrugged, not thinking much of it.

For someone willing to risk their life for money, there was nothing to fear.

The others remained silent, choosing not to interrupt Crow at this moment.

Li Yi also listened quietly, hoping the task would not be too dangerous. He just wanted to make it back alive.

Seeing how everyone was silent, Crow spoke with gravity: “Ten days ago, a building in the abandoned district showed signs of an anomaly. Our people went inside to investigate but encountered an accident, resulting in several deaths. Only two ordinary people without spiritual practice survived. One went mad, and the other was severely injured and barely hanging on in the hospital.”

“The second time, my partner and I went to the building to search again. Unfortunately, my partner didn’t make it; I was lucky enough to escape.”

“Nonetheless, from the two explorations, I gathered two crucial pieces of information. The first is that the building likely contains an Artifact.”

Everyone’s eyes widened in disbelief upon hearing this.

“An Artifact? How is that possible? The abandoned district has been searched countless times. How could there still be Artifacts left?” The man in the hoodie shot up, his breath now coming in short bursts.

Artifacts.

After Skyfall, these were relics from alternate realms that appeared, rumoured to possess supernatural powers from myths and legends.

Each Artifact is a treasure beyond measure.

Nations around the world have been aggressively reclaiming these Artifacts, sparking numerous battles over them.

If an ordinary individual voluntarily surrenders an Artifact, the cash reward alone would be at least one billion. Additionally, they would be granted unconditional admission to the Golden Academy, with lifelong immunity from expulsion. Additional perks, such as a villa in the secure zone and esteemed honorary titles, are all discreetly bundled as hidden bonuses.

Despite such generous rewards, there have only been two cases of voluntary submission of Artifacts in the country.

Because Artifacts not only possess supernatural powers, but they can also alter the fate of an ordinary person, guiding them onto a path of spiritual practice that surpasses even the most gifted individuals.

Merely possessing an Artifact for a few months can elevate one to extraordinary heights, and if held for years, it commands the respect of all.

“That’s too good to be true. I don’t believe there’s an Artifact in the old district. The influence radius of an Artifact is at least five kilometres. Such a large area would have been thoroughly investigated by now. Do you think investigators are just idling around?” remarked a woman, clad in a sleek camisole dress that accentuated her alluring figure, though a flicker of scepticism danced on her lips.

Her words made the others, who were still in shock, calm down considerably.

“Exactly, hiring someone for a hundred thousand to find a priceless Artifact sounds absurd. If such a thing existed, would we even get to know about it? The old district would have been cordoned off long ago.” The man in the hoodie nodded in agreement with the woman’s statement.

Li Yi and the remaining people stayed silent, observing quietly.

Crow’s voice remained low and steady: “Artifacts are also classified into different tiers, ranging from complete to fragmented ones. The most elite Artifacts are beyond the reach of people like us, but if we’re lucky, finding an incomplete Artifact or a fragment isn’t impossible.”

“The task for the five of you is simple: go into that building and find the item. Even if you can’t retrieve it, just confirming its location earns you a hundred thousand. Should you bring it back, I’ll reward each of you with two million.”

“Is this measly sum supposed to make us risk our lives for your Artifact hunt? It’s quite a stretch,” the man in the hoodie chuckled.

“What’s that supposed to mean? Having second thoughts?” Crow asked.

“No, I mean you need to pay more,” the man in the hoodie replied, staring intently at Crow.

“Don’t be too greedy. Remember, you can’t spend money if you’re dead,” Crow retorted coldly. At that moment, his eyes sparkled with a predatory gleam, like a beast lurking in the shadows.

Undeterred, the hoodie-clad man continued, “You dare to lay a finger on me? If you kill me, this whole operation goes down the drain. And if it attracts investigators, the losses will be even greater for all of you. After all, our lives may be worthless, but yours isn’t. You have a promising future ahead, with the chance to interact with Artifacts. Is it worth jeopardising everything for a few nobodies?”

He then turned to Li Yi and the others. “I’m negotiating for the benefit of us all. Aren’t you going to say anything?”

“This task is very dangerous. I demand half the payment upfront, or I’m not going. Who knows if you’ll go back on your word later?” said the woman in the dress immediately.

Clearly, the mention of an Artifact had everyone raising their prices.

Li Yi did not want to back down either. He said, “I also think the payment is too low. Besides the upfront payment of fifty thousand, if we find what you want, you need to pay another hundred thousand. As for retrieving it, we ordinary people need to recognise our limits. We’re not capable of that.”

His words had barely settled when a muscular man with a crew cut and a square face stood up from the sofa beside him. He was taller than average, nearly two metres tall, with his head barely grazing the ceiling. It was a physical presence that belied his ordinary status.

“You little punk, now that you’ve come to me, I want my money regardless of whether we do the job or not. If you don’t pay, I’ll smash your head with a single punch,” the man said in a deep, uncompromising voice.

The last person remaining was a middle-aged man with glasses who was slightly thinner in build. He had been silent until now, but he finally spoke up, “Crow, give me their shares. I’ll handle this alone, but I want a 30 percent cut of the item when I retrieve it.”

Crow fell silent instantly.

After a moment, he spoke in a low voice, “I see now. You’re all talented, prioritising money over your lives. If this weren’t a safe zone, I’d really want to kill you all.”

The man in the hoodie continued to grin, the woman in the camisole rolled her eyes in disdain, the tall muscular man snorted disdainfully, and finally, the man with glasses lowered his head slightly, adjusting his glasses with a mysterious smile.

Only Li Yi seemed to react normally, his eye twitching involuntarily, showing a hint of unease.

Seeing that no one was budging, Crow weighed his options briefly and ultimately decided to compromise. Finding another group of people would be troublesome, and he did not want to invite unnecessary trouble. If the information were to leak, the situation would spiral out of his control.

“Fine, we’ll go with Li Yi’s proposal. Fifty thousand upfront, a hundred thousand after completion. No more bargaining. It’s settled.”

The others remained briefly silent, evidently accepting the terms.

“You haven’t told us the second key piece of information,” the hoodie-clad man asked again.

Crow replied, “The second key piece of information is that the dangers inside the building are less threatening to ordinary people. Individuals like myself who have delved into cultivation are more likely to be targeted. That’s why I need individuals like you. Let’s not waste any more time; let’s go.”

As he said this, he signalled his men at the door to open it.

“I have another question,” Li Yi said.

“What is it? Be quick,” Crow responded coldly.

“What’s so dangerous in that place that even practitioners can’t handle?” Li Yi asked. “This is important. We need to know what we’re facing.”

“That building…is haunted,” Crow said before leaving the room.

Haunted?

Everyone froze for a moment, a chilling sense of dread creeping into their hearts under the flickering yellow light.

(End of Chapter)

——

*TL’s note:

“Spiritual cultivation” and “spiritual practices” are used interchangeably in the novel.

Mute is a category of people who are silent as they remain in a coma in the novel.

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