Quicksand World.
A huge city, Xuelang Cheng (Blood Wolf City), home of the Xuelang (Blood Wolf) Race.
Originally, this city was vast, bustling, and brightly lit, but recently, every house had shut its doors tightly at night. The entire city was locked down, and not a single Xuelang dared to step outside.
At night, the city seemed lifeless, with empty streets and even the city guards withdrawn.
At this moment, inside a residence—
"Lang Shisan, what is going on? The sun has just set, yet the city gates are locked, every house is dark, and all shops are closed. Is this some sort of tradition?"
The speaker was Hu Liu, a warrior from the Binghu (Ice Tiger) Race, puzzled by the eerie atmosphere.
He had traveled from afar to visit his brother Lang Shisan and tour the city, yet he was greeted by this unsettling scene.
"Hu Liu, you are unaware of recent events."
Lang Shisan sighed helplessly. "Lately, a terrifying murderer has appeared in Xuelang Cheng. He comes as soon as night falls."
"He randomly appears at a house and asks if someone would open the door for him. If no one answers, he leaves. But if anyone, out of kindness, opens the door—every single member of that household perishes, without exception."
"What? A murderer so bold and terrifying, and yet no one has stopped him?" Hu Liu was shocked.
"Stopped? Of course, we've tried," Lang Shisan said grimly. "The city lord has sent countless soldiers to hunt him down, but after months of searching, there are no clues."
"He comes and goes like a phantom, leaving no trace. He only appears at night, and his attacks are deadly. Wherever he goes, all life perishes."
"The city lord once sent a group of elite warriors to ambush him, but come morning, they were all dead—slaughtered without exception. Since then, even the city lord fears him and dares not confront him anymore. Our only option is to lock our doors at night and never step outside."
"Thankfully, this murderer follows a strange rule—he never forces his way inside. As long as we do not open the door, he simply leaves. Thus, we are still safe... for now."
"Is that so? Then this murderer must be mindless, just acting on some strange instinct." Hu Liu mused, amazed by the mysteries of the world.
"No one knows. To this day, no living soul has seen his true face."
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Suddenly, a rhythmic knocking echoed through the door, each sound pounding like a hammer against their hearts, sending chills down their spines.
Lang Shisan and Hu Liu instantly felt a suffocating sense of danger.
A hoarse voice called out: "Open the door. Is there a kind soul who will take pity on an old man?"
The voice carried an eerie magic, lulling those who heard it into lowering their guard.
Instinctively, Hu Liu took a step forward, reaching for the door—
"Stop! Do not open it! That must be him!" Lang Shisan yanked Hu Liu back, his fur bristling, trembling in fear. He had never felt this close to death.
"So the murderer is here? Excellent." Hu Liu grinned, his battle-hardened nature taking over. "I've been wondering what kind of killer would dare act so brazenly every night. He must not know his place!"
"Relax. I am a Celestial Immortal master. I've slain countless evil spirits. A mere murderer is nothing to me."
Lang Shisan hesitated. He knew his brother was strong—Hu Liu had saved his life countless times in battle.
Whoosh!
Before Lang Shisan could speak, Hu Liu strode to the door and flung it open without hesitation.
BOOM!
A hunched old man in a black robe stood outside, his entire form concealed. His face was obscured, hidden within the deep shadows of his hood.
The moment the door opened, an unnatural coldness rushed into the house, freezing the air. Both Hu Liu and Lang Shisan shuddered involuntarily.
"An old man?" Hu Liu was taken aback. He had expected a terrifying fiend, yet all he saw was a frail, elderly man. Could he have made a mistake?
"Thank you, kind soul."
The old man suddenly raised his head, revealing hollow, empty eyes, dried skin, and a mouth full of jagged, decayed teeth. A ghastly smile spread across his face as his withered hand shot forward—
"Ah—!"
Hu Liu let out an agonized scream. A claw-like hand wrapped around his throat, gripping him with terrifying strength. No matter how much force he exerted, he could not break free.
Even when he unleashed his Celestial Immortal power, it had no effect. The old man remained unscathed.
CRACK!
In an instant, Hu Liu's neck was twisted at an unnatural angle. His breath ceased, and his life force vanished. A Celestial Immortal warrior—dead in a heartbeat.
"No!" Lang Shisan's fur stood on end. He turned to flee—
Too late.
With unnatural speed, the old man appeared behind Lang Shisan, grabbing his neck in an iron grip. SNAP!
Another life was extinguished.
Yet the old man showed no emotion, as if merely executing a program. After ensuring no survivors remained, he turned and disappeared into the night.
Whoosh!
His figure flickered, reappearing before another household. Once again, he knocked lightly on the door: "Open the door. Is there a kind soul who will take pity on an old man?"
In the dead silence of night, the rhythmic knocking sounded eerily sinister, as a chilling fear spread throughout the city.
High above the city, a lone figure hovered in midair, observing everything below. In his hand, he held a pen, carefully recording notes.
"Grotesque Entity No. 125698. Designation: The Knocker."
"Source: Folklore. A terrifying specter that kills anyone who opens their door to a stranger late at night."
"Traits: Possesses immense strength and near-invulnerability. Immune to most attacks and capable of effortlessly killing Celestial Immortal-level beings. Its power grows as fear spreads."
"Defensive Measure: As long as one refuses to open the door, one will remain safe. However, opening the door ensures certain death."
"Threat Level: Low."