Chapter 64: The World Behind the Door

The night was deep and silent. Lin Han stood before the warped, flickering "door," his heartbeat pounding in his chest. It wasn't a real door—it was more like a fracture in reality, woven from memories, illusions, and some unknown force. A faint golden glow shimmered along its edges, like a narrow rift connecting the real world to something long forgotten.

And he knew—once he stepped through, nothing would be the same.

Noya's breathing quickened, her fingers tightening around the small folding knife in her pocket. Ah Rong stood behind them, his expression complex, his lips trembling slightly.

"Are we really doing this?" His voice was low, carrying an undertone of barely concealed fear.

Lin Han didn't answer. Instead, he slowly reached out his hand.

The moment his fingertips touched the "door," a chilling sensation shot through his body, spreading from his fingers to his very soul. It was as if something cold, something ancient, was watching him from the other side.

Sssshh—

The air seemed to rip apart. A deep, guttural rumble echoed from beyond the door, like the awakening of something massive, something that had been sleeping for too long.

Lin Han gritted his teeth, took a deep breath—then stepped forward.

The world twisted.

—

"Welcome back."

A cold, emotionless voice spoke beside his ear.

Lin Han's eyes snapped open.

He was standing in a grand hall—one he had never seen before.

The entire space was bathed in golden light. The walls were lined with intricate carvings, depicting an ancient ritual—at the center of the mural, a massive serpent coiled around a throne, and the figure on the throne was blurred, as if intentionally erased. The floor was covered in thick crimson carpets, and the air carried a faint scent of sandalwood, heavy enough to make one drowsy.

Noya and Ah Rong stood beside him, both equally stunned, their gazes darting around in disbelief.

"Where… are we?" Ah Rong muttered.

Lin Han's eyes locked onto the grand golden archway on the other side of the hall.

Carved onto it were familiar words:

"Golden Dragon Club."

The underground casino that had been 'erased.'

Noya's head jerked up, her eyes filled with shock.

"This place… it shouldn't exist anymore," she whispered.

"But it does," Lin Han murmured, his gaze dark.

Just then, the golden archway creaked open.

A figure in a black robe stepped forward.

The person's face was completely concealed behind a golden mask, emotionless and unmoving. Only their eyes were visible—cold, watching.

The figure's voice was deep, stretched out as if echoing from another time.

"You should not be here."

—

The air turned razor-sharp.

Lin Han instinctively took a step back. A deep unease settled in his stomach.

"Who are you?" Noya asked, her tone cautious.

The masked figure didn't answer.

Instead, they slowly raised their hand.

A strange golden symbol flickered to life in their palm, pulsing like an ancient rune.

Ah Rong cursed under his breath. "I feel like we just walked into something we really shouldn't have."

Lin Han wasn't sure what to say.

His eyes shifted downward—and he noticed something strange.

The masked figure's shadow was distorted.

It didn't match the light source in the room.

They weren't… completely human.

Maybe they were an echo. A lingering memory.

Or maybe—just maybe—they were something worse.

"You should not be here." The masked figure repeated the words, their voice as lifeless as before.

Lin Han knew one thing:

If he wanted to uncover the truth about Golden Dragon Club's disappearance, they had to go deeper.

But this place clearly did not want them here.

"We only seek the truth," Lin Han said calmly, locking eyes with the masked figure.

For a long moment, the figure was silent.

Then, they let out a quiet laugh.

"The truth?"

The golden rune in their palm flared—

And the entire hall twisted.

The walls started to ripple, turning into liquid gold. The once-grand carvings melted away, revealing deep, jagged scars across the surfaces, as if the entire space was fracturing.

"The truth is not meant to be known." The masked figure's voice came from all directions at once.

"Because the truth does not belong to reality."

The world collapsed—

Darkness swallowed them whole.

Lin Han's consciousness shattered.