Lord of Mysteries: Yao Guang

Until Benjamin led Esther to the platform where he could observe the entire hall, the real owner of the castle, Marquis Kelar, did not show up.

Esther stood on the platform and looked down. The scene before her eyes blurred again. Another completely different banquet scene fell directly into her mind:

In the magnificent hall, a lady with a silver two-piece dance skirt was flying. She was spinning proudly on the dance floor. Her graceful neckline and posture when being lifted were like a swan. Such an outstanding performance captured the attention of the other guests, who applauded and even made room for the lady and her partner.

But another scene covered by illusions stayed in Esther's retina. A lush bush swayed in the blood, spreading its branches with daisies wantonly, and the person inside was smiling. Blood flowed down her throat, which was pierced by roots, and down her raised neck. Her eyes were empty and unfocused.

The two images were clearly superimposed in Esther's mind, which forced her to look away, and she no longer dared to look around casually like Benjamin.

The psychological pressure this castle gave her was far more powerful than the sense of crisis.

Benjamin sighed: "Oh, does the owner of this castle still have a simple sense of crisis? This makes it very difficult for me..."

His eyes turned to Esther, and he could see that he was thinking about something, and he seemed quite hesitant.

Esther looked back at Benjamin: "If you want me to be the bait, just say so."

"You are so considerate, so let's do this." Benjamin immediately laughed and pointed to the deep corridor behind the platform, "You also saw that there are two roads to the left and right, let's take each side."

Esther took a deep breath, and after checking her own perception again and again, she reluctantly agreed: "I don't feel the threat of death. I can follow your proposal, and I hope you can find what you want as soon as possible." .”

Benjamin had long said that he wanted her to be a bait, and Esther was mentally prepared for similar situations in advance. She was even a little curious about the castle - as long as there was no threat to her life, she was happy to stay away from the hall. The extremely weird dance floor inside moved towards the depths of the castle.

Benjamin didn't care whether Esther would agree or not. Even if Esther refused, he was confident enough to convince her, so he saved the process now.

Benjamin nodded: "Don't worry, I know where to go. It's at the northwest steeple on the third floor."

Esther was a little surprised to be able to report the possible location of the specific target: "Have you been to this castle before?"

"Before Marquis Kelar died, I was a parasite on someone else. But after that, I only came into contact with other people's investigation data."

For example, other Amon clones, Benjamin added with a smile in his heart.

But there is another point. The credibility of the information needs to be confirmed. There may not be a problem with the target location he is seeking, but it is another matter what dangers there will be along the way.

At least the clone who exchanged information at that time seemed very vague, and did not explore the castle in depth.

"Since it's the northwest, let's go..." Esther paused mid-sentence. She wasn't quite sure about the specific location of the castle.

Benjamin took two steps forward, adjusted his glasses, and from an angle that Esther couldn't see, dark shadows passed through his eyes: "I'll go to the left, and you go to the right. If you encounter anything that cannot be solved, If you are in danger, take out that compass as soon as possible and I will go to you."

"Yes, I remember it," Esther calmed down and her expression gradually returned to indifference, "Is there anything else I need to pay attention to?"

"Don't take the initiative to attack anything in the castle, try to handle any communication with a polite attitude, and don't accept any invitations." Benjamin casually pointed in the direction of the dance floor, "The blood moon here will not fall and disappear until dawn. , we just need to leave the castle before that."

"Is there a specific time?"

"According to the current season, half past five is the safest time. We will be back here at five o'clock," Benjamin paused and asked Esther sincerely, "Can you remember the road?"

Esther was silent for two seconds: "If I can't find the way when the time comes, just take out the compass."

Benjamin smiled and cleared his throat: "Okay, do you have a timer on you?"

"Well, I know the approximate time."

The discussion ended, and the two of them placed the wine glasses on the edge of the platform. Esther stepped into the corridor with hanging tapestries on the right, while Benjamin walked towards the stairs at the end of the corridor on the left.

Taking the initiative to disperse is a very risky behavior, but neither of them can treat it according to common sense. Esther followed the vague guidance given to her by her intuition. She did not firmly plan to follow the same path as Benjamin, but agreed to "try their luck". ".

Benjamin's considerations are more complicated. He is curious whether the owner of the castle is hiding from him or Esther, who has a special "destiny".

"It's not okay if you don't come out to entertain guests. This is not a courtesy that a marquis should lack." Benjamin smiled and pushed up his glasses, and a stream of blood that had just poured out of the stairs instantly retreated, leaving no trace of the blood he was about to land on. ground.

At the deep end of the stairs, there was a faint sound of dripping water.

——

Esther walked down the brightly lit corridor on the right. Unlike the bare stairs on the other side, the red carpet continued down the corridor. This road seemed to have no end. Esther turned three or four corners and saw no passages or doors leading to other places.

Huge tapestries hung on the walls, each with a width of two to three meters. Esther could see a new side every few steps. Because she couldn't find the end of the road for a long time, she began to observe intentionally. In the surrounding environment, apart from the torches hanging on the walls, these tapestries are the most conspicuous thing.

At first, these delicate decorations were normal, with various lifelike plants and animals painted on them, and the lines were bright and bright.

But after Esther turned a right-angled corner for the third time, the mural on the wall began to gradually distort. Flowers and grass blades sprouted sharp thorns, biting the flesh of animals, and the animals began to twist and deform, with swollen abdomens, turning into monsters with red eyes, biting at the same weird plants.

Only the colors of those tapestries are still bright and vivid, restoring the bloody scenes and occupying the wall ostentatiously, showing them to the passing guests to "appreciate".

Esther's eyebrows were furrowed, and even if she didn't encounter any danger, she didn't dare to relax at all.

She pinched her fingers gently, ready to pull out the "pale bone nail" from her palm at any time to defend against danger.

To be honest, Esther couldn't believe Benjamin's words, "Don't take the initiative to attack anything in the castle." This reminder itself had another meaning. They could be attacked. The castle was too weird, and Esther didn't think it would let them in and out quietly.

The guests left in the living room were still dancing, endlessly enjoying the banquet that was only held under the blood moon.

This castle didn't show much kindness to its "guests", especially after seeing its true face, Esther only found it disgusting.

The sweet smell she smelled was slightly weaker, but it was still there. This smell was floating everywhere in the castle. Even if she pinched her nose and didn't breathe, it would continue to flow into Esther's perception.

As Esther turned a corner again, the tapestry on the wall changed again. She took two steps back and looked at the corridor where she came from. All the tapestries were left with only one color, crimson.

Such an environment is dazzling, creating a huge pressure that is gradually overwhelmed by red.

But Esther's brows gradually relaxed, and she finally reached the end of this winding corridor.

This is a dead end, and there are huge murals hanging on the walls, nearly two meters high, with the bottom sticking tightly to the ground.

The background color of the painting is all black, which is incompatible between the red carpet and the red tapestry. The person in the painting is a very handsome young man, with black hair sticking smoothly to the back of his head, and a pair of red and sharp eyes that seem to be shining through. across the canvas, gazing out at the people.

The vampire young man held the thorny black rose tightly in his hands and lay flat in a coffin with a calm expression. The smile on the corner of his mouth was very gentle, as if he could not feel the pain of the blood-stained hands.

"Fluorescence..."

Esther blinked and stood there without any movement, but she was very sure that she just heard a sigh, so distant and vague that she couldn't even tell the gender.

Esther could only wonder if it had something to do with the young man on the mural.

The next moment, the eyes of the vampire youth closed, crimson poured out from the darkness outside the coffin, the roses were stained with blood, and the mural slowly opened outward, revealing the dark and lightless passage behind.

From the light coming from the door, one could see the stairs going down in the passage. Esther only hesitated for a moment, then pulled a torch from the wall and walked deeper along the stairs.

There was nothing unusual about her intuition, and there was no early warning of danger, but Esther remained as vigilant as possible. Holding the torch was more of a psychological comfort to her, making her feel a little more secure. .

Even if this ghost place can't be said to be "safe" at all.

Esther's other hand drooped slightly, ready to reach for her waist bag, which contained her red cloak.

The quiet darkness was driven away by burning torches, like a flock of sheep being intimidated by wolves. Esther could hear some kind of "rustling" noise in the darkness, as if something was constantly shrinking, avoiding being illuminated by the torches. atmosphere.

She walked down the steps for a while, and when she stepped on the ground, Esther saw clearly the plants in the dark. They were hanging upside down from the ceiling, and their black leaves had wavy edges like seaweed.

Whenever the fire approached, they curled up in terror and retreated into the gaps in the masonry above their heads.

Esther continued to walk forward. The corridor was not long. After a few minutes, she entered the room at the end.

There is a coffin painted completely black, with a bouquet of bright red roses placed on the top of the coffin.