Chapter Sixty-Two: The Banquet of Gluttony

June 20th, afternoon, Hong Kong

Bruce Kirk’s Falcon 2000 landed at Hong Kong Airport as rain poured relentlessly. On the taxiway, marshals in fluorescent raincoats moved swiftly and decisively, directing, “Quick, quick, this way, this way…” They guided the jet with the precision of traffic officers until the red and green batons crossed, signaling the brakes to bring the plane to a halt.

As the stair truck pulled up, the door opened. A man in a suit stepped down slowly, followed by a woman clad in tight black clothes. She held an umbrella, soaked to the skin, yet paid no heed to the rain—her sole concern was shielding Bruce from the storm.

“Let’s go, get in the car…” Bruce stepped off the plane and climbed into an Audi. The black-clad woman followed. She was Bruce’s Pearl of the Orient: Miss Misty Rain. Her beauty rivaled any woman’s, but she lacked vibrancy; her eyes held no trace of humanity, only cold, frosted indifference.

“Young master, how shall I arrange things for you in Hong Kong? Our previous business is settled, we made tenfold profit,” a buzz-cut Hong Kong man reported his achievement to Bruce, beaming with pride. Bruce replied with a chilly smile, “Is that so? And what comes after?”

“What? Young master, I will continue to serve you.”

“Just drive properly. The item you asked for is ready,” Misty Rain, who had been as silent as the grave, spoke at last. She knew Bruce had come to Hong Kong for this very thing, and she had traveled to Japan to receive him.

“Good… Let me see it first,” Bruce’s lips curved upward, then quickly returned to calm.

“Xiao Ma, go to Treading Manor,” Misty Rain finally spoke in a tone almost human.

“Alright, Misty Rain, can’t you be gentle with me for once? I am a hall leader, after all. I’ve heard some news lately, something you might care about most.” Xiao Ma was always a bit offbeat, as if his name, Ma Hu, foretold his quirks. Everyone called him “Donkey,” a playful jab.

“You donkey! Speak up, stop playing coy in front of the young master!” Misty Rain could barely tolerate his antics. Bruce, in the back seat, was puzzled by this “Donkey,” helpless since he was a member of the Kirk family—just as his name implied, careless, haphazard.

“Go ahead, Xiao Ma… I’d like to hear it,” Bruce finally spoke.

“Young master, let me tell you, I’ve heard news about the gifted. Seems they’re forming some sort of combat team. Dragon Three even invited a so-called famous sect leader, but I can’t recall his name…” True to his nature, Donkey couldn’t remember a single important detail—no leader’s name, no number of gifted, nothing about the team. Misty Rain was about to explode. “You dumb donkey! Not one key fact, and you’re embarrassing us. Just drive!”

Bruce shook his head at the spectacle.

“Alright, drive. The rain’s heavy…”

Treading Manor

After half an hour’s drive, the rain had eased. Bruce and Misty Rain exited the car, she still holding the umbrella for him. “No need, a little rain won’t hurt. You should shield yourself instead,” Bruce showed concern for Misty Rain for the first time, making her heart jolt. “Oh, understood,” she replied, and for a moment, her icy gaze softened. “Shall we go inside, young master?”

“Let’s,” Bruce strode toward the villa. From outside, it appeared to be a three-story house, but inside, it was fortified with steel and concrete—a military redoubt. A hundred meters below lay a vast secret chamber.

“Misty Rain and the young master always enter together, like a pair of lovebirds or immortals. I’ll wait in the car,” Donkey muttered.

As Bruce and Misty Rain entered, lights on the second floor flickered on, their paired shadows cast across the walls.

“The item is downstairs. Would you like to see it now?”

“Yes, let’s go together,” Bruce replied without hesitation.

Using the electric lift, Bruce and Misty Rain descended to the subterranean chamber. Along the way, cries and screams echoed, terrifying sounds rising from the depths. If Wu Ming were here, he’d be ecstatic.

After ten minutes, they reached the chamber. It was far more spacious than above, with rooms sealed by black iron doors. Bruce was stunned—and thrilled. These cells held the souls of exotic beasts: some in human form, some transformed into human-beast hybrids, others who had consumed human flesh to revert to ancient forms. “Misty Rain, you’ve worked so hard. You’ve collected so many in these years—thank you,” Bruce praised her amidst his excitement.

“What’s this? Human form above, serpent demon below?” Bruce pointed to the central cell and asked.

“Young master, that’s the divine beast Nuwa—but not the true Nuwa, only her shadow, or perhaps her breath,” Misty Rain quickly explained.

Bruce smiled, “I thought so. How could you capture a divine beast? She must be exotic, then?” Misty Rain nodded in agreement.

“This must be the Qiongqi, but it’s small—probably a human-beast hybrid,” Bruce pointed to a fierce creature resembling a tiger with wings. Misty Rain nodded again.

“So many exotic beast souls… Not bad. I only collected ten in the West. A pity,” Bruce shook his head repeatedly.

“Young master, there are thirty-six here. You can reclaim your true form… Ah…” Misty Rain realized her mistake and quickly covered her mouth, stealing a glance at Bruce, fearful of his wrath.

“Misty Rain, speak only what you should… If you say what you shouldn’t, you may not live to say it again,” Bruce’s voice was heavy with threat.

“The soul of the gluttonous beast… Finally, I can raise my own army. One Breath Sect, your end is near.” Bruce’s face twisted into a sinister, terrifying expression. “Let’s begin!”

When he pressed the extermination button, every room was bathed in red light. Beasts, divine and exotic, howled and shrieked, some trying to break free, only to be yanked back by electromagnetic chains at the threshold. Their cries were mournful, but to Bruce, it was all fleeting. Seconds later, the underground fortress was filled with the souls of exotic beasts.

Bruce, meanwhile, became more ecstatic. Black energy surged across his face, his eyes turned crimson. He opened his mouth wide, inhaling deeply, absorbing all the souls of the exotic beasts, leaving Misty Rain so terrified she collapsed to the floor, unable to rise.