Chapter 12: The Knife and the Blood

12

At the same time:

My constantly convulsing fingers touched the simple knife’s trigger.

With a swish, it sprang out,

stabbing into my nabhi.

Blood gushed instantly.

All was silent in my ears, then the next moment, a piercing whisper nearly shattered my mind.

“…"

I almost immediately fainted.

I don’t know how much later, I woke up in a cold sweat.

Looking in confusion at the mess on the floor, the smell of blood stinging my nose.

At the same time, outside my bedroom, there was a knock at the door:

“Junior brother, are you there? Four days have passed.”

“What’s going on? Did something happen?”

“Normally, it only takes three days to reach the next stage—junior brother, open the door.”

The hammering grew louder, the worry in their voices breaking through my dazed state. My thoughts swirled like dust devils in the summer heat, desperate for a way out.