Chapter Thirty-Seven: Setting Out Once More

Dogmaster, let me guess—your next line is, “What are you doing here?”

But you really did arrive early.

After his nap, Chen Qi felt much more refreshed, stretching his body in preparation for a major undertaking.

“Nightwatcher, why are you here?” The Dogmaster did his best to maintain composure. He’d thought you had fled in fear, or perhaps perished in the Land of Light, or been swindled on the upper levels of the Sewers. He could never have expected you to show up in this rat’s nest.

“After some rest, you’ve recovered much of your spirit. Staying calm, you explain that you were simply wandering the Sewers, and before you knew it, you ended up here.”

“You actually got here faster than he did! The Dogmaster, maintaining his dignity and composure by letting a wolfhound clamp onto his head, asks curiously if you’ve uncovered any traces of Nightwatcher Fort here.”

“Please make your choice.”

“1. I know nothing.
2. Truthfully relay your findings and the process.
3. Deceptively share some information.”

It seems the Dogmaster isn’t entirely sure of the book’s whereabouts. There’s no need to play dumb here; he alone couldn’t possibly gain much from the Decaying Old Man. I choose option three: withhold some parts, but share enough information.

“You lean in close to the Dogmaster’s ear. Using the magician of the Sewer’s black market as your main fabrication, you detail how, with keen observation, you tracked the Nightwatcher’s whereabouts and learned the book is most likely beyond the Lightless Abyss.”

“Beyond the Lightless Abyss—so it is that tree-corrupted old scoundrel!” The Dogmaster’s lips curl into a terrifying smile, his mind whirling with calculations. Your investigation has accelerated his plans considerably, and now he’s rearranging his strategy.

Wait—do the Decaying Old Man and the Dogmaster know each other? Chen Qi kept reading.

But the next line made him pause in surprise.

“You’re a Nightwatcher! Are you the Dogmaster’s underling?” Debt Collector Li’s long knife twitches restlessly in his hand, his cold eyes fixing on you as he asks.

“Yes or no?”

Damn! Seems the rapport Chen Qi had been building with Debt Collector Li might be in jeopardy. He’d planned to frequent the Sewers—after all, he was practically a VIP here. He could even make a little money from the magician, assuming the magician kept up his trade.

There was no reason to lie, and in this situation, it would be impossible anyway.

“Yes.”

“You tell the Debt Collector you are indeed a Nightwatcher.”

But the next message made him stop in his tracks again.

“The Debt Collector glances at you, his icy gaze filled with disbelief. You’re truly as weak as you seem—inside and out.”

“You really are an abandoned Nightwatcher. He’d thought it was just your disguise.”

“Debt Collector Li understands your situation; he knows something about Nightwatchers.”

“In Blackriver Prison, many Nightwatchers are worse off than sewer rats.”

“As a Nightwatcher, you actually dare descend to the lowest depths of the Sewers? Even daring to glare at him? The Debt Collector ponders, seeming to realize why you possess Vigor’s Rat Token.”

So… Nightwatchers have fallen this far? But at least this shouldn’t reduce his favorability… Chen Qi let out a deep breath.

“The Dogmaster snaps out of his astonishment, exhaling a cloud of scorching breath, then retrieves two items from beneath his wolfskin coat and hands them to you.”

“Acquired: Rat Token x1, Special Hallucinogen x1.”

The Rat Token made sense, but what was this hallucinogen?

He checked the hallucinogen.

“Hallucinogen. Description: A hallucinogenic potion crafted by the Tower of Medicine. Upon ingestion, intense multicolored visions will fill your mind, your mental stamina will decrease, and all abilities will drop. There’s a high chance of permanent physical debilitation.”

So, a poison with nothing but negative effects.

“Only a Nightwatcher with the courage to come alone deserves this,” the Dogmaster explains. They’re about to journey to a terrifying place called the Lightless Abyss. Even for him, without the aid of the Eyeless, it’s nearly impossible to venture there; he can only rely on medicine. In order to traverse the Abyss, there must be light. For this reason, the hallucinations induced by this potion will provide the necessary illusions of light to guide you.”

So that’s it. The light conjured by hallucinations can help one advance in the Lightless Abyss. So this is the proper way to navigate it? Chen Qi tucked the bottle away, though he had little use for it—he could traverse the Abyss unaided. Besides, the side effects were astounding.

“Glancing behind you, you see a force of thirty Trackers and nearly a hundred fierce hunting dogs, along with many mysterious figures you cannot identify.”

“The Dogmaster spreads his arms wide, greedy flames blazing in his eyes as he issues orders to his followers!”

“With the Nightwatcher’s help, their progress accelerates. He announces to all that they will cross the Lightless Abyss and declare war on the Decaying Old Man who dwells beyond. Every participant will receive at least one Day Coin upon success!”

“You hear cheers erupt from the ranks, and feel the curious, jealous, and admiring gazes cast your way.”

“The Dogmaster continues: The Decaying Old Man has raised a terrifyingly powerful Eyeless—one who roams the Lightless Abyss unhindered, and stands as the most formidable obstacle.”

Only one Eyeless? Chen Qi pondered for a moment.

“The Dogmaster’s fervor does not wane. With his strength, even he can only barely hope to challenge the Eyeless in the Abyss, and will need everyone’s support.”

“He looks at you all. ‘You need not fight; even together, you could never defeat such a monster. In the Lightless Abyss, only I stand a chance against the Eyeless. Your sole task is to survive. And, above all, remind me—never ignite a flame! Never allow any true light!’”

“…”

So he’s going to face it alone? The Dogmaster’s strength must be formidable. Chen Qi mused—if there’s only one Eyeless, the Dogmaster should have a smooth journey ahead, and there’s no need for reminders; after all, that Eyeless had already been dealt with by him.

He continued reading.

“The Dogmaster finally approaches you, eyes blazing yet tinged with age, weariness, and a glimmer of hope. He tells you that in the Lightless Abyss, willpower is more important than strength. He believes that as a survivor of the Land of Gluttony and as a Nightwatcher, you possess a willpower that surpasses others, and can remain lucid even under the hallucinogen’s effects. If you see him making any move to light a fire, you must shout to stop him. He, in turn, will do his utmost to protect you, the weak, from the Eyeless’s attacks. The Dogmaster bows slightly.”

“If this mission succeeds, he will not only recommend you elsewhere, but also offer you one of his treasured possessions as a reward.”

“After the rousing speech, the Dogmaster organizes the ranks and the march towards the Lightless Abyss begins.”

So that’s it—the Dogmaster can’t cross the Abyss alone, and needs someone to keep him in check. That’s why he needs me; the flower-headed woman’s bragging about my mental resilience must’ve convinced him.

It was time to set out…

Chen Qi swallowed hard.

“As the expedition begins, the Debt Collector leans against the wall and gives the Dogmaster a final reminder: ‘Dogmaster, I have business with that Nightwatcher beside you. His name is already on my ledger, and I am very, very averse to failed transactions.’”

“Huh?” Was that a request for him not to die? Chen Qi hadn’t expected the Debt Collector to back him up now.

“‘I’ll do my best. In the Abyss, so much is beyond my control, Li,’” the Dogmaster replies, leading his followers toward the Lightless Abyss.

“This journey may well be without return. You linger in the Rat’s Nest, gazing at the crowd before you, your mind swirling with thoughts as their flames slowly fade away.”

“A Tracker at the rear of the group reminds you to get moving. You glance back—it’s the Nightwatcher who once sheltered you beneath a fire umbrella during the black rain.”

“You quietly follow in the Dogmaster’s footsteps, once more heading to the abyss.”