Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

After the three reunited, Lin Yi looked at Shang Yue and asked, "Have you encountered anyone else here?"

Shangyue shook her head, her black wings slightly folding behind her: "You are the first group I've encountered. Otherwise, I wouldn't have wanted to run away the moment I saw the candlelight."

Lin Yi wasn't surprised by this answer.

The House of Death was much larger than he had expected. After the five of them entered, they were scattered in different places, and it would take some luck to run into each other.

It was already lucky that Shangyue was able to meet them when the white candle was about to burn out.

"Let's find a place to rest first." Lin Yi looked around and pointed to an empty wooden house that looked relatively intact not far away. "Let's go there."

After calculating the time, he and Su Xiao had been walking for almost twenty hours since entering the Death House, with almost no breaks in between.

Su Xiao is in good condition, but Lin Yi himself also needs to adjust.

As for Shangyue, you can tell from her condition that she has been either being hunted down or fighting wits with those prisoners during this period, which will only cause her greater losses.

When Shang Yue heard Lin Yi say he needed to rest, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

She was indeed nearing her limit, but the pride of the Feather Clan kept her from speaking.

The wooden house was small, about fifteen square meters, and empty inside, with only some junk piled up in the corner that had no apparent purpose.

The ground was compacted soil and was fairly dry.

Lin Yi lit a white candle and placed it by the door. The golden light enveloped the entire wooden house, steadily keeping the churning gray mist outside.

Shangyue found a relatively clean spot in the corner and sat down, reaching into her backpack to take something out.

Her storage items were also sealed off. Her backpack contained compressed rations and drinking water that she had prepared before entering the area. Although they could fill her stomach, the taste and texture were not worth mentioning.

Just as she took out a compressed biscuit, Lin Yi's action stunned her.

Lin Yi spread a moisture-proof cloth on the open ground in the center of the wooden house, and then took things out one by one from the storage space.

The whole roasted lamb, with its skin roasted to a golden brown and crispy perfection, is still steaming hot.

Braised pork belly, a large bowl full, the dark reddish-brown chunks of meat glistening with oil under the candlelight.

Two steamed fish, topped with finely chopped scallions and ginger, in a clear broth.

The braised food platter was piled high with braised beef, braised duck wings, and braised tofu.

Two stir-fried seasonal vegetables, both vibrant green and tender.

There was also a large bowl of steaming rice, and several jugs of wine whose varieties I didn't know, but which smelled extraordinary.

Bubuwang's nose was the first to react.

It was originally lying guard at the door, but after smelling these familiar scents, its ears perked up, and it darted to the edge of the moisture-proof cloth in a flash, its tail wagging like a propeller, and it made excited whimpering noises in its throat.

Baha stopped flying around in mid-air and landed on Lin Yi's shoulder with its wings folded. Its black bean-like eyes stared at the dishes, and its sharp beak was slightly open, as if it could write "I want to eat" on its face.

Su Xiao glanced at the compressed biscuit she had just taken out, paused for a second, and then calmly stuffed the biscuit back into her backpack.

He wasn't picky about food; in a place like the Paradise of Reincarnation, having anything to eat was already a blessing.

But now that such high-quality food is right in front of him, he certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to eat those tasteless compressed foods.

Looking at the steaming dishes on the moisture-proof cloth, Shangyue was at a loss for words.

Her storage space was sealed, and her backpack only contained dry food, while Lin Yi's storage space was clearly still usable—she knew very well what that meant.

But she didn't ask. Having immunity from the rules in a place like the House of Death was Lin Yi's own ability; she just needed to accept that fact.

What truly caught everyone's attention was Tracy's reaction.

The former saintess, whom Lin Yi had pulled back from the brink of madness, was completely stunned when she saw the dishes.

She stood in the corner of the wooden house, her emerald green eyes fixed on the food on the moisture-proof cloth, her lips slightly parted but unable to utter a sound.

Lin Yi noticed her unusual behavior but did not urge her.

Tracy was stunned for a long time.

She had dealt with former combatants; over those long years, occasionally someone would come into her cabin, trying to trade or fight with her.

However, the rules of the House of Death will restrict the participants' storage space, and those people can only carry the most basic dry food and water.

She had seen those dry rations before; they were hard, coarse, and barely edible.

So she had long since gotten used to that smell and had long forgotten what normal food should look like.

She couldn't remember the last time she had seen real food.

One hundred years? Two hundred years? Or longer?
Time was blurred in the House of Death, but she remembered the smell.

The aroma of roasted meat, the savory flavor of braised pork, the freshness of steamed fish, and the simple yet comforting scent of rice.

Lin Yi tore off the thin film covering the whole roasted lamb.

In that instant, the pent-up fragrance burst forth, filling the entire wooden house.

The rich, oily aroma of roasted lamb, mixed with the scents of cumin and chili, the savory sweetness of braised pork, and the delicate freshness of steamed fish—all these aromas intertwine to create an indescribable symphony.

Shangyue's throat moved.

She looked at the golden-brown roasted lamb leg in front of her and finally couldn't resist the temptation. She reached out, tore off a piece, and ate it in small bites.

Normally, in the etiquette-conscious environment of the Feathered Tribe, she probably wouldn't be too interested in this somewhat rustic-looking food.

But at this moment, after nearly a day of mental tension, this savory grilled meat was the best comfort for her.

With each bite, you can feel your tense nerves gradually relaxing.

Su Xiao didn't say anything, but simply picked up her chopsticks and started eating.

His movements were slow but steady, and with each bite he precisely selected the part he wanted to eat.

It's even simpler for Bubuwang and Baha.

Lin Yi simply took out more than thirty plates of food and piled them in front of them, telling them to tear off whatever they wanted to eat.

Bubuwang buried its head in a plate of braised beef, eating without even lifting its head, its tail wagging happily.

Baha, on the other hand, was picky, only taking the tenderest-looking pieces of meat to eat.

Only Tracy remained standing in the same spot.

Lin Yi picked up a bowl and chopsticks, filled a bowl with rice, added a few dishes, got up and walked to Tracy, handing the bowl and chopsticks to her.

Tracy looked down at the bowl of rice.

The rising heat blurred her vision.

She took the bowl and chopsticks, but didn't eat immediately.

She held the bowl of rice, turned to face Lin Yi, lowered her head, raised the bowl to her forehead with both hands, and murmured something as she gently moved her lips.

That was a prayer.

Before she was transformed, believers would pray to God before meals, giving thanks for the food He provided.

It was a habit ingrained in her very being, and even after she was transformed into a monster, even after she killed everyone in her madness, that habit remained in some corner of her soul.

But at this moment, the object of her prayers was no longer that ethereal deity.

It's Lin Yi.

She was the one who gave her food, gave her freedom, and gave her a second life.

The prayer lasted for about ten seconds.

Then Tracy opened her eyes and, like the others, tore off the plastic wrap on the bowl.

The first bite of rice.

It was just ordinary white rice, without any complicated seasonings, only the rice's own subtle sweetness and chewy texture.

Tracy's tears streamed down her face.

She chewed the rice, tears streaming down her cheeks, dripping into the bowl and onto her clothes, but she didn't bother to wipe them away.

She ate slowly and carefully, one bite at a time, as if savoring some rare treasure.

She couldn't remember the last time she had eaten normal food.

She was imprisoned in that wooden hut, without food or water, only by the occasional intruders and endless madness.

She had forgotten the taste of rice, the taste of roast meat, and the taste that any normal food should have.

Now she has remembered.

The meal took almost an hour.

When Bubuwang swallowed the last piece of roast meat and Baha licked the last drop of broth clean, everyone felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

This is not just about being full, but about achieving relaxation for both mind and body.

A place like the House of Death is a huge drain on anyone.

Being able to have a hot meal and a bowl of hot soup here has a far more relaxing effect on the mind than you might imagine.

Lin Yi replaced the white candle by the door with a new one, then took out several sleeping bags from his storage space and distributed them to everyone.

"Five hours of rest," he said, "and then we'll take turns on guard duty."

Baha raised its head from the pile of leftovers, wiped its mouth with its wing, then fluttered to the roof beam and perched there, its beady black eyes staring at the doorway.

Bubuwang shook its fur, lay down by the door, ears perked up, and kept a close watch on its surroundings.

Lin Yi crawled into his sleeping bag and closed his eyes.

Su Xiao leaned against the wall, the Dragon Slayer Blade resting horizontally on his lap, and closed his eyes as well.

He didn't need to lie down to rest like Lin Yi; this half-sitting, half-lying posture was enough for him.

Shangyue found a spot in the corner and lay down, her wings slightly folded to cover herself.

She was truly exhausted; less than three minutes after lying down, her breathing became steady and long.

Tracy didn't ask for a sleeping bag.

She doesn't need it either.

She sat against the wall on the other side of the cabin, her hands clasped in front of her chest in a prayerful posture.

That was a habit she had cultivated over three thousand years, and even though the chains had fallen off, that habit remained unchanged.

Silence fell inside the wooden house.

The only sounds were the occasional slight crackling of the burning white candles and the faint gurgling of the gray mist outside the door.

Five hours passed quickly.

When Lin Yi sat up from his sleeping bag, the white candle by the door had burned down to about one-fifth of its original length.

He stretched and loosened his muscles, feeling that he had recovered quite well.

Su Xiao opened her eyes at almost the same time.

He is a light sleeper, and the slightest noise can wake him up. This is a habit he developed over many years in the Paradise of Reincarnation.

Shangyue also woke up. She sat up, straightened her somewhat disheveled wings, and looked at Lin Yi: "Shall we continue?"

"Keep going."

Tracy stood up from the wall, walked to Lin Yi's side, and waited quietly.

Bubuwang stood up from the doorway, shook its fur, and ran to Su Xiao's legs to rub against them.

Baha flew down from the roof beam and landed on Su Xiao's shoulder.

Lin Yi packed away his sleeping bag and other belongings, pulled out the white candle by the door, and pushed open the door of the wooden cabin. The group continued forward.

After walking for about ten minutes, another wooden house appeared ahead.

This cabin looks no different from any other cabin on the outside—the same dark planks, the same collapsed roof.

It stood quietly beside the gravel road, its doors tightly shut, with no light piercing through.

But Tracy froze the moment she saw the wooden house.

A fear that Lin Yi had never seen before surfaced in those emerald green eyes.

That fear wasn't just simple dread; it was like a mouse seeing a cat.

That was a fear etched into our instincts.

Lin Yi noticed Tracy's unusual behavior.

He stopped and looked at the wooden house, then at Tracy.

"You know the people inside?"

Tracy's lips moved, and after several seconds she finally uttered a sound: "I...I know you."

Her voice was hoarse and dry, as if it were being squeezed out from deep in her throat.

"Are the prisoners inside very strong?"

Tracy nodded, then shook her head. The gesture seemed contradictory, but Lin Yi understood.

Very strong, but more than just strong.

“Better than me.” Tracy finally uttered a complete sentence.

It's stronger than Leslie.

What is Tracy's strength? Lin Yi didn't have exact data, but judging from the abilities she displayed when purifying those two prisoners, she was at least at the eighth rank or higher, and possibly even higher.

What does it mean to be stronger than her?
Lin Yi's gaze fell on the wooden house.

From the outside, it looks no different from any other wooden house.

But Lin Yi understood the principle that the bigger the storm, the more expensive the fish.

Moreover, he has Anna's blessing, so theoretically, nothing in the House of the Dead area can truly harm him.

Even someone of Edwin's caliber couldn't do anything to him, and even if the one inside was stronger than Beatrice, it might not be able to break through Anna's protection.

Lin Yi didn't hesitate for long. He turned to Su Xiao and Shang Yue and said, "You two wait here. I'll go in and take a look."

Su Xiao looked at him without saying a word, but her hand was already on the hilt of the Dragon Slayer Blade.

The meaning was clear: if there was a problem, he would rush in at any time.

Lin Yi nodded to him, then walked towards the wooden house.

Tracy instinctively reached out to stop him, but stopped halfway through.

She knew she had no right to stop him.

Lin Yi stopped in front of the wooden house.

Like the other doors in the cabin, this door had a rusty iron ring as its handle, with a few withered vines hanging from it.

He reached out, placed his hand on the door, and gently pushed it open.

crunch--

The sound of the door hinges turning was particularly jarring in the silence, as if something had been startled awake.

The door opened a crack, and inside it was pitch black, without any light.

"Leave."

A loud voice came from inside the door, making the door panel tremble slightly.

"I have nothing to offer you in exchange."

Lin Yi did not leave.

He pushed the wooden door open completely and stepped inside.

The light of the white candles flooded the room as he entered, gradually dispelling the thick darkness.

The room was very dilapidated.

It was more dilapidated than any other wooden house I had ever seen before.

There were several huge holes in the roof, through which one could see the billowing gray fog outside.

In the heart of this desolation sat a person.

It was an old man.

He was extremely strong, with broad shoulders and thick arms; even when sitting, it was clear that he was at least two meters tall.

He was wearing a priest's robe, but it was clearly too small, clinging tightly to his body, making him look extremely awkward and strange.

The old man's hair was sparse and gray, and his face was covered with deep wrinkles.

What is most striking is his eyes—his left eye is intact, while his right eye is just a dark hole with twisted and wrinkled skin around the edges, suggesting that he has been blind for a long time.

He sat on a dilapidated wooden chair, his hands resting on his knees, as relaxed as if he were at home.

Upon seeing Lin Yi enter, the old man narrowed his left eye slightly, his gaze sweeping over Lin Yi before finally settling on the white candle in his hand.

"You're here to kill me?"

His voice was still loud and clear, but there was no hostility in his tone; it was as if he were asking a very ordinary question.

Lin Yi looked at him and shook his head: "I'm here to find the Forgotten Dominoes."

He made up an excuse on the spot.

The owner of this cabin was clearly not an ordinary prisoner who could be traded through normal means.

The old man remained silent for a few seconds after hearing this answer.

“Dominoes,” he repeated the word, then reached down to the back of his neck.

But when he grasped the chain, Lin Yi's gaze froze.

The chain was thicker than any chain I had ever seen before, as thick as an adult's arm, and it was completely black, with its surface covered with dense runes.

The chain pierced through the old man's neck, penetrating deep into his flesh and connecting to his spine.

Lin Yi had seen something similar on Tracy, but all of Tracy's chains combined were not as thick as this one.

The old man gripped the chain, his left hand pressing on the spot where the chain had pierced, while his right hand slowly applied force.

Click!
A dull cracking sound.

The old man ripped the chain, which was as thick as an arm, off its hinges.

The broken chain hung from his hand, the ends jagged and uneven.

On the back of the old man's neck, where the chain had once pierced, there was now only a wound that was slowly healing, without even a drop of blood flowing out.

A very faint sob came from behind Lin Yi.

It's Bubuwang.

This dog, which is usually fearless, is now cowering beside Lin Yi's legs, all four of its legs trembling slightly.

Its dog eyes were wide open, staring intently at the broken chain in the old man's hand, making a whimpering sound in its throat.

Lin Yi finally understood why Tracy was so terrified after seeing the wooden house.

The prisoners he had encountered before, whether Edwin or the others, were all bound by chains.

Those chains restricted their movements, suppressed their power, and confined them to the cabin, forcing them to act only according to the rules of the House of Death.

But this old man can break chains.

This is not an escape within the rules, nor is it freedom gained through genuine repentance like Tracy; it is pure crushing power.

The chains of the Death House had no effect on him; he could leave whenever he wanted and kill whenever he wanted.

The only reason he's still here is because he wants to stay.

The difference in combat power between the two sides is quite terrifying.

After the old man broke the chain, he casually tossed the broken half of the chain at his feet.

He stood up, stretched his shoulders, and his bones cracked and popped.

The tight priest's robe stretched even tighter with his movements, and Lin Yi could even see the outline of the bulging muscles underneath.

“Since you’re not here to kill me,” the old man looked at Lin Yi, a glint of light flashing in his intact left eye, “then I’ll take you there.”

Lin Yi didn't speak, he just looked at him.

When he reached the door, he stopped and looked back at the dilapidated wooden house.

Then he reached out, grabbed the door panel, and slowly pulled the door shut.

crunch--

The old man took a key out of his pocket.

He inserted the key into the lock of the wooden door and turned it gently.

Click.

A crisp click of the latch.

The old man took out the key, put it back in his pocket, and then turned to Lin Yi: "Let's go."

He strode forward with steady steps, not at all like a prisoner who had been held captive for many years.

Lin Yi stood there, watching his back, and remained silent for two seconds.

Then he lifted his foot and followed.

Su Xiao and the others watched this scene from a short distance away, their expressions somewhat solemn.

Bubuwang huddled beside Lin Yi's legs, its four legs still trembling, but it still followed closely.

Baha landed on Su Xiao's shoulder and whispered, "Boss, that guy..."

Su Xiao did not answer, but her fingers on the hilt of the knife tightened slightly.

Tracy stood at the very back, her face as pale as paper.

She watched the old man's retreating figure, her body trembling slightly, but she eventually followed him.

After taking a few steps, the old man took out another thing from his pocket.

That was a nautical compass.

The compass was entirely dark bronze, and its material was very similar to the key Lin Yi had just seen.

The surface is a complex and precise dial, with a dark gold pointer suspended in the center.

The pointer wasn't pointing in any fixed direction; it was slowly rotating.

The old man looked down at the compass, his brows furrowing slightly. Then he looked up and around, seemingly trying to confirm his location.

"The Mist Guardian. It's time to settle accounts with him."

Having determined the direction, the old man put away his compass and strode forward. (End of Chapter)