Huh? What do you mean your mother is one of the seven deadly sins?!

After finalizing her plan, Lin Xia immediately began taking action.

However, what upset Lin Xia was that she had to contact several people.

The other party refused to communicate with Lin Xia, and even treated her like a dead person.

Upon seeing this, Lin Xia took a deep breath and suppressed the anxiety in her heart.

I can't figure out why this is.

Just when Lin Xia was at her wit's end.

A figure quietly approached Lin Xia.

The visitor was an elderly man. Although his clothes were also patched, they were much cleaner and tidier than those of the residents on the street. His starched, faded linen robe gave him a respectable air.

What touched Lin Xia most were those eyes; they were cloudy but not numb, and there was even a trace of clarity that belonged to a living person.

The old man glanced around warily, lowered his voice, and spoke with an undeniable urgency.

"You're an outsider, aren't you? Don't just stand there like an idiot, you'll die. Come with me!"

Alarm bells rang in Lin Xia's mind.

The old man's appearance was too coincidental, and his eyes were too clear, making him stand out from his surroundings.

However, considering her situation, Lin Xia ultimately chose to take the risk.

He nodded slightly, said nothing, and silently followed the old man's slightly unsteady steps.

We traversed narrow, foul-smelling alleyways, avoiding the figures huddled in the shadows like withered statues.

The old man was extremely familiar with the paths here. After several twists and turns, he finally stopped in front of an inconspicuous wooden door covered with worm-eaten marks.

After confirming once again that no one was following behind, he quickly pushed open the door and gestured for Lin Xia to go in.

The room was slightly better than Lin Xia had expected. Although it was still simple, at least it was dry and there was no pungent odor.

A rough wooden table, two equally rough stools, and some dry grass and old furniture piled in the corner constituted all their possessions.

The only light source was the hazy skylight filtering in from a small window high up.

The old man locked the door, leaned against it, and let out a long sigh, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

He turned around, his cloudy gaze falling on Lin Xia. He sighed and then said:

"My name is Robin."

"Outsider, you must be filled with questions: why is our city of Soto so lifeless?"

Lin Xia's heart skipped a beat. Her identity had been exposed so directly that she subconsciously tensed up and silently took two steps back.

"Sir, what are you talking about? I don't understand."

Seeing the wariness and guardedness that Lin Xia instantly showed, Robin was not angry at all. Instead, he grinned with his dry lips and revealed a bitter yet knowing smile.

He waved his hand, walked to the table and sat down, gesturing for Lin Xia to sit as well.

"Don't try to hide it from me, young man."

"Before you, there were several other outsiders like you who appeared in our city of Soto."

"Your eyes don't lie. They don't contain the numbness that permeates our world, but only shock, vigilance, and a trace of life that hasn't been extinguished. They're too conspicuous."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xia sat down in silence.

Then he directly asked the question that was currently his biggest doubt.

"Old man, how do you know so much? About us, about... the outside world?"

Robin sighed deeply, a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of a hundred years.

His thin fingers unconsciously rubbed the rough tabletop, his gaze drifting to the small air vent, looking out at the gray sky.

"Because your world is no secret to us."

His voice carried a desolate calm.

"Almost everyone knows this."

"Just like... just like our city, Soto, which originally didn't belong to this world ruled by demons."

"It was forcibly integrated and swallowed up by this world more than a hundred years ago."

"What?!"

Lin Xia suddenly stood up, the chair legs scraping against the stone floor with a screeching sound.

The news exploded in his mind like a thunderbolt!

Blue Star... wasn't the first victim?

This world actually possesses the terrifying ability to devour other dimensions?

The truth behind this is far more shocking than what the authorities and Lin Ruowei know!

Seeing the undisguised shock and horror on Lin Xia's face, Robin's eyes flashed with a complex emotion, a mixture of sympathy and weariness as if he had already seen through everything.

"These are all old stories; bringing them up won't change anything."

Robin waved his hand, seemingly unwilling to recall that heavy history, and refocused his gaze on Lin Xia with a concern that bordered on pity.

"Now, what you probably want to know most is how to... survive in this world, right?"

Lin Xia nodded, a complex look flashing in her eyes.

Robin didn't speak immediately. Instead, he picked up the kettle on the table and poured Lin Xia a glass of water.

Seeing this, Lin Xia hesitated for a moment, then picked up her water glass and took a sip!

After seeing Lin Xia drink the water, Robin slowly said:

"Actually, surviving is very simple: either pay your blood tax on time, or go to the arena for a life-or-death duel. Most demons enjoy this sport!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xia promptly inquired:

What is a blood tax?

Robin laughed, his large, yellowed teeth standing out starkly in the dim light.

The compassion in his eyes was instantly replaced by greed and cruelty as he stared at Lin Xia as if he were looking at prey about to be dismantled.

"The Blood Tax, as the name suggests, means that every half month, one pound of fresh blood must be offered to the Blood Demon!"

Robin's voice suddenly rose, sharp and piercing, filled with naked malice and mockery.

"You tell me, I'm an old man, I'm practically skin and bones, where am I supposed to get a pound of fresh blood?"

"Outsider...you're young and strong, full of energy, please help me, okay?"

"Please give me some of your blood, okay?"

Before he could finish speaking, Robin suddenly raised his withered right hand, which had been hidden under the table!

As Robin spoke, a cleaver that gleamed with a cold light and had dark red blood grooves along its edges suddenly appeared in his palm!

The blade still seemed to have some unwashed, dark brown, dried bloodstains, emitting a strong smell of blood and rust.

Lin Xia's heart nearly leaped out of her chest for a moment, and a trace of uncontrollable panic flashed deep in her eyes!

After all, this was the first time Lin Xia had faced such a bizarre and deadly threat!

But Lin Xia still managed to maintain her composure and didn't show any weakness. Instead, she smiled and said:

"I've been on guard against you for a while now!"

"In a world where even the living are treated like corpses, why would an old man offer help to a stranger for no reason, and know so many secrets?"

"You're kidding me!"

Upon hearing this, Robin's eyes flashed with genuine surprise, which quickly turned into deeper mockery and admiration.

He weighed the heavy, menacing cleaver in his hand; the blade traced a cold arc in the dim light.

"Not bad, not bad! Kid, you're much smarter and more alert than those idiots before! What a pity about that sharp eye..."

"Too bad, being clever is useless! You've already drunk my soothing potion, and now you're feeling... your limbs starting to go weak, aren't you?"

"Your strength is slipping away little by little? Your head is... a bit dizzy too? Just lie down obediently, I'll give you a quick death, I promise you won't suffer too much when I draw your blood!"