The four advanced along the rugged mountain path.
The deeper they went—
The sparser the trees became.
And the stench of decay—
Grew heavier.
The morning light—
Which should have dispelled darkness—
Was blocked.
As if an invisible, filthy curtain hung over the land.
The forest remained dim.
Oppressive.
Suffocating.
In stark contrast—
To the bright sky beyond.
—
Uncle Jiu watched the trembling needle of his compass.
Then asked casually:
"Earlier, you mentioned your surname is Uchiha."
"It's quite unique."
"I've traveled the jianghu for many years, yet I've never encountered it."
"Where did you train?"
"Are you from overseas?"
Uchiha Mo had expected this.
"Our clan has lived in seclusion for generations."
"We avoid worldly affairs."
"Now that chaos spreads and evil runs rampant…"
"Our elders sent us out."
"To lend what strength we can."
His words—
Fluent.
Natural.
Perfect local dialect.
Uncle Jiu's eyes flickered.
Three-character surnames—
Were extremely rare.
He ran through countless lineages in his mind.
None matched.
And more importantly—
These two didn't resemble inexperienced disciples.
They were…
Battle-hardened.
That killing intent—
Was not born from eliminating spirits alone.
There were humans behind it.
What puzzled him even more—
Was Uchiha Hideki.
Silent.
Understanding everything—
Yet speaking little.
Nodding along.
As if unfamiliar with such speech.
"I see."
Uncle Jiu remained calm.
"In times like these… people like you are needed."
Behind them—
Qiu Sheng couldn't hold back.
"Then where is your clan located? Maybe my master has been there!"
"Qiu Sheng!"
Uncle Jiu cut him off instantly.
Too direct.
Uchiha Mo only smiled.
And said nothing.
The message was clear.
Uncle Jiu didn't press further.
He turned his attention back to the compass.
The needle trembled violently now—
They were close.
"Be careful."
"We're nearing the corpse-nurturing ground."
—
Soon—
The terrain changed.
Withered shrubs.
Blackened soil.
And the smell—
Rot.
Decay.
And something sweet.
Sickeningly sweet.
Corpse energy.
The compass needle—
No longer trembled.
It spun wildly.
Uncle Jiu stopped.
His expression darkened.
"We've arrived."
"The corpse energy here is overwhelming."
"Resentment lingers."
"This is a place of great misfortune."
Uchiha Hideki scanned the area calmly.
An open depression.
Graves—
Dug open.
Dark holes gaping.
The soil—
Stained an ominous dark red.
Uchiha Mo observed silently.
Then—
His brows tightened.
His tone turned grave.
"We're late."
"The one behind this…"
"Has already left."
"These—"
"Are just the guard dogs."
"The situation is worse than expected."
—
The moment his words fell—
The ground responded.
Rustling.
Low growls.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The earth burst open.
Figures emerged.
Zombies.
White zombies—
Slow.
Stiff.
Green zombies—
Faster.
Stronger.
And among them—
One figure stepped forward.
Covered in gray fur.
Its skin—
Faintly gleaming.
Like metal.
A hairy zombie.
More than ten in total.
They spread out.
Forming a semicircle.
Encircling the four.
—
Uncle Jiu's expression sank.
This…
Was far beyond expectations.
Even one hairy zombie—
Would force him into a desperate fight.
And now—
There were more than ten.
"Master… so many…"
"And that hairy one…"
Qiu Sheng's voice trembled.
His grip on the coin sword tightened—
But shook.
Uncle Jiu didn't scold him.
Because even his own heart—
Was heavy.
He quickly took out glutinous rice.
Talismans.
"Qiu Sheng!"
"Focus!"
"Back-to-back—defense first!"
"Don't let them split us!"
At the same time—
His thoughts raced.
Lightning technique?
Too costly.
Retreat?
Surrounded.
No easy path.
—
Then—
He glanced sideways.
At the two Uchiha.
Uchiha Mo stared at the hairy zombie.
His face—
Grim.
Then—
A bitter smile appeared.
He lowered his voice—
Just enough for them to hear fragments.
"Hideki… this is bad."
"That hairy one…"
"I'm not sure I can handle it."
"And you…"
"I know you're cautious… not suited for battle…"
"But now…"
"If I don't make it back…"
"The clan's crisis…"
"You must handle it."
"You understand…"
"The future of the Uchiha…"
"May rest on you."
—
Uncle Jiu and Qiu Sheng didn't fully understand.
But Hideki did.
If Mo died—
Then everything—
Would fall on him.
The Main God Space.
The unknown dangers.
And the Uchiha's future—
Bathed in blood.
His body stiffened.
Fear.
Hesitation.
His voice trembled.
"Mo… don't say that…"
"I… I can't…"
"How could I…"
"The clan… I don't understand anything…"
The performance—
Flawless.
A young man—
Overwhelmed.
Afraid.
Crushing responsibility pressing down.
Whether Mo believed him—
Was another matter.
But Uncle Jiu—
Did.
"Don't say such discouraging things!"
He shouted.
"We'll find a way!"
"This isn't hopeless yet!"
—
But ahead—
The hairy zombie stepped forward.
Slow.
Heavy.
Each step—
Like a hammer—
Striking the ground.
Its eyes—
Cold.
Dead.
Locking onto them.
The air—
Grew heavier.
The encirclement—
Tightened.
And the real battle—
Was about to begin.