It has been 12 minutes since he started walking on this road. He did not encounter any vehicles or ghosts; it was just foggy. If not for the bloody palm prints on the driver's windshield, he would have thought that the feeling of being watched was just an illusion.
The driver sent him an 'I'm fine' sticker, so he had probably arrived at the main road safely. That was a relief for Xievian. He didn't want to drag any innocent person into this mess. He also felt sorry for the driver, realizing he had underestimated the danger of this place.
Surprisingly, he arrived at the Eve Cemetery peacefully, except for the feeling of being watched. Whatever it was, it didn't seem to have any intention of attacking.
To reach the abandoned mausoleum, one had to enter the Eve Cemetery and exit through the back gate.
Just as Xievian was about to enter the Eve Cemetery gate, a pitchfork suddenly came flying toward him.
Although he was not in peak health, with the system supporting him, even if it wasn't at 100%, he could still move his body as if he were at his peak. He was a very athletic person, and the awakening of his ability seemed to have improved his senses. He managed to dodge the incoming pitchfork.
Looking at the pitchfork deeply embedded in the ground, he raised his eyebrows. Based on the angle, if he had not dodged, he would have been pierced in the stomach. He wasn't sure if it would hit a vital organ, but he would probably bleed like crazy.
He looked up at the small watchtower and saw an old man.
The old man was wearing very tattered coarse clothes. His hair was shoulder-length, very stiff, and muddy. Although he didn't mean to judge, the old man really looked like a beggar.
He watched the old man slowly descend from the small watchtower. Xievian contemplated running, but based on how the old man came down, he didn't seem to be in a rush.
Either the old man had no plans of launching another attack, or even if Xievian ran, the old man was still confident that he could chase after him.
The strength behind that pitchfork was insane. Although it burying into the ground could have something to do with the angle and gravity, the way it lunged at him meant that this old man had good aim.
Worst case, he could just use his ability. It wasn't that he was very confident that his ability could defeat anyone, but his ability was the only unexpected card he had.
But, deep down, Xievian actually hoped that it wouldn't reach that scenario. Eating humans was cannibalism, and cannibalism crossed Xievian's line. There was just something inherently inhumane about that, and Xievian still wanted to remain human.
If something really did happen, realistically speaking, with this type of mental barrier, he probably couldn't use his ability on humans. He just wanted to bet now that this old man wouldn't attack. As for what would happen if the old man attacked, that would be Xievian's problem when it happened.
The old man stopped at a safe distance in front of him. The old man didn't speak; he just stood there.
With no choice, Xievian had to initiate the conversation. He first asked cautiously, "Sir? Why did you throw a pitchfork at me?" That question made it clear that Xievian didn't have the art of initiating friendly conversations with people.
The straightforward question did not make the atmosphere awkward as the old man answered, "People who came here dead in the night have no good intentions." His voice was very raspy, as if he had a throat full of phlegm.
Thinking about the situation he was in, he probably looked very sketchy, and he only realized it now. Was the driver also afraid of him because of how absurd the situation was?
Forgive Xievian, for he was very clueless about social cues and common sense. It probably had to do with his past, but he was very insensitive when it came to social interactions, leading many people to have strange impressions of him.
Still, Xievian was honest about his visit here. "I'm just passing by. I plan to go to the abandoned mausoleum."
Xievian's answer took the old man aback. Disbelief and confusion could be seen across his face, and the old man couldn't help but ask, "What are you doing coming to such a Godforsaken place this late at night?"
Hmm, he couldn't say that his time was running out and he didn't have enough time, so he planned to check the recommended place immediately. 15 days sounded long, but not if you considered that Xievian would probably need to use some of his days to purchase stuff in the store if necessary.
Xievian made an excuse, "I was busy during the day, and now is the only time that I'm available."
The old man was not convinced. "What business do you have with that mausoleum?"
Xievian noticed that the old man seemed a bit nosy. "I'm just passing by. Are you the gravekeeper? This cemetery should be public property, right? There doesn't seem to be a rule that you can't visit the cemetery at night, and the mausoleum is none of your business, so why are you so keen on asking?"
The old man became unreasonable. "I locked the back gates. If you're not telling me why you want to go to the mausoleum, then you're not going there. I'm not going to open it."
Despicable! Xievian asked, feeling very wronged, "Why are you doing this? Wasn't there a livestreamer, Samo, who filmed in that mausoleum? Why am I not allowed?"
Hearing the livestreamer, the old man tutted. "That's why I locked it. There have been a lot of teens roaming around here after that incident."
Looking at the old man who refused to budge, the socially dull Xievian never expected that the first challenge he would face tonight was not a ghost, but negotiating with this strange gravekeeper.