Three years ago, Grandpa disappeared. He left behind only a letter: “Chang’an, my grandson, don’t look for me. Don’t ask questions.”
He opened the ancient book Grandpa had left behind. That night, his eyes changed. From then on, he could see things no one else could.
A patient declared dead at the hospital, and three silver needles later, the heart monitor started beating again. The attending physician was stunned.
A “corpse” in a funeral home’s refrigerated drawer suddenly opened its eyes. Its pitch-black pupils fixed on him as it rasped out, “You… smell like him.”
After that, men in black started showing up at his door. One, two, three… They just kept coming.
That was when he understood: Grandpa hadn’t gone missing.
The Dark City, an underground city sealed away three thousand years ago. Legend says only someone who gathers all nine needles can open it, and no one who enters ever comes back alive. But black qi has begun seeping through the crack in its gate…
With the Dark City ahead and pursuers behind, he has to grow stronger.
The Art of Reading Qi: see the source of an illness at a glance, the human heart with a second look, and life and death with a third.
The Nine Needles of Taishu: one needle can prolong life, one can seize the soul. All nine needles unleashed, and heaven and earth change color.
Along the way, three women enter his life:
Su Qinghe turns red to the tips of her ears. “I just happened to pour an extra cup. Don’t get the wrong idea.”
Bai Lu stares at his trembling fingers. “Why are your hands shaking?” “I’m cold.” “Liar.”
Qin Shuang lowers her head. “Thank you… for curing my poison.”
Three threads, three pieces of the puzzle, all pointing to the Dark City.
Shen Chang’an is sure of only one thing: Grandpa is inside. But before he can get in, he has to survive this ordeal…
