The rusted iron gate had no real defensive strength, and the police officer charged with breaking it down had only rammed it twice before stumbling and falling in.
A musty odor filled the room, as if something had been sealed inside and gradually fermented and decayed into a pungent stench.
Once the iron door was opened, several strong lights immediately shone in, illuminating the entire modestly-sized interior so that nothing could escape notice.
A large black round table, surrounded by a few decayed wooden chairs.
Apart from that, there was nothing else.
Officer Zhang stood at the door and looked inside, his brow furrowed slightly, "Search!"
With nothing inside, the search was clearly not for people but for secret passages or items that might have been left behind.
The priest, holding something wrapped in white cloth, stepped forward for a closer look and remarked, "This is just a temporary stronghold, with a ritual looming they must have been well prepared."