Chuyi picked up the Courtier Drum from the ground. He observed the item then handed it to me.

I studied the drum carefully. It was made of two skulls hooked together and felt heavier than I had imagined. There was a layer of mercury that covered the skulls. The bottoms of the skulls were polished and covered with two pieces of human skin as thin as cicada wings. 

One side of the drum had a drawing of a wolf while the other side had a deer. Both animals belonged to the Manchurian totem.  

If we ignored its creepy vibe,...