Chapter 113: The Battle of Destiny

In the wilderness beyond the city, Bai Ye, who had been gravely wounded by the Vampire Prince and forced into a deep slumber for recovery, now sat quietly beside a withered tree, gazing up at the night sky.

“Heh, I never expected that the power I painstakingly obtained would be so easily shattered before him. The Vampire Prince is truly a formidable existence,” Bai Ye murmured to himself. “If that’s the case, then what exactly am I fighting for with this power?”

“Liliana, tell me, am I pitiful? I’ve chased so desperately, yet in the end, gained nothing,” Bai Ye whispered, lost in thought. “Liliana, do you know? More than this world, what I truly desire is you.”

After these words, Bai Ye stared silently at the night sky for a long while before resolutely standing and stepping into the darkness. “Liliana, I will bring the one you love most to your side, no matter the cost. I will no longer let you suffer loneliness alone. Even if the Vampire Prince stands in my way, I will not retreat. All my life, I have schemed for power and status—these illusory things. This time, I will live true to my heart.” With that, his figure gradually vanished into the shadows.

Awakened from slumber, Bai Ye set his sights on Xing Yu as his hunting target. Meanwhile, Xing Yu was continuously growing stronger to defeat Bai Ye. Thus, a fierce battle was about to unfold between them.

In a dark corner of the city, Bai Ye quietly felt the night breeze brush past him, catching the faint scent of blood carried within it. A cold smile curved on his lips. “Bringing the dead to justice? Xing Yu, I didn’t expect you to put so much thought into me.” Suddenly, Bai Ye recalled what the Vampire Prince had said to him. “Is there really someone who can take my life? Your Highness, do you honestly believe that such a worthless wretch could be the one to end me? Do you think I will die at Xing Yu’s hands? What a joke. My life is not something such a wretch can claim.” His voice was icy and resolute. “Then let me see how much that worthless one has grown during all this time.” Saying this, Bai Ye casually tossed aside the blood-drained corpse of a vampire hunter and stepped once more into the depths of darkness.

In a ruined building, dust swirling around, Xing Yu asked Liliel, “Liliel, how many has this been?”

“Hmph. I’m not your servant; why should I keep count for you?” Liliel replied with displeasure. “This is the eighteenth.”

“Eighteen already? I’ve absorbed the power of eighteen vampires at least of count rank, yet I feel barely stronger. Damn it!” Xing Yu said bitterly.

“Hmph! If absorbing the power of a few lowly vampires could lead to advancement, our kind would already be full of princes,” Liliel scoffed. “The power of vampires is determined by bloodline. You inherited the bloodline of Lady Lilith, so you began with the strength of a grand duke. You should count yourself lucky.”

“I know. I can feel the strength I inherited from Lilith, but it’s still not enough. I need power strong enough to stand against Bai Ye,” Xing Yu clenched his fists tightly and declared fiercely, “I will kill him, no matter the cost!”

“Although I hate to admit it, that man possesses the power of a prince. Within our vampire clan, he is absolutely formidable. Perhaps only our father and the leaders of the thirteen clans hold the power to defeat him. With your current strength, no matter how many vampires you hunt, you cannot surpass him,” Liliel ruthlessly crushed Xing Yu’s hope.

“Do you expect me to just give up? So what if I’m weaker than him? I will never give up!” Xing Yu roared angrily at Liliel.

“You worthless wretch. Don’t think I tolerate you because of Lady Lilith’s grace and let you be so insolent,” Liliel said coldly upon hearing Xing Yu’s outburst.

“Sorry, I got too emotional,” Xing Yu immediately calmed down, restoring composure and apologizing to Liliel.

“Hmph!” Liliel snorted coldly at the apology and said no more.

“Damn it, what should I do?” Xing Yu muttered, clenching her fists.

“You don’t need to do anything,” a voice suddenly whispered in the ears of Xing Yu and Liliel.

Upon hearing the voice, Xing Yu’s eyes widened. Even in death, she would never forget this voice. “Bai Ye!” she spat through gritted teeth.

“Long time no see, Xing Yu. I’m truly glad to see you alive,” Bai Ye smiled at her, but then his voice turned icy cold. “Because of that, I will personally kill you.”

“Bai Ye!” Liliel’s eyes blazed with fury as she shouted his name.

“Isn’t this Princess Liliel? What a pleasure,” Bai Ye smiled in response to Liliel’s roar.

“Bai Ye! You killed Lady Lilith, didn’t you?” Liliel demanded angrily.

“Liliana? You could say that. Though I didn’t kill her with my own hands, she did die before me,” Bai Ye recalled with deep sorrow and rage the death of Lilith. “That’s why I have come—to fulfill Liliana’s wish.” Then Bai Ye turned to Xing Yu. “Xing Yu, I will send you to meet Liliana. I won’t let her be lonely anymore.”

“You want to kill me?” Xing Yu laughed bitterly. “Perfect. That’s exactly what I intend. I will kill you and avenge Lilith! Bai Ye, prepare to die!” With that, a massive black scythe appeared in her hand, and she swung it fiercely at Bai Ye.

“Prepare to die? What a joke! How could a worthless wretch like you ever be my match?” Bai Ye paid no heed to Xing Yu’s attack. “If I hadn’t saved you, that wretch, Liliana wouldn’t have died.” With a roar, Bai Ye met Xing Yu head-on, sharp claws extending from his fingers to clash against her black scythe.

Bai Ye looked at Xing Yu with fury, locking eyes with her, only to find her gaze dull and lifeless. “Your eyes?” Bai Ye exclaimed in surprise, leaping back.

“Blinded,” Xing Yu said calmly. “This is my just punishment. Though, it’s still too light.” Then, with her vacant eyes, she stared at Bai Ye. “Now, it’s your turn to receive your due.”

“Reckoning?” Bai Ye laughed bitterly, looking up at the sky. “Yes, that’s right. Someone like me, burdened with sins, deserves punishment. Yet here I am, still alive. Perhaps fate is telling me there is unfinished business. So, Xing Yu, until I send you to meet Liliana, how could I possibly die?”

As they spoke, they clashed again. Bai Ye, who should have held the absolute advantage, held back his full strength, merely pressing forward without delivering a killing blow.

Nearby, Liliel watched the intense battle, wanting to intervene, but found she could not interfere. The immense clash of magical power between them created a vortex, ravaging the surrounding buildings of the dilapidated structure, threatening to bring it down.

“Damn it!” Liliel grumbled helplessly. “Achus, go fetch Xuelan and Duke Feng. Xing Yu alone cannot defeat him.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Be careful yourself,” Achus responded, transforming into a shadow and swiftly heading toward Xuelan's location.

Shortly after Achus left, the tide of the battle shifted.

“Is that all you’ve got? Xing Yu, you disappoint me. With the power you inherited from Liliana, this is your strength? Such a waste of her bloodline,” Bai Ye said coldly, his sharp claws thrusting fiercely toward Xing Yu’s chest.

Completely overwhelmed, Xing Yu felt the gust of wind from the strike, sensing death looming. In the next moment, her figure vanished from the fray.

“Teleportation? Another power inherited from Liliana,” Bai Ye roared in anger. “Xing Yu, what else can you do besides run away? Didn’t you want to kill me? Then why flee? Is all the power you inherited from Liliana good for just running?”

Bai Ye shouted furiously but received no reply.

“Cowardly wretch, what else can you do besides escape?” He bellowed into the darkness with no answer.

Calming himself after fruitless searching, Bai Ye turned to Liliel, who had been watching. “Hmph, Princess Liliel, since that wretched Xing Yu is gone, let me first send you to meet Liliana. She has been lonely for far too long and needs company.” Bai Ye took a step toward Liliel.

“Xing Yu, you’re still here after all!” Bai Ye blocked a scythe that had appeared out of thin air, laughing joyfully.

The moment before, Xing Yu had vanished by teleportation but now reappeared before Bai Ye. Her deadly sneak attack failed, and she immediately distanced herself from him.

“Come then, Xing Yu. Liliana has been lonely for too long. Let me send you to keep her company!” Bai Ye laughed as he charged at her once more.