Chapter 136: Returning to the Blood Hunters

At the headquarters of the Blood Hunter Guild, a lonely and desolate figure stood before the main gate.

"Who goes there?" The guards stationed at the entrance, spotting the intruder, instantly gripped the weapons at their waists and demanded cautiously. The person was shrouded in a black cloak, and the dim moonlight perfectly masked their features, leaving nothing visible. Yet, the aura of blood emanating from them was impossible to miss. "Halt! Take one more step, and we will be forced to act!" the guard warned loudly. The Blood Hunter Guild was currently in a state of high tension; the slightest disturbance was enough to rattle the nerves of every hunter.

"Tell Le Tianpai to come out and see me," a raspy, bone-chilling voice emerged from beneath the cloak.

"You want to see the Guild Master?" The guard frowned, his vigilance heightening. "What business do you have with the Guild Master?"

"The Guild Master?" The raspy voice returned, sounding surprised. "I never imagined Le Tianpai would become the Guild Master. It seems the Blood Hunter Guild has truly fallen."

"You bastard, are you here to cause trouble?" The guard’s expression turned to one of fury. "Even if our guild has declined, it is not for small fry like you to insult. Under the leadership of our Guild Master, we will surely restore the glory of the Blood Hunter Guild."

"Is that so?" The cloaked figure’s voice remained indifferent, as if unimpressed. "That has nothing to do with me. I am only here to see Le Tianpai. Send him out, and tell him an old friend has come to visit."

"A sneaky coward who won't even show his true face—how could we possibly let you see the Guild Master?" The guard drew his silver longsword. "Speak! What is your purpose? Why are you seeking him out?"

"You are not qualified to question my affairs. My patience is wearing thin. I will say this one last time: let Le Tianpai come out. Do not force my hand." The voice held no trace of anger, but the guards felt a chill run down their spines as a faint scent of blood began to drift through the air.

"Dammit! How dare you cause trouble at our guild!" Provoked by the threat, the guards suppressed their fear, tightened their grip on their weapons, and circled the figure. "Remove your hood and state your business, or we will show you no mercy."

"Hahaha!" The cloaked figure let out a mocking laugh. "Show me no mercy? Based on what—you?" The voice now carried a hint of heat. "Even in my current state, I am far beyond the capabilities of small fry like you. If you are so eager to die, I shall grant your wish."

"Attack!" The guards, startled by the declaration, charged forward with their weapons drawn.

"Hahaha!" The figure laughed again. Then, with a voice filled with endless frost, they muttered, "Death wish!" The figure lunged toward the guards at blinding speed.

One guard swung his silver longsword heavily at the rushing silhouette. With a raspy laugh, the figure vanished, the sword slicing through nothing but air. The intruder had disappeared from their sight.

"Ah!" As the guards faltered in confusion, a scream pierced the air. Without warning, the figure appeared behind one of the guards, sharp claws piercing his chest.

"A vampire! He’s a vampire!" The guards were horrified, their faces contorted with rage. "Kill him! A vampire dares to cause trouble in our guild? We cannot let him leave alive!"

"A vampire! To dare set foot in our guild—the audacity!" Hearing the commotion, other hunters rushed out. "Even if the guild is destroyed today, we will not allow a vampire to run rampant here!"

"You?" The cloaked figure laughed dismissively. "Just a pack of stray dogs beaten to a pulp by vampires. You pathetic lot, are you even worthy of crossing blades with me?"

"Kill him!" Fired by rage, the hunters lunged. The near-destruction of their guild by two vampires had been a deep, festering wound, and the intruder’s blatant arrogance served only to ignite their fury.

"Stop!" Just as the clash was about to turn into a bloodbath, a commanding voice echoed across the square.

Hearing this, the furious hunters reluctantly reined in their anger, glaring at the cloaked figure who had stepped back into view.

"Who are you, and why are you causing trouble for our guild?" The man who had halted the conflict was the current Guild Master, Le Tianpai.

"Guild Master Le Tianpai, it has been a long time." As he faced Le Tianpai, the chilling, raspy voice vanished, replaced by the weary, sorrowful tone of a young man.

"Xingyu? It's you!" At the sound of that voice, Le Tianpai recognized him instantly—the only person left in this world he truly worried about. "Xingyu, you’ve become a vampire!" The revelation was more shocking than the intruder's arrival. Le Tianpai knew how much Xingyu despised vampires; to see him standing there as one was incomprehensible. It wasn't just some blood-kin; the aura of death and blood surrounding him confirmed he was a true vampire. What had Xingyu endured to be transformed into this?

"Does it matter what I have become?" Xingyu lowered his hood, revealing eyes devoid of any spark. "I have simply become a vampire. It is no big deal."

"Xingyu, why? Why did this happen?" Le Tianpai asked, refusing to give up.

"That is none of your concern," Xingyu replied coldly. "I came to propose a partnership."

"A partnership?" Le Tianpai looked stunned.

"That is right," Xingyu said calmly. "Your guild lacks the power to deter your enemies. Coincidentally, I possess the strength you need. I can contend even with a vampire Duke; my power now exceeds that of a former S-rank hunter. In return, I require intelligence—information on the hiding places of all vampires. I will track down the remaining ones and make them my subordinates. I will restrain them so they no longer hunt humans at will. That would be a boon for your guild, would it not?"

"Guild Master, you cannot agree to this!" Before Le Tianpai could respond, the other hunters erupted. "We cannot partner with a vampire! Give up on this foolish idea!" they shouted in protest.

"Xingyu, what is your true objective?" Ignoring the hunters, Le Tianpai asked with a grave expression.

"My objective..." Xingyu paused, deep in thought, but did not answer. "You do not need to know my goal. You only need to know that I have no intention of harming this guild."

"I believe you," Le Tianpai said, choosing not to press further. "The Blood Hunter Guild agrees to this partnership."

"What?" The gathered hunters were shocked. "Guild Master, you cannot do this! How can the guild work with a vampire? The honor of the Blood Hunters does not permit it!" During these difficult times, Le Tianpai had won the hearts of the survivors, so rather than challenging his authority, they pleaded with him to reconsider.

"But I have conditions," Le Tianpai added, ignoring their pleas.

"What conditions? Let me hear them," Xingyu replied.

"I want you to rejoin the Blood Hunter Guild and obey our orders. In other words, this guild will keep you as our ward." Le Tianpai stared at him sternly.

"Obey your orders? Be kept by the Blood Hunter Guild?" Xingyu let out a wild, mocking laugh.

"Guild Master?" Even the hunters were stunned. With the guild's current strength, it was questionable whether keeping a vampire should even be allowed—there was simply no force capable of restraining Xingyu. It was no exaggeration to say that if Xingyu wanted to wipe out the guild, they had no power to stop him.

"Xingyu, do you agree?" Le Tianpai asked again, ignoring the laughter.

Xingyu stopped laughing, looked at Le Tianpai for a long time, and finally said, "If you are bold enough to keep me, then why not? I agree."

"Then, I wish us a pleasant cooperation, Xingyu. Come with me." Le Tianpai turned and walked into the guild building, leaving the hunters staring in stunned silence.

From that moment on, the Blood Hunter Guild possessed its first kept vampire—and its first vampire member.