Chapter Thirty: The Vampire's Assault

After the day Baiye made her speech, the vampires mysteriously faded from sight, and the strange murders ceased. People gradually calmed, the panic no longer spreading, and rumors of vampires became mere idle chatter over tea and dinner. My school life also settled down once more, returning to the tranquil routine I had known before. But was that truly the case?

"Nana, let's have lunch together," Le Xiaoyou said to me happily at noon. Ever since a few days ago, when both of us revealed our identities and opened our hearts to each other, our relationship had returned to how it once was.

I sat beside Le Xiaoyou and Xingyu, watching the joyful smiles of lovers on their faces, silently wishing them happiness. To be able to sit here beside Xingyu, to see his blissful smile—what more could I ask for? As one who must hide in darkness, to be able to watch over his happiness in the sunlight should be enough. I thought so to myself.

"Recently, there haven't been any murder cases. That's wonderful," Xingyu said sincerely.

"Yes, everyone has finally calmed down. It's really great," Le Xiaoyou said cheerfully. Indeed, these past nights, Le Xiaoyou and I searched the city, but found no trace of vampires. Were they all hunted down? Or did fear drive them away from this city? I did not know. All I knew was that no more vampires appeared to harm humans—that was the truth.

Feeling the peaceful atmosphere that had returned to our campus, I sighed, "This is best after all."

And so, another day passed in calm and laughter.

"Lilith, are you going home with us today?" Xingyu asked. For the sake of Xingyu’s safety, I had been walking home with him and Le Xiaoyou these past days, so it was natural for him to ask. But now peace had returned, and the vampires had vanished, so there should be no more problems.

"No, I won’t intrude on your world of two today," I said, smiling at Xingyu and Le Xiaoyou. But for some reason, as the words left my lips, my heart felt a tinge of loneliness.

"It’s not a world of two at all. We love it when you walk home with us," Xingyu said, his cheeks faintly red.

"Mm, I know. But you should take good care of Xiaoyou. That’s your responsibility as her boyfriend, isn’t it?" I said to Xingyu.

As a blood hunter, Le Xiaoyou carried great pressure, especially befriending a blood clan member, which must have been difficult for her. Even though I wished to stay by Xingyu's side, I wanted them to enjoy the sweetness of love, to let Le Xiaoyou relax a little.

"Alright, then we’ll go ahead," Xingyu said, taking Le Xiaoyou's hand.

"Mm, Nana, we’ll go first. See you tomorrow," Le Xiaoyou said.

"See you tomorrow," I replied. Standing in the sunset, I watched them walk away, while Ang stood behind me, holding an umbrella to shield me from the last faint rays. The daylight had grown longer lately, and even dusk was bathed in sunlight, so I could not be careless.

"Miss, shall we return home now?" Ang asked respectfully.

"No, let’s follow them," I told Ang. Indeed, I still could not rest easy. Though the vampires had been gone for days, there was no guarantee that one might not slip through and commit a crime. It was safer to follow them, as long as they didn’t notice.

"Yes, Miss," Ang replied.

Thus, Ang and I quietly followed behind Xingyu and Le Xiaoyou, watching over them from a distance.

I gazed at their figures, hand in hand beneath the sunset, their faces radiant with happiness—a warm scene, like a painting. My eyes held a hint of envy.

They walked and stopped along the way, finally arriving at a nearby park, where they sat on a bench to chat and rest. Le Xiaoyou’s laughter rang out from time to time—they truly were a loving couple.

As I watched them with envy, suddenly three figures darted from the woods towards Xingyu and Le Xiaoyou.

"What!" I cried out in shock. Impossible. It was daytime—how could vampires appear now? And, vampires normally acted alone, yet three had appeared at once. What was happening?

Xingyu and Le Xiaoyou noticed the three shadowy figures, but it was too late to react. Le Xiaoyou instantly drew the small curved blade hidden in her sleeve, barely blocking one vampire’s attack. But the second vampire’s assault landed squarely on her, blood blooming from her back and her face turning deathly pale.

"Xiaoyou!" Xingyu cried out, seeing Le Xiaoyou wounded.

Fool, you should worry about your own situation first. I cursed him silently, and in an instant, my figure vanished. As the third vampire grinned wickedly, its claws nearly claimed Xingyu’s life. Le Xiaoyou, beset by the other two, could only fend off their attacks with difficulty, her body already bearing several more wounds. She was frantic, her eyes filled with despair.

The vampire’s claws passed through nothing—no sensation, no blood as expected. The vampire stared in confusion at what had happened.

Where Xingyu should have died, he was instead held in the arms of a girl, his eyes wide with surprise. "Lilith!"

It was a narrow escape. Thankfully, my teleportation ability had saved Xingyu in time. I breathed a sigh of relief. But my own situation was dire—my body felt as if it were burning, waves of searing pain assaulted me, white smoke curling from my skin. I had reached my limit, unable to move even a little, the agony relentless.

"Miss!" It was Ang's anguished cry. Seeing my state, he roared in fury and rushed to my side, his broad form shielding me from the sunlight, holding me in his arms to block the burning rays.

"Thank you, Ang," I said weakly.

What a miscalculation. I almost died. Thankfully it was only the sunset—if it had been the midday sun, I would have turned to ash in an instant. I felt some relief at the thought. Still, I had saved Xingyu, and that was what mattered. Smiling, I closed my eyes and fell into unconsciousness.

"Roar!" Ang let out a thunderous roar, his eyes aflame with anger as he glared at the three vampires, and at Xingyu, who lay on the ground, eyes wide in shock.

Ang’s eyes shone with bloodlust, fixing his gaze on the three vampires before him. Under the weight of Ang’s powerful aura, the vampires were forced to their knees, trembling, unable to move, awaiting Ang’s judgment in terror.

"Nana." Le Xiaoyou, battered and bruised, rushed over, her face filled with worry as she looked at me in Ang’s arms.

"Look after the Miss for me," Ang told Le Xiaoyou, his voice icy and furious.

"Alright, I understand." Le Xiaoyou took Ang’s place, holding me tightly and shielding me from the last remnants of the sunset.

After entrusting me to Le Xiaoyou, Ang strode slowly toward the kneeling vampires. Horrifying screams rang out continuously.

"Xiaoyou, wh-what is going on?" Xingyu’s body trembled, his voice quaking as he questioned Le Xiaoyou.

Le Xiaoyou said nothing, only gazed worriedly at Lilith cradled in her arms, tears streaming from her eyes.

Finally, the screams ceased. The vampires' forms had vanished completely, leaving only blood and shattered flesh scattered across the ground.

Xingyu and Le Xiaoyou, confronted by the scene before them, bent over and retched loudly.

"Thank you, let me take the Miss," Ang, covered in blood, returned to their side, holding an open umbrella to shield Lilith beneath its shade.

"How is Nana?" Le Xiaoyou asked anxiously.

Ang shook his head gently. "She’ll be fine, her life isn’t in danger. The Miss was reckless this time—even though it was only sunset, it was still sunlight, and she nearly lost her life. Thankfully, it was in time." Ang’s voice was filled with pain and self-reproach.

After speaking, Ang glared angrily at Xingyu. "Boy, do you know—if not for the Miss, I would kill you right now. Because of you, she’s been hurt many times. From now on, stay away from her—don’t let me see you near the Miss again."

This time, Ang was truly furious. The Miss’s previous recklessness had resulted in injuries, but never threatened her life, so Ang could tolerate it. But this time, for the sake of that lowly human, she nearly died—such a thing could never be forgiven. To let the Miss be harmed was already his failure, but now her life was endangered; Ang could not forgive himself.

"Lord Ang." Silver Wolf Volman, having heard Ang’s roar, rushed over as fast as he could, and seeing the situation, knelt in terror.

"Volman, at any cost—hunt down the vampires of this city, no, hunt all vampires. I never want to hear of vampires again, do you understand?" Ang’s voice was filled with boundless rage.

"Yes, Lord Ang, I understand. I’ll take care of it at once." Volman, terrified by Ang’s command, withdrew to relay his orders.

"Boy, remember what I said. Don’t ever appear near the Miss again." Ang’s cold gaze and icy words sent waves of fear through Xingyu. Then Ang picked up Lilith and sped off toward the manor in the outskirts.

"Xiaoyou, what is all this?" After Ang had left for a while, Xingyu asked Le Xiaoyou, trembling.

"Xingyu, as you saw—those who attacked us today were vampires." Faced with Xingyu’s questioning, Le Xiaoyou began to explain.

"Vampires?" Xingyu’s voice was tinged with astonishment.

"Yes, vampires. The murders these past days were their doing. Vampires truly exist." Le Xiaoyou continued, "And I am a blood hunter, hunting vampires to protect humans. I’m so sorry, truly sorry—I never thought you would get dragged into this." Le Xiaoyou apologized again and again.

After a long pause, Xingyu asked in a low voice, "Then, what about Lilith?"

"Nana?" Le Xiaoyou fell silent, the atmosphere heavy and suffocating. She took a deep breath. "Nana is a member of the blood clan, a being different from vampires. Nana would never harm humans," she said firmly.

"But in reality, they’re the same, aren’t they?" Xingyu pressed.

"No, absolutely not. Otherwise, Nana would never risk her life to save you. I don’t know how Nana withstands some sunlight, but sunlight is deadly to the blood clan—inescapably fatal. This time, Nana almost died saving you. How could she be the same as those vampires?" Le Xiaoyou shouted angrily.

"Yes, how could Lilith be like those monsters? She’s so gentle. Xiaoyou, I’m sorry, I just couldn’t accept it at first. I shouldn’t have doubted Lilith," Xingyu said, holding Le Xiaoyou’s hand.

"Mm. The three of us will always be friends, won’t we? Even if Nana is blood clan, we’ll always be friends," Le Xiaoyou said with conviction.

"Yes, we’ll always be friends," Xingyu replied, smiling.

"Thank goodness." Le Xiaoyou, hearing his words, smiled and closed her eyes. Having suffered countless wounds in the attacks, she finally relaxed, unable to endure any longer, and fell into unconsciousness.

"Xiaoyou, wake up, don’t scare me," Xingyu shouted anxiously, seeing her faint.

"Enough, boy, stop yelling. Xiaoyou just passed out—her life isn’t in danger. Even if you shout, she can’t hear you." A middle-aged man spoke behind Xingyu.

Hearing the voice, Xingyu paused, then exclaimed in delight, "Uncle Le!"

"Alright, leave Xiaoyou to me. She’ll be fine in a day or two. You head home now, and be careful," Le Xiaoyou’s father said.

"Then, I’ll go home first." Though reluctant, Xingyu obeyed, gazing longingly at Le Xiaoyou before slowly leaving.

"Ah..." Le Xiaoyou’s father sighed. "Honestly, it hasn’t been long, and you’ve ended up like this, little girl. It makes your old dad ache." He gently stroked Le Xiaoyou’s face and smiled wryly.

"But the princess of the blood clan is truly reckless—almost died here. If she had, humanity would be doomed. Her unreasonable father is a terrifying figure," Le Xiaoyou’s father grumbled, picking up the unconscious Le Xiaoyou and leaving.