Chapter Thirty-Six: Crisis

With the combined efforts of the Blood Clan and the Blood Hunters’ Guild, the rampaging vampires were finally contained, granting the hunters a moment’s respite. Yet many among them harbored resentment for having relied upon the Blood Clan’s power. Now that the vampires had temporarily vanished, relations between the hunters and the clan once more slipped into tense stalemate.

“What a bunch of forgetful, inferior creatures,” Ang scoffed at the hunters’ reactions.

It was merely a temporary deterrence against the vampires, and even then, it had been accomplished with the clan’s aid. Yet they were already itching to wage war against the Blood Clan, and I could only sigh at humanity’s inherent flaws. If they break ties with the clan now, how will they respond next time the vampires return? Or do they truly believe they’ve slain them all?

“Ang, pay them no mind. We’ve long since understood the baseness of humanity; there’s no need to waste thought on such irrelevant matters. I have a feeling that the vampires’ reckless appearance this time is no simple affair—they will not disappear so easily. They are waiting for something, or perhaps their master is still waiting. I sense this incident is directed at us, the Blood Clan. From now on, stay vigilant,” I said to Ang, my face marked by an unprecedented seriousness.

“Yes, my lady, I understand. I’ll give the orders and see that precautions are taken. But you needn’t worry too much—after all, they’re just vampires. They can’t cause much trouble. If the clan’s forces here prove insufficient, we can simply abandon this place rather than become entangled. Should it come to that, the Blood Castle will send reinforcements,” Ang replied. “Our foremost concern now should be your safety, my lady, and the imminent arrival of the Blood Clan’s council.”

“Yes. Indeed, there isn’t much time left.” I gazed at Xingyu’s bedroom, sighing silently to myself. Xingyu, I wonder how much longer I’ll be able to look at you so quietly?

In the days that followed, the vampires seemed to have vanished completely, leaving only the Blood Hunters’ Guild and the Blood Clan locked in a tense standoff.

Just as everyone had begun to forget the vampires’ existence, they returned to deliver an unforgettable memory—and for Xingyu and me, this vampire attack would leave a sorrow that would linger for eternity.

“Xingyu, hurry up, or we'll be late!” Le Xiaoyou called to Xingyu, who was gasping for breath as she chased behind.

“Xiaoyou, don’t run so fast. There’s plenty of time; we won’t be late,” Xingyu replied between breaths. For Xingyu, who lacked stamina, running at such a pace had already pushed her to her limits.

“Xingyu, you really need more exercise,” Le Xiaoyou complained.

“Heh, I’m not fighting anything, so it doesn’t matter if I’m a bit weak,” Xingyu said, still panting.

“No way. From now on, I’ll make sure you train every day. Xingyu, you’d better resign yourself to your fate,” Le Xiaoyou grinned mischievously at her.

“Yes, yes, I understand, Lady Le Xiaoyou,” Xingyu replied with a laugh.

“Good, as long as you know,” Le Xiaoyou said, unable to suppress her own laughter.

Their cheerful laughter echoed all around them, their figures radiant and full of life in the morning light.

As the two went along, playfully teasing one another, several dark shapes suddenly swept toward them—swift and silent, unnoticed by either girl.

“What is that?” The blood hunter assigned to protect them cried out in alarm at the approaching shadows. But before he could intervene, it was already too late. The vampires, a dozen strong, surrounded Xingyu and Le Xiaoyou, far outnumbering the seven hunters tasked with their defense.

At that critical moment, a group of passersby on the roadside suddenly let out ear-splitting howls. Their bodies swelled, tearing through their clothes. Werewolves, disguised as ordinary people, had noticed the girls’ peril and transformed to rush to their aid.

Even with the blood hunters and werewolves joining forces, four vampires broke through, lunging at Le Xiaoyou and Xingyu.

“Xingyu, watch out—run!” Le Xiaoyou, seeing the four vampires closing in, swiftly drew two small crescent-bladed daggers from her sleeves and charged forward.

“Xiaoyou!” Xingyu cried out anxiously, seeing Le Xiaoyou’s determined advance.

Le Xiaoyou did not look back, fiercely blocking the path of the four vampires. The two sides collided, tangled in combat. Faced with four merciless sets of claws, Le Xiaoyou stepped forward without hesitation. She barely managed to fend off two vampires, but the third struck her hard, raking a bloody gash across her body.

She grunted, parrying the attacks of the first two, but after the last incident, Le Xiaoyou had trained relentlessly and improved greatly—she could now hold her own against two vampires. But there were simply too many this time; the hunters and werewolves were all occupied.

Before Le Xiaoyou could escape the assault of the three vampires, the fourth arrived. It rushed at her without slowing, colliding heavily. The vampire’s physical strength far outmatched hers, sending Le Xiaoyou flying.

The vampire that had struck her barely paused before racing toward Xingyu, who was anxiously watching over her fallen friend.

“Xingyu, watch out—dodge!” Le Xiaoyou, battered and barely conscious, shouted desperately to Xingyu from nearby.

Heeding Le Xiaoyou’s warning, Xingyu finally noticed the vampire closing in. She tried to move, but found her legs unresponsive, frozen in place.

As the vampire appeared before her, its ferocious face, claws raised high, and the scent of death enveloped her, Xingyu shut her eyes in despair. It felt just as it had last time—at the brink of death, her savior had been Lilith. Memories flooded her mind: Lilith smiling faintly in the sunlight before collapsing. Xingyu suddenly wished she could see her again.

“Back off!” A booming voice snapped Xingyu from her reverie. She opened her eyes to see a tall man standing protectively before her.

“Who are you?” Xingyu, spared from death, collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

“Don’t worry, kid. Her Highness Liliana ordered me to protect you—you won’t die so easily,” the man’s rough voice sounded in her ear.

“Xiaoyou, please, save Xiaoyou!” Xingyu, finally safe, shouted at the man.

“Le Xiaoyou. Damn it, she too is under Her Highness Liliana’s orders—she must be protected at all costs,” the man said, immediately turning to look at Le Xiaoyou. Seeing her dire situation, he widened his eyes in horror; Le Xiaoyou was on the verge of disaster.

“Damn it, there’s no time—too late,” the man rushed toward Le Xiaoyou’s battlefield, but was already too late.

Le Xiaoyou, battered by the attacks of three vampires, was gravely wounded, her body pushed to its limits. Death was closing in.