Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Death of Yue Xiaoyou

The three vampires swiftly closed in on Le Xiaoyou, who had already lost the strength to resist. At this moment, she had given up all hope and awaited death in despair.

“Get away from her!” A sharp cry rang out, and the three vampires were sent flying backwards. A figure draped in a black cloak stood there, the entire body shrouded within, a massive black scythe held protectively in front. It was like the very incarnation of Death, come to claim souls from the underworld.

At that critical moment, I finally made it. Hidden beneath the cloak, I was gasping for breath—had I pushed myself too far? I smiled bitterly to myself.

The morning sun was not yet at its strongest, so with the protection of my black cloak, I could barely move beneath its rays. Yet my body, scorched by the sunlight, was already smoking in thin, white wisps. The teleportation required to get here had consumed most of my magic, and that single blow to drive off the three vampires had exhausted the last of my strength. My knees gave out and I collapsed to the ground.

“Nana, what are you doing here?” Le Xiaoyou recognized my voice and called out in astonishment.

“I meant to save you, but it seems I may have overestimated myself.” I forced a bitter smile in her direction. Now all I could do was hope Ang would arrive soon.

“Nana, are you alright?” Le Xiaoyou struggled to stand in front of me, shielding me with her own body.

“Heh, I still can’t beat the sunlight. I was too careless.” More smoke was rising from my body, and my voice trembled.

“Princess Liliana!” Vollman rushed to my side, blocking the sunlight as best he could. “Why did you come out during the day? This is far too dangerous. The slightest carelessness could cost you your life. You’re playing with death!” Vollman shouted, anxious.

“Hmph, I admit I miscalculated this time. But compared to my mistake, it seems you failed to accomplish the task I entrusted to you. If you had dealt quickly with that pack of wretched scum, I wouldn’t have needed to risk myself.” My rebuke was sharp.

“This was my lapse, Your Highness. I will beg your forgiveness later, but for now, please be careful.” Vollman glanced nervously at the vampires closing in again. In the distance, more vampires had broken through the Blood Hunters’ blockade and were racing toward us. Because of my presence, Vollman could not move freely, and facing these advancing vampires was proving difficult.

“Xiaoyou, don’t worry about me. Take Xingyu and go. I’ll hold them off here.” Gritting my teeth, I spoke to Le Xiaoyou, gathering a sliver of strength restored in Vollman’s shadow.

“Nana, I will never leave you behind,” Le Xiaoyou said firmly, gripping her curved blade, eyes fixed on the approaching vampires.

“Xiaoyou, take Xingyu and go. As soon as you’re gone, I’ll be able to get away myself,” I urged her again, my tone tinged with urgency.

“Alright, Nana—please, be safe,” Le Xiaoyou finally made her painful decision.

“Don’t worry, it’s only a few pieces of trash. They’re nothing to me.” I smiled, gripping the scythe in my hand.

Le Xiaoyou gave me one last lingering look, then clenched her jaw and raced toward Xingyu, who was slumped on the ground not far away.

Once I saw Le Xiaoyou and Xingyu leaving, my heart finally relaxed. Now I only needed to focus on holding off the vampires before me. I watched as the vampires lunged again and again, only to be repelled each time by Vollman, and steeled myself.

Shielded by Vollman’s back, I continued to recover my strength—there would be only one chance to strike. I could feel my weakness, but I stared resolutely at the battlefield before me.

At last, one vampire seized an opening in Vollman’s defense and lunged at my throat, claws gleaming, his face twisted in a savage grin.

“Looking for death!” I shouted in fury, “Night Scythe Art—Nightmare Spider Lily!” Even in this state of utter weakness, I was not one to be trifled with by such garbage. I unleashed every last bit of energy I’d managed to gather, and scythe shadows surged forth like tidal waves, swallowing all the vampires before me. From within the endless cascade of shadows came the vampires’ despairing, agonized screams.

When the storm of scythe shadows finally faded, only pools of blood remained. The few vampires who had survived by luck huddled in fear nearby, trembling, not daring to attack again.

Supporting myself with the scythe, I panted heavily. That attack had completely drained my reserves; now, I could not even lift a finger.

“Princess Liliana, are you alright?” Vollman asked, concern written all over his face.

“I’m fine, just exhausted. For now, my safety is in your hands.” My voice was weak.

“Rest assured, Your Highness. I will guard you with my life.” Vollman’s voice was firm, his taut muscles proclaiming his resolve.

The vampires, too cowardly to advance, and Vollman, forced to stay by my side, stood locked in a tense standoff.

“Miss,” Ang’s voice finally sounded in my ear, a large black umbrella opening over my head.

“Ang, you’re finally here.” On hearing his voice, the arm with which I gripped my scythe could no longer hold me up. My strength left me, and I collapsed into Ang’s arms.

“Miss, you’ve done enough. Leave the rest to me,” Ang said softly.

“Alright, Ang. I’ll leave it to you,” I replied, finally at peace.

“Vollman, you’ve done well,” Ang praised him.

“Thank you, Lord Ang. It was my duty,” Vollman replied, overwhelmed by the praise.

“Take good care of Her Highness.” Ang handed the umbrella to Vollman, then strode forward slowly toward the vampires.

Screams rang out, and to the shock of the Blood Hunters, Ang slaughtered every last vampire in less than a minute. The Blood Hunters stood frozen in disbelief, while the werewolves threw their heads back and howled at the sky.

“Xingyu, Ang, take me after Xingyu and the others,” I said to Ang as he returned to my side.

“Yes, Miss.” Ang lifted me in one arm and sped after Xingyu and Le Xiaoyou, with Vollman following close behind.

When we finally found them, the sight before me left me stunned.

Xingyu, his eyes empty and lifeless, was clutching Le Xiaoyou tightly, both of them covered in deep red blood. Xiaoyou’s father, Letianpai, stood quietly to the side, his face dark as thunderclouds. Around the three lay the corpses of vampires.

What had happened here? Looking at Le Xiaoyou—her face frozen in a peaceful smile, already lifeless in Xingyu’s arms—I simply could not believe my eyes.

“What happened?” I shouted at Letianpai.

“I was too late. By the time I arrived, I could only save Xingyu. Xiaoyou was already too badly wounded. I… damn it!” Letianpai’s voice quivered with regret.

“Damn it, what use is regret now? Isn’t Xiaoyou your daughter? Why didn’t you protect her?” My accusation was met with Letianpai’s silence and endless remorse.

“Xingyu, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let you leave earlier—I should have been there to protect you. Xingyu, I’m truly sorry.” I staggered out of Ang’s arms and, stumbling, reached for Xingyu’s despair-stricken face.

“Get away from me!” Xingyu roared, pushing me aside with all his strength. I stumbled and fell hard to the ground.

“Looking for death!” Ang and Vollman shouted in unison, their powerful arms swinging toward Xingyu, unable to tolerate his disrespect.

“Stop!” I called out, halting them.

Vollman’s fist was blocked by Letianpai, but Ang’s punch broke through his guard and stopped just in front of Xingyu’s despairing eyes. In that instant, the difference in their strength was clear.

“Xingyu, I’m sorry,” I said, my voice already choked with tears.

“Why don’t you just kill me? Why not kill me!” Xingyu screamed, “If it weren’t for me, Xiaoyou wouldn’t have died. It should have been me!”

It turned out that after fleeing, Xingyu and Le Xiaoyou had run into another group of vampires here. There were only four, but even that was too much for them to withstand. Le Xiaoyou fought desperately to shield Xingyu, receiving more and more wounds. Growing ever weaker, she finally could not hold on. The vampires broke through her defense and lunged for Xingyu. Paralyzed with fear, Xingyu could only close his eyes and wait for death.

He heard the sound of claws tearing through flesh, but he felt no pain. Xingyu opened his eyes and saw a scene that nearly drove him mad: Le Xiaoyou had shielded him with her own body, the vampire’s claws piercing her heart.

“Xiaoyou!” Two despairing cries echoed. Just as the vampire raised its claws again, ready to take Xingyu’s life, Letianpai appeared in a flash, a roar of rage on his lips. Then came the slaughter. But no amount of fury could bring back Le Xiaoyou’s fading life.

“Xingyu, you’re safe. That’s all that matters.” These were Le Xiaoyou’s last words in this world. With a smile, seeing Xingyu unharmed, she passed away.

“Xiaoyou, Xiaoyou, don’t die, Xiaoyou…” Xingyu sobbed her name in terror, but the girl in his arms would never wake again.

Xingyu threw back his head and wept, while Letianpai’s nails pierced his palm, blood seeping out. The two of them stayed there, Xingyu’s cries hoarse and despairing, his eyes utterly devoid of light. It was only our arrival that finally broke that deathly silence.

“Xingyu…” I looked at the emptiness, despair, and lifelessness in his gaze, my heart twisting in pain.

“Get away! Get away from me!” Xingyu shouted at me in rage. “If it wasn’t for you, Xiaoyou wouldn’t have died! If it wasn’t for you, the vampires wouldn’t have appeared, and Xiaoyou and I could have continued our peaceful lives. Go away! Don’t let me see you again, you bloodsucking monster!”

His words pierced my heart like needles. I thought I could protect his happiness, but all I brought him was pain. Yes, I was nothing but a bloodsucking monster. If I had never entered his life, he and Xiaoyou would still be living in peace. I looked into his eyes, full of anger and hatred, and all my strength seemed to drain away, leaving only loneliness and helplessness.

“Xingyu, that’s enough! This has nothing to do with Princess Liliana! I am the one who failed to protect Xiaoyou!” Letianpai’s voice trembled. This man who loved his daughter so deeply must have been in more pain than anyone.

Looking into Xingyu’s eyes, the pain in my heart was unbearable. “Ang, let’s go. Take me away from here,” I wept, tears streaming down my face.

“Yes, Miss.” Ang helped me up from the ground, glaring at Xingyu in anger. “While you’re blaming the Miss, have you considered your own actions? The Miss risked her life to protect you in the sunlight. And you? What have you done besides blaming others? You’re right, the one who should have died is you!” Ang’s fury at Xingyu’s outburst was complete. Hearing my sobs, he said coldly, then carried me—limp in his arms—away at once.

“Hmph,” Vollman snorted at Xingyu in anger, then followed after us.