Chapter Thirty-Nine: Heartbreak in the Dark of Night

“Miss.” Ang addressed me, gazing at my absent-minded silhouette by the window.

I seemed not to hear his words, lost in the moonlight outside, my thoughts adrift.

“Miss,” Ang called again.

“What is it?” I turned to Ang, my eyes void of any emotion.

“Miss, you shouldn’t let yourself be hurt over such an ungrateful, contemptible person,” Ang said, his voice trembling with anger and worry.

“Ang, do you think I really shouldn’t have appeared in Xingyu’s life? If I hadn’t shown up, perhaps Xiaoyu wouldn’t have died.” These past days, all that haunted my mind were Xiaoyu’s smile before her death and the look of rage and hatred Xingyu cast upon me. Each time I remembered his hateful gaze, my heart felt stabbed by needles, as if the world itself had lost all meaning.

“Miss, it wasn’t your fault. Don’t blame yourself.” Ang looked at my lifeless expression, his heart breaking.

“Tell me, Ang, do you think Xingyu truly hates me—wishes I were dead?” I looked at Ang, a tragic smile on my lips.

“Miss, please stop tormenting yourself. It’s not worth it for a human,” Ang pleaded, his pain evident.

“But Ang, my heart aches so much.” I pressed my hand to my chest, tears streaming down.

“Miss, forget him. He’s not worth your sorrow.” Ang saw my suffering and could do nothing but comfort me. “Miss, let’s leave this place. Let’s return to the Blood Clan castle and never think of him again. In time, everything will fade.” Ang begged.

“But I can’t forget him, nor do I wish to.” I answered, a beautiful sorrow etched across my face. “Aside from the memories I have of him, I have nothing.”

“Miss, I’m here. I will always be by your side. There’s still His Highness, and Lady Liliel. Miss, you’ve done nothing wrong; the fault is his. Please, stop hurting yourself. You’re already wounded—if this continues, your body won’t withstand it.” Ang said anxiously.

I paid no heed to Ang’s words, only quietly asked, “Ang, do you think if I died, Xingyu would grieve for me?” I recalled his hateful eyes and, without waiting for Ang’s reply, murmured, “No. With all the resentment he holds towards me, even if I died, he wouldn’t mourn. I envy Xiaoyu so much—if I were the one to die, how wonderful it would be. Perhaps then, he would keep me in his heart.”

“Miss,” Ang’s voice was filled with helplessness. Aside from calling my name, there was nothing more he could do. Ang looked at me, his heart aching; since his birth, this was only the second time he had seen me so utterly desolate. Seeing my expression, Ang wished he could kill the human boy who had caused me such pain, but he knew that would only deepen my suffering.

“Miss, there’s news about that human boy. Would you like to hear it?” Ang said reluctantly.

“Xingyu? Is he well? How is he now?” Upon hearing Ang’s words, I asked urgently.

“He’s now become a Blood Hunter. Perhaps because he inherited some of your magic, his strength has grown rapidly. He’s begun hunting vampires, but it seems he doesn’t even spare the Blood Clan. Three noble sons and a werewolf have already been slain by him. Damn brat! If not for the Blood Clan, he would have died long ago, and now he turns against us—he’s unforgivable.” Ang’s voice was full of fury.

“He joined the Blood Hunters? Doesn’t he know how dangerous they are now? Xiaoyu is already dead—I’ve lost her, must I lose him too?” Hearing Ang’s report, I cried out in terror. “Ang, I must see him.” I instructed.

“Miss, he now despises the Blood Clan. For your safety, I absolutely won’t let you see him. Have you forgotten the pain he brought you?” Ang shouted, his anger rarely so fierce. When Ang was truly angry, it meant I had crossed his bottom line; he would not yield again.

“I’m sorry, Ang. I must go. I must stop him—I cannot watch him walk into death.” I looked straight into Ang’s eyes, unwavering, with no room for compromise. “Ang, I beg you. With you here, Xingyu cannot harm me. Ang!” I pleaded.

“Miss, you’ve already seen him for the last time over and over. Every time, you can’t stop yourself from going again. You know well that meeting him only increases your pain—how many times must he hurt you before you give up?” Ang’s voice was harsh but concerned.

“I know, but every time, I can’t help it. Whenever Xingyu is in trouble, I cannot remain indifferent. I already know how this ends, so Ang, let me see him.” I smiled gently.

“Miss, if this continues, one day your heart will die, just like His Highness.” Ang’s gaze was full of helplessness.

“I am, after all, my father’s daughter. We share the same stubbornness.” I answered with a smile, tears sparkling in my eyes.

“Miss, this will be the last time I let you be willful. After this, I’ll take you back to the Blood Clan castle, even if it’s against your wishes.” Ang resolved.

“Yes, I understand. Even if this time truly breaks my heart, I must see him once more.” With those words, I stepped out of the manor, chasing Xingyu’s aura amid a swirl of blood-red bats.

Ang watched my determined figure, sighed helplessly, and followed close behind.

“Twenty-third!” Under the cold moonlight, the streets were littered with blood and dust. Xingyu stood in the midst of this crimson scene, sword in hand, murmuring. All around, other Blood Hunters kept their distance, fearful.

“Xingyu.” I looked at his silhouette, unable to stop my tears. How much pain had he endured, how many sacrifices had he made, to become this way? I didn’t know. All I knew was that the Xingyu I once knew was gone, grown up in a single instant. The gentle Xingyu had become so strong, but the price was more than anyone could bear.

“Princess Liliana, what brings you here?” The eyes that once looked at me gently now glared cold and merciless. Seeing Xingyu before me, my heart twisted in agony.

“Xingyu, stop.” I pleaded.

“Stop? You want me to stop?” Xingyu laughed through his tears. “You want me to stand by and watch Xiaoyu die before my eyes and not avenge her? What right do you have to ask me to stop? After all, you’re just like those vampires, monsters that feed on human blood.”

“No, no!” I shook my head desperately, tears streaming. “I don’t want you to face any more danger. I will avenge Xiaoyu for you. So please, Xingyu, stop—don’t hurt yourself anymore, don’t force yourself anymore.” My voice broke with sobs.

“Hmph!” Xingyu sneered, unmoved. “I don’t know what you did to me, why Uncle Le begged me not to harm you. But it doesn’t matter. I don’t care to understand. I’ll tell you only this: if you try to stop me, I’ll kill you!” Xingyu’s icy roar echoed in my ears. “Now, get out—get out of my sight. I won’t kill you this time, only because I owe you a life.” With that, Xingyu turned away coldly.

“Xingyu, give it up. If you keep killing, you’ll destroy yourself someday.” Hearing his words, I felt my world collapse. My heart was numb, unable to feel pain anymore. But I couldn’t just give up—I couldn’t watch Xingyu struggle in such torment. I strode forward, grabbed his clothes.

Clang! Ang’s claws crashed against Xingyu’s sword. Xingyu swung at me without hesitation, the blade aimed at my heart—the fatal weakness of the Blood Clan. Ang appeared instantly between us, blocking the deadly blow.

“Damn it, bastard!” Ang roared, hurling Xingyu away with a single strike. His claws pointed, ready to take Xingyu’s life.

“Ang, no!” I clung tightly to Ang, refusing to let him harm Xingyu.

“Miss!” Ang shouted at me in anger.

“Ang, I beg you, spare him.” I pleaded desperately.

“Miss!” Ang’s fury was beyond what my pleas could soothe.

“Ang, let him go. Let’s leave. I will never see him again.” I said. When Xingyu swung his sword at me, I felt as if my heart had died.

“Miss!” Ang shouted furiously, but I continued to look at him with pleading eyes. Finally, Ang retracted his claws and slowly embraced me. “Miss, cry if you must. Let it all out.”

Hearing Ang’s words, the tears I had been holding back suddenly poured forth. In Ang’s arms, I wept, heartbroken, until I was exhausted and fell asleep.

Ang picked me up, his cold gaze lingering on the struggling Xingyu. A surge of power tore open the night sky above, and he carried me away, disappearing into the rift.

Long after we had vanished, Xingyu finally struggled to his feet, then, under the astonished gaze of several Blood Hunters, knelt on the ground, howling to the sky as tears streamed down his face. His cry was filled with sorrow and desolation.