Chapter Eighty-Two: Encounter

The dark night descended once again, and I awoke from my deep slumber in the shadowed chamber. This time, no one disturbed my rest. Emerging from my temporary refuge, I stepped onto the empty street.

I stood there, dazed, staring at the sparse passersby wandering through the night, uncertain of where I should go. I had no memories—no idea where I came from, no destination in mind, not even an understanding of who I was. I could sense those few vampires who constantly followed me, genuinely caring for me from the depths of their hearts. Yet, something inside me urged me to stay away from them; remaining by their side would only bring them pain.

As I drifted in confusion, a man's voice called out from behind me, "Liliana, what are you doing here?"

Was he calling me? Hearing the name I'd been addressed by these past few days, I turned. A young man, his face alight with excitement, was studying me intently.

"Liliana, it really is you," he said, overjoyed.

"Who are you?" I eyed him warily. I sensed no magic from him—just a lowly human. Why did he know my name?

At my question, surprise flickered across his face. "Liliana, you don’t recognize me? It’s me—Byron. It’s only been a few days, have you forgotten me already?"

"Byron? I don't know you," I replied coldly. There was nothing in my memory about such a name, not the slightest hint of familiarity. I turned to leave without hesitation.

"Liliana, what’s wrong? I’m Byron! Me, Xingyu, Xiaoyou, and you—we were all good friends, weren’t we?" Byron looked at my retreating figure in astonishment.

Hearing his words, I froze. Xingyu, Xiaoyou—those names stirred a faint sense of recognition, a deep ache in my heart. I knew them.

"What’s happened, Liliana?" the man called Byron pressed.

"My affairs have nothing to do with you. There’s nothing between us," I scoffed, taking another step forward. Whatever our history, there was no connection between us now.

"Liliana, wait!" Byron called, his voice urgent as he ran after me.

"Who are you people? Why are you blocking me?" His angry voice rang out again before I’d gone far, but this time, he was not speaking to me. Several figures in black cloaks barred Byron's path.

"Boy, today is your last day alive," one of the cloaked men said with a chilling tone. "Do it!" At his command, their bodies swelled beneath their cloaks. With a tearing sound, pairs of black bat wings burst free. The hoods were thrown back by the rush of air, revealing pallid faces and sharp fangs protruding from twisted smiles that sent chills down the spine.

"Va—vampires?" Byron seemed petrified by the scene before him, his legs quivering as he forgot to run.

"Heh, that’s right. Prepare to die, boy. Blame your luck and your family for crossing us. The Byron family dares offend noble vampires?" The head vampire sneered, his razor-sharp claws slashing toward Byron’s throat.

A scream tore through the night, but it was not Byron’s. An arm had hit the ground, severed cleanly—bloodless, its edges instantly withering in the night breeze.

"How dare you filthy vampires call yourselves noble? You don’t fear sullying the word? Fallen trash," my cold voice rang out beside the vampires and Byron.

"Liliana!" Byron exclaimed in delight.

"Bloodkin!" the vampires gasped in shock.

"Damn it, how is there a bloodkin here?" The leader clutched his severed arm, cursing furiously before barking, "Retreat, all of you!" Without waiting for a response, he fled into a nearby alley. The others hesitated for a moment, then scattered in terror.

"Trying to escape before me? How naive," I said mockingly, watching the vampires flee. Ignoring Byron, still frozen in shock, I vanished from sight. Screams echoed from the surrounding alleys—each vampire met their end, not one escaping.

"Hey, human. How did you end up targeted by such fallen trash?" I reappeared before Byron and asked, snapping him out of his stupor.

"Uh," Byron stammered, "I’m not sure. Maybe it has to do with my family? You know we run underground operations. Perhaps we offended them somehow, and I was unlucky enough to be chosen as the scapegoat." He shrugged helplessly.

"You can’t even handle a few titleless vampires. Pathetic," I said, my gaze lingering disdainfully on his slightly pale face.

"What can I do? I’m just an ordinary person—how could I fight vampires?" Byron replied, resigned. "But it’s the first time I’ve seen you fight, Liliana. I always knew you were bloodkin, but I never imagined you were this powerful." He stared at me, excitement lighting his eyes.

"They were nothing but useless trash—not even worth my time," I sneered.

"By the way, Liliana, do you truly not remember me? Or Xingyu?" Byron pressed again.

"I have no reason to lie to you. I don’t remember," I replied coldly, irritated by his persistence.

"Oh." Disappointment clouded his face, as if he’d been dealt a heavy blow.

"How is Xingyu now?" I don’t know why, but the name slipped from my lips, causing a pang in my heart.

"Xingyu? I don’t know either. Ever since he joined the Bloodhunters, I haven’t seen him." Byron sounded dispirited. "So, Liliana, where are you planning to go?" he asked.

"Hmm?" His question brought back my confusion. Indeed, where should I go? Am I to wander aimlessly without purpose forever?

"Liliana, what’s wrong?" Byron asked, seeing my blank expression.

"I don't know where to go. For now, I’ll just wander, go wherever my feet take me," I said with a bitter smile.

"So you have no particular purpose right now?" Byron’s eyes brightened at my response.

"I suppose not," I replied carelessly.

"Then why not come to my house?" Byron suggested eagerly. "It’s a bit chaotic, but it’s a safe place to stay. There are plenty of empty rooms where you can rest during the day, away from the sunlight." He invited me warmly.

"Your house?" I was tempted. With no plans and nowhere to go, wandering the night was hardly safe. Perhaps having a temporary place to stay would be better—at least safer than hiding wherever I could find. After all, we had once known each other.

"So, Liliana, will you come?" Byron asked, hope shining in his eyes. "I can use my family’s resources to help you track down Xingyu."

Xingyu—again, that name. Every time I heard it, pain shot through my heart, yet I longed to hear it more. "All right. Since I have nowhere else to go, I’ll come," I agreed.

"Great! Liliana, follow me," he said delightedly, leading the way. I followed him toward his home.

Meanwhile, on the rooftop of a nearby building, Xuelan, Liliel, and their group, who had been secretly protecting me, watched the scene unfold from afar.

"What’s going on? Why is Her Highness Liliana leaving with that human?" Xuelan asked in confusion.

"That human is called Byron, apparently an old friend of Her Highness Liliana," Ashius, who had been sent to investigate, replied.

"A human friend? Lady Liliel, do you know him? Didn’t you once spend time in the human world with Her Highness Liliana? If he’s a friend of hers, you should remember him," Duke Wind asked Liliel.

"I don’t know him. I never wasted my time remembering a few lowly humans. The name Byron sounds familiar, though. I think I once heard Sister Lilith mention him, but I have no impression. The only ones I remember are that human Xingyu and a girl named Le Xiaoyou—but she’s already dead," Liliel replied indifferently. "He’s just an ordinary human—can’t even fend off a few trash vampires. Nothing to worry about," she added dismissively.

"We mustn't be careless. Her Highness Liliana has lost her memories; even an ordinary human could become her enemy. Have you forgotten the danger we faced just a few days ago? We must be vigilant, even with humans," Xuelan admonished her.

"For now, let’s just follow them. There’s no need to act unless Her Highness is in danger. Even with her memory lost, she’s not so easily deceived—perhaps he truly is an old friend," Xuelan said, taking the lead as they followed after Liliana and Byron.

Liliel and Duke Wind exchanged glances, then quietly slipped after them as well.