Chapter 10: The Underhanded Scheme

The next morning, Han Qi, still half asleep, was roused by the aroma of food. Drowsily, he sat up and realized that Qiao Nian was already awake. Slipping on his slippers, he followed the scent to the kitchen.

Qiao Nian had fully recovered from last night's disheveled state; standing there with a spatula, he looked every bit the part of a competent cook.

Seeing Han Qi at the doorway, he said, "Breakfast is almost ready."

On the dining table were two steaming bowls of plain congee and some golden, appetizing scrambled eggs. Qiao Nian handed a pair of chopsticks to Han Qi, smiling warmly. "Thank you for last night."

Han Qi nodded but didn't reply, eating his breakfast in silence.

Qiao Nian tried several times to spark a conversation but Han Qi's solemn expression made him hesitate, so he fell silent too, inwardly wondering if perhaps the breakfast was not to his taste.

After a pause, Han Qi asked, "Last night, you..."

Qiao Nian immediately put down his chopsticks and looked at him earnestly. "Did I say anything inappropriate last night?"

Han Qi shook his head. "I just wanted to ask you a few questions."

Qiao Nian smiled, eyes crinkling. "Of course, go ahead!"

"Do you know Suxue?"

Qiao Nian nodded emphatically. "His status is extremely distinguished; every vampire knows him."

Han Qi responded with a faint "Oh," a fleeting, strange emotion flashing through his heart.

Mentioning Suxue seemed to remind Qiao Nian of something. A wistful look crossed his face. "Actually, I really envy you..."

To Han Qi, those words carried another meaning. Tentatively, he asked, "Do you love that person deeply?"

Qiao Nian fell silent, then gave a self-deprecating smile. "Yes, but I’m just a half-blood; I’m not worthy of him..."

Han Qi felt a heaviness in his chest and feigned casualness as he probed, "Who is this person?"

Qiao Nian’s face turned a little pale. "Someone who is forever out of reach..."

Seeing Qiao Nian barely managing a smile, Han Qi felt a pang of sourness, a tangled, inexplicable sadness gnawing at his heart.

"Do you really like Suxue that much?" Han Qi blurted out, not realizing how jealous he sounded.

"What?!"

Qiao Nian was secretly glad he hadn’t taken a sip of his congee or he might have spat it out.

His expression twisted as he retorted, "How could I possibly be enamored with a murderer like him?!"

Han Qi frowned. "He’s not a murderer. He’s very gentle!"

Qiao Nian nearly lost it. "Gentle? The Supreme Marshal of the Blood Clan, gentle?"

He remembered that night many years ago, when Suxue had led his army and slaughtered everyone in that place. The once vibrant, bustling little town was transformed in an instant into a blood-soaked hell on earth.

Blood-drenched earth, shattered bodies, broken bones... The town, once said to be under God’s protection, was reduced to a ruined relic.

The image of relentless, driving blood rain was Qiao Nian’s final memory of that place.

Their conversation ended in a pensive silence, Qiao Nian lost in thought.

Once breakfast was over, Han Qi slung his satchel over his shoulder.

Qiao Nian asked, "Are you heading out?"

While changing his shoes, Han Qi replied, "I have class. If you have nowhere else to go, you can stay at my place."

Qiao Nian gave him a grateful smile. "You’d better hurry, don’t be late."

Only after becoming a member of the Blood Clan did Han Qi realize that vampires had long since blended seamlessly into human society. Naturally, ordinary people could never detect them. The Blood Clan had their own rules; they wouldn’t attack humans lightly or upset the balance. In fact, they lived much like ordinary people.

Han Qi had become sensitive to the scent of different kinds of blood and could now distinguish vampires among humans by their unique odors.

Since the military had implemented its latest plan, all Scarlet-Blood nobles now carried an enticing pheromone in their blood.

Whether it was for breeding or lust, both were primitive urges, impossible to suppress.

Yet Han Qi hadn’t realized that he himself had become a walking pheromone dispenser, regarded by vampires as the ideal bearer, a prize to be fought for.

During life drawing class, the gray-bearded professor had two students haul in a half-naked statue—its proportions perfect, muscles sculpted in the style of the Renaissance.

The professor lectured animatedly at the podium, but Han Qi’s mind began to wander.

Again, he thought of Suxue, imagining the other man’s physique.

He must be even better built than this statue...

Across the aisle, another vampire sat near Han Qi.

As a member of the Sandalwood-Blood nobility, Mu Chuan had set his sights on Han Qi from the very start. To secure the right of first breeding, he had fought several battles with other vampires—though Han Qi was unaware of any of this. At first, Mu Chuan tried to strike up a conversation but was brushed off. His noble pride wounded, he vowed to win Han Qi over no matter what.

Feigning carelessness, Mu Chuan deliberately let his pencil drop, rolling it to Han Qi’s feet. Han Qi picked it up and handed it back, but as Mu Chuan took the pencil, his fingertips brushed lightly across Han Qi’s hand.

A sly, devilish curve rose on his lips. "Ah, thank you."

The vampire hierarchy was strict, and nobles tended to be proud and powerful. Sandalwood-Blood nobles had an innate talent for sensing and distinguishing; they often became military doctors, forensic experts, or appraisers among vampires. Their exceptional talent with drugs made them leaders of secret experiments as well.

Mu Chuan had dusted his fingertips with black rose powder, which blended perfectly with the rich floral scent in Scarlet-Blood lineage, stimulating an even greater surge of desire—its effect akin to an aphrodisiac, except it invaded silently, only activating when mingled with Scarlet-Blood. The scheme was flawless, leaving no evidence for the other party to discover.

After class, students gathered their art supplies and gradually filed out of the studio.

Han Qi shouldered his bag, ready to leave, when Mu Chuan grabbed him.

Frowning slightly, Han Qi pulled his wrist free and asked coolly, "Is there something you need?"

The other stayed silent for a long moment—so long that Han Qi was losing patience—before finally speaking, "Could you wait a moment?"

Han Qi instinctively took a step back. "If you have something to say, Mu Chuan, make it quick. I’m leaving."

Mu Chuan’s lips drooped in a look of innocence. "Do you dislike me that much?"

Han Qi’s frown deepened. Mu Chuan’s behavior was odd, but he didn’t want to waste time. He turned to go.

But after just a few steps, a tingling sensation began to course through his body. He shuddered, his steps unsteady. Mu Chuan caught him in time.

Leaning close, Mu Chuan’s breath was warm against Han Qi’s ear. "Still think you can walk away now?"

A strange wave of pleasure swept through Han Qi, unfamiliar and alarming.

He forced himself to stay calm, struggling free from Mu Chuan’s grip and staggering toward the door. But before he could leave, the door shut automatically. The once brightly lit art room was plunged into darkness.

Mu Chuan circled around in no hurry, took Han Qi’s hand, and pressed a kiss to the back of it.

"My dear, I’ll show you ecstasy."

His eyes gradually turned a deep, bloody red...

Suxue stood on the railing, the wind tossing his hair. The aura around him was icy, like a silent snow-capped mountain. His eyes carried the chill of the summit, and in their depths, white storms raged.

Yinzhan had been completely right—Han Qi should never be left unguarded before his full awakening.

Suxue wished he could announce to the entire Blood Clan that Han Qi could never be claimed as a bearer by anyone!

It was all the fault of that damned plan!

When Suxue crashed through the window, the room was suddenly flooded with light.

Mu Chuan barely registered what had happened before he saw that Han Qi was no longer in his arms, but being held protectively by another man.

Beneath long, pale gold hair was a face of exquisite features, eyes cold and proud with a touch of wildness.

Mu Chuan froze in shock, then knelt on one knee. "Marshal, it’s you..."

Suxue said nothing, but Mu Chuan could feel a bone-deep chill radiating from him.

Lowering his head, Mu Chuan remained kneeling, unmoving.

At last, the icy pressure lifted. When he looked up again, Suxue was already gone.

Mu Chuan let out a breath and got up.

—Could someone please tell him what on earth was going on?!

After leaving the studio, Suxue returned to his usual self, his hair and eyes turning black once more, low-key and inconspicuous. Still, passing students couldn’t help but stare and whisper excitedly, drawing attention to the otherwise invisible Han Qi as well.

Han Qi strode ahead, clearly trying to avoid Suxue.

"You really don’t have to follow me. I’m fine now..."

Suxue quickened his pace and caught Han Qi by the hand.

Han Qi’s heart skipped; he jerked his hand away in panic. "People will get the wrong idea..."

Pedestrians around them had stopped, curiosity lighting their faces as they stared.

Suxue looked at Han Qi’s awkward discomfort and suddenly gave a soft laugh, his voice intimate and full of meaning.

Then he lowered his head and pressed a fleeting kiss to Han Qi’s lips, withdrawing almost instantly.

A gasp rippled through the onlookers, who erupted into excited chatter.

Han Qi was stunned, unsure how to react, while Suxue smiled faintly.

He had achieved exactly what he wanted—Han Qi would finally have some peace, at least for a while. The other vampires would not dare trouble him now.

Suxue cast a simple barrier, muffling the surrounding noise until it faded away completely. In that moment, it felt as if only he and Han Qi remained in the world.

Han Qi cleared his throat awkwardly, avoiding Suxue’s eyes.

A fierce, unfamiliar emotion surged within him, leaving him abashed. He didn’t want to face Suxue with such feelings—he just wanted to turn and leave. But Suxue caught his shoulders and turned him around. When Han Qi looked up, he met Suxue’s gaze head-on.

In those deep eyes was a gentle, pure light.

At that moment, Han Qi’s panic began to ebb away.

He and Suxue locked eyes, as if hypnotized, Han Qi growing steadily calmer.

Suxue lowered his head, his lips brushing softly against Han Qi’s. Han Qi stiffened for a moment, then lifted his chin slightly to return the kiss.