Chapter 16: Omen

Han Yan quickly realized that danger was closing in. The organization was even more terrifying than she had imagined. In just a few days, she had already noticed more than a dozen assassins from HC, their black bone rings on their fingers marking their identity as they swaggered through the city, the threat unmistakable. And those were only the ones in the open; there were others lurking in the shadows.

Once, when Han Yan discovered she was being followed, she deliberately led her pursuer into a dead-end alley, turned slowly, and pulled out her gun, aiming it at the person behind her. She hadn’t even had time to cock the weapon when a bullet grazed her temple, searing pain left in its wake. But that shot hadn’t come from her pursuer—it had come from behind her. Han Yan spun around to find herself surrounded by four or five people. Li Cheng stood at the center of the group, walking slowly toward her.

He grabbed a fistful of her hair. “If you try anything else, I’ll put a bullet through your skull.”

He yanked her by the scalp and flung her aside. Han Yan crashed heavily to the ground.

She hated him with every fiber of her being, but she was powerless. They really would kill her. She had to think of something. Only by completing this final mission could she escape unscathed, severing all ties with the organization.

All HC wanted was the special bloodline of the Blood Key, not Han Qi himself. So, if there were another vampire with the same bloodline, they could take Han Qi’s place.

According to information from above, all of the Lapis nobles were capable of bearing offspring, including her own brother. If she handed over her brother’s child, that should suffice. It sounded cruel, but sacrificing a single child could secure her brother’s safety and her own freedom. But if her brother found out, wouldn’t he be furious?

No, he wouldn’t, Han Yan assured herself. Her brother had never been angry with her before; surely, he wouldn’t be this time either.

Yet after making her decision, Han Yan felt no relief, only a suffocating weight pressing against her chest—a stifling, painful oppression. She forced herself to take deep breaths, silently vowing that this would be the last foolish thing she ever did.

Han Yan invited Han Qi to a private room in a restaurant, ordering a pot of tea and a few dishes.

When Han Qi arrived, he immediately noticed her distracted demeanor. Sitting beside her, he asked, “Did you have another argument with Mom and Dad?”

“No, I just wanted to see you, is that not allowed?”

Han Qi gave a knowing smile. “You must have gotten into trouble.”

“No! I just…”

“Just what?”

“Brother, why are you being so aggressive too?” Han Yan complained, feeling wronged.

“All right, all right, I won’t ask.”

Han Yan lowered her head, biting her lip, then finally pushed the cup of tea she’d poured toward Han Qi. “Brother, I ordered this black tea just for you. Try it.”

Han Qi glanced at her. She quickly averted her gaze. Though a bit surprised, Han Qi still picked up the cup and drank.

“Brother, if I did something wrong, you’d forgive me, wouldn’t you?”

Han Qi set down the cup and looked at her. “That depends on what you’ve done.”

His expression was as calm as ever, so calm it was almost cold. Han Yan’s heart clenched.

“Brother, I’m only doing this for your own good…”

“All right. I believe you.”

Han Qi’s lips curved into a gentle, tranquil smile—one Han Yan knew well, the one she cherished most.

Ten minutes later, Han Qi was slumped over the table, fast asleep.

Han Yan gazed at his sleeping face, her heart aching unbearably.

“Brother, this is the least harmful way I could think of. Please don’t blame me,” she whispered.

Taking a deep breath, her hands trembling, Han Yan lifted Han Qi, resting his chin on her shoulder, completely unaware that his eyelids had fluttered open for a moment, a dark glint flashing in his eyes.

She helped him into a suite. The room’s lighting was dim and suggestive, the air thick with an aphrodisiac scent. The large bed in the center left no doubt as to what was expected.

After laying Han Qi on the bed, Han Yan went to open the bathroom door and commanded coldly, “Come out.”

Inside stood a handsome vampire, but his expression was blank and vacant, as if he were nothing more than a puppet obeying his master’s commands. He was just one of many vampire slaves.

Following Han Yan’s orders, he emerged stiffly from the bathroom.

“Be quick about it,” Han Yan murmured. “Don’t hurt him.”

The vampire stood motionless, his vacant eyes fixed on something behind her.

Annoyed, Han Yan shoved him. “Did you not hear me?”

At her words, the vampire even took a step back.

Just as Han Yan was about to lose her temper, a chill swept over her from behind. Alarmed and anxious, she turned around.

Han Qi stood there, his long black hair draped over his shoulders, eyes now a deep, glowing red, his face expressionless.

Fear, like a swarm of ants, gnawed at Han Yan’s heart.

She’d thought her brother was still the gentle, harmless boy she remembered, but he had become a vampire—a cruel, bloodthirsty creature. And she, a mere human, had tried to drug him.

Han Qi advanced on her, his cold, murderous aura a stranger to Han Yan, who retreated step by step.

“…Brother, please, let me explain…”

He wrapped his hand around her throat, his voice void of all emotion as he asked, “Why did you deceive me?”

Han Yan struggled, trying to break free, staring up at her brother, tears of pain streaming from her eyes.

“Brother, I… I would never hurt you… please believe me…”

As they struggled, Han Yan’s hot tears dripped onto Han Qi’s hand. At last, he slowly released her.

She bent over, mouth wide open, gasping for air.

“Brother, the organization is after the Blood Key. If you just hand over your child, you’ll be safe.”

Han Qi laughed coldly, unwilling to say more. He turned toward the door.

Han Yan lunged, grabbing his arm. “Brother, it only takes sacrificing one child…”

Han Qi flung her off with such force that she tumbled to the ground. Undaunted, she latched onto his leg, clutching it desperately. “Brother, don’t go… I beg you…”

Han Qi suddenly froze, unmoving. Han Yan looked up at the boy before her, his face colder than ice, and the terror she’d felt earlier surged back.

She was facing a vampire with deadly power, not a tamed slave.

Almost instinctively, Han Yan loosened her grip.

Han Qi shook her off and strode out, leaving Han Yan sitting on the floor, dazed.

The sound of the door lock turning was especially loud in the deathly silent room. Suddenly, Han Yan remembered something, and the thought that flashed through her mind terrified her—but it was the truth.

She sprang forward, trying to catch Han Qi’s hand and stop him from opening the door, but it was already too late.

The scent of decaying black roses filled the air. The door opened from the outside, and Han Yan saw Li Cheng’s wicked face.

Han Qi swayed and collapsed. Li Cheng caught him just in time, turning to smile at Han Yan.

“Smart, but not ruthless enough,” he commented.

Han Yan rose to her feet, an icy mask settling over her beautiful features.

“Let him go. I’ll find another Blood Key.”

“I don’t let go of what’s already in my grasp.”

A few burly, black-clad bodyguards emerged from behind Li Cheng, grabbing Han Yan and wrenching her arms behind her back so hard it felt as if they’d break.

She struggled with all her might, her shrill, hoarse cries echoing through the room.

“I’ll make sure you die a horrible death! Just wait—I’ll tear you to pieces!”

Li Cheng only laughed, unconcerned, and left with Han Qi. A black car waited outside the hotel. He shoved Han Qi inside and sped away.

A powerful barrier concealed Suxi and Yuan Che; even standing on the rooftop, no one could see them.

Though everything was under his control, Suxi could barely contain his murderous urge, his blood-red eyes fixed on the departing car.

Yuan Che gripped his hand tightly. “Don’t act rashly. Hold on.”

The murderous aura swirling around Suxi finally began to dissipate. Soon, he was calm again, replaced by a cold, menacing smile.

A few minutes later, Suxi said, “This place is yours now.”

Yuan Che nodded knowingly. “Go on, you’re dying to.”

Before he finished speaking, Suxi vanished in a flash.

A frigid killing intent slowly surfaced on Yuan Che’s face.

Suddenly, countless blades pierced the roof, the ceiling shattering with a thunderous crash, dust and debris filling the air.

The young commander descended from above, not a speck of dust clinging to him.

Everyone coughed violently as the dust filled their lungs. While their vision was still clouded, the black-clad bodyguards drew their guns and fired wildly.

Han Yan, bound on the floor, could not move at all. She squeezed her eyes shut, her body trembling. Amid the screams and the endless tearing sounds all around her, she didn’t need to open her eyes to imagine the bloody scene.

When silence fell, as complete as a tomb, Han Yan finally dared to open her eyes. Though she’d braced herself, the scene still made her gasp.

The men who had just been kicking and beating her were now nothing but scattered corpses, torn limb from limb. The stench of blood made Han Yan want to retch.

The silver-haired man stood there, his expression somber and cold, his entire body spotless, as if the carnage had nothing to do with him.

Yuan Che looked calmly at Han Yan, but she felt a bone-chilling cold seep into her very soul.

“Don’t… don’t kill me. I… I’m Han Qi’s sister…”

Yuan Che’s expression did not change; at least, he didn’t appear angry. Han Yan had just begun to relax when a silver blade pierced her throat. She died before she could make a sound. She fell with her eyes still open, her last expression frozen on her face.