TMWTGD CH29

Lu Li had no idea that Xie Jianwei had been injured.

Although he resided within the Blood Clan’s territory, he lived as if isolated from the world, oblivious to external affairs.

When Loren came to fetch him in person, he skipped pleasantries and got straight to the point, “Follow me.”

Lu Li bowed to him respectfully, “Earl Loren.”

Although Loren was quite dissatisfied with him, he wouldn’t go out of his way to make things difficult for him. In truth, there was plenty he could do; simply telling Lu Li of the Blood King’s existence would be enough to give this fragile human a taste of despair. Yet he respected Xie Jianwei and would not act recklessly to cause trouble for his friend.

He was loyal to the leader of the Blood Clan, but he also regarded Xie Jianwei as a cherished friend.

Fortunately, the two did not conflict.

Vampires knew nothing of romance, so the concept of fidelity in love held little meaning for them. Xie Jianwei could love His Majesty and could also love a human; this was neither a crime nor betrayal.

If anything, the way Xie Jianwei and His Majesty had interacted in the past was inherently flawed, stubbornly refusing to drink hot blood from anyone else, which was unthinkable for a vampire.

Occasional exchanges with others granted renewed power, but staying exclusively with two people meant the vitality drawn from each other would only dwindle over time, until finally…

Loren let out a sigh, refusing to dwell on it further.

Lu Li asked nothing, merely following quietly behind him.

Loren admired him on this point. This human was exceedingly fragile, probably weaker than an average mortal, yet his mind was remarkably resilient.

A little white rabbit dwelling inside a viper’s nest without showing fear was no easy feat.

Loren asked him, “Aren’t you curious where I am taking you?”

Lu Li said, “You are Earl Jianwei’s friend.”

Loren laughed, “So you are convinced I won’t harm you?”

Lu Li answered, “Yes.”

Loren felt a sudden urge to play along, adopting a severe, imposing look, “It is precisely because I am his friend that I should eliminate a bane like you for his sake!”

He put on a very convincing performance, looking ready to purge a treacherous influence right then and there.

Yet Lu Li’s expression did not waver in the slightest, remaining thoroughly calm, his voice steady as still water, “I will trouble Earl Loren, then.”

Loren was baffled, “Aren’t you afraid to die?”

Lu Li said, “If I am a bane to him, I would rather die.”

Loren: “…” What a colossal lunatic!

Failing to tease the other and getting stunned instead, Earl Loren waved his hand in defeat, “…You are out of your mind.”

Before long, they arrived at the place where Xie Jianwei was convalescing.

Loren pushed open the door and said to Lu Li, “Go inside. Your Earl is waiting for you.”

Lu Li inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment and stepped into the chamber.

It was an exceedingly dim room. Despite having several floor-to-ceiling windows without curtains, the glass looked pitch-black, as though the outside belonged to an entirely different world, devoid of light and steeped in perpetual darkness.

The room held only a faint red glow, radiating from a circle of crimson crystals lining the perimeter. They flickered softly, like a cluster of bloodshot eyes scrutinizing an unknown intruder.

Walking straight inside, Lu Li finally caught sight of the man lying atop a bed of dark red crystal at the very center of the hall.

His black robe draped loosely around him, making his skin the only source of light within the darkness.

Lu Li’s heart lurched violently. Rushing forward, he saw the man’s pallid face and lips so pale they were nearly translucent.

“You…” Lu Li tried to speak, but in that instant, his throat felt choked, unable to produce another sound.

As if startled from a dream, Xie Jianwei turned his head toward Lu Li, offering a faint smile, “You came.”

His voice was hoarse and faint, sounding as though he weren’t even using breath to speak.

Panic flickered in Lu Li’s eyes, “What happened to you?”

Xie Jianwei said, “It’s nothing, just a minor…” Before the word ‘injury’ could leave his mouth, he began coughing violently, each fit fiercer and more agonizing than the last, as if he were trying to cough up his internal organs.

Lu Li helped him sit up, gently stroking his back to ease his breathing.

Xie Jianwei suddenly raised a hand to cover his mouth, and in the next second, crimson fluid overflowed through the gaps between his fingers.

Lu Li’s pupils contracted sharply, his heart seemingly coming to an abrupt halt.

Xie Jianwei was vomiting blood.

Every human knew that the Blood Clan craved blood, and only when on the verge of death would they reject it.

Unlike humans, when vampires vomited blood, it was essentially a death sentence.

The liquid slid from his pale fingertips, viscous and glaring, carrying a terrifying metallic stench that coldly declared a horrific reality.

Lu Li’s voice trembled uncontrollably, “You… you…”

Unable to speak, Xie Jianwei could only pat him with his other hand, offering comfort.

Lu Li didn’t dare voice that question aloud. Would Xie Jianwei die? Could he truly die? Weren’t purebloods immortal? Weren’t vampires exceptionally powerful? Why… why was he…

Xie Jianwei was truly weak to the extreme. Leaning into Lu Li’s embrace, his naturally cool body grew even colder.

Yan Ke whispered softly in his mind, “My Lord… what if this one isn’t the primary personality and you actually die?”

Xie Jianwei: “Do you really think I’m vomiting my own blood?”

Yan Ke: “…”

Xie Jianwei: “I’m throwing up blood, but it isn’t mine.” Long before Lu Li entered, he had prepared everything.

He had calibrated this injury with extreme precision. The wound was severe and it hurt terribly, but it wasn’t enough to end his life.

With timely treatment he could easily survive, but it was plenty enough to fool Lu Li into believing he was on the brink of death.

Under such a shock, if Lu Li was the master of the dream, his desperate desire to keep him alive would flare to its absolute peak. Such powerful mental interference would be enough to nullify all physical pain for Xie Jianwei.

Military Advisor Xie was an experienced veteran, long accustomed to bizarre settings like ruptured internal organs feeling entirely painless.

Therefore, the urgent priority was making Lu Li believe he was truly dying.

Xie Jianwei put his whole heart into the performance. Out of the corner of his eye, he stole a glance to check on Lu Li’s reaction.

That single glance made his heart ache so intensely that he almost gave up the act and confessed the truth.

Lu Li looked ashen, far paler than Xie Jianwei the supposed dying man. Those mesmerizing dark eyes had completely lost their luster, his thin lips trembling, looking as though he might break into tears at any second.

Watching this made Xie Jianwei’s heart twinge with tenderness, wanting nothing more than to comfort him.

However, there was a bit too much blood pooling in his mouth, which he had to let trickle out slowly to preserve the tragic aesthetic, leaving him momentarily unable to speak.

How frustrating! He almost wanted to spit it all out in one go and tell Lu Li he was completely fine…

Yan Ke finally proved his worth at the right moment, urgently chiming in, “Don’t go soft-hearted, My Lord!”

Xie Jianwei: “…” That was close, nearly ruining all his efforts.

Yan Ke was speechless, feeling as though he had been force-fed a ton of couple’s sweetness out of nowhere.

Holding Xie Jianwei, Lu Li murmured with frantic repetition, “It’s alright… nothing will happen to you.”

And then, with lightning speed, Xie Jianwei began to magically be completely fine.

The wound stopped hurting, his body regained vigor, and far from dying, he was bursting with vitality, feeling as though he could live another five centuries without a problem!

Yan Ke: “…”

Xie Jianwei cleared his throat mentally, “It seems this one is indeed the dream’s master.”

Relieved, Yan Ke said, “The blood has drained enough, hurry and console the Lord Marshal.”

Finally able to speak, Xie Jianwei said in a frail tone, “Don’t be sad, I will be fine.”

How could Lu Li possibly believe him?

Xie Jianwei added, “Could you help clean me up?”

He had vomited blood all over himself, and if Loren saw this, he would probably explode on the spot.

Lu Li never went against his wishes, doing whatever he asked. Yet while cleaning him up, he felt that blood was blindingly sharp, like thick, boiling magma that could incinerate a person to ash upon touch.

This was Xie Jianwei’s blood, presented before his eyes in such a despairing manner.

Lu Li changed him into clean clothes, gently gathering him into his arms with utmost care.

Having accomplished his goal, Xie Jianwei naturally couldn’t bear to let him suffer further, saying softly, “Don’t be afraid, I will be alright.”

Lu Li remained silent, merely tightening his grip around him.

Xie Jianwei said, “Purebloods are different from common vampires. Even if we vomit blood, it does not mean death.” Classmate Old Xie began his smooth fabrications.

Clearly the human Lu Li didn’t know much about pureblood physiology, so he believed it, a spark returning to his lifeless eyes.

Pressing his advantage, Xie Jianwei added, “Do I look like someone about to die? It’s just a bit of blood, you can replenish it for me in a little while.”

His condition had indeed improved remarkably, yet Lu Li remained uneasy, terrified that Xie Jianwei was merely putting on a brave face.

Xie Jianwei said, “Really, if I were truly going to die, I wouldn’t have agreed to see you.”

Hearing those words, Lu Li finally spoke, his voice hoarse and rough, “Why?”

The corners of Xie Jianwei’s lips lifted, murmuring softly, “It would be too heartbreaking…”

Lu Li didn’t catch the words that followed.

Xie Jianwei raised his voice slightly, “It would be far too heartbreaking. I love you so deeply, yet to part with you in life and death, I would rather not see you at all.”

Lu Li froze completely, seemingly ensnared by this sweet confession. Even if this was merely a web woven by a predator, because it was coated in rich honey, he fell willingly into its depths.

Xie Jianwei certainly hadn’t lied to Lu Li; his recovery was astonishingly rapid.

When Loren saw him, he marveled repeatedly, “How did your recovery speed become so formidable?”

How could Xie Jianwei admit that his husband had activated a cheat code for him? He could only say cryptically, “It is the power of love.”

Loren: “…” I am going to throw up.

Knowing Loren had things to discuss, Xie Jianwei deliberately sent Lu Li away, “The wine you blended last time tasted wonderful, could you prepare a glass for each of us?”

Lu Li understood his cue, answering softly, “Alright.”

Once Lu Li stepped into the next room, Loren lowered his voice and asked Xie Jianwei, “You plan to give the Sun-Silk Flower to him?”

Xie Jianwei nodded, “Yes.”

Loren shook his head, sighing, “I won’t stop you, seeing as you risked your life to obtain it.”

Xie Jianwei paused, then added, “His Majesty will wake eventually.”

Loren understood the meaning behind his words. While he emotionally resisted it, his reason conceded the logic.

His Majesty would awaken within a century at most, but Lu Li could not wait that long.

A human’s lifespan was finite, while the Sun-Silk Flower appeared once in a thousand years. Missing this one, Lu Li would never live to see another.

Lu Li needed this flower far more than His Majesty did.

The reasoning was sound, yet in the end… Loren said, “You still chose Lu Li.”

Xie Jianwei remained silent.

After a long pause, Loren said slowly, “That’s fine… this is fine too.”

At this moment, Xie Jianwei didn’t grasp the deeper implication of those words, and by the time he understood, his heart would ache terribly.

Yet there was no other way.

From the moment he faced this choice, Xie Jianwei had already reached a decision.

Whomever was the dream’s master would receive the Sun-Silk Flower.

If the human Lu Li was the master, he would lift the curse for him, grant him a longer life, and conceal his relationship with the Blood Clan’s leader. If he could find the psychological knot and resolve the dream during the century the Blood King slumbered, that would be ideal.

If the vampire Lu Li were the master, he would awaken him, send the human Lu Li away, and isolate them forever so they would never meet, allowing him to soothe the vampire Lu Li with undivided focus.

Through his experience in the previous world, Xie Jianwei had figured out a few things.

He could not logically bind the master of the dream, but he could bind the other personality.

Because that personality’s will could not shake the dream’s reality. For instance, if the vampire Lu Li were the master, the human Lu Li would remain an ordinary mortal, and ensuring a human lived out a peaceful life was child’s play for Xie Jianwei.

As long as that personality was not maliciously destroyed by the dream’s master, it would not vanish.

When all was said and done, the greatest danger lay in their direct confrontation.

And the best solution to confrontation was keeping them apart.

Loren sat for a while longer before rising to leave.

When he moved to go, Lu Li saw him out.

Xie Jianwei glanced over, but didn’t intervene, knowing what Lu Li wanted to do.

Stepping outside the hall doors, Lu Li spoke, “Earl Loren.”

Loren looked at him, “What is it?”

Lu Li asked, “Could you tell me what Earl Jianwei went to do recently?”

Since Xie Jianwei had chosen this fragile human anyway, Loren saw no point in hiding it, saying bluntly, “He discovered that your body is afflicted with a curse.”

“A curse?” Lu Li looked at him.

Loren said, “Yes, a curse that prevents you from receiving the Embrace. Though for you humans, that is probably considered a blessing.”

After all, being unable to receive the Embrace meant no risk of turning into a monster, which was an enviable safeguard for survival.

Realization dawned upon Lu Li. Pursing his thin lips, he asked, “Did he leave because of this?”

Loren said, “Yes. He searched through endless archives and discovered that this blessing could be lifted, only one of the required materials was exceedingly rare and precious.”

Lu Li knitted his brows slightly, asking, “He went to retrieve that material?”

Loren said, “Indeed.”

Lowering his eyelids, Lu Li clenched his fists tightly.

After a moment’s thought, Loren shared what he had been investigating recently, “However, I feel there is something suspicious about this matter.”

Lu Li looked up at him, “How so?”

Loren said, “Although the Sun-Silk Flower grows in a perilous place, Jianwei is a pureblood. Even without tasting hot blood for a century, he is far beyond what ordinary humans or common vampires can match. He shouldn’t have suffered such grievous injuries.”

Lu Li paused, “I heard that only a pureblood can severely wound another pureblood.”

Loren said, “Theoretically, yes.” Aside from a few exceptionally reckless individuals, which Loren decided not to mention out of courtesy.

Lu Li’s eyes narrowed sharply, “Sears.”

Loren looked at him with some surprise, “You are quite sharp.”

Lu Li pressed his lips together, intense hatred gleaming in his dark eyes, “He was the one who wounded Earl Jianwei.”

Loren said, “There is no definitive proof yet, but it’s likely him. Actually, the whole thing feels rather strange.” He muttered to himself, “Logically, Sears shouldn’t have been capable of breaking through the guards, nor could he operate with such flawless secrecy, leaving zero traces behind…” It practically felt as though a mastermind had guided him from the shadows.

Inside the room, the “mastermind” Xie Jianwei sneezed.

When Lu Li returned, he gathered Xie Jianwei into his arms.

Xie Jianwei said, “Loren ran his mouth again?”

Lu Li kissed his forehead gently, “Thank you.”

Xie Jianwei said, “What is there to thank me for? I’m still counting on drinking your hot blood.”

Lu Li kissed him again, murmuring, “I want to as well…”

Smiling, Xie Jianwei looked at him.

Lu Li finished his sentence, “…truly possess you.”

Xie Jianwei wrapped his arms around his neck, engaging in a deep, tender kiss.

Nurturing the recovery made the two grow cloyingly sweet, prompting Loren to grumble every time he saw them, “Absolute decadence.”

Xie Jianwei teased him, “If you don’t understand, don’t talk nonsense.”

Loren huffed, “Shameless indulgence!”

Yan Ke recorded the audio with glee, “It turns out Admiral Loren is practically uneducated!”

Xie Jianwei reflected on it and realized that was true. Loren was an officer who had risen through raw battlefield grit, brilliant at combat and tactical deployment, but asking him to read books was akin to demanding his life.

Once fully recovered, Xie Jianwei wasted no time, preparing the components to lift Lu Li’s curse.

The entire process went remarkably smoothly. When adding the Sun-Silk Flower, Xie Jianwei’s heart twitched slightly, but thinking it through and seeing no flaws, he proceeded without hesitation, tossing the millennium-rare treasure into the ritual.

The spell succeeded, though taking full effect required time.

Xie Jianwei waited patiently.

Yan Ke chatted casually with him, “My Lord, what do you think the Lord Marshal’s psychological knot is this time?”

Xie Jianwei said, “I still need to observe further.”

Yan Ke said, “It feels like this Lord Marshal believes you love him, and he doesn’t reject your confessions either.”

Xie Jianwei said, “There are two possibilities in this situation. One is that he genuinely believes I love him, and the other is that he doesn’t believe it at all.”

If he believed it, he would welcome the words with joy; if he didn’t believe it at all, he would simply treat it as false.

In neither case would he openly object.

Only when Lu Li was caught in the conflict of wanting to believe while feeling he wasn’t loved would he refuse to listen to Xie Jianwei.

Conflict was not a bad thing since it could be resolved; what was truly terrifying was absolute disbelief.

Relying on intuition, Xie Jianwei felt the latter had a ninety percent probability.

Once the curse dissolved smoothly, Xie Jianwei let out a long breath.

Loren, who had been standing guard for him, breathed a sigh of relief as well.

Xie Jianwei waved a dismissive hand behind his back. Catching the hint, Loren’s mouth twitched, saying, “Fine, fine, I won’t disturb you two.”

The moment the meddlesome Admiral departed, Xie Jianwei and Lu Li leaned into a kiss.

After kissing for merely a short while, Big Li made a glorious entrance.

Delighted, Xie Jianwei said, “It really worked.”

Lu Li pushed him down onto the rug, thrusting inside without any foreplay.

Xie Jianwei felt a pang of pain, followed by incredible pleasure.

Lu Li moved slowly at first, accelerating once slick moisture gathered.

Though they had done this many times, because of this impotent dream, this long-awaited consummation felt thoroughly intoxicating.

When Big Li finally released, Xie Jianwei’s fangs pierced Lu Li’s neck. Scorching blood flooded into his mouth like sweet nectar, the astonishing flavor sending violent shivers through his brain. Every nerve seemed to gather upon his taste buds, delivering an explosive ecstasy that words could never describe.

This was no ordinary food; it was an immense rapture that made his very soul sing, followed by a profound satisfaction far more intense than any climax.

It was unimaginable, truly unimaginable.

The sensation was simply too magnificent!

No wonder Loren always said that anyone who had tasted hot blood could never stomach warm blood again.

Xie Jianwei had already considered Lu Li’s warm blood the pinnacle of delicacies, but the liquid currently surging past his throat was hundreds, thousands of times more delectable than that pinnacle.

Beyond all description.

The ecstasy of this singular moment was something Xie Jianwei could never share with anyone else.

He drank greedily, drank in pure satisfaction, savoring the draught as though granted a fresh rebirth.

When it finally ended, Xie Jianwei, the one doing the feeding, collapsed straight into Lu Li’s embrace.

The sensory overload was simply too intense. While he was drinking blood, Lu Li had simultaneously driven his body straight over the edge. Such compounding layers of bliss entirely exceeded what the brain could bear, giving Xie Jianwei a visceral taste of what it meant to experience pleasure pushed to its absolute limit.

This time, he truly spent half a month holed up with Lu Li inside the palace, utterly shameless and lost to the world.

Loren did not come around to disturb him either.

Everyone understood how it was. Having held out for a hundred years, the fact that Xie Jianwei hadn’t drained Lu Li dry in one sitting already showed astonishing self-restraint.

To make matters better, once the curse was broken, Lu Li’s once-frail frame had abruptly turned remarkably robust. His stamina was endless, his strength formidable, and most astonishing of all, his blood regenerated with extraordinary speed.

In every sense of the word, he was more than capable of keeping Xie Jianwei thoroughly fed.

Had Yan Ke not reminded him, Xie Jianwei wouldn’t have noticed that so many days had slipped by.

Yearning evident in his tone, Yan Ke said, “I really want to try it.”

Xie Jianwei considered Yan Ke’s slender frame and decided he would probably be squeezed bone-dry by some well-endowed vampire beauty.

Yan Ke asked, “Is it about time to bestow the Embrace on Lu Li?”

Xie Jianwei answered, “Just about.”

He said to Lu Li, “Do you want to become like me?”

This was an explicit invitation to join the Blood Clan. Xie Jianwei had expected Lu Li to agree without hesitation, yet unexpectedly, Lu Li hesitated for a fleeting moment.

Xie Jianwei asked, “You don’t want to?”

Lu Li smiled faintly. “I do. I want to be with you forever.”

If he remained a human, he would no longer be able to stay by Xie Jianwei’s side after a few decades.

Xie Jianwei pressed a kiss to his lips. “The night after tomorrow happens to be a full moon, the most suitable time.”

Born of darkness, the Blood Clan revered the moon above all else; a rebirth beneath a full moon bestowed far greater power than at ordinary times.

Since he was going to turn Lu Li into a vampire, Xie Jianwei was determined to make him the finest of their kind.

Though he could not be a pureblood by nature, he still had to be far superior to common vampires.

A single day passed in the blink of an eye. Hearing that Xie Jianwei intended to grant Lu Li new life, Loren dropped by specifically to chat with him.

“After the rebirth, Lu Li will lose his memories of being human.”

Xie Jianwei said, “Mm.”

Loren added, “He will forget you as well.”

Xie Jianwei chuckled softly. “What does that matter? Every newly turned vampire naturally adores the one who granted them rebirth, don’t they?”

Loren weighed his words before saying, “I still feel that Lu Li is no ordinary person.”

Xie Jianwei replied, “No matter how out of the ordinary he is, once he becomes a vampire, he is one of our kind.”

Loren couldn’t pinpoint what made him so uneasy, but considering how utterly infatuated Lu Li was with Xie Jianwei, he probably wouldn’t harm him.

With the night of the full moon approaching, Xie Jianwei looked forward to it with keen anticipation.

After all, such a thing could never occur in reality.

Actual vampires in the real world had no such grand powers; those white, fluffy little critters were only good at being cute.

By comparison, Lu Li the mortal actually carried himself with far greater composure than Xie Jianwei the vampire.

This was understandable, since Xie Jianwei never felt a genuine sense of reality in this world, finding everything novel and amusing.

The ritual of the Embrace was not complicated, amounting to adding a step of bestowal right after Xie Jianwei fed on his hot blood.

Because Lu Li was not yet a vampire, his teeth could not pierce skin, so Xie Jianwei simply slashed his own arm to let the blood flow.

As a pureblood, mere drops of his hot blood were enough to trigger a complete metamorphosis in Lu Li.

The human’s teeth sharpened, his pitch-black pupils taking on a deep, shimmering shade of crimson. Lu Li’s complexion turned stark white while his thin lips were stained a vibrant scarlet. His features had always been cleanly chiseled, yet turning into a vampire rendered them exceptionally profound and aristocratic.

He pulled Xie Jianwei close, running his tongue across the tender skin of his neck before sinking his fangs in with force.

Xie Jianwei’s body trembled slightly. Following a sharp prick of pain came wave after wave of intoxicating, numbing tingling.

The blood within him surged outward continuously. This reverse flow brought no discomfort, but rather an exquisite, dizzying pleasure, light and airy, as though stepping upon the clouds, thrilling and intense.

Xie Jianwei had drawn plenty of Lu Li’s hot blood, and in return, Lu Li drank back far more.

The hot blood of a pureblood was more than enough to reconstruct this mortal body from the ground up.

Lost in their mutual claiming and exchange, they were entirely oblivious to the thunderous clamor erupting outside.

A blood moon!

Above the Blood Clan territory, the pure, luminous white moon seemed drenched in fresh blood, turning an astonishing, radiant crimson.

The red brilliance flared with dazzling splendor, infecting even the neighboring stars with a faint rosy halo.

Every vampire was struck dumb with shock.

A blood moon, a celestial phenomenon that manifested only when royalty walked the earth!

This represented tyrannical power, a new era, and the explicit favor of God Father!

Not a single pureblood had been born in countless tens of thousands of years, yet tonight brought such an omen.

Royalty had manifested?

Yet their only king was currently deep in slumber!

What was going on? Nobody knew.

Loren’s very first reaction upon witnessing this phenomenon was rushing to check on the Blood Clan’s leader.

Yet His Majesty had not awakened, still sleeping silently within the crystal coffin.

Then… why had the blood moon appeared?

Loren’s thoughts snapped to Lu Li.

He was slated to become a vampire tonight; could there be a connection?

Impossible. Loren shook his head, instantly discarding the notion. While an embraced human could indeed become a vampire, he wasn’t even a pureblood, so how could he ever be royalty?

The blood moon lingered throughout the night. The Blood Clan fell into an uproar, scouring the lands for this newly arisen royal, yet found not a single trace.

The following day, they did indeed welcome a new kinsman: an S-rank noble vampire.

When Xie Jianwei awoke, he found the space beside him empty. “A-Li?”

Lu Li walked in from outside. “Awake?”

He leaned down and pressed a kiss to his lips.

Xie Jianwei looped his arms lazily around his neck.

Lu Li scooped him into his arms, his fingers lightly brushing against the bite marks along his neck.

Shrinking back slightly, Xie Jianwei said, “It tickles.”

Lu Li smiled, his palm sliding downward to cup his rear.

Xie Jianwei glared at him playfully. “Behave yourself.”

Lu Li said, “I still have my memories.”

Xie Jianwei paused, taking a long moment to process the words. “You… remember everything?”

A flicker passed through Lu Li’s dark eyes as he murmured, “Yes, I remember everything.”

“How is that possible?” Still groggy earlier, Xie Jianwei hadn’t reacted, but thinking about it now, it truly was bizarre. After the Embrace, Lu Li was supposed to be completely bewildered by his new immortal existence, requiring gentle guidance, yet he wasn’t bewildered at all and remembered everything?

Reflecting on it, Xie Jianwei decided it was likely eighty percent the will of God at work again. He hadn’t wanted to forget, so he didn’t, which made sense in its own way.

In any case, this was Lu Li’s dream, so Lu Li made the rules.

Xie Jianwei beamed. “Not forgetting is fine too, saves me the trouble of making you fall in love with me all over again.”

Gazing at him, Lu Li said, “No matter how many times, I will always fall in love with you.”

Xie Jianwei thought to himself that this was the absolute truth.

He kissed Lu Li lightly. “Such a sweet mouth.”

One kiss led to another, until they ended up enjoying a thoroughly delicious breakfast.

Even though Lu Li retained his memories, Xie Jianwei still instructed him not to let others know. While Xie Jianwei understood this was Lu Li using a cheat code on himself, outsiders would never grasp it and would surely raise an uproar.

Once transformed into a vampire, Lu Li no longer stayed cooped up in the palace all day.

He grew even closer to Xie Jianwei, while integrating swiftly into Blood Clan society.

Just as Loren had predicted, the newly turned Lu Li instantly became a sensation pursued by everyone.

Men and women alike, countless individuals lined up wanting to exchange hot blood with him.

Yet Lu Li rejected every single one, devoid of the slightest interest.

The others did not push it either. Newly turned vampires always retained a lingering attachment toward their “sire.”

He certainly wouldn’t want to touch anyone else in the short term, though with the passage of time, he would adapt completely to vampire customs.

Yet what truly caused Lu Li’s fame to explode across the Blood Clan was an act that made everyone’s jaws drop.

He issued an open challenge to a First-Class Earl of the Blood Clan, challenging a pureblood in the capacity of a common vampire!

This was entirely lawful. In Blood Clan history, defeating the holder of a noble title meant inheriting that very title.

From the King of the Blood Clan down to the lowest lord, no one was permitted to refuse such a challenge.

However, common vampires were not stupid; no one ever challenged a pureblood, because their power existed on entirely different planes, and stepping up was a guaranteed death sentence.

Yet Lu Li had issued the challenge, directly targeting Sears.

Sears went completely ballistic with rage. An inferior common vampire dared provoke him, who gave him the audacity?!

Never mind that this challenge could not be refused; even if it could, Sears would never turn it down!

He was going to slaughter this blind piece of garbage, letting everyone know that his status was inviolable!

Hearing of this, Loren rushed frantically to find Xie Jianwei. “Do you not want your little wolfdog anymore?”

Xie Jianwei froze.

Yan Ke was recording audio again. Good heavens, daring to address the Lord Marshal like that! Admiral Loren, I salute you as a true hero!

Loren called him back to reality. “He went to challenge Sears, isn’t that seeking death?”

Xie Jianwei didn’t answer, his heart trembling with amusement over the pet name “little wolfdog.”

Loren snapped, “Hey!”

Xie Jianwei finally looked at him. “Hm?”

Exasperated, Loren felt like an anxious eunuch serving an indifferent emperor. The main party didn’t even care, so why was he fretting himself sick!

He had intended to wash his hands of it, but remembering that Lu Li was challenging Sears entirely on Xie Jianwei’s behalf, his heart softened again. “Hurry and stop him. That kid probably found out that Sears ambushed you last time, which is why he issued the challenge.”

Xie Jianwei naturally knew the reason.

Loren added, “Even though that trash Sears deserves to die, he shouldn’t be so reckless. How can a newly turned vampire possibly defeat Sears? Isn’t this throwing his life away!”

Xie Jianwei said, “Just watch.”

Loren kept rambling, “If all else fails, I’ll go drag him back myself. We can’t let Sears… Wait, what did you say?”

Xie Jianwei said, “Let’s go have a look.”

Loren looked at him as though staring at a madman. “That little wolfdog is young and hot-headed, and you’re going crazy along with him?”

Xie Jianwei smiled. “Lu Li is very formidable.”

Loren scoffed, “How formidable could he be?”

Xie Jianwei appraised him. “More formidable than you.”

Loren laughed in disbelief. “Are you kidding me?”

Nudging him along, Xie Jianwei said, “Hurry up. If we don’t hurry, the fight will already be over.”

Loren thought to himself that it certainly would be over quickly; that brat Lu Li was bound to be beaten into an invalid within seconds!

Forget it, suffering a bit while young wasn’t the worst thing, it might teach him a lesson. If Sears tried to deal a fatal blow, he would simply step in to stop it.

With that thought, Loren accompanied Xie Jianwei to the dueling arena.

Yet the scene before them left not just Earl Loren dumbfounded, but the entire Blood Clan petrified in absolute disbelief.

The battle concluded with astonishing speed!

Except Lu Li hadn’t fallen; Sears was the one beaten into a swollen pig’s head in mere seconds.

Total silence blanketed the arena, broken only by Xie Jianwei clapping softly with a smile, tossing out, “Not bad.”

The surrounding spectators collectively lost their minds: What in the absolute world just happened!

While things were bustling with excitement on this side, an anomaly stirred within the resting place of the Blood Clan’s slumbering lord.

That swirling cluster of dark mist slowly condensed into a human silhouette, and slender, distinct fingers twitched with a feather-light movement.