Chapter Forty-Three: The Slaughter of Blood

In the mortal realm, I floated silently in the air, bathed in moonlight, gazing down at the brightly lit yet silent city. “Xingyu, I have returned once more,” I murmured inwardly.

“Miss, shall I summon the local vampire factions to pay their respects?” Ang asked me respectfully.

“That won’t be necessary. This time, I am here for slaughter—there’s no need for them to know,” I replied coolly, my words laced with a thick scent of blood.

“Exactly. Telling those fools would only get in the way. This is our war; we’ll settle it ourselves,” Liliel said from the side, a proud smile at the corner of her lips.

I summoned my weapon, grasping the black scythe in my hand. I lifted my gaze to the cold, clear moonlight. “The hunt has begun. This is our vengeance.” A cold smile touched my lips. “Vampires, are you ready? I’ll reclaim all that you owe me.” Black bat wings flickered, and I sped off into the city’s darkest corners. Tonight would be a night of carnage.

Several days later.

“Lady Xingyu, it seems another force has appeared in the city, slaughtering vampires. Several times we sensed vampire presences, but by the time we arrived, the fighting was already over,” reported a low-ranking blood hunter. Through continuous acts of slaughter, Xingyu had established a formidable reputation among the blood hunters.

“It’s not a vampire faction?” Xingyu asked.

“It doesn’t seem so. The vampires appear to be searching for this force as well,” the hunter replied respectfully.

“Is that so? It appears this little city is growing more interesting. A new power, perhaps? Let me see which side dares to stir these muddy waters.” Xingyu stared into the pitch-black night sky, murmuring to herself.

“Lilith, sister.” After clearing out another vampire nest, Liliel called out to me.

“What is it?” I asked coolly, watching the swirling dust drift away and the shattered corpses littering the ground.

“We’ve killed so many vampires already, but still can’t find the strongest one. And that fellow doesn’t seem to care for his underlings at all—he doesn’t even show himself. I’m tired of killing these small fry,” Liliel complained.

“Yes, he’s truly an irritating one. Possessing such strength, yet hiding away in the darkness—I wonder what it is he really wants?” I gently stroked the scythe in my hand, feeling its joy as it thrummed softly from the relentless slaughter. How long had it been since I’d witnessed carnage this fierce?

“Ugh, honestly, I refuse to believe that once we’ve wiped out all this trash, that bastard still won’t show himself,” Liliel said, a touch of desperation in her voice.

“That’s enough, Liliel. No more complaints. Let’s go and seek our next prey.” My figure melted into the darkness.

“Understood, Lilith, sister. Wait for me.” Liliel chased after me, her silhouette vanishing into the night as well.

Not long after we departed, both the blood hunters and the vampire factions arrived, only to find a scene of utter chaos.

“Damn, have we been preempted again?” Silver Wolf Vormann said bitterly. He cast a hostile glare at Xingyu among the hunters, snorted coldly, and turned to leave.

“Who did this?” Xingyu wondered silently as she surveyed the scene. “The vampires were killed before they had a chance to resist. Such strength.” Xingyu clenched her fists, her body trembling—not with fear, but with excitement. In this relentless killing, she seemed to have begun to relish the feeling of dancing on the edge of death, longing for battle, craving slaughter. Was it because her previous life had been too calm? She didn’t know why, but now she discovered a bloodthirsty side lurking within herself.

“Let’s go. We won’t find any clues by staying here. In any case, as long as they’re killing vampires, they’re not our enemies,” she instructed the blood hunters at her side, then turned and left the scene.

Long after all three factions had departed, two shadows emerged slowly from the darkness. One was cloaked entirely in black, his features hidden. The other wore a crimson cape. If Optimist and Ashius were present, they would have recognized him instantly—the mighty one with the strength of a Grand Duke, the mastermind behind the vampires, the Vampire King.

“I thought that after Princess Liliana returned, we’d have no more chances. Who would have guessed we’d see her again so soon? Should we call it luck?” The Grand Duke-level vampire smiled, his eyes exuding a seductive charm.

“Hah, looks like she’s walked right into our trap,” the cloaked figure replied with a smile as well. “Our plan is nearly complete. Now, since they wish to wipe out the vampires, let them kill to their heart’s content.” He gazed at the corpses and drifting dust, his tone calm.

“Are you sure? The dead were all your loyal subordinates,” the Vampire King asked indifferently.

“For the family’s ideals, sacrifice is necessary. Their deaths are worthwhile,” the cloaked figure replied evenly.

“Hahaha, I rather like your temperament—cold, ruthless, willing to do anything to achieve your goals.” At these words, the Vampire King laughed heartily.

“I believe as long as we cooperate, we’ll both achieve our aims.” Unbothered by the Vampire King’s sarcasm, the cloaked figure remained composed.

“Don’t worry, as long as you’re still useful to me, I won’t betray you,” the Vampire King declared without concealment.

“Good. Then, while we’re both of use, let’s work well together,” the cloaked figure replied with a faint smile, unfazed by the king’s bluntness.

“Ha ha, to a happy partnership,” the Vampire King laughed.

The cloaked figure gazed in the direction we had left, silently vowing, “Liliana, you’re mine—no one can take you from me.”

In a shadowy corner of the city, after slaying another vampire, I paused my carnage.

“Miss?” Ang asked.

“I never expected to meet an old friend here,” I said quietly.

“An old friend?” Liliel asked with a puzzled look.

“Princess Liliana, it has been a long time.” The Optimist stepped out from the darkness.

“A blood hunter?” Liliel guardedly moved before me.

“It has indeed been a while. May I ask what brings the esteemed blood hunter here?” I asked coolly.

“I was simply curious which power was silently eradicating so many vampires under our noses. I never expected it to be you, Princess Liliana—and you as well, Princess Liliel,” he replied with a smile.

“Now that you’ve confirmed it, I must ask you to leave,” I said, dismissing him.

“No need to be so cold,” the Optimist replied with a cheerful grin. “After all, we haven’t met in ages. I wonder if Your Highness would be willing to answer a few questions?”

“Ask,” I said, offering just one word.

“What brings you here, Princess Liliana? Why are you hunting vampires alone, with even the vampire clans unaware of your whereabouts?” His tone grew serious.

“Rest assured, we’ve come only to kill. We bear no ill will toward humans. This is my vengeance—vengeance against the vampire who dared challenge me,” I said icily.

“I see. In that case, since we share a common enemy, why not join forces?” the Optimist suggested.

“That won’t be necessary. As I said, this is my revenge. I won’t allow anyone to interfere,” I replied, my tone brooking no argument.

“Is that so? What a pity.” He shrugged helplessly.

“Liliel, let’s go.” I turned to leave.

“Yes, Lilith, sister,” Liliel replied with a smile, then turned to the Optimist. “Human, don’t interfere—or I’ll gladly add you to our list for revenge.” She grinned as she uttered the threat.

“All right, all right. I know better than to make enemies of two vampire princesses,” he said with a wry smile.

“Good.” With that, Liliel hurried after me. “Lilith, sister, wait for me!”

“Oh…” The Optimist sighed helplessly, his smile tinged with resignation. “Such willful princesses. I just hope nothing will go awry.”

“My presence here—do not tell Xingyu. I do not wish him to know.” My icy voice rang in his ear, and the smile on the Optimist’s face froze instantly.