Chapter Forty-Five: Meeting Again—Everything Has Changed

"That damned vampire dared to toy with us." Liriel was still brooding over being deceived by the vampire's scheme.

"It doesn't matter. Our goal was to eliminate the vampires anyway. Since we've achieved that, whether we were diverted or not is irrelevant." I felt no anger about it—in fact, this was only my speculation, not a certainty.

"But still, it's infuriating. To be tricked by such a vile vampire—it really grates on me." Liriel complained.

"Yet, to sacrifice so many vampires just to accomplish his purpose, what on earth is he trying to do?" Unease suddenly welled up inside me, as if disaster was imminent.

"Whatever his plan, let him come. I, your Highness, will show him the consequences of provoking me." Liriel clenched her fist, vowing resolutely.

"I hope I'm just being overly cautious," I said quietly, but the shadow looming over my heart refused to dissipate. "From now on, ignore those lesser vampires. Focus all your efforts on finding the mastermind. Once he's dealt with, the rest of the vampires will be of no concern."

"Got it, don't worry, Lilith. He won't escape my grasp!" Liriel replied with a mischievous grin.

I looked up at the crimson blood moon hanging in the night sky. "We'll split up to search. If you find him, don't act alone—notify the others immediately. Let's move now. I can't shake this ominous feeling." With that, I was the first to fly northward over the city.

"Yes, my lady." "Understood, Lilith." Ang and Liriel answered, then disappeared swiftly in different directions.

An hour later, in the northern outskirts of the city, I sensed something unusual. The light of the blood moon seemed to be drawn by some force, great swathes of its crimson glow pouring over the ruins outside the city.

"Is it here?" I sensed an unsettling power concealed within the ruins. We had searched here before, finding nothing, never expecting he would hide here.

"Go inform Liriel and Ang, tell them to come immediately." I commanded the blood-red bats circling around me, and they scattered swiftly in all directions. Under the oppressive force lurking in the ruins, I felt a suffocating pressure. It seemed the mastermind vampire was far stronger than we had anticipated, truly worthy of being near prince-level strength.

Soon, the bats returned with news: Ang and Liriel were on their way, but trouble brewed—blood hunters were chasing Liriel toward this place.

Moments later, two forces converged here; not only the blood hunters, but also vampire clans, pursuing the hunters, arrived.

"Greetings, Princess Liliana, greetings, Liriel." Seven werewolves and five vampires bowed to me and Liriel; their leaders were Silver Wolf Volman and Marquis Carlos of the blood clan.

"Why are you chasing Liriel? We haven't provoked you." I questioned the blood hunters pursuing her.

"Hmph. There isn't a decent one among your kind. When the vampires attacked the Blood Hunter Guild, you were there too, weren't you? Weren't you just waiting for us to weaken each other, so you could strike?" The lead blood hunter, a white-robed elder, spoke with a voice dripping with disdain.

"What nonsense! If you hadn't been there, the guild would've been wiped out by vampires long ago—wouldn't have needed us to intervene. 'Mutual destruction'? You sure like to flatter yourselves." Liriel scoffed at the elder's words.

"You..." The white-robed elder glared angrily at Liriel, unable to find a retort.

I paid no heed to their quarrel, instead gazing with a complicated look at Xingyu among the blood hunters. I had been avoiding him, yet fate had brought us face-to-face. Xingyu stared back at me, his eyes cold and filled with hatred. His gaze sent a shiver through my heart. I looked away, unable to meet his eyes—his cold stare frightened me more and more.

"Today we're not here to trouble you blood hunters. Today's matter has nothing to do with you. If you want to cause trouble, come another day. I have no mood for games today." I addressed the white-robed elder coldly.

"Hmph, who knows what schemes you vampires are plotting?" he retorted stubbornly.

"Liliana, is the mastermind behind Xiaoyou's death here? Is he? Answer me, Liliana!" Xingyu shouted, instantly seeing through to the heart of the matter.

Confronted by his question, I could only remain silent. I didn't know how to respond. As the victim, Xingyu had a right to know, yet I didn't want him involved. The enemy this time was too strong—he wasn't their match.

"What's happening? You know her?" The elder, surprised by Xingyu's question, looked at him in astonishment.

"Yes, we were once friends—once," Xingyu replied bitterly.

"What? You became friends with a vampire? Is that what a blood hunter should do?" The elder demanded.

"I once believed we could be friends, but I was wrong. Friendship between humans and vampires only brings pain." Xingyu clenched his fists, speaking in a low voice.

"Damned human!" Liriel, hearing Xingyu's words, shouted in fury, "You wretch who made Lilith sad—I’ll kill you!" She gripped her knight sword, its tip aimed at Xingyu.

"Hmph. If that's so, prove your loyalty to the blood hunters—kill that vampire." The elder ordered Xingyu.

"You dare disrespect the princess—do you intend to spark war between vampires and humans?" Ang roared, angered by the elder's words.

"And what if we do? Do you think we fear you vampires?" the elder replied contemptuously.

"Bastard." Ang was enraged. "My lady, leave that old human to me. I'll make him pay for his insolence with his blood."

"If you want a fight, so be it. Settle it quickly—there are more important matters." Seeing the scene before me, I knew war was unavoidable. The losses from the vampire attack on the guild had filled the blood hunters with rage, and our presence had become their outlet.

"Yes, my lady," Ang answered respectfully.

"No problem, Lilith, leave it to me," Liriel said with a cheerful smile.

"Yes, Princess Liliana," the vampires echoed.

At last, the moment had come. I looked at Xingyu, who stood opposite me, lips pressed tight, turmoil rising in my heart. "I never thought we'd come to raise swords against each other so soon," I said to him bitterly.

"I told you last time—if we met again, I would kill you," Xingyu replied coldly.

"Why? You once said we'd always be friends," I asked in a low voice.

"Friends? Humans and vampires can never be friends. Xiaoyou wanted to be your friend, but in the end was killed by vampires," Xingyu said, grief-stricken.

"We're not like those vampires. We won't sink into depravity, won't harm humans," I explained, biting my lip.

"What's the difference? You're all blood-sucking monsters, only wrapped in a veneer of nobility," Xingyu said with disdain.

"Must it really come to this? Once this is over, I’ll never appear before you again. Why must we fight to the death?" I couldn’t bring myself to strike at Xingyu. Even though he hated me now, I still could not turn my weapon against him.

"So, the actual killer of Xiaoyou is here, isn't he?" Xingyu, hearing my words, his eyes lit with excitement.

"I won't let you interfere. You're not his match; going will only mean your death," I warned.

"Say no more. I'll avenge Xiaoyou myself." Xingyu drew the sword at his waist, its blade pointed at me. "Fight me—I won't show mercy."

I gripped my scythe, looking at Xingyu in silence.

"Even if you refuse, I won't let you go." Xingyu swung his blade, attacking me swiftly.

Our weapons clashed, sparks flying with each collision.

At last, former friends, meeting again, found themselves changed beyond recognition—old companions now stood against each other in deadly combat.