Chapter Fifty-Four: The Seventh Judgement

The Blood Hunters Guild. Xingyu sat there, dazed and idle, with nothing to do. Ever since the vampires had attacked the Blood Hunters Guild, not a single trace of them could be found in the city. With her sole aim being to avenge Xiaoyou by hunting vampires, Xingyu suddenly felt as though she had lost all reason to live. She no longer knew what else she could do.

Every now and then, she still recalled the ordinary days spent with Xiaoyou, but now, there was no way back. Xiaoyou was gone, and she herself had become an executioner, her hands stained with blood. Now, Xingyu simply sat there every day, her mind replaying Xiaoyou’s innocent smile, and sometimes even glimpses of her laughter surfaced. Surely, she must hate me now, Xingyu thought bitterly, since I raised sword against her. I despise myself, so how could I dare hope for her forgiveness?

She had considered ending her life to follow Xiaoyou. But Xiaoyou’s words from their last meeting still lingered in her mind: “Remember this—your life is no longer yours. Xiaoyou exchanged her life for yours. How dare you abandon it?” Each time she wished to give up that hollow existence, her tears would flow in memory, making it impossible to forget. Perhaps this was heaven’s punishment—growing old with a dead heart.

Xingyu picked up her sword and stepped out of the Blood Hunters Guild. For the past nights, she wandered the city, traversing every shadowed corner. Not in search of vanished vampires, but hoping to catch sight of Xiaoyou again. Even if ignored, it might ease her pain a little, she hoped. Yet it had been seven days, and she hadn’t found a single trace. Had Xiaoyou left the city? Xingyu wondered silently. Yes, who would stay in a city that only brought sorrow?

Aimlessly, Xingyu drifted through the city, unaware that a storm targeting her was about to break.

She sat in a deserted city park, gazing forlornly at the bright moon overhead.

“Human, your name is Xingyu, isn’t it?” A cold voice sounded behind her.

Hearing the voice, Xingyu snapped out of her melancholy, turned toward the source, and gripped her sword tightly, her expression wary.

“Who are you?” She demanded of the proud woman who had appeared behind her without her noticing.

The woman was astride a massive black wolf—so large it stood as tall as two people. Its jet-black limbs were wrapped in ghostly blue flames, and its sharp fangs gleamed menacingly in the moonlight. It gazed down at Xingyu from above. The woman herself wore a spotless white dress, which contrasted sharply with the beast beneath her, making her appear otherworldly and ethereal.

“So you are Xingyu? Good, I didn’t get it wrong. I was supposed to search for Princess Liliana, but instead I found you. Well, since it’s on the way, I’ll take care of you first, then go find Princess Liliana.” The woman looked at Xingyu with indifference.

“Are you a vampire?” Xingyu pointed her sword at the white-robed woman astride the black wolf, her eyes filled with caution. She sensed the powerful aura emanating from the beast.

“Enforcer Squad of the Vampire Council, Seventh Judgment, Beastmaster. On orders from the Vampire Council, I am to apprehend the human Xingyu—dead or alive.” The Seventh Judgment addressed Xingyu coldly, “I won’t bother to persuade you to surrender. For someone as lowly as you, death is fine. Bai Bai, crush him.” The woman gently patted the head of the giant black wolf, issuing her command.

The black wolf squinted its eyes in pleasure, then fixed its gaze on Xingyu, eyes brimming with bloodlust. With a furious roar, it swung a massive paw at her.

Xingyu raised her sword with both hands to defend, blocking the wolf’s blow, but was forced back a dozen steps before she could regain her footing. Her arms felt numb.

Seeing its attack fail, the wolf growled in frustration and locked its gaze on Xingyu.

“Not bad,” the Seventh Judgment watched Xingyu with excitement. “Keep it up. If you die too easily, it won’t be fun.” With that, she leapt lightly from the wolf’s back. “Go ahead, play with Bai Bai for a bit. Bai Bai, don’t kill him too quickly.”

The wolf, hearing the command, roared at Xingyu and lunged. Faced with the relentless assault, Xingyu could only dodge desperately. Every time her sword clashed with the wolf’s paw, her arms would tingle, barely able to keep hold of her weapon.

“Go, Bai Bai! Hit him! Yes, bite him, then hit him again. Good job, Bai Bai!” The Seventh Judgment cheered, clapping her hands as she watched the fight, her earlier arrogance replaced by the childish glee of an immature girl.

“Damn it,” Xingyu cursed under his breath as he was sent flying again by the wolf. Steadying himself, he muttered, “Time to risk it.” He knew that if this continued, he was doomed—he couldn’t match the wolf’s stamina. So, sword in hand, he charged at the Seventh Judgment, using his smaller, nimbler frame to evade the wolf’s interception.

The Seventh Judgment’s eyes flashed with panic as Xingyu rushed her, but she quickly regained composure. The wolf, seeing Xingyu escape its grasp and charge at its master, let out an anxious, furious howl and threw all its strength into swiping at Xingyu’s back.

Xingyu made no attempt to dodge the attack from behind, instead accelerating toward the Seventh Judgment, determined to take her down with him.

Just a few steps remained between Xingyu and the Seventh Judgment, and his sword was about to end her life—when suddenly, a deafening dragon’s roar erupted beside her. Yes, a dragon’s roar. From the void at her side, a huge claw covered in scales emerged and struck Xingyu hard.

He was sent flying, coughing up blood, feeling as though every bone in his body had shattered. With difficulty, he glanced toward the Seventh Judgment. The space around her shimmered, and a massive dragon covered in pitch-black scales materialized. Its tail gently encircled her, shielding her from harm. Cold, unfeeling dragon eyes stared at the agonized Xingyu in the distance.

“Hmph, such an unlovable creature,” the Seventh Judgment said disdainfully, gazing at Xingyu lying on the ground. “Is it over? I could have played longer, but now I’ll just have to kill you.” She ordered the black wolf, which bared its teeth at Xingyu in rage: “Bai Bai, finish him.”

The wolf raised its paw high and brought it down fiercely on Xingyu.

Is this how I’ll die? Perhaps that’s for the best—finally, release. Staring at the looming shadow above, Xingyu couldn’t help but think so.