Chapter Ninety-Three: The Perils of the Blood Hunt

In the Bai family’s abandoned mansion outside the city, in a dark room, Bai Ye slowly opened his tightly shut eyes, crimson light flickering within them with an eerie glow.

“So this is the power of the Vampire King?” Bai Ye clenched his right hand, and torrents of magic surged forth. “This feeling... it’s magnificent.” His eyes shone with feverish excitement.

“Classmate Xing Yu, praise me,” Bai Ye said with a smile, looking at Xing Yu, who was bound tightly in chains. “What tremendous power. It feels as though the world itself is already in my hands.”

“Spare me!” Xing Yu’s eyes blazed with fury. “You piece of filth, one day you’ll get what’s coming to you.”

“Heh, what’s coming to me?” Bai Ye sneered at her curses. “Power. Power is the most important thing in this world. With power, you have everything. Retribution? Who in this world can punish me if I possess the strongest power of all?” With a twisted smile, he went on, “Classmate Xing Yu, have you still not understood? In this world, power is everything. Because you have no power, you can only watch helplessly as the one you love dies miserably; because you have no power, you can only become my prisoner. Understand now, Xing Yu? If you want to determine your own fate, then you must have power.”

“Power? Power? So for power, you can trample over other people’s lives however you please? So for power, you can abandon the human heart? I would rather die than become a monster like you.” Xing Yu’s eyes were full of contempt.

“Hmph, a monster? And what if I become one?” Bai Ye showed no shame at all. “So long as I get what I want, I wouldn’t mind becoming a monster.” He smiled. “I will have Liliana, and you, you who insist on keeping a human heart, will simply watch from here. If that is what you want, then keep clinging to your pitiful humanity.”

Having said that, Bai Ye no longer spared Xing Yu another glance and strode out of the dark room.

“Bastard, Bai Ye, you bastard, let me go! If you’ve got the guts, let me go! I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you!” Xing Yu’s hysterical roar earned nothing but Bai Ye’s distant, unrestrained laughter.

“Well then, what should I do now?” Bai Ye stepped outside and looked up at the deep night sky with a smile. “I’ve only just obtained the power of the Vampire King, so I can’t use it skillfully yet. I should find an opponent to test myself first and get used to this tremendous strength. Otherwise, with my current power, I’m nowhere near Liliana’s match. After all, she is a formidable existence who can defeat the Vampire King. Well, though that previous one was nothing more than a fool who relied only on brute force.” Bai Ye murmured softly. “Poor Vampire King. As your successor, and in consideration of you contributing your power to me, let me fulfill the wish you have long held dear.”

With that, his gaze turned toward the direction of the Vampire Hunters’ Guild. “The Vampire Hunters’ Guild? It truly is a suitable opponent for a warm-up.” A bloodthirsty smile curled at Bai Ye’s lips. “The Bai family has certainly been under your care. Though it was only a worthless family I cast aside, I was once one of them after all, and those fools did make considerable sacrifices for my plan. So now, let me avenge you.” Slowly, Bai Ye melded into the darkness of the night. “The Vampire Hunters’ Guild? Become the first witness to my conquest of this world. Receive it with gratitude.” His drifting voice gradually faded into the night.

At the headquarters of the Vampire Hunters’ Guild, a heavy cloud of gloom now hung overhead, and the oppressive atmosphere was suffocating.

“All the hunters who went out have been killed. None survived, and even Lord Brilliance...” reported the hunter who had been sent out to gather information, his voice heavy with grief. “We couldn’t find Lord Brilliance’s body. We only found this.” He handed the two-halved crescent blade to the only S-rank hunter left in the guild.

Xue Tu had not yet recovered from his severe injuries; his entire body was wrapped in bandages, and there was not a trace of color in his pale face. Trembling, he took the crescent blade broken in two, and felt as though his heart were bleeding. “So in the end, none of us could escape after all?” He stroked the blade in his hands and said sorrowfully, “They were all heroes of the hunters. Not a single one fled in the face of battle. Even when confronted with certain death, even before an invincible enemy, they held on until the very last moment. I am proud of them.” Tears slowly rolled down Xue Tu’s face.

“Lord Xue Tu, what should we do?” one of the hunters asked cautiously.

“Tell all the hunters that from this moment on, unless there is a special circumstance, no one is to go outside. We have reached the hour when the Vampire Hunters’ Guild stands on the brink of life and death. Whether we can survive this ordeal will depend on fate.” Xue Tu said gravely. “Right now, the guild has already lost more than two-thirds of its strength. Not to mention an attack from the blood race, even the retaliation of the remaining vampires would likely deal a fatal blow to the hunters now. This may well be the greatest disaster since the guild was founded. Very well, relay the order. You go prepare as well. I only hope that after this, we can still remain alive.”

“Yes, Lord Xue Tu. Rest assured, we will fight for the guild until the very end and never abandon the last shred of hope.” The hunter said firmly.

“Mm, I understand. Everyone has done well. Not a single hunter here is a coward afraid of death. You are all the pride of humanity.” Xue Tu said to the assembled hunters.

“Please rest assured, Lord Xue Tu.” The hunters answered in unison, then departed the room and returned to their respective posts, steadfastly fulfilling the hunters’ duty. Not one fled, not one wavered. All of them bore the resolve to die, for the family they protected behind them, for the future of humanity.

After the others had gone, Xue Tu remained alone in the room. Looking at the empty chamber, he sighed and said, “Silent One, I failed to accomplish what you entrusted to me. The Vampire Hunters’ Guild—I still failed to protect it in the end. And now even Brilliance is dead. I fear this time, even I will not be able to escape.” At those words, Xue Tu revealed a smile of quiet release. “But perhaps this is for the best. Last time, I should have died. This time, let me reunite with all of you old fellows. I really miss the days when we fought side by side. Yet in the end, only you and I remained, and now there is only me left. Let us meet again before long. It is just that I truly cannot bear to see the guild destroyed at my hands.” Xue Tu murmured.

Then Xue Tu stood up and walked toward the guild’s great hall. “What must be faced must always be faced. But do not think that because we hunters have suffered such grave losses, you may run rampant as you please. Even if I die, I will make you pay the price, you accursed vampires.” Xue Tu shouted toward the dark sky.

There, a figure floated in the night, bathed in pale moonlight. Behind it, black bat wings flapped, proclaiming its identity.

“Yo, worthless hunters, your king has come to send you off to your graves. Be deeply grateful.” The figure in the night burst into wild laughter.