Chapter 98: En Route to the Café

In the distant west, Europe, Israel, there stood a city that humans called a forbidden land—the Holy City of Jerusalem—rumored to have been seized by the Truth Church, which worshipped the goddess of divine revelation. On the Temple Mount rose countless elegant European-style buildings.

"Ding-dong-ding!"

The melodious, resonant bell chimed, echoing through the magnificent golden Temple. Outside the Temple, on the square, countless Christian believers chanted the magnificent Bible in unison, their voices synchronized as if conducting some sacred ritual.

Just then, a black flame plummeted from the heavens, and just as it was about to strike the ground, the encasing flames suddenly dissipated, revealing the figure within. A black-robed man materialized in the open space. He wore a black hood, his features concealed, a wide purple-black greatsword strapped to his back, his presence radiating terrifying killing intent. The doors of the Temple stood ajar, and he stepped inside without hesitation. Outside, all the believers appeared oblivious to his arrival, continuing their solemn chant of the black Bible.

The black-robed man entered the magnificent golden Temple, yet to his gaze the interior was utterly transformed—ghastly and veiled in drifting black mist, like the domain of some malevolent god...

The eyes concealed beneath the black hood lifted. The black-robed man's face remained expressionless as a cold voice emerged from his lips: "Ulqia, the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons is about to begin. The Night Fox has manifested at precisely the right moment. Shall I recall it?"

'It is a traitor... The great God Master requires no traitors. If humanity cannot destroy it, Liu Mochen... then you must personally intervene.'

A voice as icy as that of the Grim Reaper echoed beside the black-robed man.

The black-robed man's purple pupils betrayed no ripple: "Understood."

...

This morning, at breakfast time, Xue Ju busied herself feeding bites to her mouth. Her appetite was voracious; she had finally located the Night Fox, completing half her task. Forced into flight across Donglin City for most of the past half-month, she now harbored genuine anticipation.

Cheng Feng lounged on the sofa, chin propped in his hand, waiting for her to finish before they departed. He pondered the bloodline power. Last night's aftermath of its activation still lingered vividly in his mind. Severe injury to his body had triggered total activation of that force, surging outward with a might that eclipsed the limits his physique could endure. The bloodline's power had exceeded all expectations, evoking an indescribable, superhuman strangeness that transcended mortal bounds.

Alas, strength alone did not guarantee control. The mind would be corrupted, consciousness swamped by a ferocious bloodlust, driving an insatiable craving for blood and pushing him perilously close to berserk frenzy. Even his body showed signs of monstrous mutation. Had the Night Fox not intervened in time, he might have rampaged beyond recall. When Liu Shiyu arrived, she would not have seen Cheng Feng, but a frenzied bloodsucking horror instead.

At the thought, Cheng Feng furrowed his brow, marveling at how swiftly events had spiraled into catastrophe. The bloodline power within him stemmed from Elena's twenty years of vampire heritage, all transferred when she first embraced him, bestowing this gift. No wonder Elena had once proclaimed that, in the vampire world, her strength ranked second only to Dracula's. Having tasted its true potency firsthand, Cheng Feng understood she had never exaggerated. No wonder Dracula had cultivated her and prepared to send her into the [Night Parade of a Hundred Demons] two months hence, believing a mere twenty-year-old could triumph in that merciless war of ten thousand demons and claim the title of sixth Abyss Walker.

For Cheng Feng now, the power's overwhelming force was a double-edged curse. It defied control and would doom him if not mastered. If only it could be fully digested...

It was nine o'clock. Xue Ju smacked her lips at the table, having finished her meal, wiping her mouth with a napkin, her eyes suddenly brightening. "Cheng Feng, let's go. To the coffee shop."

She could scarcely contain her impatience. Having sojourned in Donglin City for so many days, the revelation of the Night Fox's whereabouts had finally lifted her long-burdened spirits. The City Lord's disappearance, and Ghost Shuro's seizure of power and usurpation of the throne, had dragged on for nearly half a year. Both the outer and inner city armies now answered to Ghost Shuro, and every monster within the palace—including the four supreme war powers, the Four Generals—had aligned with this hawkish faction. Ghost Shuro himself was a born warmonger; should he ascend to City Lord, Chiyue City would plunge into ruin. But everything had changed. As long as the Night Fox accompanied her home, the scales would shift. Its strength and prestige matched those of the previous City Lord, Tamamo-no-Mae. It would surely dethrone Ghost Shuro and liberate the Ghost Spirit Princess from her prison cell.

"Wait a moment. I'll perform an experiment."

Cheng Feng rose, crossed to the mirror, and regarded the familiar face gazing back at him. He inhaled deeply, then maximized the capabilities of his vampire physique. The next instant, the whites of his eyes turned black, his pupils bled crimson, his skin paled to an ashen morbidity, his teeth sharpened to fangs, and a thick, metallic reek of blood wafted from his pores. The vampire physique altered his appearance, yet it remained superficial; his core nature and lineage remained human.

"Xue Ju, do I look... like a vampire now?" Cheng Feng turned to her at the table, expression grave.

Gazing at the sudden vampire-like transformation, Xue Ju's eyes bulged in astonishment. "Cheng Feng, I never imagined you were a vampire! I never noticed before."

Having resided in his home for such a length of time without detecting any trace of his true nature was preposterous, leaving her shaken. No... she suddenly recalled his contemptuous expression toward the bag of duck blood the previous evening. She had assumed vampires lived solely by drinking blood and could not consume ordinary food, yet during their time together Cheng Feng had eaten normally, never touching a drop. Xue Ju sniffed her little nose, tilting her head. "No, you don't carry the scent of a vampire."

Hearing her words, Cheng Feng exhaled in silent relief. It appeared he was still human. He had feared the monstrous shift last night had already severed his connection to humanity. Now he saw he had worried needlessly.

"All good."

Returning to his natural form, Cheng Feng said, "Let's go."

...

Outside, the sky was leaden, dark clouds gathering ominously, heralding an approaching storm.

The Catmaid Coffee Shop.

Xue Ju pushed open the door and entered, Cheng Feng following close behind.

"Welcome, Master~"

Mistaking them for new patrons, the catmaid Cat Orange at the front desk, clad in a maid uniform, offered a professional smile.

The moment she noticed the white-haired girl, her eyes sparkled. "Xue Ju! How did you get here?"

She stepped out from behind the counter and pulled Xue Ju into a hearty, exuberant embrace. Then her gaze fell on Cheng Feng trailing behind, and her eyes widened in shock.