Chapter 45: The Vampire’s Prey (45p1)
The man’s broad, dry presence enveloped Yu Jiao like the wind.
Yu Jiao brushed 011’s hand away and frowned. “Do you have any idea what you’re saying?”
011 stood under the magnificent lights, his broad, dashing shoulders bathed in a brilliant glow. 011 looked down, his white mask hiding his entire face, even his eyes concealed in the shadow it cast.
“I do.”
“You’ll die.”
Yu Jiao couldn’t see 011’s expression, only felt that he seemed to smile, like a gentle wind. “I won’t.”
“Besides, objectively speaking, I am your best choice.” 011 paused. “And selfishly, I want to become your fledgling… to have a closer connection with you.”
Towards the end, 011’s voice grew lower, as if he were muttering in a dream.
“…”
Yu Jiao looked at 011 with a complex expression.
“Consider it—” The tall man took Yu Jiao’s hand, his gesture proper and restrained. “—your reward to me, alright?”
011 looked at Yu Jiao quietly.
“…”
The master-servant drama made Old Master Xue give a strange smile. “Miss Yu, just grant him his loyalty.”
Yu Jiao shot Old Master Xue a cold glare.
Yu Jiao knew exactly what Old Master Xue was planning—compared to the specially-admitted students she had just met, the death of her close, personal servant would surely cause her more pain.
Yu Jiao certainly wouldn’t do as he wished. But…
“…”
011 was about to persuade Yu Jiao further when a hand in a satin glove suddenly reached out and led him to a round table and high chair prepared for the guests.
Looking at the young woman’s calm profile, 011 said softly, “Miss, what is this?”
The young woman glanced back at 011. “Find a place to sit. Otherwise, it would be too embarrassing if you were to fall from weakness later.”
011 was taken aback.
Before 011 could react, he was pressed down onto the stool. Then, the young woman lifted her skirt and sat astride his lap. 011 reflexively supported Yu Jiao’s waist to prevent her from falling.
The next moment, 011 froze completely.
Through her dress and trousers, they were pressed tightly together. 011’s tense thighs could feel the soft flesh of Yu Jiao’s buttocks pressing down, and she shifted uncomfortably.
“Relax,” Yu Jiao said with dissatisfaction.
Of course, 011 couldn’t relax.
Not only because of the warm, soft body in his arms, but also because of the various stares from the crowd. Especially the old man, who had truly shot himself in the foot. Old Master Xue was now glaring with rage as his grandson’s nominal ‘fiancée’ was being intimate with another man.
But the young lady didn’t care at all. Yu Jiao looked down nonchalantly, her slender, pale fingers hooking 011’s collar.
“Undo it.”
011’s Adam’s apple bobbed. 011 undid the collar of his uniform and, bit by bit, pulled the loose collar open, revealing his strong shoulders and neck. In the magnificent light, it was as if it had been coated with honey, glistening and beautiful, inviting one to bite.
Yu Jiao could almost hear the light, cheerful sound of 011’s blood flowing, stirring a wave of craving and itchiness.
Seeing Yu Jiao’s red eyes gradually darken, the wild hope in 011’s heart roared.
As if 011 had been given some presumptuous courage.
011’s large hand cupped the back of Yu Jiao’s head, gently and powerfully guiding her lips to his bare skin, offering himself to her. It was almost a sacrificial gesture.
“…”
Sharp canine teeth broke through the elastic skin, piercing deep.
A low, husky, muffled grunt.
Yu Jiao couldn’t see the intoxicating red flush that rose on 011’s masked face, only hear his restrained gasps by her ear, his voice sexy and deep.
Like a cello, a single, light pluck could produce a rich, mellow sound, stirring one’s desire to play wildly.
Yu Jiao had lost a lot of blood before. Now, tasting the blood, Yu Jiao immediately began to suck greedily, from time to time licking the wound with the tip of her tongue to soothe it, which, unexpectedly, only made 011 stiffen and tremble.
Yu Jiao’s slender fingers couldn’t help but tighten, gripping 011’s broad shoulders.
—To turn someone into a fledgling, one not only needed to drink a large amount of their blood but also to inject them with one’s own blood in a special way.
After a moment, more than half of 011’s blood had been drained. 011 felt the blood flow in his veins slow, his body temperature drop, like a winter river, flowing with crushed ice, his heart approaching failure.
011’s vision blurred. All 011 could do was hold Yu Jiao’s slender back and waist tightly, like a drowning person, clutching at the last straw.
Yu Jiao soothingly ran her fingers through 011’s hair. With her other hand, Yu Jiao tried to remove his mask, but 011 caught her hand.
“Miss…” 011’s voice was pleading. “A servant’s lowly face does not dare to defile your eyes.”
Yu Jiao paused.
Yu Jiao really didn’t know where 011’s deep-rooted, old-fashioned ideas came from.
“Alright,” Yu Jiao sighed. “Then we’ll have to do it the slow way.”
With that, Yu Jiao bit 011’s neck again, injecting her blood with her fangs.
“Ugh—”
011’s pupils dilated, as if he had been pulled to heaven in the instant of falling into an abyss.
—As if 011 had touched Yu Jiao’s soul.
Though it was just a mingling of blood… unlike a physical union, which, despite the closeness, still had an insurmountable distance, this was a pure collision of spirits, every point, every facet, overlapping.
“…”
Yu Jiao didn’t know how much time had passed, but the transformation was complete.
***
011 slowly buttoned up his shirt. As 011 stood up, his steps were a little unsteady. Yu Jiao narrowed her eyes and studied him, asking with suspicion, “Are you really alright?”
011 pressed his lips together, his eyes avoiding Yu Jiao’s. “I am, Miss.”
011 was glad he hadn’t taken off his mask, which hid his pathetic expression.
Old Master Xue said sarcastically, “Shall we begin?”
With that, before the two of them could answer, a rumbling sound came. The dark door opposite them opened, and the sound of wheels, accompanied by a bestial roar, grew closer.
A huge iron cage was pushed out. Inside was a huge, ferocious ‘person’, much more terrifying than the fledglings Yu Jiao had seen in Wei Changlin’s basement.
Its muscles were bulging, its veins popping, as if black insects were crawling within them. Its bloodshot, unfocused eyes glared, and a blood-red symbol was printed on its face—A7.
“A7 is a powerful combatant we have specially cultivated. Come, let us see the abilities of Miss Yu’s fledgling.”
Yu Jiao’s expression grew cold.
011’s deep, rich voice sounded by Yu Jiao’s ear, “I will win for you.”
011 looked at Yu Jiao deeply, gave a bow, and then turned and walked towards the iron cage in the center of the auditorium.
The behemoth in the cage was like a hyena that had smelled blood. The behemoth roared and beat against the bars. The electronic lock beeped and was remotely opened. The next moment, the ferocious figure shot out and lunged at 011.
The great battle was about to begin.
Yu Jiao sat on the edge of the auditorium. A transparent, barrier-like light screen suddenly rose before her, separating the battlefield. Yu Jiao could hear the idle chatter and clinking of glasses from the people above.
“This new fledgling’s strength is unexpected. I thought he wouldn’t last two moves against A7.”
“A7 is the strongest modified fledgling. It would be too easy for it to deal with an ordinary fledgling, turned from a human.”
Yu Jiao stared at the battle, her eyes fixed. Suddenly, Yu Jiao heard Old Master Xue’s mischievous voice. “How can a competition have no prize?”
“How about this? For every match you win, I will release one two-legged sheep. Conversely… there’s no need to say more, is there?”
Old Master Xue’s malicious voice echoed.
Yu Jiao shifted her gaze to a distant corner, where the trembling specially-admitted students and ordinary blood-race members were.
“That’s fine, but isn’t your plan of a wheel-and-axle battle a bit too shameless?”
Old Master Xue: “Hehe, it’s Miss Yu’s fledgling’s fault for being alone.”
Yu Jiao didn’t respond to his sinister suggestion.
As time passed, the arrogant chatter gradually faded. Someone muttered, “How is this possible…”
In the arena, blood splattered, the wind was fierce, and the floor tiles shattered. A bloody, violent visual feast.
Thump.
The huge, ferocious A7 staggered and crashed to the ground, unable to get up again.
“Go, give Miss Yu her prize for the first match.”
As Old Master Xue’s words fell, the lock on one of the specially-admitted students was opened. With a look of having survived a disaster, the student bowed to Yu Jiao and 011, her eyes filled with tears.
A glimmer of hope erupted in the eyes of the other bound specially-admitted students and blood-race members.
Under their eager gazes, Yu Jiao’s brow furrowed slightly, as if a heavy sack were weighing her down, making it hard for her to breathe.
Over there, 011 was panting slightly. 011’s always-impeccable black uniform was now covered in a dark red, it was unclear if it was his blood or the behemoth’s.
After the fight, 011 walked towards Yu Jiao, his steps firm and solemn, like a pilgrimage.
011’s white mask was stained with blood and cracked, and his tattered clothes revealed glimpses of his lean body. 011 lowered his head, pressed his large hand against the transparent light screen, his voice as rich and gentle as ever.
“Trust me, Miss. I will win for you.”
…
After a few more battles, as 011 had said, he won one after another, never losing. Old Master Xue’s face grew uglier and uglier. Some of the blood-race members even secretly cheered for 011, hoping he would continue to create miracles.
Though 011 had not fallen, he was already at the end of his rope…
Old Master Xue said coolly, “Is Miss Yu really willing to see him like this? Why not just give up the competition? It’s not worth it for these strangers, is it?”
As Old Master Xue spoke, click.
A collar was fastened around the necks of the remaining dozen or so specially-admitted students. A red light flashed, as if it were about to explode. The students were clearly unwilling to be a burden. They all forced back their tears, closed their eyes, and offered their necks for slaughter.
“Miss, it’s alright,” 011 coughed up a mouthful of blood and said in a heavy voice, “I can do it.”
“…”
Yu Jiao knew that 011 had most likely made some private agreement with Wei Changlin and had a backup plan. Yu Jiao had no choice but to close her eyes and say coolly, “Continue.”
Another long, arduous battle.
Amidst Old Master Xue’s increasingly low pressure, the last specially-admitted student was released.
011 was panting, dragging his scarred body, his steps heavy. 011 leaned against the light screen and looked at Yu Jiao. “Miss, I did not disappoint you…”
The next moment, the light screen dissipated. The tall man fell, strengthless. In the last moment before 011 lost consciousness, he seemed to have crashed into a soft, fragrant embrace.
—In a daze, 011 thought he had fallen into Neverland.
“…”
Yu Jiao placed the unconscious 011 on a long bench. Respecting his wishes, Yu Jiao did not remove his mask, but only lifted a corner and brought the wound on her wrist to his lips.
Smelling the familiar, sweet scent of blood, 011 unconsciously sucked and licked.
Only then did Yu Jiao notice that 011’s lips were very beautiful, thin, with a straight shape and a pale, cool color, with a meticulously carved, exquisite quality, like a corner of a shattered, divine statue.
Though it was a symbol of a heartless person, for some reason, 011 himself was simple and foolish.
As Yu Jiao was thinking this, she suddenly heard that annoying voice again.
“Congratulations, Miss Yu, on passing the second trial,” Old Master Xue said from a superior height. “Your fledgling does have some strength.”
Seeing that 011 had regained some color, Yu Jiao pulled her hand back and stood up. Her magnificent dress was stained with blood, and her stunning face was expressionless, like a block of ice, radiating a cold air.
Not far away, a few blood servants quickly cleaned up the messy battlefield, restoring it to its magnificent state. They retreated in an orderly fashion, leaving only Yu Jiao and the unconscious 011 in the empty auditorium.
Rumble.
The ground not far away suddenly sank, then rose again. A large bed came into view. On it lay a person, the unconscious Xue Zhu.
“This is your final trial.”
The old voice said coolly, “Didn’t you question our Xue family’s hereditary disease in this area? Then experience it for yourself.”
—Is he insane?!
Yu Jiao’s head shot up.
“Besides, don’t you like to do this kind of thing while others are watching?” Old Master Xue said sarcastically.
A burst of laughter came from the blood-race members on the high platform. Various gazes fell on Yu Jiao, some gloating, some greedy and lecherous, some indifferent.
Bang!
Xie Zhenye, who had been silent and suppressed all this time, suddenly stood up, kicked over his chair, and turned to question, “This is your guarantee, that she won’t be hurt again?”
Xie Yanchuan lowered his eyes, silent.
“This is also for Miss Yu’s own good,” Old Master Xue said with a fake sincerity. “The blood contract of shared pain can only be broken without harming either party during a physical union.”
Xie Zhenye’s dark, fierce gaze shot towards the huge oil painting behind him. Xie Zhenye met Old Master Xue’s gaze and enunciated each word, “That’s bullshit.”
As his words fell, Xie Zhenye turned and jumped down from the high platform, about to rush to the bottom of the auditorium. But a cold light flashed, and a small needle embedded itself in his neck.
Thump!
The agile figure stumbled and fell, crashing into the seats in the middle of the auditorium, causing a few blood-race members around him to cry out in alarm.
On the high platform, Xie Yanchuan calmly retracted his hand.
Xie Zhenye’s pupils constricted in disbelief. Through the layers of people, Xie Zhenye met a pair of cold, sharp eyes, extremely similar to his own. There was not a single ripple in those familiar, pale blue eyes.
“You…”
As if the drug had taken effect, before Xie Zhenye could finish, he collapsed, strengthless, and passed out.
Old Master Xue’s triumphant laughter echoed in the auditorium.
“A pleasure working with you, First Young Master Xie.”
“…”
Yu Jiao took in the entire scene. Yu Jiao looked up and met Xie Yanchuan’s eyes. Before she could read the emotion in them, a transparent light screen suddenly rose before her, rippling like water, completely blocking her in at the bottom of the auditorium.
Like an ominous sign, the sound of rough, heavy panting, like that of a trapped beast, sounded in Yu Jiao’s ears.
—And Yu Jiao was the food for the trapped beast.
Yu Jiao turned around.