Dusk thoughtfully extended her finger, touching her lips. “I was just curious. Let me guess, the reason you came to Evernight might be related to Grand Duke Anduaya? The Black Winged King’s most magnificent creation in his lifetime was the Primordial Wings, a weapon with a soul. It’s hard to imagine!”
“Have you been talking for so long just to say these useless things?”
“Maybe. You know I get bored easily, and it’s rare to find someone to talk to. Outside, there are just groups of useless trash. I can’t even be bothered to look at them, let alone chat. Come, let’s continue… When the Primordial Wings flew away right before our eyes, it was truly unimaginable that there could be someone whose bloodline is closer to the Black Winged King than an original strain.”
Dusk glanced at Nighteye. “But no matter what, when the Prince cast his secret arts, he couldn’t find the Primordial Wings. It’s almost impossible to find them after so long. You wouldn’t have come to Evernight just for the Primordial Wings or some other treasure that the Grand Duke hasn’t disclosed. Maybe, you’re here for…”
“Enough!” Nighteye suddenly showed a hint of anger.
Dusk’s laugh was deep, with a trailing, enticing tone. She leaned closer to Nighteye, whispering, “It’s for someone, someone who may or may not be related to the Black Winged King. Did I guess right?”
Nighteye suddenly calmed down, saying softly, “Very right.”
Dusk chuckled lightly, “It doesn’t matter what you say; the answer is already in both our hearts. Alright, I won’t disturb you anymore. Enjoy these last moments of freedom, my dearest sister.”
As Dusk walked out, she paused by the desk, brushing aside a few scattered books to reveal a piece of paper beneath. On it, a simple sketch depicted a half-portrait, concise yet incredibly lifelike.
It was a human boy, his shirt indicating a commoner. He looked very young, gazing straight ahead with a serene expression. However, a lock of hair partially covered his left eye, casting a shadow that gave him a faintly melancholic look.
It was Qian Ye, back when he was in Lighthouse Town.
Nighteye whirled around, growling, “What are you doing!?”
Without giving Nighteye a chance, Dusk quickly grabbed the paper, glanced at it, and then slowly raised it, her alluring smile revealing a cruel and cold heart. “Is this the purpose of your visit to Evernight?”
A chill began to emanate from Nighteye, her pupils deepening as she said slowly, “Dusk, you’re courting death.”
“Can you kill me?” Dusk’s blood force surged, far stronger than Nighteye’s.
Nighteye’s eyes were fully engulfed in a bright crimson, suddenly reflecting Dusk’s figure. But Dusk’s blood force raged, surrounding her in a crimson mist, causing her figure in Nighteye’s eyes to blur and distort, as if about to vanish.
The two stood facing each other, the battlefield shifting to Nighteye’s eyes. There, Dusk’s figure twisted and turned, sometimes clear, sometimes blurry. After a brief stalemate, Dusk’s figure couldn’t vanish, but Nighteye couldn’t fully capture it either.
This was a battle without smoke, yet more perilous than any sword or gun.
Dusk suddenly waved the paper, and Nighteye’s gaze instantly turned cold.
“There’s no point in continuing like this. You can’t kill me, at least not now. And I have equally important reasons not to kill you. So, why not talk?”
Nighteye slowly nodded, and Dusk’s figure finally faded from her eyes. She said softly, “Put down that paper.”
Dusk’s lips curved into an ambiguous smile, “This person, is very important to you, isn’t he?”
Nighteye said indifferently, “That’s none of your business.”
“Perhaps I should go see him…” As soon as Dusk spoke, she felt a sharper killing intent press against her. She laughed, “See, aren’t you getting anxious?”
Nighteye’s expression was calm, but the killing intent grew thicker.
Dusk finally dropped her fake smile, saying seriously, “Rest assured, I’m just going to see him. I won’t do anything. Why would I do anything to a mere human? Let’s make a deal. You can’t leave recently, but I can. I’ll check on him, see if he’s in trouble, and if I’m in a good mood, I might even help him. What do you think?”
“Not interested.”
“Such a straightforward rejection?”
Nighteye smirked, “You won’t find him.”
“That’s not necessarily true.”
Nighteye paused, then asked, “What do you really want?”
Dusk’s expression finally became eager, saying clearly, “The essence blood of the Black Winged King in your possession!”
“Impossible, I’ve already used it.” Nighteye said calmly.
“Oh, that’s a pity.” Dusk didn’t say anything more, looking at the portrait, whistling, and placing it on the table before leaving the room.
Nighteye stood still for a while, then walked to the desk, picking up the portrait, and silently gazing at the boy who still looked innocent. This was the first time she had seen Qian Ye. By the time she saw him again, he had changed a lot. Thinking of this, Nighteye let out a breath, her tense back relaxing slightly.
As night fell, Dusk left the castle, turning into a dark shadow, vanishing instantly. Late at night, she arrived at the foot of a lonely, cold hill. Behind a grove, a wooden hut stood, with no light inside, giving off an eerie feeling.
Dusk walked to the hut and pushed the door open.
The interior was extremely simple, with animal skins and dried grass on the floor, and a cold fireplace in the corner. The exterior was blackened, but there was no spark inside, and the roasting rack next to it was rusty.
It looked like a hunter’s hut, but it seemed unvisited for a long time.
Dusk didn’t sit, standing straight in the center, closing her eyes to rest.
Not long after, the rusty hinge creaked, and an old man entered, hunched over.
He laughed hoarsely, saying, “How rare, a big figure visiting today. Tell me, how can I serve you?”
Dusk threw him a folded paper, “Find someone for me. This is his portrait, but his appearance may not be exactly like this.”
The old man carefully unfolded the paper, taking it to the window, using the moonlight to see. The portrait was of Qian Ye, identical to the one on Nighteye’s desk. Anything Dusk saw, she could replicate perfectly.
The old man studied the portrait, saying, “Even if his appearance changes, the proportions of his features and skeleton can be traced. I’ve memorized his eyes. But can you give me a starting range? The entire Evernight continent is beyond my ability.”
“He was in the Three Rivers County of the human territory about two years ago. Is that enough?”
“Hmm, there’s a possibility. But a human commoner might have already died. You know, this is Evernight. Weaklings like him often meet unfortunate ends.”
Dusk firmly said, “Even if you die a hundred times, he won’t! I’m sure of it! Don’t waste time, find him for me.”
The old man, startled by Dusk’s sudden loud voice, stepped back, crashing into the wooden wall. After a few wheezes, he said, “I’ll try my best, but it will be expensive.”
“How much, name your price.” Dusk’s voice was cold.
“Sometimes crystal coins can’t buy everything…” The old man secretly lifted his eyes, a greedy glint flashing, daring to glance at the most prominent curves.
Dusk noticed his actions and hummed, raising her finger, shooting a thin line of blood energy, piercing the old man’s thigh and dragging his body across the floor.
The old man screamed like a pig, flailing his hands, black smoke rising from his fingertips, but unable to touch the blood line. After three minutes of screaming, Dusk retracted the blood energy.
The old man’s injured thigh slammed to the floor with a painful sound. He clutched the bloody wound, trembling in pain, unable to scream.
Dusk tossed a few crystal coins onto him, saying coldly, “This is the deposit. Your ‘Gray Cloaked Night Walkers’ claim to penetrate all shadows of Evernight? Don’t think the Twilight Continent can only rely on you. Look at me wrongly again, and I’ll dig out your eyes. What use is a Black Robe Elder to the Purebloods of Monroe?”
The old man shivered at the mention of the name Monroe, immediately grabbing the coins, saying, “You can count on it! I’ll have results in half a month, I promise!”
“If you take my money and don’t deliver, you know the consequences.”
The old man nodded vigorously, nearly swearing an oath.
“Bandage your leg. Don’t bleed to death before finishing my job.” Dusk left the hut.
As Dusk reached the edge of the grove, a tall, black-cloaked man emerged from the shadows of a tree, following her. He was extremely handsome, with unusually long fingers.
“Gomu, come back here in half a month to get the results for me.”
Gomu, the young vampire, laughed silently, asking, “Then what?”
Dusk coldly said, “Then you’ll gouge out his eyes and cut off his left hand and left foot.”
“Just that? Not make him suffer longer?”
“No, keep him alive. Monroe doesn’t kill those who do us a favor.”
Gomu shrugged, saying, “Such an archaic principle.”
Dusk turned, glaring at Gomu, “Don’t say that until you can challenge those old guys. It’s meaningless, understand?”
Gomu smiled indifferently, “We will be able to challenge them someday, won’t we?”
“Let’s talk about it when that day comes!” Dusk said, her figure flashing, disappearing in an instant.
Gomu ran after her, shouting, “Hey, wait! Listen, there are many strange people around lately…”
The night once again enveloped the Evernight continent, as if it had never left. The brief hours of sunlight during the day seemed like a dream.
Qian Ye had already crawled into his tent, preparing to train. But suddenly, an irresistible drowsiness overcame him. He barely controlled his body, finding a comfortable position, and fell into a deep sleep.
Qian Ye had a strange dream. It was a dark forest, filled with ancient, leafless trees, their branches twisted and deformed. Looking around, there were no smooth lines, the chaos seeming to be a silent, painful cry from the trees.
In the center of the forest, a white figure stood out, a girl walking alone.
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