Chapter 52: Sudden Turmoil

After all, this was not a good thing for Ye Tong. It at least meant that in the eyes of the Blackwing King, she was not the most qualified successor.

A young vampire girl asked in confusion, “Is Her Highness Ye Tong not an original bloodline? Could there be someone with purer blood than her?”

This question immediately silenced the hall. Many people had thought of it but no one was foolish enough to say it out loud.

Being an original bloodline meant possessing the ancient blood awakened, which is the closest blood relation to Anduia. Even those directly embraced by the great lords couldn’t match the purity of the original bloodlines. Among the younger generation of the Munro clan, Ye Tong was the only original bloodline, and even across the entire vampire race, there were only a few original bloodlines, none of whom had awakened blood as powerful as Ye Tong’s.

Even among the thirteen second-generation ancestors, Anduia, the Blackwing King, was among the strongest. But now, another descendant with Anduia’s blood had appeared. This meant Ye Tong was no longer the sole heir, and her value had subtly shifted.

Standing by the window, Ye Tong heard the whispers of the young vampires behind her. She should have been worried or considering her future, but for some reason, the image of Qian Ye appeared in her tired mind.

She smiled bitterly and pressed her forehead against the cool metal edge of the porthole. The war on the Eternal Night Continent had subsided, and it seemed that Dark Flow City was not targeted. So, how was he?

The airship crossed the void, gradually flying over the Twilight Continent. As the continent filled her view, Ye Tong’s heart slowly calmed, sinking that figure into her heart.

The final journey was exceptionally peaceful. Qian Ye faced no obstacles and smoothly arrived at the City of Shadows.

This was a city built in a steel style, with walls towering twenty meters high. Heavy steel plates were embedded in the walls. Although steel was not valuable among metals, building a steel city was still a grand gesture.

The most prominent feature from afar was the perpetual towers, the heart of human cities. The City of Shadows had six perpetual towers, five of them encircling the city, guarding the central tower that soared into the sky.

Above the city, a massive airship floated, nearly a hundred meters long from head to tail, resembling a small floating fortress. The airship wasn’t moving; it was anchored by thick iron chains hanging from its bottom.

Qian Ye looked around and saw two cannon turrets, several heavy machine guns, and a few long-range telescopes pointing in different directions. Even though he was used to the advanced weaponry at the Red Scorpion headquarters, he couldn’t help but admire the City of Shadows’ boldness in using a floating airship as a watchtower and fire support point.

The city gates were steam-powered, sliding metal doors. Now, during the open hours, half of each door was retracted into the wall. Despite this, the width of the passage for vehicles and pedestrians was already larger than the gates of Dark Flow City. When Qian Ye passed through, he noticed that the gate wasn’t just one layer but five layers of metal doors stacked together.

The City of Shadows had a large population and was located on the border, yet there were no signs of war. The streets were wide and clean, and many buildings had exquisite decorations. Occasionally, beautiful architectural works would catch the eye.

As Qian Ye walked towards the city center, the buildings became more grand and ornate, with many featuring a retro style. Metal beams and columns with intricate carvings, mixed with stone brick walls, created a unique aesthetic. He saw a seven-story restaurant, a company headquarters over a hundred meters tall, and a grand square capable of holding thousands of people.

Entering the central area, he found many shops with the Yan Yun Zhao family emblem. Whether it was a restaurant or a gun store, they shared the same opulence, standing out even on these bustling streets.

People walking in the central district wore more distinct attire. Travelers like Qian Ye, who were dusty and weary, were quite rare.

Qian Ye circled the block and found a mid-range inn at the edge of the city center. The room rate was several times higher than in Wei Yang, the largest city on the Eternal Night Continent, making him secretly marvel.

Though the inn was considered mid-range in the City of Shadows, the maids were all pretty. Qian Ye found his room, put away his things, took a refreshing bath, and then threw himself onto the soft bed. After a long escape and battle, this place felt like a paradise.

Qian Ye closed his eyes for a short nap, then jumped up, checked the room’s facilities, and pulled a tassel cord by the bed. A cheerful bell rang from the other side of the inn.

Moments later, there was a knock on the door, followed by a soft voice, “What can I do for you, sir?”

Qian Ye opened the door and said to the maid, “Get me a map of the City of Shadows and bring three meals to my room.”

When the maid saw Qian Ye’s face, her eyes lit up, and she gave a charming smile, “I’ll prepare it right away! Also, if you want to explore the city, I can be your guide.”

Qian Ye didn’t respond further, but the maid wasn’t disappointed. She threw him a coy glance and left. Shortly after, the map and food were delivered. After eating, Qian Ye studied the map and finally found his target: the Golden Dawn Casino.

It was still afternoon, so he decided to take another nap to refresh himself. After adjusting his state to the best, he gathered his equipment and left the inn.

Night had fallen in the City of Shadows, but the streets were brightly lit, and the number of pedestrians hadn’t decreased.

Qian Ye hurried toward the Golden Dawn Casino, which was near the central district. It was a three-story building, gleaming with gold and glory, but with signs of age, and some sections of the neon lights were not working.

As usual, a few burly men in black stood at the casino entrance, exuding a strong aura of origin power, and scanning the people entering and leaving with expressionless faces.

Qian Ye entered with the crowd, and a young girl immediately greeted him with a smile, “How can I assist you?”

The girl was pretty, but not as impressive as the greeters at the nearby Yan Yue Casino, which was backed by the Zhao family.

Qian Ye handed ten imperial gold coins to the girl, saying, “Exchange them for chips, and show me where to play Blackjack.”

The girl smiled sweetly, quickly exchanged the chips, and led Qian Ye to the second floor, into a medium-sized gambling hall. There were about a dozen gamblers, and the environment was elegant and quiet. Several maids bustled around, serving the gamblers.

The ten gold coins were just enough for Qian Ye to enter this hall and get a sweet smile from the girl. However, to earn a more alluring look and a slightly flirtatious attitude, at least twenty gold coins were needed. For fifty gold coins, he could go to the third floor and bring the girl to his room.

Qian Ye had no interest in the games; he was here to contact the recipient of the Rock Core Jade Letter. He glanced around and approached a table.

Blackjack was a simple card game.

Qian Ye sat down, asked for cards, and played a few rounds, winning and losing. On the seventh round, he casually placed his cards horizontally. This was a small, unnoticeable gesture. Many gamblers had their own quirks, and the dealer barely glanced at him before continuing to collect and distribute cards and manage the chips.

After a few more rounds, when the second seventh round came, Qian Ye again laid his cards horizontally. The dealer’s gaze briefly swept over him, and he continued his routine.

On the third seventh round, Qian Ye placed his cards horizontally again and lost the round. By now, most of the chips from the ten gold coins were gone. Qian Ye pretended to be frustrated, pushed the cards away, and stood up. As soon as he left, another eager gambler took his seat.

Qian Ye wandered around the hall, showing little interest in other games, and started to leave.

At that moment, a faint fragrance wafted by, followed by a soft voice very close to Qian Ye, “We have some special games. Are you interested?”

Qian Ye had sensed someone approaching and turned to see a woman in black. Her appearance was pretty, but her skin was like snow. With her head slightly lowered, the creamy white nape and shoulders under her long hair, set off by the black dress, almost shimmered.

Qian Ye’s heart stirred, and he said, “I only play Blackjack.”

The woman smiled seductively and placed her hand on Qian Ye’s arm, whispering, “We have three Blackjack tables.”

This was the agreed-upon signal. Qian Ye nodded and calmly said, “Alright, show me.”

The woman in black led Qian Ye through another gambling hall and into a quiet corridor. She suddenly stopped, pressed her hand against the wall, and a hidden door appeared. She pulled Qian Ye inside, and they descended a spiral staircase. On the lower level, she pushed open another hidden door in a bare wall.

Qian Ye found himself in a dark alley behind the casino. The alley had no streetlights, and both sides were high walls, possibly not a passage but a gap between two large buildings. At this time, the alley was quiet and dark, illuminated only by the faint light from the casino windows.

“Follow me,” the woman gestured, leading the way to the end of the alley.

Qian Ye followed her for about ten minutes, passing through narrow streets and dark alleys, until they reached a dilapidated, two-story old building.

The windows of the building were all broken, with only a few intact. However, there seemed to be residents inside, as some windows had a faint light. The main door was ajar, and what was once a sturdy metal door was now covered in rust.

The woman in black stepped back, standing beside Qian Ye, and whispered, “The person you’re looking for is inside. Go in.”

Qian Ye glanced at the first floor, which was completely dark. He couldn’t see anything through the gap in the door. A faint red glow flickered in his eyes, and he stepped forward, standing before the door.

He didn’t push the door immediately but turned and asked, “Should I go in alone?”