Chapter 192: Deep in the Twilight

Exiting the secret realm, it felt like passing through an invisible membrane. Before Yè Tóng and Qian Ye appeared a primeval forest. In the distance, majestic mountains towered, while on the other side, one could see the void. The sky was a dazzling tapestry of colors, revealing two continents slowly drifting.

Yè Tóng carefully observed the two continents in the void, saying, “Those are our Blood Clan’s Crescent Continent and the Demon Clan’s Azel Continent. Therefore, we must be on the Twilight Continent.”

“Reno chose the Twilight as his final hiding place?” Qian Ye felt that if even the King of Blue had to ensure his survival, then the Blood Clan’s Twilight Continent was likely already overrun. Placing a hiding spot here seemed the least suitable choice.

Yè Tóng, however, saw it differently, “This secret realm is so small; placing it on the Twilight is safer. No one would conduct a thorough search in this area.”

Indeed, the fringes of the continent were desolate and perilous. For long-lived species like the Blood Clan, their population density was lower than the Empire’s, with most clans clustering together. The hereditary clans’ territories were all in the core regions, while newly established clans vied for fertile lands on contested continents. Naturally, no one would choose to live in such a desolate place.

At first, Yè Tóng and Qian Ye moved cautiously, but they soon let loose and sprinted at full speed. After hundreds of kilometers, they finally spotted an ancient Blood Clan castle in the distance.

The castle was built on the mountain, quite large, and likely belonged to a Marquis. Constructed near the peak, its structures followed the terrain, while at the foot of the mountain lay a small city that could accommodate tens of thousands. Around it, vast farmlands stretched, and along the river, dozens of workshops of various sizes stood.

Qian Ye had never seen a castle on the Blood Clan’s native continent before, and it felt different from the lower-level Eternal Night Continent or other mixed-inhabited continents. He found it intriguing but couldn’t put his finger on the specifics.

Seeing this, Yè Tóng explained, “Notice how the main tower of the castle is distinctly different from the surrounding structures. It’s made of large natural rocks, unpolished, which is a style from the ancient times of the Blood Clan. This indicates that the castle was built a very long time ago, at least fifteen hundred years. The buildings below, however, are constructed from cut stones. This building technique only became widespread after the Dawn Rebellion.”

“Dawn Rebellion?”

“Oh, that’s what the Human Empire calls the Dawn War.”

The Dawn War was the founding battle of the Empire, and in the eyes of the Eternal Night, especially the Blood Clan, it was a clear rebellion.

With Yè Tóng’s explanation, Qian Ye noticed the differences. The main tower of the castle was rough and solid, with narrow, elongated windows. Clearly, it was more for war purposes, and one could imagine how uncomfortable it would be to live there, not to mention for the luxury-loving Blood Clan.

The buildings below, however, were much more elegant and ornate, constructed from cut rectangular stones with detailed carvings. The next layer was a series of luxurious buildings, with large, spacious high windows clearly not meant for war.

The lowest part of the castle was still some distance from the foot of the mountain. The city on the plains below varied in architectural style, with areas resembling slums.

Yè Tóng glanced at Qian Ye and said, “You are now completely a Blood Clanner.”

“… I know.”

The Blood Core was on the cover of the Black Book, and the heart on the back, making the subordinate relationship clear. Qian Ye’s original crystal had entirely moved to his heart, and from the inside out, he was now completely a Blood Clanner, with only the back cover of the Black Book retaining his human identity.

Yè Tóng sighed softly, “Are you still adjusting?”

Qian Ye replied frankly, “At first, it was a bit uncomfortable, but the body is just a body. Who we are ultimately depends on what we do.”

Yè Tóng looked at him, “Now, will you still stand by the Human Empire?”

This question left Qian Ye silent. He had been avoiding it, but now that Yè Tóng had asked, there was no room for evasion.

After a moment’s thought, Qian Ye said, “I don’t understand why the Empire is suddenly willing to do anything to kill you.”

“Although I don’t know the specific reasons, I can guess some. On the Holy Mountain of the Parliament, everyone hopes for my return. Only when I come back can the Gate to the New World truly open.”

Qian Ye was slightly surprised; he had never known that Yè Tóng was the key to opening the New World.

“Still, there are some people in the Parliament who don’t want me to appear. They don’t know about the connection between the New World and me, or perhaps they don’t care. The Holy Mountain is a place they can never reach, so to them, the ancient hatred is the most overwhelming thing. Unable to openly oppose the Holy Mountain, someone leaked my information to the Empire. If you were in power, would you let me return to the Eternal Night?”

“But you once lived in the Empire, and you don’t have any hatred for humans.”

“Hatred? There’s plenty. You forget how we ended up in the Neutral Zone?”

Qian Ye sighed, “Just to eliminate a potential threat, they would do that?”

Though he said this, Qian Ye understood that for the Empire, stopping the opening of the New World and preventing another Dark Holy Mountain was reason enough.

“Of course, they would, and not just once. Jūn Dù’s Heavenly Sovereign Bullet, thinking back, he might not have known either.”

“Jūn Dù’s Heavenly Sovereign Bullet?!” Qian Ye was startled.

Yè Tóng recounted the events of her battle with Zhào Jūn Dù, concluding, “Jūn Dù is not a liar, even on the battlefield, at least not to me. How that bullet ended up in his gun, you’d have to ask the Empire.”

Qian Ye’s expression grew serious. He hadn’t realized that Yè Tóng had already been hit by a Heavenly Sovereign Bullet, fired by Zhào Jūn Dù, and this wasn’t mentioned in any report he had seen.

From Yè Tóng’s words, Qian Ye also noted her lack of mercy towards Sòng Zǐ Níng. Now, piecing together the cause and effect, and hearing Yè Tóng’s reasoning, Qian Ye naturally understood the entanglement with Jī Tiān Qíng and Lǐ Kuáng Lán in the Great Vortex. The mastermind behind it was Sòng Zǐ Níng.

Thinking of Sòng Zǐ Níng, Qian Ye saw the gentle face, hearing him say, “Qian Ye, leave her. She’s no longer the Yè Tóng you knew. But you need to live, not sink into despair. Trust me, I genuinely care for your well-being. There are many good women in this world besides her.”

But then, Qian Ye saw Sòng Zǐ Níng unconscious, his eyes closed. Only when he lost consciousness did he shed the pretense of the high-born scion, reverting to the fierce and lonely youth from the Yellow Springs era, with only himself and his partner.

Qian Ye smiled bitterly, shaking his head to dismiss Sòng Zǐ Níng’s image. From Sòng Zǐ Níng’s perspective, he might be right. But from Yè Tóng’s, she would surely hate him to the bone.

Lost in thought for a long time, Qian Ye finally sighed.

“Have you decided?” Yè Tóng asked.

“Yes.”

“So, what do you decide?”

“As I said, who we are depends on what we do. My brother is my brother, and the Empire is the Empire.”

Yè Tóng breathed a sigh of relief, patting her chest, “That’s good. I thought you would return to serve them.”

“Do I look that stupid?”

Yè Tóng seriously replied, “Not just look, you are!”

Qian Ye, exasperated, picked her up, pretending to be angry, “Since you awakened, I haven’t given you a proper thrashing yet!”

Yè Tóng relaxed, leaning against Qian Ye, “Plenty of chances for that. What are your plans now?”

Qian Ye said, “Even though I am a Blood Clanner now, it doesn’t mean I agree with all their practices. However, in the Yong Continent, I discovered that different races can coexist on the same land. In the Black Sun Valley, many Blood Clan members were willing to serve me, not all Blood Clan are willing to die for tradition. I’ve considered changing the parts I don’t agree with.”

Yè Tóng nodded, “That’s reassuring.”

“I can’t change much now, being just a Duke. Even as a Grand Duke, I might not be a match for a Crown Prince. But when I’m stronger, I can change more.”

Hearing this, Yè Tóng’s expression dimmed. Qian Ye, puzzled, asked what was wrong.

Yè Tóng forced a smile, “I was thinking, if I hadn’t been so stubborn and completed my awakening earlier, I should have ignited my mark by now, at least becoming a Crown Prince. Perhaps, Reno would have been safe.”

Qian Ye patted her back, “Let the past go. We must live well and avenge Reno in the future.”

Yè Tóng nodded, wriggling free from Qian Ye’s embrace, “I’ll continue explaining about the Blood Clan.”

Most of the city’s population were not Blood Clan but various low-rank races, viewed as lesser beings. Many were kept for periodic blood feasts. Among these, humans were prominent, as their blood was proven to be the best nourishment for the Blood Clan.

Before the Dawn War, these low-rank races were mostly laborers and slaves, and those who could provide blood, like humans, were barely slaves, treated like livestock.

The practice of lower Blood Clan converting other races into Blood Slaves for use as disposable cannon fodder was controversial. The Demon Clan, particularly, disapproved of this method, while the werewolves and spider demons had no stance, having natural servants.

After the Dawn War, the Founder led the humans to rise, stunning the entire Eternal Night. Since then, the Blood Clan, from top to bottom, began to re-evaluate the potential of humans, realizing that keeping them as livestock was wasteful.

Thus, some more enlightened Blood Clans began to give humans limited rights and freedoms, teaching them knowledge, letting them cultivate and build. In return, humans had to regularly provide blood and a fixed amount of flesh.

The results were astonishing. Humans, under extremely limited conditions, showed incredible vitality, building cities and cultivating vast lands. With the population surge, the supply of flesh was no longer an issue.

Besides farming, humans also developed mines and workshops, providing raw materials and simple components to Blood Clan workshops. Many even gained positions managing other low-rank races.

This was the origin of the city Qian Ye saw. However, these humans, developed through such means, were vassals of the Blood Clan, with lifestyles and social structures fundamentally different from the Great Qin Empire and other human kingdoms.

True Blood Clan originally dwelled in castles, and even now, the upper echelons upheld this tradition. However, many mixed-blood descendants, for comfort and convenience, moved to the city below, living in separate districts, isolated from the low-rank races to maintain distinction.

But to Qian Ye, this already hinted at a form of cohabitation.