Chapter 54: The Pursuers

The sharp blade cut through the skin, piercing the chest and slicing open the blood core, finally stopping at its center. A drop of blood, containing golden granules, rolled down the gleaming edge of the sword and fell into Ye Tong’s mouth.

In an instant, the blood aura around Ye Tong intensified, forming a faint red mist on her body, with specks of golden light floating within. After a while, her breathing gradually stabilized, and the chilling fragrance that had pervaded before disappeared.

Qian Ye sensed the condition inside her body again, seeing that the blood core, replenished by the powerful essence of the source blood, had begun to repair itself, he finally let out a sigh of relief. He scanned the surroundings and chose a newly appeared crevice, which led to a small, isolated space. Anyone wishing to go there would have to pass through the hall of the cavern and a partially blocked passage.

Qian Ye lifted Ye Tong, but before he could stand, his face turned pale, and his legs weakened. He used his elbow to support himself and prevent Ye Tong from falling, and with his other hand, he tried to steady his body, nearly collapsing in the process. His body, usually under his precise control, now felt strange and incredibly weak.

This was the consequence of a severely injured blood core. Qian Ye took a deep breath, waiting for the sudden dizziness to pass. As he struggled, the wound on his chest burst open, and fresh blood gushed out, soaking his open coat.

Qian Ye coughed heavily, spewing more blood. He pressed his hand against the wound on his chest, and the dark golden and purple blood energy, sensing the severe injury, emerged from the runes, swirling around the blood core, constantly emitting threads of vitality, attempting to heal the surface cracks.

After a moment, Qian Ye felt slightly better. The wound on his chest had stopped bleeding, but the damage to the blood core was not so easily mended. Slowly, he stood up, moving Ye Tong to the concealed space he had chosen.

He laid Ye Tong down, making her as comfortable as possible, then carefully wiped away all the dust and dirt from her face, looking at her quietly for a while. Then, he slowly rose, dragging Dongyue with some difficulty, and walked toward the exit of the hall.

Qian Ye found a shadowy corner in the deep passage and sat down against the cave wall. He rummaged through the Anduya space and finally found a box of cigarettes. Using a military knife, he carefully slit open one of the cigarettes, added a full tube of enhanced stimulant, and re-rolled it, lighting it.

Even this simple action proved difficult as his hands trembled uncontrollably, still feeling the weakness in his body. Now, Qian Ye understood the taste of a severely injured blood core, like a bottomless black hole, sucking away his strength.

He brought the cigarette to his lips, inhaling deeply. A sharp, spicy sensation shot into his lungs, making him cough again. However, as the stimulant entered his system, he instantly felt a surge of energy.

In the maze-like passages, a viscount of the Pass clan was running at high speed, occasionally stopping to check the traces left on the cave walls and ground. His face gradually revealed excitement, as the tracks left by Ye Tong became more numerous, indicating her worsening condition, and he was closing in.

Ye Tong had been gravely wounded by Edward, and if not for her latent bloodline abilities, allowing her to traverse the territories of many fierce beasts, she would have been caught long ago. This viscount, a skilled tracker and concealer, managed to outstrip his fellow clansmen and pursue her alone after a long chase.

As the prospect of a significant achievement loomed, the viscount couldn’t help but smile, both excited and cruel.

A loud thud echoed from the end of the passage, startling the viscount. How could he not sense the presence of any living being ahead? Reacting quickly, the viscount stopped abruptly and slipped into the shadows of several stone pillars, hiding his presence before peering toward the end of the passage.

Just like the other passages at this depth, the area ahead was pitch-black, with only a faint, greenish glow emitted by some unknown fungi. This dim light made it difficult even for a vampire with night vision to see clearly.

In the center of the passage, a heavy sword was stuck diagonally, and behind it stood a person. From this distance, the viscount could only barely make out that it was a man, unable to discern any further details.

Believing he had maintained stealth throughout his journey and hidden himself immediately after the sound, the viscount thought it unlikely he had been detected. However, this passage was at the end of a bend, and the path of the glowing fungi suggested another large cavern hall beyond, meaning this was the only route to Ye Tong.

Though reluctant to complicate matters, the viscount seemed to have no other choice. Estimating the distance, he drew a pistol and slowly infused it with primal force.

At the end of the passage, Qian Ye lit another cigarette, taking a deep drag, and said, “Come out, there’s no need to hide. I’ve seen you already.”

The viscount was shocked. The other spoke in Common, and from the accent and phrasing, he was likely human. In such a dim environment, vampires had superior senses, and there was no reason for him to be detected first.

But since his cover was blown, using the pistol was futile. The viscount stepped out of the shadows, returned the pistol to its holster, and drew his sword, sneering, “I wanted to make your death swift, but since you’ve asked for trouble, don’t blame me. Still, you have one chance. Answer my questions truthfully. A black-haired, black-eyed female vampire recently passed through here. Have you seen her?”

Watching the rapidly approaching viscount, Qian Ye made no preparations for battle, just continued smoking and pointed behind him, “You mean Ye Tong? She’s not far from here.”

The viscount’s face lit up, “Really? How far, and what’s her condition?”

After a barrage of questions, he saw Qian Ye’s ambiguous smile and realized something was wrong. “You’re human! How do you know her name is Ye Tong? What else do you know?”

Taking another drag, Qian Ye replied, “I also know that you no longer need the answers to these questions.”

The viscount’s face darkened, “I think your last cigarette has lasted too long.”

“This cigarette,” Qian Ye said, smiling with crystalline clarity, “has great use.”

The viscount’s instincts suddenly flared, and he heard the distant sound of the sea! An unimaginable pressure descended upon him. He cried out, his blood aura flashing once before vanishing, and he fell to his knees.

Qian Ye lifted Dongyue with one hand, and with a single slash, split the viscount in half.

Dongyue continued to fall, most of its blade sinking into the ground. Qian Ye didn’t pull it out, instead releasing the hilt and drawing the blood-drinking blade, walking over to the viscount’s corpse, bending down to examine it. Unfortunately, the sword strike was too accurate, splitting the viscount’s blood core as well, leaving Qian Ye with less than a third of the original amount of essence blood.

Qian Ye shrugged, reminding himself to adjust his sword technique. Nevertheless, with the addition of the essence blood, he felt the debilitating weakness in his body lessen, and the sluggish dark golden and purple blood energy seemed to catch a breath, though still far from boiling blood state.

The burning cigarette between his fingers was now extinguished, and Qian Ye flicked away the remaining embers, lighting another. He didn’t sit down, still leaning against the cave wall, each cigarette acting as a strong stimulant, keeping his exhausted body in a state of combat readiness.

Suddenly, a hoarse voice sounded in the passage, “Such a poor showing, which clan are you from?”

The voice came suddenly, and it was hard to determine the distance or see the speaker. But Qian Ye showed no surprise, as if he had expected this person to be lurking nearby.

He remained calm, holding the cigarette in his left hand, the blood-drinking blade spinning back into its sheath on his right wrist, and gripping Dongyue’s hilt with his right hand, but not lifting it. “In this ghastly place, it’s enough to find food, who cares about manners.”

From the darkness, an elderly vampire with a stern face emerged, his formal attire immaculate, even the gem-studded buttons on his clothes shining brightly after such a prolonged battle.

This was one of the oldest vampires, with the Pass clan emblem, crafted from various gems, clearly the work of a master, adorning his collar. He looked at Qian Ye with a mix of disdain and wariness.

The old vampire had arrived at the scene at roughly the same time as the deceased viscount. The viscount, of course, had not noticed his presence, and the count had intended to let the viscount engage Qian Ye first, but he was taken aback when Qian Ye swiftly killed the viscount, leaving him no time to assist.

However, the more the count observed, the more confused he became. He had assumed Qian Ye was human, driven by Dawn primal force. But then he saw Qian Ye using the blood-drinking blade to draw the viscount’s essence blood, making him wonder if his senses were being twisted by this cursed place. Yet Qian Ye’s actions confirmed he was not mistaken.

There was only one possibility: Qian Ye was a mixed-blood, with the bloodline of a saint already awakened but not yet fully consumed by Dawn primal force. This made the count’s contempt grow; mixed-bloods held no status in vampire society, often possessing strange abilities but destined never to rise above the rank of a count and become true powerhouses.

“I am Count Robinson of the Pass clan. Who are you, and what is your relationship with Ye Tong? Hand her over, and I can make your death swift.”

Qian Ye smiled, “Do all of you Pass clan members like to talk as if they own the world?”

“I never joke,” Robinson’s face was like ice.

“Neither do I.”

“Tell me where Ye Tong is, or—”

“No need for ‘or,’ just attack!”

Anger flashed across Robinson’s face. He drew a crimson rapier, flicking his wrist, and the blade vibrated, producing a high-pitched, almost choral, sound, pointing at Qian Ye.

Qian Ye smiled, slowly drawing Dongyue, raising its unassuming blade, each movement carrying the weight of a mountain.

A strange unease gripped Robinson again. Known for his caution and uncanny sense of danger, he now felt something off. Looking at Qian Ye’s expression, he sensed something hidden behind the smile. Was it satisfaction?

Robinson halted, staring at Qian Ye, and said slowly, “You’re injured.”

Qian Ye smiled nonchalantly, “Anyone can see that.”

Robinson’s brows furrowed, a cold laugh escaping his lips, “Do you want me to act now? Perhaps in a while, you’ll fall on your own.”

“Then wait,” Qian Ye replied calmly.

Robinson, now uncertain, eyed Qian Ye suspiciously, wondering if he was buying time.

In his hesitation, a chill suddenly ran up Robinson’s spine, like a line of ice, starting from his waist and climbing to the back of his head. For a moment, he couldn’t tell if it was real or an illusion of impending danger.

Robinson turned abruptly, looking back the way he had come.