Atypical Blood Clan Contract - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: The Town

Recognizing the man in the purple suit, with his neatly parted hair and an air of both seriousness and flamboyant charm, as Teacher Huo, Qin Xiaoyou couldn’t help but recall the terrifying days when he was dominated by tutoring.

As a child, Qin Xiaoyou had been restless and easily distracted, finding it difficult to focus on his studies. The only times he could fully concentrate were during his lessons with Mr. Li, learning Xiluo Language and playing the piano.

However, the well-meaning Teacher Huo, citing Qin Xiaoyou’s poor grades, paid a home visit and persuaded his mother to let him tutor the boy personally. Overjoyed at the prospect, Qin Xiaoyou’s mother readily agreed.

From that day forward, Qin Xiaoyou lived a “happy” life immersed in a sea of homework.

Fortunately, hard work pays off. His grades improved dramatically, and his mother was so delighted she couldn’t stop smiling, even gifting Teacher Huo a basket of eggs laid by her own hens.

Qin Xiaoyou was deeply grateful to Teacher Huo. Without his tutoring, he might never have gotten into Town First Middle School.

Composing himself, he unslung his backpack and naturally sat down beside Mr. Li, politely greeting Teacher Huo again, “Hello, Teacher Huo.”

Huo Yuan beamed, his eyes lighting up as he took in the sight of the fifteen-year-old Qin Xiaoyou, now taller, more handsome, and radiating youthful vitality. A sense of accomplishment swelled in his chest.

“Xiaoyou, you’ve grown so much!”

They hadn’t seen each other in two and a half years, yet there was hardly any awkwardness between them.

Qin Xiaoyou held up his fingers to measure, excitedly declaring, “Just one more centimeter and I’ll be 1.7 meters tall!”

At only fifteen, he still had plenty of room to grow. With enough milk, calcium supplements, and exercise, reaching 1.8 meters shouldn’t be a problem.

Huo Yuan smiled warmly, noting that the boy retained the same endearing charm from his childhood.

Qin Xiaoyou glanced around, noticing Butler Luo’s absence. He turned to the golden-haired man beside him, asking, “Where’s Butler Luo?”

“He went to the supermarket for groceries,” Mr. Li replied, setting down his coffee cup and turning to look at the boy. The coldness that usually masked his face vanished, replaced by a gentle smile. “There’s iced milk tea Butler Luo left for you in the fridge.”

Qin Xiaoyou’s eyes lit up, and he immediately sprang up to head to the kitchen.

Huo Yuan stroked his chin thoughtfully, a knowing look in his eyes.

During his time teaching in Wanhong Village, he had observed the remarkably harmonious relationship between Qin Xiaoyou and Mr. Li.

While Qin Xiaoyou was usually quite mischievous, he became shy and obedient around Mr. Li, his clear eyes brimming with admiration and longing. Mr. Li, in turn, shed all pretense of being the First-Generation Blood Clan King, acting like an ordinary elder—approachable and kind, patiently teaching the boy Xiluo Language and piano, showering him with care.

It was truly remarkable how two people from completely different worlds could come together so seamlessly.

If Qin Xiaoyou had once felt a bit reserved around Mr. Li, after five years, their bond had deepened to the warmth of family.

In the kitchen, Qin Xiaoyou opened the refrigerator. Inside, neatly arranged food containers and unopened bottles of red wine stood in orderly rows. A cup of milk tea, covered with plastic wrap, sat incongruously in a corner.

He took out the milk tea, closed the refrigerator, peeled back the plastic wrap, and took a small sip, letting out a contented sigh.

After an afternoon of soccer and a half-hour bike ride, a cup of chilled milk tea felt like heavenly bliss.

Butler Luo was truly thoughtful.

Carrying the milk tea back to the living room, Qin Xiaoyou sat beside Mr. Li and asked Huo Yuan curiously, “Teacher Huo, did you need to see Mr. Li about something?”

He had no idea how Teacher Huo and Mr. Li had met. One day, when Qin Xiaoyou visited the villa, he found Teacher Huo sitting stiffly on the sofa, speaking to Mr. Li with an unusually serious expression.

After that, Teacher Huo occasionally visited Mr. Li until his Teaching Support assignment ended. After leaving Wanhong Village, he never appeared again.

After two and a half years, a missing person had returned. How could anyone not be curious?

Huo Yuan smiled calmly. “Indeed, I have an important matter to ask Mr. Li to assist with.”

He didn’t elaborate, and Qin Xiaoyou wisely refrained from pressing further.

“Oh,” the boy replied, cradling his milk tea cup in both hands and sipping slowly. Drinking cold beverages too quickly could upset his stomach.

Huo Yuan glanced at Mr. Li, who was leisurely flipping through a book, then picked up the half-finished cup of cold tea on the coffee table and took a couple of sips to mask his nervousness.

His visit to Mr. Li today was, of course, related to the Blood Clan.

More specifically, it concerned the Dark King, Antonio Coleman.

Five years ago, Huo Yuan had agreed to stay in Wanhong Village for three years as part of the Teaching Support program, while Mr. Li resolved the internal conflicts within the Blood Clan and resealed Antonio Coleman.

With the First-Generation King’s intervention, the Blood Clan’s internal strife was swiftly resolved, relieving half the pressure on the Ability Management Bureau. However, Antonio Coleman proved far more elusive.

He was cunning, deeply hidden, and his movements unpredictable. Despite five years of joint investigation by the Ability Management Bureau and the Blood Clan, their only successes had been eliminating waves of newly created vampires.

Over the past few years, Huo Yuan, as Executor, had risked his life infiltrating enemy territory multiple times, finally uncovering a faint trail of clues.

There was a high probability that Antonio Coleman was hiding in the Feini Nation.

The Feini Nation was the territory of Blood Clan Prince Ramsey. For the Ability Management Bureau to search for the Dark King within its borders, they needed to obtain Ramsey’s permission.

However, to their frustration, Prince Ramsey refused to allow the Ability Management Bureau to intervene.

She argued that since Antonio Coleman was a traitor to the Blood Clan, his pursuit and capture were internal matters for the Blood Clan alone, and outsiders were forbidden from interfering.

The Ability Management Bureau’s leadership naturally refused to accept this.

It was common knowledge that Ramsey had once been Antonio Coleman’s loyal subordinate. After Antonio was sealed away by the First-Generation King, she inherited his position and became the new Prince.

After five years of fruitless searching for Antonio’s whereabouts, the Ability Management Bureau couldn’t help but suspect that Ramsey might be obstructing their efforts, deliberately concealing her former master’s movements.

With the deadlock persisting and Antonio having recently created another batch of low-level vampires endangering society, Huo Yuan had no choice but to swallow his pride and seek Mr. Li’s assistance once again.

This was why he was sitting here today.

Qin Xiaoyou was an ordinary human, completely unaware of Abilities or the Blood Clan, making it impossible to explain these matters in detail.

After finishing his tea, Huo Yuan asked Qin Xiaoyou with genuine concern, “Are you still playing soccer?”

Deng Yifan, the owner of Qingxiang Football Training Center, was a friend of his. They had met seven years earlier at a wealthy businessman’s cocktail party. Their shared passion for soccer led to an effortless conversation, and they exchanged contact information before the evening ended.

Five years later, when Huo Yuan went to Wanhong Village for Teaching Support, he reached out to Deng Yifan for assistance.

Deng Yifan, unaware of Huo Yuan’s true identity, believed he was genuinely going to teach at Wanhong Primary School. He warmly welcomed Huo Yuan and even personally drove him to the village.

Forming the primary school soccer team had been a spur-of-the-moment decision. He needed a reason to invite Qin Xiaoyou to his office that day when he hypnotized him.

Having made the promise, he felt compelled to follow through.

Moreover, nurturing children’s interests and hobbies from a young age would undoubtedly benefit their development.

It had to be said that the children raised in the mountain village were all remarkably athletic. They possessed exceptional stamina, agility, and resilience, and their willingness to endure hardship made training them exceptionally efficient. To everyone’s surprise, they won the championship in their very first Wanli Town primary school soccer competition.

Unfortunately, when Qin Xiaoyou entered middle school, the elementary school soccer team disbanded. Other children abandoned soccer for various reasons, but Qin Xiaoyou persisted.

Seeing his genuine passion for soccer, Huo Yuan recommended the Qingxiang Football Training Center.

Deng Yifan, upon seeing Qin Xiaoyou, immediately declared him a prodigy and wanted to sign him as a formal member. However, the boy’s ambitions lay elsewhere; soccer was merely a hobby. His true goal was Chongxia University of Science and Technology.

Why did Qin Xiaoyou want to attend Chongxia University of Science and Technology?

The answer lies in the day he helped clear the boy’s name.

To gather evidence, he had used a satellite phone to record Principal Wang’s inappropriate remarks, which proved invaluable to the police investigation.

Qin Xiaoyou was fascinated by the satellite phone, so Huo Yuan explained its basic principles. Unintentionally, he planted the seeds of scientific curiosity in the boy’s mind.

Since children are the future of the nation, Huo Yuan was delighted by Qin Xiaoyou’s ambition to study at a science and technology university.

When Deng Yifan learned of the boy’s lofty aspirations, he sighed in regret.

To see such a precious talent slip through his fingers was truly a pity.

Now that Qin Xiaoyou had entered his third year of junior high, with the high school entrance exams looming next spring, his academic workload had become overwhelming. His time for soccer had dwindled drastically, and he might even have to give it up entirely.

As Huo Yuan’s thoughts raced, Qin Xiaoyou set down his milk tea, licked his lips, and replied, “I’m still playing. I do morning runs and practice juggling the ball in place every day. I go to the training center twice a month. This afternoon, I played in a practice match, took seven shots, and scored five goals.”

He finished with a toothy grin, a hint of pride in his voice.

Mr. Li closed his book and ruffled the boy’s tousled hair, praising, “Xiaoyou excels at everything he does.”

Huo Yuan felt a tickle in his throat, suppressing a cough.

The First-Generation King always showed blatant favoritism toward human children. No matter what they did, he would praise them first and ask questions later.

For instance, when he taught Qin Xiaoyou to play the piano, despite the ear-splitting, demonic cacophony, he showered the boy with compliments, boosting his confidence to no end.

Fortunately, Qin Xiaoyou proved to be a promising talent. After half a year of practice, he finally managed to play a recognizable piano piece.

Flushed with embarrassment at the praise, the boy’s eyes curved into shy crescents.

To Qin Xiaoyou, Mr. Li was more than just a teacher; he was a life mentor. Whenever Xiaoyou faced setbacks, he never lost heart, knowing that even in his darkest moments, Mr. Li would be there to encourage him, support him, and instill confidence in him.

Huo Yuan watched their warm interaction, deeply moved. He smiled gently and asked, “Has any football club manager tried to recruit you?”

“Yes!” Qin Xiaoyou frowned slightly. “This afternoon, someone claiming to be an investor from Huangtian Football Club, named Kong, wanted to sign me. I refused, and he seemed quite angry.”

“Wait, which club?” Huo Yuan asked, surprised. Could it be that Huangtian?

“Huangtian Football Club, of course!” Qin Xiaoyou replied, speaking clearly. Sensing Teacher Huo’s confusion, he added, “They’ve reportedly won the World Football Championship four times.”

Huo Yuan fell silent.

It was indeed that Huangtian, the top-tier football club in Chongxia Nation and one of the best globally. Its players were all superstars with valuations exceeding hundreds of millions.

Xiaoyou had refused them. No wonder Kong was angry.

He probably thinks the kid doesn’t know what’s good for him!

“If you don’t want to go, then don’t,” Mr. Li said.

The boy’s personal wishes were paramount.

With Mr. Li’s support, Qin Xiaoyou’s face lit up with a radiant smile.

Huo Yuan snapped out of his thoughts and spoke up. “It’s good you refused. Football stars may seem glamorous on the surface, but they’re ultimately just tools for football clubs to make money. Nearly every player carries injuries, and the relentless match schedule takes a heavy toll on their bodies.”

Football club investors are often praised as talent scouts, but in reality, they’re capitalists exploiting their players. Each year, they sign hundreds of teenage players from around the world, yet only a handful ever make it to the field and shine. The fate of those who are cut remains unknown.

Qin Xiaoyou played football purely out of passion. Watching him run across the green field, his joy was palpable. But if that joy were replaced by pressure, he would be plunged into endless suffering.

However, football club capitalists are notorious for their relentless pursuit of their goals. The man’s surname was Kong; Huo Yuan resolved to investigate his background when he had time.

Huo Yuan chatted with Qin Xiaoyou for a while longer before getting up to leave. He had been receiving Mr. Li’s icy glares so frequently that he suspected he’d freeze into an ice cube if he stayed any longer.

Once the guest had left, only Qin Xiaoyou and Mr. Li remained in the house. Butler Luo had gone to the supermarket and hadn’t returned yet.

With some time before dinner, Qin Xiaoyou went to the piano room to practice.

Mr. Li’s house was a duplex. The first floor housed the living room, kitchen, dining room, bathroom, and a lounge, while the second floor primarily consisted of bedrooms and studies. To accommodate Qin Xiaoyou’s piano practice, the lounge on the first floor had been renovated into a piano room.

After five years of piano lessons under the guidance of renowned instructors, even the most clumsy student would have made progress. Qin Xiaoyou, being a bright and diligent child, had achieved considerable skill through daily practice.

The boy, dressed in ordinary sportswear, sat upright before the expensive black piano, radiating a natural elegance. His slender fingers danced nimbly across the keys, filling the room with beautiful, cheerful melodies that lifted the spirits.

Mr. Li leaned against the piano, his brow furrowed and eyes lowered in focused concentration as he listened intently, occasionally pointing out minor flaws in Qin Xiaoyou’s fingering.

Qin Xiaoyou grasped each correction instantly, his nimble fingers swiftly adjusting to eliminate the errors. The music flowed more smoothly, and as the piece concluded, he looked up at Mr. Li with a radiant smile.

“Excellent,” Mr. Li praised, never sparing his compliments.

Qin Xiaoyou eagerly asked, “Can I learn Fran Fantasy now?”

Fran Fantasy was the late-life masterpiece of Fran Bolint, a renowned pianist from the Xiluo Nation who lived a century ago. The piece is divided into three movements.

The first movement is slow and somber, evoking a sense of impending doom, like dark clouds gathering before a storm, their oppressive weight threatening to crush the city.

The second movement bursts forth with intense emotion. Rapid, repetitive variations in the high register create a frenzied, heroic, and almost manic energy, unleashing primal desires and driving the music to an unprecedented climax, stirring the soul to its core.

In the third movement, the melody gradually softens, like a dream fading upon waking. All that remains is emptiness, melancholy, and loneliness, clinging to the heart before dissolving into a final, desolate conclusion.

This is a world-renowned piece of extraordinary difficulty, demanding both impeccable technique and profound emotional resonance.

At Qin Xiaoyou’s current age and experience, even with perfect technique, it would be difficult to capture the true essence of the piece.

Seeing the boy’s eager expression, Mr. Li gently suggested, “Perhaps you should start by learning the sheet music first.”

“Okay,” Qin Xiaoyou nodded emphatically. He understood Mr. Li’s meaning and knew his own limitations. Learning the sheet music first was already more than he could have hoped for.

Mr. Li retrieved the sheet music for Fran Fantasy from the bookshelf and placed it on the piano stand. “I’ll play it through once for you.”

Qin Xiaoyou immediately stood up, moved aside, and pulled up a stool to sit beside the piano.

After settling at the piano, Mr. Li unbuttoned his shirt cuffs and rolled up his sleeves, revealing pale, jade-like wrists. His slender, bony fingers rested on the keys, and as the first note rang out, his entire demeanor transformed.

Qin Xiaoyou involuntarily straightened his posture, sitting upright with rapt attention.

As the deep, oppressive music filled the room, everything seemed to fall silent except for the resonating piano notes. Qin Xiaoyou’s emotions surged with the music, a suffocating weight settling in his heart, as if his nerves had become so fragile that the slightest touch could shatter them. Just as the tension reached its breaking point, the melody shifted, unleashing a tempestuous storm. Thunder roared, lightning flashed, and the music surged like a raging sea, its towering waves shaking the very soul.

Qin Xiaoyou involuntarily held his breath, clasping his hands together, his heart pounding. His clear, bright eyes were fixed intently on the golden-haired man playing the piano.

The music grew increasingly turbulent, the man’s emotions pouring into each note. His handsome face was stern, and a hidden madness flickered in his deep blue eyes. As the music reached its climax, his silky golden hair swayed like waves.

This wasn’t Qin Xiaoyou’s first time hearing Mr. Li play Fran Fantasy.

At twelve years old, on the cusp of the Junior High Entrance Examination, he had been suffocating under Teacher Huo’s relentless tutoring. He had secretly slipped away to the villa across the river. Pushing open the half-open door, he entered the hall and was immediately struck by the tempestuous piano music. He froze, rooted to the spot, staring blankly at the golden-haired man at the piano. His heart felt as if it had been struck by a hammer—heavy, constricted, and racing wildly.

In that moment, his eyes saw only Mr. Li’s back as he played. Even after the music ended, Qin Xiaoyou couldn’t calm down for a long time.

As he grew older, his admiration for Mr. Li deepened. He dreamed of one day playing such breathtaking piano pieces himself.

From the age of twelve, Qin Xiaoyou had been captivated by Mr. Li. Now, at fifteen, as he listened to Mr. Li play Fran Fantasy once more, his gaze remained fixed on the pianist.

So perfect! So incredible!

Qin Xiaoyou’s cheeks flushed with excitement.

As the final note faded, Mr. Li slowly lifted his hands, turned to the boy lost in the music, and smiled faintly.

“What do you think?” he asked in a low voice.

After a moment, Qin Xiaoyou snapped out of his reverie, exhaled deeply, and nodded vigorously like a chick pecking at grain. “Super, super, super amazing!”

Not just amazing—absolutely invincible!

Mr. Li seemed pleased by the boy’s praise, his lips curving slightly upward. He rose and said, “It’s your turn to practice now.”

“Okay!” Qin Xiaoyou eagerly sat down at the piano, took a deep breath, and pressed his hands onto the keys. Instantly, a cacophony of discordant notes filled the room.

If Huo Yuan were here, he would have covered his ears in agony.

Mr. Li remained unfazed, sitting beside the boy and patiently guiding him. He had long grown accustomed to these ear-splitting sounds.

—

In the dimly lit alley, a black-haired youth in a butler’s uniform coldly withdrew a sharp, white blade from the corpse on the ground. Crimson blood dripped from the blade as he flicked his wrist, mercilessly shaking off the blood. With a swift motion, the blade suddenly softened, coiling into a thin cord that vanished into his sleeve.

“Wasted over half an hour,” Butler Luo murmured, glancing at his wristwatch with a flicker of guilt in his emerald-green eyes. Master and Young Master Xiaoyou must be starving by now.

He glanced at the corpse’s twisted face, then extended his right hand. A bright yellow flame erupted from his palm, which he casually tossed onto the body. The corpse instantly burst into flames, reduced to ashes that scattered without a trace in the evening breeze.

Butler Luo turned away indifferently, took a few steps, picked up two supermarket plastic bags leaning against the alley wall, and calmly departed.

There’s been a surge in low-level vampire activity in Wanli Town recently.

Why?

Author’s Note:

Huo, the tool man, Yuan is back online!

Butler Luo, having narrowly escaped the mind-piercing piano practice: Lucky!

Mr. Li and the little boy, sitting on the sofa after the piano session: Hungry~ @.@