Blood Queen - Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Hyacinth

 

***

 

August 14, Wednesday.

 

Evening, Golden River Club.

 

Wan Yue sat at the piano in the first-floor hall, wearing an elegant evening gown, playing a soothing melody. The enchanting fragrance once again wafted from her body.

 

There weren’t many guests in the hall today, each one intoxicated and mesmerized, as if hypnotized and frozen in their respective positions.

 

On the second floor, the door of a large private room was wide open. Erwin leaned against the corridor railing, savoring wine and enjoying the music. A man and a woman stood expressionlessly behind him.

 

Not long after, Wan Yue walked back to the second floor with a faint smile. The blonde young man hurried over to greet her, once again offering a hand kiss.

 

“Mr. Erwin, you flew all the way to China just to tour S Province? Which part of this country haven’t you been to? Yet you disappeared into the mountains of D City for several days.”

 

Wan Yue took a glass of wine from Zhao Peng’s hand, smiling at the elegant European noble youth before her. Her alluring red lips moved slightly, uttering a string of German words.

 

“Miss Wan is very concerned about my itinerary? It’s a pity you didn’t accept my invitation to travel together… 16 years ago in Europe, the more eager I was, the more cold-hearted Miss Wan became.”

 

Erwin seemed to have known for a long time that she had been secretly monitoring his every move. He played with the wine glass in his hand, his smile becoming increasingly mysterious.

 

“I’m not interested in having any story with a 100-year-old man, even if he is the heir to an old European vampire family.”

 

Wan Yue rolled her eyes at him, elegantly turning to walk towards the private room, her figure swaying, full of charm.

 

With just one glance, the room service staff led by Zhao Peng all retreated towards the spiral staircase leading to the first-floor hall.

 

As the door to the private room closed, even the people beside Erwin were shut out. Only then did Wan Yue turn back with a serious expression.

 

“Erwin, what exactly do you mean? For a whole decade, there was no news from you. Why suddenly come to China now, and even bring two barons… Since when did the Engel family start caring about a remote mountainous area in China?”

 

Wan Yue’s gaze was like a sharp sword, intimidatingly sweeping back and forth across the blonde youth’s face.

 

“Why? Because I’ve been sleeping for the past 10 years, and only learned about some things when I woke up.” Erwin shrugged his shoulders.

 

“You’ve advanced to Count!?”

 

Wan Yue’s delicate hand, reaching for a cigarette, suddenly paused, her eyes filled with shock.

 

The heir to the Engel family, the most famous in the vampire world, was one of the most talented and fastest-growing geniuses Wan Yue had ever seen.

 

Erwin’s parents were both from old European vampire noble families. Erwin was born at the rare Servant-level, with exceptional talent. He advanced to Baron at 30, Viscount at 60, and now he was just over 100 years old.

 

For ordinary wandering vampires, even with excellent bloodline genes, rare blood types, and unlimited resources, being able to advance to Baron within 40 years of receiving the blood invasion could be considered a genius, like Wan Yue.

 

This was the general rule or limit of vampire level growth, at least before the appearance of Jiang Yan and Jiang Yao, it had always been regarded as truth by the vast majority of people, including Wan Yue.

 

“I’m just luckier than most people, Miss Wan. If I’m not mistaken, you’re also close to becoming a Viscount. Receiving blood invasion at just over 20, and in a short 60 years, making most people look up to you…”

 

Erwin smiled, raising his wine glass in a toast.

 

Gently clinking glasses and taking a sip, the shock in Wan Yue’s heart hadn’t completely subsided, but her expression had returned to calm. “There’s no need to flatter me to show off your old family’s upbringing. Answer my question, what exactly are you here for this time?”

 

“For the order of the vampire world!”

 

A flash of stern light passed through Erwin’s eyes, as if a lord was about to judge a rebellion in his territory. His tone was icy: “Since Miss Wan is so sensitive about what I’m doing in D City, it means our goals are the same.”

 

“You think something has appeared in D City that can challenge your orthodox vampire noble families?”

 

Wan Yue’s face remained unchanged, but her heart was beating faster. She knew the depth of these underground old vampire noble families. Even if official news was tightly controlled, three months was enough for some rumors and clues to reach their ears.

 

The orthodox vampires had long since integrated with normal human society. They lived in seclusion behind the scenes, cultivating proxies in normal human society, and even participating in the governance and development of society at all levels.

 

From a country to a city, they maintained a mysterious presence in both worlds, restrained, cautious, and secretive, but absolutely not to be underestimated.

 

They would not actively challenge the ruling authority of normal human society, but only bind and develop together. If anyone or anything appeared on this planet that might harm this symbiotic order, it would be equivalent to challenging the interests of orthodox vampire families worldwide.

 

The last wave of vampires who attempted to overthrow this order had already been exterminated in World War II, turned to dust and scattered to the wind.

 

Obviously, Wan Yue’s suspicions about the Tang family in D City, which had persisted for over a decade, and the Engel family’s current focus had come together.

 

“Can we share intelligence, Miss Wan? This will be a just action in line with the interests of the entire vampire world. Some ambitions that exceed the limit must be judged!”

 

Erwin revealed an unquestionable murderous expression, like a lion crouching on the battlefield, about to enter a state of combat.

 

“Hehe~~~ Haha!”

 

Wan Yue suddenly laughed, bending over with laughter, her sexy body curves trembling and swaying in the light.

 

After about ten seconds, probably having laughed enough, Wan Yue lit a cigarette with a snap, blew out a smoke ring, her face wearing a playful expression: “Mr. Erwin, as the heir of an orthodox vampire noble family, you suddenly confide in a wandering vampire like me. How much do you think I should trust you?”

 

“Miss Wan’s strength, even after leaving the Hermit Alliance, is quite reputable in S Province. Oh, I have a gift that can serve as a token of my sincerity for cooperating with Miss Wan.”

 

Erwin smiled and snapped his fingers. His personal assistant Emma took out an enlarged photo from her briefcase and gently placed it in front of Wan Yue.

 

In the photo was a killed vampire young man, who appeared to be Chinese from his features.

 

“Hehe… Cheng Yueshan, good riddance!”

 

Touching the photo with trembling hands, looking at it silently for several minutes, Wan Yue suddenly stood up, tears streaming down her face.

 

“The person you’ve always wanted to hunt down has now been executed by the Engel family. Is this gift and sincerity enough?”

 

Erwin drained the red wine in his hand in one gulp, smiling at the sexy woman in front of him who seemed to have lost some emotional control.

 

……

 

……

 

The time had already passed midnight, but Zhao Peng hadn’t announced the end of the shift yet. Everyone, including Jiang Yan and Jiang Yao, could only continue to stay in the first-floor hall.

 

“Brother Zhao Peng, who’s that blondie?”

 

Jiang Yao made her way to the bar counter, quietly asking Zhao Peng who was arranging empty wine glasses inside, while secretly glancing at a certain luxurious private room on the second floor.

 

Zhao Peng looked at her curious face and, for once, his expression appeared very serious: “European old vampire noble family, maintain at least basic respect… People from the Engel family, acquaintances of Sister Wan from her travels abroad in the past, estimated to be even stronger than Sister Wan!”

 

Hearing this, Jiang Yao directly drew in a cold breath!

 

She couldn’t even gauge Wan Yue’s level, belonging to the kind that could kill with a glare. Now another monster even more terrifying than Sister Wan appeared… She wondered how the Dark Arrow Unit had dealt with and suppressed these monsters before. It seemed that even the entire Black Armor Squad coming might not be able to stop them?

 

Jiang Yao suddenly felt a sense of relief. If she were still a member of the Dark Arrow Unit, facing these monsters, each more terrifying than the last, she didn’t know if she could survive 3 years.

 

The confusion and depression that had been lingering in her heart since the blood invasion was now replaced by a kind of luck. A person’s life, indeed, still needs to be thought about based on where one’s ass is sitting, right? Jiang Yao thought so.

 

However, in the thousands of years of dark warfare between humans and vampires, both sides had already formed a certain balance in the confrontation, each possessing different levels of trump cards. Neither could underestimate the other.

 

Especially after the Second Industrial Revolution, humans made rapid progress in war technology, gradually gaining a comprehensive suppression advantage over vampires. The abilities they relied on were probably beyond Jiang Yao’s imagination.

 

Recalling the proud and confident look of the instructor when she was at the Dark Arrow training center, Jiang Yao suddenly felt a bit uncertain again.

 

“Xiao Yao, go change clothes.”

 

Jiang Yan came over, waking up the pale golden-haired girl who was lost in thought.

 

At this moment, the door of the private room on the second floor opened, and the tall, handsome European blonde youth and the sexy and charming Wan Yue walked out one after another. Everyone in the first-floor hall stopped chatting and what they were doing.

 

Erwin slowly walked through the hall, elegantly and politely nodding to the Golden River Club staff standing quietly around, as if appreciating a collection of roughly made but somewhat presentable dolls.

 

“Hmm?”

 

As he passed by the lowered-eyed Jiang Yan, Erwin’s footsteps suddenly slowed by a beat. His head only turned slightly, but he didn’t really look back, nor did he change his forward pace.

 

This subtle action, to others in the hall, was extremely inconspicuous. But on the second floor, Wan Yue, who was still leaning against the railing coldly watching the blonde youth leave, frowned slightly.

 

Erwin left with his people, and everyone in the Golden River Club let out a sigh of relief, especially Jiang Yan.

 

In that instant, she seemed to feel a primordial beast-like aura enveloping her, invading her marrow, penetrating her mind, but it vanished in a flash.

 

“Jiang Yan, Jiang Yao, Zhao Peng, come up to the second floor. Everyone else can clock out.”

 

Wan Yue’s cool voice echoed in the spacious and dim hall dome.

 

……

 

In the private room on the second floor, the smell of cigarettes hadn’t dissipated yet. The ashtray was full of slender cigarette butts. This was probably the first time since Jiang Yan had known Wan Yue that she indirectly realized the other’s cigarette consumption in just these short one or two hours.

 

“Your relatives are coming again soon?”

 

Just slightly twitching her nose, Wan Yue sat down on the sofa with a smile, lighting what she didn’t know was her how-many-th cigarette of the day.

 

Jiang Yan and Jiang Yao looked at each other, then nodded together with embarrassed expressions.

 

Wan Yue reached into her handbag and tossed a black package towards Jiang Yan, who caught it casually with a puzzled look.

 

“This is the Great Golden Pill, more effective than the Small Golden Pill. But the quantity is too small, only six pills in a box. You two decide how to allocate them yourselves.”

 

As Wan Yue threw out the medicine box, she also glanced at Zhao Peng standing solemnly to one side and sighed slightly.

 

Zhao Peng’s heart was in turmoil. He knew that the Great Golden Pill was an even more precious growth medicine than the Small Golden Pill, especially for accumulation and sprinting before a major realm breakthrough.

 

Sister Wan had also provided quite a few for him in the past, but unfortunately, he had always been stuck at the peak of upper-level Knight, earning the title of so-called half-step Baron, with no further progress since.

 

If he could advance to Baron, he wouldn’t have had to watch helplessly as Wan Yue ran herself ragged all these years, shouldering all the burdens he knew or didn’t know about alone.

 

However, thinking about the unseen aspects of the Jiang sisters, who might become the biggest trump card in Wan Yue’s hand in the future, Zhao Peng suddenly felt at ease.

 

“Sister Wan, you said before that we just work for you, and where money should be spent, we should keep clear accounts. This, plus the two bottles of Small Golden Pills given before, and the cost of treating Xiao Yao’s injuries… How much in total?”

 

Jiang Yan mustered up courage, stepped forward half a step, with a serious face.

 

“Hmm, very good character… Zhao Peng, how much money do they have left in their account with you?” Wan Yue turned her head to look at Zhao Peng with a meaningful smile.

 

“Probably less than 400,000 left.”

 

Zhao Peng thought for a moment and reported a number. Jiang Yan also nodded slightly in agreement. After all, in the past month or so, they had taken quite a lot of internal and external hormone inhibitors.

 

“Hehe, want to calculate the money… Even if I sold you, you couldn’t afford it.”

 

Wan Yue blew out a smoke ring, the playful smile on her face not fading: “But this isn’t a brothel, and I’m not a madam. There’s no need to use these to force you to sell yourselves. If you feel you can take it, then take it. The money can be put on account. If you feel it’s not appropriate, you can return it to me.”

 

“I just want to know what’s happening in this world, and you want to know what’s happening to yourselves. Our goals may be the same.”

 

Such an elegant and sexy woman saying these words made Jiang Yan and Jiang Yao not know what to say.

 

“Thank you, Sister Wan. I understand. Thank you for giving me and Xiao Yao a new life.”

 

Jiang Yan put the Great Golden Pill package into the pocket of her shirt dress. As if she had finally figured something out, she took a deep breath and said word by word what should have been long awaited by the other: “The Tang family has a big flesh mass.”

 

Wan Yue’s pupils suddenly constricted, and the cigarette in her hand was also trembling slightly.

 

In the private room, there was dead silence.

 

A few minutes later, Wan Yue threw down her cigarette and stared hard into Jiang Yan’s eyes, as if wanting to drill into them to verify the truth. Her voice was also pressed low: “Did you see it with your own eyes, or did you hear about it…”

 

“I saw it with my own eyes… I can’t say anything else.”

 

After Jiang Yan finished speaking, she held Jiang Yao’s hand and bowed slightly, then prepared to leave.

 

Since the night Jiang Yao nearly lost her life, Jiang Yan had been pondering for nearly a month. It wasn’t until just now when she met that mysterious European blonde youth, that fleeting terrifying aura that made one suffocate, that she finally made this decision.

 

She knew that with her and Jiang Yao’s abilities, if they didn’t have a truly reliable backer, perhaps just surviving would exhaust everything, even cost their lives, let alone touch the truth of fate.

 

Whether it was Zhao Peng, who was loyal to Wan Yue, or Zhou Ping, who was grateful and admiring of Wan Yue, they all made Jiang Yan experience something worth aspiring to. The confused life after suffering blood invasion no longer seemed so dark.

 

This thing, before, was only present in Grandma Jiang from the orphanage.

 

“Thank you too. This intelligence is priceless. From today on, anything I give you, you deserve it. From today on, you will be the true sister of everyone here. Our name is ‘Hyacinth’.”

 

Wan Yue’s voice sounded from behind. Jiang Yan held Jiang Yao’s hand, who kept looking back every few steps, and walked down the stairs gracefully and elegantly.

 

Hyacinth, forget the past sorrows, and begin a brand new love.