Why did Lan’er’s words just now feel off, like wind bending a reed the wrong way?

Lan’er, hang on a sec. I’ve still got questions for Aunt Rainqiu.

Oh… Her voice dipped like a dropped kite. She slid the hand clutching two tickets behind her back and stepped aside like a shadow.

Aunt Rainqiu, are you hiding something from me? My gaze burned like coals as I locked onto her eyes.

Mm-hmm, of course I’m hiding lots of things. Everyone’s got little secrets, like stones under a stream. And you’re not my anything, little Tangxue. I don’t have to tell you.

…That’s probably true. Still, it stings like a nettle! A tiny loli shorter than me pointing fingers—my palms itch to pinch her cheeks, to see tears glitter like broken pearls.

She’s so cute I bet one punch would make her cry for ages.

Tangxue… are you done? Lan’er’s whisper trembled like a leaf.

It’s fine, Lan’er. If Aunt Rainqiu won’t talk, that’s that. Let’s go play. I’m off today anyway.

Mm! Tangxue, Tangxue, Starfate City just opened a new amusement park. I’ve got two tickets right here. Let’s go ride the wind!

Oh, okay… Lan’er lit up like a string of lanterns. She grabbed my hand and pulled me out of Jiumi.

Finally gone, those two… Rainqiu watched their backs vanish like swallows and sighed. I really don’t get why you’re hiding from her. Ah… youth~

…

Not talking to me, huh? No outsiders will hear us here; the walls are quiet as snow.

…Did she actually leave? Qianya, Qianya?

Stop calling me. Qianya stepped out of the shadow like a knife sliding from its sheath, brows drawn tight.

Ah, Qianya, you’re still here. Come let Auntie hold you~

Hands off. Qianya pushed Rainqiu’s head away with her right hand, a crisp motion like flicking ash.

Stingy! You loved cuddles when you were small, like a kitten in sun. Now you’re grown and you don’t want your little aunt… boo-hoo~

That was over a thousand years ago. You’re really bringing that up?

For me it was yesterday, like dew that doesn’t dry.

Cut it. If you’re idle, help me test something. Her tone cooled like morning mist.

Mm-hmm?

Qianya pulled out a dark red stone, heavy as a clot of dusk. Her aura flipped like a banner in a storm; even her hair shed its pink, turning ash-white like frost.

Uh…

Qianya reined her presence in, trading the unapproachable Queen of the Blood for a tsundere tilt, chin up like a proud sparrow. Well? Do I still feel like the old queen to you? Hmph~

…Adorable.

Shut up, you pervy loli! I asked you to check the effect, not to drool! Qianya stomped, the floor quivering like a drum.

Come on, let Auntie hug you! I can’t take it—my heart’s gonna explode!

It did explode. The roof popped open like a tin lid, a clean hole staring at the sky.

So it’s not only at night that meteors fall. Daylight can crack open too.

Mm? Tangxue, what are you mumbling?

Nothing. Let’s move.

Okay~

…

Seems no one will link me to the old identity. Qianya glanced at the mirror, voice light as smoke.

Mm-hmm. Rainqiu beamed at Qianya’s reflection like a child finding candy.

Because vampires fly, Rainqiu returned from the boundless sky fast, but with a big lump blooming on her head like a mushroom.

Not hard enough that time. She didn’t even cry, Qianya thought, cold as slate.

Qianya, you still haven’t told me where that crystal came from.

This? Xiaoxue gave it to me.

Oh, that little one… no way. She even has that?

The red crystal in Qianya’s hand only drops when a Vampire King dies—a blood-colored gem, a crystallized Blood Reservoir, the core of a vampire’s body.

Sadly, this one’s dead to the touch. Poor storage drained its life. It can’t refine Qianya’s bloodline, or we wouldn’t have all this mess.

Still, it’s enough to wrap Qianya in a new face, a veil no one can pierce for now.

It’s hers. So giving it to me is fine.

Ugh, I’m jealous. Sour as crabapple.

Go be sour somewhere else. Qianya shot the shameless loli a look like a flicked dagger and ignored her.

I’m gonna hug a rich lady’s thigh! I’m done working hard!

Hug me? Crawl aside. I’m sleeping. This is my room now.

Hey, how could you! Qianya, it’s my room! Rainqiu wailed, voice like a torn curtain.

Don’t toss me out. I can warm the bed, Qianya, I—

Thud. The door slammed like a gavel.

…Honestly, kids are cuter… boo-hoo~

…

Radiant Empire’s palace. Edgar Warren walked alone in black, a strip of night drifting down the great avenue.

This time, he came openly, like a wolf stepping through frost.

Stop! Armed soldiers outside the palace barred Edgar, their spears like winter reeds.

…Edgar didn’t speak. He simply reached out, cool as iron, and drew his proof.

…Please enter. The two soldiers stepped aside and bowed, heads lowered like bowed wheat.

Hmph.

Edgar had one reason to seek Kerlinveil Bai Zhi. He wanted a clean permit to enter Starfate City and prove a truth.

If he could catch hold of that Merfolk girl’s flaw or find Vinoena Qianya’s trail, all knots would loosen like wet rope.

Soon, following the old route, Edgar reached the queen of the Radiant Empire—daughter of the sun god’s flame, Kerlinveil Bai Zhi.

The strongest fire mage alive, a pyre wrapped in silk.

The Kerlinveil bloodline flows from the ancient Sun God, bearing an Ever-burning Flame like a crown. It’s poison to vampires, a dawn that scalds the night.

But the world never grants absolute counters. Everything is relative as tide to moon. If Edgar were stronger, he wouldn’t fear the Kerlinveil line.

He’d run rampant, a storm loosed in wheat.

Not now. She doesn’t just counter him; she outpowers him, a mountain over a wolf. Poke her and die.

He only dared come after hearing Ling Xuewei wasn’t in the palace, like a fox timing the watch.

Bai Zhi watched Edgar hold his tongue and frowned, eyes narrowing like crescent blades. Speak. Why are you here?

Your Majesty, Queen of the Radiant Empire, I need to confirm something in Starfate City. I need you to grant me an entry permit.

Oh? Why should I be the one to write your pass? Bai Zhi tilted her head, playful as a cat. Anyone who attended the council knows you attacked Starfate City.

Since you invaded Radiant lands, you dare walk in alone… Even if I kill you right here, no one would object, would they? Kerlinveil Bai Zhi’s eyes thinned, danger coiling like heat-haze.

Heh. Your Majesty, since I dare come alone, I’ve got the leverage to persuade you.

Oh? If I kill you, you won’t have time to speak. Her tone was cool as ice on iron.

! Why does no one here play by the usual rules?!

Wait, Your Majesty—do you know your sister’s in danger?

…I know.

Huh?

That little brat’s got her bewitched like a moth to flame. Of course she’s in danger.

Uh… that’s not what I meant. I’m talking about the little girl at her side. She’s likely a Merfolk orphan.

…What did you say?

I mean, the child by your sister is the daughter of that deep-sea revenant. That monster came ashore to spy, clear as tide lines. They’re preparing their revenge, building waves for later. If this goes on, their first target will be Starfate City, no doubt. Your sister will be in danger then!

Oh, I guessed that already. And?

But, but…

Edgar ground his teeth, heat rising like dry wind. No matter what he said, she wouldn’t budge. She seemed to have priced every storm and could face even the worst like a still lake.

I’ll ask one more time. State your purpose this trip. Otherwise, you won’t leave here breathing.

I… Edgar swallowed steel and laid out his game against Qianya, cards on the table like blood on snow.

Oh, so that’s it… Bai Zhi dipped her chin, thinking like a flame withdrawing. Fine. Go. I’ll grant your Starfate City permit.

???

What? Don’t want it? I can kill you now instead.

No, no! Thank you, Your Majesty! Edgar Warren offers his thanks first! Edgar clutched the queen’s decree like a hot brand and left fast as a shadow.

After he left, a maid nearby couldn’t help asking, Your Majesty… why help that hateful vampire? Won’t this create trouble for Miss Xuewei?

You don’t get it, Xiaohua. If it’s just that idiot vampire, he can’t stir waves big enough to matter. I’m doing this to watch the ones behind him move, the hands under the water.

What’s happening now is, I think, the lowest-cost scenario among all my estimates.

Uh… That tracks.

Most around the queen knew how her mind ran—like chess played in a storm.

Once out of the palace, Edgar went straight for Starfate City, hoofs in his heart clattering like drums. Thinking of making those annoying women lose their smiles filled him with strength like wine.

He couldn’t wait to see that damned woman kneel and beg, a proud swan forced into mud. Whether it was Kerlinveil Xuewei or Vinoena Qianya… he’d spare neither.

By day, the sun didn’t burn him to ash, but it shaved his power thin as paper. He hugged the forest’s shade, moving like ink under leaves.

Yo, long time no see, future Emperor of the Twilight Moon. At a bend, a black-robed figure ran into Edgar, flowing like a crow’s shadow.

…It’s you. What, here to watch instead of help? Edgar’s brows creased like storm lines when he saw the familiar cloak.

No, no. As partners, we’ve always helped you. Don’t forget—you only caught Vinoena Qianya so easily because of help from the one I serve.

…Edgar stayed quiet. That time, their help had mattered like a hidden hand. But he didn’t feel warmth for the Church. They always felt like spectators waiting for him to slip.

This time, I came to give you a hand, Edgar Warren. You want to know who in Starfate City hates the Merfolk most, right? The current city lord loathes them. And not just hate—hate to the bone.

I already know that. Anything else?

Uh… you knew?

Yeah. Edgar’s smile was cold as shade. I don’t need you to spoon-feed me everything.

Then do you know…

I don’t want your other tidbits. If you’re helping, can you control the teachers in Starfate City when the time comes? Price is negotiable.

Oh…? The black robe heard something amusing. Even his voice brightened like a bell under velvet.

Looks like the man before me isn’t that foolish after all. Silk threads slip from my grasp—the situation’s already sliding out of control...