Afterward, Edgar’s wailing, like ghosts clawing at the night, dragged the city patrol our way.

I expected them to bag the villain, clean as a net on still water.

Disappointment hit like cold rain.

The Vampire had entered Starfate City openly, lantern-bright.

He’d even greeted the patrol ahead of time.

Now I was the one tagged as a criminal, like ink splashed on white silk.

Edgar hid behind the patrol, face twisted like a bruised fruit, pointing at me.

“Her! That woman!” Edgar barked, voice like rusted metal.

“She’s the Deep-Sea Banshee’s daughter. She even tried to kill me to silence me!”

A peak Ninth Tier clinging to the patrol for shelter—irony bit like winter wind.

Contempt rose in me like bitter smoke; I shot him a glance, then spun the tale.

“Uncles, don’t forget—this guy planned to wipe out Starfate City like a scythe through wheat.

If I hadn’t met the priest here by sheer luck in this chapel, I’d already be dead in this Vampire’s hands.” I sniffled, misty as drizzle.

“Lies!” Edgar snapped, agitation sparking like flint.

The stink of garlic wafted from his mouth; the patrol in front winced as if smoke stung their eyes.

“You slapped me into that wall in one hit and stuffed garlic in my mouth!”

“You’re the liar! You got outclassed and the priest uncle thrashed you.

I only slipped a few cloves in while you were out cold.” My voice was sugar over thorns.

“There is no damn priest here!” Edgar ground his teeth, rage like a drumbeat.

“This cursed place is clearly—”

The patrolman beside us, face shadowed like a storm sky, finally cut in.

“Sir Edgar, there is indeed a Beastkin priest here. I literally just met him.”

Truth was, everyone here loathed Edgar the Vampire like a thorn under a nail.

He’d planned to slaughter all of Starfate City.

If not for Her Majesty’s sacred writ he carried, they… they—

They’d have called Xuewei down to smash this bastard flat, like a hammer on an anvil.

So the only path was to take us both to the city center.

Small folk like them couldn’t judge two people with such thorny status.

“You two… please come with us.” The armored captain stepped forward.

His voice was steady, like a drum at dusk, the kind that brooks no argument.

“Hmph! If you’ve got guts, tag along, you little punk.

I’ve got a special writ from your Queen.” Edgar jeered from behind the patrol, swagger like a paper tiger.

Clearly, the guy was scared, fear clinging like damp to his spine.

Annoyance cooled in me like moonlight over water; I tilted my head and let a quiet laugh slip.

“Provoking me? Fine, we’ll go. You think I don’t know you’re waiting for nightfall?”

I didn’t say it aloud. I sent the words straight into Edgar’s mind, like a thread of wind.

Edgar’s face froze, stiff as frost.

“So… I guessed right after all. Pity. Even if you see through it, you won’t escape today, you little brat.”

Nightfall, huh… The thought settled like a crow on a bare branch.

“Sorry, Vampire… I don’t see why we should wait.

I’m waiting for Teacher Xuewei; what are you waiting for?” Mischief curled in my smile like a cat’s tail.

The patrol stared, baffled, like carp beneath ripples.

Edgar’s scalp crawled; every time that grin bloomed, trouble sprang like thorns.

Summoning Art: Absolute!

“Teacher Xuewei! Someone’s bullying me!” I didn’t hesitate.

I dropped to the floor, wailing like a cat in rain, rolling and crying.

Within a heartbeat of my cry, a terrifying spiritual sense swept over the place like a storm tide.

Edgar’s eyes went wide; panic beat in him like war drums.

Did she have to be this ruthless? The thought stung like ice.

The pressure pressed down, and Edgar’s knees knocked like bamboo in wind; he wanted to turn and flee.

But shreds of reason and the Vampire King’s honor chained him in place.

“Wait! I’ve got the token your elder sister gave me!” Edgar ducked behind the patrol and flashed the token, hands shaking like reeds.

“So… you can’t hit me!”

He sounded brash, yet spoke like a coward; with Ling Xuewei, he felt both hate and fear, tangled like thorn and vine.

Xuewei halted her thrust the instant the token flashed.

Her gaze went cold as winter glass.

The spear in her hand trembled slightly; she didn’t need to look—she knew the token was real.

He really had met her elder sister. The truth rang like a bell.

“Teacher Xuewei… I’m over here!” I stood and waved, light as a willow leaf.

“This time… count yourself lucky to live.” Xuewei shot Edgar a venomous glare, sharp as a knife.

Then her expression softened; she turned and scooped me into her arms.

“You’re all dirty…” Her tone held a hint of scolding, warm like tea yet stern.

Heat flushed my cheeks as she held me in public.

“Hey, hey! Teacher Xuewei, people are staring…” Their gazes pricked like needles.

It’s just a teacher hugging her student; what’s there to gawk at? My grumble fluttered like a sparrow.

Edgar, freshly snatched from death, was still shaken, fear hanging like smoke.

He only reacted when Xuewei and I started to leave.

“Hold it!” Edgar grit his teeth and moved to block us, stance like a wall.

“Today… even if you don’t want to, you must come to Starfate City’s central hall with me.

That little girl is very likely the banshee’s child. We absolutely can’t let her go.”

Did I mishear? A Vampire sounding more righteous than me? The irony sparkled like frost.

But polished righteousness doesn’t work on me.

Does he really think common tricks can unmask me? Thought cut like a thin blade.

Why not go? With Xuewei beside me, fear scattered like fog.

I lifted a middle finger at Edgar, bold as a flare.

“If we’re going, then go.

You think I’m scared of you? Bleh.”

“You—!” Edgar almost coughed blood, rage hot as coals.

“You what? Pray your claims are true…

Or next time, pray you don’t die by my hand.” Xuewei didn’t hide her disgust; her hate thickened like frozen rain.

In the end, we headed to the City Lord’s manor; the matter was heavy as stone.

Best to let the City Lord settle it.

Funny enough, the Vampire suggested it.

Bold move… Did he think I’d come here alone without laying a few contingencies? My thoughts coiled like smoke.

Inside the manor, peak Ninth-Tier adepts gathered like storm clouds, some from Heavenly Melody Academy.

“I’ve reviewed the situation,” the City Lord said, standing at the center like a pillar.

He glanced at me—Tangxue—then at Edgar.

“If Lord Edgar’s claim is true, it deserves all our attention.

If it’s a lie… you’d better steel yourself.”

Even without the rest, Xuewei alone could beat him half-dead, like thunder splitting a tree.

“Of course.” Edgar sounded confident, arrogance shining like polished steel.

He didn’t imagine failure; that little brat wouldn’t escape today.

He even meant to use her to smoke out Vinoena Qianya.

He’d sensed a familiar aura in this city—Vinoena Qianya hadn’t left.