Right then, a figure popped up at the bend, like a shadow peeling off the wall.

!!!

A prickle of danger first. Then: Are they the pursuers? Tsk.

Tangxue pulled Qianyue back, right hand gripping Frostwhisper, sliding into a fighting stance.

"Tangxue? Why are you here?!"

A voice Tangxue knew well spilled from the silhouette, like water from dusk.

"That voice… Qianya, is that you?"

"It’s me." Her tone loosened, tinged with surprise, as she stepped from the shadow like uncoiling moonlight.

"Why are you here… Tangxue, shouldn’t you be in the palace under the sea?"

"I don’t recall any palace," Tangxue’s mouth twitched. "I’m here to settle a score."

Qianya blinked, then said, "You mean Edgar? He’s already dead…"

"I know. But there’s still that Vampire who drank his blood, right? I’ll just pick a scapegoat."

Qianya almost laughed at the clumsy excuse. Warmth pooled when she looked at Tangxue, like coals under ash.

Is she… here to help me?

"Thank you…"

???

Qianyue tugged at baffled Tangxue. "Sister… aren’t we heading to the Blood Elves’ tomb?"

Qianya stiffened, then smiled at Tangxue, crescent‑thin. "Tangxue, is she your little sister?"

"Yeah… you could say that. Maybe." Tangxue pried Qianyue off her side, like peeling wet leaves. "I picked her up in the City of Woe. I know what she is—a Vampire. We’ve got history, sort of. But she no longer has a blood core, and right now she’s just a little girl."

"Vampire…" Qianya’s gaze flashed with hidden killing intent, a blade under silk. Qianyue still caught it.

Qianyue clutched Tangxue tighter, like a moth to a lamp in wind.

"Qianyue, you’re way too shy." Tangxue rubbed her small head, gentle as falling snow. "Easy. Qianya’s my classmate; she won’t hurt you."

Qianyue said nothing, but her trembling said it all, like leaves in cold rain.

Qianya only smiled faintly and held her tongue, like frost that chooses not to bite.

…

I swear those two are knee‑deep in a misunderstanding.

If I step away, will they start swinging?

The thought amused Tangxue, bubbles rising in a quiet pond.

No way.

Qianyue aside, Qianya’s a queen of a nation. She wouldn’t lay hands on a minor.

"What about you, Qianya?"

"I heard Duskmoon Empire’s capital got taken by that rebel, Crimson Goose."

"Why are you here?"

"Duskmoon Empire is at war. Crimson Goose… she should be near the City of Woe. I came alone to the under‑palace first, because I have something important to do."

"By the way, Tangxue, why do you want the under‑palace?"

"Did the Vampire at your side ask you to take her?" Qianya narrowed her eyes; danger gathered around her like stormclouds.

"No." Tangxue wiped cold sweat, chill beads like rain. "Earlier Qianyue and I visited the Vampire royal tomb. I saw parts of the royal bloodline’s history, and events from two thousand years ago. But the record felt incomplete. So I wondered if the Blood Elves’ royal tomb here in Solitary Shadow City held the missing pages. And came."

"I see." Qianya glanced thoughtfully at Qianyue, then smiled. "Tangxue, the under‑palace does hold records from back then. If you’re interested, I can take you. But… she cannot." Her eyes on Qianyue went cold, a blade drawn from its sheath. "No Vampire may enter the Blood Elves’ tomb, not even your sister." Her tone was iron.

"Uh…" Tangxue was at a loss, thoughts stumbling like feet on loose gravel. "If Qianyue can’t go, I can’t just leave her outside alone…"

Qianyue trembled. She parted her lips to speak, then shut them, a helpless smile flickering and gone. She lifted her chin, wearing pride like a paper mask.

"Hmph. Then I won’t go. A place like that? Qianyue doesn’t care. If you two wanna go, go. I’ll find my own fun." She hid behind Tangxue and stuck a tongue at Qianya, mischief like a spark in dusk.

She was smiling, but a little vein pulsed on her brow, a hash‑mark of annoyance.

"Qianyue… you really won’t?" Tangxue stroked her head, touch like quiet snow.

"No." She spoke soft, head bowed like a wilted flower. "My dear sister, you and that lady go. Qianyue will hide somewhere and wait for you, nice and obedient."

"Oh? Vampires can’t enter the Blood Elves’ tomb? I’ve gone in. More than once." A sultry voice rolled down from the rooftop, velvet over steel. It chilled them like winter water down the spine.

"Crimson Goose…!" Qianya spat the name through clenched teeth, eyes on that too‑familiar face.

"Well, well. If it isn’t the former Her Majesty." Crimson Goose smiled, a knife behind lipstick. "Only a few days, and you’ve slipped so far? What, your so‑called elder sister didn’t tag along this time? Did you finally decide to offer me your head? Don’t tell me you think you can beat me without her."

A vast blood‑shadow bloomed under Qianya’s feet, seeping silent to seal all three exits, like ink spreading on paper.

"This time, even with wings, you won’t escape."

As Crimson Goose’s aura bled out, the black sky turned blood‑red around her, and spread like a stain.

Above her, a deep crimson vortex coalesced.

Mana streamed toward her.

Around Qianya and the others, a mana‑dead zone formed, like a drained pond.

They could no longer draw the world’s essence.

Fight her here, and their odds would bleed away.

"A half‑blood Vampire with mana control this sharp… far trickier than that Edgar."

"But you, mongrel—daring to ignore me like this—how… infuriating." Tangxue glared up at the red silhouette, eyes like blades.

…?

Crimson Goose finally noticed Tangxue below.

"What mutt are you? You think you can yap while I reminisce with my dear ex‑queen?"

Before her, a massive spiral spear formed, then lunged at Tangxue like a tornado of steel.

!

Qianya blinked in front of Tangxue and braced the blow, a wall of moonlight against the spear.

"Kh—!"

"Qianya, you okay?!" Tangxue grabbed the girl, worry like a drum in her chest.

"I’m fine," she said, hand to chest, head shaking. "Just my blood surging. No serious harm. Be careful, Tangxue. That woman’s cruel, and wickedly good at ambushes. Don’t relax. Not for a breath."

"Got it. Leave the rest to me…" Her words settled like ice.

"Tangxue, you—!" Qianya stared, stunned. This Tangxue stirred fear in her, a chill under the ribs.

Tangxue’s gaze lifted to the sky, cold as winter water. She’d wanted a quick fight, but a new idea bloomed. In her golden eyes, a sliver of cruelty flickered, like a blade catching sun.