Chapter 10 Finding Direction
Under Veilin’s guidance, Jima entered the lavishly decorated ancient mansion. The interior was dimly lit, with candles flickering on the sconces, their wavering glow unable to dispel the thick darkness.
It must belong to some fallen noble family.
Jima’s initial thought began to waver as she encountered more and more extravagant decorations. When she noticed no fewer than ten openly dressed vampire maidens—despite only revealing their backs and half their bosoms, that was considered quite revealing by the customs of Adolf City.
Jima witnessed a vampire maiden, wrapped tightly in her clothing, exposing her snow-white backside.
Could this be a brothel?
The flamboyant scent of perfume in the air only intensified Jima’s suspicions.
Ahead, Veilin stopped, pushing open a heavy double door, the ambiguous yellow light spilling onto her small face. Accompanying it was an inappropriate male voice.
Jima was startled, staring at the back of Veilin, who was half a head shorter than herself.
The latter remained composed and walked into the room.
Jima followed, glancing around the room. There was no light source inside; the yellow glow came from a glass panel as large as an entire wall, angled in such a way that it revealed everything happening in the rooms below.
In the center chamber, a sturdy nobleman in his thirties was engaged in a “great harmony of life” with a maiden whose skin was white with a hint of red. The maiden knelt on a large red bed, occasionally lifting her head to glance at the glass, flashing a charming smile and a pair of fangs.
Jima gasped and looked at Veilin, who sat motionless like a doll in a high-backed chair. The latter observed the activity below with cold indifference.
Could it be that this exquisite lady, who had lived for thousands of years, was a woman with rich experiences of the flesh?
Truly, one cannot judge a book by its cover.
Jima’s emotions surged.
“Are you called Jima?”
“Yes.”
“Ms. Jima,” Veilin pointed to the couple below, “Do men really enjoy doing that?”
“Yes,” Jima replied seriously. “The harmony of sex is crucial for any relationship; in this regard, I am a master. I can offer you hands-on teaching.”
“It seems quite disgusting,” Veilin said, “but they all say it’s the shortest path to a man’s heart.”
“Wait,” Jima asked. “Are you here to observe and learn?”
“It’s an investigation,” Veilin said. “I’m asking them who can conquer men the best and comparing who brings back more men. My mother’s subordinates have already thoroughly infiltrated the upper society here.”
“What did they do before?”
“They were lovers or wives of men, stirring those foolish men to implement my mother’s will,” Veilin explained patiently. “I want to investigate you as well, Jima.”
“I’m not interested in any man besides George,” Jima said. “But if you must prove it, I can pursue women; that’s much harder than going after men.”
Veilin crossed her legs, revealing a slender calf wrapped in patterned white silk, peeking out from beneath her layered skirt. She said, “No need for that. I am willing to give you a chance to prove yourself. But you must show that you are more special and useful than those servants.”
“Can you feel something unusual watching them engage?”
“What kind of unusual?”
“Like your body heating up.”
“How boring,” Veilin said. “But if Arkanis enjoys doing that just like that man, I could kneel before him.”
“That’s useless; you’ve been misled by them,” Jima shook her head. “Focusing solely on physical relationships won’t suffice; passion is essential. Emotions should arise naturally, even something as simple as holding hands is far better than engaging in that kind of activity.”
“Really?”
“I suspect you; you’ve endured far too long a span of years, regressing in some aspects. Let me show you what that emotional thrill feels like,” Jima extended her pinky finger. “Please don’t resist.”
Veilin’s dark red blood eyes fixed on Jima. “Start.”
As soon as she spoke, Jima witnessed seven colored spheres of desire emerge in Veilin’s delicate chest.
Among them, the sphere of symbolic color was particularly small.
Jima wiggled her pinky, expanding the vortex slowly. The pace was so slow it made it feel as if Veilin were made of stone.
“Imagine the happiest moment you had with Arkanis.”
Veilin took out a colorful pinwheel and asked, “Sitting together in a carriage?”
The symbolic desire sphere continued to swell slowly.
“No, it’s almost when you lose your mind.”
“Losing my mind…” Veilin’s pristine fangs elongated. “His fiery blood.”
The colored desire sphere collided at a speed Jima hadn’t anticipated, startling her into pulling back her hand. But it was too late; the sphere in Veilin’s chest burst open.
Veilin’s blood-red eyes glowed as they became moist, her tongue slid across her lips as she looked at Jima and said, “I want his blood so badly.”
With that, she vanished from her seat.
Jima felt a sudden rush, flung to the ground by immense force, her flowing black hair sprawled on the carpet.
Veilin straddled her, pinning Jima down, leaning closer.
Jima felt something cool against her neck; she could smell Veilin’s strange fragrance and sense her cold, delicate body through the layers of soft silk.
Her neck was wet and cool, followed by the touch of crimson lips pressing against her skin.
Jima’s tail swayed happily but didn’t last long.
With a sting in her neck, Veilin straightened up, standing and declaring, “You are not him.”
“You lost control just now,” Jima touched her neck, unfortunately catching little blood, indicating the contact time with Veilin had been too brief. “That was passion.”
Veilin returned to her chair, remaining still like a meticulously crafted statue, only her crimson lips moved slightly: “You understand love better than they do; henceforth, I will heed your counsel.”
An unspoken command escaped Veilin’s lips, causing Jima to feel a gentle tremor in her eardrums. Below, the vampire maiden stood up, dragging her prey out of the room.
Veilin’s lips continued to move: “Thank you; so this is what passion is like. I had three encounters with him; one was after his death when I drank his blood. Another was when I begged him to marry me, reciting vows together. I knew he wanted to escape, but I couldn’t control myself.”
“And what about the last one?”
Veilin: “Does it matter? I don’t want to say.”
“It’s very important,” Jima insisted. “Passion is just a part of the success. I want to know what made Arkanis ignore your charm and status, preferring not to be with you?”
“You know my husband is a witch hunter, very dedicated,” Veilin stated. “He pierced my heart without hesitation the first time.”
“In that case,” Jima suggested, “I have a proposal. I wonder if you’d be willing to listen; it might lead you to betray the blood clan.”
“Betray the blood clan?” Veilin’s tone rose slightly. “Betray?”
“It sounds like you have no concept of community.”
“Outsider ignorance,” Veilin said. “Years ago, my mother sought immortality and created the elixir of immortality. The first batch that consumed the elixir gained an eternal body, while the so-called blood clan that developed afterward were merely servants.”
“Did your mother independently create the elixir of immortality?”
“It was under the guidance of a genius mage skilled in death magic,” Veilin responded. “I hate their clandestine dealings, betraying my father. I loathe even more that they created the elixir of immortality.”
Though Veilin did not explicitly say who that genius mage was, Jima couldn’t help but recall a powerful mage who invented death magic.
Jima asked, “Was your kingdom originally standing amidst a desert oasis?”
Veilin replied, “Yes, did you guess the name? You are truly knowledgeable.”
Jima returned her thoughts, realizing knowing too much wouldn’t serve any purpose. She said, “If that’s the case, why don’t you wander the world with him? He can be a witch hunter, and you can be his assistant, just hiding your identity. Since he loves hunting blood clans so much, he wouldn’t refuse to take you along.”
Veilin fell silent for a moment, appearing more like a lifeless exquisite doll.
“I suggested that, but he still chose to drive a blade through my heart.”
“Hence he hates you, and not merely because you’re a member of the blood clan.”
“What else is there?” Veilin’s voice rose. “What could I be but a continuously decaying corpse?”
Perhaps it’s related to your arrogant demeanor and noble bloodline; he doesn’t like nobles at all, Jima thought, continuing, “Ms. Veilin, when traveling, if the direction is wrong, the faster you go, the more you deviate from your destination. If there are things you are reluctant to mention, then you may never reach your destination.”
“What could there be?”
“The third matter.”
Veilin looked at Jima, her blood-red eyes bright, observing Jima’s blood vessels gradually coagulating.
How lustful must I be to react to this dangerous ancient being?
Jima’s tail softened.
Fortunately, it didn’t take long before Veilin’s aura diminished. She said, “One day, he secretly went to cheat, seeking a lowly woman. That woman only prepared a meal for him, and he was so grateful… crying out with her, calling her the most beautiful woman in the world…”
The more Veilin spoke, the deeper the blood color in her eyes became, and beneath her lifeless face, anger flowed: “She was clearly an aging, foul-smelling woman… In the end, I gave her the conclusion she deserved.”
“What conclusion?”
“I tore her apart.”
“Did Arkanis know about this?”
“Yes.”
Jima continued to ask, delving into details for nearly an hour.
Afterward, Jima, rarely dropping her act, held her forehead weakly, saying, “I finally understand why Arkanis hates you so much.”
“Just because of that woman?” Veilin’s claws extended as she asked sincerely, “Why?”
“She was just a cheap woman; she never offered Arkanis her true heart. But why? Why does my heartfelt devotion pale in comparison to hers?”
Jima replied, “Arkanis loved her, even if just a little.”
“Impossible.”
“Face the facts,” Jima insisted. “He was pursued—hunted by you and chose to take a detour to find her.”
“Very well,” Veilin’s tone brimmed with resentment. “I’ll desecrate her corpse so that she can return to this world in a cursed body, the cost being she’ll refuse Arkanis.”
“That’s hopeless,” Jima said. “Arkanis would tearfully burn her body.”
“Are you still denying me, hoping I’ll despair and give up?”
“No, on the contrary. Ms. Veilin, I think I’ve found the right direction,” Jima said. “What Arkanis loves isn’t that woman; what he truly loves is the warmth of home that she gave him. He was raised solely by his human mother, which was the only warmth in his life.”
“Unfortunately, a plague shattered that beautiful time. When the local lord sealed the city, they starved to death in the epidemic zone, and in the end, Arkanis chose to kill all the nobles of the city, turning it to ash.”
Veilin’s small face trembled, “My husband was so pitiable in the past.”
“So,” Jima said, “if you can provide him with warmth at home—”
“I can win his heart!” Veilin interrupted.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Let’s hope it truly goes that smoothly.
