Chapter Sixty-Five: The Return of the Wolf King of the Werewolf Clan

As I pushed open the marble European-style doors, a faint and refreshing fragrance drifted toward me, far more delicate than the scent that clung to the nobles downstairs. The room itself was not large. Twenty-four seats were arranged as if for a conference, with one at each end—clearly intended for the host and a guest. The man occupying the host’s seat appeared to be a middle-aged Caucasian, and I guessed he must be Marcus.

The others seated along the sides—apart from the guest’s chair and the two empty seats beside it—seemed to be Marcus’s most powerful and renowned dukes. Each one bore the same prominent aquiline nose, much like the host himself.

The man in the host’s seat regarded the three of us without a word, then stood up with refined grace and bowed. The assembled dukes followed his example. Though none of us were versed in Western etiquette, we’d at least seen a few films; we returned the gesture as best we could.

The man, who might or might not have been Marcus, then raised his right hand, signaling us to sit and make ourselves comfortable. He clapped softly, and a count-level attendant left to arrange the meal.

I chose the seat directly opposite the man at the head, with Wang Sheng and Tong Xuan taking the seats to my left and right. Both Wang Sheng and Tong Xuan looked uneasy, clearly unused to such a scene—especially given that none of those present could be called ordinary.

We said nothing, simply sitting in silence while I gazed across the two candelabra, each bearing eighteen candles, at the vampire lord opposite. Fortunately, my composure and ability to meet someone’s gaze were up to the challenge; eventually, the man’s patience wore thin, and a false smile spread across his face. His aquiline nose, matching the other dukes’, only lent him a more sinister and scheming air.

The man introduced himself as Marcus, but I doubted him. Though his presence was stronger than that of Marcus Louis, I could not believe that the aura of a vampire emperor—a peer to the first generation of corpse demons—would be so mediocre.

I didn’t speak, leaving the introductions to Wang Sheng and Tong Xuan. Since he’d invited me here, he clearly already knew who I was; what need was there for me to introduce myself? The pretender Marcus seemed unfazed by my omission, merely smiling faintly and tapping his hand beside his right ear—a silent signal.

At his cue, the marble doors swung open again. Twenty female vampires entered, each carrying a tray, and stood behind the twenty-four seats. I wondered what might be on those trays—surely not ordinary food, but perhaps a drink or blood.

They set the trays before each seat in turn, then exited in perfectly choreographed order, a testament to their training.

Marcus raised his right hand and signaled for us to lift the silver covers from the trays. “Please, sample our Western specialty,” he said, leading the other dukes in uncovering their dishes. Instantly, a rich scent of blood filled the small room.

To me, and to the vampires, it was an alluring aroma, but for Wang Sheng and Tong Xuan—both ordinary people—it was something else entirely. They clamped their hands over their noses, gagging, and lifted their own covers. Thankfully, their trays contained a pale green drink whose refreshing scent blocked out the blood’s odor.

Glancing at the blood-filled glass before me, I smiled at Marcus and said quietly, “Honorable Emperor Marcus, let’s be direct, shall we? There’s no need for all this ceremony. I, Hu Xiaodong, am a simple man. If you keep this up, I fear I might not be able to handle it.” At my words, the dukes fixed their eyes on me, as if trying to see through my soul.

Before Marcus could respond, an elderly duke nearby burst out angrily, “How dare you address our emperor in such a manner? Are you tired of living?” His outburst seemed to echo the sentiments of the other dukes, who all cried, “Exactly!” and glared at me with hostility.

But Tong Xuan was quick to retort. Unafraid of the powerful vampires before her, she slapped her hand on the table, stood, jabbed her finger in a delicate gesture at the old duke beside Marcus, and in the tone of a wild princess declared, “You decrepit old bat, who said you could speak? All your whining is getting on my nerves, you know that?” She stood with hands on her hips, radiating an unstoppable aura.

Seeing the old duke’s bluster instantly quashed, the other dukes withdrew their glares, wary of crossing this formidable young lady and ending up as embarrassed as their peer.

This display did not seem to bother Marcus. He remained serenely smiling, and when the room grew quiet, he addressed me: “Very well. In truth, I too appreciate straightforward people like Brother Xiaodong. I’ll be frank—my purpose in inviting you is to propose an alliance and seek your aid on behalf of the vampire clan.”

At his words, I was puzzled. The vampires were so powerful; what obstacle could they possibly need my help to overcome? Frowning, I replied, “What exactly do you mean, Emperor Marcus?”

The atmosphere grew tense. Wang Sheng, for his part, had already downed five or six glasses of the green drink, while the rest of us hadn’t touched our refreshments. He was clearly making the most of the occasion—the man was a true gourmand.

Marcus, seeing my confusion, pressed his right hand to his temple and explained, “As the newly ascended King of Corpse Demons, you may not yet understand the complex, multi-faceted nature of our Western night clans. Here is the situation: The Wolf King of the werewolf race, who had slumbered for millennia, has recently awakened. The werewolves are our natural rivals, and the Wolf King’s return has roused several others nearly as powerful, calling forth a vast host of elite wolves. Their speed and bloodlust have always been a headache for us vampires, but now, with the Wolf King awake, we are compelled to seek aid from beyond our own ranks.” He sighed, and the other dukes fell silent as well.

Hearing this, I felt a headache coming on. It seemed there was so much about the world I hadn’t known before becoming a corpse demon. “So besides our corpse demon clan, do you have no other allies?” I asked.

...

(Plot twist: When I was just an ordinary person, I had no idea how many secrets this world held. So many magical races blend into human society—not killing, not doing evil, but simply enjoying the beauty of human life. Perhaps your neighbor or friend might, in fact, hail from the vampire clan or some other mysterious race. What happens next? Tune in for the next installment. If you have any guesses about the plot, feel free to leave a comment in my review section. Thank you all for your support!)