Chapter Sixty-Six: The Hypocrisy Behind Elegance

Maccas furrowed his brow, then quickly regained his poise and spoke with elegance: “There is indeed something, but I wonder if you’ve ever heard of the Three Evils and Three Virtues of the West?” As he finished, he fixed his gaze squarely on me.

Before I could respond, Wang Sheng jumped in first. He sat up straight, his expression calm, and I was surprised at how much he seemed to know.

Like a storyteller, Wang Sheng began, “According to the historical records of Nanmao, the West once had three chief clans of evil and three chief clans of virtue. Originally, their powers were balanced and they never encroached on each other. The Three Evils fought amongst themselves within their own territories, even opening up another dimension for their wars. Yet everything changed with the intervention of the Elven Queen. Under the banner of saving refugees, she led the armies of the Three Virtues into the space created by the Three Evils. With the overwhelming force of the Virtuous Alliance, she quickly seized half the vast territory, and then shamelessly proposed a truce to the Three Evils.”

At this point, Wang Sheng took a drink and continued, “There was no way the Three Evils would simply acquiesce. In truth, the reason the Elven Queen was able to seize control so easily was that the Three Evils were divided, allowing the Virtuous Alliance to defeat them one by one. Only when the Three Evils realized that most of the domain they had carved out was being taken from them did they think of forming an Evil Alliance. Gathering a vast army, they sought to reclaim their lost lands, tore up the truce the Elven Queen had issued, and challenged her and her Virtuous forces to a decisive battle.”

“But that battle sealed the fate of the Three Evils. During the clash, the leader of the Kui Ba clan, the Dark Asura, was slain in combat, and their race was nearly annihilated, with only a handful escaping that dimension to this world. The leader of the Werewolves, Ao Yue, was sealed upon this land for three thousand years, and has only just recently awakened. As for the Blood Clan, the leader at that time was not some Blood Emperor of the Smith family, nor was it Maccas—it was the greatest female warlord in the history of the Blood Clan, the Supreme Blood Empress Lucy. Yet she too fell. Only Smith Carter, the sole Blood Emperor, managed to lead the remnants in escape, biding their time for another chance to strike.” Wang Sheng clicked his tongue and raised his glass, signaling to a blood clan woman for a refill.

Maccas and the other nobles were visibly shocked by this account. For someone like Maccas, who had only recently risen to his rank, these were matters he could only find by scouring ancient records.

Yet in order to ascend to Supreme Blood Emperor, Maccas had shown no scruples against his own kin, making me think he was far from trustworthy.

Still, what Wang Sheng recounted seemed irrelevant to our current situation. We were here to discuss the Wolf King Ao Yue, but he had gone back three thousand years.

Maccas nodded to the three of us and said, “That's right. In the records I’ve read, there are indeed accounts like Daoist Wang described. Although our Supreme Blood Empress once allied with the Werewolves, she is long dead. The Werewolves, coveting the energy within us, have made the Blood Clan their natural prey. Without the Supreme Blood Empress, we Blood Emperors have no hope of defeating them. Meanwhile, the Virtuous Alliance remains in another dimension, and with our current strength, we cannot enter it.” He finished, resting his hand against his forehead in thought.

Damn it, if that's the case, isn’t the Wolf King on par with the Demon Ancestor Jiang Chen? This is insane—another monstrous figure who makes people like us look insignificant. No way, I can’t possibly ally with the Blood Clan. That would be suicide. I said tactfully, “We all know what level the Wolf King is. Even at our peak, he could swat us like flies. Who would take such a losing deal? Besides, his return has nothing to do with me.” As I finished, I stood up to leave, casting a glance to Wang Sheng and Tong Xuan to follow.

Just as we were about to open the door, Maccas spoke up, abandoning his usual manners. He stood and said coldly, “Aren’t you going to consider Smith Te? He’s your good friend!” With a snap of his fingers, a video appeared behind him.

On the screen were two blurry figures bound to a cross, surrounded by Maccas and other blood clan nobles.

As the image cleared, I recognized Te at once. The other must be his father. They were tied to the crosses, unable to move, while those vile blood nobles mocked them from below. The laughter of these turncoat blood clan members, who once served the Smith family, rang in my ears. How despicable they were, swaying whichever way the wind blew.

The cross, product of the holy soul of Jesus and revered in the Bible, is an object of dread for the Western blood clans. Now Te and his father were bound there, their powers suppressed by the force of the holy soul, forced to cling to the cross in agony.

Though the cross would not kill them, seeing Te gritting his teeth in pain filled me with rage. To see my friend so tormented, and used as leverage against me, made my blood boil.

Watching Te writhing in pain on the cross, my fists clenched so tightly they creaked, veins bulging all over as I slammed my fist down on the makeshift dining table. My powers surged through the marble, turning the entire table instantly to dust.

Through gritted teeth, I glared at Maccas. “You look refined and elegant, but I see now you’re just a snake in the grass. A dignified Blood Emperor, resorting to threats!” I stared him down, and if not for Wang Sheng and Tong Xuan restraining me, I might have challenged him to a duel right then.

Maccas stood and waved his hand, signaling the nobles to withdraw. Soon only the four of us remained.

He glanced at the video, then came to my side and said, “I have no choice. For the revival of the Blood Clan, I must use any means necessary. If you don’t help me, they won’t see the next sunrise. Think carefully!” With that, he turned his back, as if waiting for my answer.

I was torn. If I refused, Te and his father would die; but if I agreed, I had no idea what I would be dragged into. So I asked, “What do you want me to do?”

Maccas turned to me again. “It’s nothing too onerous. All I ask is that you join forces with me to destroy one of the Wolf King’s closest lieutenants. He’s currently sealed in the outskirts of Z City and will awaken in five days.” He extended his right hand to me. “Pleasure working with you.”

I gave a bitter laugh, ignored his hand, and replied coolly, “I'll help you. But once this is done, you must release Te and his father. If you don’t, don’t blame me for what happens next.” With that, I walked out without looking back, Wang Sheng and Tong Xuan following, leaving Maccas standing alone, right hand still extended, shaking his head.

As he shook his head, he called after us with a smile, “Afterwards, I will, I promise!” Then he threw his head back and laughed, but there was something hidden in that laughter.

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