Placing my life in your hands.

The dim light filtered in from the window, falling into Qiao Wei’s palm, warm and tingling. Gradually, Qiao Wei’s mind cleared. A warm liquid kept flowing into her mouth, slipping down her throat. The taste was both metallic and sweet, delicious enough that she couldn’t help but drink a few mouthfuls before finally forcing her eyes open.

The first thing she saw was Luo Xuan’s slightly tired face—his complexion wan and drawn. The source of that sweet, coppery taste was Luo Xuan’s wrist, which she had bitten. Qiao Wei instinctively released his arm, her expression unreadable, betraying neither joy nor sorrow.

Seeing Qiao Wei awake, a fleeting happiness passed over Luo Xuan’s face. “Qiao Qiao, you’ve slept for a whole day and night. Are you still feeling unwell?”

Qiao Wei’s nose tingled with the urge to cry, but she spoke stubbornly. “I don’t need you to care for me.”

“Are you hungry? Should I bring you some blood?” Luo Xuan’s voice was as gentle as ever, his concern evident.

Qiao Wei’s expression changed, her tone as cold as ice. “Blood? Ha, I almost forgot—you’re my savior, aren’t you? Thank you for transforming me! The noble pureblood king—Your Highness Luo Xuan!”

With a swift motion, Luo Xuan pulled Qiao Wei into his arms, stroking her hair tenderly as he whispered by her ear, “Qiao Qiao, I know you blame me. Will you try to be with me? I’ll take care of you, stay by your side for a lifetime. Please?”

“I don’t want that! I just want to be an ordinary person—go to school, meet an ordinary boy, get married, have children, and then die like everyone else! I don’t want immortality! I don’t want to survive forever by feeding on human blood!” Tears glistened in Qiao Wei’s eyes. She bit her lip hard to hold them back, but they betrayed her and fell anyway, as if mocking her resolve.

Luo Xuan’s long fingers gently wiped away her tears, but before he could say anything, a low, magnetic voice sounded from outside the door: “I will do everything I can to turn you back into a human. That is my debt to you.”

Qiao Wei merely glanced toward the doorway. Luo Chen stood with his head bowed, leaning against the wall. His chestnut hair veiled his dark red eyes, and the dim light gave him an air of weary desolation.

“And why should I believe you?” After a long silence, Qiao Wei spoke words cold enough to chill the soul. Luo Chen, taken aback, replied quietly, “I’ll put my life in your hands.” As he spoke, he drew out the broken arrow once kept in the secret casket atop the ancient altar.

For the first time, Qiao Wei gave Luo Chen a mocking smile. She broke free from Luo Xuan’s embrace and walked toward Luo Chen. She grasped the broken arrow, looked at him with disdain, and enunciated each word, “You are not worthy!”

Qiao Wei ignored the pain in her own heart as she saw Luo Chen struggle to hide his hurt. Clutching the broken arrow tightly, she left the room and strode out of the palace. Luo Xuan walked over to Luo Chen and asked, “Did you give Su Mo some of your blood? They’ve both been weakened—they need our blood to recover.”

“Yes,” Luo Chen replied, still frowning. Luo Xuan’s tone grew more somber. “Turning a vampire back into a human is only a legend. Don’t give her hope unless you’re sure. I’ll see what I can do.” With those words, he hurried after Qiao Wei.

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Yuning has exams to prepare for, so all the chapters have been scheduled in advance. That means comments can’t be replied to promptly—so sorry, everyone! >_