When Bishop Lawrence approached to greet everyone, that persistent priestess Feilin once again sought out Luo Wei.
The moment she appeared, Evelyn eyed her like a thief, her gaze sharp and unwelcoming.
Luo Wei’s expression also darkened with annoyance. The words Feilin had spoken days ago had left Evelyn distressed for quite some time, and he had no fondness for this zealous follower of the church.
"Mr. Luo Wei..." Feilin approached with a complicated expression.
"Don’t tell me you’re here to persuade me to join the church again," Luo Wei said, glancing at her. "I’m an Anomalous Species—didn’t you already know that?"
"I’m well aware, but..." Feilin’s eyes were filled with uncertainty. No matter how she looked at it, she never expected an Anomalous Species to possess a divine affinity.
"There’s no 'but,'" Luo Wei said flatly. "If you’re here to repeat the same words, then please leave."
"That’s not it. There’s something else this time."
Feilin’s gaze lingered on Luo Wei, hesitating before she finally asked:
"Mr. Luo Wei... do you know the Holy Maiden of the Church?"
Luo Wei paused, then quickly shook his head.
"No, I’m not familiar with her."
"Really?" Feilin’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.
Luo Wei remained expressionless. "As you can see, I’m an Anomalous Species. How could someone like me possibly know the noble and sacred Holy Maiden? You’re overthinking it."
Feilin only grew more puzzled. The Holy Maiden’s recent decree had included an unusual command—to keep a close watch on Luo Wei.
Not only that, but there was an additional task...
Feilin cast a doubtful glance at Evelyn, who was glaring at her. The Holy Maiden had also demanded information about the woman by Luo Wei’s side.
If Luo Wei was a divine favorite, it made sense for the Holy Maiden to take notice.
But why inquire about this Vampire? What use could she possibly be to the Holy Maiden? It was all too strange...
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Evelyn’s expression turned even colder.
"Nothing." Feilin averted her gaze, turning back to Luo Wei with a softer smile.
Luo Wei didn’t need her to speak to know she was about to start preaching again.
As he was mentally searching for an escape, Annie the housekeeper arrived, providing the perfect distraction.
"Miss Evelyn, and... Mr. Luo Wei."
Annie approached with a smile. "The Duke has finished his duties and asked me to bring you to him."
Relieved to finally shake off the persistent priestess, Evelyn exhaled. "Let’s go."
The Duke’s chambers were located in another castle, far quieter than the reception hall. As Luo Wei walked down the wide corridor, he noticed several elderly Vampires leaning against the railings, whispering among themselves. The moment they spotted Luo Wei and Evelyn, their voices fell silent, and their gazes locked onto them in unison.
"Those are some of the family elders," Evelyn murmured. "My father’s brothers and uncles."
"Mm." Luo Wei nodded, his eyes briefly scanning the faces of the old Vampires.
Their gazes crossed, and when Annie led the two a fair distance away, Luo Wei suddenly glanced back.
The elders were still staring at him, unblinking.
Luo Wei frowned. There was something unsettling about their expressions, though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what.
Lost in thought, he turned to Evelyn and asked a question that had been on his mind.
"The Vampire Clan has never been friendly toward humans, yet many human guests are attending this gathering. How does the Duke ensure their safety?"
Evelyn explained, "Normally, if a human trespassed on Vampire territory, the outcome wouldn’t be pleasant."
"But this is my father’s birthday banquet—a grand event for the Abraham family. The human guests are his allies, some even close associates of the Emperor. Their status is high, so during this time, he enforces strict rules. No member of the clan is permitted to harm any human guest."
"Rules?"
Evelyn nodded lightly. "Our family has integrated into the Empire. For the sake of stability, compromises must be made. Don’t worry."
"If any clan member dares to kill a human, my father will punish them with the same methods the Church once used against us—their limbs shattered, organs exposed, their Blood Core left under the scorching sun, denied any chance of recovery. They will suffer a slow, agonizing death. It’s the most terrifying punishment."
"That is indeed terrifying," Luo Wei murmured.
As they spoke, Annie led them to a door and knocked lightly.
"Come in."
A hoarse voice responded.
Annie opened the door, but when Helena tried to follow Evelyn and Luo Wei inside, she yanked her back.
"Ah—!"
The door closed behind them, leaving Helena pouting in protest while Annie remained expressionless.
Inside the room, Luo Wei saw Duke Victor seated behind his desk.
The master of Thornflower Castle looked remarkably aged, his face pale and deeply lined, far more weathered than his brothers and uncles outside.
Yet, from the contours of his features and the dignified air about him, it was clear he had been a strikingly handsome man in his youth.
The Duke’s eyes softened with warmth as he regarded his long-absent daughter. "After wandering for so long, you’ve finally come home."
Fifty years for a Vampire was akin to five years in a human’s life—still a significant span of time.
"I’m not here to stay," Evelyn shook her head. "I’ll be leaving once your banquet is over."
"Is that so..." The Duke’s expression dimmed with disappointment. "Wouldn’t you like to stay a little longer?"
"I have a job to return to!" Evelyn huffed. "Do you think I’m like those idle family members of ours?"
"That university teaching job?" The Duke gave her a puzzled look, still unable to grasp what appealed to her about it.
"Working day after day, the same routine for half a lifetime—what’s so good about that?"
Evelyn sighed. "Who actually enjoys working? But I need the money! Who else is going to support me? Buy me nice clothes..."
Then, as if remembering something, she suddenly glanced at Luo Wei.
"Oh, right. Now there’s someone to take care of me..."
Luo Wei chuckled. Evelyn wasn’t as difficult to maintain as he’d imagined—or perhaps it was because he wasn’t short on funds these days...
The Duke’s attention finally shifted to Luo Wei, and the faint smile on his face vanished instantly.
"So, you’re Evelyn’s boyfriend?"
Luo Wei felt the weight of a piercing stare as the Duke’s hawk-like eyes scrutinized him with stern intensity.
Strangely, the pressure from the Duke felt far greater than what he’d experienced from Charlton II.
Compared to this father-daughter pair, Ophelia and her father seemed more like strangers—Charlton II had never truly cared for her.
"Yes," Luo Wei replied with a smile, gently taking Evelyn's hand.
Evelyn's expression softened as she intertwined her fingers with his, facing her father with quiet confidence.
The gesture left no doubt about the intimacy and affection between them.
Duke Victor suddenly felt a pang of headache.
Rubbing his temples, he fixed his gaze on Luo Wei. "You're actually human, aren't you?"
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
ng to die together with you." Lin Xuan is dead, his body thrown into the river by his scumbag lover and her accomplice. She, the president of the Su Group, is decisive, ruthless, and ice-cold. For three days and three nights, she had his body fished out of the river, and without hesitation, she kissed the bloated corpse of Lin Xuan. She laid down beside him in a cold coffin, their fingers intertwined, a smile lingering on her lips as she closed her eyes. The noble and cold-hearted woman, only bending for one man—Lin Xuan. Lin Xuan, with his golden finger, is reborn and returns to the day of his wedding to the treacherous woman. Su Qiang comes to steal the bride. Lin Xuan's eyes light up, eager to pledge his loyalty on the spot, but instead, her kiss transfers a glass of drugged wine into his mouth, causing him to pass out... 【Male Protagonist with Single Female Lead】【Yandere Tycoon】【Action-Packed】【True vs. Fake Heir】
shall grant"] ["Inscribing the glory of our race upon tombstones"] ["All that is threatened, I shall protect"] How his younger sister sees her brother: A brother who only makes eye contact once a day, mostly fading into the background as he tinkers with who-knows-what in his room all day. Their life paths should have remained largely separate. Until one day. Su Qi created an equipment card for his never-met "online girlfriend." His sister fell into silent contemplation upon receiving the "white stockings." [Card can be upgraded] [Upgrade by fulfilling any of the following conditions] [Condition ①: Consume one hundred higher-tier cards] [Condition ②: Complete one 'Heart-Pounding Adventure'] What constitutes a Heart-Pounding Adventure? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Beginner Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to admire it.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Easy Level): Equip the card, invite 'Su Qi' to touch it, and analyze the equipment's texture.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Entry Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to...] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Challenge Level): Freely combine the words 'Brother' 'Out' 'Brother' 'Me' 'Please' into a complete sentence...] "Please help me analyze both teams' mistakes in this match, brother..." His sister exhaled in relief—surely... surely there couldn't be anything more difficult? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Suicide Mission Level): Sneak a peek at the names of the galgames in 'Su Qi's' hidden E-drive folder]
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
