Night Exploration of the Vampire's Ancient Castle

About half an hour later, the three of them tiptoed into the central garden of the ancient castle.

A crescent moon hung in the pitch-black night sky, its once-bright glow partially obscured by passing clouds, plunging the surroundings into deeper darkness.

Luo Wei moved as silently as possible, scanning the eerily quiet castle grounds.

Only from this vantage point in the garden could one discern the general layout of Thornflower Castle—a square-shaped complex with the main reception hall at its center, while the other three wings were strictly off-limits to guests.

Luo Wei paused. His vampiric senses picked up a faint trace of blood, emanating from the most secluded, shadowed castle to the north.

"Teacher, what’s that castle used for?" he whispered curiously.

Evelyn’s voice came from behind him. "The kitchen and the dungeons."

"The kitchen and dungeons?" Luo Wei blinked, initially wanting to ask how those two could possibly coexist.

Then it dawned on him—they were vampires. Of course.

"It’s where your family keeps their human livestock, isn’t it?" he said resignedly.

Evelyn gave a soft hum of agreement. "Correct. Food storage and processing all happen there. My advice? You might not want to go inside, Luo Wei. As a human, it could be... hard to stomach."

"Thanks for your concern," Luo Wei chuckled. "But you’re underestimating me. What kind of gruesome scenes haven’t I seen before?"

"Alright..."

As Luo Wei drew closer, the metallic tang of blood grew thicker, eventually becoming overpowering. His mind conjured images of a slaughterhouse.

Frowning, he couldn’t help but wonder how the empire tolerated the existence of such a family.

"Teacher, if I may ask," Luo Wei stopped abruptly, "where does your family’s 'food' come from?"

Before Evelyn could answer, he felt something soft and unexpectedly large bump into his back.

He almost teased Evelyn about it, but then realized—the person pressed against him was far too short.

Helena’s embarrassed voice piped up. "Sorry, brother... It’s too dark, I couldn’t see where I was going..."

Luo Wei turned in surprise, confirming it was indeed Helena. Evelyn, meanwhile, was still staring at the distant castle.

"It’s fine, no harm done," Luo Wei steadied her, stealing a glance under the cover of night.

His eyes widened.

Had Helena... grown? Since when did she get so... developed?

That couldn’t be right. Had the "airport" suddenly expanded? He’d assumed she’d never fill out...

Suspicious, he peeked again.

In the darkness, Helena clung to his arm, her face shyly lowered—but the corners of her lips curled upward, clearly pleased.

The brief interruption over, Evelyn finally answered.

"During Emperor Antius’s reign, he permitted the Abraham family to select from death row prisoners, political dissidents, and war captives. Later, with no more wars, only convicts were supposed to be provided..."

"Supposed to be," Luo Wei echoed. "So in reality, it’s not just prisoners, is it? There must be other... unofficial channels, with the emperor turning a blind eye."

"Exactly," Evelyn nodded.

The trio pressed on, but just as they were about to leave the garden, faint footsteps echoed from the path ahead.

Luo Wei immediately dropped into a crouch, all three hiding in the tall grass.

Soon, a hurried figure appeared—none other than Laney, the elder of the twins they’d met in the hallway that afternoon.

Luo Wei remembered her well. She was the cunning one, always letting the hot-tempered Mike take the lead while she lurked in the background.

Once Laney disappeared into the forbidden castle, they rose cautiously. Evelyn frowned.

"That place is restricted—only Father and the elders are allowed inside. What’s she doing there?"

Recalling the duke’s earlier warning, Luo Wei knew something was amiss. Laney wasn’t just out at night—she’d entered a forbidden zone.

"Only one way to find out."

He turned to Helena, arms outstretched. "Come on, you can’t see. I’ll carry you."

Helena’s face lit up. Without hesitation, she leapt into his arms, wrapping her hands around his neck.

Luo Wei lifted her in a princess carry, then—in a blur of crimson—vanished and reappeared far ahead.

Evelyn followed in a shadowy streak, eyeing Helena with mild suspicion. Not out of jealousy, but...

You jumped right into his arms. Sure you can’t see?

Shaking her head, she joined Luo Wei by the castle wall, searching for an entry point other than the main door.

Once inside the dimly lit corridor, Evelyn glanced back. Helena still clung to Luo Wei, her cheek pressed contentedly against his chest.

"There’s light here," Evelyn pointed out. "Surely you can see now?"

"Oh..." Helena pouted but reluctantly slid down.

The castle’s halls were deserted. Luo Wei checked every room—all empty.

A cold draft slithered through, making the candle flames flicker. Aside from the thickening scent of blood, the place felt lifeless.

Luo Wei looked to Evelyn for answers.

"They’re likely underground," she mused. "The elders prefer... less hospitable quarters."

They descended to the first-floor hall, but the stairs ended there, with no visible entrance to lower levels.

"How do we get down?" Luo Wei asked.

"Easy." Evelyn smirked. "I know this place."

She ran her hands along the walls until she reached an oil painting titled Blood Moon Rising. After a moment’s thought, she triggered a hidden mechanism.

A section of the wall shuddered, revealing a dark passage descending into the earth.

"It’s so dark..." Helena murmured, then turned hopeful eyes to her brother.

Luo Wei opened his arms. "Up you go."

"Yay!" She beamed, leaping into his embrace again.

This was definitely the right choice—how long has it been since he last carried me?

With Evelyn leading the way, the three ventured downward. Behind them, the secret door slid shut.

Helena noticed Evelyn's familiarity with the path and asked curiously, "Didn't you say the younger generation isn’t allowed to enter the forbidden areas? How come you know your way around so well?"

Evelyn looked rather pleased with herself. "I’m not like the others. Do you really think family rules could stop me? I know every secret passage and mechanism in this castle."

"Seems like you were quite the mischievous child, Professor," Luo Wei chuckled. Having heard many stories about Evelyn’s past, he could easily picture her as a spoiled yet adored young noblewoman.

The three of them continued descending. The walls ahead were lined with oil lamps that burned endlessly, casting enough light to reveal numerous branching paths. The underground of the ancient castle was like a labyrinth.

Evelyn explained in a hushed tone, "The Thornflower Castle was originally built for war—it served as a fortress. To hold off invading enemies, the interior was designed with intricate passageways and hidden chambers."

Luo Wei nodded silently, realizing that anyone unfamiliar with the layout—whether enemy soldiers or unsuspecting intruders—would likely never find their way out.

Including them, if they weren’t careful during the banquet.

Luo Wei suddenly asked, "What about the castle where the banquet was held? Do you know its layout?"

Evelyn shook her head. "Headmaster Danton oversaw modifications to the main castle’s mechanisms. Rumor has it they incorporated the latest magitech innovations, so it’s definitely not the same as what I remember..."

"I see..." Luo Wei murmured. At this point, even a supernatural powerhouse trapped inside would have no chance of escaping.