Who Can Represent the Family

As Luo Wei conversed with Danton, the ancient vampires besieging him grew in number, their attacks increasingly ferocious.

Luo Wei struggled to hold his ground, sensing the imminent collapse of his [Sigil Shield]. Hastily, he retrieved a handful of mana-replenishing orbs from his magic pouch—gifts from Tilis, though he feared this would exhaust his entire supply.

Meanwhile, Meizi’s attention shifted toward them. Her eyes narrowed with amusement as she observed Evelyn fighting desperately.

In the next instant, her figure materialized between Luo Wei and Evelyn.

Evelyn’s crimson scythe slashed toward her with lethal force.

A dull thud echoed as their blood magic clashed, and Evelyn’s scythe dissipated instantly. She staggered back to Luo Wei’s side, disheveled.

The ancient vampire before her was beyond her level, and Meizi had barely exerted any effort.

Meizi studied the magical barrier, advancing slowly, unhurried.

“Evelyn, you’ve chosen to side with humans?”

Evelyn’s expression remained cold as she glared at her.

“Oh…” Meizi nodded. “So, you’re betraying the family?”

“Betraying the family?” Evelyn sneered. “Isn’t that what you’ve done?”

“Which family?” Meizi countered. “The true Abraham family, one of the seven great clans of the Vampire Royal City? Or the Abraham family that kneels before the human emperor, serving as the empire’s hounds?”

“So, you’ve long resented Father,” Evelyn said darkly. “When I was young, I thought you simply preferred sleeping underground, detached from the world. Turns out it was all an act.”

“Wrong!” Meizi scoffed. “Our resentment isn’t just for Victor, but his uncle as well. Who’d have thought vampires could be so devoted to humans? Pathetic…”

Evelyn shot back, “Without the efforts of the last two patriarchs, the Abraham family would have perished long ago!”

Her gaze swept across the room, lingering on the younger vampires who had not joined the fray.

“And what have you all done?”

She turned back to Meizi, her voice dripping with scorn.

“You achieved nothing in the City of Cain, yet the moment you saw the abandoned second son of the family gaining footing in the empire, you rushed to cling to him. What right do you have to represent the Abraham family, aside from being older?”

Meizi’s face twisted in anger. “Enough! Vampires are vampires, humans are humans! Whose side are you on?”

She strode forward, radiating menace.

Unflinching, Evelyn raised her voice. “And the most laughable part? You colluded with the Church to murder the patriarch—the very enemy that nearly wiped us out!”

Her eyes locked onto the younger vampires in the room.

“Two generations of patriarchs nurtured you. Is there not a single one among you with the spine to stand with me?”

Her icy stare silenced them, many unable to meet her gaze.

The twins, Laney and Lairs, snickered, relishing the spectacle. As the favored heirs of the elders, they delighted in seeing Evelyn cornered.

Emily clung to her mother, terrified by the night’s events, her fearful glances darting toward Evelyn.

Mike, who had always clashed with Evelyn, wore a conflicted expression, nearly stepping forward—until the duchess yanked him back with a sharp reprimand.

Unsurprisingly, Evelyn’s plea stirred no response from the younger vampires.

Though she had expected as much, a bitter laugh escaped her.

How absurd it was—the one who had despised the family and fled Thornflower Castle long ago was now the one defending it.

She didn’t even understand why.

Perhaps because this was the place she’d grown up in…

Or perhaps it was sheer defiance. Born rebellious, she refused to let those repulsive elders win.

…

Half the banquet hall had emptied, the guests escorted away. The remaining elder vampires fixed their predatory gazes on the scene.

Only Danton, the headmaster of Callen University, remained, shielded by a magical barrier.

Luo Wei surveyed the overwhelming number of ancient vampires. He doubted he could last a second against them.

His eyes flicked toward the basement entrance. To escort Danton there, they’d have to carve a path through the horde.

“Luo Wei,” Evelyn whispered, “take the headmaster. I’ll cover you.”

Luo Wei didn’t respond.

“Luo Wei?” Evelyn pressed, mistaking his silence for refusal. “Remember, this is vampire territory. They can’t easily kill me here.”

Luo Wei frowned, glancing toward the floor-to-ceiling windows.

“Don’t hesitate. This is our only chance!” Evelyn urged.

“No, no—Professor, listen…”

As Luo Wei spoke, every vampire froze.

A series of thunderous booms erupted from outside Thornflower Castle, growing louder until the entire fortress trembled.

The deep blue glow beyond the windows dimmed slightly.

“Someone’s breaking our barrier!”

Murmurs of disbelief spread among the elders.

“Impossible!”

“We’ve stockpiled magic crystals for years. How could the barrier weaken?”

“I’ll investigate!”

As several elders vanished into the mist—Meizi among them—Luo Wei and Evelyn exhaled in relief.

Only one person could make such an entrance: the witch.

“Headmaster,” Luo Wei turned to Danton, “tell me about the castle’s mechanisms.”

Tilis hadn’t breached the defenses yet. Their survival still depended on themselves.

…

Outside the castle gates, Tilis hovered midair, her relentless magic bombarding the barrier.

Despite the staggering mana expenditure, she showed no strain. Impatient, she casually unleashed another ninth-circle spell.

The mountain quaked, triggering an avalanche below. Tilis paused, annoyed—if the castle collapsed, Luo Wei might be buried inside.

"Still have to use conventional methods," Tilis murmured, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "But this is too slow... Should I try hollowing out the mountain instead?"

Just as Tilis was frowning in frustration, a magical communication flickered before her eyes.

Her violet eyes lit up with excitement, but the moment she saw Ophelia and Caroline on the other end, her expression immediately soured.

"What do you want? I'm busy!"

"You know exactly why I'm calling!" Ophelia's voice was icy. "How's Luo Wei? Where is he?"

"Still trapped in Thornflower Castle solving that case," Tilis replied irritably. "Relax, I'll find him soon."

"Every time I take my eyes off him, something happens!" Ophelia's tone grew more anxious. "Honestly! Last time it was the south, now it's the northern border. You're supposed to be this powerful witch—why are you always useless when it matters?"

"I have my own things to deal with, you know..." Tilis pursed her lips, feeling slightly wronged. "Besides, I'm not like you, some kind of stalker obsessively watching Luo Wei's every move..."

"And you’ve never watched him?" Ophelia’s disbelief was palpable. "I don’t buy that for a second. He’s gone back to his hometown with that ‘very, very best’ teacher of his—meeting the parents, no less! Hah. That vampire... I really underestimated her."

"I absolutely have not been watching him! I’m nothing like you!" Tilis raised her voice for emphasis.

"Fine, whatever." Ophelia pressed on. "Didn’t you promise me? When are you fixing that ring? I can’t keep relying on you to know how he’s doing."

"Oh..." Tilis nodded vaguely. "Working on it, working on it... Almost done..."

Ophelia sighed helplessly, sensing the blatant evasion.

But there was nothing she could do. That ring was something only Tilis in the entire world could repair—hell, she’d even made a copy of it and given it to Luo Wei...

As Tilis continued deflecting, the magical communication nearly flickered out.

"Wait!"

"What now?" Tilis shot her a glance while blasting away at the ancient castle.

Ophelia leaned back in her office chair, stroking her smooth chin as she gazed thoughtfully at the ceiling.

After a moment of contemplation, she spoke.

"If I remember correctly, the Abraham family was supposed to announce their heir this time, wasn’t they?"

"Yeah," Tilis replied, puzzled. "But it got interrupted by the murder case. Why?"

Ophelia smirked at her.

"Idiot."