Chapter 5: Release

Looking at the window across from me, I sneered coldly. I leapt out of the window, instantly unlocking the first layer of the seal. I landed lightly on the ground like a withered leaf, gently touching the earth. Following my sense of smell, I rushed towards the area with the strongest scent of blood.

There was an execution last night, so the scent of blood would be the best guide.

I leapt over the flowers and plants in the courtyard, heading straight towards the dense forest behind the small building. A few fleeting shadows had already arrived at a dirt fort. The door of the fort was shut but not locked. I walked up and pushed the door open. The inside of the fort was empty, except for a large secret door on the ground, which was open. I stepped inside, and the distant light gradually brightened, accompanied by faint voices. It seemed like they were saying, "That child is really pitiful."

"Yes! He looks to be under ten years old."

"Well, there's nothing to be done. After all, he's a vampire!"

"But he didn't choose to become a vampire, and..."

"Shh! Don't say such things. If the young master hears you, you're in trouble."

As their voices grew clearer, I parted the illusion, turned around a corner, and suddenly found myself in front of a large iron cage. Most of the cage was already occupied, but one particular cage caught my attention. Its bars were twice as thick as the others, and inside was just a child, his hands and feet bound to the bars, a black cloth covering his head.

"Alright, it's getting late. Let's sneak out and sleep for a while. No one will come before 5 o'clock." The two humans spoke as they walked away. When they were far enough, I retracted the illusion. Suddenly, the child in front of me spoke.

"Who are you?"

"Do you think I'm human?"

"I..."

"Are you the child they were talking about?" I walked around his cage and coldly asked.

"I am not a child!" He trembled with anger, but I ignored him and asked coldly again, "Why did they capture you?"

"For experiments." He didn't speak, but another cage responded.

"Experiments? What kind of experiments? Making humans immortal or making vampires live less than a hundred years?"

"No, neither. They just want to turn us into weapons to hunt vampires."

"Interesting. Humans tame wolves into dogs to fight wolves, and now the hunters want to tame vampires into their weapons. Hmph! Interesting!" My laughter shattered the stillness of the place. At the same time, my opinion of the young master deepened. Maybe he could really help me find Safrot.

"Shut up!" Suddenly, someone complained. I ignored them and reached out from behind, removing the black cloth from the child's head and holding it in my hand.

"I don't like talking to the back of someone's head."

"It's you!" When I walked around the cage and faced him again, he cried out in surprise.

I abruptly raised my head, the words stuck in my throat, unable to make a sound.

"Kid?" It took more than a minute before I managed to speak those two words.

"Mm!" Tears streamed down his eyes as he spoke, "I heard you died. Elder Sinmo and the Great Elder were so sad. It's so good that you're still alive. That's really great, so great... ugh... ugh..."

"Alright, stop crying." Maybe he wasn't much younger than me, but in my eyes, he was just a child—a child who liked to collect stamps, a child crying uncontrollably right now. Looking at his bloodied little body, my heart tightened, and for once, I showed some pity. I reached out to wipe the tears from his face and released him.

"Go, hurry, go now."

"Okay, let's go back to see Elder Sinmo!" But after gaining his freedom, he grabbed my hand.

"No, I won't go." I shook off his small hand.

"Why? They're not ordinary hunters. We've fought for so many years, and it's only been a draw. Staying here is too dangerous for you." His expression was unusually serious. When he spoke of those hunters, there was even a hint of fear in his eyes.

"I know, but I have things to do. You go ahead! After I'm done, I'll naturally go see Brother and Sinmo." I turned and walked into the illusion, looking at the empty space in front of me. He shook his head helplessly and ran out of the dungeon. Watching his retreating figure, the corner of my mouth unconsciously curved into a small arc.

Brother and the others are all fine.

"Could you also release us?" Just as I was about to leave, someone behind me asked. Turning around, I saw the guy who had complained earlier, a man who appeared to be around twenty years old, with short brown hair, now stained with sweat and black blood. His face was somewhat pale but still full of vitality.

"Why?" Everything I do needs a reason. I freed the little kid because he was my brother's subordinate, and I had met him once before.

"This..." He was stunned for a moment and looked towards the door, "Then why did you release him?"

"Do I need to give you a reason for everything I do?" In a flash, I was standing in front of his cage, my eyes coldly staring at him.

"Well... if you release us, we'll listen to everything you say and recognize you as our master. How about that?" He had no choice but to lower his status to save his life.

"Can you speak for everyone here?" I looked around. There were at least a hundred vampires here.

"Of course." He answered without hesitation.

"Oh? Are you so sure?" His answer surprised me a bit.

"Yes, if you don't believe me, you can ask them."

"Really?" I moved to the nearest cage beside him and coldly asked.

"Yes, Lord Jester is a pure-blooded vampire. We will listen to everything he says."

"Oh? A pure-blooded vampire!" I stepped forward and released the one named Jester. But seeing the humiliation in his eyes, I coldly smiled. "Go!"

"You'll let us go?" He was a bit surprised.

"Don't you want to go?" I looked at him. With his good looks and pure bloodline, he naturally had his own world among vampires. Why die here?

"No... No, it's just that I already promised to be your servant." He said as he knelt on one knee.

"Hmph! You're not qualified to be my servant." I had already floated away, leaving him kneeling behind me as I vanished into the entrance.

Outside, the full moon hung high in the sky, and the silver moonlight fell on me in scattered dots. I reached out to catch it, lifting my head to feel it. The damp night air hit my face.

I deliberately slowed my pace, floating just above the ground, enjoying the view as I moved forward.

At that moment, I felt really good. I freed the little kid, learned that my brother and Sinmo were safe, and confirmed the young master's abilities. With him, I would surely find the person I most wanted to meet.

It turns out that my awakening wasn't as meaningless as it seemed.

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Everything in the world has its purpose, whether good or bad, true or false, including humans and ghosts. Ghosts feed on humans, and while that sounds scary, when you think from the perspective of the ghost, you can understand that it's not their fault.

Luvian, who had always been between the two, understood the opposition between them even more and could sympathize with the tragedy of both sides.