Chapter 96: What Has Clouded Her Vision?

Anran noticed Yelang's gaze fixed intently on the cross hanging from her neck. After a moment of silence, she couldn't help but ask, "Yelang, do you recognize this cross?"

At her question, a myriad of thoughts flashed through Yelang's mind. Faced with this clueless girl, he struggled to find the right words, repeatedly faltering as he tried to explain.

After a long pause, Yelang finally spoke. "I've seen this emblem before. It's the family crest of the Morris family."

This revelation left Anran stunned.

So it wasn't the cross that had made Johnson panic—it was the recognition of its emblem. In other words, what truly terrified him was the Morris family itself...

Noticing Anran's troubled expression, Yelang asked with concern, "Anran, are you alright?"

Anran snapped out of her thoughts and replied, "Oh, it's nothing. Yelang, there's something I wanted to ask you. Tonight, at Qingyun Peak, what did Elma mean when she said 'our kind'?"

That golden-haired woman, like Richard, was from the Morris family. Yet, she had no idea about Night Emperor's true identity.

Still, she had instantly recognized them as "her kind." But what exactly did that mean?

Anran desperately hoped her suspicion was wrong.

In fact, after tonight's events, Yelang had been meaning to warn Anran about the dangerous presence in this town—a presence drawn to her blood, the most alluring bait.

Yelang spoke gravely, "You're new here, so you wouldn't know. Besides humans, there's another kind of being in this town—they call themselves the bloodkin, while most humans refer to them as vampires. They thrive in the night, fear the harsh sunlight, and can only venture out during the day when the mists are thick. However, the bloodkin in Rose Town are unique. Combined with the town's perpetual spring and heavy cloud cover, which dulls the sunlight, Rose Town has become their ideal haven. In truth, most people living here are unaware of their existence. They only know that there's a group of people who are... different. Only our Helan family and the descendants of my ancestors' retainers know the truth about the bloodkin."

Hearing Yelang's explanation, Anran felt a heavy weight press down on her chest. She didn't know how to react, and for a moment, she was left speechless.

She thought, perhaps she should have realized it sooner, if not for those who had clouded her judgment with their potions.

In reality, the signs had been everywhere. From the very first night she arrived in Rose Town and saw the garlic flowers, she had sensed something was off. But as time went on, she had increasingly refused to acknowledge the truth, deceiving herself all along.

What had dulled her keen senses?

Seeing Anran remain silent, Yelang understood that this perceptive girl had pieced everything together. She needed time to process it all.

So, Yelang decided to leave. But before he did, he left her with a cryptic remark.

"If possible, I'd advise you not to get too close to the Morris family."

Anran didn't respond. Quietly, she stepped inside her home, only to notice that Adam hadn't followed her. Looking at the panther—who had fought so fiercely to protect her—she suddenly felt a sense of clarity.

"Adam, what's wrong? Come on in," Anran whispered, careful not to wake her sleeping grandfather.

In response, Adam let out a low growl but didn't take a single step forward.

"Adam, are you saying goodbye? Are you leaving?" Anran asked, seeming to understand the panther's intent.

The panther blinked, swished its tail, and gazed at Anran for a long moment before turning around. It sprinted away, swiftly disappearing into the vast darkness of the night.

Watching Adam depart, Anran felt a pang of melancholy, a sense of loss lingering in her heart...