When he went to bed that night, there was a knock on Shen Zhaomu’s door.
“Come in,” he said.
Long Shiyu stood outside, holding his pillow and quilt, looking at him expectantly.
“It didn’t rain today.” Shen Zhaomu looked out the window absentmindedly.
Long Shiyu hesitated for a long time, then finally said: “I’m still a little scared…”
“That stuff is all fake,” Shen Zhaomu found it funny, “Didn’t you say you’re won’t be afraid after watching it till the end?”
“…Sob.”
“…Come here.”
The young man put the soft quilt on the bed, quickly climbed in, and pulled the quilt up until only his bright eyes were exposed. His tail, which he would usually leave outside the quilt, was now tightly curled up inside, wrapped around his body.
Shen Zhaomu turned off the light and rubbed Long Shiyu’s head. “Don’t be afraid.”
“…Okay.”
When he woke up the next day, the young man was still obediently sleeping in his original posture, with his tail still tightly coiled around him.
Shen Zhaomu woke up as soon as he sat up, but he didn’t open his eyes yet, opting to yawn lazily.
Long Shiyu needed to sleep a lot, and Shen Zhaomu was used to it. He received a new research report written by Lu Shanyao on his terminal, detailing new progress with regards to the church.
He packed his things and adjusted his clothes. The handsome man in the mirror was wearing a suit, showcasing his slender and perfect figure. He appeared calm, but the gleam in his eyes was like that of a fierce predator.
It was this wildness and talent hidden in his bones that made him such an excellent hunter.
Moreover, he had reached this point without relying on the prestigious clan behind him.
The Shen clan had always held themselves to rigorous standards, and one of their principles was to not feel sympathy for their prey. It was necessary to uphold their principles even after the prey was captured, whether it was a seductive siren or a seemingly harmless vampire with the appearance of a child.
Shen Zhaomu had always excelled in this aspect.
——He also believed he had done a good job when it came to Long Shiyu.
As soon as he arrived at the office, a pile of documents was waiting for him and his terminal pinged incessantly with messages.
Upon closer inspection, he realized that the association had officially appointed him as the person in charge of this task.
As a candidate for chief, Shen Zhaomu would undoubtedly secure the position of chief if he succeeded in this task.
But could the Blood Worshiping Church, which had been established for hundreds of years, truly be eradicated? All he could say was that good progress in the mission could become an excellent bargaining chip for him.
He read the documents for a while, then there was a knock on the door.
The assistant hurriedly entered. “We have clues about the source of the siren blood sample. Commander Lu Shanhuai is attempting to track the suspect.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Vtfc Itjbwe ibbxfv ja atf ibmjalbc.
“Ktfc kts lr tf… lc jc lcafgcfa mjof?”
“Pa rffwr atja atf rerqfma lr jvvlmafv ab atf lcafgcfa. Lf rqfcvr jii tlr alwf lc atf lcafgcfa mjof. Ktf mbwwjcvfg obiibkfv tlw lc.” Ktf jrrlrajca klqfv tlr rkfja jcv rjlv, “Gb sbe kjca ab ub bnfg?”
“Yeah.” Shen Zhaomu stood up and put on his coat.
…
The noon sunshine was slightly glaring, and Long Shiyu gradually woke up.
He got up and prepared to find some food. This time, he didn’t stay in the association and went out to casually wander around.
As he walked, he saw yellow and black tape cordoning off the streets in the distance, with huge holographic projections suspended in the air—a circular seal depicting knives and swords entwined with thorns — the logo of the Hunters Association.
A dark alley lay a little further in.
A few passersby were gathered there. A middle-aged man said to his wife, “There have been frequent attacks here at night. Fortunately, the hunters took action.”
The woman still seemed worried. “Have they found out who’s behind it?”
“They didn’t provide details.” The man frowned. “It’s really strange. It’s best if you avoid coming here in the future.”
“Who would dare come to the slums for no reason…”
Long Shiyu caught a whiff of something in the air.
There was still a faint scent of siren blood left.
He recalled Shen Zhaomu’s previous conversations and deduced that this must be the dark alley he had been to before.
He yawned and prepared to continue looking for food. However, just as he was about to leave, he noticed something.
Long Shiyu squatted down at the periphery of the restricted area and wiped the dust off the ground with his hands.
There were inconspicuous traces resembling claw marks, five in total. If it weren’t for a few drops of dried blood, even Long Shiyu would not have been able to notice them.
Gold blossomed in his eyes, and in a split second, his dark eyes turned gold. His vertical pupils were dazzling and beautiful, radiating a cold metallic color.
He determined that these were traces left by an injured vampire.
His eyes returned to their usual dark hue, and he stood up to patiently search for other traces. Just as he turned the corner, a look of pain flashed across his face, and he instinctively covered his abdomen.
The old wound hadn’t fully healed yet. It would occasionally hurt and sometimes would even reopen.
On regular days, he could only use the power of the dragon language to conceal it, forcing the gruesome wound to heal so that it would go unnoticed.
That wound was the result of a vicious curse.
Because of this, he had to avoid the monster in the thunderclouds.
When he moved his hand away, it was already stained with blood.
Long Shiyu looked at it expressionlessly, wiped it clean with a wet wipe, and zipped up his coat to conceal the bloodstains. Then, with a composed expression, he resumed his tracking.
To an outsider, it still appeared as if Long Shiyu was just strolling about the streets. With his dazzling countenance, it seemed as if he was someone who could not take any pain and someone who would not be associated with injuries of any sort his whole life. He was an existence that should be preserved in a painting, with eyes as beautiful as the moonlight.
Long Shiyu knew that he should be in great pain.
But he had grown accustomed to nursing his wounds in solitude. He would never show others his injuries. It was the law of survival.
Following the traces, Long Shiyu ventured deeper into the slum area. The further he went, the more dilapidated it became. Sewage flowed through the streets, and the graffiti on the walls became increasingly vulgar and exaggerated. He noticed discarded cleaning robots in several corners — they had already been torn apart, their valuable circuit boards and parts stolen.
There were many people secretly observing him from afar, their gazes filled with curiosity and ill intentions.
After all, he obviously didn’t fit in here, so he made the perfect target.
However, Long Shiyu paid them no mind. He walked to a street sign that read “Yuanchen Third Street” and followed the faint smell of blood in the air to the entrance of a garbage dump.
Sitting at the entrance was a beggar dressed in rags.
He appeared to be in his sixties, with a beard that had gone unshaven for weeks. Chipped pots and pans surrounded him.
He glanced up at Long Shiyu, his eyes dull. “This is a private area. Entry is not allowed.”
Apart from the rancid garbage scent, Long Shiyu also caught a whiff of sweat.
It wasn’t the stale stench of unaired sweat but rather the smell of fresh perspiration that was rolling down flesh, exuding warmth and vitality. Beneath the ground, he could vaguely hear a faint, furious, animalistic roar and the muffled sound of fists connecting with flesh.
Screams, fights, cheers.
Violence always held a certain thrill.
The corners of the young man’s lips curled up as he looked at the beggar. “I just wanted to ask, how’s business been today?”
Shen Zhaomu was sitting in the internet cafe.
It was an unsanctioned one with a smoky atmosphere. One could access the internet without an ID.
On his left sat a man picking his feet, directly across from him was an otaku kicking up a big fuss, and on his right was someone wearing sunglasses and a black mask, giving off a terrorist vibe — Lu Shanhuai.
Shen Zhaomu remarked, “You do know that our terminals come with a simple disguise function, right?” He had slightly altered his appearance so that people who did not know him personally wouldn’t be able to recognize him.
“Of course I know,” Lu Shanhuai whispered. “I’m tired of being a commander. It’s not often I get to experience the thrill of surveillance and tracking. Every commander dreams of being on the front line.”
“But no one wears sunglasses in an internet cafe,” Shen Zhaomu said. “You look like a blind man surfing the web. Need my help finding the power button?”
Lu Shanhuai coughed awkwardly. “Well, I’m just seeking new experiences.” He clicked on the screen a few times. “Honestly, this is my first time in an unsanctioned internet cafe. How about you, Brother Shen?”
“I’ve been to them a couple of times while tracking suspects.”
“This place really has the vibes,” Lu Shanhuai commented as he looked around at the shouting people.
“If I ever get the chance, I’ll definitely visit an arcade from the old earth era. Oh, by the way, I have something interesting for you to see.”
A few seconds later, Shen Zhaomu’s screen pinged with a notification of an incoming file.
He clicked on it, and instantly, colorful pages filled the screen. The words were written in exaggerated fonts and blinked constantly, causing headaches.
Shen Zhaomu asked, “Did you send me a virus?”
“Indeed,” Lu Shanhuai replied, pleased with himself. “This is the first time I’ve seen a computer virus, so I wanted to share the experience with you. Computers like this one should have been eliminated decades ago.”
Shen Zhaomu: “…”
He glanced at the pages that popped up.
“President, it’s already been three years since you sent Madam to the border post.
Has she admitted her mistake?
No, but she’s pregnant.”
Shen Zhaomu: “…”
Something seemed off.
Shen Zhaomu said, “You’ve been reading this stuff?”
“It’s all thanks to my girlfriend. She forces me to read them,” Lu Shanhuai replied. “And the more I read, the more invested I become.”
Shen Zhaomu continued scrolling.
“President, Madam has been standing next to the pig pen for three years.”
“My lord, the princess has already spent three years in the cold palace.”
“My lord, the princess has turned herself into a general in a fit of anger.”
“Marshal, Madam has gone to the land of exile to start her business.”
Shen Zhaomu and Lu Shanhuai exchanged glances. “How is any of this possible…”
His terminal beeped.
His assistant’s panicked voice sounded out. “Bad news, Mr. Shen! Sister-in-law has run off to participate in an illegal boxing match by himself!”
Author’s Note:
One cutesy sob per day: 1/1
Thank you for the chapter!
Ooh, so the one in the storm really was an enemy!
And lmao. Sister in law ran off to cage fight hahahaha. That lead up in those kinda reversal plots to this! Lol
Shen Zhaomu is going to show up at the boxing ring and find his fragile little wife in a bloody shirt. Those poor, poor boxers…
Pls heal your wife asap
Wifey is one badass fighter don’t you worry mr shen 🤭
Thanks for the update 🤣❤️🤣
Technically, the sob was made on the previous night, so the last day had its sob. This day hasn’t had a sob yet.
Does that mean the wounded vampire was the clue to the underground fights? I wonder if this will help the princess or if the dragon has his own mission in there 😮