Chapter 3045: Blood-Colored Addiction 21

Aosiding's mind went blank, he didn't even have time to think of making excuses or covering up.

"Saiyin's blood servant."

The voice came from the black mist beneath the cloak, its tone unexpectedly clear and warm, with a hint of a young man's quality, forming a strange contrast with his eerie, terrifying attire: "What are you doing here?"

Aosiding's throat felt as if it were being choked, cold sweat sliding down his forehead.

"I-I..." his voice dry and trembling, he tried to concoct a plausible excuse: "The moonlight is better here; I wanted to... stay a while alone, to pray..."

This excuse was so feeble he couldn't even believe it himself, let alone in front of Count Nuoya, famed for his insight into secrets.

The two scarlet points beneath Nuoya's hood shifted slightly, landing on the unfinished silver sigil before Aosiding that emitted a faint holy aura, then sweeping over the holy light rune implements he hadn't had time to hide.

Aosiding's heart sank to the depths.

It's over—caught red-handed conducting Holy Court activities, in the vampire castle, especially in this person's hands, he would likely die in excruciating agony, his soul unable to find rest.

However, Nuoya did not react as he expected; he saw through his lie full of holes.

"Hah."

Nuoya seemed not to even notice Aosiding's small movements and nervousness; he had come here for another purpose.

From beneath the black robe, a hand wrapped in the same swirling mist slowly extended toward Aosiding, grasping at empty air to lift him aloft, and just so happened not to trigger the defensive sigil of that ring.

Aosiding struggled in shock, but the mist-like power held him fast, unable to move, as the mist-wrapped hand approached his neck; fear constricted his pupils to pinpricks.

"I belong to Count Saiyin!" Aosiding shouted hoarsely, trying to use his master's name as a last shield: "Count, he..."

"Saiyin permits sharing." Nuoya's clear, warm voice calmly interrupted him; he curled his finger, and the wound on Aosiding's left wrist, sliced yesterday and just healed, split open again, bright red blood welling up and being drawn into the crystal cup that had appeared in Nuoya's other hand.

After taking roughly half a cup, Nuoya flicked his finger; the wound on Aosiding's wrist instantly stopped bleeding and healed, while the power binding him suddenly vanished.

Aosiding staggered and collapsed to the ground, covering his wrist that was bleeding again, his complexion even paler than before, his vision darkening in waves.

The continuous blood loss, combined with extreme mental tension and fear, plunged him into an obvious state of weakness.

Nuoya didn't even glance at the limp Aosiding on the ground; he lifted the crystal cup filled with Aosiding's blood to the black mist beneath his hood, sniffed it for a while, but didn't drink, merely looked at it a moment before casually setting the cup of blood aside.

"Interesting..."

The figure wrapped in the black robe appeared as abruptly as before, silently melting into the surrounding shadows and vanishing, as if it had never been there.

Only Aosiding remained, collapsed alone on the cold, damp floor, gasping rapidly, his heart still pounding, his whole body soaked in cold sweat.

He struggled to his feet, stumbling away from the corner that had nearly doomed him to eternal ruin.

He had to return immediately, take blood-replenishing potions and specially cultivated nectar, which the castle never lacked.

—

Aosiding forced his weak body forward, his steps unsteady as he walked the long, dim rose corridor leading back to the Blood Servant Tower; the corridor was silent, only his footsteps and heavy breathing echoing.

At the end of the corridor, a figure leaned against the wall.

The suave, handsome count leisurely leaned there, playing with a staff, as if he had been waiting long beforehand.

When Aosiding appeared, he lifted his eyes, his violet-tinged pupils slowly turning, the corner of his mouth slowly curving into a meaningful arc.

Aosiding: "……"

"Is it ever going to end!"

"Why is it only Count Saiyin who lacks interest in his blood! And these other counts keep coming after him one after another!"

Feierwen regarded Aosiding with a smile, his pressure spreading like gentle ripples.

The seven great counts—none are to be trifled with.

Even though Feierwen is known for his suave elegance, seeming worldly, as an ancient pureblood his power and rank still press down on Aosiding—a mere former holy knight who isn't even a holy guide—making him an unfathomable abyss.

Aosiding's body began to tremble uncontrollably; he swallowed hard, trying to gather a shred of remaining courage and holy light, but found it futile.

Feierwen seemed to have had enough of Aosiding's distress and fear, stepped forward slowly, then lifted the jeweled staff in his hand, raising Aosiding's lowered chin to force him to lift his face.

Up close, Feierwen's visage was indeed handsome, bearing the elegance of ancient nobility, the wear of ages, and a worldly air that exerts a deadly allure on any living being.

Aosiding's breath caught, Feierwen's perfect face reflected in his pupils; amid extreme terror and the onslaught of that bewitching beauty, his mind flickered into a daze.

Just as Aosiding thought this suave count would also draw blood like Nuoya, or that something would happen, Feierwen suddenly turned his head to glance at the corridor's stained glass window, and his pressure vanished in an instant.

Feierwen slightly furrowed his brows, as if disbelieving, and withdrew the staff that had been lifting Aosiding's chin.

"Jiaxiya..." Feierwen murmured softly, his voice barely audible.

Feierwen did nothing further to Aosiding, gave him a deep look, then waved his staff lightly in the air, where it vanished; only a faint chill lingered in the air, and Aosiding, still shaken and at a loss.

Feierwen's figure reappeared within the luxurious chamber.

Several handsome blood servants stood silently at attention; seeing him appear suddenly, they all bowed respectfully.

But Feierwen had no mood to enjoy their service, he waved them away and walked alone to the wide floor-to-ceiling window.

Outside, the blood moon hung high, shedding an ominous glow.

Feierwen unconsciously toyed with the staff, his expression deep; he had originally intended to test the secret of that holy knight, especially the power beneath his protective magic circle, which gave him a vague sense of familiarity.

But he hadn't expected that Prince Jiaxiya would actually turn his gaze toward Aosiding, and even warn him because of it.

This discovery made Feierwen temporarily halt his investigation of Aosiding; before clarifying the prince's intent, acting rashly would be unwise, and he didn't want to get entangled with Prince Jiaxiya.

Forget it, the mystery on Aosiding can wait; tomorrow I'll go find Jin Chen.

The first attendant, whose unforgettable visage he admired and respected, the one he had once glimpsed in his youth as Majesty Motisi, was a blood servant who looked far too much like him.

Feierwen leaned against the window frame, somewhat dazed, gazing up at the red moon as his hair drifted lightly in the night wind.

"Majesty Motisi..."

"Your Majesty... if it truly is you, upon your awakening, why not issue a blood decree to your faithful followers?"