Chapter 3053: Blood‑Stained Addiction 29

The scroll was requested to be sent back to the Hall of Worship.

A noble dared to step forward, older than most of the Seven Great Marquises, bowing with a respectful posture.

"Lord Si Lan De, according to tradition, as the pure‑blood offspring personally transformed by Your Majesty, you should go to the Hall of Worship to chant alone; this is necessary."

Saiyin sat on the throne, his expression cold and aloof, yet he did not directly refuse, appearing to hesitate; normally he would never agree, but tonight……

Yue Ge rose from the side chair, "Lord Si Lan De, the Viscount makes sense."

"As an heir, your going to the Hall of Worship to chant once is a response to Your Majesty; the lineage of Marquis Nuo Ya has always been loyal to Your Majesty, so let him go as well."

Nuo Ya sat in the outermost chair, his robe completely enveloping his body, the hood pulled low; he only moved slightly when Yue Ge mentioned him, lifting his eyes from the shadows to glance obscurely at Jin Chen— that gaze held too much, like a believer's humility when looking up, then he withdrew his gaze and lowered his head, "I won't go."

Saiyin rose from the throne, the hem of his robe sliding off the seat, "I'll go and come back quickly."

The Hall of Worship lies behind the Ceremonial Hall, separated by a long corridor; though only one corridor apart, it feels like two worlds.

Within the Ceremonial Hall, wanton music flowed; the nobles, after a brief shock, quickly indulged in their hedonistic nature, trying to drown out the recent fear with clamor.

Whereas inside the Hall of Worship, it was utter solemnity.

Here there was no excess decoration; the lofty dome was lost in shadow, and only on the high wall facing the entrance hung the scroll of Mo Ti Si that had just manifested its holiness; beneath the scroll burned an ever‑bright ghost lamp, its flames leaping, casting the moon‑lit side‑profile on the scroll and the blood soul device mask in shifting light, adding a touch of mystery.

Saiyin took off his festive attire and donned a pure black priest's robe, the belt cinching his waist into a slender line.

The blood clan has always been wanton and indulgent, pursuing pleasure and power, yet toward the Progenitor—especially the Your Majesty whose legendary power and wisdom are unfathomable—every blood clan member, regardless of rank, harbors a deep‑seated feeling in their hearts.

He slowly walked to the front of the scroll, lifted the hem of his robe at the edge of the ghost lamp's light, and knelt, like the most devout believer preparing to chant.

The sound of the doors closing came through.

Jin Chen casually shut the door behind him, turned slightly upward, and with interest admired the Mo Ti Si scroll on the high wall.

After a moment, Jin Chen slowly shifted his gaze to the kneeling Saiyin on the floor, examining him from top to bottom: from his tied‑up black hair, his pale neck, to his straight spine, and finally to that solemn priest's robe, so restrained it bordered on ascetic.

Seeing Saiyin's rare composure and propriety, Jin Chen's lips curled into a smile of ambiguous meaning.

He did not want to see this delectable, lively marquis who would tremble and beg in his arms, so wholeheartedly kneeling before a vampire that had fallen, leaving only a portrait.

If he must kneel……

Jin Chen's brow twitched slightly as he walked slowly toward Saiyin, stopping beside him and looking down from above.

Then he bent slightly, bringing his mouth to Saiyin's ear, "My lord, are you really going to just toss me alone into the banquet?"

His proximity brought his own sandalwood scent; Saiyin's pupils dilated a fraction as he smelled it, and his fingers unconsciously tightened a bit on his knees.

Today Saiyin was first forcibly subdued by Jia Xi Ya through a contract, damaging his mind, then he endured the Progenitor's manifestation, which dealt an extreme shock; already in a state of abnormal weakness and emotional turmoil, both body and spirit craved soothing and fulfillment.

And on another level……

Whether he admits it or not, he has long had no resistance to Jin Chen—not only because of the blood bond, but as if it were an addiction springing from the soul.

All it takes now is Jin Chen's slight proximity, that whisper of familiar sandalwood temptation, and the imperceptible surge of the blood bond……

Saiyin's body trembled; the feigned piety in his blood‑red eyes shattered, revealing a thread of unbearable panic—he could no longer hold back.

But he didn't quite understand.

In their intimacy, Jin Chen usually seemed the less enthusiastic one, needing him to take the initiative for more; why today Jin Chen appeared somewhat unusually proactive, even with a hint of dangerous aggression.

Beneath Saiyin's priest's robe, the waist cinched by the belt tightened slightly; inside his cold body it felt as if flames were burning.

He longed to turn and throw himself into Jin Chen's arms at once, using fierce kisses and sweet blood to wash away the humiliation and fear Jia Xi Ya had inflicted, to fill the sudden void and agitation.

But he still retained a sliver of clarity.

Saiyin bit down hard on his lower lip, piercing a bit of flesh with his sharp teeth; his cold vampire body, inexplicably, could feel a restless heat.

He did not turn to look at Jin Chen, trying to stay calm, "You…… go rest first."

Jin Chen, however, seemed not to hear his dismissal; he reached out, his palm lightly covering Saiyin's bound‑up hair, stroking his locks.

"My lord, what's wrong with you?" Jin Chen's voice rang from above, carrying a faint laugh, yet somehow utterly bewitching and dangerous, "Could it be……"

He leaned in, bringing his mouth to Saiyin's already‑flushed ear, whispering in a breath only the two could hear, "Don't you want your sire to see…… you in my arms, being bullied?"

As his words fell, Jin Chen deliberately brushed lightly against Saiyin's sensitive earlobe.