Chapter 3063: Blood‑Stained Addiction 39

The bath pool.

Steam rose above the bath pool carved from blood jade, and the special fragrance in the water exuded a relaxing richness.

Saiyin leaned against the pool wall, half-closing his eyes, his head resting on Jin Chen's shoulder, Jin Chen's arm loosely encircling his waist, his chin resting on Saiyin's damp shoulder as he rested with eyes closed.

The pool water eased the fatigue from the intense exertion, and Saiyin gradually found merely leaning insufficient; he wanted every inch of his skin to feel snug. The high‑grade soul power and essence blood nourishment was more than enough—just one afternoon had made up for the seven days of agony he'd endured, so even his slender body now showed a hint of plumpness and softness, his whole being suffused with the aura of his blood father.

Jin Chen noticed his subtle movement, opened his eyes, and idly brushed his lips against Saiyin's still‑moist lip, the motion devoid of any aggression, only tender affection.

"Mm…"

Saiyin obediently opened his lips a little, tilted his head back, his wet lashes clumping together, moisture beading on them, making him look rather pitiful.

Only when Jin Chen lazily placed a kiss on his slightly swollen lip and gave a few light pecks did he slowly open his eyes in a daze, his blood‑red eyes still hazy, a look of infatuated love.

A commotion came from outside.

Someone passed through the door woven from blood‑rose vines and entered the palace's inner hall.

Jin Chen's hand did not stop moving; he merely lifted his brows slightly, recalling the task he had ordered Nuoya to do.

He rose from the bath pool, grabbed the dark‑gold robe draped on the jade stand, threw it on casually, fastened the sash, and the blood‑soul device mask settled back over his face.

Jin Chen had originally intended to let Saiyin rest a while longer in the bath pool, given the recent expenditure, but after experiencing the utmost tenderness, the little vampire whose body and mind were sated and unusually dependent seemed to have instantly developed separation anxiety.

Seeing Jin Chen don the mask and prepare to go out alone, Saiyin snapped out of his languid state; without even drying the dripping tips of his hair, he dashed forward naked, clutching a corner of Jin Chen's robe from behind, his eye rims still tinged with red.

He took Jin Chen's hand and pressed it to his cheek, rubbing affectionately, gazing unblinkingly at the eyes behind Jin Chen's mask, his voice still hoarse from earlier tears, soft and clingy: "Blood father… don't leave me."

Behind his mask, Jin Chen's eyes flickered; he reversed his hand to pinch Saiyin's still‑damp cheek, distorting his face so his lips puckered and revealed two sharp fangs, while his other hand lifted and in an instant dried all moisture from Saiyin's body.

Saiyin looked down at his now‑dry body and hair, pressed his lips together, and a faint smile curved his mouth—signifying he had not been abandoned, for Jin Chen did not mind his trouble, his clinginess, or his need to cling to his blood father like a little sprite that won't grow up.

"Put on your robe." Jin Chen said, poking his forehead again.

Saiyin quickly picked up the prepared robe, put it on, and hooked his arm around Jin Chen's, leaning in.

——

Nuoya stood with hands at attention in the corridor linking the side hall; hearing footsteps, he slightly lifted his eyelids.

He saw his master, His Majesty Motisi, approaching in a dark robe, with Sitelande leaning intimately against His Majesty's side.

Nuoya's gaze flicked over Saiyin in an instant, then he lowered his eyelids and bowed respectfully.

"My lord."

"Hmm."

Jin Chen walked to the arched window at one side of the side hall; a thought stirred, and several thick vines snaked in like living things, turning into soft chairs.

Jin Chen drew the somewhat weary Saiyin leaning against him into a half‑embrace; Saiyin buried his face in Jin Chen's neck, eyes closed as if about to sleep.

With one arm around Saiyin's waist and the other resting casually on the chair's armrest, Jin Chen looked down at Nuoya standing with hands lowered and saw the wound on his shoulder where the holy power had dealt a heavy blow.

"How did things go?"

Nuoya lowered his eyes and said, "My lord, the Holy Court already believed Ausdin's tip‑off after hearing the news of the revival."

"They are urgently mustering forces, planning to launch a coordinated strike at your banquet in order to thwart your resurrection and, taking advantage of the chaos, to inflict heavy damage on the blood clan."

He paused, then continued, "Besides, Prince Jiaxiya has been appearing frequently in the private residence of the Holy Court Pope; their meetings are secret and protected by a strong sound‑proof barrier. It seems, just as centuries ago, they have joined forces again."

The Pope's power is unfathomable, matching or exceeding that of Prince Jiaxiya; Nuoya's strength is limited, and as the lowest of the seven counts, infiltrating the Pope's residence is no easy task.

"Are you hurt?" Jin Chen asked casually.

Nuoya bowed his head lower, unable to hide the mix of delight and fear at being noticed, and said, "Serving my lord is an honor."

The perpetually languid Saiyin, curled in Jin Chen's arms, stirred slightly, turning his face to reveal half of it from Jin Chen's neck; his weary blood‑colored eyes glanced at Nuoya below without emotion.

Jin Chen took in Saiyin's subtle reaction, ceased asking about Nuoya's injury, and said lightly, "No need to risk going deeper yourself; just focus on preparing the banquet—I'll handle the rest."

As he spoke, he waved a hand, and two soul devices emanating Youyou's magical fluctuations floated before Nuoya, both priceless treasures.

Nuoya's eyes flashed with surprise and gratitude; he immediately took them with both hands, saying, "Thank you, my lord, for the gift!"

Saiyin suddenly sat upright, still a bit drowsy, his gaze lazy, and produced a magic‑amplifying soul device from his storage ring, handing it to Nuoya.

Nuoya: "…?"

He blinked, unsure, glanced at Saiyin, then instinctively looked at Jin Chen.

Saiyin, as if unaware of Nuoya's puzzlement, gave him a faint smile from Jin Chen's embrace and said sincerely, "Thank you for your hard work serving the blood father."

Having said that, without waiting for Nuoya's reaction, he shoved the soul device into his hand again and leaned back lazily into Jin Chen's arms.

Nuoya: "…" He was a little startled—what was going on, when had he ever seen Sitelande so good‑tempered?

"Thank you."

Jin Chen couldn't help laughing out loud, and felt Saiyin's body stiffen for a moment at the sound of his laughter.

Nuoya, being tactful, withdrew from the side hall.

The side hall fell quiet again, save for the rustling of wind through the rose bushes outside.

Jin Chen lowered his gaze to the vampire whose face was buried deep in his chest, finding him adorable enough to melt his heart.

He took off his mask, set it aside, and pinched Saiyin's scorching earlobe.

"What are you doing?" he teased, his voice thick with amusement.

Saiyin finally lifted his head; the corners of his eyes and brows still bore a lingering crimson, but his gaze held a hint of guilt.

He wrapped his arms around Jin Chen's neck, adeptly tilting his face up to lick the corner of Jin Chen's lips, his body going limp, and said, "I'm so tired… blood father, shall we go back to rest?"

Saiyin successfully shifted the topic using weariness and coquettishness as weapons.

Saiyin, content, nestled in his blood father's arms, let him carry him toward the inner chamber of the sleeping palace.

Outside, the blood moon's light seemed to soften a little, flowing over the entwined figures.