Chapter 1988: This Day Came Too Quickly

"Charge! Capture that Pope's Saintess alive and offer her to our noble Lord Auguste." The guard captain swung the longsword in his hand, and countless Blood Clan members lunged forward.

Xueli took out that Holy Cross and held it high above her head; for a moment, it was as if the sky had split open.

A pillar of light descended from the sky, striking the cross in her hand, and immediately, the cross emitted a dazzling radiance.

The white light spread incessantly in all directions, and shrill screams rang out among the Blood Clan guards; in an instant, no one knew how many of the Blood Clan had vanished into ashes within the brilliance.

Chen Yu took a step forward, about to rush into the Ancient Castle, but just at this moment, the guard captain blocked Chen Yu's path.

"Heh, leaving a woman here like this while you walk away yourself—isn't that a bit inappropriate?" The guard captain stared at Chen Yu.

"Do you really take her for an ordinary woman?" Chen Yu glanced at the guard captain in surprise. "If that is truly what you think, then you are gravely mistaken. Look, your people don't seem to be doing so well."

"Our guards are different from ordinary Blood Clan," the guard captain said with his head held high. "We do not fear death. Perhaps our strength cannot compare to yours, but we are numerous; she will be unable to hold on sooner or later."

"Hmm, using the lives of your ordinary guards to fill the gap, while your noble Lord Auguste watches you die from the Ancient Castle without a flicker of emotion? Is such a person really worth you throwing your lives away for?" Chen Yu laughed.

"This is our own affair; it has nothing to do with you." The guard captain swung the longsword in his hand. "If you want to walk inside, you will have to step over my corpse; otherwise, don't even think about moving forward a single step."

"Quite loyal. If you want to die, I will grant your wish." Chen Yu nodded in approval, then brought his right-hand Sword Finger together and pointed slightly forward.

Pfft...

The guard captain's eyes were wide open; a hole had appeared in his chest, and his body was gradually disappearing along with the fierce Primordial Qi.

He fell to the ground with a thud, let out a desperate scream, and immediately vanished into ashes.

"A thing that doesn't even leave a corpse behind after death dares to challenge me?" Chen Yu sneered. Ignoring this fellow any further, he walked quickly away from there and arrived at the Ancient Castle.

Inside the Ancient Castle, several Blood Clan members of decent strength were already blocking the way. Chen Yu did not waste words with them; he drew his sword, Lichen, extinguished these so-called Blood Clan elites with a single strike, and then strode into the Ancient Castle.

On the top floor of the Ancient Castle, Auguste sat leisurely, holding a glass of red wine in his hand, looking elegant and composed.

He did not feel the slightest bit surprised by Chen Yu's arrival: "Welcome, guest from the East."

"You don't seem surprised to see me at all," Chen Yu said with a smile.

"There is nothing to be surprised about." Auguste gave a bitter smile. "I knew this day would come sooner or later, but I did not expect it to come so soon, and even less did I expect that the first human to enter the Ancient Castle would actually be an Easterner."

"What about being an Easterner? Do you know that your words carry a heavy sense of discrimination?" Chen Yu said with some displeasure. "Can't an Easterner enter your Ancient Castle?"

"That's not it." Auguste shook his head. "It's just a bit unexpected. You must know that the Pope's people cannot enter this place. Of course, the Saintess on the sword-string outside is an exception; that she could actually arrive here safe and sound is truly impressive."

"I rule over all the Blood Clan of the Endless Coast, and no one can enter my Ancient Castle without my permission."

"There will be a day when someone enters, sooner or later." Chen Yu smiled slightly. "It seems your desire for control is very strong."

"Haha, I think every man should have such a desire for control," Auguste said with a chuckle. "Staying in here for a long time actually feels quite good."

"Not everyone is like you. You have lived for thousands of years, haven't you? And you Blood Clan emphasize lineage and nobility." Chen Yu said indifferently. "Living like this all the time, don't you feel tired?"

"So what? We have long lives. In this long journey of life, we must find something meaningful for ourselves, right?" Auguste said with a smile. "Sometimes when I get tired of staying here, I go to the human world."

"There are many clean young girls there whose blood is very sweet, and there is also very expensive fine wine. Honestly, if it weren't for the Pope pressing in step by step, I wouldn't want to come back at all."

"It seems you have harmed quite a few people there," Chen Yu said indifferently.

"Yes, these girls are too vain. They hold beautiful expectations for romance. Whenever I tell them tragic and beautiful stories, or tell them what our future will be like, they become intoxicated by it," Auguste said.

"Do you remember their names?" Chen Yu asked.

"To be honest, there are too many; I really don't remember." Auguste shook his head and said, "But my taste is quite good. I believe they must all remember me, because the night I gave them was truly unforgettable."

"It is indeed unforgettable; you turned them into monsters that are neither human nor ghost, living on blood every day." Chen Yu said coldly. "You are too reckless; the Pope should have crusaded against you here long ago."

"Haha, the current Pope is no longer the Pope of the past. Hundreds of years ago, most of their Expeditionary Knights died on the beach. Since then, the Endless Coast has been their forbidden zone; who among them would dare to come here?"

"And they are busy with internal strife now; where would they have the time to concern themselves with us?" Auguste laughed loudly. "It's just that I didn't expect the high and mighty Saintess of the Pope would actually come here all alone—oh, and bringing you along."

"But I am curious, why would you, an Easterner, come here?" Auguste looked at Chen Yu with a sidelong glance. "You are an Easterner; what happens here has nothing to do with you, right?"

"Originally it didn't, but there is a girl you turned into a Blood Clan member, and I came here to save her," Chen Yu said with a smile.

"Who is she? Perhaps I don't remember her, but I still want to know her name. To be able to make you risk your life to come here alone, she must be an extraordinary girl," Auguste said, looking at Chen Yu in confusion.

"Her name is Aili. You should remember this name, because she is indeed somewhat different," Chen Yu said.

"Aili? I might not remember others, but I do remember her." Auguste nodded slightly. "She is indeed different; she is not like other girls."