Chapter 89: Convergence and Departure

The heavy rain that had fallen for two days finally stopped.

London's streets, washed by rain, gleamed with a damp sheen, and the usual coal-smoke smell in the air had been greatly diluted.

The overcast sky rarely revealed a streak of deep blue, and even a faint rainbow bridge arched across the sky above the Thames River.

But this fresh scene was destined not to last long.

Factory smokestacks had begun belching rolling black smoke, and the pungent smell of burning coal was seeping back into the air.

Before long, London's smog would roll back in, enveloping the city once more in a greyish-yellow haze.

Still, at least for now it's not bad.

Yu Lin sat on the sofa on the first floor of Feiluo's Exorcism Office, holding a newspaper and reading it.

His gaze fell on a certain spot.

The report described how commoners of the Qing dynasty smashed a church, triggering an uprising.

Because over these years, aside from a tiny few who were genuine missionaries, the vast majority of those sent to the Qing were merely wearing religion as a cover, committing various aggressive acts and harming the local populace, even forcing conversion.

Thus the Qing populace deeply hated and resented all foreign religions, sparking a severe anti-religious movement.

Yu Lin remarked on this, saying that Judas would still betray Jesus for silver coins; it's normal for believers to be a mixed bag—he helps the good ones, and when encountering the wicked...

... then he can only clean up the Lord's house for Jesus.

Suddenly.

The office door was opened.

Yu Lin lowered his newspaper and looked up; a very handsome, sturdy man walked in.

After glancing around, the man took off his hat and came up to Yu Lin:

"Hello, I am Yabolahan·Fan·Haisen."

"I'm looking for Firo de Leon; may I ask if he's here?"

Van Helsing has arrived.

Yu Lin rose with a smile: "He's here, upstairs. Come on, I'll take you there."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

The two headed toward the second floor.

Feiluo was sitting in his office, assembling some small concealed weapons.

Seeing Van Helsing arrive, he stopped what he was doing, got up, walked over, and smiled:

"Abraham, my old partner, you've finally come!"

After Van Helsing hugged him, he helplessly said: "I should have arrived yesterday, but who knew it would rain?"

"I ended up staying overnight at an inn outside."

"Let's not talk about that; how's the situation now?"

Feiluo explained: "Traces of vampires have appeared in Anna Village to the west; three people died—two were hunters, one a woodcutter."

"They didn't die at the same time but were spaced two days apart; after a preliminary investigation I confirmed there are at least two vampires."

"That's why I sent you the telegram."

"Hmm, I understand." Van Helsing nodded, then turned his gaze to Yu Lin:

"So this gentleman is your newly hired assistant?"

"Where did that LuEn guy go?"

Feiluo shrugged, helplessly:

"He fell for a girl, went to court her, and now he's followed her to France."

"His name is Yu Lin; he not only has the Lord's blessing, but he is also a Qi Refiner from the East—you know, like that bishop and knight, possessing incredible abilities as a Qi Refiner!"

"A Qi Refiner?" Van Helsing extended his hand to Yu Lin:

"Hello."

This time it was a formal greeting.

Yu Lin shook his hand: "Hello."

After they released their grip, Van Helsing again asked Feiluo:

"Alright, then when do we set out?"

"Don't you need to prepare?"

"No need; I'm always ready."

"Good, you're reliable! Then let's set out now."

Feiluo patted his shoulder, then turned, tidied up some things on the table, slung on a backpack, and headed downstairs.

Not long after.

A carriage drove out of London, heading toward Anna Village.

Anna Village

This small village was originally a peaceful agricultural community.

The villagers made their living from farming and herding, occasionally going into the woods to hunt; though not wealthy, their lives were stable.

But since last month, everything has changed.

First, the corpse of the old hunter John was found at the forest's edge—his body as pale as paper, with two tiny puncture wounds on his neck, his blood almost completely drained.

Next was the woodcutter Thomas, found dead in his own home, likewise drained of blood; before death he seemed to have experienced great terror, his face twisted.

Finally, the enthusiastic young hunter Venn, who intended to confront the vampires head‑on, also lost his life.

Panic spread quickly.

The villagers began to shut their doors and windows tightly; after sunset, no one dared to go outside.

The church priest prayed day and night, yet could not dispel the shadow hanging over the village.

The village chief then went to London overnight, seeking help from the church and the Exorcism Office.

Now.

A carriage was traveling along the muddy road to Anna's village.

The wheels rolled over the wet, soft mud, splashing up murky water.

The horses' hooves sank deep into the mire, and the coachman had to whip them from time to time to urge them on.

Inside the carriage, Van Helsing wiped his silver crossbow, while Feiluo inspected the holy water bottle and silver dagger he carried.

Yu Lin leaned by the window, his gaze sweeping over the scenery—the fields washed by rain, the faint outline of a forest in the distance, and farther off, the village bathed in afternoon sunlight.

Until they arrived at the village gate.

The three got off the carriage; Feiluo told the coachman to wait, then led Yu Lin and Van Helsing into the village.

But before they even entered the village, Van Helsing suddenly spoke:

"I smell it—the scent of a vampire!"

"But there's only one."

"Hmm?" Feiluo frowned and whispered:

"It seems one has already mixed into the village?"

Van Helsing shook his head: "No, I'm more inclined to think someone in the village has turned into a vampire."

"Because this aura is very faint, like it was just recently born."

"Let's go take a look."

"\"Abraham, you're truly reliable. \" Feiluo praised him, then continued forward.

But just as they stepped into the entrance.

Whoosh!

A tearing-through-the-air sound came.

An arrow shot straight at Feiluo's head; if it hit, it would be fatal!

But it stopped motionless when it was only a fist's distance from his head.

Feiluo watched Yu Lin toss the arrow casually to the ground, and smiled: "Yu Lin, thank..........."

He hadn't finished speaking.

A series of whooshing sounds came.

He looked up.

Good heavens, a rain of arrows!

Yu Lin raised his hand, manipulated his Qi, and with a mere sweep, deflected the whole barrage of arrows, as if it were nothing.

Seeing this, Feiluo and Van Helsing were stunned, silently thinking:

"This is an Eastern Qi practitioner?!"

The author mistakenly wrote Jonathan the lawyer's salary as monthly instead of yearly, already corrected; as for the prices in Britain at that time,

roughly one pound equals about 2,800 yuan today, since a big shot calculated that a million pounds is about three billion yuan; the Dingyuan warship cost 370,000 pounds, which is like carrying about three Dingyuan warships in one's pocket.........

You can look at this as a reference for the mid-19th century.