Recently, an invisible gloom seemed to have settled over Ningqu City, the air thick with unease.
After nightfall, the streets of this metropolis, once renowned for its vibrant nightlife, were noticeably sparser. Once brightly lit and bustling commercial districts now carried a hint of desolation. Neon signs still flashed, but they illuminated hurrying passersby, their faces etched with wariness. A suppressed panic, like a silent tide, crept through the city.
The reason was undeniable—within just a few weeks, Ningqu City had witnessed a series of vicious vampire attacks on humans. Victims were found severely anemic, bearing clear bite marks on their necks or wrists. These incidents were sensationalized by the media, splashed with lurid headlines and graphic photos, instantly igniting public fear and outrage.
The online sphere erupted into chaos. Social media, news comment sections, forum posts… everywhere was filled with vitriol directed at the vampire community. Extreme rhetoric ran rampant: "Non-humans, their hearts are inherently different!" "The Peace Covenant is a joke!" "Vampires are ticking time bombs!" "Drive them out!"... Panic and prejudice spread like wildfire, tearing a massive gash in the fragile coexistence painstakingly maintained over years.
Inside Sunrise Bubble Tea, Dawn Xiang sat hunched over a computer in the corner, his fingers unconsciously scrolling the mouse wheel. The screen was flooded with negative news and inflammatory comments. His amber eyes brimmed with sadness and a trace of barely concealed hurt. His small nose tip was slightly reddened, his lips pressed tightly together, like a small animal misunderstood by the whole world.
Mia Yao approached, carrying a freshly made bubble tea. She instantly spotted Dawn's near-tearful expression and the glaring headlines on his screen. She sighed softly, placing the drink before him, her voice tinged with helplessness and concern. "Dawn, not this again. What do these news stories have to do with you? You don't represent other vampires." She pulled up a chair and sat down, looking at him earnestly. "Right is right, wrong is wrong. The crimes committed by those evil vampires shouldn't weigh on your conscience. This has nothing to do with you. Stop shouldering burdens that aren't yours, okay?"
Dawn lifted his head, his damp eyes meeting Mia's, then instinctively shifting towards Kevin Kong, who was wiping down the counter. Kevin, though a man of few words, paused his work and gave Dawn a firm nod, his eyes conveying silent support.
Seeing the understanding from his two colleagues, Dawn's taut nerves relaxed slightly. He sniffled, forcing a somewhat weak smile. "Mm... I know. Thank you both."
However, his worries didn't dissipate. He clenched his fists, seeming to reach a decision. "Then... how about we all close up early? You can get home sooner, safer." He paused, his voice soft but carrying an undercurrent of resolve. "Or... I could walk you home? I might not be very strong, but... if there's real danger, I can at least try to block it!"
Mia was both amused and exasperated by this "heroic" offer. She quickly waved her hands. "Oh, come on, little boss! Really, no need! We'll be extra careful ourselves, don't worry!" Kevin also nodded in agreement.
"Then... then we'll definitely close early!" Dawn insisted, his tone brooking no argument, filled with genuine concern. This time, Mia didn't object. She understood this was Dawn's way of expressing his worry and protective instinct for them.
Thus, Sunrise Bubble Tea's operating hours quietly adjusted, closing an hour and a half earlier than before. Dawn insisted that Mia and Kevin begin their journey home while daylight lingered and foot traffic was relatively higher, minimizing their exposure to potential danger during the night.
However, the situation unfolded far more severely and strangely than anyone anticipated.
Just as people began to believe the attacks targeted only humans, explosive news once again swept through Ningqu City—a vampire had been attacked, and fatally so!
This news was like a boulder hurled into a calm lake, stirring unprecedented panic and confusion! Vampires were renowned for their powerful regenerative abilities and extended lifespans. Ordinary physical injuries were often mere flesh wounds needing time to heal. Even severe wounds, unless they instantly destroyed the core or involved sunlight exposure, could usually be slowly recovered from. Yet, the vampire victim in the news report was confirmed completely dead, devoid of all vital signs!
This utterly defied everyone's understanding! In modern society, thanks to advances in technology and medicine, the average human lifespan had significantly increased. Living to two or three hundred years was no longer rare, with records even showing humans surpassing five hundred years. Those bound by powerful vampires through blood covenants had lifespans even harder to quantify. As for vampires themselves, their lifespans were astonishingly long, with the oldest known vampire rumored to be over ten thousand years old, and even older beings possibly hidden in the mists of history.
What did it mean to kill a vampire? It meant the assailant either possessed immense power capable of instantly obliterating a vampire's core, or wielded some lethal means to completely suppress their regenerative abilities! Either possibility pointed to one chilling conclusion—the perpetrator was likely a vampire of extremely high power level! Possibly even one of those ancient entities hidden in the shadows, unknown to most!
But this raised new questions: High-level vampires typically possessed wealth, status, and power beyond ordinary comprehension. They superficially enjoyed the "tribute" of countless humans or lesser vampires, disdaining the need to personally engage in such barbaric and inefficient street-level hunting. This behavior was not only dangerous but also... profoundly undignified. What motive could drive such a powerful being to willingly risk exposure and unleash a reign of terror upon Ningqu City?
Such a major series of vicious crimes naturally alarmed the agency specializing in supernatural being offenses—Division D (D行动处). Renowned for its formidable strength and efficient case resolution rate, its leader was a figure of legendary, inscrutable power. Yet, this time, even Division D found its investigation stalled. Clues were scarce, the killer elusive as a ghost moving through the darkness. Weeks passed with no breakthrough in the case.
Panic in Ningqu City consequently reached its peak. After nightfall, the streets were nearly deserted. Humans feared becoming vampire prey, while lesser vampires dreaded the terrifying hunter lurking in the shadows, capable of easily erasing even their own kind. The entire city was enveloped in a tense and fearful atmosphere where everyone felt endangered.
After the news of the vampire fatality broke, the atmosphere of concern within Sunrise Bubble Tea subtly shifted direction.
This time, it was Mia Yao and Kevin Kong who worried for their boss, Dawn Xiang.
In their eyes, Dawn was far too "weak." This "weakness" wasn't solely about strength—though they'd never seen him display any notable vampire abilities—it was more about his character. After working together for so long, they had fully grasped their young boss's temperament: kind-hearted to the point of meekness, his mind as simple as a blank sheet of paper. When customers made unreasonable demands, he would only blush and flounder, struggling to articulate a refusal; encountering trouble, his first instinct was often to hide or apologize. Such a personality, whether vampire or human, made him an easy target for bullying.
They now fully understood why Dawn's family—Marcus Xiang, Eleanor Zhuang, and others—were so uneasy about him living independently after coming of age, going so far as to pave the way for him, open the shop, and select the staff. Ultimately, it was because they couldn't let go of this child, sheltered too well, his character overly pliant.
Mia watched Dawn staring blankly out the window, his brow furrowed, and sighed again. She walked over to him, softening her voice as she advised, "Dawn, maybe... you should call home? Ask them to send someone to stay with you for a while? At least... until this storm blows over?" She paused, adding, "I still believe in Division D. They've cracked quite a few cases over the years, quite efficiently. Look at the news and the Judicial Department reports; the proportion of vampire attacks on humans is actually quite low, far lower than the crime rate among humans themselves."
Dawn turned to her, seeing the genuine concern in her eyes, warmth spreading through him. He knew Mia meant well. He wrestled with the decision for a long time, his fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of his shirt. On one hand, he didn't want his family back in Suling to worry, didn't want them to think he was still the child needing constant protection. On the other hand, a small spark of stubbornness and unwillingness stirred deep within him—he was an adult vampire now; he wanted to prove he could face the storm alone.
Finally, he took a deep breath, offering Mia a reassuring smile and gently shaking his head. "It's okay, Mia. Thank you. I... I can take care of myself. Besides, I have you guys here." He ultimately didn't pick up the phone to seek shelter from his distant family. He chose to face this clouded city and the unknown dangers lurking in the dark night alone.