"Yu Jia, we leave for Athens tomorrow." Adam turned to her.
Athens, the capital of Greece, had a grand library—the Athena Library.
It held countless tomes, including rare texts on vampire secret arts.
After North Africa, countless vampires were searching for him.
He couldn't risk revealing his identity.
Blending in with other vampires? Impossible.
The only way to learn the secret arts was self-study, through the books.
Adam was confident. Yu Jia was not.
"Why go? To die?" Yu Jia's brow twitched.
"That place is a giant's stronghold—the hub for humans across Africa, Europe, even Western Asia. Two vampire kings reside there. War captives pile up. It's a vampire paradise."
"You and I… or three Rogue Vampires with no status—going there is suicide."
"We have to go," Adam said firmly.
"Don't you have ways to hide your identity? We'll move in as ordinary humans, quietly. If we succeed, I promise you won't have to keep hiding like this anymore."
Yu Jia met Adam's gaze.
Now he understood—this wasn't a joke.
The rewards were tempting. The risk, enormous.
He hesitated, saying nothing.
"Doctor, are you there? Could you come out for a moment?"
A voice called from outside. Probably a patient needing attention.
"I'm here. Give me a moment."
Yu Jia stood, brushing off dust, and looked at Adam.
"I don't know your motives, but you're strong—not an ordinary Rogue Vampire. You seem reliable. I can come with you… but I need time. I can't leave the wounded upstairs."
He pointed to the door behind him.
"You'll have to figure out how to transport the items inside. If we can't solve the vampire issue, disguises are useless. I used to hire ships, but Corsican waters are crawling with pirates. No ship will take our cargo. Going ourselves? Unless you can sail…"
He paused, then continued.
"I'm not rich. Almost all my money is tied up in research. My doctor income is decent, but it's nothing compared to the endless cost of experiments. Earlier funding came from my human-life savings—they're gone. If a cultivation tank breaks, I can't replace it."
"And about your 'sunscreen'—my stock is limited. I can remake it, but one ingredient costs gold. I shelved this research for over thirty years because of the expense."
"Gold…?"
"Yes." Yu Jia nodded, then turned to leave.
"These are problems I can't solve. They're on you."
"Fine! I'll give you a few days. In that time, I'll handle everything."
Adam watched him go, then lowered his head to drink his own blood.
As he sipped, he ran his hand over an old, faded map.
Eastern lands, Greek territories, Eden's enclaves… he traced each region with a fingertip.
"Eden, masters of advanced tech. Greece, giants and pseudo-gods intervening directly. The Eastern Empire, powered by Pangu's might."
Better to learn the secret arts first.
Then he could speak in this world.
"What are you thinking?"
A clear voice rang out.
Adam turned. Silver Bell stood in Yu Jia's doorway, hair falling across her forehead. She looked exhausted, one hand on the wall for support.
"Nothing. Just memories," Adam said.
He reached for a cup to pour her blood. But there were only two cups.
"No need."
Silver Bell crouched and took a sip from the cup on the floor. She smiled faintly.
"You forgot? I'm your First Lady."
"Uh…" Adam froze, awkward.
Silver Bell was the First Lady.
And Yilin? One had almost been shot for him. The other had slept two thousand years.
Heart-wise, no difference.
Yilin was faith. Silver Bell was the beauty beside him.
He didn't want to think about it.
He changed the topic.
"What will you do next?"
"Follow you, of course. What will you do?" Silver Bell smiled, sipping slowly.
Her plan was simple: stay with Adam, save her father.
She trusted him.
Adam had risked his life for her before—he wouldn't abandon her father now.
"Then we go to Athens, to the Athena Library. I'll find books on vampire secret arts."
"Hm." Silver Bell blinked, silent, watching him.
Adam added, "Once we master the arts, we'll find a way to rescue your father—and Yilin."
He wanted her to feel safe.
To him, Silver Bell was a lonely girl starved for love.
He had felt it before, after she risked everything on the warship, the feeling deepened.
Her attitude was clear: she left everything to him.
But he had to reassure her. She was fragile, like a crystal doll.
"Who's Yilin?" she tilted her head.
"My wife."
"Your… wife?" She blinked. "Isn't your wife Eve?"
She had always thought Adam's wife was Eve—the myths said so.
Eve was the queen of the First City.
From that, she assumed Eve had fallen out with Adam, so her being the new First Lady made sense.
But now Adam said Yilin was his wife. Her heart sank.
Adam's heart skipped. He clenched his teeth. He had to tell the truth.
He couldn't abandon Yilin—wouldn't abandon her.
"Eve was never really connected to me. Yilin is my wife—the angel projected from the ship. She's in the hands of people in the First City. We have a daughter, Tina. She's an elf."
Silver Bell's eyes darkened.
She looked down, silent.
An angel? Men always loved angels.
Books were full of confessions: 'You're my angel.'
Competing with an angel for a husband? She was just a vampire.
She touched her black hair. Hers was black, Yilin's gold.
Her wings were partial; Yilin's were full and beautiful.
God, why her?
Five hundred years waiting… only to compete with an angel?
They even had a daughter.
She was a vampire—she couldn't bear children.
Tears welled.
"Don't, don't! Stop crying!" Adam froze.
Hearing that, Silver Bell sobbed harder.
She turned and hugged his waist, burying her face in his chest.
At home, she would cry to her father.
Now he was gone. She instinctively sought a chest to lean on.
There was only Adam.
Damn it. He had to be careful, now reminded of everything.
Adam regretted revealing the truth.
He stood there, arms open, letting her cry into his chest.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps outside.
"Adam, um…" Seeing them, Yu Jia quickly turned away.
Raised in the First City, he was shy about such scenes.
"What is it?" Adam asked.
"Nothing. Just that the sun's up. My house windows are covered in black cloth. Some sunlight gets through, but it should be fine. I told my assistant you're distant relatives, so no problem if she sees you."
Yu Jia left.
Adam sighed and looked down at Silver Bell.
She wiped her tears, eyes watery.
"Who's he?"
"Yu Jia. He's a vampire. This is his home."
Women sometimes notice odd things first.
She woke, yet her first question was not location—but Adam.
Like Yilin, women live for love.
Why wasn't Eve like this?
"His home? He won't turn us in?" She wiped her eyes frantically.
"He's more afraid of us turning him in," Adam said, glancing outside.
"He's an illegitimate vampire too."
Yu Jia was timid, cowardly, but kind.
In this world, how many lived like him?
Hidden, lonely, constantly avoiding the light?
In the world of myths, there was no logic.