Yun Wu stared at the vampire with disbelief.
The cold gaze.The faint, unreadable smile.That unnaturally calm demeanor—
Everything about him felt wrong. Disturbing.
To Yun Wu, this creature was not merely dangerous.He was… broken.
Even Xiang Shuai, who usually relied on logic and reason, believed the vampire had long since lost his sanity. Living alone in darkness for too long had clearly eroded whatever rationality he once possessed.
No one spoke after that.
The night ended in silence, leaving behind far too many unanswered questions hanging in the air.
In another room—
Xue Yunxue had already fallen into a deep sleep after bathing.
Her hair was still slightly damp, her breathing steady, her face peaceful—as if she were completely unaware of the invisible storm slowly approaching her in her dreams.
Within her dream, her consciousness was flung far away…
Back to her previous life.
She sat in a small, familiar park.
The late afternoon air was warm. The sun tilted westward, casting golden light over old benches and patches of wild grass. Around her, several stray dogs and kittens gathered, tails gently swaying, eyes sparkling with hope.
As always, Xue Yunxue fed them.
Her movements were gentle as she stroked their rough yet warm fur. A faint smile curved her lips—the same smile that always appeared whenever she came here.
She wanted to take them home.
But dormitory rules strictly forbade keeping pets. So all she could do was come twice a day—morning and evening—bringing food, water, and what little affection she could offer.
In her original world, Xue Yunxue was twenty-one years old.
But now, in Hu Shui's body, she was once again eighteen.
The memory felt vivid…far too vivid to be just a dream.
As she stroked a small kitten—
The sky suddenly changed.
A blinding light tore through the clouds, followed by a thunderous boom that shook the air. Xue Yunxue looked up, her heart pounding violently.
A massive flash appeared in the heavens.
Burning boulders fell like a meteor shower, ripping through the sky with terrifying trails of fire. The ground shook violently as explosions echoed, shattering the peaceful afternoon into chaos.
Amid the flashes, she saw something even more horrifying—
Rows of humans in the sky.
They rode enormous vehicles resembling warships, floating arrogantly above her planet. From those ships, beams of light fired mercilessly, raining destruction upon the surface below.
Everything happened too fast.
Screams.Explosions.Fire.
Xue Yunxue panicked.
She scooped up the frightened dogs and kittens, running desperately for shelter. Their small bodies trembled in her arms, breaths uneven, eyes filled with innocent terror.
But no matter where she ran, destruction followed.
There was nowhere to hide.
In the end, she stopped.
Guided by an instinct she didn't even understand, Xue Yunxue hugged the animals tightly, lowered her body, and shielded them with her back—
As if her fragile body could serve as a shield.
A blinding light descended from the sky—
And in the brief second before everything vanished—
She thought only one thing.
At least… I won't die alone.At least… I can die with these little lives.
The light struck.
And the world shattered.
Xue Yunxue jolted awake, her body drenched in cold sweat.
Her breathing was ragged, her heart still racing as if the dream had yet to release its grip. The memory of the collapsing sky and annihilating light remained painfully clear—too real to be dismissed as a mere nightmare.
It was a scene from her previous life.
She sat up slowly, pressing a hand to her chest and taking deep breaths to calm herself.
Hopefully… nothing like that ever happens in this world.
Her gaze fell on the chakra computer floating calmly beside her bed. The numbers glowed softly.
08:00 AM.
And as if she had only just noticed her own body—
Grrrk…
Her stomach growled loudly, protesting with unmistakable anger.
Xue Yunxue let out a small sigh. She had barely eaten anything proper since yesterday.
She got up, changed her clothes, washed her face, and brushed her teeth. The cold water chased away the lingering remnants of her nightmare. Then she stepped out of her room, walking down the quiet bunker corridor toward the kitchen.
The bunker still felt unfamiliar.
White lights glowed steadily. Cold metal walls reflected her figure faintly. Xue Yunxue opened the refrigerator and began inspecting its contents, searching for anything to fill her empty stomach.
She didn't notice—
A pair of dark red eyes was watching her from the living room connected directly to the kitchen.
"Are you hungry?"
The low, cold voice cut through the silence like a blade.
Xue Yunxue flinched violently. She spun around on instinct, nearly slamming the fridge door shut. She hadn't expected Lu Xiao to be awake—let alone standing there like a shadow.
"I—I—" she stammered nervously."I'm not stealing! I'm just… thirsty. Yes, thirsty. I wanted something cold to drink."
But at that exact moment—
Grrrk…
Her stomach growled again. Louder. Clearer.
Silence fell.
Xue Yunxue's face flushed bright red, all the way to the tips of her ears. She lowered her head in embarrassment, wishing the floor would swallow her whole.
Across from her, Lu Xiao's eyes flickered faintly—clear, unreadable. It was impossible to tell whether he was holding back laughter or merely observing her.
"There's nothing ready to eat in there," Lu Xiao said at last, his voice flat."Only frozen fish and shrimp. Unless you don't mind cooking them yourself."
Xue Yunxue looked up hesitantly.
"May I… use your kitchen?" she asked carefully, as if afraid of offending him.
Lu Xiao studied her briefly, then turned slightly away, his posture relaxed—as if it were no great request.
"You can do whatever you want here," he said lightly.
That answer made Xue Yunxue pause.
This vampire… is surprisingly generous.
Without hesitation, she reopened the fridge and examined its contents carefully. The fish and shrimp looked freshly frozen—firm flesh, vibrant color, nothing like ingredients stored for too long. What surprised her even more was the array of seasonings neatly stocked on the shelves: dried herbs, sauces, oils, even rare ingredients.
So complete…
Does this vampire… cook?
The thought crossed her mind, making the corner of her lips lift slightly.
Her hands moved swiftly. The knife sliced rhythmically. The pan heated. Spices were stir-fried, releasing a fragrant aroma that soon filled the kitchen. Soft sizzling sounds and the warm scent of food spread through the bunker, slipping past closed doors.
Not long after, two doors opened almost simultaneously.
Yun Wu appeared first, hair slightly messy, eyes half-lidded—yet they sharpened instantly upon catching the scent of food. Behind him, Xiang Shuai emerged sluggishly, his handsome face utterly devoid of princely dignity.
Half his cheek bore a clear pillow mark. His hair was a mess. His clothes looked thrown on without care.
"What… smells so good…?" he muttered, yawning deeply.
Xue Yunxue glanced at him and frowned slightly.
Didn't he just wake up after sleeping for five whole days?And now he could sleep again like nothing happened?
Truly… a god of laziness.
She shook her head lightly and returned her focus to cooking, while the two men stood frozen at the kitchen entrance—dragged from sleep by an aroma too tempting to ignore.
Half an hour later, the simple dining table in the bunker was filled with dishes.
Grilled fish with perfectly browned skin.Sweet-and-sour shrimp glazed in thick sauce.Steaming fish soup.Crispy fried squid that made stomachs revolt on sight alone.
The sight felt almost luxurious.
In this world, most beast men were only familiar with bland roasted meat or hard biscuits—like the dry rations Yun Wu often carried. Food was merely sustenance, not pleasure.
Xue Yunxue stared at the dishes for a moment, her chest tightening slightly.
She truly missed warm abalone porridge…and a cup of iced milk tea from her previous life.
But hunger left her no choice.
With a faint smile, she picked up her chopsticks and began eating.
Warm. Savory. Real.
Enough to make her feel… alive.
As she chewed slowly, her thoughts drifted.
If I become strong enough…could I grow rice or wheat in this world?
The image of green fields swaying gently in the wind made her eyes shine briefly.
Suddenly, she remembered something.
"What about those girls?" Xue Yunxue asked, her tone turning serious."Did they… make it out safely?"
The atmosphere at the table softened slightly.
"Yes," Yun Wu replied after taking a sip of his drink."I contacted the city authorities. They confirmed the girls arrived safely."
Xue Yunxue let out a long breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
Thank goodness.
The tension she'd carried since last night finally eased. She had been afraid—not every escape ended well in this world.
"This bunker is located in a mutant danger zone," Yun Wu continued, crossing his arms."I think we should return to the city as soon as possible."
"So do I," Xiang Shuai added casually, leaning back in his chair."I have matters to take care of."
Yun Wu shot him a sharp glance."Wait. I still haven't settled accounts with you."
His voice turned cold—clearly remembering his destroyed home.
Xiang Shuai chuckled lightly."That broken old house? I could buy you a luxury villa in the city."
That hit right where it hurt.
This snake was truly skilled at crushing others' pride—especially wolves from the slums.
Yun Wu's temple throbbed. His wolf ears flushed red, fury he couldn't hide.
"Do you want me to hit you?" he growled.
Xiang Shuai grinned, eyes gleaming mischievously."I didn't mean to make you angry. But if you want to fight—"He shrugged casually."I'll gladly entertain you."
The air around the table tensed again—
Sparks ready to ignite into combat at any moment.
Xue Yunxue looked at the two of them, her head aching.
Do these two ever get along?
"Can't you just sit and eat quietly?"
Lu Xiao's voice was low and heavy, carrying a subtle pressure impossible to ignore. Accustomed to solitude, the quarrel between two beast men clearly disturbed his peace.
Yun Wu and Xiang Shuai exchanged brief glances before sitting back down. Though they appeared more relaxed, their beast instincts remained alert—muscles subtly tense, gazes sharp, ready to react at any time.
A thin silence settled over the table.
"By the way, Lu Xiao," Yun Wu spoke again, his tone controlled."I heard from some bandits I captured… someone is collecting large numbers of virgin girls to deliver to the vampire clan."
His sharp gaze locked onto Lu Xiao.
"Do you know anything about this?"
Lu Xiao fell silent.
Time seemed to slow. The light reflected in his dark red eyes—cold and deep, like a sea of secrets.
"Yes," he finally answered.
One word. Flat. No explanation.
Xue Yunxue swallowed softly.
She had once read fragments of old information—nearly buried rumors. Lu Xiao, a half-vampire cast aside by his own kind. He also had a sister, Lu Ning—a woman obsessed with becoming a pure vampire, willing to walk any path for her ambition.
The vampire clan resided far across the world—at the border between the clean lands and territories ruled by darkness. No one truly knew where they stood: allies, enemies, or something beyond both.
What was certain was this—
They were always isolated.
Shut away from the outside world.Their existence tightly sealed.
Information about them was extremely scarce.
The only thing Xue Yunxue knew for sure—
Lu Xiao's mother came from the merfolk clan.
Xue Yunxue looked at Lu Xiao again, this time not with caution, but with pity she couldn't hide.
Rejected and unwanted, Lu Xiao had chosen solitude as his shield. He knew the outside world would fear him simply because vampire blood ran through his veins.
Yet among his own kind, he was still cast aside—
For not being pure enough.
Trapped between two worlds.Accepted by none.
And beneath his cold aura and detached demeanor, Xue Yunxue faintly sensed something far more fragile—
A loneliness that had settled far too deep.
Lu Xiao seemed to feel her gaze.
For a moment, his chest tightened.
There was something in her eyes—not fear, not wariness, but gentle, sincere pity. That feeling pierced deeper than hatred or anger ever could. A memory long buried stirred within him… something that should never have resurfaced.
"Don't," Lu Xiao said suddenly. His voice was low, almost restrained."Please… don't look at me like that."
Xue Yunxue startled.
Only then did she realize she had been staring too long. Her face instantly heated, embarrassment rushing to her ears. She lowered her gaze, fingers unconsciously gripping the hem of her clothes.
Lu Xiao exhaled slowly.
The air around him trembled faintly, as if echoing emotions he was struggling to suppress. After several heavy seconds of silence, he spoke again—his tone cold and firm, as if nothing had happened.
"You two may return to the city," he said, looking at Yun Wu and Xiang Shuai in turn."But Xue Yunxue must stay here… with me."
The words fell like a hammer.
The air tightened instantly.
Yun Wu and Xiang Shuai reacted at once, beast instincts flaring. Meanwhile, Xue Yunxue froze—her heart pounding violently, unsure whether she had just heard an order…
Or a declaration that allowed no refusal.