Lu Xiao looked at the two men in turn.His gaze was cold and deep, as if weighing their lives one by one.
"Among all of Xue Yunxue's husbands," he said slowly, his voice calm yet unwavering,"only I am capable of protecting her—and guaranteeing her survival."
There was no arrogance in his tone.It was a statement of fact.
Yun Wu snorted softly, his fangs faintly visible behind his tightly closed lips."And that is precisely why you're the most dangerous one among us."
"Exactly," Xiang Shuai replied without hesitation. His expression was serious—though the reason behind his words was anything but."If you keep her with you, then no one will cook for me anymore."
Xue Yunxue nearly choked on her own breath.This selfish snake… he really thinks of her as his personal chef?!
Lu Xiao showed no reaction to Xiang Shuai's comment. His gaze never left Yun Wu.
"You think I'm dangerous to her?" he asked flatly."Not once has the thought of harming her crossed my mind."
Yun Wu let out a short chuckle, low and meaningful."Didn't you used to be obsessed with drinking her blood?"
Drink her blood?
Xue Yunxue froze.She had no memory of anything like that.
Or…was Yun Wu talking about Hu Shui?
Lu Xiao's eyes dimmed slightly, as if a shadow from the past had passed through them.
"Back then," he said softly, his voice icy cold,"and now are two completely different things."
He paused before continuing, his tone calm—far too calm for a vampire.
"I've already found what I was looking for… inside her."
What did he mean?
The question spun endlessly in Xue Yunxue's mind, never finding an answer.Did Lu Xiao really know that there was another soul inside this body?
But… how was that possible?
She had only awakened less than a month ago.In this life or her previous one, she had no memory whatsoever of ever knowing someone named Lu Xiao.
Yet the way he looked at her—it was far too intense to be a coincidence.
Xue Yunxue slowly clenched her fingers. Lu Xiao clearly carried far too many secrets, and strangely enough… every single one of them seemed to revolve around her.
Being near him felt far more difficult than being with Yun Wu or Xiang Shuai.
At the very least, those two beast men had clear goals—even if they were sometimes infuriating.
Except for…that last incident.
Xue Yunxue's gaze dimmed slightly as she recalled how Yun Wu had used her as bait to capture the band of kidnappers.
If only he had been honest from the beginning…maybe she wouldn't have been angry.Maybe she would have even volunteered to help.
After all, saving those girls mattered far more.
Damn it—that bastard even made a huge profit from the whole thing.
When they returned to the city,she would demand her share.
With interest.
"Xue Yunxue… do you want to stay with me?"
Lu Xiao's voice was low, almost a whisper. His dark-red eyes held an indescribably deep longing, as though he had waited countless ages just for that answer."Don't you miss me?"
Xue Yunxue's heart pounded violently.
This vampire is completely insane!She didn't know him at all—not in this life, nor the previous one. Yet the way he looked at her made it feel as if they were bound by something far older than memory itself.
"Do you know him, Yunxue?" Xiang Shuai finally asked, his voice laced with curiosity and wariness.
He truly couldn't understand it.This solitary vampire—who always kept his distance from the world—why was he so obsessed with Xue Yunxue?
Especially since when she was still Hu Shui, Lu Xiao had never even spared her a glance. Not only was he indifferent—he had once even intended to harm her.
And now…that gaze had turned into a longing so intense it was almost painful to witness.
Xue Yunxue swallowed.
"No," she answered softly. "I only met him yesterday."
Those words fell like a silent blade.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Lu Xiao's face—only for an instant, but it was clear to anyone watching. The light in his dark-red eyes dimmed, like a flame long kept alive now buried beneath ash.
Silence filled the room.
Then Lu Xiao smiled.
It was a beautiful, dignified smile…yet it never truly reached his eyes.
"Very well," he said calmly, his voice gentle yet carrying something difficult to define."If little Xue'er doesn't remember me, then I'll help you… remember again."
The tone made Xue Yunxue's skin crawl.
It wasn't a threat—but it wasn't a comforting promise either.
"You're not allowed to keep her here," Yun Wu cut in sharply, his eyes narrowing with vigilance.
Lu Xiao turned his head, his fingers lightly tapping the table."I won't keep her," he replied gracefully, as if it were no trouble at all."If she wants to leave, then she may leave."
Xue Yunxue finally let out a breath of relief. She picked up the glass in front of her and drank several mouthfuls of water, trying to soothe her dry throat. The atmosphere in the room was still awkward—heavy silence, as if even the air was holding its breath.
Then that voice sounded again.
"I'll go wherever little Xue'er goes," Lu Xiao said calmly.
—
Puh—!
Xue Yunxue instantly choked. The water she had just drunk nearly sprayed out as she coughed violently, her chest rising and falling erratically. She hurriedly covered her mouth, her face flushing red, eyes slightly watery.
"W-what?" she panicked inwardly.
She never expected the vampire to say something like that—with the same tone one would use to comment on the weather.
Follow her? Everywhere?
This vampire… really sticks like chewing gum, she thought irritably.
—
Lu Xiao truly kept his word.
Wherever Xue Yunxue went, the vampire was always at her side—quiet, calm, yet his presence unmistakable, like a shadow that never left its owner. The distance between them was never more than a few steps—close enough to make her feel constantly watched, yet polite enough that she couldn't simply drive him away.
Even when they were preparing to leave and Xue Yunxue was about to mount Yun Wu's anti-gravity bike, Lu Xiao stepped forward and said flatly,"I can carry you. We can fly."
Xue Yunxue stiffened instantly.
Fly?
She turned quickly, shaking her head almost reflexively."N-no need! I—I'm afraid of heights," she said hurriedly, nearly stuttering.
Yun Wu shot Lu Xiao a wary look and stepped between them."This bike is enough," he said curtly, clearly leaving no room for argument.
Lu Xiao didn't insist. He only looked at Xue Yunxue for a moment—his gaze unreadable—then stepped back, as if agreeing in his own way. Even so, Xue Yunxue knew one thing for certain:
The vampire had no intention of going anywhere.
—
The journey to Wulong City was relatively peaceful.
Lu Xiao stood beside the vehicle, his eyes hidden behind thin-framed black sunglasses. Despite the half-vampire blood flowing through his veins, he showed no sign of fearing sunlight. The morning sun fell gently over his black hair, reflecting a subtle sheen that made his presence impossible to ignore.
Vampires fearing sunlight was nothing more than a myth—a rumor passed down through stories. Vampires appeared more often at night not because they couldn't endure the light, but because darkness gave them freedom. The sun had never been their enemy—just something they rarely chose.
With his appearance indistinguishable from a human's, no one would ever guess his true identity.
His face looked as though it had been carved from the finest jade—sharp, symmetrical, almost too perfect to be natural. Pale skin contrasted against naturally crimson lips, while jet-black hair framed his features with cold elegance. There was an indescribable aura about him—a blend of soothing beauty and hidden danger.
Handsome. Calm. Mysterious.And always standing behind Xue Yunxue like a guardian.
—
When they arrived at the main city gate, the atmosphere was busier than usual. Security had been tightened, armed guards carefully checking the identities of every entrant. Long lines stretched outward, and tense expressions filled the air.
But when Yun Wu approached, everything changed.
Several guards recognized him. Some gave brief salutes, others nodded respectfully without a word. Not a single one demanded further inspection—not only out of fear and respect for Yun Wu, but also because the aura emanating from the three men was intimidating and dangerous.
The four of them passed through the gates of Wulong City without obstruction.
Xue Yunxue glanced at Yun Wu from the side, slightly surprised.She knew he was a former royal officer—dishonorably discharged—but after last night, his name had resurfaced once more. Over the past few months, the wolf-man had captured numerous robbers and bandits, cleansing the outskirts of the city from chaos.
In the eyes of Wulong's citizens, his official status might have been stripped away, but his role was undeniable.
Now, Yun Wu was no longer just a former officer.
He had become an honorary citizen of Wulong City.
—
As they stepped onto the city's main street, the atmosphere shifted instantly.
Footsteps halted. Conversations cut off. Nearly every gaze turned toward them, as if the world itself had slowed to make room for four figures too striking to ignore. Especially so—three men with equally lethal charm walking alongside a beautiful girl in their midst.
Whispers began to spread, first softly, then growing louder.
"Isn't that Yun Wu? He's so handsome…"
"I used to be scared of him, but secretly, I admired him."
"That man beside him—Xiang Shuai, right?"
"How can he be walking with Yun Wu?"
"Ahh… Xiang Shuai is too handsome. My heart almost stopped!"
Then attention shifted to the final figure—the man in black sunglasses, exuding a cold, mysterious aura.
"Who is that man…?"
"He looks incredibly handsome… and dangerous."
"I've never seen him before."
But the gazes filled with the most jealousy were directed at the only woman among them.
"Who is that girl?"
"I've never seen her in this city…"
"Doesn't she look like a goddess?"
"Why is she walking between them?"
"I'm so jealous… truly jealous."
The whispers sharpened into speculation.
"Aren't they all former partners of Princess Hu Shui?"
"Then who is this girl?"
"Their new partner?"
"Impossible…"
"How could one woman be with all of them?"
Envy, admiration, confusion, and jealousy blended together, following Xue Yunxue wherever she went. She could feel those stares clinging to her skin, making her shoulders tense unconsciously.
Meanwhile, the three men walked on as if completely unaffected—as though the world had always looked at them this way.
All of it reached Xue Yunxue's ears. Her brow twitched slightly.
They were far too eye-catching!
—
A young woman stepped forward from the crowd.
She was Bai Ling, the only daughter of Wulong City's leader—famous not only for her beauty, but also for her spiritual energy level of 50, something exceedingly rare for a woman her age. Every step she took was graceful and confident, followed by several beast husbands walking half a step behind her, like shadows that never strayed.
The entire city knew one thing very clearly:
Bai Ling was obsessed with Yun Wu.
She hoped that one day, he would become one of her beast husbands.
Naturally, her other beast husbands harbored deep dissatisfaction. Yet none of them dared act rashly. After all, Bai Ling was the city leader's only daughter—touching her was tantamount to challenging Wulong's highest authority.
"Brother Wu," Bai Ling greeted softly, her voice sweet yet laden with hidden intent. Her gaze swept shamelessly over Yun Wu."I heard you just returned after saving the young girls."
Xue Yunxue nearly snorted.
Saving them?Yun Wu had barely lifted a finger. Everything had been thanks to her—and Lu Xiao.
Her mind immediately started calculating. How much of the reward should she demand later?
Yun Wu didn't respond at all. He didn't even slow his steps. His expression was cold, as if Bai Ling were nothing more than a passing breeze.
In truth, Yun Wu despised that type of woman—spoiled, overly confident, and treating him not as a person, but as a trophy to be dragged into her bed.
He wasn't interested. Not in the slightest.
"Brother Wu," Bai Ling quickened her pace, her voice rising slightly, "The city leader would like to invite you to dinner. Of course… along with all your male friends here."
She deliberately ignored Xue Yunxue's existence, as though the girl were nothing but empty air.
Bai Ling's gaze flicked toward Xiang Shuai and Lu Xiao.
Three handsome men at once…If even one of them became her husband, her nights would surely be much more "lively."
She isn't even trying to hide it, Xue Yunxue thought, lips twitching as she suppressed her irritation.
"No need," Yun Wu replied curtly and coldly, without even turning his head. His stride remained steady.
Dinner?
Hah.He already had the "best chef in the world." Ordinary banquets, filled with fake smiles and hidden agendas, no longer appealed to him.
—
Bai Ling barely managed to suppress the anger threatening to erupt.
Her chest rose and fell as she watched Yun Wu's back recede, as if he hadn't even noticed her presence. And yet today, she had dressed herself beautifully—her finest gown, jewelry gleaming in the sunlight, even a rare fragrance that never failed to attract men.
All of it… wasted.
What tortured her most was the girl in the middle of them.
Who was she?
That face was unfamiliar. Bai Ling was certain she had never seen her anywhere in Wulong City—not at noble banquets, not in cultivation arenas, not even in the underground markets. The girl walked calmly between Yun Wu and the two other handsome men, as if their presence was perfectly natural to her.
Jealousy bit into Bai Ling's heart like poison.
Wait…Could she be the same girl Yun Wu brought home last week?
The rumors echoed in her mind—the talk of Yun Wu bringing a beautiful slave to his residence. Yet the more Bai Ling looked, the clearer it became that this girl didn't resemble a slave at all. Her gaze was clear, her posture upright, and most infuriating of all—
The man in sunglasses.
He always stayed at the girl's side, half a step ahead, his attitude subtly yet firmly protective—as if anyone who dared approach without permission would be erased without mercy.
Bai Ling ground her teeth together.Her silver teeth clashed, sending a sharp ache through her jaw, nearly cracking under the pressure of her restrained fury.
How dare she…
Without saying a word, Bai Ling tilted her head slightly. One of her beast husbands immediately stepped forward, bowing obediently.
"Find out who that girl is," she whispered coldly, her eyes still fixed on Xue Yunxue's retreating back."I want to know everything. Leave nothing out."