August 23rd, Thursday.
Northeast of S Province, southern foothills of the Daba Mountains, D City, northeastern mountain region.
Looking around, mountain ranges stretched endlessly, towering and craggy, with green forests forming a sea.
Perhaps many people had already forgotten that just within these mountains, decades ago, a great Third Front construction project overca countless hardships and difficulties, creating a crucial rear industrial base for China.
Wan Yue stood in a chiffon dress, wearing a sun hat and carrying a small bag, looking like an urban white-collar worker on vacation, gazing into the distance from the mountaintop.
In the distant valley, green shadows layered upon each other, weeds and shrubs growing wild, with an old national defense preparedness road winding between rolling hills and slopes. In the narrow plain deep within the valley lay a vast complex of buildings, a mixture of green and charred black, rising and falling at different heights.
"Miss Wan Yue, right there. A few months ago, the Tang Family and China's Shadow Arrow Force nearly destroyed each other. An Orthodox Blood Clan baron family was wiped out just like that, and Mr. Tang Zhaowen also died at the hands of the Black Blood Clan afterward."
"Miss Emma possesses the keenest sense of sll in this world, so no matter how thorough the Shadow Arrow's subsequent cleanup work was, as long as even a trace remained, it could be found. I believe Miss Wan Yue has also been here several tis before."
A tall, handso European youth walked up behind Wan Yue, softly introducing the progress of his discoveries during this period. Behind him, the European woman called Miss Emma maintained a calm expression.
"Is that so? You've been wandering around D City for so long, and now you invite here just to say that you've actually found nothing. Isn't this kind of cooperation rather boring?"
Wan Yue turned around, looking with interest at the European woman in a business suit. "Miss Emma, you truly found nothing at all?"
"I'm sorry, Lord Wan Yue. I infiltrated several tis in succession but found no useful clues. Shadow Arrow's follow-up handling was very cautious."
Emma's rigid face finally showed a few traces of helplessness, then she took out a docunt from her briefcase. "We also discovered that the Tang Family remnants in D City are still being continuously hunted by Shadow Arrow. Most of the core family mbers have been eliminated, and even so peripheral vassals were not spared.
"Besides Tang Zhaowen himself, who has been confird devoured by the Black Blood Clan, another lower-tier baron of the Tang Family, Tang Zexuan, has been missing all along. I wonder what gains Lord Wan Yue has made?"
"You figured everything out clearly in just half a month, and you're asking ? Do you think the intelligence I possess would be more than yours?"
Wan Yue lit a cigarette and stretched lazily, her sexy body curves moving the dress, swaying in the mountain wind, looking particularly enchanting and pleasing to the eye.
After secretly exchanging glances with Erwin, Emma put the docunt back in her briefcase and quietly stepped aside.
"I still have great confidence in Miss Wan Yue... Since there are no further gains, let's go back then."
The mountain wind was rather strong. Erwin walked to Wan Yue's side, smiling as he draped a coat over her, his elegant gentleman's deanor fully displayed.
Glancing sideways at the quietly smiling Erwin, Wan Yue nodded lightly as thanks, then walked down the mountain alone.
"Lord Erwin, either this woman truly doesn't know, or she's concealing sothing. Many years ago, she was investigating the relationship between a large agricultural company in South Australia and the Tang Family..."
Luca, who was following Erwin in the capacity of a lawyer, was another lower-tier baron of the Engel Family. At this mont, his pair of sunken eyes on his hooked nose revealed a few traces of coldness. "She's been paying attention to the Tang Family for at least a dozen years. She might actually have so intelligence, and so events are very suspicious... coinciding exactly with when Cheng Yueshan defected to us."
Erwin raised his hand, stopping his subordinate's analysis, only watching Wan Yue's figure that was about to disappear from sight, smiling mysteriously. "No matter. Before departure, I also invited Japan's Fujiwara Family to participate in the investigation of the Tang Family. More people is always good... Actually, that day, I already caught so familiar scents.
"Japanese Orthodox Blood Clan major families don't have a long history, but like Japan's normal human world, they're greedy yet conservative, humble yet full of ambition. They'll always make so unexpected moves for certain interests. Perhaps we'll be able to use them soon.
"Also, activate the intelligence network. I need to know Shadow Arrow's current and future operational status."
After speaking, Erwin also walked down the mountain.
Evening, Golden River Club.
Sumr recreational and entertainnt business was always the best of the four seasons, and Golden River Club was no exception. Whether new mbers or old mbers, the number of people resting and relaxing daily at Golden River Club remained consistently high.
Jiang Yan dragged a large suitcase and walked into the employee passage. Zhao Peng quickly approached to take it from her.
"You're really planning to live at the club? Don't worry, it's not just here. Xiao Ling, Xiao Ai, and Xiao Dong are also watching in twenty-four-hour shifts. They're all knights. Just get off work and go ho to rest properly, and try to break through as soon as possible."
Jiang Yan smiled and shook her head. "She's my younger sister. How could I possibly go ho and sleep soundly? Besides, I want to learn so knowledge about this kind of care."
"Alright then. The next room has been cleaned up. If you need anything, don't run around yourself. Have Xiao Ping and the others prepare it for you. However, you might have to squeeze in with Xiao Ling."
Zhao Peng dragged the suitcase containing Jiang Yan's change of clothes and daily necessities into a room, then quickly retreated with his eyes averted.
Heh, don't look at Brother Zhao Peng's usual polite and steady appearance, but his cautious shyness around girls was just like so honest and straightforward boys. He might have been a university student before his blood infection.
Zhao Peng's cautious behavior of never crossing the line in girls' rooms gave Jiang Yan a new understanding of his personality traits.
After briefly organizing her daily necessities, Jiang Yan ca to the room where Jiang Yao was resting.
Several monitoring devices took turns beeping, with various curves and numbers floating on screens large and small. On the bed, the pale golden-haired girl had entered a deep dormant state, her heart rate dropping to fewer than thirty beats per minute.
At this mont, if Jiang Yao's various physiological indicators were in an ordinary person, they would have already received a critical condition notice. But to Jiang Yan, this was Jiang Yao's complete transition into the suspended animation state of advancent dormancy.
She had probably been given a body cleaning by Xiao Ping or Xiao Ai earlier. At this mont, Jiang Yao's entire body emanated a post-bath fragrance, and of course, there were also waves of weak, indescribable alternative dark fragrance filling the room. That was the inherent aroma of rare blood types.
Touching her silky hair and small face, especially the lip area, Jiang Yan suddenly felt that fate might not be so cruel to the girl before her.
As a child, because of her cleft lip, Xiao Yao had always been the target of cold stares and bullying. Whether in life, play, or study, her physical appearance defect made her growth consistently more difficult than other children.
Even after reaching adulthood and entering society, so indelible inferiority complexes had always made Xiao Yao's life bumpy. Now, she had beco a treasure in others' eyes, being cared for, valued, and envied.
Images from their youth appeared in her mind, and Jiang Yan was montarily filled with emotion.
"Sister Xiao Yan, Zhong Jing is here, asking if Sister Xiao Yao is around..."
A weak voice ca from behind. A girl who looked even older than herself was quietly making hand gestures.
In the Blood Clan world, strength was supre. Without special relationships, this girl who was rely a lower-tier Attendant naturally used more respectful forms of address for the Jiang sisters.
Why did he co?
Jiang Yan frowned slightly. Just thinking of that cunning, pretentiously mature, nonchalant mixed expression made her uncomfortable.
In a corner where gold and shadow intertwined, Zhao Peng and Zhong Jing sat side by side on high stools, each holding a wine glass.
"Why did you suddenly co here today? Sister Wan probably won't be back this week."
The Zhong Jing before him was soone Zhao Peng had watched grow up. Ti had flown by, and the forr little boy had grown into a carefree, handso young man.
"So work matters. I wanted to communicate with her, so I ca to try my luck."
Zhong Jing sipped his red wine and loosened his tie, looking sowhat tired.
"Sister Wan's phone has been off for three days. She doesn't want us to contact her. I'm sure she didn't fail to tell you."
Zhao Peng saw through Zhong Jing's insincerity and smiled, patting his shoulder. "Tell the truth. Did you co to see Jiang Yao?"
Zhong Jing didn't speak, only stroking his wine glass, a strange smile at the corner of his mouth. "Brother Zhao Peng, I know what you and Master an. Don't be too sensitive. Just in the normal human world, I have enough won to deal with. I'm not about to create trouble for myself in another world.
"Jiang Yao and I are just simple friends, the kind who can amuse and make happy. I've been exhausted to death these past few days. Even playing gas isn't enjoyable."
As he spoke, Zhong Jing drained his glass in one gulp and even let out a comfortable burp.
"Then you won't be able to see her for at least a month... Zhong Jing, since you insist on being a normal person, don't delve too deeply into our world. You can't see your own luck. So temptations can be deadly."
Zhao Peng stared into Zhong Jing's eyes, as if trying to discern the truth or falsehood of his previous words.
"A month? Why... isn't she here?"
Zhong Jing was startled, sowhat confused.
"She's here, but she's in advancent dormancy. So scenes aren't quite suitable for normal people to see. She is, after all, a mber of Hyacinth and will take on major responsibilities in the future. As for ti, at least a month, possibly three or four months."
Zhao Peng sighed and patted Zhong Jing's shoulder before walking away.
Turning toward the direction Zhao Peng had left, Zhong Jing was startled again to discover that at so point, Jiang Yan had been standing not far away, quietly watching him.
"She has her own matters. She might be too busy for several months."
Jiang Yan didn't choose to sit down, just spoke from several ters away.
Looking at the black-haired girl whose expression seed sowhat unnatural, Zhong Jing jumped down from the high stool and grabbed his suit jacket. "I know she's about to beco a knight. Let see too."
"Didn't you hear what Brother Zhao Peng said just now? So scenes might not be suitable for you to see." Jiang Yan said calmly, her gaze scanning him several tis. "She's also not suitable for you to have too much contact with."
"Not suitable to see? Does advancent dormancy an not wearing clothes?"
Zhong Jing's eyes lit up as he began imagining so amazing scenarios, completely ignoring the latter half of her statent.
The corners of Jiang Yan's lips twitched violently several tis, showing coldness and disgust in the dimness. "Zhong Jing, have you always enjoyed this kind of frivolous, teasing attitude toward others?"
"Heh, then I'll just take a look. If I really get scared, wouldn't that perfectly fulfill your wish just now?"
"Let's go. No sense of humor. I even saw Sister Xiao Ai bathing when I was little, though she hit several tis..."
Zhong Jing grinned happily, seemingly not minding Jiang Yan's attitude toward him.
It was already past one in the morning. Golden River Club had long since closed on the surface, but deep in the employee area, lights were still bright.
In the room where Jiang Yao was resting, Xiao Ai was keeping watch beside the bed, staring intently at the screens of several dical devices, very dutiful.
Seeing that besides Jiang Yan, a familiar playboy youth had entered, Xiao Ai imdiately rolled her eyes dramatically. The incident from about ten years ago was still an absurd and helpless dark chapter in her history.
If not for the weak beeping of several instrunts and the rise and fall of her chest breathing, from a normal person's perspective, Jiang Yao on the bed looked more like she was dead, with all exposed skin unnaturally pale.
Just as Zhong Jing was about to reach out and touch her pale golden hair, Xiao Ai coldly slapped his hand away.
Smiling awkwardly and not daring to speak, Zhong Jing consciously pulled over a small stool and sat to the side.
"See?" Jiang Yan said coldly. "Alright, you can go now. See you in a few months."
Just as she was about to pat Zhong Jing's shoulder, suddenly a dical monitoring device sounded an alarm, followed by a second one, then a third... Jiang Yan was startled and imdiately turned toward the bed.
The pale golden-haired girl on the bed, as if sothing strange had been injected into her body, began to flush, and even her breathing beca rapid, as if she was having so nightmare.
A vigorous yet chaotic wave of pheromones that shocked everyone except Zhong Jing began invisibly swirling and darting around the room.
"Oh no, it's sudden blood thirst! Quick, call Brother Zhao!"
Xiao Ai's expression changed drastically as she rushed to a nearby stand to prepare blood bags, as if the current situation was even more serious than advancent failure.
Xiao Ai's words made both Jiang Yan and Zhong Jing's faces change at the sa ti, with the latter directly running out the door.
"What's wrong!?"
More than ten seconds later, Zhao Peng entered the room. Seeing the chaotic scene, he imdiately frowned.
"I don't know why, but Xiao Yao suddenly showed a blood thirst reaction, even though she had a blood transfusion just two hours ago."
Xiao Ai explained in a low voice while connecting the blood bag to the transfusion pump.
"Wait, don't rush!" Zhao Peng grabbed Xiao Ai's hand, his gaze scanning between the blood bag and Jiang Yao on the bed. "Whose blood was transfused earlier?"
"It seems to be Uncle Liang's..." Xiao Ai quickly flipped through a small notebook, looking puzzled. "Uncle Liang is a mid-tier knight. There shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Uncle Liang, whose full na was Liang Tai, was the person who handled the scene cleanup the night Jiang Yao was attacked a month ago. Because his personal appearance was sowhat older, he only worked as security at Golden River Club, though he was often absent.
Liang Tai was one of the most senior mbers of Hyacinth, having been promoted to knight even earlier than Zhao Peng, but with limited potential, he remained stuck at the mid-tier knight level.
"No need for transfusion. This isn't blood thirst. It's Xiao Yao's body showing a rejection reaction to foreign blood. It'll pass soon. Her initial blood dependence syndro is more extre than imagined... Normal human blood won't work, and even ordinary knights' blood causes so discomfort. Very finicky."
Amid the series of heart-tightening instrunt alarms, Zhao Peng carefully examined several data points, his expression grave with so helplessness.
"Then use mine. I can handle having two or three hundred milliliters drawn per week."
Jiang Yan decisively rolled up the sleeve of her shirt dress, exposing her slender arm.
"That's the only option. Mix a few dozen milliliters of your blood with each blood bag, and I'll find
a way to locate so rare blood types."
Zhao Peng nodded and left the room while several girls began preparing equipnt to draw Jiang Yan's blood.
As if ignored, Zhong Jing sat quietly in the corner, his expression growing increasingly strange.
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