Xue Yunxue changed her clothes, deliberately choosing a high-collared outfit to conceal the faint bite mark Lu Xiao had left on her neck.
Although she had been afraid that Lu Xiao might drain her blood dry, for some reason, she couldn't help but feel pity for that solitary vampire.
She was too lazy to cook this morning, yet Xiang Shuai kept banging on her door, demanding that she make something for him to eat. That snake brat was truly childish. Why didn't he just ask the hotel staff to prepare food instead?
She walked into the small kitchen inside the suite. It was fully equipped and impeccably clean—comfortable enough to use. From the hotel supplies, she requested meat and shrimp, then prepared a simple meal: warm stir-fried meat and crispy fried shrimp. The aroma slowly filled the room, adding a sense of calm to the late morning atmosphere.
When everything was ready and arranged on the dining table, Xue Yunxue suddenly realized something.
Lu Xiao was already sitting there.
His expression was calm, his posture relaxed, as if nothing unusual had happened earlier. Even Luo Shixin had arrived. Despite being stationed in another city quite far away, the general was now sitting upright at the dining table, waiting for breakfast, his aura steady and dignified as ever.
"Yunxue, were you hurt last night?" Luo Shixin asked. His tone was flat, yet clearly tinged with concern.
"No," Xue Yunxue replied, shaking her head. "Fortunately, Xiang Shuai was there. He took care of all the bandits."
She didn't mention anything else.
In her heart, Yunxue knew just how dangerous last night had been. Most of those bandits were around level fifty—far above her own level twenty-eight. In a real fight, she could only rely on speed and agility, not brute strength.
"That's good," Luo Shixin said softly. "It seems we should take your training more seriously."
"Yes," Yun Wu added while devouring the stir-fried meat enthusiastically, "I can help retrain those muscles of yours as well."
Xue Yunxue's eyebrow twitched.
Training with Yun Wu was undeniably effective—she couldn't deny that. But its effectiveness was directly proportional to the suffering she had to endure. If she kept training like that, she felt she might meet the Beast God before she ever truly became strong.
She turned her gaze toward Lu Xiao.
He looked much better than the previous night. His pale complexion now carried a faint rosy hue, his eyes were clear, and his aura had returned to its usual calm state. There was no trace left of the fragile figure who had collapsed in her bathroom.
Seeing this, Xue Yunxue quietly let out a sigh of relief.
She was grateful that Lu Xiao had only taken a small amount of her blood—far less than what she used to give during her regular blood donations in her previous life.
The four of them ate together in a relatively peaceful atmosphere. The soft clinking of cutlery blended with the warm aroma of freshly cooked food.
The most surprising one was Lu Xiao.
The vampire was eating enthusiastically.
Xue Yunxue, Yun Wu, and Xiang Shuai all stared at him in surprise. He had never touched normal food before—yet this time was different.
Although his movements remained elegant and proper, his spoon and chopsticks never stopped. There was a faint hint of greed in his demeanor.
Lu Xiao noticed their gazes but merely lifted the corner of his lips slightly, continuing to eat without offering any explanation.
After that brunch-like breakfast, Xue Yunxue returned to her room and fell into an exhausted sleep.
In her dreams, memories from her previous life slowly resurfaced.
At that time, Xue Yunxue was eighteen years old.
She had grown up in a small orphanage that the world had nearly forgotten. Life there was harsh and lacking, but Yunxue was known as a smart and diligent girl. Most of the children had already been adopted, leaving only a few who remained together in quiet hardship.
The dream revealed a fragment of her past that had never truly faded from her memory.
That night, heavy rain poured without end.
Yuxi—a nineteen-year-old boy who was very close to her—had been beaten by street thugs while returning from work. The money he had earned that day was stolen, his body covered in injuries, his breathing ragged from pain.
The orphanage had long lost its donors. To survive, the children were forced to work from a young age, relying solely on themselves for food and shelter.
Yunxue and several others tried to take Yuxi to the hospital, but reality struck them mercilessly—they didn't have a single cent.
In the midst of despair, Yunxue remembered a wig craftsman who lived at the edge of the village.
"You all wait here," she said softly but firmly, preparing to brave the rain alone. "I'll get the money."
"That's too dangerous," Jinhang replied. He was twenty-two—the oldest among them and the one who felt the strongest responsibility to protect the younger ones. "I'll go with you."
That night, Yunxue and Jinhang ran through the rain together. Their clothes were soaked through, the cold seeping into their bones. With trembling hands, Yunxue knocked on the craftsman's door.
Her long, beautiful black hair—the only valuable thing she possessed—was sold to pay for Yuxi's medical treatment.
Jinhang tried to stop her. He knew how much Yunxue cherished her hair. But she insisted. Yuxi needed help immediately.
In the end, Jinhang could only nod with a heavy heart.
Out of pity, the craftsman gave them more money than he should have.
When Yuxi finally regained consciousness and saw Yunxue's hair cut short, barely reaching her chin, he immediately understood what she had sacrificed. His tears burst forth uncontrollably.
Even though Yunxue smiled and said she had planned to cut her hair anyway, that excuse couldn't stop Yuxi's sobbing.
"Yunyun, I swear I'll protect you with all my heart and treat you well for the rest of my life," Yuxi had promised her back then.
Tears slid down Xue Yunxue's face as she slept. Deep in her heart, she felt an overwhelming longing for her siblings from her past life. The power of darkness had taken away far too many precious people from her.
—
Bai Zhou ordered someone to summon Bai Ling.
Not long after, Bai Ling stepped inside gracefully. Her expression was gentle, her smile sweet, as if nothing had happened.
"Why did Father call for me?" she asked in a coquettish tone.
Smack!
Bai Zhou slammed his palm onto the table, his face flushed with suppressed rage.
"You're utterly reckless!" he shouted. "Do you want your father to die on the gallows?!"
Bai Ling flinched but quickly regained her composure, putting on an innocent expression.
"What do you mean, Father? I don't understand," she said, feigning confusion.
Inside, however, her anger was already boiling.
Her plan had completely failed. Every bandit she sent was useless—not only did they fail to kill a single girl, they even dragged a young prince of the Shelua Empire into the mess. A bunch of trash.
"You think I don't know about your foolish scheme?" Bai Zhou roared. "You've put the entire Wulong City in danger!"
Bai Ling clenched her teeth, no longer pretending.
"Father wouldn't be this angry if you could make Yun Wu, that prince, and the mysterious man with glasses my husbands!" she shot back sharply. "I wouldn't have gone this far if you were willing to help me!"
She still didn't know who that mysterious man truly was—and it was precisely that ignorance that fueled her obsession.
"You already have ten beast husbands!" Bai Zhou yelled in frustration. "Is that still not enough for you?!"
"If I can't have all three of them," Bai Ling retorted stubbornly, "then at least make Yun Wu my husband!"
Bai Zhou stared at his daughter for a long time, his chest heaving.
"Even now, I can't control that wild wolf," he said heavily. "How could I possibly force him to marry you?"
"Then whatever I do from now on, Father should just close his eyes and stay out of it."
Bai Ling's tone was cold, filled with provocation. She turned and left, abandoning Bai Zhou as he struggled to contain his fury. Her footsteps were fast and heavy, her shoes striking the floor repeatedly—an unmistakable sign of emotions she no longer wished to restrain.
Once the door closed, Bai Ling leaned against it briefly before slowly walking toward the bed. She collapsed onto it, lying flat, her black hair spread messily, her breathing slightly uneven.
"Eyen," she called softly.
The air in the room suddenly grew cold.
The white crocodile beast man appeared without a sound. His gaze darkened the instant he saw Bai Ling making no effort to conceal herself—his stare filled not just with desire, but possession.
"I'm in a terrible mood," Bai Ling said softly. "You know what to do, don't you?"
She slowly removed her clothes one by one until her body was completely bare.
Eyen couldn't suppress the surge within him. He removed his own clothes and approached her, kissing her deeply, his lips moving from her mouth down to her neck, growing more intense.
"No," she said coldly. "Call the others."
Soon, her other nine beast husbands filled the room. Bai Ling glanced at them one by one before pointing at the deer beast man.
"You. Come here."
He joined Eyen in satisfying Bai Ling. The three moved openly and wildly, unashamed even under the gaze of the other eight beast husbands.
The remaining eight stood frozen, heads lowered, suppressing the turbulent emotions and instincts raging within them. Watching without being allowed to participate was pure torment—unless Bai Ling desired it. In the beast world, such scenes were common and not considered shameful. Bai Ling was extremely lustful, summoning her beast husbands one by one to satisfy her.
The crystal lights dimmed. Silk curtains swayed gently in the wind, mingling with the alternating sounds of gasps and moans.
Behind closed doors, Bai Ling vented all her anger and obsession—not for love, but for power and escape.
—
Bai Ling lazily leaned against Eyen's body as the curtains were tightly shut. She had already dismissed the other nine beast husbands.
"I want that woman gone," Bai Ling said softly, her tone cold and resolute.
Eyen frowned. He naturally knew who she meant.
"The woman who is Yun Wu's partner?" he asked cautiously. News about that girl had already spread among the beast husbands, though Eyen hadn't met her personally.
Bai Ling smiled faintly—a smile devoid of warmth.
Eyen took a deep breath. "Am I still not enough for you?"
The question slipped out before he could stop himself. As the strongest beast husband, with both physical and spiritual strength reaching level sixty, he was Bai Ling's greatest asset. And because of that, he was the most sensitive to changes in her heart.
Bai Ling lifted her face, looking at him with calm, calculating eyes.
"Of course you're enough," she said gently. "You're the strongest. And the one I cherish most."
She paused, then continued in a colder tone.
"But gathering talented people on our side… isn't that far more beneficial?"
The reasoning sounded logical—too logical. Eyen understood it, yet deep down he knew the truth. Bai Ling wasn't building power. She was chasing obsession. Yun Wu's looks, status, and aura had driven her mad.
Suddenly, Bai Ling seemed to remember something.
She glanced at Eyen, a cunning smile curling at her lips.
"Give me that potion," she requested softly.
—
They stayed peacefully at the hotel for nearly a week.
Xue Yunxue had worried about the cost, but Xiang Shuai casually assured her he would cover everything himself, speaking as if money were nothing more than a trivial detail.
Yun Wu went to work every morning after breakfast. He rarely talked about it, only leaving and returning with a serious expression. Sometimes, Yunxue wondered why that werewolf was so obsessed with money—as if he were chasing something beyond mere survival.
One afternoon, Xiang Shuai proposed something that immediately caught everyone's attention.
"How about we buy a villa on the outskirts of the city?" he said casually. "A big one. Six bedrooms. A large yard."
Xue Yunxue's eyes lit up instantly.
A villa meant open space. Land. Nature.
The perfect place for her to train her plant element without restraint. She had always felt her growth was too slow—her energy level increased, but not fast enough.
With a large yard, she could train freely. Become stronger. No longer depend on anyone.
The decision was made.
Yun Wu, wearing a sour expression, could only agree. His own house was still under renovation, and the lingering stench of blood from the corpses still filled the yard, making him deeply uncomfortable.
Xiang Shuai took the largest bedroom in the villa. The bed was enormous—large enough to accommodate four adults comfortably. Xue Yunxue's room was right next door.
Honestly, Yunxue wasn't thrilled about that arrangement. The albino snake was notorious for sleeping restlessly. When he unconsciously shifted forms, his long tail often slammed into the walls, producing loud noises that woke her up in irritation.
Meanwhile, Yun Wu ensured the villa's security was at the highest level. He installed multiple energy sensors throughout the area, allowing only registered residents to enter. On top of that, he added layers of protective barriers and hidden lethal traps—enough to make anyone think twice before approaching.
Naturally, all of this was expensive.
But this time, Yun Wu didn't need to pay a single coin. The famously wealthy solitary vampire voluntarily covered all expenses, as if it were nothing.
—
Yunxue asked Yun Wu and Xiang Shuai to go hunting to restock the freezer.
Xiang Shuai immediately wore a disgruntled expression. A prince accustomed to leisure and indulgence, now being ordered to hunt by a girl—it clearly wounded his pride. He trudged along complaining nonstop until Yun Wu finally dragged him away.
Meanwhile, Lu Xiao busied himself inside the villa. The vampire arranged furniture, cleaned dust, and ensured every corner was spotless. His movements were calm and efficient, as if such work were second nature to him.
On the other side, Luo Shixin—the war general known for his cold ruthlessness on the battlefield—helped Yunxue organize rooms and decorate the interior. He divided tasks neatly, working with the same precision and discipline he used when commanding troops.
Xue Yunxue smiled in satisfaction at the results. The villa finally felt alive.
In a light mood, she decided to cook something special—hotpot.
Using her elemental abilities, Yunxue had grown various herbs and chili plants in the small garden behind the villa. The seasoning was simple but sufficient to prepare a large pot of fragrant, enticing hotpot.
They divided the tasks without much conversation. Luo Shixin and Yun Wu skillfully sliced and cleaned the meat. Lu Xiao set the dining table neatly, ensuring perfect symmetry. As usual, Xiang Shuai chose the easiest job—washing vegetables while humming lazily.
Two large pots were finally placed on the table. One contained a milky white clear broth, while the other was a bright red, steaming spicy broth. Without a proper hotpot pot, Yunxue used what she had, preparing the two broths separately.
She explained how to eat hotpot and let them choose their preferred broth.
Greedy Xiang Shuai immediately dipped meat into the spicy broth. The moment it entered his mouth, his expression changed dramatically.
"What did you cook?!" he exclaimed, coughing lightly. "Is this poisonous soup?!"
He quickly gulped down a glass of cold milk, his sensitive snake tongue clearly overwhelmed by the heat.
"If you can't handle spicy food, choose the white broth," Yunxue said, holding back a smile. "That one isn't spicy at all."
Xiang Shuai and Yun Wu promptly switched to the clear broth, looking much more comfortable.
Unexpectedly, Lu Xiao calmly took meat from the spicy broth and ate it as if the heat meant nothing.
"I like it," he said simply.
Luo Shixin, who had been silent, also tried the spicy broth. A moment later, he nodded slightly—it suited his taste as well. Especially in the cool evening air, the spicy soup warmed his body straight to the chest.
For the first time in a long while, their dining table was filled with rising steam, quiet laughter, and the warmth of something that truly felt like family.