The High Priest had nothing more to say and sighed, "Then I shall trouble you to handle it!"
"No problem!" Xing Yuan also appeared good-natured, "But these people are still not enough! Since you said that elders should atone for the ancestors, then no one should be absent!"
The High Priest's heart tightened. The number of these people was indeed not enough.
At this moment, a magic array suddenly appeared beneath their feet, trapping them within. Seeing this, Xing Yuan's eyes were filled with a smile. She had finally found those old fellows.
More than ten strange old men with white hair, blood-red eyes, and fangs appeared outside the formation.
The few young juniors trapped in the formation immediately cried out in panic, "Ancestor, save me! I was raised by you since I was little!"
"Ancestor?" Everyone looked closely and found that they actually bore some resemblance in their features.
"A bunch of trash!" the old man said coldly, his eyes full of indifference.
"Everyone, you are now trapped here. It's fine for the vampires, after all, they have you as food. So how long can you live?" the old man said proudly.
"When you are starving to death, I will release you and continue my research, so as to avoid this monstrous appearance."
"It seems you are that group from back then!" Xing Yuan said faintly.
"So what? Even if we are in front of you now, what can you do to us? This formation is specifically for you," the old man sneered, his expression full of confidence.
"Is that so?" Xing Yuan struck the formation with her palm, creating a hole. "Do you really think I wouldn't have any precautions?" Xing Yuan sneered. If it weren't for capturing these people, why would she have shown weakness?
Seeing that the situation was not good, a few of them immediately tried to escape. However, after only a few steps, they were caught by the vampires who were already waiting. Although they possessed long lives like vampires, their strength was incomparable. If they hadn't prepared in advance, they wouldn't have dared to appear directly.
And because of the curse, they could never be turned into vampires, and could only live in hiding like this. If they had continued to hide, Xing Yuan might not have been able to find them, but with such a commotion, they couldn't let this opportunity pass.
Seeing that the people she truly wanted to capture had fallen into her trap, Xing Yuan's attitude became much more amiable. They successfully reached a point where, apart from the disposition of these families, other matters could be discussed.
As the negotiations drew to a close, Wei Mu stepped forward, "Since Your Majesty the Vampire King intends to negotiate with the Empire, when will you allow the Duke to return?"
Xing Yuan looked at Wei Mu, then at Yuan Wen Yue, "I have no intention of making things difficult for the Empire, but I can't suffer so much loss either! How about this, I have a suggestion. The Duke's daughter is also of marriageable age. As long as you agree to a marriage alliance with me, I will not only send your father back, but I will also promise the Empire that apart from the guilty members of those families, I will not trouble anyone else."
This was an action Xing Yuan thought of on the spur of the moment. Only then would her letting go of those fellows be reasonable. After all, she had always worn a black robe, and these people didn't know her appearance or gender. Most importantly, if her sister agreed, she could openly be with her sister from then on.
At this moment, Xing Yuan completely forgot to consider what would happen if her sister didn't agree. As long as she was in front of her sister, Xing Yuan's IQ would approach zero.
Yuan Wen Yue was still hesitating. Wei Mu quickly winked at her. No matter what, she couldn't harm her own niece! Don't look at how agreeable the Vampire King seemed now; who knew what kind of person he really was? What if he went mad one day and hurt A Yue?
Wen Bai Xin's eyes were filled with surprise and uncertainty. Had he remembered incorrectly? He remembered from unofficial histories that this Vampire King should be a woman.
However, Xing Yuan's black robe itself had the effect of concealing her aura. No matter how Wen Bai Xin looked, he couldn't see her true appearance beneath the robe.
As for the two vampire clan leaders, their opinions were not important. They only needed to trust their King unconditionally.
Yuan Wen Yue was indeed very conflicted. Reason told her that she should agree to this mutually beneficial matter, but emotionally, she couldn't accept marrying a vampire. Even if she didn't have someone she liked, and didn't have any deep hatred for vampires, it was still difficult to accept.
Wen Bai Xin reluctantly accepted the fact that his memory might not be very good. Seeing Yuan Wen Yue's conflicted expression, he said to Xing Yuan, "This matter is too sudden. Perhaps Miss Yuan should take some time to think about it!"
Xing Yuan also nodded obediently. Indeed, she couldn't rush. "Alright! I hope to get an answer in three days!"
After speaking, Xing Yuan took out a blood crystal and handed it to Yuan Wen Yue. "I came out in a hurry and didn't bring anything. This blood crystal will be a gift!"
Yuan Wen Yue was somewhat resistant. It looked like blood, and she really didn't like it. Xing Yuan saw this and her tone softened slightly, "It has already been cleaned. I have nothing else with me now, so I can only give you this. If you like something else, I will give you something different next time."
Wei Mu quickly took it for Yuan Wen Yue. Who knew what the person in front of them might do if she didn't accept it.
Xing Yuan didn't force it. She left a message saying, "See you here in three days," and turned to leave.
Yuan Wen Yue returned to the imperial capital in a daze. She never expected that the first person to propose to her in her life would be a vampire.
Although no one forced Yuan Wen Yue to marry the Vampire King, she was kind-hearted. The thought that so many people might die because of her made her feel extremely guilty. She silently made up her mind.
During these three days, Yuan Wen Yue did many things she wanted to do but dared not. On the evening of the third day, she voluntarily entered the palace and expressed her willingness to marry the Vampire King to maintain peace between the two races.
After sending the message to Xing Yuan, Wen Bai Xin guiltily bestowed many things upon the Duke's mansion and personally took out a pile of treasures from those families to be Yuan Wen Yue's dowry.
Xing Yuan was also very happy to receive the news. The next day, under the witness of heaven, she readily signed an alliance with the Empire, agreeing to non-aggression between the two races. Then, she took the vampire army and the captives back.
However, less than half a month later, Xing Yuan sent a group of envoys to deliver the betrothal gifts to the Empire. Besides chests of treasures, there were also many guild hunters who had fallen into the hands of the vampires.
Not long after, this marriage alliance was held under the watchful eyes of everyone.
"Miss Yuan, His Majesty has been very busy with state affairs recently and couldn't spare time to pick you up personally. We hope you can forgive him!" the vampire who came to pick her up said politely.
"It's alright!" Yuan Wen Yue felt indifferent. This was less like a marriage between the two of them, and more like a marriage between two races, so it didn't matter much if he didn't come in person.