Yuan Wen Yue also understood this principle, and although somewhat unwilling, she nodded in agreement with his approach.
Ya Feng Yu breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that this young duke would act impulsively, but it seemed he knew what was important.
After the group left the ancient castle through the secret passage once more, Fan Zhuo Ma Ge, who had observed everything, arrived at the palace and said to Xing Yuan, "Your Highness, I have arranged for them to leave as per your instructions. What is the next step?"
"Arrange for their journey back to the empire to be smooth. If they don't return, how can we seize the opportunity to strike?" Xing Yuan concealed her selfish desires with a calm tone.
"If only I could be an autocratic monarch!" she sighed inwardly. "Then I wouldn't have to find good reasons for every action I take."
Under the covert support of the Vampire King, Yuan Wen Yue and her party returned to the human empire without encountering a single vampire.
No one noticed that the moment they stepped out of the barrier, a pure black bat flew back to the ancient castle.
After the bat paused briefly on Fan Zhuo Ma Ge's fingertip, he nodded to it. The bat then shrieked and flew away.
Fan Zhuo Ma Ge walked behind Xing Yuan and respectfully said, "My King, the army is fully assembled. With your command, we will lead the charge!"
"Then let us depart! Let the humans see our true strength." A sharp glint flashed in Xing Yuan's eyes. Her mission was to ensure peace between the two races, but it didn't say she couldn't suppress them with force.
Moreover, based on her observations during this period, weren't the very people who called themselves righteous, the ones who had created the vampires with their own hands?
Such a significant movement from the Blood Clan could not possibly be hidden from the Vampire Guild. Shortly after Ya Feng Yu returned to the empire, he received an urgent alarm from the guild!
The High Priest immediately understood the Blood Clan's actions. "The Blood Clan is preparing for a large-scale invasion. Everyone, immediately summon all vampire hunters! We must defend ourselves together!"
"This matter is of great importance. I will go to the palace to report the situation to His Majesty at once!" With that, the High Priest, without waiting for others' reactions, hurried into the imperial palace.
Wen Bai Xin had long anticipated such a day, but he never expected it to arrive so soon!
After the High Priest left, Wen Bai Xin reassembled the court officials and mobilized all available combat forces to reinforce the city walls.
Although Elder Fu's words held some truth, the premise was that the number of vampires arriving would not be large. Now, with the vast Blood Clan army, even if the Vampire King were to spare them, the army would not agree!
While the empire was in a state of panic, the Blood Clan army marched slowly. The King had said that the most important thing in killing was to strike at the heart. The later they arrived, the more fear and trepidation the humans in the empire would feel. Besides, they had been at war for so many years; a few more days wouldn't make a difference.
The Vampire Hunter Guild wanted to launch a surprise attack before the Blood Clan army arrived, but the numerous hidden operatives within the empire were not mere decorations. Every time they made a move, it was leaked in advance, resulting not only in failed ambushes but also in heavy losses for themselves.
Through their efforts, they did manage to capture many vampires who had been lurking in the empire for years, but each one of them was incredibly arrogant.
"You may have captured me, but if you dare to lay a finger on me, when the Blood Clan army arrives, you will be drained dry!"
"Do you know my status in the empire? I am a popular star here. If I die here, and my identity is exposed, what do you think the reaction of the imperial citizens will be?"
"They will say, 'So vampires are all around us.' Then they will shut themselves in their homes, and perhaps before our Blood Clan army even arrives, you will fall apart on your own!" the male vampire star said with a smug smile.
There were even attempts at bribery. "You're quite good-looking. How about this! If you let me go, I will turn you, and you will become my offspring, with a long life like mine!"
Though the trick was old, it was quite effective on the agitated members of the guild at this time. In the end, these vampires, who should have been executed, were merely imprisoned. Within a few days, the entire empire's atmosphere became extremely dispirited!
Although the identities of these vampires were concealed by the Vampire Guild, everyone knew that the guild had arrested so many people. Suddenly, all sorts of conspiracy theories began to emerge among the populace.
At this moment, Xing Yuan sat high in a tall building, coldly observing everything in the imperial capital. She even recorded a video on her phone and sent it to the three clan leaders.
Xing Yuan had personally brought the phones to the three clan leaders. The Blood Clan detested everything human, so they did not allow humans to bring back any human possessions. However, since the King herself brought them back and said she would show them some interesting things, they naturally accepted.
Seeing the ugliness of human nature on the phone, they all felt a sense of satisfaction. They immediately conveyed an order to the army to slow down their march.
In reality, the Blood Clan was more disciplined than humans. After all, high-ranking blood relatives had the ability to control the lives of lower-ranking ones. If they disobeyed, they would die without the enemy needing to act.
Xing Yuan sensed everything through the blood seal and a smile appeared on her face. It was not in vain that she had painstakingly spread rumors. Although she knew this battle was inevitable, she still hoped that the day would come later, because by then, she wouldn't know what her elder sister's attitude towards her would be.
Upon her return, Yuan Wen Yue went straight to the Imperial Academy to explain her reason for breaking her promise to Xing Yuan. In her heart, Xing Yuan was not just a sister, but also a friend!
Yuan Wen Yue could not find Xing Yuan at the academy. According to her teacher, Xing Yuan had also taken leave shortly after she left. Helpless, Yuan Wen Yue asked the dean for Xing Yuan's home address. The dean had some acquaintance with her father, and after reminding Yuan Wen Yue not to tell anyone where she got the student's address, he told her the specific location.
However, that place was also closed after Xing Yuan's departure. Disappointed, Yuan Wen Yue did not expect that the person she was looking for had actually been following her all along.
Xing Yuan watched Yuan Wen Yue's retreating back with some sadness. But if she knew her identity, she would probably hate her. Xing Yuan was conflicted, then she saw Yuan Wen Yue, who had returned to her residence, leave again.
Yuan Wen Yue suddenly remembered where the pastries Xing Yuan had given her were familiar. It was an old restaurant in the empire, where she had eaten a few times!
Xing Yuan watched as Yuan Wen Yue calmly requested to see the head chef from the restaurant owner. The owner readily agreed. After all, it was just a meeting, not a quest for secret techniques, so what could be the problem?
The first thing Yuan Wen Yue did upon seeing the head chef was to pull out a photo of Xing Yuan and ask, "Have you seen this young girl?"
The head chef looked carefully and recognized her as the noble young lady who had recently made a large purchase of their restaurant. He nodded and pointed to the pastry chef beside him, "Yes, but she always comes to the pastry chef to make pastries. You should ask her."
The pastry chef looked at Yuan Wen Yue's earnest gaze and nodded. "I have indeed seen this young girl. She would tell me the night before what flavors of pastries she wanted me to make the next day. After I made the pastries, she would come to pick them up! We had no other interaction, and she hasn't been here for a long time."