"Chen Xiao, don't joke with me…"
Looking at the pile of ash on the ground, Ren Songfei wanted to laugh but couldn't.
Chen Xiao said calmly, "Do I look like I'm joking?"
"This really is Edward…"
Ren Songfei's expression was worse than crying. "Now I'm in trouble!"
Chen Xiao asked, puzzled, "Why do you say that?"
Ren Songfei explained, "My superiors specifically instructed me to bring Edward back to use him as a hostage in negotiations with the Western world. I can't exactly bring this pile of ashes with me."
Chen Xiao sneered, his face full of disdain. "Your superiors really make decisions on a whim. Don't they know how powerful a Duke of Fogula is? Bringing him back? If it weren't for me, your entire Demon-Slaying Division would have been wiped out!"
Ren Songfei finally realized the gravity of the situation, his expression turning serious.
"Well, regardless, Chen Xiao, we owe you a great debt of gratitude this time. You prevented the situation from escalating further, and with those videos as evidence, it's enough for negotiations with those Westerners. On behalf of the entire Demon-Slaying Division, I thank you for your contributions to the country and the people!"
Chen Xiao's lips curled upwards. "Stop with the empty platitudes. If there's nothing else, I'll be going."
"Wait, Chen Xiao!"
Ren Songfei suddenly called out to Chen Xiao and asked, "Are you interested in joining the Demon-Slaying Division and serving the country?"
Chen Xiao shook his head without even thinking. "I'm willing to serve the country, but joining the Demon-Slaying Division, I think I'll pass. Of course, we're friends, and if you ever run into trouble in the future, you can always come to me!"
With that, Chen Xiao descended from the rooftop.
Ren Songfei hurried to catch up. "Wait for me, we're going the same way…"
…
At the same time, night had long fallen over the continent of Europa.
In an ancient castle in a desolate wilderness, the Night King of the Fogula clan had just concluded an emergency meeting with the twelve Dukes.
Of course, only eleven Dukes were present; the twelfth was still on the other side of the vast ocean.
After the eleven Dukes departed, the Night King opened a bottle of '82 blood.
The blood was well-sealed, and after decades of storage, its sweet freshness had become even more potent.
Scarlet blood flowed into a goblet, and the Night King drank it down in one gulp.
For a vampire, this was usually a moment of supreme enjoyment.
However, at this moment, there was not the slightest hint of pleasure on the Night King's face. Instead, his brow was furrowed, and his expression was gloomy.
Before the Night King could even wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, another guest arrived at the castle.
A noblewoman, nearly two meters tall yet exuding grace and sexiness, Countess Mishaol.
She wore a cloche hat and a long white gauze dress that accentuated her voluptuous figure.
The Night King swallowed, concealing the greed in his eyes, and said with gentlemanly courtesy, "Madame Mishaol, I am very sorry for what happened to Duke Edward."
Madame Mishaol's face was streaked with tears, clearly having just cried.
"Respected Lord Night King, have you and the Dukes discussed a plan to rescue Edward?"
The Night King said faintly, "I am very sorry, Madame Mishaol, but I am powerless. Duke Edward committed a grave offense, violating the Vampire Covenant. Now, neither the Huaguo side nor the Inquisition will let him go. Therefore, I apologize again, we are truly unable to help…"
"So, the result of your lengthy discussion is to stand idly by?"
Madame Mishaol's tone turned cold.
The Night King frowned slightly. "Madame Mishaol, Duke Edward is the pride of our Fogula clan. Would we stand idly by if he were in trouble? We simply have no means to help."
"And how is that different from standing idly by?"
Madame Mishaol let out a cold laugh. "My esteemed Lord Night King, I do not know if the Fogula clan has lived too comfortably for too long, and their bloodlust and knightly spirit have been completely extinguished…"
Before Madame Mishaol could finish, the Night King let out a cold snort. "Madame Mishaol, please mind your words. Do you know who you are speaking to?"
"I know very well, my esteemed Lord Night King, the creator of the Fogula clan…"
Madame Mishaol's politeness was tinged with coldness. "But you probably do not know that my husband, Duke Edward, has already met his end!"
"What?"
The Night King was shocked. "How is that possible? Duke Edward's physical body is invulnerable and immortal, and he is in Huaguo. How could he have met his end?"
"If I may be so bold, if Duke Edward wished, he could have single-handedly turned Huaguo's supernatural world upside down, and Huaguo's supernatural practitioners would have been powerless against him!"
"This was also the primary reason we chose to stand by!"
Madame Mishaol's delicate eyebrows were tightly knitted. "But just now, Duke Edward's Seat of Life shattered. If he hadn't met his end, how could his Seat of Life have shattered?"
"What? The Seat of Life shattered?"
The Night King was greatly alarmed. "Madame Mishaol, please do not worry. I will thoroughly investigate this matter!"
"If Duke Edward has truly met his end…"
The Night King's brow furrowed in anger. "I will make all of Huaguo pay with blood!"
His black fingernails shot out with a swish, and his fangs, more than twenty in number, protruded further!
…
On the other side, after Chen Xiao left Jiangcheng Medical College, he returned to the hospital to work.
As for the world-shaking events that had just transpired, it was as if they had nothing to do with him, burying his achievements and fame.
But how could such a thing be hidden if he wished? The videos had already spread, and everyone who knew him could recognize the face in the video as his.
Upon returning to the hospital, everyone was initially reserved.
But after Chu Luo took the lead and asked, "Director Chen, is the person in the video you?", everyone lost control, pulling Chen Xiao and bombarding him with questions.
Chen Xiao had to lie and say it was fake, just a fun video he filmed to help a friend.
But the others weren't fools; how could they believe such nonsense?
Finally, Chen Xiao, weary of the pestering, simply skipped work and went home.
Fortunately, his family didn't ask him anything about it. Perhaps they hadn't paid attention to the online videos, or perhaps compared to Chen Xiao's other matters, this was not worth mentioning.
As time passed, and the videos gradually disappeared from the internet, everyone slowly forgot about the incident.
That evening, as Chen Xiao's family sat down for dinner, an uninvited guest suddenly arrived.