Chapter 22: Heart-to-Heart

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“Go ahead and say it, but why are you being so serious?”

Ye Xi squirmed uncomfortably, but she did not pull away.

Instead, she lowered her head and waited quietly for Shen Ji to speak.

“Remember when I went to the Black Market to gather information?”

Ye Xi nodded thoughtfully.

She had specifically arranged for A Ran to protect him at the time, but A Ran had reported that everything went smoothly upon her return.

“On the way, I was cornered by a Blood Race woman from the Official named Liu Yao. She was on her way to investigate an organization called the Midnight Society, but she mistook me for someone helping them traffic the Blood Race.”

“To dispel her suspicion, I intentionally played up my past experiences to gain her sympathy. As it turned out, the fact that I survived the drug trials caught her attention, and she wanted me to join the Midnight Society.”

“So, you’re planning to join the Midnight Society as an undercover agent for the Official?”

Ye Xi looked at Shen Ji with a complex expression.

She did not have time to wonder why A Ran had said everything went smoothly.

The most important thing now was that she knew the Midnight Society was an organization under Ye Hai’s control.

However, her knowledge was limited to it being a major source of income for their family.

When Shen Ji had first mentioned joining the Midnight Society, she had already planned to infiltrate it herself to protect him.

But now, it seemed she was protecting a hidden danger that was creeping into the flock.

“No, I intend to be a double agent.”

Ye Xi’s beautiful eyes widened.

Then, as if realizing something, she gradually masked her surprise.

Danger and opportunity often went hand in hand.

As long as the disguise was good enough, it was entirely possible to profit from both sides.

But the problem was that all of this relied on the disguise holding up.

“Aren’t you afraid of being discovered? You might face a manhunt from both the underworld and the law.”

Shen Ji shook his head and mused, “That is why I did not want to tell you. After all, the more people who know, the higher the risk of being found out.”

Ye Xi’s body trembled slightly.

She took a deep breath as if making a decision.

“Don’t worry about the Midnight Society. It is an organization under Ye Hai’s control. Even if you are exposed there, I can find a way to keep you safe.”

“Ye Hai? Your father? The guy who tried to kill me without a second thought?”

“He probably didn’t intend to kill you.”

Shen Ji’s lips twitched as he complained, “Then what did he want? To test if I was sturdy enough?”

“He is very strong. If he had actually intended to kill you, you wouldn’t be standing here right now.”

Shen Ji curled his lip.

‘He can be as strong as he wants; I have a System and I’m using cheats.’

“I’m serious!”

Seeing Ye Xi’s earnest expression, Shen Ji set aside his dismissive attitude and said solemnly, “So you’re saying he might have other motives?”

“My King! No matter who it is, if they dare to plot against you, I will never forgive them!”

A sudden voice rang out between the two.

Shen Ji and Ye Xi instinctively prepared to subdue the intruder, but they paused when they saw it was the short woman from the bar.

Looking closely now, Shen Ji noticed her head barely reached his chest.

Her hair was tied in a bun, which paired perfectly with her youthful face.

In Shen Ji’s mind, she was nothing short of a total loli brat.

“How the hell did you find us?”

Shen Ji couldn’t help but swear.

He hadn’t noticed anyone following them when they left.

“My King, as your follower, it is my duty to find you!”

The girl still looked at Shen Ji with an air of devotion.

Shen Ji rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

This little girl had been calling him “King” since she first saw him.

Then there was that legend about the King Seed, which seemed similar to his [Vampire Hunter System] setup.

Could this girl actually know something?

“Hey, little girl, why do you keep calling me King?”

The girl crossed her arms, seemingly dissatisfied with the “little girl” label.

However, given Shen Ji’s status as the King Seed, she answered honestly, “The King is the King. What else should I call you?”

Shen Ji slapped his forehead in exasperation.

Was that what he was asking?

“Also, my King, I am already 18 years old. I am not some little girl…”

“Fine, fine, I get it. By the way, what’s your name?”

“My King, I am Yun Xiaotao!”

Yun Xiaotao responded excitedly.

The King had actually asked for her name!

This King seemed different from the Kings in the stories.

She was so happy and excited!

Watching Yun Xiaotao, who looked like she was about to jump for joy, Shen Ji felt a massive headache coming on.

He hadn’t even cleared up Ye Hai’s true intentions yet, and now he had a little girl following him around calling him “King.”

“By the way, did you run into any people from the Official on your way out?”

Yun Xiaotao tilted her head.

After a moment of thought, she replied, “Do you mean those kin with guns in their pockets?”

“Yeah. How did you escape from them?”

“The other kin were still inside fighting over the Blood Plasma. As soon as I realized you left, I followed immediately. I saw many kin with guns gathering toward the bar, but their attention was entirely focused on the inside. Even if they noticed my aura, they didn’t pay it much mind.”

Shen Ji lowered his head in thought.

Although he hadn’t wanted to reveal the secret of his form at the time, the situation had been urgent, and he had no other choice.

Leaving quickly was also a precaution against Liu Yao potentially trying to force him to stay.

Now he had only one choice: use Yun Xiaotao to figure out the secret of the King Seed within him, and then see if he could continue cooperating with Liu Yao.

“Xiaotao, can you tell me about the King Seed?”

—

Inside the bar, the air was thick with the heavy scent of blood and an invisible sense of oppression.

Liu Yao was carefully examining Mo Wenxin’s corpse.

Most of the Blood Race members around her were being held at gunpoint, while a few rebels lay in pools of blood.

Among the surviving Blood Race members, their eyes were filled with defiance.

‘We’re all the same kind. Why do you get to rule over our lives with guns while we have to swallow our pride and cooperate with your investigation? Is it just because you’re the Official’s dogs?’

Liu Yao shook her head and sighed.

She couldn’t find the direct cause of death for the deceased man before her.

She would have to gather clues from the witnesses instead.

“Everyone, I know you harbor resentment. Please cooperate with the Twilight Inspection Team, and we will return your freedom to you very soon.”

A rough-looking man in the crowd snorted.

He spat out some blood and said harshly, “Return our freedom? Are you sure you won’t just let us die here once we’ve lost our usefulness?!”

Liu Yao clenched her fists.

She had seen too much hostility from her own kind, but they had no choice.

From the moment they chose this path, they were destined to sacrifice many things.

“I am not asking for your opinion. I am informing you. You can either die or fight for a chance to live.”

Liu Yao’s cold tone and the pressure of her Third Evolution were fully unleashed.

Although the crowd remained unwilling, they finally began to waver.