Chapter 53: Blood Exchange

Just as Ye Xi’s consciousness was about to fade into total darkness, she suddenly felt the chains on her body loosen as the darkness retreated from her vision.

An ethereal voice drifted in abruptly.

“Let her go.”

The majestic voice did not respond at first, instead manifesting chains once more to snatch at Ye Xi.

“What are you joking about?”

“This matter is no longer something you or I can interfere with.”

“What about that kid? Did you send him back?”

“No.”

“What?!”

Although Ye Xi’s senses were weak, she could vaguely feel intense energy fluctuations erupting from the source of the voice.

Even her fragile soul trembled slightly at that moment.

The ethereal voice remained calm, saying, “I have been entrusted with this task, and I will see it through. I hope you can show me some respect.”

“Show you respect? Who will give me a chance? This matter is non-negotiable!”

With that, another intense wave of pressure washed over her.

Ye Xi, now completely freed from her restraints, drifted like a paper boat upon a turbulent sea.

Without realizing it, Ye Xi lost consciousness entirely.

*

“Uncle Ye, I didn’t expect you to be so thorough. You even planned out an escape route.”

The person speaking was none other than Shen Wan, who had been taken by Ye Hai.

Ye Hai curled his lip and crossed his arms over his chest.

“I never put myself in a position where there is no way out.”

“Does that mean you intend to use my brother as your scapegoat?”

Ye Hai shook his head and said slowly, “No, nothing will happen to him.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because he is a King Seed. To those in power, he is the new leader of the entire Blood Race, a presence capable of keeping the entire species in check.”

Shen Wan looked at Ye Hai with a complex expression.

Her mind began to link everything Ye Hai had told her: first, inciting the Blood Race to gather in Nanjiang City, then leaking the fact that Shen Ji was a King Seed.

It was all to manufacture the illusion that a Kingdom of the Blood Race was being established.

This forced The Official to focus all their attention here.

To make the plan even more convincing, he had even arranged for Captain Mu Qingxin to play the villain killed by Shen Ji.

It was meant to make The Official firmly believe that the power of the King Seed, Shen Ji, was beyond question.

Only because Shen Ji broke out early did he abandon that step.

Instead, he held her hostage to coerce Shen Ji into cooperating with his plan.

As for his motive in drawing The Official’s attention here, it must be because Ye Hai was planning an even bigger move.

Having figured this all out, Shen Wan finally asked a question regarding herself.

“How much longer will my Blood Race disguise last?”

Ye Hai shook his head and sighed, muttering, “Not long. This batch of Transformation Agent is one-time use. Even if you take it again later, the duration will get shorter and shorter until it becomes completely ineffective.”

Shen Wan froze and murmured distractedly, “That means, when that time comes, I will die, right?”

Ye Hai nodded, then shook his head, replying, “That is the logic of it, yes.”

“But…”

“But what?”

“But there are exceptions to everything.”

“If you truly want to become part of the Blood Race, it is not impossible.”

A spark flashed in Shen Wan’s eyes as she gripped the corner of her shirt.

“What should I do?”

“A blood exchange. Find a member of the Blood Race who is willing to become a human.”

“Okay!”

“Wait, I haven’t finished.”

Shen Wan looked at Ye Hai, puzzled.

“The prerequisite is to find a member of the Blood Race with the Talent of [Bio-electricity] to preside over the process.”

Shen Wan’s expression dimmed.

The world was vast, and the number of the Blood Race was extremely scarce; where would she find a suitable candidate?

Ye Hai coughed lightly and continued, “Actually, I know where to find a member of the Blood Race with the [Bio-electricity] Talent. You only need to find a member of the Blood Race who wants to become human.”

“Really? Uncle Ye, you really are a good person!”

“However!”

“You must obediently cooperate with my acting and make your brother follow my arrangements.”

Shen Wan’s small face turned cold as she turned her head away.

In a frigid tone, she replied, “If you want me to undermine my brother, you can dream on!”

Ye Hai felt a massive headache coming on.

He knew he couldn’t push her too far, which was why he had tried to lure her in instead.

But now, the plan had clearly failed.

Just then, Shen Wan suddenly exclaimed, “Who is it? Who is talking!?”

Ye Hai was clearly startled.

A crimson light flooded his eyes as he slowly scanned his surroundings, but he found nothing.

This couldn’t help but make him suspicious that Shen Wan had ulterior motives.

He quickly spoke up, “What? Who?”

A flash of confusion crossed Shen Wan’s eyes, then she suppressed the upward curve of her lips and changed her tune, “I can agree to your terms, but.”

Ye Hai scoffed and muttered, “You little brat, trying to negotiate with me?”

Shen Wan stomped her feet, feigning anger.

“If you don’t agree, I’ll die right here, and I’ll make sure my brother makes you pay!”

“Fine, fine. Tell me. I will do my best if I can.”

Shen Wan smiled craftily.

“I want to reach the Third Evolution. Provide me with the Blood Plasma.”

*

By evening, inside the café.

“Shen Ji?! Are you okay?”

Shen Ji slowly sat up.

Ignoring Mu Qingxin’s concern, he rested his head on his hands and stared off into the distance with a complex expression.

“Shen Ji? Shen Ji? Where is the Young Lady? Did you see the Young Lady?”

Hearing the name “Ye Xi,” Shen Ji finally pulled himself back to reality.

He muttered, “Don’t worry, she’s fine. She’ll wake up in a moment. Just let me have some peace.”

After saying this, Shen Ji draped a jacket over his shoulders and prepared to head outside.

Mu Qingxin’s expression grew grave; her intuition told her that not only had he succeeded, but he had also encountered something unimaginable.

“What exactly did you see?”

Shen Ji’s figure stiffened.

He slowly turned his head, his eyes rimmed with red, and a strange smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“I saw the truth.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Shen Ji shook his head, turned around, and said, “Let me think about it alone for a while.”

With that, Shen Ji pulled up the rolling shutter with one hand and walked out into the sunset.

Mu Qingxin and A Ran looked at each other, both stunned.

What did he mean?

What was the truth?

Just then, Ye Xi’s fingertips twitched.

She gasped for air and opened her eyes wide.

“Young Lady, Young Lady, are you alright?”

Ye Xi placed a hand on A Ran’s shoulder and slowly sat up.

Looking back, she realized Shen Ji was no longer in his original spot.

She immediately asked in a panic, “Where is Shen Ji!?”

A Ran’s expression was strange as she asked in surprise, “Young Lady, do you really know nothing?”

Ye Xi’s body stiffened.

She vaguely sensed a memory emerging in her mind—one that didn’t seem to belong to her.

But it flashed away in an instant, leaving no trace behind.

“I—I don’t know either. I just feel like I had a, a very, very long dream.”

Mu Qingxin sighed and muttered, “Shen Ji seems to have learned something, and he anticipated that you would wake up.”

“Then where did he go?”

Mu Qingxin shook her head and replied, “He said he needed to think, and all we can do is wait for him to return.”