Chapter 60

Chapter 60

A sensation of complete renewal, from head to toe, inside and out, permeated his entire being.

The blood of Tang Monk truly lived up to its reputation; it even made him look several years younger. A surge of power coursed through Jiang Yao’s body, accompanied by a violent energy that left him slightly agitated. Jiang Yao loosened his tie, slowly descended the stairs, and watched the bustling crowd with a faint smile.

Thirst.

A wave of thirst washed over him.

This unfamiliar, parching sensation made his heart burn as if it needed something to quench it.

"Hello, sir," a worker looked up at Jiang Yao. "Everything is ready. Please sign for the goods."

The worker was young, dressed in wrinkled work clothes, a crooked cap on his head, and sleeves secured with arm covers. His gloves were so worn they were nearly full of holes.

His eyes held reverence and longing for the wealthy gentleman.

Jiang Yao’s gaze lingered on the worker’s neck for a moment, causing the young man to blush. "Sir? The goods have been delivered..."

"Hmm." Jiang Yao descended the stairs leisurely, his eyes shifting from the worker’s neck to the delivery slip in his hand. He smiled slowly. "Hand it over. I’ll send the signed slip to your company afterward."

The worker hesitated—this slip was essentially an invoice, meant for confirmation and payment.

"Any problems?" Jiang Yao asked with a bright smile.

The worker: "..."

"No." Jiang Yao’s expression was so natural that the young worker, thin-skinned as paper, felt flustered just from speaking a few words to him. In a daze, he departed.

The castle was now empty, newly furnished with high-quality solid wood, varnished to a shine. Repairs had been made to the damaged areas.

"Anything else you need?" Louis’s voice came from above. Dressed in a white bathrobe, his face pale and painfully thin, he looked terribly frail.

Jiang Yao gave a slight bow. "Your Grace."

Louis acknowledged with a hum. Standing on the top-floor corridor, he could see Jiang Yao’s loosely fastened collar and displeased expression from where he stood.

"Three thousand euros? For this?" Jiang Yao picked up a feather duster and examined it. "Phoenix feathers, perhaps? Even when finances are strained, you still indulge in luxuries?"

Louis leaned against the railing, smiling faintly as he watched Jiang Yao, impeccably dressed, check the accounts.

System: "Louis is watching you."

Jiang Yao looked up, meeting Louis’s gaze. He curved his eyes, seeing the desire meter numbers flickering above Louis’s head in real time.

As long as Louis was awake, his desire toward Jiang Yao remained at its peak. Was His Grace hungry? Did he want to feed on him?

Jiang Yao licked his lips and touched his face, flustered by his own thoughts. His Grace would surely think him delusional!

"So hot," Jiang Yao muttered inwardly, praying Louis would go to sleep and stop staring at him.

Louis’s effect on him had grown stronger—from mere blushing and warmth when near, to a racing heart under his gaze.

Was it because of that drop of blood?

Jiang Yao lowered his eyes.

Louis turned slightly, gripping the railing as he gave Jiang Yao a deep look. "Jiang."

Jiang Yao: "Yes, Your Grace."

"I feel somewhat cold."

Winter was creeping into Y Country, but could a vampire even feel cold?

Charlie lit the fireplace, and Jiang Yao laid out thick white rugs in Louis’s room. Louis must have liked them very much, as he now walked barefoot across the floor.

—

Jiang Yao busied himself until dusk. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the estate’s telephone rang.

"Hello, Duke’s residence."

"..."

Jiang Yao: "Hello?"

"You’re finally answering." Doug’s voice came through the line.

Jiang Yao’s eyes curved lazily. "Yes, Doug. Long time no see."

Doug frowned. "What happened?"

Jiang Yao recalled that Doug had implanted something on him—perhaps a tracker. "I was ill."

Perhaps Jiang Yao’s coldness felt unfamiliar, as Doug fell silent for a moment.

Jiang Yao softened his tone. "What’s wrong?"

"Your vital signs weakened. Starting half a month ago." Doug seemed to have moved to a secluded spot, muffling the receiver. "What illness? Or were you bitten? Has the transformation begun?"

Jiang Yao’s gaze sharpened. "What did you plant on me?"

His voice carried a chill. A silver table knife twirled in his hand before he hurled it into a pumpkin on the table. The pumpkin split cleanly in two with a crisp crack.

"Doug?"

Doug hung up.

Jiang Yao fell into thought. Turning away, the gleaming silverware in the kitchen reflected his slender waist—so narrow he could grip it with one hand.

System: "What’s wrong?"

"I need to remove whatever Doug implanted on me." Jiang Yao’s voice was icy. "Having chosen the Duke, I can’t associate with humans anymore. At least, not easily."

Louis was playing the piano when the raven Ai Wei flew in through the window, a letter in his beak.

Without looking up, Louis casually gestured, and Ai Wei dropped the envelope into the nearby fireplace, where flames licked it away instantly.

Lately, Louis had been awake more often. After news of the Baron’s death spread, the Council of Elders flooded him with condemnations.

The death of a noble also dispelled rumors of his alleged idiocy, replacing them with accusations of madness. Though many letters arrived, few dared to confront him directly.

Instead, many suggested he consult a human psychiatrist—especially Cecilia, who sent a detailed letter providing names and addresses.

She told Duke Louis that these humans tasted exquisite and were skilled lovers. As his good friend, she was more than willing to share her bed partners.

In the world of vampires, humans are treated as food and objects for gratification, and trading or transferring them is perfectly normal.

Louis detests the promiscuity and indiscriminate feeding habits of vampires. He has no interest in this proposal and burns the letter, leaving every subsequent one unread.

So far, the only person who has managed to pique his interest is Jiang Yao, along with that pure heart of his.

Louis smirks.

Jiang Yao’s heart has been tainted by him. He can hear it—no longer sighing with compassion, no longer brimming with fearless courage or selfless trust.

Jiang Yao will become shrewd, cold, manipulative, and hypocritical...

If fed a little more, Jiang Yao will grow greedy and wicked.

A little more, and he’ll become no different from a vampire—lust-addicted, bloodthirsty, cruel, even murderous.

Of course, he’ll also gain boundless power. More importantly, as Louis feeds him more blood, Jiang Yao’s loyalty will deepen, as will his craving for Louis’ blood.

In the end, Jiang Yao will develop an utterly twisted devotion—absolute loyalty to Louis, willing to lay down his life, yet constantly yearning to devour and erase Louis!

And at the very end, this meticulously raised servant will, in seven out of ten cases, become Louis’ life-sustaining nourishment when his own life is on the verge of collapse.

The remaining three? Torn apart and consumed by other vampires.

Just thinking about Jiang Yao’s fate makes Louis rest his chin on his hand regretfully. He feels he still prefers the Jiang Yao who was as pure as fresh snow. He almost seems to regret it.

How boring it would be to treat Jiang Yao as just an energy reservoir. But what a shame—Jiang Yao’s face and figure are top-tier, and Louis simply can’t let go.

A knock sounds.

The door is rapped.

A dining cart is wheeled in, accompanied by a heavy, coppery scent of blood that spreads through the air, instantly detected by the vampire’s heightened senses.

Downstairs, the three ghouls who fed on the Baron’s corpse and advanced to mid-tier zombies pace restlessly, emitting rasping, guttural sounds.

Louis licks his lips.

Jiang Yao’s lips look pale. "Your Grace, it’s time for dinner."

The meal consists of steamed pumpkin, artfully carved into blossoms, and a serving of mashed potatoes. Louis has no taste for human meat, but even by his standards, this dinner seems disappointingly meager.

Louis makes no remark on the meal, though Ai Wei glances nervously between him and Jiang Yao.

"How does it taste?" Jiang Yao smiles, but his gaze remains fixed on Louis’ neck. He’s starving... painfully so...

Louis: "Passable."

Jiang Yao clicks his tongue.

Jiang Yao is displeased, but his expression remains perfectly controlled. He even offers an obsequious smile as he removes the plate. "I’ll remake it."

Just as Jiang Yao turns to leave, Louis pulls him roughly onto his lap, his black-nailed fingers slipping beneath Jiang Yao’s shirt.

Louis stares at the delicate collarbone and the hastily dressed wound on his chest. "What happened?"

The hunger and lust in Jiang Yao’s eyes are nearly overflowing.

"I removed what the humans left in me, but the wound is healing slowly."

"What do you want me to do?"

"...Lick me, my dear Duke."

-

In every world, for every mission, Jiang Yao is granted three chances to use a special ability.

Before coming upstairs, he used his second.

"Swap this twisted heart of mine with Louis’."

From now on, the elegant Duke Louis, who sought to impose upon him—those fits of maddening jealousy, life-or-death loyalty, shameful cravings, and the urge to both worship and destroy him—

All of it will be reflected back onto Louis himself.

-

Such impertinence.

Yet inexplicably, Louis obeys.