Chapter Forty-Three: The Crimson Moon

Today was different—Wang Xiao actually saw light!

He rubbed his eyes in disbelief, half-convinced he was dreaming. But the commotion outside his room was all too real, a clear reminder that none of this was a dream.

Opening the door, he saw Avril. Light danced across her face, radiant and resplendent. Her ice-blue eyes could pull anyone into their depths. These were eyes that smiled.

“Good morning, Avril.”

Avril reached out, grabbing Wang Xiao’s hand. “Brother Wang, come quickly and look outside!”

They jogged to the plaza, where a crowd had already gathered, all gazing upward at something. It was a glowing sphere, the light so intense that nothing could be discerned of what lay at its heart.

Then, to a chorus of startled cries, the sphere dove from the sky.

“Ah, get out of the way!”

“My eyes! It’s blinding!”

“What is that?!”

“Is this… light?”

Avril, startled, tugged at Wang Xiao to flee, but he gently pulled his hand free.

He had his reasons—the sphere was headed straight for him.

With his life force at the fifth tier, ordinary brilliance couldn’t blind him. From the moment he arrived, Wang Xiao had known the source of the radiance: the little black bird.

Xia Mengsi also emerged from the crowd, one of the few who knew the truth. With an air of smugness, she said, “Surprised? Didn’t expect this, did you?”

By now, the little black bird had grown to the size of an ostrich, circling Wang Xiao.

Wang Xiao, exasperated, muttered, “Surprise? You’ve scared everyone with that black bird.”

“Pfft.” Xia Mengsi snapped, “Go on, get to work, or there’ll be no dinner for you tonight!”

The black bird gave a sulky caw, then soared back into the sky to continue shining.

Wang Xiao glanced up. “You’re using it as an artificial sun?”

Arms folded, Xia Mengsi replied, “Why not? All it does is eat and sleep. I thought I’d give it something to do.”

He looked at her and noted, not for the first time, that her chest seemed even fuller.

He shifted his gaze without a trace, “Aren’t you the same? Eat, sleep, repeat. Look at you—you’re getting chubby.”

Xia Mengsi was taken aback. “Where am I getting chubby?”

“Take a guess.”

Wang Xiao ignored her, his stomach rumbling. Time to eat.

“Let’s go, Avril.”

Avril seemed distracted—she had noticed Wang Xiao’s little gesture just now.

Hmph, I can get “chubby” too!

Seeing Avril lost in thought, Wang Xiao waved a hand before her face.

“Come on, what are you thinking about?”

She snapped back to reality. “Oh… oh!”

Night fell as usual, but this evening, the sky was different.

A new moon appeared—perfectly round, but blood-red, casting an eerie glow across the world. The crimson light sent chills down the spine. Livestock in Infinity City grew restless; the sound of animals battering the walls of their pens echoed from the greenhouses.

“What’s with this sudden blood moon?!” the bearded man demanded of his subordinate.

“Well… the vampires have given no explanation.”

“And…?”

The bearded man turned on his sharp-faced lackey. “And what?”

A subtle pressure pressed down on the lackey. He bowed his head, voice low. “And the vampires’ envoys have left.”

A cold snort. “Anything else?!”

“Also… before leaving, they said they hope we survive this calamity.”

Thud! The bearded man pounded the wall; his subordinate jumped in fright.

“Heh, those cowards—talk of alliances, but now they just run!”

The room fell silent. The subordinate scarcely dared to breathe.

“You may go.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, he thought, Whew, the boss is even stronger now—standing beside him is suffocating.

“Wait!”

The lackey, Zhang Ka, stiffened in terror. What now?

“Yes, boss?”

“Contact the Lord of Yanhuang City. Tell them we wish to form an alliance.”

“Yes, sir!”

As Zhang Ka was about to leave, the bearded man added, “Remember! Address me as City Lord now!”

“Yes! Lo—City Lord!”

Wang Xiao turned to Ike.

“Ike, do you know anything about this blood moon?”

Ike knew little, only that it was called the Crimson Moon. He looked to his grandfather, Idar.

After glancing around, Idar spoke. “This is trouble. The blood moon is known as the Crimson Moon.”

“Fifty years ago, it appeared once before. Back then, there was still a sun in this world—but after the Crimson Moon’s arrival, the sun vanished.”

“Now, after fifty years, the Crimson Moon has returned…”

Ji Weijie interrupted his memories. “What trouble will it bring?”

Idar replied with a bitter smile, “The appearance of legendary demons.”

Demons? Everyone was shocked.

Wang Xiao asked gravely, “Are they strong?”

Idar sighed. “Not strong, but nearly impossible to deal with.”

“Demons are extremely difficult to kill. As long as they have enough souls, they are virtually immortal.”

“If possible, it’s best not to fight them.”

Yang Ming asked, “Then how did you survive, fifty years ago?”

Indeed, if demons couldn’t be killed, how did anyone live to tell the tale?

Idar closed his eyes and shook his head. “We waited.”

“Waited? Waited for what?” Yang Ming pressed.

The others were curious, too.

He sighed, “Waited for the demons to have their fill.”

That…

Idar continued, “Some did resist, but it was of little effect.”

“Only attacks at the soul level can truly kill them.”

“But such individuals are exceedingly rare.”

Wang Xiao, meanwhile, was hatching plans of his own.

Attacks at the soul level, eh? Well, I have that!

Ha, what you can’t kill, I will.

My blade is already thirsty!

Everyone in the conference room turned to Wang Xiao.

Hey, you’re acting a little odd.

He realized he’d drawn attention. “Ahem, why are you all looking at me? Chief Idar, please continue.”

Idar went on, “So my advice is to focus on defense.”

“Unless necessary, do not go out during this time.”