Chapter Four: Bonds

Ruxia City, District C, Xiyuan Residential Area.

"What are Mingzi and the others doing? Their phones won't go through even though it's past shift change. What's going on?" Two young men were walking side by side within the complex. The slightly taller one on the left slid his phone into his pocket and asked with a puzzled expression.

"Chasing girls, most likely! They probably forgot the task the Warden gave us!" the young man on the right replied.

Convinced this was the case, the two exchanged a few more remarks before heading directly toward Building 16B.

A dozen minutes later, they reached Room 402 on the fourth floor, twisted the door handle, and walked inside. Facing the pitch-black living room, the taller young man said with a scoff, "As expected of those two scoundrels, you called it!" With that, he switched on the living room light.

Pulling out a pack of cigarettes, the two sat down on the sofa. "Huzi, why do you think the Warden makes us stand guard here every single day?" one asked. "It's been over half a month, and we haven't even caught a glimpse of the owner of this place. Who knows when this will end!"

"Shh! Keep your voice down. You can't complain about this. Haven't you heard that Young Master Haoran had his arm severed? That's why the Warden has already killed several people over it!" the slightly shorter young man explained.

"Even that happened? No wonder the Warden has us watching this house day and night!" The taller young man finished speaking, then seemed to recall something and added with a shudder, "By the way, Huzi, what if the owner of this house comes back? Will he kill us? After all, he even dared to chop off the Young Master's arm, let alone the likes of us..."

The shorter young man felt a chill run down his spine at these words, and a creeping sense of dread took root in his heart.

In the room to the left of the living room, Nangong Yuchen lay pressed against Nangong Kexin, fast asleep. Suddenly, he was jolted awake by the commotion outside. He snapped upright, his crimson eyes blazing, and strode toward the living room.

"Tap, tap!"

"Just shut your crow's mouth already! There was nothing wrong, but you're going to talk trouble into existence!"

The moment Nangong Yuchen pulled the bedroom door open and laid eyes on the two figures in the living room, a murderous intent surged within him to its absolute peak! "It's Zhou Lingtian again!"

Startled by the sound of the door opening, the two young men whipped their heads around. Terrified out of their wits, they tumbled backward off the sofa.

"Ah... A monster!"

Peeing and shitting themselves in fright, the pair screamed in terror as they stumbled toward the front door.

Nangong Yuchen gave them no chance. He flashed forward to intercept them, seized both by the neck, and dragged them out onto the balcony.

"Tell me, where do Zhou Haoran and Zhou Lingtian live?"

"I... I..." With their windpipes constricted, the two could only speak in broken gasps, struggling in the grip of absolute terror.

Out of patience, Nangong Yuchen unfurled a pair of wings and soared from the balcony into the high sky, loosening his left grip to drop the taller youth.

"Thud!" Hearing the miserable shriek echo from below, the shorter young man grew even more terrified. Trembling violently with a face as pale as paper, he dared not make a single move, terrified that the monster before him would also let go and drop him to his doom.

"Last time I'll ask: Where are Zhou Haoran and the others?" Nangong Yuchen's expression was grim, his crimson eyes brimming with killing intent.

"B... B..." The man's lips quivered for a long time, unable to force the words out. Finally, under Nangong Yuchen's increasingly freezing gaze, he raised a finger to point in a certain direction.

Although Nangong Yuchen knew the location of the Star Emperor Tavern, he was unaware of the exact residences of Zhou Haoran and Zhou Lingtian, which was why he had hauled the young man along while flying toward District B.

He had placed this faction on his execution list a full month ago, but his strength had been insufficient back then. Now, having awakened, he possessed power great enough to crush even a first-tier mecha warrior. Naturally, he had no intention of sparing the enemies who had repeatedly attempted to assassinate both him and Kexin!

"Whoosh, whoosh!"

Half an hour later, Nangong Yuchen descended before the gates of a luxurious mansion in District B...

When he emerged once more, the sky was already faintly brightening. Stained all over with blood, he dared not linger and raced back toward home at maximum speed.

There was no helping it; he was no longer human. If anyone were to discover his current appearance, it would likely provoke a city-wide manhunt across the entirety of Ruxia City!

"Hah!"

Feeling a shred of relief that his appearance had gone unnoticed, Nangong Yuchen landed on the balcony and stepped back inside.

Pushing the bedroom door open, he found his older sister still unconscious on the floor. Filled with quiet remorse, he scooped her up and laid her gently on the bed.

As he gazed at her pale little face, a pang of heartache and guilt washed over him. At the same time, he sensed that some subtle connection had formed between Kexin and himself. It was a bizarre sensation, one that seemed to have arisen ever since he drank her blood the previous night, acting like an invisible tether binding their souls together.

Then, thinking of his current appearance, Nangong Yuchen felt a wave of distress. Although he possessed the resolve to protect his family and this land even if it meant bearing the body of an otherworldly race, how was he supposed to go out?

With wings on his back, crimson eyes, and claws for hands, how could he possibly venture outside? Was he destined to hide in this tiny room for the rest of his life?

The more he thought about it, the more agonizing it became. Why did he have to be a demon? Why had he transformed into the monster from his dream, the one slaughtering humans and children within that courtyard?

He had no idea when those two words had first surfaced in his mind, but he already knew he was neither a fierce beast nor a mere monster—he was a demon!

Though he was still somewhat unfamiliar with the word and the race it represented, he had gained an entirely new perception of the world. Humanity, fierce beasts, demons, and the elves mentioned by Angel—beneath this sky, the land was now shared by four distinct races!

"Hah!" Weary from the overwhelming influx of information and having nothing left to do, he slumped against the side of the bed and slowly drifted into sleep.

How much time passed, he could not tell. The sunlight streaming through the window grew increasingly brilliant, and Nangong Kexin finally stirred. The very first thing she did upon opening her eyes was reach for her own neck.

She needed to verify whether the events of the previous night, preserved in her memory, were real—whether Nangong Yuchen had truly drunk her blood! When her slender fingers brushed against the wounds on her shoulder and neck, she bolted upright in shock.

"Nangong Yuchen!" Rage flooded Nangong Kexin. She had never imagined that her younger brother would actually... actually do such a thing to her, and against her will at that.

Turning her head, she spotted Nangong Yuchen fast asleep against the side of the bed. Seething with anger, Nangong Kexin hopped down, raised her hand, and prepared to strike him across the face.

Yet, just as her palm was about to connect with his cheek, her heart gave a violent jolt, and she discovered to her horror that she could not bring her hand down!

*Heartache? No, this is... Why can't I...* Nangong Kexin widened her eyes in disbelief as she stared at her right hand, which was now gently caressing Nangong Yuchen's face. She had no idea what was happening to her. Why couldn't she strike him? And what was that strange, hollow aching in her chest just moments ago?

"Mmm?" At that moment, Nangong Yuchen woke up. He opened his eyes, looked at his bewildered older sister, and asked, "Kexin, what's wrong?"

"Nangong Yuchen, you... you jerk! What on earth did you... do to me? Why... I..." Nangong Kexin's furious tirade cut off abruptly as she locked eyes with his crimson gaze.

"Thump!"

The instant their eyes met, both Nangong Yuchen and Nangong Kexin shuddered in unison. They realized, with startling clarity, that they could perceive each other's innermost thoughts. Between their hearts, an ineffable, indescribable bond had formed—a connection deep enough to let them feel each other's emotions directly!

If they had to give a name to this sensation, the single word that echoed simultaneously in both of their minds was...

"Bond."