Chapter 131
Chapter 131
What a little liar.
The pressure surrounding Lu Yuanshi was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.
The followers seethed but dared not speak. Who would have thought that a mere player would be chosen as a progenitor-class vampire, putting him on the same level as the Moon God they worshiped?
Not a single player had ever become a progenitor-class vampire at the very beginning of the game since the *Vampires* instance was created.
That man was the sole exception. Who knew whether the system had gone blind or mad?
Xiao Huai had not noticed what was happening in the darkness. To him, this was nothing more than a performance, the opening act of a show designed to make the fish bite.
Listening to Xiao Huai’s heartbeat, Edwin found his feelings growing increasingly complicated. “Oh? Interesting. And what is this so-called price?”
“Your trust, naturally, my lord.” Xiao Huai released his hand and turned to look at the night sky.
The clouds parted to reveal the moon, its light spilling into his eyes. He murmured, “A follower trusts his god completely. Shouldn’t the god show his follower a little mercy in return?”
He gave a soft laugh. “If I ever betray your trust, I would rather have my heart pierced and welcome my funeral.”
Xiao Huai looked back at Edwin, his eyes so pure that not a trace of impurity could be found in them.
His gaze was like a burning firefly beneath a dark current, boiling up from the depths. Though it gave off light, it seemed capable of scorching anyone who looked at it.
Every word he spoke turned to electricity coursing through Edwin’s blood. Breathing softened, and everything around them seemed to grow still because of him.
As if he had been born for the sole purpose of drawing Edwin’s attention.
“All you want is a verbal promise?” Once Xiao Huai had kindled Edwin’s interest, it would not be extinguished so easily.
Xiao Huai nodded. “Of course. You don’t like gambling, my lord, so I won’t gamble. All I want is your trust and the chance to become your follower.”
“Do you know the price of becoming my follower?” A wicked smile curved Edwin’s lips.
Xiao Huai thought he saw endless torment in those eyes, and his brows drew together.
It looked like this was going to hurt again.
He only had to get used to it.
“Whatever it is, I accept.”
“Interesting. How very interesting.” Edwin walked toward Xiao Huai and touched a finger to the center of his forehead. “I permit you to become my follower. In return, you may come to the west wing to seek me out. When I summon you, you must come, but you may not enter any forbidden area. Understood?”
The instant that finger touched his forehead, it felt as though a serrated blade had torn through every inch of his skin. The moonlight magnified countless times over, so blinding and searing that his eyes nearly bled from the pain.
The agony went beyond his body and reached the depths of his soul. Xiao Huai tensed and trembled under its force, sweat soaking his shirt as strength almost completely deserted him. He bit down hard on his lip to keep even the faintest groan from escaping.
His lip split and bled beneath his teeth, but he did not make a sound.
Edwin withdrew his hand, a trace of lingering dissatisfaction in his eyes. “You’re very good at enduring pain. What a pity. I neither saw nor heard what I wanted.”
The pain vanished in an instant, but its aftereffects continued to torment him. Xiao Huai nearly collapsed to his knees. Clinging to his reason, he gritted out,
“Thank you… for the compliment… my lord.”
Edwin raised a brow and prepared to leave. One step had already been taken when Xiao Huai’s low, slightly trembling voice reached his ears.
“My lord, may I ask one thing of you?”
“What else do you-” Edwin broke off upon turning around, momentarily stunned by the heat in Xiao Huai’s gaze.
“From this day onward, you will be my only faith, and my eyes will follow you forever. Will you also watch me forever and bless me in the years to come? I don’t need you to bestow a blessing upon me. It would be enough if you merely prayed for me in your heart.”
He spoke with such sincerity, as though he had been different from everyone else from the very beginning, never expecting any gift of power.
As though he were a truly devout follower who wanted nothing more than to remain in his god’s thoughts.
Edwin’s gaze darkened.
His only faith. Eyes that would follow forever.
Edwin’s eyes curved. “Very well. I promise that after the instance ends, I will watch you forever.”
After all, you will never escape my grasp again.
“A god cannot take back an oath so easily.” Xiao Huai’s voice was very soft. He felt as though he might faint at any moment.
Edwin naturally knew how devastating soul-rending pain could be. He had intended to deny every request if Xiao Huai could not withstand it.
Yet not only had Xiao Huai endured, he could still speak.
Edwin lifted Xiao Huai’s chin and met his eyes with a serpent’s stare. “Naturally, gods are not like you humans.”
Xiao Huai feigned weakness and stumbled. Edwin caught him by the wrist with a backhanded grip.
The corners of Xiao Huai’s eyes were tinged faintly pink, as if he had suffered a terrible grievance. “But I’ve been deceived too many times. I can’t bring myself to trust anyone. Not even a god.”
Truthfully, Edwin was a little shaken.
At first, Xiao Huai’s beautiful face had caught his attention because it perfectly suited his tastes. Later, the unusual way Xiao Huai played the games made Edwin want him.
But Edwin had never imagined Xiao Huai possessed this side of himself.
Somehow… it awakened a tenderness Edwin had not felt in a very long time.
His brows furrowed. “You don’t even dare trust me?”
“You don’t trust me either, my lord,” Xiao Huai said weakly, as though describing some terrible injustice.
But there was nothing unjust about it. He had never offered sincerity in the first place. The entire thing was a lie.
Nine o’clock drew closer and closer. At last, Edwin said,
“It’s only a promise. Very well, I’ll agree.”
A supreme-grade Soul Contract appeared before him. Edwin said, “If you don’t trust me, surely you can trust this.”
Light flashed through Xiao Huai’s eyes, and he gave a quiet hum of agreement.
Only Xiao Huai knew the true nature of his supernatural ability. Whenever he signed a contract with an NPC, the system automatically concealed the crucial information for him. After all, it was a divine-tier ability and could not be exposed carelessly.
Edwin handed him the contract. It contained exactly what had been promised.
Just as Edwin prepared to sign, Xiao Huai said, “Wait. This Soul Contract isn’t fair.”
“What isn’t fair about it?” Edwin was genuinely puzzled.
Xiao Huai said softly, “It isn’t fair to you, naturally.”
“To me?”
How interesting. How could the contract possibly be unfair to Edwin? All it said was that Edwin had to watch him from then on.
What the Soul Contract recorded was merely a promise, not a wager.
Xiao Huai nodded. “If I cease to be your follower, would you still be willing to watch me?”
Edwin fell silent. Follower or not, Xiao Huai was someone he intended to possess.
Xiao Huai continued, “If I ever cease to be your follower, why not punish me by marking my soul? Then no matter where I am, you will always know. You could even find me.”
A mark…
Edwin’s heart skipped at the word.
He found the idea of a mark deeply satisfying.