Volume 4: Hidden Battles – Chapter 153: The Night of Slaughter

Chu Tianyu helplessly turned to look at that old bat, who was sneakingly avoiding his gaze. He didn’t know what to say about him. But it couldn’t be blamed on him either; likely, he too had overlooked how unremarkable the church was at first, rather than judging its size based on grandeur or splendor as he had claimed earlier. It was probably just an excuse made after suffering a loss.
With his proud nature, he must have acted without thinking, determined to snatch that person back immediately, just to show off in front of him or avoid the trouble of making a tenth trip!
Thinking of this, Chu Tianyu couldn’t entirely blame Fernandi. He turned back to stare at the red-clothed archbishop below. Now that they were face to face, Chu Tianyu realized that, described in Chinese terms, this man indeed had a kind and gentle appearance. Even though he was severely injured, he still exuded the dignity of an elder. However, his blood-stained lips and pale face took away his usual vitality, giving him a somewhat sad appearance…
“Do you know where they went?” Chu Tianyu asked, hardening his heart.
The archbishop now seemed to have lost all will to resist. With vacant eyes, he said without reservation, “I don’t know either. But since that vampire could track them here, I’m sure their whereabouts can’t escape him either!”
Chu Tianyu looked at him—his expression one of complete loss of confidence and hope, his face ashen. Though he didn’t know what the archbishop was thinking now, it was certain that what he said couldn’t possibly be a lie anymore. And from his tone, it was clear he also disapproved of this situation, though helplessly.

After figuring out the general situation, Chu Tianyu decided not to linger any longer. Just as he was about to turn away, it seemed he suddenly remembered something and sucked at the cardinal’s hand. The cross, still glowing with a silver light, instantly ended up in Chu Tianyu’s hands. At the same time, Chu Tianyu’s voice rang out: “This place was originally a sacred and devout site, but you’ve used it to harbor filth. Look at this cross, which should be a symbol of faith, yet it’s been used as a tool of brutal force. Do you know? With that punch just now, I could have destroyed you and the entire church connected to your energy network. But I held back—only because this place is still meant for people to repent and turn to goodness. It shouldn’t be ruined because of your negligence. Sometimes, ‘people’ are even less holy than these cold walls!”
When Chu Tianyu took the cross from the cardinal’s hand, the cardinal instinctively tried to rise and reclaim it. But first, he was far too weak, and second, hearing Chu Tianyu’s words left him stunned. His lips trembled as he tried to say something but couldn’t. Eventually, as if he had come to some realization, he slowly closed his eyes and gave up on the cross altogether…
After settling matters here, Chu Tianyu went to Fernandi’s side. Fernandi, seemingly aware of his fault, hurriedly spoke before Chu Tianyu could say anything: “While you were talking, I already sensed the vampire’s whereabouts. Should we hurry and leave now?”
Seeing no reaction from Chu Tianyu, he froze for a moment, realizing Chu Tianyu had nothing more to say to him. So he immediately did as suggested, ignoring the enemies who had been defeated in the church, and led Chu Tianyu southeastward.
The two didn’t speak along the way. Fernandi probably felt embarrassed for complicating things due to his actions, so he didn’t dare speak up. Chu Tianyu, on the other hand, grew anxious. He had taken the chance to call Ouyang Ziyi and Li Rou earlier. Strangely, both calls went to voicemail, and even satellite channels didn’t work. This reminded Chu Tianyu of his trip to Shaolin…

Actually, Chu Tianyu also felt reluctant to leave this time, as after all, only he had the ability to handle this situation. It was Sister Xin, who was closer to Ouyang Ziyi than a relative, who had been captured. Although Chu Tianyu had only met Sister Xin a few times, he knew that Ouyang Ziyi’s feelings for her had reached a level that filled the void left by her biological mother’s death. So, even though he was aware that Yishi Castle was in great danger these past two days, he couldn’t tell Ziyi, “I’m worried about you and Li Rou; I won’t care about Sister Xin’s situation!” If he did that, even for Ziyi’s sake, she probably wouldn’t agree.

Moreover, when leaving, he saw more and more people from Sophia arriving as reinforcements, including several individuals with clearly superior strength—dukes and barons—who even addressed Sophia as “uncle.” Their strength must be roughly on par as well.

It had been since noon, and now most of the afternoon had passed; it was still bright daylight. There shouldn’t be any danger yet, right? Chu Tianyu thought that as long as he returned by 8 p.m., there should still be time. After all, hadn’t those who attacked him at Shaolin started their move only in the evening?

Along the way, Chu Tianyu and Fernando each lost in their own thoughts. Eventually, Fernando couldn’t hold back anymore and asked, “Young man, just how powerful was that punch of yours? Do you realize you just fought against the sacred power accumulated in that church over the years, not to mention the power of several bishops who were also activating their abilities…?”

“How much longer do we think it will take to catch up to them?” Chu Tianyu asked instead of answering.

“How am I supposed to know? Unless they stop! But according to that red-clothed kid, that vampire must have taken them to seek support!” Fernando replied.

“Elder, I’ve always had a strange intuition—that even though I know you’re a vampire, it seems like you don’t drink human blood!” Chu Tianyu suddenly changed the subject.

“Oh, where did you get that idea?” Fernando quoted some classical Chinese.

“I said it’s an intuition. If I have to be specific, it’s your eyes. When you look at ordinary humans, there’s not the slightest hint of predation or condescension in them…”

“Heh, you’re quite observant!” Fernando replied ambiguously, neither denying nor confirming it.

At that moment, Fernandi suddenly brought the conversation back to Chu Tianyu, saying, “By the way, let’s not talk about this. Let’s switch to you! Everyone says I’m a villain, but only after being with you did I truly understand what a real scoundrel is—someone who not only beats someone half to death but also almost destroys their house! They even tell them it’s all their fault, scolding them sternly, and then seize their most precious things, openly saying they’re not worthy of using them and that using them would be an insult to their beliefs. It actually leaves them speechless. You’re strong, really strong! I’ve been around for thousands of years, yet I can’t compare to you…”

Chu Tianyu didn’t say much in response to Fernandi’s teasing. Knowing he didn’t want to talk about the previous topic, he remained silent. He tried calling Ouyang Ziyi and the others several more times, but got only a voicemail.

“Is something wrong?” Fernandi asked, noticing.

“Can we hurry up? I’m a bit worried about the castle…” Chu Tianyu hesitated before speaking.

“This is already the fastest we can go!” Fernandi said helplessly.

“Mm, I know. Thank you, senior!”

After Chu Tianyu said that, Fernandi could tell from his expression what he was feeling, so he didn’t say anything further and focused even more on tracking, speeding up significantly.

Unnoticed, evening had arrived. Just as Chu Tianyu lost patience and wanted to return to the castle first, the old bat finally waved his hand, his eyes gleaming as he stared at the small manor ahead, even licking his lips involuntarily…

Seeing Fernandi’s expression and actions, Chu Tianyu felt relieved, knowing they had finally found their target. He softly asked, “Are we there?”

“Mm, but it’s strange. There’s only his presence. Normally, there should be a large group of vampires waiting for me at that manor,” Fernandi said puzzledly.

Chu Tianyu’s heart sank. Could there be more complications? If the target was moved again, things would get really tough! With that thought, he didn’t say anything more. He vanished in a flash, leaving Fernandi behind and rushing forward. When his figure appeared in front of the manor, his powerful aura was instantly released. Soon, he sensed something, which made him both happy and a bit puzzled.

To his joy, he finally sensed Sister Xin’s familiar presence. Aside from her slower breathing, as if she were in deep sleep, nothing else seemed amiss. What puzzled him, however, was that the vampires here weren’t just one, as Fernandi had sensed, but rather a large group lurking everywhere around them.

But none of this mattered anymore. Chu Tianyu’s anxious state of mind at that moment made him feel like he was ready to fight anyone who stood in his way!

The answer was revealed soon after Fernandi appeared beside him. The sky suddenly grew even darker, with black shadows flying everywhere, letting out fierce roars, as if demons had appeared.

“Kaka, Fernandi, it really is you! I’m incredibly honored to see you here, kaka. But after all, what’s so special about you?” sneered a person who first took human form, wearing a black cloak, with a long, thin face and a cold expression.

By the time he finished speaking, all the vampires around them had transformed into human form and surrounded the two of them.

“The Reilly family! Don’t tell me you’re that Prince Water who wets himself at the sound of thunder?” Fernandi retorted, noticing the golden family emblem on the speaker’s cloak.

“Dare you insult His Royal Highness the Prince? Die…” A burly vampire beside the first speaker suddenly stepped forward, firing a puff of black mist at Fernandi.

But before the mist reached Fernandi, it vanished completely. The vampire who had released it was struggling in pain within Fernandi’s time domain, his wrinkles appearing and deepening, his hair turning gray. An appearance of old age—a term utterly foreign to vampires—was clearly visible before everyone’s eyes.

Then, Prince Water waved his staff, adorned with a huge emerald gem, and a green beam shot out, targeting Fernandi, who was still muttering spells.

Fernandi, facing Prince Water’s attack, did not dare be careless. He stopped attacking that guy’s time domain and instead gathered all his strength, conjuring a pale cyan halo in his hand to block the green light. Not only did he completely absorb it, but he also pushed it back with ease, sending a massive surge of energy flying back at Prince Water. Prince Water, not daring to be negligent either, used his staff for support as the green light intensified. The two forces finally collided in a fierce clash. With a loud boom, Prince Water was forced to take several steps back, while Fernandi remained unmoved, watching Prince Water, who was now flustered and embarrassed, with a mocking expression.

Prince Water managed to stand steady only with the help of several of his followers behind him. His pale face changed instantly, and the vampires of the Riley family around him erupted into chaos, roaring loudly and revealing their sharp fangs with fierce expressions.

If it were ordinary people, they would have been terrified by such a scene.

But obviously, Chu Tianyu and Fernandi were not ordinary people. They remained calm, watching as Prince Water suppressed the unrest among the vampires with a fierce roar of his own. Then, without saying a word, he stared at Fernandi like a night god, as if he wanted to devour him.

Chu Tianyu observed Fernandi’s recent combat with Prince Water, noting his casual and playful manner of fighting. He understood why Fernandi had the confidence to be so arrogant. With his outstanding strength, the title of “Vampire God” was indeed well-deserved. However, Chu Tianyu wasn’t interested in these things. Moreover, it seemed that these bloodthirsty creatures were certainly not hospitable “people.” He kept his attention on Sister Xin and the others while considering his next move.

“Kid, what do you say?” Fernandi asked, his mischievous eyes blinking. He was overjoyed inside. Who would have thought that after having a great time in the church with Chu Tianyu and releasing years of pent-up anger, he would encounter such a delightful ambush here? He guessed that the vampire he had been tracking must have recognized his identity when he entered the church alone, which led to the sudden change in plans and this ambush. He had even wondered earlier why his presence had been so detectable along the way!

However, there are still a few doubts here. First, how could vampires be harbored by those firmly devoted, even stubborn, bishops? It’s simply absurd when considering their centuries-long enmity! Second, why could the scent of those vampires just now evade his perception, leaving him completely unaware?
If Chu Tianyu weren’t here, facing such a situation alone—no matter how easily he won earlier—against so many experts and surrounded as he was, it would be absolutely impossible for him to escape unscathed!
But with Chu Tianyu around, everything is different. That’s why he’s so happy, even wanting to laugh out loud. If his current situation were to be described by a single phrase, it would be like having a wealthy patron by his side—not only does he have a strong and solid support system, but he also has nothing to worry about, no risks at all…
While Fernando was in high spirits, Chu Tianyu had basically made up his mind. He casually turned to Fernando and asked, “Your kin don’t seem very friendly, do they? It seems they hate you even more than they hate me, a human.”
Hearing Chu Tianyu’s question, Fernando shook his head seriously and said, “You’re wrong. I’m not even the same kind as them. You wondered why I don’t drink human blood earlier? Now I can tell you—the reason is I’m a vampire hunter!”
“A vampire hunter?” Chu Tianyu repeated, slightly surprised.
“Hehe, to put it more plainly, I drink vampire blood; human blood isn’t suitable for me!” Fernando said, rubbing his nose.
Chu Tianyu sized Fernando up again before smiling and saying, “Elder, you’re truly an outlier! But since you have nothing to do with them, you don’t care about their lives or deaths, right?”
By the end, although Chu Tianyu still spoke in a calm tone, Fernando couldn’t help but feel a chill. Looking at the vampires surrounding them, he couldn’t help but feel a hint of sorrow for their impending tragic fate!
So, Fernando replied reluctantly, “Sigh, actually, they’re kind of old friends. Seeing them like this… if you really… sigh, it’s hard to bear.”

At that moment, before Chu Tianyu could speak, he suddenly raised his voice and interjected, “But I’m really not that familiar with them. Moreover, hehe, not only that, there’s even a little grudge between us. So whether they’re pitiful or sad, it has nothing to do with me!”
Hearing Fernando’s stance, Chu Tianyu decided not to waste time and said directly, “Give me all of this. Inside that white house with the spire is what I’m after, along with those vampires you’re familiar with. It’s yours. Do you have any objections?”
“No objections, absolutely none!” Fernando replied readily and happily.
Just then, Prince Water on the other side, as if he had set up some kind of trap all around, finally waved his arm and gave the order to attack Chu Tianyu and Fernando.
The vampires surrounding them seemed unable to hold back any longer. Instantly, they released a thick layer of black mist above them, which pressed down heavily toward Chu Tianyu and Fernando. At the same time, those vampires near them transformed into bats and rushed forward along with the black mist.
The remaining vampires outside stretched out their fingers, revealing long blood-red nails, as if preparing to pounce or performing some ritual gesture. Soon, a blood-red orb formed on their fingers, which they then pushed toward Chu Tianyu and the others before starting the process of gathering energy again.
Faced with the vampires’ frenzied attack, Chu Tianyu seemed to sense something. Suddenly, a dark aura enveloped his body. Chu Tianyu, who had planned to fight using his Purple Void Energy, was delighted—unexpectingly, the power of the Ink Dragon Energy had awakened!
With a roar that echoed throughout the manor, Chu Tianyu’s Ink Dragon Energy surged outward rapidly, and the Ink Flame Sword appeared in his hand. As soon as his Ink Dragon Energy came into contact with the black mist emitted by the thousands of vampires around him, it clashed violently with it, like two opposing forces colliding, creating tremendous energy waves. Those vampires transformed into bats, using the black mist to boost their strength and launch surprise attacks, were instantly crushed by these two forces. Even the splattered blood didn’t have time to fall to the ground before evaporating into clouds of blood vapor that mixed with the black mist, leaving no trace behind.

Prince Water had been smugly ready to watch how the two of them would deal with the aftermath. Thinking about the strategy he had devised today, along with the unique methods obtained from the church, he had finally lured that Fernando into an ambush. Combined with the family’s special black mist, it would be impossible for their opponent to escape, no matter how fast they tried!
But what he saw was completely beyond his expectations. The arrogant Fernando he had targeted was actually standing idle with his arms folded, while that human, whom he had barely paid attention to before, turned out to be extremely powerful. Judging from the force he felt, this human’s strength was undoubtedly beyond even the King of All Europe and Grand Patriarch Thorne—it was terrifying!
Yet even more terrifying scenes were still unfolding. He was surrounded by a layer of black mist, suspended in mid-air, with a seemingly illusory black long sword appearing in his hand. After a brief pause when their forces collided, his body quickly merged with the sword, and their separate forms could no longer be distinguished.
To the vampires around them, all they could see were the sweeping sword light and the falling bodies of their comrades. The black mist they had released was also torn to pieces by the sharp sword, causing their entire formation to collapse instantly.
“Elder, it’s your turn!” Suddenly, Chu Tianyu’s roar echoed through the air, waking Fernando from his daze and reminding him of his mission.
Without waiting for Chu Tianyu to say more, he rushed forward following the trajectory of Chu Tianyu’s sword.
Chu Tianyu also appeared in the air, swinging his Mo Yan Sword in a powerful slash toward Fernando’s path. The strength of this move was comparable to the last slash he had made when he first obtained Mo Yan in that valley.
A fierce gust of wind blew out, but in the main direction, a long sword mark appeared. Wherever vampires tried to block, blood mist and flesh pulp scattered everywhere…
Watching his disciples being mercilessly slaughtered like ants, Prince Water’s eyes turned red, his black cloak puffing up as he roared at Chu Tianyu. Channeling all his strength through his staff, he launched it like a green spear at Chu Tianyu.

Chu Tianyu swung his Ink Flame Sword with his right hand, severing several more vampires’ heads. As for Prince Water’s attack, he merely moved his lips slightly, clenched his left fist, stepped to the side, and his figure vanished in an instant—avoiding Prince Water’s attack and swiftly moving to his right side. With his left fist ready, he seized an opening and delivered a punch…

Poor Prince Water missed his strike and even exposed his entire body, leaving his waist vulnerable. After a few seconds, he felt intense pain spreading from right to left. But before he could fully experience the pain, as he fell, Chu Tianyu’s Ink Flame Sword swept across his neck, sending his head flying away from his body forever…

With Prince Water’s death, the remaining vampires were stunned. They couldn’t believe that their sacred figure had been defeated in just one move!

Now, Chu Tianyu, surrounded by black aura and wielding a sword that seemed to burn in blood, appeared to them like a death god from hell—bringing not only terrifying darkness but also deadly intent. Watching him, their hearts shattered…

Indeed, their hearts were shattered. While they were stunned, Chu Tianyu didn’t give them a chance to breathe or scatter. He gripped his Ink Flame Sword tightly, unleashing all his power. With a single move, he sent waves of sword shadows throughout every corner of space. Wherever the black flames burned, a vampire’s heart was crushed and instantly burned to ashes…

After this, the bodies of those “heartless” vampires floating in the air began to fall, raising dust clouds, with no further sounds heard…

Fernandi, who was holding two people, witnessed this final horror clearly. He also acted swiftly. One of his abilities was instant spatial teleportation, so when he appeared beside that vampire, the vampire was still anxiously watching the battle outside through the window, unaware of Fernandi’s arrival.

Fernandi, on the other hand, lacked any sense of gentlemanliness or grace. He knew that a surprise attack was the best way to fight at that moment, so without hesitation, he released a control field while his two golden fangs appeared instantly. His figure, like that of a giant bird, rushed at the man’s neck. In just one second, Fernandi drained the vampire’s essence. As the vampire turned into a mummy, Fernandi managed to catch Sister Xin and Duke Ret, who were unconscious, and rescue them successfully.
By the time Chu Tianyu appeared, Fernandi was still in extreme shock at the massacre he had just committed. No, “shock” wasn’t enough to describe his feelings!
At the same time, an unshakable belief formed in Fernandi’s mind: never, ever to become an enemy of this man—or rather, this twisted being. This would be the first rule of his endless life ahead!