Chapter 82 Stay with me for a while

From the pair of flower shop sisters at the very beginning, to that night...

The Black-Robed Knight he had casually killed...

Xu Ruo gradually confirmed one thing.

The Fran Empire... had held the intention of going to war with the Holy Kingdom from the very beginning, which was why they had orchestrated this series of events!

And that blood bead...

Thinking this, Xu Ruo took out the blood bead he had obtained from the Black-Robed Knight from his bosom.

Now...

The blood-red color of the bead had been almost entirely replaced by an ink-black hue.

This also meant...

That Xu Ruo's magic power had completely eroded the blood bead before him.

And he also discovered an interesting point about this blood bead...

It was actually a "Blood Puppet Bead" created from the secrets of the Vampire Race!

But...

Compared to a true Blood Puppet Bead, this seemed more like a semi-finished product.

A true Blood Puppet Bead could turn the other party into one's own kin!

Just like the process back then when Lilia transformed Emily from a commoner of the Lion Country into a Vampire.

But this one right here...

Could not change a person's bloodline.

At most, it only allowed a person to gain a Vampire-like power enhancement for a short time by burning their own blood.

But that was all.

Once the holder's blood was burned out, not only would their soul scatter, but their corpse would even turn into a puppet, to be manipulated by the true owner of the Blood Puppet Bead.

Such a semi-finished product...

Xu Ruo did not believe this was the work of the proud Vampire Race.

They would not deign to refine the lowly human race into puppets...

In that case, the identity of the person behind the scenes...

Was very likely a human who had obtained Vampire blood!

Xu Ruo's heart stirred, and his gaze turned sharp.

Regardless of which outcome it was, it was worth his time!

The Fran Empire...

It was also time for it to completely become dust in history!

Just as Xu Ruo was thinking this, a wave of alcohol scent wafted over.

The next moment, a soft face flushed with red suddenly leaned in, resting its chin on Xu Ruo's shoulder.

At the same time, a lock of fiery red hair drifted gently across Xu Ruo's chest.

Accompanying the faint scent of her body were Bai Ye's words, which seemed somewhat delirious—

"Hehe~~~"

"What is this? Why do I feel... the aura of this bead is somewhat similar to our royal bloodline..."

Bai Ye said, reaching out to grab the black bead in Xu Ruo's hand.

However, having already drunk herself into a stupor, she saw fully a dozen phantom images of the bead before her eyes.

Sure enough, her grab not only missed, but she almost reached straight into thin air.

Xu Ruo was startled, and immediately grasped Bai Ye's snow-white wrist, stopping her action—

"You grabbed the wrong thing, that's not a bead..."

Xu Ruo said quickly, putting the blood bead away into his bosom.

However, Bai Ye was clearly hazy with drunkenness and could barely even hear what Xu Ruo was saying.

With her head drooping, she hummed and tried to nuzzle her head into Xu Ruo's chest.

Xu Ruo shook his head, and had no choice but to reach out and wrap his arm around her slender, soft waist, pulling her gently to sit by his side, letting her lean against him.

"Huu~~~"

Bai Ye hummed comfortably, snuggling directly against Xu Ruo's chest, her eyes half-open and half-closed, a hazy, drunken smile hanging on her lips.

But her little hands were still somewhat restless.

They reached out from Xu Ruo's embrace, gently tugging at the lapels on his chest, her cheek rubbing against his heart, looking like a lazy kitten enjoying itself.

Xu Ruo was somewhat helpless, grabbing Bai Ye's restless little hands, and looking down at her flushed, pretty face, he said helplessly:

"How is your alcohol tolerance so poor?"

"If you keep drinking, you'll be so drunk you won't even be able to walk."

"Mmm... I won't get drunk..."

Bai Ye raised her little face in a charmingly drunken manner, flashing a sweet smile at Xu Ruo, still holding onto his lapels, and lay down in his embrace just like that.

She murmured: "I can still... drink more..."

As she spoke, she tried to struggle to get up to reach for the wine glass.

Xu Ruo held Bai Ye's slender waist with one hand, while using the other to push his own wine glass further away.

"Stop drinking, if you keep going, you won't be able to handle it..."

This time, the beauty in his arms did not retort, but only rubbed her head against Xu Ruo's chest, her breathing gradually becoming even.

That soft breath, carrying the scent of alcohol, made Xu Ruo feel somewhat helpless, yet also warm in his heart.

Just then, a faint, murmuring voice slowly drifted into Xu Ruo's ears—

"I... I won't drink anymore. Can you... take me back?"

"Today... I'm so tired. I don't want to walk back alone anymore..."

"If you don't want to walk back alone, why don't you just ask someone else to come out drinking with you?"

Xu Ruo looked down, amused and exasperated, at the charmingly drunken Bai Ye in his arms.

"No..."

Bai Ye shook her head gently, rarely failing to show that charming, mischievous smile, instead burying her cheek into Xu Ruo's chest.

Having shed the knight's armor she was accustomed to, Bai Ye was now wearing a fiery red evening gown.

Yet, inadvertently, she had revealed her most vulnerable side.

Her tone carried an imperceptible attachment as she whispered—

"War... is coming again..."

"I don't want... I don't want them to know..."

"They... will worry about me..."

Hearing this, a tinge of pity welled up in Xu Ruo's heart.

He reached out to gather Bai Ye's fallen long hair behind her head, gently stroking her cheek, and said softly:

"Rest assured, leave it to me. None of them will know about this."

Bai Ye did not respond, only nodding in Xu Ruo's embrace, burying her face deeper into his chest.

Before long, picking up the dazed Bai Ye, Xu Ruo walked steadily on the road back.

Bai Ye's figure was between that of Xia Xier and Qingya.

Even though she was drunk, she was still light and slender.

Xu Ruo held her in his arms without any effort at all.

On the contrary, Bai Ye seemed to feel a sense of security in her sleep, wrapping her arms tightly around Xu Ruo, resting her head firmly against his chest, her breathing gradually becoming even.

Passing through the already empty streets, and the gradually quiet Monastery, they returned to Bai Ye's bedroom.

Placing her gently on the bed, Xu Ruo then intended to turn and leave.

But just as Xu Ruo was preparing to get up, Bai Ye suddenly reached out and grabbed his sleeve.

"Don't go..."

Opening her eyes again, Bai Ye's gaze was filled with intoxication.

Her gaze even held a hint of pleading as she looked up at Xu Ruo, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, as she murmured with some trepidation:

"Can you... stay with me for a while..."

"Even if it's just for tonight..."

...

PS: Taking a break tomorrow, I've been so tired these past few days.