In the eyes of the vampire, whose body was twisted and broken, the strength of their bloodline seemed unshakable. Even if he lost his arms and legs in battle, the pain would not reach him. The moment he drank blood, he could recover everything, no matter the damage. In fact, suffering could fuel his ferocity, amplifying his combat prowess.
But Lin Mei did not yet know what method had been used to trap him. As a vampire, he had never before seen one of his own kind howl in agony like this. The image of his fellow creature writhing in pain was unimaginable. He couldn't even fathom the torment that awaited him if he were to be tortured.
The vampire trembled violently, fear gripping him.
"No... No... Please, stop!" The vampire's voice grew hoarse, each word a desperate rasp from the depths of his throat, full of pleading and terror.
Lin Mei's face, however, grew colder with each passing moment. There was no pity, no hesitation in his eyes. He knew that any trace of weakness would only embolden creatures like these—beasts that thrived on sucking human blood.
"This is the price of lying. Do you remember?" Lin Mei's voice was as cold as the winter wind, sharp and biting.
Who would have thought such a terrifying force could reside within a mere child?
The vampire's body stilled, his trembling ceasing. His eyes went vacant, drained of all vitality, as he collapsed to the ground like a stagnant pool of water.
"Tsk. Is that all? Pathetic." Lin Mei glanced at the other vampire, whose fear was palpable.
The vampire stiffened, as if sensing the deadly intent in Lin Mei's gaze.
Lin Mei's smile twisted, predatory. "Johnny's here."
"No! No, please!" The vampire with the twisted head begged, terrified beyond reason. It was as though Lin Mei were some horrifying specter, dragging him into an abyss of endless darkness and suffering.
Lin Mei's steps were slow and deliberate, each one seeming to pierce the vampire's very soul. The vampire's heart raced with terror.
"Do you know fear?" Lin Mei's voice was low, laced with cruel amusement. He twirled his wand in his hand, testing the vampire's limits of fear with every step.
The vampire curled into a tight ball, his eyes squeezed shut, too afraid to meet Lin Mei's gaze. He mumbled incoherently, begging for some form of mercy, though it was unclear what redemption he sought.
Then, Lin Mei began his interrogation.
With a calm, almost cheerful air, he extracted every detail from the vampires. The information he gathered was chilling. The vampire's obsession with his mother, Melissa, was far from over. Bob—the vampire Lin Mei had killed earlier—had been working for a group called Dicken, a faction claiming to be the new generation of vampire leaders.
Their goal? To turn Melissa into a vampire and recruit her into their ranks, strengthening their power. Dicken had also found Lin Mei's body that day, using their own methods. Moreover, some vampires had seen Lin Mei's use of magic during the recent confrontation with the Ten Rings Gang. Dicken had plans to control Lin Mei by manipulating Melissa.
The situation was even more dire: Dicken had already dispatched agents to Lin Mei's home, planning to attack Melissa.
Lin Mei's eyes blazed with fury and resolve. He had not anticipated such treachery, nor the vampire's ruthless ambitions. The idea of these creatures threatening his family sparked a fire within him.
Yet, Lin Mei wasn't afraid. He stood confident, fully aware that no matter what monsters came his way, they would kneel before him.
"Hmph, you vampires are truly wicked!" Lin Mei snapped, swinging his wand with force. A surge of light engulfed the vampire, whose tortured screams filled the air. The vampire's body writhed in agony, the magic inflicting unspeakable pain.
"Tell me, where is Dicken? I'm going to settle this score personally!" Lin Mei's voice was chilling, full of murderous intent.
The vampire, broken and trembling, finally revealed Dicken's hiding place.
But Lin Mei was not done. He raised his wand, preparing to silence the vampire with a final, piercing blow. Just as the wand swung down, a sudden hand landed gently on his shoulder.
"Lin Mei, enough. We've gotten the information we need. There's no need to continue," Blade's voice was calm and resolute, carrying an authority that brooked no argument.
Lin Mei turned slowly, a flicker of reluctance in his eyes. But it passed quickly, and with a curt nod, he complied.
With a wave of his hand, Lin Mei unleashed a surge of light energy, reducing the two vampires to ash in an instant.
"Lin, that dark magic is beginning to erode your heart. If possible, avoid using it in the future," Blade warned, his tone firm yet filled with concern.
Lin Mei gave a slight nod, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his face. As he cast the Heart-Eating Spell, he felt an indescribable pleasure surge within him. The more he tormented the vampire, the more he reveled in the dark satisfaction it brought.
With a focused expression, Lin Mei opened a portal, following the last location provided by the two vampires.
On the other side, a villa nestled in the northern suburbs of the United States awaited.
The moment Lin Mei stepped through, the sharp stench of blood assaulted his senses.
However, the villa was eerily empty.
The disarray around him revealed the hurried departure of the vampire group. It was clear they had fled in a rush.
"It seems likely they already know what we've done," Blade commented as he examined the area, his voice steady.
Lin Mei nodded in agreement. "They probably just managed to escape. We're unlikely to catch up to them now."
The most striking feature of the villa was the blood-soaked swimming pool, its surface gleaming with dark red stains. Along with the acrid smell of blood, there was an unmistakable hint of rotting flesh—a stench that made the air thick with decay.
It was evident that these vampires had grown brazen, unchecked in their actions, while the American government remained woefully incompetent. But then again, this was 'Free America,' where gunfire rang out daily, and ethical boundaries seemed blurred. Murders were so frequent that a few missing persons barely registered.
"Lin Mei, there are other lives beneath this place," Blade's voice broke the silence, his tone sharp with concern.
Lin Mei turned to him, his expression hardening. Blade had sensed something strange beneath the villa—something alive.