Eldritch Horror Theatre

”It seems they really have been behaving lately.”

Seeing Yuan Shan lost in thought, Fu Qian nodded.

After the conflict with Huang Zhixun, Yuan Shan would have inevitably kept an eye on the Gulade Family’s movements. Her current surprise proved they hadn’t shown any unusual activity recently.

”Yes. I originally thought you leaving Shangjing had averted a direct conflict, and that they didn’t want to make too big of a scene either.”

”Even Taylor approaching you earlier was a tacit probe on their part.”

”Looking back, aside from the unexpected incident with Taylor, this group really has been very restrained.”

”What could have caused this? And it has to be something recent, considering they were still pulling little tricks over on Gan Zuoxun’s side not too long ago.”

Yuan Shan clearly placed great importance on the news Fu Qian had brought. As expected of the city’s Chief, she quickly grasped the key point.

”Do you have any thoughts on this?”

After pondering for a moment, Yuan Shan apparently couldn’t come up with any further clues and turned to look at Fu Qian.Through their multiple interactions, his calm acuity had left a deep impression on her. So, even knowing Fu Qian wasn’t familiar with such ancient families, she still wanted to hear his opinion.

”Essentially, I’m just giving you a heads-up about an anomaly I noticed. Are you worried they’re brewing up some massive disaster?”

Fu Qian wasn’t in a hurry to express his own views.

”Theoretically, they shouldn’t be stupid enough to do that. But the problem is, Shangjing just went through a massive disaster...”

Yuan Shan didn’t deny her concerns.

”I actually don’t know much about this flock of big bats, but judging by Granny Serana’s reaction, they don’t seem particularly afraid of sunlight.”

Fu Qian asked after a moment of thought.

”Correct. It’s just that they’re relatively better at utilizing their strengths at night, since their abilities are tied to darkness.”

Yuan Shan confirmed his guess.

”Wait, you called her Granny Serana? You’d better not let her hear that.”

”She’s at least five hundred years old. Calling her ’Granny’ is polite enough. Though obviously, her mental age is far lower than that.”

”How do you know how old she is—”

Halfway through her sentence, Yuan Shan realized the answer and instantly looked disgusted.

”I told you that damn notebook was obnoxious!”

It was apparent that Serana wasn’t the only one sensitive about age.

”Also, I heard Serana mention the term pure-blood. How is a pure-blood defined among vampires?”

”The Gulade Family is a highly unusual type of transcendent. Based on current research, the inheritance of extraordinary power is indeed somewhat linked to bloodline, and they are undoubtedly the group most significantly affected by it.”

”The specific definition of a pure-blood is very simple: both parents must possess a pure Blood Clan lineage. After all, not all vampires are exclusively interested in their own kind.”

”I’ve heard a bit about that.”

Fu Qian nodded, recalling the section about garlic in the Abyss Notes.

”But intermarriage within the clan? This isn’t just a matter of one or two generations. They’ve lasted for over a millennium, right?”

”I know what you mean. But the Blood Clan consists of more than just the Gulade branch, though their pool of choices still isn’t very large.”

”So by now, the actual proportion of pure-bloods isn’t very high. That’s also why Taylor was able to get his hands on the Abyss Notes... Also, if I remember correctly, Serana should be a pure-blood as well.”

”I see. Though she seemed to scoff at the whole concept.”

Fu Qian recalled Serana’s expression when she had criticized Taylor.

”I remember when we mentioned Huang Zhixun earlier, you suggested that he might have turned to trading favors with the Gulade Family because his hopes of advancing to a demigod were dashed. As far as you know, what kind of help can the Gulade Family offer in that regard?”

A method to help Huang Zhixun...

Although she didn’t understand why Fu Qian had brought this up again, Yuan Shan thought for a moment and answered seriously.

”Theoretically, Huang Zhixun follows a cultivation technique path, which really isn’t in the same category as naturally born anomalies like vampires.”

”However, as an ancient family that has spanned multiple centuries, the Gulade Family’s accumulated resources are undoubtedly terrifying.”

”Aside from various items and materials, this includes all sorts of information regarding rituals.”

”If Huang Zhixun felt his cultivation was hopeless and wanted to rely on rituals to attempt his advancement, they could definitely provide a lot of reference material. By the way, why are you asking this?”

”That’s about what I figured.”

Fu Qian nodded and, under Yuan Shan’s increasingly confused gaze, pointed toward the window.

”Actually, I have a theory.”

”The Blood Clan has accumulated a great deal regarding advancement rituals, and their abilities are connected to darkness.”

”So, could their change in attitude be caused by the solar anomaly from a while back?”

The solar anomaly...

After Fu Qian finished speaking, Yuan Shan’s eyes initially lit up, but then her expression instantly turned strange.

”Are you saying they took that anomaly as an opportunity for some kind of ritual?”

”Yes, which is why they decisively withdrew from worldly disputes for the time being.”

Fu Qian nodded.

”Withdrew, my ass! Didn’t you cause that?”

”I did.”

I swear to God...

It had to be said, what Fu Qian suggested was indeed a possibility.

The previous anomaly, where the sun was almost sealed, might have just sparked curiosity for ordinary people, but for that bunch of vampires, a massive reaction was highly likely.

But the problem was, if that really were the case, it would be far too hilarious.

”Also, I recall the Gulade Family has demigods?”

Fu Qian asked.

”Yes, more than one.”

”In that case, they should have abundant experience with demigod advancement rituals specifically for the Blood Clan.”

Fu Qian hinted meaningfully.

”...Are you trying to say that if they were inspired by the anomaly and wanted to hold a ritual, it might not be for advancing to a demigod?”

Yuan Shan understood immediately, her expression instantly growing twice as serious.

If not a demigod, then it would be a Divine Emissary. Could the Gulade Family be preparing a Divine Emissary advancement ritual in Shangjing?

That would truly be no small matter.

”It’s just a guess, but I suggest the Night Watchers keep a closer eye on them.”

”Thank you. I’ll pass down the orders.”

”But even if they really do have plans to hold a ritual in Shangjing, they’ll definitely do their utmost to cover it up... What a pain!”

Yuan Shan rubbed her head, nursing a headache.

”Actually, there is a way.”

”Hm... What way?”

Yuan Shan snapped her head up.

”Strike the grass to startle the snake.”

Fu Qian pointed at the massive sun outside the window.

”Cause another anomaly.”

...

No matter what, it felt like this grudge was firmly cemented.

He wondered if the entity that Descended upon Ariel was the true body of the blazing sun.

In any case, if there really was a God behind the sun, his occasional blasphemous acts probably felt like someone smearing crap all over her face.

Thinking this, Fu Qian picked up the Transparent Longbow from the desk.

After hearing his suggestion, Chief Yuan had clearly fallen into extreme shock and heavily condemned his reckless behavior.

In the end, she had simply shown him the door, setting up an appointment time with him on his way out.

And right now, there were only ten seconds left until that agreed-upon time.

Yuan Shan should have made all the arrangements on her end by now, right?

Fu Qian raised his hands and drew back the Blasphemous Embrace once more.

An arrow formed from rust-colored tentacles manifested again, aimed squarely at the massive fireball burning wildly in the sky.

”It’s a shame the recoil is a bit strong.”

Amidst his murmurs, the arrow howled through the air.

...

The rust color blotted out the sky once again, leaving the sun as nothing but a halo of golden light.

Sitting behind the counter in The Bookstore, Fu Qian silently watched it all unfold.

At this moment, his own body had grown significantly paler as well, entering that uncomfortable colorless state.

The negative side effects brought by the Blasphemous Embrace were always so consistently reliable.

”Hmm... Has my Templar Knight appeared again?”

After an unknown amount of time, a somewhat teasing voice seemed to cross countless dimensions of space and time to establish a connection with him.

The Dark Moon Pope, a certain unnamed Cosmic Pretty Girl.

As expected in this world, as long as he entered the colorless state, she would be able to sense him.

However, compared to last time, this connection had distinctly changed.

Aside from the familiar voice by his ear, an image actually began to slowly surface in Fu Qian’s mind.

It was a seemingly familiar hall. Upon an exquisitely gorgeous long seat, the Witch—dressed in intricate robes and decorated to the absolute pinnacle of luxury—was leaning back lazily.

Opposite her, rows of equally luxuriously dressed men and women could vaguely be seen.

Even though it was clearly a solemn and dignified occasion, there was a festive bustle to it.

”My Dark Moon Cult is flourishing day by day!”

Fu Qian thought for a moment and attempted to transmit this message over via his thoughts.

”Improving fast, aren’t we?”

It wasn’t long before the Witch on the seat blinked, her tone carrying unconcealed joy.

”Normally there aren’t this many people. We’re celebrating a holiday today.”

”It looks very grand. What holiday is it?”

”On this day seven years ago, an eighth light appeared in the night sky.”

The Witch’s voice drifted over leisurely.

So that was it, Fu Qian pondered.

”Happy holiday.”

”Happy holiday to you too, my Dark Moon Knight.”

’’’