Time: Medieval European Calendar · Black Forest Moon · 8th Day, 04:00 Early Morning
Location: Black Forest Fir Grove → Samantha's Secret Hideout → Secret Passage Entrance at the Back Hill of Silver Moon Castle
Characters: Catherine, Samantha (remote contact), Samantha's Deputy Cole, Li Haoran, Gray, Carl's Faction Guards
Dampness hung heavy in the fir grove, with crystal-clear dewdrops clinging to the pine needles. They dripped onto Catherine's body, sending a sharp, biting chill down her spine. Leaning against a thick tree trunk, she rebandaged the wound on her shoulder with a clean cloth—but the blue blood seeped through faster than she'd anticipated, tainting her fingertips with a cold, metallic sweetness. Her face was as pale as parchment, her lips chapped and flaking. Relentless battles and flight had drained nearly all her strength; only the warm current from the fetus in her womb kept her from slipping into unconsciousness.
The glow of the crystal ball flickered softly in the dim woodland, and Samantha's figure emerged clearly within it. She wore a luxurious silk gown, her hair styled immaculately, yet an unshakable worry furrowed her brows. "Catherine, what's wrong? You look terrible—are you hurt? I just received word that Ragnar's team is searching the Black Forest Valley, and there's news about Lady Irina…"
"I'm fine. Irina is… safe for now." Catherine cut her off, her voice hoarse and parched, each word costing her immense effort. "I need the most accurate map of the Silver Moon Castle dungeon—specifically the area where the cell lies: rune distributions, number of guards, weapon configurations, and the exact route of the secret passage. All of this is critical."
She dared not tell Samantha that Irina might be in peril, fearing it would distract her and delay the map's delivery. Dawn was fast approaching; every minute Li Haoran spent trapped was another minute of agony.
"Of course, I'll prepare it for you at once." Samantha nodded firmly. "Rest assured—I have plenty of eyes inside Silver Moon Castle, and I know the dungeon's layout intimately. Cole, bring me the latest map of the Silver Moon Castle dungeon, marked with runes and guards!"
In the crystal ball's glow, a man in a black robe strode forward. His hood was pulled low, obscuring most of his face, leaving only a taut jawline and a pair of cold, unfeeling eyes—eyes like ice-forged blades, glinting with an imperceptible shadow as they swept over the crystal ball. He handed a thick roll of parchment to Samantha, his movements respectful yet stiff, as if fulfilling a duty rather than obeying a command.
Samantha took the map, flipped through it briefly without close inspection, then spread it before the crystal ball. "There you are. The map has been transmitted through the crystal ball—check it carefully. Cole has been with me for years; he knows the layout of Silver Moon Castle inside out. He's helped me gather countless intelligence on Carl's faction before—he's absolutely trustworthy."
Just as Catherine prepared to close the crystal ball, Samantha's tone suddenly turned unusually serious, even carrying an unyielding firmness. "Catherine, listen to me. The Silver Moon Castle dungeon was converted from an ancient ruin; its internal structure is more labyrinthine than a maze. Even if there were no guards at all, in your current state, you might not survive long enough to reach the cell."
Catherine froze, a flicker of confusion crossing her purple eyes.
"Dawn is nearly here," Samantha's voice softened, filled with sincere concern. "The rune cage is strongest at night, but it enters a brief lull at dawn. Li Haoran is in pain now, but he'll at least keep his life—he won't endure much more torment. You're covered in wounds, and the silver poison hasn't been eradicated. Charging in now would be nothing short of suicide."
Samantha paused, then continued. "I have a secret hideout on the edge of the Black Forest, used by caravans to transport goods—it's absolutely safe. I've already sent someone to clear it out. Go there now, take my special healing potion, and rest for a full day. Tomorrow at dawn, when your strength has recovered a little, we'll formulate a thorough plan based on the original map."
Catherine looked at her trembling hands, the purple glow in her palms fading so faintly it might vanish at any moment. She knew Samantha was right—impulsiveness was a fatal flaw. If she fell, Li Haoran and Irina would truly be lost.
"Very well, I'll listen to you." Catherine nodded weakly, the resolve in her eyes giving way to forbearance. "Send me the hideout's coordinates."
"Coordinates transmitted." Samantha let out a sigh of relief. "Remember—heal as soon as you arrive, and don't overthink. Cole!"
Cole bowed slightly in the crystal ball's glow.
"Send your most capable men to escort Lady Catherine, and clear all of Carl's sentries along the way!" Samantha ordered.
"Yes." Cole's voice was low, a flicker of malice crossing his dark eyes as he quietly retreated.
The crystal ball's glow dimmed gradually. Catherine folded the map, supported herself against the tree trunk, and stumbled toward the direction Samantha had indicated.
The next morning, the third quarter of the Yin hour (03:00–05:00).
The night was pitch-black, the crescent moon hidden behind dark clouds. After a full day of rest and healing, Catherine's condition had improved significantly. The silver poison hadn't been completely eliminated, but it had been suppressed to the surface of her wound, no longer gnawing at her bones. The fetus in her womb had grown calm, its warm current nourishing her body unceasingly.
Samantha's secret hideout was a stone hut hidden in the mountainside—dry and secluded. Catherine laid the new map she'd bought with gold coins on the table, beside the original map Samantha had sent overnight.
She lit an oil lamp, its flickering flame illuminating the two distinctly different drawings.
She'd marked the "shortcuts" and "secret doors" on the new map with large red crosses. On the yellowed original map, she'd traced repeatedly with charcoal, matching the confessions of the captured guards to the map's outline, finally settling on a route—the most dangerous one, yet the only one likely to avoid all shortcuts and ambushes.
"Li Haoran, wait for me one last time." Catherine changed into a black outfit suited for movement, tied her hair back, and covered her face with a black veil. She tucked a stone blade at her waist, the purple glow in her palms regaining a hint of luster.
After saying goodbye to the guards at the hideout, Catherine vanished into the night like a streak of black lightning.
This time, her destination was clear—the back hill of Silver Moon Castle.
The back hill in the early morning of the 9th day was even quieter than the night before. A waterfall cascaded down the cliff, its roar drowning out all faint sounds. The entrance to the secret passage was hidden in a crevice between the rocks behind the waterfall, covered by thick vines and moss, exactly as marked on the original map.
Catherine hacked through the vines with her stone blade, revealing a narrow entrance—barely wide enough for one person to pass through. Inside was pitch-black, thick with the stench of damp earth and a faint moldiness, occasionally broken by the "tick-tock" of water dripping onto stone.
Unlike her disheveled state the night before, Catherine now had sharp eyes and steady steps. She didn't light a torch; relying on the vampire's superior night vision, she moved swiftly through the darkness.
The secret passage was narrow and steep, its walls covered in slippery moss. Catherine moved like a cat between the stones, one hand pressing against the wall for support, the other conjuring purple glow to guard against what lay ahead. Every step was precise and light, making not a sound.
Sharp pains occasionally shot from her wound, but she suppressed them with her immense willpower. The fetus in her womb seemed to sense its mother's determination, growing even calmer—the warm current acting like the sturdiest armor, protecting her as she traveled through the dark.
After about a quarter of an hour, the secret passage gradually widened, and faint rune glow and indistinct footsteps echoed from ahead.
Catherine's heart began to race. She knew—the Silver Moon Castle dungeon was just ahead.
She slowed her pace, held her breath, and crept forward along the cold stone wall. The purple glow in her fingertips condensed into a pinpoint, ready to erupt at any moment.
The side door of the dungeon was just ahead. Two guards of Carl's faction leaned against the doorframe, their silver spears propped diagonally on the ground, their faces tired.
"Is it almost time to change shifts? This place is cold and damp—it's not fit for humans." One guard yawned, complaining.
"What's the hurry?" The other guard lowered his voice, a hint of schadenfreude in his tone. "Lord Carl ordered us to guard this door. I heard Catherine was supposed to come last night, but she never showed. But the lord said she'll definitely come tonight—we've got a net of traps waiting for her to walk right into it."
A cold glint flashed in Catherine's purple eyes.
Just as she'd suspected—Carl was still waiting for her.
But he would never guess that Catherine had seen through the trap, rested and recovered, and chosen a different path.
She slowly raised her hand, the purple glow in her palm silently transforming into two thin, hair-like blades, slicing through the air in imperceptible arcs, aimed precisely at the back of the two guards' necks.
Just as the blades were about to strike, a harsh metallic scraping sound suddenly echoed from the depths of the dungeon, followed by a familiar, scheming voice.
"Don't waste your energy, Li Haoran. Your little bit of holy blood can't even scratch a single rune."
It was Gray.
Catherine's movements froze abruptly.
She didn't move, but held her breath, straining to hear every sound from the depths of the dungeon.
At that moment, in the deepest part of the Silver Moon Castle dungeon, Li Haoran—bound by black iron chains—struggled to lift his head. After the night's lull, dawn was approaching, and the power of the rune cage began to stir again, its eerie blue glow pulsing like a heartbeat, constantly draining the holy blood from his body.
The bronze vessel was overflowing with blood, pooling on the ground and emitting a sacred yet eerie glow.
Gray leaned against the cage, arms crossed, watching him with a complex expression. In his hand, he clutched a tattered cloth embroidered with the conservative faction's crest, his fingertips white from exertion.
"Elder Valerius of the conservative faction asked me to pass on a message," Gray's voice was not loud, but it echoed clearly through the empty dungeon. "He said he will get you out."
Li Haoran smiled weakly, his voice hoarse. "Are you trying to trick me again?"
"This time it's true." Gray tucked the cloth away, a flicker of struggle crossing his eyes. "But remember—I am a double agent planted by Carl in the conservative faction. In this game, there are no winners, only survivors."
Outside the dungeon, Catherine heard every word clearly.
Her heart felt heavy. This chess game was far more complex than she'd imagined.
But she had no time to hesitate.
Catherine took a deep breath, the hesitation in her eyes fading completely, replaced by unwavering resolve.
She raised her hand again, and two streaks of purple light shot out silently.
"Pfft!" "Pfft!"
Two soft sounds—the guards fell limp to the ground without even a groan.
Catherine darted out, slipping into the dungeon like a black phantom, without a sound.
The first light of dawn had not yet pierced the darkness.
But the Silver Moon Castle dungeon had already welcomed the final player in this three-way struggle.
A bloodbath was inevitable.