Night had already settled over the city.
Inside the small apartment, the lights were dim and quiet.
Lin Yue leaned back against the sofa, her injured foot carefully resting on a pillow. The bandage Mo Chen had wrapped around it earlier was neat and firm.
She stared at it for a moment.
Then looked at him.
Mo Chen sat across from her, leaning slightly back with one arm resting on the sofa. His expression was calm, but his eyes seemed distant, as if he were sensing something far beyond the walls of the room.
Lin Yue tilted her head.
"You've been quiet again."
Mo Chen didn't answer immediately.
The night outside the window was silent, but something in the air felt different.
Finally he spoke.
"We are not the only ones who know about last night."
Lin Yue blinked.
"…You mean the vampires?"
Mo Chen shook his head slightly.
"Not only them."
She straightened a little.
"Wait… you mean those blue-eye guys?"
Mo Chen's eyes shifted toward her.
"The hunter."
"Shen Wuyan."
Lin Yue frowned.
"He already saw you."
Mo Chen nodded calmly.
"Yes."
A small silence followed.
Lin Yue sighed and leaned back again.
"So basically the whole supernatural world knows we exist now."
Mo Chen didn't deny it.
"That is correct."
Lin Yue groaned and covered her face with both hands.
"Great."
"This is exactly how I wanted my college life to go."
Mo Chen watched her quietly.
"You are not frightened."
She peeked at him through her fingers.
"I am."
"But I also know something."
"What?"
She dropped her hands and looked directly at him.
"You won't let anything happen to me."
For a brief moment, Mo Chen did not respond.
Then he looked away slightly.
"…Correct."
Lin Yue smiled.
The atmosphere softened again.
But far away, the night was far from peaceful.
Supernatural Association Headquarters
A large digital screen filled the center of the investigation room.
On it was a photograph.
Lin Yue.
Captured from the university security cameras earlier that day.
Commander Liang Feng stood beside the screen.
"The girl has been identified."
"Lin Yue."
"Third year student at Jiangnan University."
Around the table, several supernatural hunters sat quietly.
One of them was already standing near the window.
Blue eyes reflecting the light.
Shen Wuyan.
He didn't look surprised.
"I told you already."
"He is staying close to her."
Su Yanqing looked through several research files.
"The blood sample confirms it."
She turned to Liang Feng.
"Her blood carries an unknown energy signature."
"Something ancient."
Shen Wuyan crossed his arms.
"And that is why the Night Sovereign protects her."
Liang Feng spoke seriously.
"We are not moving yet."
"Not until we understand what Mo Chen wants."
Shen Wuyan's blue eyes narrowed slightly.
"You believe the Night Sovereign awakened for a reason."
"Yes."
The room fell silent.
After a moment Shen Wuyan pushed away from the window.
"Then I'll keep watching."
Liang Feng looked at him.
"You already met him once."
Shen Wuyan's lips curved slightly.
"And I intend to meet him again."
Crimson Court
Deep beneath the city.
Inside the vampire council chamber.
The news had already arrived.
Two vampires killed.
By one man.
Victor Draven stood in front of a tall window overlooking the underground city.
"So he truly returned."
A subordinate vampire stepped forward nervously.
"My lord… what should we do about the girl?"
Victor smiled slowly.
"The girl is the key."
He turned around.
"If Mo Chen protects her…"
His red eyes gleamed.
"…then we simply take her."
The room filled with uneasy whispers.
Victor's smile grew wider.
"The Night Sovereign may be powerful."
"But even a king has weaknesses."
Back at the Apartment
Lin Yue had slowly drifted sideways on the sofa.
Her head rested against the cushion.
Mo Chen noticed.
"You are falling asleep."
She mumbled lazily.
"Today was exhausting."
Mo Chen stood up.
"Go to bed."
Lin Yue half-opened one eye.
"You sound like an old man."
Mo Chen raised an eyebrow.
"I am over one thousand years old."
She laughed softly.
"…Fair point."
Slowly she stood up, testing her injured foot.
It hurt less now.
She turned back toward him.
"Mo Chen."
"Yes?"
"…Thank you."
"For today."
Mo Chen looked at her quietly.
"You thanked me earlier."
"I know."
She smiled gently.
"But I meant it this time."
Mo Chen did not respond.
But something in his expression softened slightly.
Lin Yue walked toward the bedroom door.
Then paused.
And looked back at him.
"You're not going anywhere tonight, right?"
Mo Chen sat back on the sofa again.
"No."
Lin Yue nodded.
"Good."
She disappeared into the bedroom.
The apartment became quiet again.
Mo Chen sat in the dim light, looking out the window at the sleeping city.
But somewhere beyond the peaceful streets—
Hunters were watching.
Vampires were planning.
And the return of the Night Sovereign had already begun to move the hidden world.
Slowly.
Dangerously.
And inevitably.
End of Chapter 18...