The morning sunlight followed them quietly along the park path.
Lin Yue walked slowly beside Mo Chen, careful not to put too much pressure on her injured foot. Even though the bandage had helped, every step still reminded her that she had walked far too much the night before.
Mo Chen noticed immediately.
"You are limping again."
Lin Yue waved her hand dismissively.
"It's fine."
"It is not."
She stopped and turned to him.
"You worry too much."
Mo Chen looked at her calmly.
"You complain too much."
Lin Yue stared at him for a second before bursting into laughter.
"Wow. That's the first time you've ever argued like a normal person."
Mo Chen tilted his head slightly.
"I am capable of normal conversation."
"Debatable."
She continued walking, her hands behind her back as she looked around the park.
The morning crowd had grown thicker. Joggers passed them on the path, couples walked hand in hand, and children chased pigeons near the fountain.
Lin Yue stretched her arms again.
"You know, this is what normal mornings look like."
Mo Chen glanced around the park slowly.
"…Peaceful."
"Yes."
She nodded.
"Peaceful is good."
They walked for another few minutes before reaching a small street filled with shops and cafés.
Lin Yue suddenly stopped in front of a small ice cream stand.
"I want ice cream."
Mo Chen looked at the sign.
"In the morning?"
"Yes."
"That is illogical."
Lin Yue placed her hands on her hips.
"You ate noodles at midnight yesterday."
"…That was different."
She turned toward the vendor.
"Two please!"
Moments later she handed one cone to Mo Chen.
He examined it carefully.
"This is frozen sugar."
"That's the point."
Mo Chen slowly tasted it.
His expression remained calm, but Lin Yue leaned closer.
"Well?"
"…Strange."
She laughed again.
"You're impossible."
They continued walking through the busy street while finishing their ice cream.
Occasionally Lin Yue would glance at him and smile for no reason at all.
Mo Chen noticed.
"You look amused."
"I am."
"Why?"
She shrugged.
"Watching you experience normal life is entertaining."
Mo Chen said nothing.
But his gaze softened slightly.
The day passed quietly.
They walked through different parts of the city, stopped at small cafés, and occasionally argued over random things.
By the time the sky began turning orange with sunset, they had already spent the entire day outside.
Lin Yue stretched her tired arms again.
"I'm exhausted."
"You walked too much."
"You walked more than me!"
Mo Chen glanced at her injured foot again.
"…Not exactly."
Lin Yue rolled her eyes.
"Let's go home."
They began walking back toward the apartment as the evening lights slowly turned on across the city.
The atmosphere felt calm.
But far away, others were already watching.
Supernatural Association Headquarters
Inside a dark monitoring room, several digital screens displayed images from city surveillance cameras.
One screen showed two familiar figures walking together through the park.
Lin Yue.
Mo Chen.
Commander Liang Feng stood behind the table with his arms crossed.
"They have remained in public areas all day."
Researcher Su Yanqing adjusted her glasses while analyzing data.
"No unusual supernatural energy detected."
Across the room, Shen Wuyan leaned casually against the wall.
His sharp blue eyes remained fixed on the screen.
"They are acting like normal people."
Liang Feng looked at him.
"You don't believe that."
Shen Wuyan gave a faint smile.
"The Night Sovereign is not someone who lives quietly."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"Continue watching them."
"Do not interfere."
Liang Feng nodded slowly.
"If anything unusual happens…"
Shen Wuyan finished the sentence calmly.
"…we move."
Crimson Court – Underground Hall
The atmosphere here was very different.
Cold.
Dark.
Dangerous.
Vampire elders sat around a long stone table illuminated by red candles.
Victor Draven stood at the center.
"Two of our hunters were killed."
His voice echoed across the hall.
"No trace of struggle."
"Only overwhelming power."
One elder spoke quietly.
"So it truly was the Night Sovereign."
Victor smiled faintly.
"Yes."
Silence filled the chamber.
Then a tall figure stepped forward.
His name was Lucien Varrow.
One of the most powerful warriors among the vampire clans.
His eyes glowed faintly red.
"Allow me to hunt him."
The elders turned toward him.
Lucien's voice remained calm but confident.
"Mo Chen has only recently awakened."
"His power has not fully returned."
Victor watched him carefully.
"You believe you can defeat the Night Sovereign?"
Lucien's smile was cold.
"I believe I can kill him."
The room fell silent again.
Victor slowly leaned back in his chair.
"Very well."
His eyes gleamed with interest.
"Find him."
Back at the Apartment
The sky was already dark when Lin Yue and Mo Chen reached home.
Lin Yue dropped onto the sofa dramatically.
"I'm dead."
Mo Chen sat across from her calmly.
"You are tired."
"Walking all day will do that."
She leaned her head back and looked at him.
"But it was fun."
Mo Chen didn't answer.
Lin Yue suddenly smiled mischievously.
"You didn't hate it."
Mo Chen raised an eyebrow.
"I did not say that."
She pointed at him.
"That means you liked it."
Mo Chen looked away slightly.
"…It was acceptable."
Lin Yue laughed softly.
"Next time we'll go somewhere farther."
Mo Chen looked back at her.
"Next time?"
Lin Yue nodded.
"Of course."
Then she leaned forward slightly.
"You promised you wouldn't disappear again."
Mo Chen held her gaze for a moment.
"…Correct."
The room grew quiet again.
Outside the window, the city lights glittered under the night sky.
Neither of them realized that beyond the peaceful streets—
Hunters were watching.
And a powerful vampire had already begun moving.
The calm days were ending.
Something dangerous was coming.
But inside the small apartment—
The night remained warm.
For now.
End of Chapter 20...