Chapter 53: The Gift

“Xiao Bai, it’s already morning. Time to set out.”

Early in the morning, the Broken Blood and Elf Tribe members were already prepared to depart, but Bai still hadn’t emerged from the tent.

“Xiao Bai? Are you inside?”

Hearing no response from within, Alice asked worriedly, but there was still no reply.

“Sis is coming in.”

She pulled open the tent flap and peeked inside, only to find it completely empty.

Alice’s heart skipped a beat.

“What’s wrong, Princess Alice?”

Noticing something was off, Aurelia walked over.

Alice turned around, urgently shouting, “It’s bad, Captain Aurelia! Xiao Bai is missing!”

“Missing?”

Aurelia froze, then quickly rushed inside.

Indeed, there was no sign of the small figure.

But on the sleeping bag…

She saw a note?

Opening the note, she found a few crooked words written on it.

[Bai went back first~]

“What do you mean ‘went back first’! This is way too reckless! How could Xiao Bai possibly cross the forest alone!”

At that moment, a knight’s shout came from behind.

“Captain Aurelia! The Black Dragon is missing!”

Aurelia was stunned for a moment.

She suddenly remembered the flower crown Bai had given her last night…

A smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.

“Bai, be careful on your way.”

She whispered softly.

***

The Swirl Gate slowly unfolded.

Bai stepped out from within.

Everything before her was still the familiar darkness.

The three moons hanging in the sky seemed to devour all light, bestowing eternal night upon this place.

She looked up at the massive mansion.

Through the highest window, a blurry figure could be seen sitting quietly.

Three days had passed quickly, yet they were turbulent—meeting Vera, searching for Broken Blood, and fighting Vampires.

These days had left Bai exhausted.

Now, it was time to fulfill her duty as a Blood Servant.

Bai slapped her cheeks hard, steeling her resolve.

She took a deep breath, encouraging herself, and marched toward Yalbera’s Bedroom with the flower crown in hand.

First, provide Blood Food for Master, then clean the courtyard—just like that.

Following her memory to the upper floor, she stood before a familiar door with a familiar dangerous aura.

No matter how many times she came, Bai could never get used to it, unable to suppress the fear in her heart.

She reached for the doorknob, hesitated, then pulled her hand back.

[Maybe… I should clean the courtyard first, then find Master? Mm, changing the order a little isn’t a big deal!]

Having just returned, Bai was already thinking of escaping.

She quietly turned around, but before her foot even touched the ground, a teasing voice came from inside the room.

“Where do you think you’re going…”

Bai froze.

She sheepishly retracted the foot that was about to sneak away, awkwardly scratched her head, and said, “Um, Bai suddenly remembered something, hehe.”

There was a moment of silence inside.

Then a cold voice spat out two words.

“Come in.”

Bai’s heart skipped a beat.

She swallowed nervously.

She should’ve known better than to come up.

Carefully, Bai opened the door and tiptoed inside.

“S-sorry for intruding…”

It was still the same dim room.

Piles of books covered the floor, and the cold moonlight outside seemed to be the only source of light, shining upon Yalbera, who sat cross-legged on the ancient chair.

There was no smile on her face.

Her eyes were lowered, her expression displeased as she looked at Bai.

“Master, Bai has returned.”

Bai walked up to Yalbera, crossing her hands over her stomach and bowing her head.

It had only been three days, yet she somehow couldn’t meet her eyes directly.

“When will you finally develop the awareness of a Blood Servant, Bai? Or do you want me to teach you?”

Yalbera said mockingly.

『She saw me! How did Master see Bai through the door!』

Bai screamed inside.

“Bai just wanted to clean the courtyard first before serving Master.”

“Offering your blood is your foremost duty. Remember it well and don’t let me see you hesitate again.”

Bai nodded.

“Bai will remember, Master.”

Crimson pupils quietly reflected Bai’s figure.

Yalbera’s eyes unconsciously drifted to the hand wrapped in bandages, and her brows furrowed slightly.

“How does freedom feel, little one?”

Yalbera asked again.

Bai fidgeted, nervously rubbing her hands.

She had almost been killed by a Vampire yesterday, after all.

“St-still pretty good, I guess. Bai made a lot of friends. They were all very kind to Bai.”

She replied.

Unbidden, images of Vera and the others floated through her mind, bringing a smile to her face.

But the smile on Yalbera’s lips slowly faded.

An inexplicable irritation welled up inside her.

Noticing Yalbera’s strange expression, Bai immediately suppressed her smile and lowered her head, not daring to look at her.

Why did Master seem a bit off today?

Yalbera straightened, her tone emotionless.

“Come here.”

[Is it time to feed?]

Bai wondered, inching forward step by step.

She knelt down, exposing her pale neck before Yalbera.

But Yalbera spoke unhappily.

“Stand up. I didn’t tell you to offer Blood Food.”

Bai froze.

If you’re not going to drink blood, then why call me over?

While she was still confused, Yalbera suddenly reached out toward her.

Startled, Bai squeezed her eyes shut, like a kitten facing death, and panicked.

“Bai knows she’s wrong! Please, Master, don’t punish Bai!”

[…Am I really that scary?]

The next moment, Yalbera gently lifted Bai’s hand and unwrapped the bloodstained bandage, revealing a deep, bone-deep wound.

“Master?”

A strange, warm softness touched her hand.

So this is how soft the hands of the Blood Clan are!

Yalbera silently examined it for a while, then brought the hand close to her face, extending a blood-red tongue to lick the wound.

Bai shuddered, goosebumps rising all over.

She instinctively tried to pull her arm back, but Yalbera’s displeased gaze stopped her—as if to say, [Move, and I’ll drain you dry.]

“Such a waste of blood.”

She said with a regretful look.

Then, a red light flared in her palm, and a powerful warmth flowed from her hand, spreading through every corner of Bai’s body.

The overwhelming comfort nearly made Bai moan.

She held it in until the light faded, only to find that the once-terrible wound was now completely healed—her pale skin unmarked.

Bai blinked in disbelief.

This wicked woman actually took the initiative to heal her?

Did the moon rise in the south today?

Or was she dreaming?

“Thank you for Master’s healing…”

Bai bowed her head respectfully.

She remembered something, then pulled out a white flower crown she had woven and held it out.

“This is something Bai made. It might not look very good, though…”

Yalbera accepted the flower crown, staring at it in a daze…

A gift…

She had thought that, besides that girl, no one else would ever do such a thing for her again…