Chapter 5 : Bloodsucking

Under the dim light, Claire stood with her arms crossed.

She tilted her head slightly, her tone leaving no room for argument as she spoke, pausing between each word.

“Let’s. Go.”

Only then did Lin Luo realize what Claire meant by “go.”

“Huh? Go where?”

“To the Blood Domain, of course,” Claire replied with a hint of surprise, eyeing her suspiciously.

Had this girl’s brain shrunk along with her body?

If so, she might’ve made a poor investment.

Lin Luo flopped backward into a worn-out chair and shook her head so vigorously it looked like a rattle drum.

Her brows furrowed in protest, hands flailing in the air.

“I’m not going! That old blacksmith outside even said he’d send me to a magic academy!”

“Do you really need to go to a magic academy?” Claire asked back.

Lin Luo was instantly speechless.

She was once a legendary Tier-8 mage—what magic academy could possibly teach her anything useful?

It would be like playing make-believe with toddlers.

Still, that didn’t mean she was willing to go to the Blood Domain and run into Phyllis Lin.

“That’s none of your business,” Lin Luo muttered, pouting and turning her face away.

“You do know what happens to vampires on human lands, don’t you?”

“Heh…”

Lin Luo let out a cold laugh.

“What’s a bit of hardship?”

As she spoke, she stopped holding back her aura—Third-Tier Mage!

“Is that all?”

A flicker of magic surrounded her, and Lin Luo transformed back into her original human appearance.

She had almost forgotten—she could use illusion magic.

As long as she wanted, she could take on any form she pleased.

But… why did everything still feel so empty?

A strange expression crossed her face.

Her hand reached down uncertainty…

Flat. Still flat.

“Pfft!”

Claire couldn’t help laughing aloud at Lin Luo’s ridiculous expression.

“Such a strong sense of pride for someone so small.”

What did she know?

This was a long-standing wish of a three-lives-old virgin—and it had been ruined by this cursed woman.

“This can’t be right…”

Lin Luo muttered, deep in thought.

But just then, her mana ran out, and her illusion crumbled.

She reverted to the petite vampire girl once more.

The room fell silent—until Claire burst out laughing again.

“Hahaha… that illusion lasted what, ten seconds? And you expect to survive in human territory like that?”

Something flushed red.

Lin Luo’s face turned scarlet.

Suddenly, a loud gurgle echoed in the room.

She froze.

Then realization struck—her stomach had growled. Loudly.

Her face instantly flushed to her ears.

She wanted nothing more than to crawl into a hole.

Instinctively, she glanced at Claire, unable to control her gaze as it settled… right on her pale, slender neck.

Claire smiled.

“Call me mom… and I’ll give it to you.”

Damn it.

Lin Luo cursed silently.

She had completely forgotten—vampires needed blood.

“Tch… blood is blood. I’ll get it myself.”

With what little mana she had left, she prepared to teleport out and find some elsewhere.

She was not going to give in to this woman.

But just as she was about to vanish, Claire grabbed her and pulled her back with force.

Lin Luo’s brows drew tight, her eyes flashing with wariness and irritation.

She clenched her fists.

“What are you doing?!”

“Newborn vampires need blood from their relatives to stabilize. Don’t tell me you didn’t know that.”

Lin Luo fell silent.

Where was she supposed to find a blood relative?

In this third life, she was the classic orphan protagonist—no family, no connections.

If the old blacksmith hadn’t picked her up, she wouldn’t have even made it this far.

The hunger gnawed deeper inside her.

Her instincts screamed louder.

Logic and restraint slipped further away…

“Just say ‘Mom’ and I’ll give it to you,” Claire cooed, casually slicing her fingertip.

The scent of blood filled the room.

To Lin Luo, it smelled intoxicating—sweet, rich, irresistible.

“M—” she hesitated, struggling internally for what felt like forever before forcing the word out through clenched teeth.

“…Mom.”

“Didn’t catch that. Say it again,” Claire said teasingly, wiggling her bleeding finger in front of Lin Luo’s face.

“Mom!”

Lin Luo shouted, glaring at her.

“Happy now?!”

Claire smiled, satisfied, and slipped her finger into Lin Luo’s mouth.

“Ahhh… how fulfilling. Drink up, my precious daughter.”

Lin Luo latched on, drinking greedily.

Her mind cleared, her hunger faded, and rationality slowly returned.

After a while, she finally let go of Claire’s hand.

Claire looked a little pale.

“Wow… raising a daughter is draining.”

“Heh…”

Lin Luo let out a dry laugh.

“Regret it yet? I told you to stop back then, and you didn’t.”

“Nope,” Claire said with a smile, shaking her head. “For my daughter, it’s worth it.”

That look in Claire’s eyes made Lin Luo uncomfortable.

Without another word, she slipped out of the room.

“Well now, done catching up with your dear mother?” the old blacksmith, Lin Cheng, teased as she stepped outside.

Lin Luo shot him a glare. “Easy for you to say.”

“She’s trying to take your retirement plan to the vampire realm,” she added, jerking a thumb back toward Claire.

“Are you okay with that?”

“Exactly! Kick her out! I still want to take care of you in your old age!”

She urged him.

She really didn’t want to end up in the Blood Domain and meet Phyllis.

And she was certain the old man’s true strength was far greater than it appeared—probably even above Claire’s.

“Okay! Why not agree to it?”

Lin Cheng stood and gave her a cold smirk.

“You just want my inheritance, don’t you?”

“Old man, that’s not fair. I haven’t even repaid your kindness yet.”

“I could’ve sworn I adopted a boy. And now here’s this cute little girl—who are you?” he asked, drawing out the word cute on purpose.

“Oh, come on!”

Lin Luo burst out laughing.

How had she never seen this cheeky side of the usually stern old man?

Seeing her about to launch into a tirade, Lin Cheng quickly cut her off.

“All right, enough. Time for you two to go.”

“You really want me to leave, old man?”

Lin Luo asked, surprised.

Just as the tension began to rise again, Claire stepped forward, graceful and composed.

She gently reached out and took Lin Luo’s hand.

Then she bowed slightly, her voice soft yet respectful, tinged with sincere apology.

“I’m truly sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you, sir. Please don’t take it to heart.”

She could sense clearly—this old man was no ordinary person.

“It’s nothing,” Lin Cheng replied with a wave of his hand.

Then he opened the door.

There was no need for further explanation.

He knew—he was about to part with the life he had grown familiar with.

The child he had picked up, Lin Luo, had become his only concern.

He had planned long ago to send her to the magic academy, where she could learn powerful spells and build a better future.

But life is full of surprises.

Sudden changes had crashed in like waves, throwing all his plans into chaos.

Now, looking at what she had become, he could only sigh.

No plan survives reality.

The girl had been “bitten by a mosquito,” and now she was a noble vampire princess.

He was just an abandoned old man—what right did he have to hold her back?