Sure enough, no matter how much you try to prepare yourself mentally, it still hurts so much you end up crying.
Aiwei had already gotten off of Fuluoxi and now sat dazed on the floor, her hand gently touching the wound on her neck that had already healed but still throbbed faintly with pain.
She sniffled and wiped away the tears that clung stubbornly to the corners of her eyes.
This made Aiwei involuntarily recall the “blood-drinking” methods of those people in the Blood Slave Camp.
Clearly, Fuluoxi could have just had her give blood like those other Blood Slaves, but this detestable woman insisted on biting her personally.
Aiwei could still smell Fuluoxi’s lingering scent in her nose, faint yet persistent, refusing to dissipate.
Moreover, Aiwei realized she had been crying more and more lately.
She distinctly remembered that she wasn’t someone who cried so easily—maybe it was because of this body.
Aiwei clearly remembered that even when she… in her previous life, she didn’t cry.
Thinking of this, Aiwei froze for a moment.
Why… What had happened again?
Aiwei’s pupils suddenly contracted as she realized a detail she had been ignoring all along.
That was, ever since she Transmigrated into this world, she had never thought about what she did in her previous life.
She figured, since she Transmigrated here, she might as well go with the flow.
Besides, she had no parents or many friends in her past life—nothing to tie her down.
But it seemed like she was gradually forgetting her previous experiences—her profession, the joys and sorrows she’d gone through, all slipping away.
It was as if Aiwei was slowly merging into this world, or perhaps, into the Hero called Aiwei.
She carefully tried to recall the knowledge she had learned and found those memories surprisingly clear.
It felt like all her memory capacity for trivial matters had been devoted to remembering knowledge.
Well, at least her major advantage as a Transmigrator was still intact, which gave her some relief.
As Aiwei was spacing out, she suddenly felt a tap on her shoulder.
Startled, she nearly jumped up.
“Wha… What is it?”
Aiwei tried to steady her breathing, still shaky from the scare, and asked with a trembling voice.
She saw Fuluoxi hand her a leather object.
Instinctively, Aiwei took it, feeling its cold yet soft texture in her hand. She looked down at the item she was holding.
It was a leather collar, inlaid around the outside with gorgeous, expensive gems.
And at the center, hanging outward from the collar, was a golden name tag, seemingly made of real gold.
Aiwei looked closer—the tag had her own name engraved on it.
Holding the collar, Aiwei glanced at it, then at Fuluoxi.
Seeing Fuluoxi’s half-smiling, half-mocking expression, Aiwei didn’t want to accept it, but it seemed she had no choice.
She pressed her lips together, didn’t resist, and silently tried to put on the collar.
But after fiddling with it in her hands for a long time, she couldn’t get it open.
She scratched her head.
Could this collar be a magic tool?
The kind that clamps shut automatically when it touches your neck.
Aiwei tried pushing the collar against her neck.
But it was useless.
This was really awkward…
Aiwei snuck a glance at Fuluoxi, only to find her staring intently, even the corners of her mouth curving up a little.
Which meant, Fuluoxi had seen her struggling like a fool, unable to even put on a collar.
And that ridiculous scene of her pushing the collar against her neck like an idiot had been witnessed as well.
Aiwei almost choked—embarrassment made her want to curl up and disappear.
She decided to just give up.
Aiwei thrust the collar forward.
“I can’t put it on. You do it.”
After speaking, Aiwei looked at Fuluoxi. Fuluoxi stood there with her arms crossed, showing no intention of taking the collar.
Aiwei thought for a few seconds, then very quickly knelt down, crawled a few steps toward Fuluoxi, and, upon reaching her feet, offered the collar up and spoke again.
“Master, I’m really stupid, I can’t put this collar on myself, please, Master, help me put it on.”
Aiwei had no idea how she managed to say such words.
She only knew that her face must be thoroughly red by now.
Fuluoxi took the collar from Aiwei’s hands, patted Aiwei’s head, and said:
“Good girl, such a well-behaved puppy.”
Soon, the collar was fastened around Aiwei’s neck. The sudden weight made Aiwei feel a bit short of breath.
Maybe it was just psychological.
Aiwei touched the collar, catching sight of the Slave Brand at her collarbone.
She really was sinking lower and lower.
As long as she could survive, it was all fine.
There was still hope.
In her heart, Aiwei cheered herself on, telling herself to stay strong.
Click—
Aiwei heard a crisp sound from the collar at her neck, followed by a tugging sensation.
“Come, I’ll take you to the meeting—your Empire and our Vampire Clan’s negotiations.”
Fuluoxi gently ruffled Aiwei’s hair as she spoke.
Join… the negotiations…?
Aiwei looked at the leash attached to her collar, then down at her maid outfit.
A chill ran from her feet through her entire body.
No, absolutely not!!!
Aiwei panicked.
This was the first time since coming here that she’d felt so flustered.
Even when she thought she might die before, she wasn’t this frantic.
She considered herself shameless enough, but her shamelessness only extended to groveling before one person.
If others saw her like this, even if she’d never see them again, the humiliation would make her want to smash her head against a wall.
Aiwei knelt on the ground, clutching Fuluoxi’s leg.
“Please, Master, I can’t—really, I can’t do this.”
“Please, Master, I’ll do anything else, anything at all, just not this, anything but this.”
“Please, let me off just this once, I’ll be good, I really will be good, believe me, I’ll listen to you.”
This instinctive plea for survival even took Fuluoxi by surprise.
She’d thought this Hero lady was truly fearless.
So she did have things she was afraid of.
“Look at this pitiful sight, even I can’t help but feel a little sorry for you.”
Fuluoxi gently wiped the tears streaming down Aiwei’s face, her tone soft:
“It’s not impossible to agree, but you have to promise me one thing.”
A sly glint flashed in Fuluoxi’s eyes, but Aiwei didn’t notice.
At this point, panic had taken over, and hearing Fuluoxi’s words was like grabbing a lifeline. She nodded frantically.
“I promise, I’ll promise you anything!”
Aiwei’s voice was loud, almost shouting.
Fuluoxi smiled at Aiwei, slowly stood up, pulled her leg from Aiwei’s embrace, and said with a half-smile:
“Then from now on, you’re not allowed to wear any clothes. Crawl around my room three times while barking like a dog, and I’ll agree not to take you to the meeting.”