Chapter Seventy-Three: Catherine the Vampire

Hua Feng had no time to be surprised at why Bai Feng had transformed into Catherine and appeared here, because the turning point of this entire European journey had already emerged. Whether they could recover all the stolen polar energy this time depended on whether this initial cooperation would proceed smoothly—an alliance tantamount to seeking skin from a tiger.

“Lord Dan Qiu Sheng, you see, our last operation with Battleaxe to raid China’s resources was really out of necessity. Personally, I did not support that mission, but my authority is far less than that of the Thirteen Elders and the Ten Great Lords of the vampire clans. Sometimes, I have no choice but to comply. I hope you can understand,” Zeke explained the reasons for their previous actions. Perhaps they would not believe him, but for greater interests, he could only humble himself now, hoping this crucial future partner would not harbor resentment against him. This was a principle that Zeke, seasoned in the underworld for many years, understood thoroughly.

“So long as you are sincere in this partnership, Duke, China has always spared no effort for its friends. But the premise is that our collaborators show no signs of duplicity,” Dan Qiu Sheng replied with a gentle smile.

“Naturally. I will hand over this batch of polar energy to you right away. Once you have safely delivered it back to your country, we can move forward with the next phase,” Zeke quickly seized on Dan Qiu Sheng’s willingness to cooperate, expressing his intentions while the iron was hot.

The situation was like two children wanting to play a game together; in order to gain trust, one side tried every means to assure the other, even going so far as to return the sweets he had obtained at great cost.

“Then let us discuss the details of the follow-up,” Dan Qiu Sheng said as he and Zeke walked aside to exchange opinions on finer matters. Before this, he had already made contact with China’s military authorities back home; they would dispatch a special plane and personnel to transport the polar energy back.

Hua Feng stood there, unsure whether he should approach the familiar figure before him. As if sensing his thoughts, Yun Meng gently took his hand and led him toward Bai Feng—now Catherine—standing by the polar energy container.

“Xiao Meng…” Hua Feng wanted to say something, but in the end said nothing, simply following Yun Meng toward their old friend.

“Bai Feng, do you still remember me?” Yun Meng spoke to Catherine.

Catherine, dressed in a red and white leather outfit, her eyes somewhat vacant, seemed to take a few seconds to react before she finally answered Yun Meng’s question.

“I remember you. You are Shangguan Yun Meng, and he is Hua Feng. The past is best forgotten. I am now Catherine, Countess of the Douglas family. I obey only the orders of Duke Zeke.”

The mechanical reply left both Hua Feng and Yun Meng uneasy. How could an old acquaintance become like this? They could not fathom it. Could the transformation into a vampire truly change a person’s character, even their entire being?

Hua Feng recalled their parting in Antarctica, when Bai Feng, once the strongest among her peers, had stood at the pinnacle of the Origin King level. Now, with her bloodline suddenly changed to that of a vampire, Hua Feng could no longer sense her power.

He knew there must be secrets here that he did not yet understand, so he signaled Yun Meng to stay and talk with her, while he himself went to question Zeke.

“Duke Zeke, may I ask how you came to know Catherine? She greatly resembles a friend of mine, so I came to verify,” Hua Feng strode over, his tone edged with anger, breaking into their conversation.

“Hua Feng! What are you doing?” Dan Qiu Sheng, not understanding the situation, was displeased; national strategy was at stake, and he did not wish for any complications that might disrupt their plans.

“Please, Leader, don’t be upset. I believe young Hua Feng must have his reasons for asking,” Zeke stopped Dan Qiu Sheng, who was growing agitated, and turned to Hua Feng with a smile. “This is a long story, but in short, I mean Catherine no harm. The situation was dire at the time—had I not turned her into a vampire, she would not be here today, standing safe and able to converse with you.”