Chapter 74: Jiang Yan Awakens
At the Hyacinth Manor, during the entire National Day holiday, aside from the covert raid against the Black Blood Clan, there were no official team-building activities, but rather it felt more like a meet-and-greet between formal members and trainees.
Jiang Yao, who had emerged from a low point in her spirits, returned to her carefree and vibrant personality, getting close to the so-called blood servant juniors who were not much younger than her.
Every day, they either organized online gaming sessions or went camping and having fun nearby. Zhong Jing also became a knowledgeable advisor and always introduced some fun activities.
The little blood servants who had been isolated deep within Longquan Mountain had few real opportunities to interact with the outside world, besides online games and mobile games. With Jiang Yao, a knight senior without any identity burdens, in their company, they all became fully engaged until the holiday ended and Jiang Yao and the others had to leave, leading to a reluctant farewell.
Zhong Jing’s diarrhea did not seem to have completely resolved, but fortunately, the medication was somewhat effective, and there were no other significant health issues—if anything, just a small blemish in an otherwise perfect holiday.
Sitting on the bus back to C City, Jiang Yao was happily browsing through various photos on her phone. Although the blush on her face had yet to fade, her demeanor was much more relaxed than before.
These were all the diverse outfits Zhong Jing had brought this time. It must be said that Zhong Jing, seen as a casanova who had dated countless women, truly held authority in women’s clothing aesthetics.
Every outfit seemed tailor-made for Jiang Yao, fitting her perfectly. She even suspected that he had somehow memorized all the details of her figure just by looking at her.
Yuan Yue, throughout, had not interfered in any member relationships within Hyacinth, and her attitude towards the interactions between Jiang Yao and Zhong Jing was merely that of an observer, quietly watching the changes unfold. No one seemed to know what she really thought.
Upon returning to C City, the Jinhai Club resumed normal operations, and those guarding Jiang Yan like Zhao Peng also had time to take shifts and relax.
On October 11th, Jiang Yan showed signs of awakening, just a few days short of a full month since she entered her sleep state.
From Zhao Peng’s sensing, Jiang Yan’s powers upon awakening would fall between a low-tier knight and a mid-tier knight. She was slightly weaker than Jiang Yao but stronger than the low-tier knights Xiao Ai, Xiao Dong, and Xiao Ling, which filled the Hyacinth members with anticipation.
In the employee lounge, Jiang Yan, still in her pajamas, was gorging on food, eating as if she were a starving ghost, a natural result of over twenty days of hibernation.
“…So, that’s how it is, we’ve got four new recruits in the Hyacinth Manor. Oh, right, that day we were ambushed by the Hermit Alliance, there was an old man who came to talk things over, but Aunty Wan didn’t give them a good expression!” Jiang Yao said while sitting by the bed, trimming her nails and slowly recounting what had happened over the past month.
As her gaze fell on Jiang Yao’s nail filing, Jiang Yan slowly set down her food container, seemingly recalling certain images from her dreams during hibernation, a slight unease flickering in her eyes.
“Sis, what are you looking at?”
Jiang Yao looked down at her outfit, not finding anything particularly stunning about it, her face reflecting confusion.
“It’s nothing, I was just thinking that it’s crucial you didn’t get hurt as the vanguard this time.”
Jiang Yan concealed her slight discomfort and changed the topic: “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t have known that Hyacinth had such a large stronghold in Longquan Mountain, and so many trainees too, it feels like a training center for secret arrows.”
“Yeah, only now do I realize how tough Aunty Wan and the others have it, constantly battling the Black Blood Clan throughout the seasons. It’s like I returned to the Secret Arrow unit… Those underground breeding grounds of the Black Blood Clan were just too hard to bear. But then again, considering you and Team Meng, you’ve probably seen plenty of that over the years.”
Jiang Yao raised her hand, pointing at the light, satisfied with her exquisitely rounded fingernails.
“Yeah, a lot… The Black Blood Clan’s methods are very extreme. They rarely drink the blood of ordinary people, but they deliberately taint ordinary people’s blood, then breed them as food. Most of the prior operations were aimed at them, it felt like fighting a pack of mad beasts.”
As Jiang Yan recalled her time in the Xuanyin Unit, she began preparing to get out of bed, only to turn and see Jiang Yao under the light grooming her nails.
“Who taught you to do your nails?”
Jiang Yan asked nonchalantly, “Zhong Jing hasn’t been bothering you during my hibernation, has he?”
“Xiao Dong taught me, I found it really kills time.”
Jiang Yao blushed slightly, quickly supporting Jiang Yan’s still somewhat weak body. “Aunty Wan said that after some time, she’ll teach us how to controllably break through our blood boiling threshold and master combat techniques involving local limb distortion. I’ve seen Brother Zhao Peng’s arm distortion, it’s so cool, just like in the movies!”
Having not seen each other for nearly a month, Xiao Yao had grown more like a girl, and her conversational skills to change the subject were becoming increasingly adept. Jiang Yan smiled, neither confirming nor denying what Jiang Yao said.
“By the way, Zhong Jing’s family has a Japanese blood clan member. I ran into him the last time I sent Zhong Jing home!”
Jiang Yao glanced at the door and quickly lowered her voice: “Zhong Jing was in pretty bad spirits a few days ago and even asked Aunty Wan for help. I suspect it’s regarding this issue!”
“A Japanese blood clan member came to Zhong Jing’s family!?” Jiang Yan was stunned, slowly turning back. “What did Aunty Wan think?”
Jiang Yao shrugged, looking just as confused: “Aunty Wan seems hardly concerned at all, and Zhong Jing’s emotions are stable too, just that he hasn’t been feeling well lately, been having diarrhea, and looking pretty worn out. Plus, ever since you went into hibernation, Meng Huai seems to have vanished. That day, he acted like a puppy outside the club, waiting for you for hours and got laughed at by those girls for days.”
“Don’t say those things with them… His health issue is quite serious; he’s gone for treatment. Alright, you go keep watch, I’ll change clothes now.”
Jiang Yan uncomfortably turned her head, recalling the scene in her dream where Meng Huai shot at her, not intending to delve into something that made her uneasy.
“Just change here, there’s no one else around. Brother Zhao and all the guys are out running errands; there are no men in the club now.”
Jiang Yao casually fetched a dress from the sofa behind her and handed it to Jiang Yan, making room for herself to sit on the sofa and took out her phone to play a game.
In the past, even when I was present, she would change by herself, even in the club’s staff changing room, she would draw the curtains. Now, she doesn’t seem to care at all.
Watching her carefree demeanor, Jiang Yan sighed lightly and could only lift her nightgown.
…
On October 13th, Sunday.
At the Zhong Family Villa, a rare family reunion took place today. It was the eldest son Meng Huai’s return home after more than a month, and surprisingly, he wasn’t in military uniform today.
Kurimi Seiya, who stayed over at Zhong’s every weekend, had once again become a little assistant in the kitchen.
Now changed into home attire, she looked more like a refined young lady from a Chinese family, rather than the elegant and poised heiress of the Kurimi conglomerate.
Seeing the unfamiliar yet familiar Japanese girl get along so well with his family, Meng Huai wore a slightly odd expression from the moment he returned home, and even at the dining table, he wore a contemplative look.
“How’s your recovery going? What are your plans moving forward? I received a call from your unit leader saying they’ll respect your wishes and you can choose to transfer to the police system in C City. I think that sounds good; it fits your personality and expertise quite well.”
Seated at the table, Zhong Hai smiled warmly at his son, who had taken off his military uniform, looking more amiable: “If you don’t like it, there are things you can do at the group here too. You two brothers will eventually have to work together.”
“If the eldest wants to start a business alone, your father and I will definitely support you!”
Seemingly feeling that her husband’s subsequent promise might undermine their son’s future, Zhong Ma quickly served her husband some food to change the subject, while also offering a friendly smile towards Meng Huai: “The eldest is already a major at such a young age. Regular girls wouldn’t look at him. Many of my old friends have good resources; we can arrange for a blind date sometime and maybe get him a new house out there.”
Meng Huai ignored the mundane family talk, silently eating his meal, occasionally glancing at Kurimi Seiya across the table.
Zhong Jing watched his parents perform, each with their own underlying concerns, and couldn’t help but secretly chuckle. Tilting his head casually, he accidentally made eye contact with Kurimi Seiya, who was quietly eating.
“Jing-kun, is your health any better? Should I ask grandpa’s private doctor to come?”
Kurimi Seiya stood up, pouring a bowl of chicken soup for Zhong Jing, exhibiting great tenderness and care, causing Zhong Ma to narrow her eyes with a smile.
“The medicine mom gave is really good; I’m fine now.”
Zhong Jing happily flattered his mom again, discreetly passing the chicken soup to Meng Huai: “Big Brother, I heard you were recuperating too; you need to bolster your nutrition as well.”
“Take care of yourself. You smoke and drink excessively; it’s better to go to a big hospital and get a full check-up.”
Meng Huai didn’t take the hint and pushed the soup back; this action turned Zhong Ma’s expression dark, feeling like the eldest was hitting his own son in the face while being completely oblivious to others’ feelings—a very inauspicious sign.
“Mr. Meng, please drink your soup.”
Kurimi Seiya served another bowl of chicken soup, personally stepping over to Meng Huai’s side to set it down.
As she got closer to Meng Huai, the strong aroma of his rare blood type made her body tremble slightly, and her face flushed involuntarily. Suppressing some inner impulse, a glimmer of meaningful laughter flashed in her eyes.
“I greatly admire the love story of your father and mother. Mr. Meng should be like your father, undoubtedly a man adored by girls. However, you give me the impression of resembling a senior from the Kurimi family.”
Kurimi Seiya returned to her seat, casually speaking while also nodding at Zhong Hai.
Meng Huai suddenly looked up, his sharp gaze locked onto Kurimi Seiya’s face. He only moved his lips slightly before nonchalantly looking down to eat his meal again.
Inside, Zhong Hai was hit with a storm of emotions, quietly observing Kurimi Seiya’s mysterious smile, unable to say a word.
“Are you planning to marry Zhong Jing?”
She’s from the Kurimi family and even knows my mother? Headquarters has instructed me to avoid reckless actions…
Meng Huai sighed softly, slowly putting down his bowl and chopsticks, coldly looking at the Japanese girl across from him.
“It’s the favor of grandpa and uncle, and my own wish. We will become family in the future, so I kindly ask for your guidance.”
Kurimi Seiya stood up quickly and gave a slight bow.
“You haven’t even been welcomed yet; being engaged doesn’t count, you shouldn’t come here often. Do you know about Japan…”
Meng Huai shot back a discouraging remark, then stood up and left the dining room. Zhong Hai and his wife were feeling quite differently, while Zhong Jing found it amusing, and Kurimi Seiya maintained her bowing posture with her head down.
Night fell, and Zhong Jing and Meng Huai left the Zhong family villa under different pretenses. Kurimi Seiya lingered on the balcony of the side room, leisurely admiring the night view while waiting for a private car to take her back to school.
Wearing a black ninja outfit, Bai Yu Qian Zhen appeared on the balcony, kneeling on one knee, with a very humble attitude: “Miss, Meng Huai has gone to the military base in China; it has been confirmed that he is the captain of the secret arrow division there.”
“Yami-chan’s son, I recognized him at first sight; his blood is just like Yami-chan’s, it makes me jealous just to smell it…”
Kurimi Seiya waved a small fan and smiled oddly: “Back then, Kurimi Yami disobeyed the clan leader’s orders and betrayed us for a ridiculous love, thinking she could break free from control, but in the end, she was still punished by the family.”
“Yami-chan saved a son; that’s good luck for Zhong Hai, making him realize that for friendly cooperation, we could even sacrifice a baron. From China’s perspective, it’s a case of killing the chicken to scare the monkey.”
Bai Yu Qian Zhen raised his head slightly, a glimmer of murderous intent flashing in his eyes: “Then… to prevent it from being detrimental to the miss, can we eliminate Meng Huai? A captain of the secret arrow division in China and a traitor’s offspring!”
“Bold! You, a mere family warrior, have no right to call Yami-chan a traitor!”
Kurimi Seiya raised an eyebrow, smashing the fan in her hand down on the short male figure in front of her, her tone icy: “The Kurimi family has tremendous influence in both politics and business in Japan; the Fujiwara family is a prestigious marquis family, does China dare to do anything to me? Is my value so low in your eyes?”
“Ah! My subordinate was out of line!” Bai Yu Qian Zhen quickly bowed his head.
Kurimi Seiya did not cast a glance at Bai Yu Qian Zhen again, instead slowly rising, walking to the balcony edge, leaning against the exquisite railing, smiling softly as she gazed at the city lights in the distance.
“Bai Yu-kun, do you know? We blood clan members have never regarded ordinary people as true opponents; sometimes, they even qualify to be our friends. Those so-called brave ones hunting blood clan members rarely make it past forty; compared to our lifespans, they are just ants.”
“Perhaps we’re just tired and wish to sleep soundly, for five years or ten years, and those who upset us will already be bones in their graves. So why bother with the life or death of a captain of the secret arrow division? Moreover, now he’s become a waste… It’s just a pity that Kurimi Yami’s noble rare bloodline ended up producing an ordinary person.”
With that, Kurimi Seiya pulled a stuffed cat closer to her.
Watching the girl’s figure quietly, Bai Yu Qian Zhen seemed lost in thought.
