The call connected. Li Rui's voice came through the phone, soft but tense.
"Song Jie… I'm sorry. The person I sent—he slipped away."
"Explain clearly," Song Jie said.
After Li Rui's explanation, he understood. "You mean Nie Dong escaped your tail, and now you don't know where he went?"
"Yes."
"Where are you now?"
"I'm at Nie Dong's workplace."
Song Jie frowned, thinking for a moment. Then he remembered a place and said, "Wait for me."
He found Lingling and, with her help, located the familiar Northern Club. Li Rui arrived quickly. Guided by Lingling's directions, Song Jie and Li Rui headed straight for the club.
Inside the Northern Club, an ancient ritual was unfolding.
In the wine cellar, under the dim light, a pale man stood before a round table. Wine racks lined the walls.
On the table lay two young women — twins — blood trickling from their wrists, each drop falling onto a blood-red pattern carved into the floor.
Their faces, once youthful, were now drained of color from blood loss.
"Nobody's been kinder to you than me, Liu Xian," the pale man — Nie Dong — said with a smile. "I even brought your sister to keep you company."
The twins, Liu Xian and Liu Ru, were his chosen prey. They were so weak they could hardly speak. When Liu Xian looked at Liu Ru, guilt filled her eyes because she knew she had dragged her sister into this.
Nie Dong watched them with amusement. "Once I turn you into my servants, you'll live longer. You should be grateful."
Grateful? Who would want to become a blood-drinking creature of the night?
A sharp ring split the cellar's silence — Nie Dong's phone. He answered.
"We've got trouble," the voice on the line said.
"What trouble?"
"Li Rui and her people are coming."
"How did they find us?" Nie Dong demanded.
"I don't know. I'm getting out of there. Don't say I helped you. And it's not too late — you can still leave." The call ended.
Nie Dong's expression flickered. His ritual was almost finished. Should he abandon it? Memories of Li Rui's ruthless reprisals flooded his mind and froze him.
Time didn't wait. With one last glance at the girls, Nie Dong turned and fled through the club's back exit.
If this was discovered, Demon City would no longer be safe for him — he had to leave immediately.
Song Jie and Li Rui arrived at the Northern Club shortly after. They were led to the wine cellar.
When they opened the door, the scene hit them.
Li Rui's brow tightened. A cold, cutting aura pressed down so heavily that even the vampires present seemed afraid to breathe.
"Song Jie, I'm sorry. I failed to manage them," she said, bowing her head.
"It's not your fault," Song Jie replied, shaking his head.
He stepped forward toward the twins, who lay unconscious. Li Rui ordered, "Quickly—untie them!"
Two attendants moved to remove the ropes from Liu Xian and Liu Ru. With the commotion, the girls' eyes fluttered open.
Song Jie produced two ability potions and forced them into the twins' mouths. Slowly, color returned to their cheeks.
"Notify every vampire—everywhere. Even if you have to turn the city upside down, you must catch Nie Dong!" Li Rui barked.
"Yes!" the group answered, then hurried away to spread the alert.
Li Rui crouched beside Song Jie, hesitating as if she wanted to say something.
"What is it?" Song Jie asked.
"Nie Dong performed a blood ritual on them," she said finally. "They… they may have already become vampires."
Song Jie's face fell. "So the ritual completed?"
Li Rui nodded.
Liu Ru and Liu Xian heard the exchange and understood the implication. Fear and sorrow swam in their eyes.
"Is there no other way?" Song Jie asked.
"Once the blood ritual is finished, there's no turning back," Li Rui answered bluntly.
Song Jie sighed. Taking a deep breath, he said, "Li Rui, take them to recover. I'll go after him."
She nodded. At that moment someone was brought in — a middle-aged man, hands trembling under escort.
"Li Rui…" he mumbled.
"Where is Nie Dong?" Li Rui demanded.
The man stammered. "I—"
"Decide quickly. Do you want to protect him or protect yourself?" Li Rui's voice was cold.
The man didn't hesitate. "I can help contact him," he blurted.
Song Jie stood up and told Lingling to prepare. If they could trace Nie Dong's signal, they'd have a location.
Soon the middle-aged man dialed Nie Dong.
In the dark of night, Nie Dong skulked through the streets like a rat. When his companion's number flashed, relief spread across his face.
"I'm getting out of Demon City tomorrow morning. Help me prepare," Nie Dong whispered, breathless.
"Where are you?" the companion asked.
"The old place," Nie Dong replied. "I'll wait there."
He hung up and hurried toward a residential block near his secret base. As he neared it, a chilling feeling crawled up his spine — he sensed someone else had been there.
Two figures emerged from the shadows. Nie Dong's pulse spiked.
"Li Rui?!" he hissed.
Song Jie and Li Rui appeared, stepping into the moonlight. Nie Dong glared at Song Jie with contempt. "Li Rui, you're colluding with a human mage to betray your own kind?"
Li Rui ignored Nie Dong and looked at Song Jie. "Shall we kill him now? Or—?"
Nie Dong's chest rose and fell with nervous breath. He was trapped. Yet, he clung to any sliver of hope.
Suddenly Nie Dong launched himself forward, speed like a streak of shadow—desperate to strike before they could react.
Song Jie's hand moved. A Star Path rose in his spiritual world, threads of energy tracing patterns he had practiced a thousand times. In an instant, dazzling golden radiance burst from his palm.
"Ah!" Nie Dong screamed before he reached them.
"Today, I'll make you bleed!" Song Jie cried. The golden light seared; it didn't merely strike — it burned with righteous fury.
The radiance pierced Nie Dong's skin. Blood poured from his body, soaking his clothes. His scream echoed through the alley as his strength failed.
…
Author's Note:
The first half (completed version more that 320 chapters) of Versatile Mage: My Magic Has Gone Beyond Limits! is now available on Patreon!
🔥 I also have additional **18+ fanfics** available for readers who enjoy exclusive mature stories. 😉
1. Dragon Ball: Oolong's Sex Adventure
2. Elements of Lust – ATLA & Korra Mixed Smut
3. Doraemon: Filtering with Nobi Tamako
4. The Naive Me Who Became Someone's Everyday Secret
5. High School DxD: Rias Gremory, the Phenex Bride
6. Versatile Mage: Awakening the Succubus System
🔗 patreon.com/Shadow_demon_007
Thank you all for your support and love for this story 💙