Nysha Makinos slipped into Zhou Yi's Villa, utilizing the innate shadowy vision of a Vampire to navigate the darkness. Driven by apprehension, she remained concealed, searching for her target while strategizing how to convey her urgent, unwelcome message.
Since their first, abrasive encounter, Nysha had used her own resources—mainly leveraging the idle gossip and journalistic hunger of New York's media, who frequently targeted top-tier Young Masters like Zhou Yi—to confirm his civilian identity. Not revealing his existence didn't preclude her from discreetly confirming his identity.
However, facing this individual again so soon filled her with dread. To a Vampire, Zhou Yi was a natural monster. Vampires feared holy items, silver, and even garlic, but their most profound terror was the sun—a scorching, soul-burning punishment. Meeting Zhou Yi, the embodiment of light and heat, was akin to voluntarily seeking a Hawaiian sunbath; it suggested a desire for a heroic, self-inflicted demise.
Yet, as often happens, events rarely align with desire. The sudden, chaotic emergence of the Lycanthrope forced the Vampire Grand Duke to send Nysha as an envoy—a mission she suspected was partially intended to express her father's displeasure at being kept in the dark regarding Zhou Yi's existence.
Nysha quietly swept the entire Villa, from the living room to the bedrooms and the game room, but found no sign of him. Perhaps he's already out attacking some poor stronghold, she thought, a flicker of self-mockery crossing her face. It was profoundly unpleasant to be targeted by what felt like the cosmic nemesis of her entire race.
She moved silently down the corridor toward the garage. Only a dim yellow lamp provided light, casting her blurred shadow onto the hardwood floor. Her movements were instinctively feline, silent, and swift—a predator's grace. Human senses were incapable of registering her presence. Unwittingly, she could deliver death from the shadows.
However, her talents failed this night. The moment she pushed open the final door, a brilliant point of silver light exploded before her eyes.
The silver flash was instantaneous, like an electrical discharge. Nysha's mind went blank, but the rigorous training of the pure-blood Vampire clan saved her. The instinct etched into her very bones forced her to bend backward—her incredibly slender waist curving at an impossible angle—narrowly avoiding the fatal strike. Only then did she perceive the projectile's true form: the sharp, sword-like Adamantium spearhead.
Dodging the first blow merely initiated the combat. The large spear, missing its target, was instantly retracted with a violent shake. The heavy spear shaft slammed down with a fierce, whistling roar, an afterimage of blurred force. Nysha knew instinctively that even a Vampire's vitality would not survive a direct strike from that massive, accelerated mass.
Abandoning all dignity, she executed the all-purpose 'lazy donkey roll,' tumbling several times to escape the spear's deadly reach. The blurred spear shadow, having lost its target, was pulled back instantly, recoiling like a giant python by the hand of its wielder.
Mr. Zhou, holding the long spear in the short-sword configuration, strode out from the doorway. His posture was upright and commanding. He looked at the Vampire beauty half-crouching on the floor, clad in a figure-hugging black bodysuit, and his initially furrowed brow relaxed.
"I remember you, from a bar. Are you a Vampire?" he asked, a hint of genuine uncertainty in his voice.
Nysha quietly drew a breath of relief. The near-death experience left her shaken, but the possibility of dialogue was a significant victory.
"My Lord, we have met before, last time with you and your sister in an underground bar. There were some misunderstandings between us." Nysha rose, bowing her head slightly, placing one hand over her chest in an ancient gesture of high respect. This was the greatest sincerity a Vampire noble could offer.
The long spear in Zhou Yi's hand compressed back into the short sword form. Since the intruder had adopted such a low, respectful posture—and considering she was quite beautiful—he decided not to pursue the trespass. The added incentive was the fact that he definitely didn't want to fight in his own home and clean up the damage.
"I don't recall inviting you, Young Miss Vampire. Can you tell me your purpose?"
Nysha maintained her submissive posture. "I apologize for the disturbance, My Lord. I represent the Supreme Grand Duke of the Vampire ruling party to extend an invitation. We wish to sign a truce agreement with you and invite you to meet the Supreme Grand Duke for detailed discussions."
Zhou Yi paused. "If I'm not mistaken, it should be Young Miss Nysha, correct?"
"Yes, Mr. Zhou," Nysha affirmed respectfully.
"I want to know why your so-called Vampire Grand Duke would look for me. I think, given the current situation, we are hardly friends. Even if we were to sign an agreement, it should be a war agreement, not a truce. What exactly do you want?" His eyes sharpened, becoming aggressive, suggesting he was ready to strike if the answer displeased him. To him, Vampires were bloodthirsty demons; no amount of caution was excessive.
"Sir, a monumental change has occurred in our world," Nysha responded, her voice measured. "A creature, a monster capable of shaking the very foundation of both Vampires and humans, has suddenly appeared. We hope you will cease hostilities for the moment and fight alongside us."
Nysha spoke with outward composure, though a close observer would detect a subtle resistance in her tone. She resented Zhou Yi's predatory tone—the voice one uses toward prey, not a creature capable of independent communication.
Zhou Yi, a master of reading people (and women), perceived the Vampire beauty's psychological state. He felt a flicker of surprise, followed by amusement. Aside from her unconventional diet, this woman wasn't the bloodthirsty demon he had imagined; she had genuine human-like emotions and pride.
His deep-seated aversion stemmed largely from his sister Charisse's near-fatal encounter, which he had squarely blamed on Vampires, leading to his self-appointed role as a raider of their strongholds. With this realization, his perspective shifted.
He examined Nysha with new eyes. Aesthetically, she was an exotic rarity. Her skin was incredibly fair against her dark hair, and her features were mesmerizing—possessing an ancient elegance and mysterious allure far beyond that of any Hollywood actress pretending to be a Vampire.
Once he acknowledged her beauty, Zhou Yi surprisingly softened his demeanor. Beautiful women always held an inherent advantage with men who appreciated them.
"I apologize, Young Miss Nysha. I think my attitude may have been unduly aggressive. If I caused offense, please disregard it."
"There is no need, Sir," Nysha quickly replied, maintaining her respectful distance. "If you are amenable, I suggest we depart as soon as possible."
"Of course. We can leave immediately." Zhou Yi assented readily, casually tucking the compressed short sword into a hidden slot on his lower back.
"You... don't you need to change your clothes?" Nysha asked. Having seen the Dawn Knight videos during the raids, she knew Zhou Yi's true identity. Her question was a subtle request for him to don his armor before meeting the Grand Duke.
"What, the Vampires still don't know my true identity?" Zhou Yi realized she was protecting his secret, despite the risk. He was genuinely surprised. He had assumed his cover was blown the moment she sought him out.
The fact that Nysha had upheld her promise to conceal his secret—even though he himself enjoyed manipulating women into breaking theirs—improved his impression of her considerably.