Chapter 108: The Alliance of Ice and Fire

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Wu Qiwei’s mind instantly flashed back to that day’s scene—the day of agony. During an unexpected encounter, Ye Mei was caught by her own parents. At that time, she was trying to help Pan escape but was surrounded herself. She had just given birth to a baby girl, who was the present Ye Tang. Originally, they could have fled together, but Ye Yongjian forcibly separated them, preventing Pan from taking the child. Ye Yongjian first slapped her across the face and snatched the infant from her arms, his eyes filled with disdain.

“Father, don’t kill her. She is innocent. She’s your granddaughter—how can you bear it?” Ye Mei knelt on the ground, crying, clutching his trouser leg tightly. Ye Yongjian showed no hesitation nor any familial affection. Deep down, he acknowledged that the infant was indeed his granddaughter, yet a sinister aura emanated from her body, instilling fear. If she were allowed to grow up, she would bring disaster upon the world. He had but one choice: to snuff her out in the cradle.

Ye Yongjian reached out and placed his hand on the baby’s neck. “She cannot exist in this world. One day she will threaten humanity’s survival. Therefore, she cannot live. Blame only her for being born in the wrong place.”

“That’s merely an excuse. What threat to humanity? That’s your one-sided prejudice. Vampires are not as terrifying as you imagine. What’s truly frightening is that you force them into a mindset of hatred against humans. If you teach her with care, I believe my daughter’s future won’t be that of a bloodthirsty vampire.”

“What proof do you have that she won’t become such a monster? In any case, I will never trust vampires. As the current heir of the Hunters, I will not show favoritism, even if she is my granddaughter—no negotiation. Give up on that thought. You’re my daughter, yet you married that vampire king. You still show no remorse.” Ye Yongjian was furious hearing her words, his gaze filled with contempt toward his daughter’s shameless defense of vampires. A sense of loneliness crept over him. As the heir of the Hunters, his oath remained unbroken: vampires and humans can never coexist.

Ye Yongjian raised his hand again to slap her, but Wu Qiwei, seeing her anguish, was heartbroken. Despite his hatred toward Ye Mei for that day, his love was stronger, torn between love and hate. “Uncle, don’t.”

“Stop defending her. She is no longer my daughter.” Ye Yongjian shot Wu Qiwei a fierce glare. He understood Wu Qiwei’s feelings but sighed, “Even though her purity was stained by that vampire, if you don’t mind her past, then go ahead and marry her.”

“Uncle, do you really mean it? As long as she marries me, I won’t care about her past.” Wu Qiwei’s eyes brightened, fantasizing countless times about marrying her.

“I won’t agree. I refuse to marry. I only have sibling affection for my senior brother. My heart belongs to another, even if I die, don’t ever dream that I will marry my senior brother.”

“Good, very good. So resolute. I will grant your wish—to separate you by life and death.” Ye Yongjian ignored Wu Qiwei’s protests; his mind was made up. Since she chose death over living with a vampire, she must cleanse her sins through death.

“Xiao Lan, hold her. Kill her soon.”

Ye Lan trembled as she took the baby. She feared her father and his unshakable old beliefs. Because of his stubbornness, her sister was killed. Looking at the baby in her arms, she suddenly felt reluctant.

Although the law stipulated otherwise, rural areas remained lax in enforcement. Moreover, Ye Yongjian chose to destroy the body, preventing any chance of resurrection by the vampire. Wu Qiwei knelt, begging Ye Yongjian to spare Ye Mei, but he refused to listen, frightened of losing her.

“Father, if you must kill me, I won’t blame you. But I hope you can let go of your hatred, for it has clouded your eyes. You won’t allow yourself to err, nor those around you to challenge your authority as the heir. You believe yourself stern and impartial, but you have lost your humanity. Though I am but a woman, I understand tolerance better than you.”

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Ye Yongjian drew his red blade. His heart was struck by the words, exposing the dark shadow within. He would not allow anyone to question his decisions, nor tolerate love between humans and vampires. The two races were forever enemies, shackled by an unbreakable bond of hatred. “Enough. From now on, we are no longer father and daughter. You must atone for your mistakes.”

“Because our traditions differ, even if the world deems my actions wrong, if there is another life, I would still choose this path.”

Ye Yongjian’s face twisted in anger, rage consuming his mind.

“No!” Wu Qiwei cried out in desperation.

“No more, senior brother. Forget me. The one I’ve wronged most in this life is you. Forgive me for betraying your love.”

Ye Yongjian could no longer listen. Suddenly, a blue light flashed before everyone’s eyes. Ye Mei slowly closed her eyes. Time seemed to freeze. Blood splattered from her chest as her frail body collapsed. Though dead, a smile lingered on her face. She would never look back nor regret. Her heart belonged only to Pan and their daughter.

Wu Qiwei was stunned, unable to comprehend his eternal loss of love. Watching her depart, he knew he would never have her again.

Gathering his sorrow, Ye Yongjian turned to kill the infant. Yet, Ye Lan had already fled with the baby. He could not understand why everyone questioned him. He was merely fulfilling his duty as head of the family, righteously cutting ties with kin.

As for Ye Lan, she refused to let harm befall the infant. Witnessing her sister’s death at their father’s hands, hatred burned within her, but he remained her father. She could not bear to see her niece killed and decided to take her away, vowing the child would never know her true origins and live as an ordinary person.

Ye Yongjian glared angrily at those around him, certain they had conspired to help Ye Lan escape. Furious, he pursued them, followed by others. Wu Qiwei remained behind, staring blankly at Ye Mei’s cold, delicate body. Slowly, he approached, lifted her into his arms, and held her close. Stroking her pale face, tears streamed down his cheeks.

“Why? Why won’t you return to me, even in death? Is that person truly worth your life?”

Time passed endlessly, yet Wu Qiwei still embraced that cold form. His tears had long since dried, emptied from grieving. Suddenly, a profound clarity flickered within him. He began to laugh bitterly, a laugh so sorrowful and powerless.

To avenge the Ye family, Wu Qiwei embraced darkness, slaughtering Ye Mei’s parents. The village where they had taken refuge was engulfed in flames, none spared. Bathed in firelight, he saw only loneliness. If darkness is the prelude to night, then it heralds night’s sorrow. Sometimes it symbolizes cold indifference, but also the solitude behind the nightfall.

Fragments of fantasy pulled him back to reality, where Ye Tang struggled amidst countless swords, dodging relentlessly. Her twin swords sliced dozens of sword energies, dissipating one wave after another. Yet, more phantoms appeared. To defeat him, she had to muster all her strength. Protected by eight swords, she charged toward Wu Qiwei.

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Seeing her approach, Wu Qiwei snorted coldly and lunged, “Don’t waste your effort fighting. Accept judgment!”

“If anyone should be judged, it’s you. You chose a path of no return.” Their swords clashed, crackling with electric currents. Ye Tang spun, unleashing a crescent slash. Wu Qiwei blocked with a phantom sword. With a loud bang, he was shocked to see the phantom sword break—crafted from material equal to the red blade.

Holding the broken half, he casually discarded it and vanished instantly. Ye Tang glanced around, surrounded by countless swords but unable to see Wu Qiwei. A warning flashed through her mind. Wu Qiwei suddenly appeared behind her, sprouting limbs to seize her wings and hands, immobilizing her.

“Let me tear off your wings so you can no longer fly freely.” Wu Qiwei yanked fiercely, causing bone-cracking pain.

“Ah!” Ye Tang screamed in agony, tears streaming uncontrollably. Her cries only fueled Wu Qiwei’s frenzy. With a ripping sound, one wing was brutally torn off. Blood stained her back. The searing pain nearly overwhelmed her to unconsciousness.

“Hahaha… Hurting, aren’t you? Screaming in agony! No one will save you now.”

Pain faded. Her vision blurred. As she neared collapse, a voice sounded, “I can’t stand it anymore. You’re my prey. This time you owe me a favor.”

Seeing YOYO finally act, Wu Qiwei sneered, “Traitor.”

“Traitor? Don’t forget you taught me to kill vampires. As the heir of the Hunters, I fight vampires. Since you absorbed vampire genes, you’re no longer human. You have no right to command me.” She emanated icy power, pouring energy into the ground. Within a kilometer, the landscape transformed into an icy wasteland. Du Bin shivered uncontrollably; luckily, Wu Yongxin had built a fire from wood to fend off the cold.

“Hmph, so that’s the case. I almost forgot about this.”