CRIMSON NOCTURNE

CHAPTER 23: Just Missed

Inside a supermarket in Rome, a supervisor was directing a new employee to restock the shelves. The young man worked diligently, always completing his own tasks and often helping coworkers with theirs. Everyone in the store was satisfied with him. As he set down items from the shelf, his handsome yet determined face belonged to none other than Yi Fei—the very same man who had come to Rome awaiting word from Van Helsing.

"Yi Fei, take those goods to the warehouse for the manager, then you can clock out." Emma, the thirty-something supervisor, smiled kindly at the black-haired young man. "Don't forget to pick up your meal and pay before you leave."

"Yes, I know. Thank you, Supervisor Emma." Yi Fei nodded politely and carried the goods toward the warehouse.

Three months. Yi Fei and Camilla had been waiting in Rome for three long months, with no sign of Van Helsing. The small sum of money he had left Yi Fei had long since been spent. After that, the recovered Camilla found work as a waitress at the inn while Yi Fei picked up this job at the supermarket. (Yi Fei deeply regretted not extorting more money from Van Helsing when he had the chance.)

Now Yi Fei had to report to the supermarket early each morning, rush to St. Peter's in the evening to check for any messages from Van Helsing, and occasionally complete vampire hunter contracts at night. Every day left him exhausted, yet it felt strangely fulfilling. Apart from Chen Jing's face haunting his dreams, everything was relatively peaceful.

To save money, the two had rented a small room next to the inn. Camilla cooked at home while Yi Fei worked. She kept their small home spotless and took excellent care of him. Ever considerate, Yi Fei would occasionally bring home small snacks to treat her. To outsiders, they looked like a sweet young couple. Even Camilla herself was beginning to wonder if she was truly falling in love with Yi Fei.

One day, after his usual check at St. Peter's, Yi Fei returned. He handed over his weekly pay and, exhausted, headed for the bathroom.

"Yi Fei, I received a hunter contract for you," Camilla said softly. "I left it on the table. Take a look when you have time. I'll prepare dinner." She paused. "If you're tired, don't take it. We're not that short on money."

Yi Fei understood her concern but still refused. "I can't do that. If I don't earn enough now and something comes up later when we have no money, we'll be in real trouble." Remembering how much of his savings he had spent on getting Camilla's broken bones properly set, he steeled his resolve once more.

"I don't have to work tomorrow. Want me to take you for a walk? You've been cooped up for months."

"No, it's too risky. If one of Larsen's men spots me, it would be trouble." Grateful for his concern, Camilla smiled. "I'm happy with this peaceful life."

After dinner, Camilla went to help at the inn, while Yi Fei examined the contract. It read: Recently, on a certain road in Rome, victims have been found dead from vampire attacks. Aside from small punctures on their necks, there are no other wounds. The client commissions 'Silver Meteor' to investigate. If vampires are responsible, eliminate them. A map of the affected area was included.

Yi Fei memorized the location, then tore the document into pieces and burned them.

He checked the clock—not yet nine. He had planned to nap, but changed his mind. Grabbing the gray cloak Camilla had prepared, he left.

Rather than heading straight to the ambush site, Yi Fei decided to stroll through the city center. Based on past experience, vampires rarely stirred before eleven at night. They preferred later hours, when fewer pedestrians were about.

The bustling city of Rome was many times larger than Yi Fei's hometown of N City. It took nearly half an hour by bus to reach the city center. Glancing at his watch, Yi Fei hurried toward the commercial street he remembered.

Having long decided to bring Camilla a gift, Yi Fei found himself lost in the dazzling array of shops. Every item seemed beautiful; in his mind, Camilla could wear any of the clothes or jewelry on display. But he couldn't afford it all. After an hour, he left in agony, clutching a small handcrafted crystal pendant. This tiny trinket had cost him nearly three months' worth of pocket money.

Tucking the box into his coat, Yi Fei found a deserted alley and climbed a drainpipe to the rooftop. Sitting atop the building, gazing at the moonless sky, he suddenly felt a pang of nostalgia for the simpler days on Zeng Dan's rooftop, practicing transformations.

Heaving a soft sigh, Yi Fei confirmed the area was clear, shed his clothes, and transformed. He stuffed his clothes into a paper bag and tucked it into a corner. Estimating the direction, he leaped toward his target.

Predictably, he got lost. Approaching midnight, Yi Fei could only crouch atop a tall building, hoping his heightened senses would detect something amiss.

Two more hours slipped by. The entire city gradually fell silent. "Maybe I should just head back. Tomorrow I'll have Camilla point me in the right direction," he muttered, preparing to go home.

Just as he prepared to leap, he thought he heard a cry for help in the distance. Vampire or not, he decided to check it out. Changing direction, Yi Fei crept toward the sound.

He reached the location quickly, peering down from a rooftop shadow. Not vampires—just a few thugs harassing a young woman. He thought about leaving them, but some deep-seated sense of justice rooted him to the spot.

While he was still debating, a scream rose from below. The apparent leader had torn open the girl's shirt.

"I can't just watch this..." In a flash, Yi Fei dropped from the rooftop. The thug leader suddenly found a tall figure in a cloak blocking his path.

"What the hell are you? Looking for a death wish!" The leader thrust his chin out arrogantly. "Get lost!"

Seeing no reaction, the leader signaled his men. Several thugs produced clubs and machetes, advancing on Yi Fei.

Shaking his head, Yi Fei charged. The leader hadn't even registered what happened before his men lay sprawled across the ground.

The leader's voice trembled. "You... what do you think you're doing! Don't you know we work for the Blood Clan!"

"The Blood Clan? Vampires running street gangs?" Yi Fei stared coldly. "I specialize in making trouble for vampires. You're just unlucky today."

He stepped forward and snapped one of the leader's fingers. The man shrieked in agony. If he'd known the man was such a coward, he wouldn't have been so harsh.

"Clearly you're not a vampire. I'll let you live. Take your men and get lost."

Grateful for the reprieve, the leader turned to call his underlings, only to find they had fled long ago. He ran without looking back.

"Miss, don't walk alone so late at night," Yi Fei called without turning, then set off after the leader. He didn't realize the girl had glimpsed a beast's leg beneath his flapping cloak.

Keeping a safe distance, Yi Fei followed. The man wound through a maze of alleys before ducking into a residential house. Yi Fei looked around and froze—wasn't this the exact location marked on the contract?

No way. Could it really be this coincidental? He shook his head forcefully.

Composing himself, he focused his heightened senses on the house. Soon, every sound within was under his surveillance.

"Boss, someone raided my operation. Said they specialize in hunting the Blood Clan." It was the cowardly thug's voice.

"Oh? Did you blab anything?" A sinister voice answered.

"No, no, I said nothing. He broke my finger, but I kept my mouth shut."

"i***t! If he was after us, it wouldn't stop at one finger! My guess is you led him right to our doorstep!"

This guy's sharp, Yi Fei thought.

A loud slap echoed, followed by the thud of a body hitting the wall.

Listening to the man in charge ordering his men to raise their guard, Yi Fei found it amusing. "If I wait until they think I didn't follow, then strike, it'll be devastating."

But as he plotted, he glanced at the sky... Dawn was approaching. "Can't wait that long. I'll come back tomorrow night." He decided to go home and sleep.

Not long after Yi Fei left, a female figure he should have recognized well, accompanied by a middle-aged man carrying someone, entered the house. When the woman removed her cloak, it was Le Kester. The man and the one he carried were Vlad and Chen Jing.

Never imagining that his seemingly clever decision had cost him the chance to see Chen Jing, Yi Fei had already vanished into the night.

[END OF CHAPTER 23]