The Fallen's Guide - chapter 24

Samuel obediently sat at the edge of the bed. “Could you call out this name once?”

The scent of blood, imperceptible to humans, dispersed through the air like a dense, invisible net, trapping her reason.

“Could you…”

Crack-

It was the sound of reason snapping.

Tang Nian’s gaze grew vacant. Without a word, she stepped forward and grasped his wrist.

She didn’t use much strength, yet the boy leaned toward her as she intended. As he drew closer, he heard her faint voice.

“Hungry…”

“What?” He lowered his head, unable to hear clearly.

The fine, dark threads in the air boiled once more, ashamed of his pretense.

Her hair brushed past his ear, and the boy’s eyes widened slightly.

A cool, soft sensation landed on his neck, like jelly with thorns rolling across his skin, nibbling and reddening the pale flesh, reopening a wound that had already stopped bleeding.

He stiffened, his voice hoarse.

“New Lady…”

No one answered.

In the quiet room, only the subtle sound of water could be heard.

Sweet.

Such a sweet taste.

Tang Nian’s reason had long since crumbled.

Now, only predatory instinct remained, like strings manipulating a puppet.

His taste was even better than she had imagined. Tang Nian couldn’t help but place her hand on his waist, standing between his parted knees. Even so, it wasn’t enough-she wanted to be even closer to her prey.

The boy sat on the bed, she stood before him, lowering her head to bite at his bleeding neck, their reflection on the window resembling a kiss.

Samuel stared at that shadow, somewhat dazed.

But he knew clearly it was not a kiss.

Because sharp fangs were clumsily trying to pierce his skin.

Trying to reopen the wound that healed so quickly.

Samuel trembled, a faint blush rising beneath his eyes, and he sighed almost inaudibly.

She hadn’t learned how to feed yet.

The woman, nearly pressed against his chest, clung to him, hooking her arm around his neck, her teeth searching anxiously along the broken skin.

She was clearly still a girl-why call her New Lady?

She looked so pure, yet she was the new wife of a widower with one foot in the grave.

The usual mask of fragility and innocence faded from her face; her gray-violet eyes drooped slightly, revealing hidden sharpness.

Where Tang Nian couldn’t see, the boy’s entire demeanor subtly shifted. He was no longer flustered or cautious, but like an unsheathed Sword, radiating a cold, sharp aura.

“That’s not right.”

He pressed down on Tang Nian, who was trying to pull open his collar, his hand gripping the back of her neck.

He controlled her movements with ease.

The young woman had already lost self-awareness.

“It should be like this.”

The boy’s voice was gentle.

He supported Tang Nian to stand, then reached up to draw the curtains closed.

She probably didn’t know yet that sunlight would burn her skin.

Yesterday, he’d only tested her, not expecting that she truly knew nothing about her identity, even foolishly opening the window for him.

Where had this strange soul come from?

The Gardener who had burst out of the room was likely unable to suppress his true form any longer, hiding in some corner, frantically licking the blood from his hands.

The boy clicked his tongue, a trace of annoyance and frustration showing between his brows.

He didn’t need to say anything; the boiling, tar-like substance in the darkness was already rapidly spreading toward the corridor.

Just as he expected, the burly Gardener was kneeling in the gap of the stairs, greedily licking his fingers.

His rough skin was slick and shiny from his tongue, his eyes now completely blood-red with madness, his ugly side exposed, sharp fangs tearing at the skin of his hands, even beginning to gnaw on himself.
The wriggling black substance spread over him, condensing into long, needle-thin black lines.

The next second, one of them slid lightly and silently through the side of his temple, as if inserting a straw into his skull.

Very soon, the Gardener stopped moving.

His massive body gradually withered and collapsed, just like the roses in the garden he had so carefully tended, now wilted and rotten.

In the room, the youth soothed the restless Master, “Don’t worry, I’ll get it for you right away.”

He bent down to pick up the Pliers Knife dropped by the Gardener and, without hesitation, lifted his hand and cut open a wound.

Fresh blood gushed out, moistening Tang Nian’s lips.

Her pupils changed secretly in the darkness, revealing a bloodthirsty dark red in her eyes. Drawn by the alluring scent, she lunged forward.

Long, slender fingers cupped the back of her head, bringing the youth’s warm skin close.

“You don’t even know how to feed, do you?”

The youth’s face grew paler. The corners of his pale lips lifted into a faint smile as he spoke softly, “Take your time.”

The darkness seethed, calling him a liar.

He had actually deceived such a pure and naive soul.

They all found it shameful.

Soft lips pressed tightly against the wound. Tang Nian, like a young animal just learning to suckle, swallowed greedily with longing.

The blood warmed her body.

It revived her aching stomach.

“Ding, congratulations to the Player for triggering a hidden Mission!”

“Stage Mission has changed.”

“Logging out…”

“About to go offline.”

Every bone in Tang Nian’s body rejoiced from feeding, stretching slightly, her mind dizzy from the sweetness lingering on her lips and teeth.

A powerful sense of fulfillment brought deep drowsiness and fatigue. She took a gentle breath, closed her eyes-

-and fell asleep in the youth’s cold embrace.

……

“Stage Mission of Thorn Castle map has been issued, please accept the commission.”

“Congratulations to the Player for triggering the Hidden Plot! Extra reward: three days of Life Value!”

Noisy sounds pierced her ears. Tang Nian pressed her forehead, waking up groggily.

A faint metallic taste lingered in her mouth.

The familiar scent of disinfectant overwhelmed her senses. She slowly opened her eyes and saw white and blue walls. Down the corridor came muffled crying, arguments from patients’ families, and the beeping of various machines.

Near the ward’s door, several young nurses on duty were looking down at a live stream, occasionally gathering to discuss something.

The grandmother in the next bed noticed her awakening and handed her a piece of apple. “Young lady, would you like to try one?” she said gently. “My daughter brought these for my granddaughter, but she’s asleep now.”

The apple had been carefully peeled and cut into small pieces, each skewered with a toothpick. Tang Nian couldn’t refuse and picked up a piece, popping it into her mouth. The sweet flavor exploded on her tongue, washing away the metallic taste.

She couldn’t remember what she had eaten. Her last memory in the game was of trying to pry open the Collar on the youth’s neck with Pliers Knife.

“Thank you, grandma, the apple is very sweet.” Tang Nian gave a sincere smile.

“I have more over here. I’ll wash some and bring them to you later.” The grandmother stroked her hair and sighed softly as she turned away, “Poor child.”

On the table by her hospital bed, there was a box of fruit and a bouquet of daisies beaded with water droplets.

A nurse came to change her IV and noticed her gaze, explaining, “While you were sleeping, some classmates came to see you.”

Tang Nian frowned slightly.

The nurse continued while inserting the needle, “There was one boy and one girl. The girl said she’s your Dormmate. The boy left a phone number and said to tell him as soon as you woke up.”

Tang Nian was silent for a moment before speaking softly, “No need to tell them. We’re not that close.”