This cultist was a high-ranking member of the sect, often accompanying the leader.
But unknowingly, he suddenly noticed that his leader’s behavior had become very strange, as if he had turned into a completely different person.
His leader actually wanted to fight the authorities to the death!
In a passionate and seductive speech, he declared that he would initiate the final judgment, allowing "Our Lord" to descend into the world, cleanse all filth, and establish a beautiful new world!
As a high-ranking member of the sect, he naturally didn’t believe in this nonsense and thought the leader had gone mad. The god of truth they worshipped didn’t exist in the first place, and even if a god did exist, how could they, a group of insignificant ants, summon it?
He immediately suspected that this leader was an imposter! He must have been killed and replaced by that mysterious person!
The atmosphere within the sect also became increasingly terrifying to him. The fanatical believers had been transformed into mindless, painless monsters through some horrifying method, only obeying the leader’s commands. The remaining believers were fervently preparing for war, vowing to slaughter all non-believers!
Moreover, the thought of them purchasing large quantities of hallucinogens, clearly planning something catastrophic, filled him with growing dread. In the end, he seized an opportunity to escape.
The journey was a life-or-death struggle. Several times, he almost died. The howls and screams haunted him day and night, and the extreme terror nearly drove him insane. Fortunately, he was eventually captured by agents of the Special Affairs Department. Due to his erratic behavior, he was placed in this ward for observation and treatment. However, just as he was beginning to recover and before he could be sent to the police station for interrogation, chaos erupted across the city.
Luo Wei looked at him. No wonder he was so agitated at the thought of being released. For this cultist, being locked up in this asylum was far better than being captured by the sect.
Luo Wei turned his gaze to the thick fog outside the window, and new thoughts about the case began to form.
Perhaps the fog had occurred naturally and had nothing to do with the mastermind’s interference. After all, the mastermind didn’t have the power to manipulate the weather.
But the mastermind had taken advantage of the fog, releasing large amounts of hallucinogens into the water supply, especially in the lower districts. The complex network of sewers, drainage pipes, and various factory facilities, coupled with lax supervision, made it all too easy.
Considering all this, Luo Wei immediately turned to Evelyn and Helena. Time was running out. He had to disrupt the mastermind’s summoning ritual before the evil god descended, or it would be too late.
But to his surprise, Evelyn remained standing still, showing no intention of leaving with him.
"Teacher, you..." Luo Wei looked at her in shock. "What’s wrong?"
He had been so focused on the cultist that he had completely overlooked the changes in Evelyn. Now, he noticed that the light in her eyes was rapidly dimming, her emerald-green irises turning into a lifeless gray.
"Brother! Be careful!" Helena also noticed Evelyn’s abnormality and shouted a warning.
But it was too late. A crimson shadow flashed by, and Evelyn, now with two sharp fangs, lunged at Luo Wei.
[Evelyn]
[Corruption Level: 62↑]
[Danger Level: Four Stars (High Risk!)]
The distance was too close, and Evelyn’s agility was her strong suit. In an instant, her mouth clamped down on Luo Wei’s neck.
Luo Wei immediately felt his blood being rapidly drained into her mouth. A crimson mist enveloped their bodies, and his life force slowly ebbed away.
Being bitten like this was incredibly unpleasant, even if it was by Teacher Evelyn.
Luo Wei tried to push her away, but his legs were weak, and they both tumbled to the floor in a wrestling-like position.
Luo Wei would have landed face-first on the ground, but Evelyn’s body cushioned the fall. A dull thud echoed as the back of her head hit the floor.
The impact made her release her bite. Luo Wei looked at her, so close now, but her gray eyes showed no sign of recovery. Blood dripped from her mouth as she prepared to bite him again.
But just as she moved, a circle of black thorns suddenly appeared, tightly wrapping around her body.
[Punishment Command]
[Activated]
Evelyn let out a pained moan.
[Corruption Level: 50↓]
[Corruption Level: 40↓]
Only when her corruption level dropped below 20 did Luo Wei end the [Punishment Command]. Seeing Evelyn’s breathing gradually stabilize, he finally relaxed.
"Teacher... snap out of it," Luo Wei gently patted her cheek, thinking to himself that the hallucinogen must have taken effect the moment she opened the window and inhaled the fog.
He hadn’t expected the drug to be so potent. According to the cultist, the drug’s origin was in the lower districts. By the time it reached the eastern district, it should have been diluted, but Evelyn still showed signs of backlash and corruption.
"It hurts... it hurts so much..." Evelyn trembled, her eyes flickering between clarity and confusion.
Her hands unconsciously clung tightly to Luo Wei, and her legs wrapped around him as if seeking relief from the pain.
Luo Wei glanced at the silent Helena and smiled wryly as he tried to soothe Evelyn’s emotions.
"It’s okay... Teacher, it’s okay..."
He gently patted Evelyn’s soft body, and finally, after half a minute, her eyes regained their usual sparkle.
For other supernaturals, corruption and backlash were almost irreversible. But for those Luo Wei had contained, it was just a simple command.
Evelyn struggled to lift her head, seemingly confused about what had just happened. But when she saw the two bloody holes on Luo Wei’s neck, she was shocked.
She guiltily touched Luo Wei’s wound. "I’m so sorry, Xiao Wei. I don’t know what came over me. I suddenly wanted to attack you..."
This was the first time she had called him that since being contained. Luo Wei shook his head with a smile.
"It’s nothing, just a small injury..."
Seeing that Evelyn had finally returned to normal, he tried to stand up.
But Evelyn clung to him, her face filled with fear.
"I felt like I was dreaming. I dreamed I went mad, just like those old relics in my family, turning into ugly, gloomy, twisted monsters who took pleasure in killing..."
She looked up, her emerald-green eyes filled with worry.
"I won’t end up like that, will I? You won’t let me become such an ugly thing, right?"
Luo Wei smiled gently. "Of course not. My teacher is young and beautiful. How could she ever become such a hideous monster?"
"Really?"
Luo Wei nodded, looking at her seriously. "Don’t worry, Teacher. It’s my responsibility."
Having contained her, Luo Wei was confident he could prevent such a thing from happening.
Evelyn felt as if a heavy stone had finally been lifted from her heart, and she let out a deep sigh of relief.
"That’s good, that’s good..."
Unconsciously, Evelyn’s thoughts drifted back to her family—a family that appeared glamorous on the surface but was rotten, twisted, and dark within...
From the moment she understood the truth, she had dreamed of escaping that ancient family.
Until that one pivotal moment of upheaval...
She finally severed ties with her family and entered the human society she had longed for, becoming an ordinary university teaching assistant...
The reason she hated her family so much wasn’t just because of its stifling, rigid traditions or a sense of "betrayal." There was one crucial reason.
She didn’t want to become a monster.
And the elders in her family were all such monsters. Even the council of elders among the vampires was mostly composed of such creatures...
A long life meant enduring prolonged torment...
It was nothing short of a curse.
But thankfully...
The pair of deep green eyes slowly shifted towards the pair that was now so close, his gaze tinged with concern.
Evelyn couldn’t help but smile.
Though it might have felt a little awkward.
In some sense, wasn’t this also akin to a new beginning?