The laws of the Blood Clan were far harsher than Adam had imagined.
After their collective exile from the First City, the vampires who hid among Earth's native humans had followed strict rules for over a thousand years.
No open slaughter.No revealing their true nature to humans without permission.
But among all the restrictions, two laws stood above the rest.
The first: no unauthorized turning.The second: no private contracts with humans.
Unauthorized turning meant creating a new vampire without the approval of a Marquis or higher. Blood was essential to their survival, yet humans despised their existence. That contradiction alone made every new vampire a potential disaster.
An undisciplined fledgling, left unguided, could slaughter humans indiscriminately—drawing attention, triggering public hatred, and dragging other vampires into exposure and death.
That was why the clan reacted swiftly whenever an unknown vampire appeared. Once their origin was confirmed, any illegal offspring was usually erased on the spot.
This was also why Gu Dian and Vine's mission wasn't just to rescue the captured vampire—but to bring him back for trial.
The second taboo was even more dangerous.
Private agreements with humans—whether cooperation, obedience, or outright enslavement—were forbidden if they exposed vampire existence.
Only Earls or higher were allowed to make such deals, and only with powerful human elites. In exchange for influence or protection, vampires received shelter and favors.
Risky, but sometimes necessary.
Contracts with low-status humans, however, were viewed as pure liability.
The usual solution was simple: kill all informed humans, then severely punish the vampires involved. In extreme cases, execution followed.
Adam had violated both laws.
Gu Dian had already been furious. Now, he had no intention of holding back.
Fangs bared. Claws extended.A full combat stance.
Adam didn't know the Blood Clan's rules.But even an idiot could see what Gu Dian wanted.
A fight?
Fine.
Adam took a slow breath in, then let it out. He raised his left hand and crooked a finger at Gu Dian—expression flat, almost bored.
No killing intent.Not even full effort.
Gu Dian snapped.
This wasn't just provocation.It was contempt.
He was a 150-year-old thirteenth-generation vampire. How could he tolerate this from a so-called fledgling?
With or without justification, he would kill him.
Gu Dian lowered his body slightly—and vanished.
His speed was terrifying by human standards. More than five times faster than any normal man.
But to Adam—
Not enough.
In the next instant, Gu Dian was in front of him, claws slashing straight for Adam's face.
Adam leaned back, barely moving.
The attack missed.
At the same time, his knee rose casually—almost lazily—and slammed into Gu Dian's completely exposed abdomen.
The force wasn't heavy.
Not to Adam.
But Gu Dian flew.
He hit the ground hard, rolling across the stone floor, veins bulging, eyes bulging, mouth wide open as blood poured out around his exposed fangs. His once-handsome face twisted into something ugly and feral.
Vine sucked in a sharp breath.
His long-stilled heart skipped a beat.
Before Gu Dian could even scream, Adam grabbed him midair with one hand and drove his face straight into the ground.
To Adam, it was a press.
To everyone else, it was a smash.
Boom.
Dust rose as cracks spidered across the stone balcony.
Adam released his grip and casually tossed Gu Dian at Vine's feet.
Vine's eyes widened. His fists clenched tight.
Gu Dian lay there, eyes rolled back, blood pouring from every opening. Most of his teeth were gone. His face was no longer recognizable.
"Whose descendant is this?" Adam said calmly, like an elder scolding a child. "No manners at all."
The fat man hiding behind the curtain collapsed to the floor, face pale, mouth hanging open, his mind completely blank.
Vine stood frozen.
What was this strength?Who was this man?
"Which lineage?" Adam continued casually. "Scimitar? Whip? Or Iron Hoof?"
He recited the names of the three vampires he had personally turned—the only second-generation vampires to ever exist.
Vine showed no reaction. Only confusion.
Realizing his place, Vine dropped to one knee and bowed deeply.
"Sir," he said sincerely, "Gu Dian offended you. I apologize on his behalf."
Among vampires, raw strength—speed and power stripped of technique—was the clearest indicator of status.
This was no weak illegal offspring.
This was an ancient one.
"Enough." Adam waved a hand. "Call your leader. I want to see him."
Vine's heart nearly jumped out of his chest.
Call their leader here? Even high-ranking vampires didn't make such demands on another family's territory.
Who was this man…?
Still, he dared not hesitate.
"Sir," Vine said carefully, pulling out a small notebook and a charcoal pencil, "this is the territory of the Pisa family. Before I report to our Baron, I'll need to record some basic information."
"Fine." Adam clasped his hands behind his back. "Ask."
"Your name?"
"Adam."
Vine wrote it down. "Surname?"
"None."
"…None?"
"That's right."
Vine hesitated, then continued. "Your sire?"
Adam thought for a moment.
"Yahweh."
The pencil shook.
That was the true name of God.
Vine glanced at Adam and forced himself to continue. "Your generation?"
"First," Adam said with a faint smile. "Or Founder."
No shock.
Only confusion.
Adam frowned slightly.
Had even this history been erased?
Vine closed the notebook.
"Sir," he said, "I'll report your request to our Baron, who will then inform the Lord. I'll contact you as soon as I receive a response."
He pressed a hand to Gu Dian's chest.
The unconscious vampire reverted into a black bat.
A very unconscious one.
"I'm curious," Adam said. "How do you turn into bats?"
Vine stared at him. "You don't know? That technique has existed for over a thousand years."
Adam finally understood.
The world had moved on.
Not just humans.
God had cursed the Blood Clan—but also granted them power.
And power, once given, evolved.
Two thousand years had changed everything.
These were low-tier vampires. The higher ones must be far more dangerous.
Adam waved them away.
Vine transformed and flew off, carrying Gu Dian with him.
Adam walked to the bloodstained ground and dipped a finger into the blood, tasting it.
"Whip lineage."
Things were getting complicated.
The Blood Clan had developed its own civilization—laws, ethics, secrets—hidden in the dark. A system unfamiliar to him, full of uncertainty.
Worse still, even they had buried the truth.
The truth that Adam was their progenitor.
He had planned to enlist the Blood Clan's help to search the world for Uriel and Lilith.
Now—
It seemed he would have to take the long way.