The border line absolutely could not have any problems, otherwise the disaster they were about to face was completely unimaginable.
Xavier stood up from his kneeling mat after finishing his final morning of penance.
He had been kneeling for so long that he was a bit unsteady when he first rose, his knees aching dully.
Chloe quickly reached out to support him, helping him stay in place for a moment before they began walking forward.
This matter indeed could not be treated lightly.
Judging by Xavier's demeanor, he was likely planning to personally visit the border.
As the one who first discovered the problem, Chloe proudly followed behind Xavier.
However, before they even left the city, she spotted her friend on the street.
Daniel was squatting by the roadside eating barbecue. When he saw her, he instinctively saluted, then reacted after a moment, tossing aside his skewer and running in their direction.
As he approached, he secretly glanced at Xavier's expression. Seeing that Xavier wasn't looking at him, he breathed a sigh of relief and asked:
"Where are you two off to?"
Chloe, her left hand held by Xavier, turned her head and said:
"We're going to take care of important business. You just stay here and wait for us to return."
Hearing this, Daniel immediately panicked: "We came out here with you, what are we supposed to do if you leave?"
Chloe rolled her eyes: "How old are you now? Can't you take care of yourself?"
Daniel hurried a few steps closer, looked around, and then said:
"No way. You better come back soon."
Chloe nodded perfunctorily: "Alright, I'll be back before sunset."
Only then did Daniel stop, standing in place and watching forlornly as Chloe departed.
Not long after, Qin Huaibei approached with some newly purchased snacks: "What are you thinking about? Why the long face?"
Daniel murmured: "Chloe abandoned us."
Qin Huaibei: "?"
"What are you being so sentimental about now?"
...
About a kilometer outside Puze County was where the Vampire border soldiers were stationed.
Tents and wooden cabins were built around the river in the camp, with countless soldiers standing guard on the towering defensive walls.
Opposite them, on the other side of the river, were the Werewolf Race soldiers.
The two sides faced off against each other, the air thick with murderous intent.
When Xavier arrived at the camp, a soldier approached:
"I'm sorry, this is a restricted border area. No unauthorized entry."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xavier raised his eyes and gazed at him coolly.
Black hair, red eyes—a fear and terror welling up from the depths of his soul made the soldier's body tremble slightly.
He realized something and quickly lowered his head, stepping aside and tentatively asking:
"...Your Majesty?"
Hearing this, Xavier calmly withdrew his gaze: "Mm."
"Lead the way."
The soldier broke out in a cold sweat and immediately responded, leading Xavier towards the interior of the camp: "Yes, sir!"
His steps were large and hurried, as if eager to notify someone.
After walking a short distance, Xavier's voice suddenly sounded from behind:
"Slow down."
The soldier paused, immediately coming to a stop.
He turned his head to look and only then noticed that a young child was standing beside Xavier.
Black hair, red eyes, with a pure and adorable face, large eyes gazing at him with a watery sheen.
Xavier tightened his grip on the child's hand:
"Her legs are short."
Chloe: "..."
The soldier nodded repeatedly, saying solemnly: "Understood, understood."
This time when he stepped forward, his pace was indeed much slower.
And then Chloe got angry again.
Xavier looked down and could see Chloe's pouting lips, pronounced enough to hang an oil bottle from.
Seeing this, he imperceptibly furrowed his brow—are all little girls so easily angered?
What had he done wrong now?
Xavier pondered the whole way, unable to come up with anything. In the end, he could only slip a piece of candy into Chloe's palm as an apology.
They were heading towards the General's tent in the border army camp.
Before they got close, the tall and robust Vampire General emerged from the tent, walking over with a beaming smile and then kneeling on one knee to salute:
"This humble servant greets Your Majesty!"
Xavier's gaze lingered on him for a moment, as if assessing and scrutinizing.
After a long while, he slowly said: "You may rise."
The Ancestor had arrived and had already been walking for quite some time, yet this General only now came out of his tent to welcome them—his speed was far too slow.
By rights, every soldier in this military camp should have been the General's eyes and ears.
Either the General's prestige in the army was not high, or the General had done this deliberately.
The former possibility was low, which left the latter...
If it truly was the latter, then he had no reason to continue living.
This was what Chloe thought.
Not only did she think this, but she also wanted to say it out loud and stir up trouble.
Chloe clutched Xavier's clothes, slightly raising her chin and glancing sidelong at the General with her dark red eyes, saying contemptuously:
"Father has been here for so long, why are you only now coming out of your tent to welcome him?"
"What's the matter? Do you have something in there you don't want others to see?"
As her words fell, a moment of silence descended on the scene.
The General seemed not to have expected to be called out so blatantly, and immediately became angry and embarrassed. He looked towards Xavier with a hint of reproach in his gaze, as if wanting him to discipline his daughter.
Xavier lowered his eyes slightly, issuing a mild rebuke:
"Child, do not speak nonsense."
The implication was clear—don't make things difficult for Chloe, she's just a young child.
At first glance, he appeared to be an indulgent father, but wasn't this scene also Xavier using Chloe's mouth to express his true inner thoughts?
The speed of welcoming was not always some rigid rule, but rather reflected whether one showed proper respect when dealing with others.
Not to mention that the one they were welcoming now was the most noble leader in all of Vampire territory.
From the moment they met, Xavier was not very satisfied with this General who wore a false smile on his face.
The General knew that this matter couldn't be resolved without an apology, so he sincerely expressed his regrets to both Xavier and Chloe.
Xavier nodded, though it was unclear whether he had forgiven him or not.
The thoughts of those in high positions were always unfathomable to those who worked beneath them.
The General dared not say anything more, only bowing slightly:
"Your Majesty, shall we proceed to the tent?"
Xavier gave a slight nod.
They followed the General towards the largest tent in the military camp.
Along the way, many soldiers were stealing glances in their direction.
The Vampire Ancestor was such an esteemed figure that they might not have a chance to see in their entire lifetime. How could they not seize this opportunity to take a few more looks?
These gazes held no malice, at most just curiosity mixed with reverence.
Xavier paid no mind to it. He lowered his eyes and sent a mental message to Chloe:
[This General is problematic.]
