Chapter 68: I Will Protect You

At the back mountain of the vampire clan, the entrance to the Well of Atonement.

“Mother, please reconsider. Luoyao is just a human, and her body has been in poor health for a long time. She won’t survive the Well of Atonement.”

Huangwei trailed closely behind Yelan, pleading relentlessly to reverse her decision.

Just ten minutes ago, Noah had lost all ability to resist.

Luoyao, in front of several castle vampires, declared her willingness to “live and die with Noah.”

Such a “yours in life, yours as a ghost” resolve was truly moving, so Yelan decided to grant their wish.

Arms crossed, Yelan stared ahead at Noah and Luoyao, about to enter the Well of Atonement.

Her face showed no trace of reluctance or hesitation.

In an icy tone, Yelan said,

“Anyone who breaks the vampire taboo must be punished. Since her little blood s*ave can’t bear to part with her, they can go in together. Huangwei, stop pleading for them. It’s annoying.”

“But Mother—”

“Huangwei, do you not understand me?”

Huangwei lowered her eyes, stepping back half a pace, nodding slightly. “Yes, Mother.”

Yelan gazed at their retreating figures and said faintly,

“I made it clear earlier. They will enter the Well of Atonement for punishment, for three days. If they’re both alive after three days, I’ll allow their disgusting relationship to continue.”

Huangwei bit her lip, listening.

Three days.

Three full days enduring the sun’s scorching rays in the Well of Atonement, with no cover or shelter.

That level of ultraviolet intensity—no vampire could withstand even thirty minutes.

And Noah’s body, ravaged by Holy Blood’s backlash and Yelan’s brutal beating, lacked the strength to heal her wounds.

How could she survive this hopeless ordeal?

Not to mention Luoyao’s health, barely meeting human standards.

Living with a vampire, even with Noah controlling her feeding, inevitably impacted Luoyao’s condition.

Huangwei truly wondered if Luoyao’s choice was worth it.

To protect their love from being tainted, they’d forsake their fates…

If it were Huangwei, she’d probably have begged Mother long ago.

She admitted she lacked Noah and Luoyao’s fearless courage.

Or perhaps… she’d never found something worth loving so recklessly.

Huangwei envied their love for each other and resented the endless trials it faced.

But she… was just a helpless bystander.

The next three days depended entirely on them.

Luoyao draped Noah’s arm over her shoulder, gripping her wrist and supporting her waist.

Blood-soaked silver hair brushed against Luoyao’s cheek.

Through the strands, Luoyao gazed at Noah’s profile, smiling bitterly.

“I told you, Noah, no matter what, I’ll stay with you.”

Noah’s blood-smeared face was hard to read.

Luoyao only heard a weak hum.

“Little fool… there’s really no turning back now. I fought Mother, you cursed her. Truly…”

“Not a family, not under one roof,” Luoyao said.

“Hmph, fool.”

“I know, jerk.”

Luoyao supported Noah, stepping on creaking leaves, entering the Well of Atonement.

At the mountain’s base was a secret passage to the well’s bottom.

Through the passage, they opened a wooden door, sealed for years—the well’s lowest point.

The door shut, locked from outside.

In that moment, their three-day atonement began.

By faint moonlight filtering into the well, Luoyao scanned their surroundings.

Aside from scattered stones and weeds, there was no shelter from the sun.

In a corner of the well’s wall, piles of decayed bones remained.

Luoyao swallowed hard, whispering, “Those bones are…”

“Vampires who loved humans,” Noah paused, forcing a teasing smile. “Maybe in three days, I’ll join them.”

Luoyao frowned, nudging Noah’s hip. “Don’t talk nonsense. We’ll make it through.”

Noah lowered her head, silent.

If her little fool knew no vampire had ever survived three days in the Well of Atonement, she wouldn’t have said that.

Even so, Luoyao’s words eased the despair in Noah’s heart.

If death was inevitable, seeing her beloved in her final moments meant Noah could leave this life without regrets.

Luoyao helped Noah to a spot by the wall, guiding her to sit slowly.

She pulled open her collar, exposing her pale neck.

“Eat.”

Noah blinked, smiled, and shook her head.

“You’re like this and still won’t eat? You won’t last.”

Luoyao said.

“Come here, let me hold you.”

“No, you need to eat.”

Ugh, what am I going to do with you?

Noah tilted her chin, signaling Luoyao to come closer.

Luoyao complied, bringing her neck to Noah’s lips.

Noah parted her pale lips, revealing sharp fangs.

Then—smooch.

A gentle kiss on her neck.

She leaned back, smiling tiredly. “No strength to eat.”

“Ugh, you’re impossible…”

“Sit here, let me hold you.”

Luoyao pouted reluctantly but obeyed, scooting beside Noah and resting her head on her shoulder.

Noah tried to lift her arm to wrap around Luoyao, but her bones, shattered by Yelan, made even simple movements painful.

A slight motion left her wincing.

Luoyao noticed, ducking under Noah’s arm and settling back against her shoulder.

“There, done,” Luoyao said.

“Mm.”

They leaned against each other at the well’s bottom, no excess words, just feeling each other’s warmth and heartbeat, quietly awaiting time’s passage.

In a few hours, dawn would break.

The night would end, and sunlight would flood the well like a deluge.

For most, dawn symbolized new beginnings, hope after trials.

But for Noah and Luoyao, dawn was the moment the Reaper swung his scythe.

The frail girl rested on the silver-haired girl’s shoulder, her hand gently on Noah’s chest, feeling her weak but steady heartbeat.

“I’ll protect you, Noah. I will.”