Chapter 43: The Blood Elf’s Deceptive Scheme

“It’s Gudou Toutian,” she murmured. “That fellow always seems a bit foolish. Ahoge Dragon, we’re saved!”

A surge of joy swelled within Mao Yuxia as she watched Gudou Toutian engaging three Blood Elves in battle across from them.

Despite their previous disagreements, Ahoge Dragon possessed something Gudou Toutian desperately sought.

This fact alone would surely compel him to protect both of them.

Yet, Mao Yuxia prudently refrained from revealing their presence.

She resolved to simply follow him covertly.

After all, if he harbored ill intentions towards Yao Yueli, then approaching him would be nothing short of walking into a meticulously laid trap.

****

“With such power, why did you allow yourself to be captured by me in the first place?” Gudou Toutian demanded.

Gudou Toutian fixed his gaze upon the three Blood Elves before him.

Though there were three, two were mere clones, much like the projections of the Lord of Flowing Shadows.

“Naturally, it was to acquire that silver-grade magical artifact from your foolish brother,” the Blood Elf replied, a hint of relish in her voice. “The blood essence on it was truly delectable~”

The Blood Elf licked her lips, a gesture that spoke of profound enjoyment.

It was then revealed that after the Blood Elf had been brought to the Gudou family, she had been promptly imprisoned.

Whenever Gudou Ritien happened to pass by, the Blood Elf would, with feigned innocence, remark on his cuteness, beauty, and overall prettiness.

She particularly praised his twin pigtails, declaring them to possess the allure of a future Hatsune Miku.

Gudou Ritien was absolutely delighted by such flattery, and the two quickly forged an inseparable bond, becoming the best of friends.

Following this, the Blood Elf confessed her own desire to don cute skirts and sport adorable twin pigtails.

In his naiveté, Gudou Ritien actually unlocked the prison door, intending to assist this supposedly “fallen” Blood Elf maiden.

Predictably, Gudou Ritien was promptly knocked unconscious.

Not only was his weapon snatched away, but the Blood Elf also siphoned off a significant portion of his blood.

Had someone not happened to pass by at that crucial moment, the Gudou family would likely have been preparing for a funeral feast.

The Blood Elf then embarked on an escape through the Gudou household, inadvertently stumbling upon a hidden chamber.

Within, she unearthed not only some monumental secrets but also utilized an ancient teleportation array to transport herself to this very forest.

The items she had acquired were of immense importance to both the Gudou family and the Radiant Moon Kingdom.

It was these circumstances that led to the temporary establishment of the hunting grounds in this location.

The Blood Elf maiden herself was one of the primary hunting targets.

Capturing this particular Blood Elf maiden would yield hunting points equivalent to the sum total of catching three ordinary Blood Elves.

“What good is newfound strength,” Gudou Toutian scoffed, “when I caught you once, and I shall surely catch you again!”

Without further ado, Gudou Toutian concluded that defeating the opponent before him was the sole objective.

His greatsword sliced through the air as he swiftly closed the distance to the Blood Elf maiden.

Unperturbed, the maiden’s three bodies simultaneously retreated, expertly positioning themselves to ensnare Gudou Toutian in a tripartite encirclement the moment he charged in.

“Blood Magic: Blood Pool!”

Abruptly, the unyielding ground beneath Gudou Toutian’s feet transformed, becoming incredibly viscous.

It also flowed like water, threatening to drag him into the crimson pool.

With a surprisingly agile maneuver, he stepped on his own feet, using the momentum to leap clear of the impending danger.

No sooner had he escaped than the Blood Elf maiden’s three clones lunged at him.

They encircled him, evidently intending to physically pin Gudou Toutian down.

“Ridiculous!” Gudou Toutian scoffed. “Gudou Nine Swords, Second Form: Dazzling Dance!”

Gudou Toutian’s body spun rapidly, his great saber transforming into a lethal weapon, resembling a bladed top.

Any who dared to approach would surely be sliced into countless fragments.

“Blood Magic: Blood Burst!”

The Blood Elf maiden’s three forms instantly swelled, transforming into three enormous, distended spheres.

With a thunderous *boom*!

They erupted into a cloud of crimson mist!

The force of the explosion sent Gudou Toutian hurtling backward a considerable distance.

He landed in a thoroughly disheveled state!

‘The Blood Elf self-destructed and perished!’ Mao Yuxia thought, astonished.

“Is such a method of combat even possible?” she wondered aloud.

What was the point? Gudou Toutian had clearly survived.

Even as Mao Yuxia grappled with her confusion, the residual blood mist from the explosion suddenly coalesced once more.

It reformed into a tiny, loli-like Blood Elf.

“Hahaha! Blood Magic: Bloodline Control!”

The petite Blood Elf gazed at the thoroughly disheveled Gudou Toutian, particularly noting the copious amount of her own blood that now coated his body.

A triumphant grin spread across her face, as if a long-laid scheme had finally come to fruition.

Before their eyes, the blood covering Gudou Toutian’s body began to seep into his very flesh.

This caused Gudou Toutian’s body to contort awkwardly, like a puppet whose strings were being manipulated by an unseen hand.

“This is… what’s happening to me…?” Gudou Toutian stammered.

Gudou Toutian felt his body slipping further and further beyond his command.

Yet, his consciousness remained alarmingly clear.

“You can thank your foolish brother for this,” the Blood Elf chimed, her voice laced with malice. “I refined his blood and then infused it into your body. It makes you remarkably easy to control.”

“Now, be a good boy and become my toy! Wahahaha! Wahaha… *cough cough cough*! *cough cough cough*!”

The Blood Elf, utterly consumed by her triumph, burst into maniacal laughter, only to be abruptly seized by a fit of coughing.

“Shrinking to such a diminutive size truly is… *cough cough cough*…”

Her sudden reduction in size had rendered many actions inconvenient.

Even laughter left her breathless.

“Still, it’s no major hindrance. Little Toutian, come here and let me have a taste.”

Blood Elves, much like Blood Princesses, subsisted solely on blood.

Human blood, in particular, was considered a truly exquisite delicacy.

“I won’t… I won’t let you…” Gudou Toutian managed to protest.

Despite his verbal defiance, his body moved with an eerie autonomy, propelling him directly towards the petite Blood Elf.

“Eh? Your consciousness isn’t fully controlled yet?” the Blood Elf questioned, her tiny brow furrowing. “What’s going on? Could it be that you and Gudou Ritien aren’t from the same generation?”

Observing Gudou Toutian’s persistent consciousness, the Blood Elf’s small brows knitted in confusion.

This wasn’t right! Once subjected to [Bloodline Control], shouldn’t he have become her absolute s*ave?

Only one explanation remained: Gudou Ritien and Gudou Toutian were not biological brothers.

There was a hidden secret at play! She had truly been played for a fool!

To think she had believed herself on the verge of controlling a peerless genius… what an utter mess this had become.

“No matter, though,” she quickly recovered, “if your consciousness persists, then I shall simply shatter it later!”

Seizing Gudou Toutian’s arm, the Blood Elf promptly sank her fangs into him.

The act of blood-sucking was not merely a physical torment but a profound spiritual one as well.

After a single, agonizing bite, Gudou Toutian’s face contorted into an expression of profound, unbearable agony.

‘Meow meow! Gudou Toutian has been controlled. We need to escape, now,’ Mao Yuxia thought, her voice a hushed whisper.

Mao Yuxia, concealed in the shadows, had witnessed everything, finding it utterly inconceivable.

The immensely powerful Gudou Toutian had actually been brought under control! If she and Ahoge Dragon remained here, they would surely be discovered and ultimately become the Blood Elf’s next meal.

Without hesitation, she hoisted Ahoge Dragon onto her back once more, determined to flee this perilous place at once.

“Ah~ah~ah~ah~~~”

Suddenly, Ahoge Dragon, who had been merely groaning softly, let out a surprisingly comfortable cry.

It was as if *that* moment had finally arrived, rendering her utterly unable to control herself.

Mao Yuxia’s eyes widened in alarm! ‘This blasted Ahoge Dragon, why did she have to cry out at this precise moment?’ she fumed inwardly.

Meanwhile, the petite Blood Elf, who had just retrieved a muzzle-like device from beneath her skirt, intending to fasten it onto Gudou Toutian, froze.

Her eagle-sharp gaze immediately snapped towards the source of the sound.

“Blood Magic: Thermal Sense!”

In the face of this particular spell, Ahoge Dragon and Mao Yuxia were instantly exposed.

“Well, well, if it isn’t two little thieves!” the Blood Elf cackled, a predatory gleam in her eyes. “Hahaha… I was just starting to feel reluctant about draining little Toutian dry, but now someone’s delivered fresh delicacies right to my doorstep, haven’t they?”