Ning Beichen was on his way to Marburg with the assassin. The assassin was driving, while Ning Beichen sat in the back, looking relaxed.
"Sir, Marburg is very dangerous. The Countess has many people protecting her inside. It's also said that the Countess herself is a very formidable woman. She never comes out, and some in the outside world whisper that she is a vampire."
The assassin said to Ning Beichen as he drove.
From the assassin's perspective, he didn't want to be a traitor, but if he didn't, he would die. Yet, even if he did, he might not survive, because the Countess would not forgive him for betraying her.
So, he had to gamble!
If Ning Beichen hadn't shown such extraordinary strength before, he would never have dared to betray the Countess. He knew exactly how terrible his fate would be if he were caught by her.
As for revenge?
Let alone whether he had the ability to take down the Countess, even if he did, he would still have to face the retaliation of the Emblem disciples.
As an assassin, he dared to defy heaven, earth, and the air, but he absolutely dared not offend the Emblem disciples, for he knew the severe consequences of doing so.
If the Emblem disciples were an unassailable behemoth, then Ning Beichen's strength filled him with despair.
Between despair and a behemoth, he chose the behemoth.
Because offending the Emblem disciples might not kill him; at worst, he could find a place to hide for ten years or so, and he didn't believe the Emblem disciples could find him.
But offending Ning Beichen would cost him his life on the spot.
He had no choice, nor was there an option for him to choose.
Furthermore, this man, terrifying as a devil, showed no fear of the Emblem disciples at all, which proved he was even more powerful than they were, or perhaps, the power behind him simply didn't care about the Emblem disciples.
This was why the assassin took a gamble.
"Vampire?"
Ning Beichen found himself intrigued by this Countess. He had long been interested in these Western mythical creatures and wanted to see how powerful they truly were, but he had never had the opportunity, nor did he even know if they truly existed.
If this Countess were indeed a vampire, Ning Beichen would have to capture her and study her thoroughly.
"These are not things you need to worry about."
However, Ning Beichen certainly wouldn't give the assassin any pleasantries.
Hearing this, the assassin dared not speak further and focused on driving. But his heart felt much more settled.
Because this man had not shown the slightest hint of worry or fear, it indicated that he had confidence.
Before long, they arrived at Marburg.
It was an ancient castle with a history spanning several centuries. No one could pinpoint its exact age, but the castle had never been abandoned and had always been inhabited.
However, what truly made this ancient castle famous throughout the world was the appearance of the Duchess of Marburg. After all, she was a Duchess, which demonstrated her noble status.
Most importantly, this Duchess was incredibly wealthy, so much so that even the king personally paid her a visit.
Yet, this Duchess maintained a very low profile, so discreet that she rarely appeared in public.
But none of this mattered. The most formidable aspect was that anyone who offended her would soon disappear from this world; this was the truly terrifying part.
Upon reaching Marburg, Pei Di lost his nerve. He looked at the imposing Marburg castle before him but could not bring himself to move. He could only look back at Ning Beichen.
"With me here, what are you afraid of? Take me inside to see the Countess."
Ning Beichen glared at him and said.
Pei Di had no choice. He stepped forward to the grand entrance and notified the people of Marburg that he wished to see the Duchess.
Soon, the gates opened, and Pei Di and Ning Beichen entered Marburg.
They were led to a grand hall within the castle. After waiting for nearly half an hour, Ning Beichen finally saw the Countess dressed in red.
"King of Darkness, we finally meet."
The Countess's opening words startled Pei Di. Although he knew his target, he was unaware of Ning Beichen's identity.
Hearing the Countess address him as the King of Darkness sent a chill down his spine.
"Heavens! The person I was supposed to kill is the King of Darkness?"
Pei Di nearly collapsed to the ground. Upon learning Ning Beichen's true identity, he finally understood why his assassination attempt had failed.
After all, the King of Darkness was far more renowned than the Countess, and even more mysterious.
If Pei Di had known he was supposed to deal with the King of Darkness, no matter how many times the Countess emboldened him, he would never have accepted the job.
Unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret in this world.
"Are you the Countess who wants to kill me?"
Ning Beichen neither confirmed nor denied, as there was little point in denying it when his identity had already been revealed.
"King of Darkness, you shouldn't be here. Go back. As long as you promise not to interfere with James's affairs, I will let you leave safely."
The Countess said from her chair, looking down at Ning Beichen with an air of superiority.
Clearly, she did not hold the King of Darkness, Ning Beichen, in high regard.
Ning Beichen remained silent, his gaze fixed on the Countess seated before him.
At first glance, the Countess appeared very young, exceptionally beautiful, no older than thirty, with a cascade of golden hair.
Her eyebrows curved slightly like crescent moons, while her eyes, beneath them, were as deep as the abyss, making her thoughts inscrutable.
Her crimson lips were like a blooming rose, alluring yet deadly.
However, Ning Beichen perceived more than what others could see, such as the power she possessed.
The Countess exuded an immensely powerful force, and this power was peculiar, unlike the strength cultivated by practitioners like Ning Beichen.
Her power seemed innate, permeating every part of her being, unlike Eastern cultivators who stored their power in their dantian and drew upon it when needed.
"Could this Countess truly be a vampire?"
Ning Beichen pondered inwardly.
Meanwhile, the Countess, seated in her chair, was also observing Ning Beichen, occasionally flicking her crimson tongue as if regarding a delectable meal.
Initially, she had intended to send Ning Beichen away, but now she had changed her mind. Her bloodline was stirring, burning.
Her inner senses told her that by consuming the blood of the King of Darkness, she would become even more powerful.
"King of Darkness, if you promise me you will not interfere with James's affairs, you will be my friend. I welcome you to stay as my guest and become Marburg's most honored resident."
The Countess suddenly changed her tone, now extending an invitation for him to stay.