Seizing the King (9)
Chen Li tried again, pushing with all four little hooves, fluff on his rear end starting to get messy from the effort.
System 001 felt deeply conflicted: “I didn’t expect you weren’t just bloated.”
If it weren’t for the wool hiding him, Chen Li would probably be blushing pink all over right now. He gave up and let his head droop, his fluffy little tail swaying listlessly from side to side.
Suddenly, he felt a tug at the back of his neck, and the whole little lamb body was lifted into the air. Startled, he let out a panicked bleat: “Baa-wooo?!”
Fu Moyang carefully held him in his mouth and set him down gently, then lowered his head and affectionately rubbed his nose against Chen Li’s tiny horns: “It’s me.”
“Baa!” Chen Li looked up in delight—only then realizing that the explosion sounds that had been going off earlier had completely stopped at some point.
Overjoyed, he bounced around the giant beast that was several times his size.
“Baa baa baa!” I’m so glad you’re okay!
But then, mid-hop, he suddenly froze.
Why could he still talk after turning into a wolf, while I can only bleat as a lamb?!
Who’s the real NPC here?!
The gray wolf lowered his head and watched the little lamb whose emotions swung wildly from joy to frustration. He could read the mood in those round, black, grape-like eyes. Chuckling inwardly, he lay down and gently picked Chen Li up, placing him against his chest.
Chen Li blinked, utterly confused as to why he’d suddenly been picked up again.
A shadow loomed overhead, and he felt something rough graze across the top of his head.
He froze.
“Baa?” he bleated, dumbfounded.
D-did he just lick me?!
Fu Moyang dipped his head again, carefully licking the messy, curled wool that had been ruffled earlier, straightening it as he went. With each stroke, he left his own domineering scent behind.
The lamb was so small that Fu Moyang could practically swallow him whole in one bite.
After a few licks, Chen Li finally snapped out of his daze and, flustered, used his tiny horns to nudge at Fu Moyang.
“Baa!” Stop licking me!
They weren’t really a wolf and a lamb!
You can’t just go around grooming each other!
No—wait—even actual wolves and lambs wouldn’t groom each other!
To Fu Moyang, the lamb’s angry nudging was as gentle as a tickle. Still, he stopped, nudged Chen Li lightly with his nose, and let out a few low, rumbling sounds from his throat.
His silver-grey eyes gazed deeply into Chen Li’s.
Chen Li looked up—and immediately found himself lost in that silver-grey eyes. His resolve wavered.
He probably wasn’t doing it for any weird reason… it must’ve just been some instinct left over from his wolf form, trying to check if his companion was okay.
Still, he shouldn’t have headbutted him like that.
“Baa baa.” Now feeling a little guilty, Chen Li wiggled his ears and rubbed his head shyly against Fu Moyang’s neck, as a gesture of apology.
“Baa.” Sorry… I shouldn’t have been so mean.
Lost in self-reflection, the little lamb completely missed the hint of a smile that flashed through the big bad wolf’s eyes.
Fu Moyang shifted slightly and curled his body around Chen Li, tucking the lamb against his belly. While Chen Li was still blinking in confusion, Fu Moyang flicked his tail.
Just as expected, the little lamb who had been about to scoot away was instantly distracted by the big, fluffy tail.
Unlike the silvery-gray fur of his body, Fu Moyang’s wolf ears and tail were a darker shade of gray—soft, plush, and irresistibly fluffy.
Chen Li hesitated for only half a second before pouncing, wrapping his tiny hooves around the giant tail. His whole body was smaller than the tail itself.
Like an indulgent adult entertaining a mischievous cub, Fu Moyang patiently played the “chase the tail” game with him.
The lamb was soon bleating joyfully, running in circles until he was completely out of breath—then collapsed in a heap on the wolf’s warm belly.
Wolf and lamb rested quietly together for a while.
Chen Li had completely forgotten that the big wolf in front of him was actually a person. He snuggled up happily, like he’d finally fulfilled his dream of owning a big fluffy dog.
After confirming that the little guy was unharmed and emotionally calm, Fu Moyang gently wrapped him with his tail and lifted him onto his back.
He was planning to carry him back in his beast form.
Chen Li had originally intended to protest—but then remembered that both their clothes were gone. If he turned back into a human now, he’d be completely naked.
So instead, he let himself melt contentedly into a little puddle of lamb on Fu Moyang’s broad back.
By the time Fu Moyang had carried him back to the vampire’s villa in just a few minutes, the little bundle of wool on his back was already fast asleep.
He shifted back into human form and gently placed Chen Li on a soft pillow, then leaned down and kissed his little horn.
“Good night, my little lamb.”
. . . . .
When Chen Li woke up, not only had he returned to his human form—someone had dressed him, too.
He lay in the massive European-style bed for a few seconds, deep in thought. Then decided not to think about who had dressed him.
Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, moonlight poured in like silver. Chen Li turned his head and suddenly felt the moon looked… huge.
Wait a second—moonlight?!
He shot up from the bed: [001, how long was I asleep?!]
System 001 responded dryly: [Oh, just from dusk all the way to the middle of the night. No big deal.]
[…] Chen Li rubbed his temples. [Why didn’t you wake me?!]
He’d promised the other players that he would bring the elf traitor to them tonight.
At this point, they’ve probably been waiting for a while already.
System 001 fell silent—not because it didn’t want to speak, but because someone had been watching over him like a hawk while he slept.
Its non-living instincts told it that waking the host was a bad idea. Something terrible might happen if it did.
Logically, that person shouldn’t be able to sense its presence at all.
And yet, it could still feel an overwhelming sense of intimidation radiating from him.
Chen Li didn’t pay attention to System 001’s silence. He got out of bed, put on his shoes, and walked to the door. When he realized Fu Moyang wasn’t in the room, an uneasy feeling crept in.
The moment he opened the door, his premonition came true. Fu Moyang and Wendy were standing outside his room in a tense standoff.
Neither of them was willing to back down, yet they’d strangely come to the same unspoken agreement—not to wake the vampire inside.
So the two of them just stood there, radiating silent hostility.
When they heard the door open, they both turned their heads simultaneously. The murderous looks in their eyes vanished in an instant.
Fu Moyang stepped aside slightly: “You’re not going to sleep a bit more?”
Wendy, annoyed at being blocked, raised the tray in her hands and deliberately said loudly: “Your Highness, I brought you dinner!”
With her exaggerated movement, Chen Li finally saw what was on the tray.
A glass of bright red blood, elegantly served in a wine goblet, garnished with a small green fruit.
No matter how it was presented, it couldn’t hide the fact—it was a cup of fresh blood.
The sweet scent filled the air, but Chen Li felt nothing but repulsion. He looked down at Wendy’s right hand and saw it was wrapped in white bandages.
There was no need to ask where the blood came from.
Wendy quickly spoke up: “Your Highness, they said I’m pure—your favorite kind. What’s so good about that stinky werewolf?”
Clearly, she had been taught those lines by the vampires. A normal human child wouldn’t know such things.
Ever since Chen Li had spared her, something had switched on in her mind.
She was convinced that if she gained his favor, she could be turned—embraced—and become one of the vampires. Even though humans feared and hated vampires, some still longed to join their ranks.
The purer a vampire’s bloodline, the stronger their power—and their lives were so long, they were nearly immortal.
Her overly enthusiastic attitude was starting to scare Chen Li. Luckily, he’d fed a lot the day before, so he wasn’t particularly hungry today. The blood didn’t tempt him much.
Being “embraced” came with risks—it required draining the person’s blood completely, then feeding them vampire blood. Many didn’t survive the draining process.
Not to mention, Chen Li never intended to feed on anyone besides Fu Moyang—not even an NPC.
Seeing that he didn’t move, Wendy looked dejected: “Your Highness… do you really prefer a werewolf over drinking my blood?”
The way she said it was oddly phrased. Chen Li was at a loss for words—until Fu Moyang suddenly wrapped an arm around his waist.
With his other hand, he gently pressed Chen Li’s head against his shoulder and declared possessively: “He only drinks my blood. Now and always.”
Wendy—and the other vampires secretly eavesdropping—looked as if they’d been struck by lightning.
You could even hear them gasp from the shadows.
Chen Li’s face turned bright red. Furious, he bit down on Fu Moyang in retaliation, his voice muffled: “What nonsense are you spouting?!”
Fu Moyang looked innocent: “Did I say something wrong?”
Chen Li couldn’t even refute him. Fuming, he bit down again, this time without using fangs—it was more like a small animal throwing a tantrum.
Fu Moyang rubbed his head fondly: “Hungry again? Wait until we’re somewhere private to feed.”
He deliberately made the second half of the sentence sound soft and suggestive.
Now there was no way to explain himself. Chen Li fumed silently for a long moment, then gave up and kicked him lightly: “Come on, let’s go find those traitors and tell them what happened to the elves.”
Some players had already sacrificed themselves. He hoped that once they learned the truth, they’d be more cautious.
The bats hiding in the shadows scattered in panic when they saw Chen Li move. Still stunned by the shocking revelation, a few even flew into the walls.
Heavens! The Prince actually likes that werewolf—his sworn enemy! And he’s even being forcefully claimed!
Several of the prince’s closest vampire subordinates were furious, convinced the cunning werewolf must have used some dirty trick to seduce him.
They opened their mouths to silently exchange thoughts via telepathy, cursing Fu Moyang with disgust.
Unaware of the wild theories his subordinates were dreaming up, Chen Li quickened his pace, his face burning even hotter.
He started to miss Fu Moyang in his wolf form. At least the wolf was cute!
As a human… he was nothing but a menace. Still so mean, always bullying the little lamb—no, bullying people!
When Chen Li reached the villa’s front door, something felt off. He turned around and realized Fu Moyang hadn’t followed him.
About five minutes passed before Fu Moyang finally came downstairs.
By that time, Chen Li had already forgotten he was angry. Curious, he asked: “Where did you go?”
Fu Moyang raised a finger to his lips and whispered: “Secret.”
All he’d done was give those idiotic bats who kept making reckless decisions a good beating…
Then tossed them out the window. 🙂