Chapter 7

"He was faster than her, suddenly grabbing her wrists and effortlessly restraining her resistance with one hand, the force just right, not hurting her.
"As the heir to the female envoy, you are too impulsive and need more training," he sighed softly, like a teacher gently reprimanding a reckless student, his cold lips and tongue lingering on her soft earlobes, biting with increasing intimacy and audacity. "However, I have a small condition. If you agree, not only will I let you go, but I will also return the artifact to you."
"What condition?" she gritted her teeth, trying not to let her trembling voice reveal her agitation, her bare face turning red with extreme anger. She could feel his teeth deliberately nibbling on her skin, the force more of a blatant tease than a threat.
It was the first time she had encountered such a bold and vulgar opponent since she started dealing with monsters at the age of eight!
"And sleep with me." The delicate kisses moved down her tender neck, blossoming with a crimson hue.
She was stunned, her calm eyes briefly showing confusion, catching a glimpse of the woman on the bed. She understood, "You want my blood?"
He laughed again, his soft voice vibrating against her skin, "For those women, when I say 'sleep with me,' it means exactly what that beautiful woman on the bed is demonstrating. But for you, it's not the same."
"Do you think I would agree?" If she were free at this moment, the first thing she would do is shoot an arrow through his frivolous mouth!
"Of course, you can refuse. But don't forget, the artifact is still in my hands." In the blink of an eye, he was back on the bed, gazing satisfactorily into her eyes filled with anger. The anger gave her frost-like complexion a touch of vitality, no longer the indifferent coldness that couldn't be swayed by the wind.
He wanted to destroy everything about this girl who resembled her. He didn't like seeing her gaze on someone else, even if it was her descendant.
"If I refuse, you will destroy it?"
He nodded approvingly, appreciating her quick-wittedness. "Tonight at exactly twelve o'clock, come to me. If you're late, I'll consider it as you refusing this condition and destroy the artifact. If you think you can snatch it back from me, feel free to come, I'll be waiting."
...
The earliest origins of the Delin family are lost to history. It is said that they existed long before written records, during an era when witch doctors were not distinguished. They were important figures, second only to rulers, as they simultaneously practiced divination and medicine.
Later, as medicine developed independently, they still maintained the mysterious status of "witches." They could communicate with spirits, ward off evil, and were a source of solace for people's hearts. Even in dynasties that suppressed the status of women, no one dared to criticize the matriarchal system they adopted. Some men even took pride in marrying into the Delin family.
In modern times, with the advancement of science, people still held a reverent fear of the unknown. In a rapidly changing society, spiritual comfort was needed more than ever, so the Delin family remained steadfast. Their preserved records contained many supernatural phenomena, which scientists did not dismiss as superstition but rather eagerly researched. Even the Nine Jade Guild, the most powerful force in the paranormal world, respected their opinions on everything.
Today, this ancient family, led by women, resides in the mountains, still living according to traditional customs that have lasted for thousands of years. When a new life is born, boys are raised in the ordinary way, while girls, regardless of their spiritual talents, receive relevant education, resulting in generations of excellent practitioners. As girls continue to be born, each one is the continuation of the Delin family, keeping the ancient flame alive.
Inside the Delin family ancestral hall, the current female envoy, Delin Olsen, sat on a cushion.
She had just led the clan in performing the monthly ritual and was still wearing the traditional red and white robe of the Delin family. Now in her middle age, the beauty of her youth had been worn away by time, replaced by the wisdom gained from experience. Her serious face lacked any soft lines, appearing calm and strong.
After listening to her adopted daughter's words, she slowly sipped her hot tea, her contemplative gaze fixed on the two tablets placed in the ancestral hall, not uttering a word.
Delin Sarah knelt on a cushion, a silver wristband placed in front of her on the floor. The female envoy had high expectations for her, but she had failed and was now forced into an embarrassing situation. She was mentally prepared for the heavy punishment she would receive.
Delin Sara sat on the side, watching the two silent figures. One was her most respected elder sister, and the other was her beloved child whom she had raised since childhood. Both were current and future female envoys. Although she had many things she wanted to say, she knew she had no say in the matter and could only anxiously wait.
After a long while, Delin Olsen finally withdrew her gaze and looked at the still bowed Delin Sarah, saying calmly, "If he wants to sleep with you, then sleep with him."
Delin Sarah was taken aback by this instruction, unable to react.
Delin Sara was also stunned and vehemently opposed, "Sister! How can we agree to such a thing?"
"Then what else can we do? Sarah, you can't defeat him, and he still holds the artifact. He completely controls the situation now, so what else can we do but go along with his wishes?"
"It's my incompetence," Delin Sarah murmured, her voice filled with frustration and self-blame.
"The longer vampires live, the stronger their magic becomes. It's not surprising that you can't handle him. I originally wanted you to gain more experience before facing him, but my condition can't wait any longer." Delin Olsen gazed at her, "You are the only one who can kill him."
Delin Sarah trembled slightly at the words, as if a heavy shackle had fallen upon her shoulders, locking away her future possibilities. "I still can't compare to you--"
"You have grown quickly, your spiritual power has long surpassed mine, and you are currently the most skilled practitioner in the clan. As for me, my spiritual core was shattered in our last battle, and even with ten more years of recuperation, it would be difficult to recover. I can only hand over the responsibility to you earlier."
Delin Olsen took out a small silver sword engraved with runes and placed it in front of Delin Sarah.
"You know this sword, it was forged by the former female envoy Xiang Wan. She used it to slay countless demons, and Emile was also injured by this sword. Keep it with you at all times. Silver causes vampires to be allergic and go into shock, but perhaps he is less affected by silver due to being half-human, so you must aim for his heart and strike him down with one sword."
Delin Sarah stared at the short sword. "Delin Beck" was equivalent to the god of the Delin family. Hundreds of years ago, when the clan was slaughtered by Emile, it was thanks to this female envoy's leadership that they were able to escape annihilation. Every clan member was familiar with this history, and everyone felt grateful to Xiang Wan, never forgetting their eternal mission to kill the half-human, half-demon creature...
Please note that the translation provided above is a direct translation of the text and may not fully capture the nuances and cultural references present in the original Chinese text.