Chapter 8, Chaotic City
A strikingly beautiful man, clad only in a strip of cloth that barely covered his lower body, twisted his form and let out a loud roar in the birdcage, singing a song that, in Yin Xue's view, could hardly be considered "music".
Several burly men holding clubs cautiously took half a step back, their vigilant eyes fixed on the two warriors behind Yin Xuege, not daring to let their guard down in the slightest. This was an era of chaos, a tumultuous time where human life was as insignificant as grass. A robust life might not even be worth half a loaf of bread; everyone was a potential threat, even a seemingly frail youth like Yin Xuege.
At the end of the alley, a high wall blocked the way, and a dim light flickered. This was the back door of a small tavern, with several garbage bins haphazardly piled up here. Under the yellowish light, a tall man was curled up on the ground, while several similarly large men wielding clubs were violently beating him.
A strange force was released from the young man's forehead, and a faint energy fluctuation in the surrounding air quickly surged toward his right hand. A flame half a foot high erupted from the palm of his right hand, causing the temperature in the vicinity to rise significantly.
These individuals donate a significant amount of blood each month to the members of the Yin clan. For them, the blood demon that grants eternal youth and immortality is a deity in their hearts
As predicted by the Song of Blood, Old Jack is a seasoned human degenerate! Thirty years ago, this madman devoted everything to the Yinzhu. Old Jack's tavern is the most reliable, safest, and longest-standing outpost of the Yinzhu among the hundreds of strongholds in the Greater Berlin city-state
Yin Xuege indeed has some interest in the young man outside the back door who can control flames; his vitality is abundant, indicating that he is not a fallen one. Such individuals who can manipulate various natural elements, if one of them could become Yin Xuege's blood servant, or even transform him into a blood demon body, would represent a significant enhancement to Yin Xuege's combat power
With great effort, Old Jack rubbed his hands together, eagerly watching the Blood Song.
Only the dark-skinned man continued to violently thrust against the woman pinned against the wall, their gasps growing increasingly loud.
Several heavily armed, burly men swiftly burst into the room, one of whom, wielding a powerful crossbow, shouted fiercely: "Robbery! Damn old Jack, you cursed vampire, robbery!"
Yin Xuege gently nodded. Just as he was about to comfort Old Jack with a few words, the room suddenly shook violently. The one-foot-thick alloy door of Old Jack's room was blown in with a loud "bang." Blinding flames surged in, accompanied by a wave of heat. Yin Xuege, two Yin clan warriors, and Old Jack were all lifted by the shockwave and slammed heavily against the wall behind them
Such a prominent figure arrived at his territory, hetushucomcom. Originally, Old Jack thought this would be a good opportunity to curry favor. However, Yin Xuege did not give him the chance to ingratiate himself, which left Old Jack somewhat disappointed
Treading on the uneven road, Yin Xuege and his companions made their way deeper into the alley. Dawn was approaching, and neither Yin Xuege nor the two warriors of the Yin clan could afford to be exposed to the sunlight. They needed to reach the secret hideout of the Yin clan before daybreak.
With the night breeze came a variety of strange sounds, including the dull clang of metal striking and peculiar booming noises. On the street outside the alley, sharp whistles echoed continuously, and at least hundreds of people were running wildly down the street, rushing in and then quickly fading away
After traversing this corridor, which is several dozen meters long, and ascending a steep spiral staircase for about ten meters, the middle-aged man pushed open a small door. A deafening cacophony assaulted him, accompanied by dense smoke, a pungent smell of alcohol, and flickering, blinding colored lights. This sudden onslaught made Yin Xue Ge, who had grown accustomed to the eerie and profound atmosphere of the Yin city-state, shudder uncontrollably.
The man had been beaten beyond recognition, with metal rods striking his body, producing a dull and strange sound. There was no need for examination; from the sound alone, Yin Xuege could tell that at least half of the man's bones had been shattered. Meanwhile, in the corner by the wall, a voluptuous red-haired woman was entangled with a muscular man with dark skin, the sounds of their bodies colliding and the woman's moans causing Yin Xuege's heart to race several times faster.
A single cup of wine, and she ended up like this? Yin Xuege looked ambiguously at the woman, whose skin was as white as snow, entangled with the burly man in black: "What about her? Did she also drink a cup of wine?"
A glimmer of bloodlight flashed in the eyes of the Blood Song. According to the knowledge imparted by the Young Master, these individuals are the fallen among humanity. They yearn for darkness, for immortality, and for the infinite lifespan of eternal youth. Thus, they willingly become the minions of the Yin clan, selling their souls to serve the Yin clan, hoping that one day they can obtain the injuries of the Yin clan members and transform themselves into blood demons.
Yin Xuege was momentarily taken aback, but the education he received in the Young Master's Hall allowed him to accept these matters immediately. He nodded and smiled lightly, saying, "Indeed, this is a very fair and reasonable matter! It's just a bit of a waste!"
We have some good goods on hand. The words of the Yin clan warrior are very concise and straightforward
Esteemed gentlemen, please rest assured that there have been significant events occurring in the Grand Berlin City-State recently, and there are matters that I believe you, the distinguished lords, would be very eager to know. Old Jack stood up abruptly and bowed deeply to the Bloodsong: "Please be at ease, esteemed sir; everything you require will be meticulously prepared by your loyal servant, Old Jack"
Yin Xuege was curled up on the ground in a miserable state, the shockwave from the explosion sent him flying. His shoulder crashed against the wall, where that damned old Jack had hung a rhino head specimen as decoration. The sharp rhino horn pierced through Yin Xuege's shoulder, nearly penetrating his heart
The warrior of the Yin clan standing behind Yin Xuege gently pushed his shoulder, and Yin Xuege strode towards the back door of the tavern
With an instinctive vigilance towards the chaotic streets outside, Yin Xuege recalled the beast she had just seen outside the city, its bones completely gone. The humans of the Great Berlin City-State had mastered certain powerful weapons that even the Blood Demon clan feared greatly, and Yin Xuege had no interest in testing the might of those weapons
In response to Yin Xuege's exclamation, the young man and several burly henchmen showed no reaction. However, the middle-aged man, slender like a bamboo pole, was drenched in sweat, and the red handkerchief in his hand became increasingly busy, soon becoming half wet. He courteously bowed to Yin Xuege, grasped his wrist, and led him into a long, dimly lit corridor through the back door.
Old Jack, I can sense your loyalty!" The Bloodsong looked at Old Jack thoughtfully
Yin Xuege furrowed his brows and walked through this small door
It is somewhat wasteful
According to the customs of the Yin clan's scouts when entering the Great Berlin city-state, they choose different strongholds for their stay each time, and the strongholds they occupy are completely random. This greatly ensures their safety
On a trash can, a lanky young man squatted, holding a bottle of alcohol in his left hand and drinking heartily. Upon seeing the youthful face of Yin Xuege, the young man suddenly broke into a strange smile: "Hey, hey, a little rookie has arrived! Little buddy, have you been weaned? This is not a place for you to be!"
After digesting what he had just heard, Yin Xuege walked towards a sofa in the corner of the room
With a flicker of her gaze, Yin Xuege cast another glance at the bamboo-pole-like man beside her. This man stood about two meters tall, and judging by his skeletal structure, he should have been a robust figure. However, he was now emaciated, hardly distinguishable from a bamboo pole, indicating that he had been a fallen human for at least over ten years
This time, Yin Xuege unexpectedly drew the task of infiltrating the Greater Berlin city-state for reconnaissance, marking an unprecedented event in the history of the Yinzi Palace. Two warriors from the Yin clan diligently fulfilled their duties, constantly reminding Yin Xuege to gather as much information as possible
Old Jack, in an exceedingly obsequious manner, crawled on his knees, following behind Yin Xuege. His body trembled slightly as he cautiously and eagerly inquired of Yin Xuege: "So, esteemed sir, is there anything related to - books that I can assist you with? Do you have any requests? Do you prefer young and beautiful maidens, or do you favor strong and vigorous youths?"
I am willing to offer my soul to you, I am willing to give you everything! Do you have any commands for me? At any cost, I will fulfill your orders!" Old Jack knelt on the ground, his gaze fervently fixed on Yin Xue Ge
What is our mission?" Yin Xuege ignored the flattering Old Jack and instead inquired of the Yin clan warriors beside him
A drop of azure blood, the blood of a fairy, suddenly dimmed in brilliance, as a tremendous force surged towards the injured shoulder. The wound of the Blood Song was visibly writhing, and after three to five breaths, it had already returned to its original state
"No!" The young man who could control the flames lazily shook his head: "For a piece of bread, she willingly enjoys comfort with my brothers! My brothers have needs, and she has needs too; this is a very fair and reasonable matter!"
They possess the unique scent of blood slaves, yet there is not a single trace of a blood demon's aura upon them
"Stay in the Greater Berlin City-State for three days, and bring back all the intelligence gathered by our informants regarding the recent developments in the Greater Berlin City-State." A warrior of the Yin tribe said in a low voice, "Old Jack, just like before, gather all the information as quickly as possible"
Fortunately, Yin Xuege reacted quickly; he stomped his foot against the wall, pulling himself free from that damned rhinoceros horn, and then fell to the ground.
Old Jack looked at Yin Xuege with a hint of sadness. The moment he laid eyes on the youthful boy before him, he knew that this young man must be an important figure of the Yin clan. His demeanor, his aura, were unmatched by those lowly Yin clan warriors. Moreover, it was evident to any discerning observer that among the three of them, Yin Xuege was clearly the one in a position of respect.
The young man remained silent, while the middle-aged man, resembling a bamboo pole, chuckled softly. He vigorously wiped his face with a red handkerchief, and his voice became indistinct: "It's not a big deal; he had a drink, but he can't pay for it, so he must be taught a lesson! It's not easy to get some liquor now; everyone wants to eat and drink for free, and this business can't be sustained!"
The heavy metal door kept all the noise from the tavern outside. Yin Xuege did not answer Old Jack's question, but instead looked around, carefully examining this spacious, luxurious, and vulgar room, which had no windows at all.
The flames in the young man's palm transformed into countless tiny sparks that dissipated. He raised the bottle and downed the last bit of liquor in one gulp. Then he shrugged his shoulders and murmured softly, "Aha, it's our own people again! Dear boss, your connections are increasing, you need to give us a raise!"
The young man clenched his fist, compressing a flame within his hand and the * book *, forming a fireball that emanated a powerful aura of danger. He glanced at the badge and slowly nodded: "Hmm, it's the Blood Axe Mercenaries, but who is this kid?"
This is the Greater Berlin City-State
In those cages, the men and women exuded a familiar scent to Yin Xue Ge. Their vitality was significantly weaker than that of ordinary people, akin to individuals who have suffered from a severe illness for many years; their vitality was several times weaker than that of the average person. However, their weakened vitality was likely due to their blood being drained by others. These individuals are blood slaves
In front of me is a bustling tavern filled with a throng of people, countless men and women crowding together, engaging in an ambiguous manner of rubbing and piling against one another. In the center of the tavern, within a massive metal birdcage, a dozen nearly naked women are frantically twisting their bodies, eliciting a cacophony of hysterical screams from the surrounding crowd.
Three proper vampires are here, and that big man actually says that old Jack, the degenerate, is a vampire
A warrior of the Yin tribe leaned close to Yin Xuege's ear, introducing the situation regarding Old Jack
After enduring years of rigorous training in the hall of the Yin clan's young disciples, Yin Xuege's own bones have been broken by countless individuals, and he has also broken the bones of many others. Therefore, upon hearing the sound of bones fracturing, he can distinctly identify which specific bone of those individuals has been broken
As she passed by the man whose bones had been broken in more than half, Yin Xuege frowned slightly and gently kicked the man's fractured neck bone with her toes: "What crime did he commit? Why was he beaten to such a state?"
The several burly men who were in the process of beating that man stopped their actions, holding the clubs in their hands as they turned their gaze towards Yin Xuege and the other two.
Upon hearing the furious roar of the burly man, Yin Xuege and the two lightly injured Yin clan warriors nearly spat out blood
The strikes were truly ruthless, showing no mercy at all! Yin Xuege at least heard the sound of over a dozen cervical vertebrae being broken and more than twenty skulls being fractured.
"One of our own!" The Yin clan warrior had not yet responded when the back door of the small tavern, made of half a foot thick alloy, quietly opened. A middle-aged man, with a gaunt, yellowed face and nearly two meters tall, resembling a bamboo pole, peeked out from behind the door. He forced a smile and waved at Yin Xuege, saying, "One of our own! Come in quickly, I know you are coming, and I have already prepared a comfortable bedroom!"
A warrior of the Yin clan stepped forward, silently producing a black metal badge the size of half a palm and shaking it. Yin Xuege, with his keen eyes, noticed that the shield-shaped metal badge was engraved with a ruggedly designed axe, which crossed with a two-handed greatsword, forming a fierce emblem.
As the Blood Song gazes up at the sky, the faint light of dawn in the east has yet to illuminate this expanse of sky. The surroundings remain dim, with countless beams of light, large and small, flickering chaotically towards the heavens. This city is filled with a murky haze, creating a thick cloud cover above.
Esteemed Sir, I am your devoted servant, Old Jack. For the great Yin family, I am willing to sacrifice everything! At that moment, while Yin Xuege was pondering the matter concerning that young man, the middle-aged man, Old Jack, had already brought him into a room that was lavishly decorated yet utterly vulgar, and he knelt before him with the utmost respect.
Currently, Yin Xuege's heart contains thirty-nine drops of blood from the blood fairy. By expending a single drop of essence blood, he can transform that young man into the weakest child. If Yin Xuege were to be a bit more generous and bestow him with more than ten drops of essence blood, he could directly transform him into a star warrior
On either side of the corridor, which can only accommodate two people walking side by side, are densely packed small rooms. Nowadays, the sounds of women's screams and men's gasps continuously emanate from within the rooms, accompanied by a nauseating stench of bodily fluids that fills the air, nearly overwhelming the keen sense of smell of Yin Xuege.
After walking a few steps into the depths of the alley, a faucet was installed at the back door of a tall building. Yin Xuege and two Yin clan warriors turned on the locked faucet and rinsed their bodies with clean water, finally washing away the foul odor that had clung to them.
The palm moved lightly, and a strip of crimson flame flickered uncertainly above it. The young man squinted at the blood-red song and gently shook his head. "This is not a place for a beloved little darling to come. What are you all here for?"
The explanations provided by the Yin clan warrior regarding the Yin Blood Song are not matters that the young ones of the Zhi Zi Hall should be exposed to. This knowledge should only be formally learned when the young ones officially become clan warriors and begin to undertake various tasks in the External Affairs Hall, under the guidance of senior warriors, where they will learn these survival skills and experiences.
Two proud warriors of the Yin clan held their heads high, looking down condescendingly at Old Jack. They were merely the lowest-ranking warriors of the Yin clan, yet they were all members of the clan, inherently possessing the blood of the demon! For these human degenerates who had defected to the Yin clan, attempting to become blood demons, these pure-blooded warriors of the Yin clan naturally had the right to regard them as nothing more than pigs and dogs.
The two warriors of the Yin clan displayed expressions of immense enjoyment, chuckling softly as they vigorously sniffed.
Yin Xuege's ears twitched slightly; he heard the frenzied crowd split into two groups, one fleeing and the other in pursuit. Occasionally, the heavy sound of clubs striking flesh reached him, intermingled with the sound of bones breaking
Upon hearing the command of the Yin clan warriors, Old Jack perked up and responded earnestly.
"Blood Song Young Master, this is the city-state of humanity! Fallen humans, decadent lives!" A diligent warrior of the Yin tribe said, "As long as you possess power, you can enjoy everything here! We love the taste of this place!"