The Duo Shi’s Revelation

Inside the car.

All eyes in the car were fixed on the bird-like creature, which introduced itself as Duo Shi, their expressions a mix of surprise and apprehension.

“Tell me, do any of you have questions?”

Duo Shi gracefully covered her beak with a wing, though one might wonder how such elegance could be discerned from a bird’s gesture.

“Sister Rosa said this thing is a Black Blood Species, so why don’t we just kill it?”

Xiu Lan, ever disinclined to overthink, offered her suggestion, simple and straightforward as it was. She seemed oblivious, however, to the strange look her overly familiar address drew from Rosa.

“Hee hee, this young lady is quite violent. While we, the Duo Shi, are indeed members of the Black Blood Species, we have never been hostile towards humans.”

Unintimidated by the black-clad stranger’s veiled threat, Duo Shi then uttered a term that sent a shiver down Xiu Lan’s spine.

“W-w-what nonsense are you spouting? I’m a man! If you slander me so casually, I won’t hold back.”

At least half the people in this car knew her gender, yet ignoring Xiu Lan’s outburst, Yao Jing inquired, “Could you tell us why you’ve come here?”

A Black Blood Species appearing before them of its own accord was, in itself, no minor matter.

This was especially true for a new ‘monster’ of this kind, possessing intelligence yet never before seen.

“Hee hee, I have come precisely for him.”

Duo Shi pointed to The Doctor, who remained bound on the floor.

The once quiet carriage instantly became fraught with tension once more at Duo Shi’s words.

They had gone through such trouble to capture this Bloodkin, and now this creature was demanding him, as if looking down on everyone present.

“Heh heh, it seems I really should kill you after all.”

Xiu Lan’s voice was frigid, laden with killing intent. Petty as she was, she still held a grudge over Duo Shi’s inappropriate wording.

“What is your relationship with him?” Yao Jing asked.

“Hee hee, my relationship with him is…”

Circling The Doctor once with outstretched wings, Duo Shi declared, “I don’t know him, nor do I have any relation to him.”

“……”

“……”

“Should we make a move?”

Xiu Lan had already drawn her Shadow Sword, waiting only for the command to lop off the bird’s head.

“It appears you all misunderstand me. I am not here for him personally, but for the newly born Derivative Species.”

“Newly born Derivative Species?”

“……So, Bloodkin truly are a Black Blood Species.”

The exchange between the two sides made Xiu Lan’s heart tremble. If the Bloodkin were a Black Blood Species, then what did that make her, who so enjoyed eating ‘vampires’?

Could it be…

At this thought, her lingering killing intent vanished without a trace, and under Robin’s peculiar gaze, the young woman slowly shuffled her body, shrinking into a corner.

“Hee hee, you call them ‘Bloodkin,’ do you? Perhaps ‘Bloodkin of the Fallen God’ would be more fitting… Very well, I shall record their first entry into this world.”

Unlike the trembling Xiu Lan, Duo Shi happily conjured a white, gold-edged book from thin air, then used her other wing to write something within it.

“I have heard of you. It is said that the Duo Shi know everything that happens in this world.”

This abrupt voice made everyone turn their gaze to The Doctor, who remained bound on the floor. Even in his predicament, his tone remained calm.

“Hee hee, ‘knowing everything’ is far too grand a claim. We, the Duo Shi, are record keepers subordinate to Lord Bai Ze (TL Note: A mythical creature from ancient Chinese folklore, known for its extensive knowledge of all beings and the ability to ward off evil.), serving as his eyes, ears, and nose to observe all things in the world.”

“Since the New Era began, countless Black Blood Species have been birthed by the world.”

“Our宗主 — Lord Bai Ze, though knowledgeable in the emotions of all beings and the forms of all things under heaven, was nonetheless puzzled by the endless stream of new life. Thus, he created us to observe all things.”

Duo Shi’s voice was exceptionally proud, as if recounting a truly magnificent feat:

“For instance, that Elf over there was first discovered by another Duo Shi.”

“Ah.”

Tina, engrossed in her handheld game, was suddenly called upon. She merely raised her head, looked at Duo Shi with a bewildered expression, then indifferently lowered her head and continued playing.

“Discovered, and then what?” Robin asked.

“Naturally, they are entered into the bestiary.”

Duo Shi replied, “Whether alive, dead, or even extinct, every creature is recorded in our bestiary. Black Blood Species are no exception.”

“No, I mean, what is the purpose of collecting information on Black Blood Species?”

“Purpose? Is the act of collecting itself not the purpose?”

“But…” Robin wanted to say more but was interrupted by Rosa:

“Her宗主, Lord Bai Ze, is a member of the High-tier Species. You won’t find any logical loopholes in a Derivative Species created by such an existence.”

Robin’s objective was evident: to glean more information about the Black Blood Species from Duo Shi. Yet, Duo Shi’s demeanor…

“Hee hee, human thoughts are truly wicked.”

Duo Shi paid no mind to Robin’s probing. She said, “If, for you humans, the pursuit of living is a matter of course, then for us Duo Shi, this inherent ‘responsibility’ is likewise so… Can you understand?”

Rosa interjected, “So, you won’t get any information from this creature that she isn’t willing to volunteer.”

“What about the Bloodkin?”

With a hint of anticipation, The Doctor asked.

“Hee hee, although I haven’t met your宗主, the Bloodkin have indeed become a member of the Black Blood Species. Based on observations over the past few days, I have classified them as a lower-tier Black Blood Species.”

*You call this lower-tier?*

*Creating worlds, stopping time.*

The thought of the flamboyant Bloodkin she had encountered tonight made Xiu Lan almost lose her composure. However, realizing that these abilities were achieved through the use of gems, she felt relieved.

Without the gems, the Bloodkin’s individual strength meant only Gang could barely be considered an opponent; all the rest were trash and cannon fodder, to be killed in any number.

“Is that so…”

The Doctor showed little surprise, calmly accepting Duo Shi’s classification.

“Hee hee, thank you all for your assistance. The lower-tier Bloodkin have been registered. To express my gratitude, I have a piece of news to offer you for free.”

Duo Shi bowed to everyone once more, then spoke in a solemn tone:

“……Gems capable of granting extraordinary power to lower-tier species have begun to circulate among some Derivative Species. If you wish to maintain a peaceful life, you should discard them quickly. Otherwise, if some High-tier Species are alerted, it will no longer be an issue confined to this city.”

“The message has been delivered. Thank you again for your assistance; I shall take my leave.”

Just as she arrived, Duo Shi vanished without a trace into a spatial rift, but the news she brought left everyone in the car restless for a long time.

“Tell us everything about the gems.”

Xiu Lan kicked The Doctor, who lay on the floor.

“I don’t know.”

*What a truly excellent answer.*

“I have no memory from before I acquired the gems. When I awoke, I was wearing this mask inlaid with three red gems, becoming what is known as a Bloodkin. It was from that day forward that I had no memory of my past.”

“Then, one day, a gem told me that if I removed it from the mask, I could gain incredible power.”

“Did you remove it?” Wu Liyun interjected.

“Indeed, I took off the first gem then, and thereby acquired formidable power.”

“Continue to explain the vampires and Bloodkin.”

After a moment’s thought, The Doctor explained with an uncertain tone:

“Vampires are a byproduct created when I formed the Bloodkin. In my original plan, blood-cravers should have been able to directly transform into Bloodkin. However, I overestimated human willpower, and many vampires emerged who succumbed to their desires. For this, I specifically created the Trial Grounds to give them one last chance.”

“What exactly did you add to your inhibitor?”

Xiu Lan asked with a hint of anger.

“To allow the many blood-cravers to escape their current state and become members of the Bloodkin, I created a path for them to become Bloodkin. You should understand by now that Bloodkin are already a Black Blood Species, so you should be able to guess what I added.”

*As expected, Black Blood…*

The source of the Black Blood Species’ power, a taboo untouchable by humans, was what caused blood-cravers to transform into incredible monsters.

“One last question: where is the last gem?”

Yao Jing stared at The Doctor’s face, attempting to discern an expression from the mask that obscured his features, but he failed.

The Doctor calmly stated, “I hid the last gem in the Inner Realm. If I were you, I wouldn’t try to find it. Using three gems simultaneously in the same place will invite extremely dire consequences. I’ve said all I can.”

*He’s lying.*

*The last one is with that red-haired youth, Titan.*

However, it was possible that using three gems would indeed bring misfortune. Recalling the black rain she had once witnessed across the sky, could that have been the consequence of Vanguard using three gems simultaneously?

Yao Jing couldn’t help but glance at Xiu Lan, withdrawing his gaze amidst her muttered curses of, “What are you looking at, you idiot?” *This girl’s temper is getting worse and worse. Is it because I’ve been too lenient with her lately?*

“I understand everything you’ve said. The Supervisory Bureau will interrogate you from now on, and it will likely be difficult for us to meet again. Let’s say our final goodbyes, Doctor.”

“……”

The Doctor remained silent, seemingly having accepted his fate.

Upon reaching their destination, they handed The Doctor’s gem over to the Supervisory Bureau. As for Irina’s gem, Yao Jing decided to keep it himself, just in case.

Thus, day broke.

“I haven’t even slept yet!”

This was Xiu Lan’s voice, filled with resentment.