Chapter 223: Ambushed

Upon leaving the Count's mansion, the Castell guards no longer troubled Count Yurst.It was only when this Bloodborne Count returned to the wrecked tavern that he finally breathed a sigh of relief and felt more at ease.

He couldn’t explain why, but despite not encountering any threats at the Count's mansion, ever since meeting the Castell Countess, Yurst felt a vague sense of unease and pressure.

He couldn’t pinpoint the source of this pressure; he just had a feeling it was likely related to the mysterious God behind Castell.

Perhaps… when he was just conversing with the Castell Countess, that mysterious God was secretly observing him!

Thinking of this, Count Yurst grew restless again.

The mission assigned by the Duke was technically completed.

He had indeed stepped into the arena between legends and myths. Now, he only wanted to leave Northport as quickly as possible, report everything back, and then retreat to his castle.

“Count, you’re finally back! How did the negotiations go? Can we return to Starfall?”

Seeing Yurst return unharmed, the tavern owner was extremely excited, nervously and expectantly asking.

Clearly, the head of this Nez bloodborne's underground base was terrified by the recent Castell crackdowns. With the tavern also smashed, he now just wanted to seize this opportunity to escape and get away from the trouble.

Count Yurst looked at him strangely.

Feeling relaxed, the Bloodborne Count also had a bit of playful impulse.

He chuckled and nodded.

“The negotiations went very smoothly.”

Hearing this, the tavern owner's eyes lit up.

But Yurst took a bag of gold tana from his pocket and stuffed it into the owner’s hand, saying,

“Fix up the tavern well. Your task is going to be even tougher from now on.”

“What? Fix the tavern? Aren’t we leaving?”

Looking at the gold tana in his hand, the tavern owner was confused.

Count Yurst grinned.

“Yes, we are leaving, but you need to stay here.”

“We are about to cooperate with Castell and need a liaison. I am too busy to travel frequently between Starfall and Crescent. And you… will act as our representative to communicate with the Countess.”

With that, Count Yurst took out a communication crystal from his pocket and placed it on the tavern’s bar.

“This is a communication crystal that can reach me, and it is temporarily entrusted to you.”

“Hold onto it well. Such precious magical devices are rare even within the clan.”

The tavern owner was stunned but eventually accepted the crystal under Yurst's somewhat oppressive gaze.

“Do well, and if you achieve great merits, I will reward you with the Blood of Origin.”

Count Yurst added.

The tavern owner's eyes lit up, and he eagerly said.

“Thank you, Count! I will work hard! I will definitely work hard!”

It was difficult for bloodbornes to enhance their power.

And the Blood of Origin bestowed by a high-ranking bloodborne was the greatest hope for lower-ranking bloodbornes to enhance their power.

After reassuring the head of their base in Northport, Count Yurst hurriedly set sail.

He needed to report the negotiations with the Castell Countess to the Duke as soon as possible.

“The Duke was right, it seems the God behind Castell might be having some trouble restoring THEIR power. Otherwise… that young Countess wouldn’t be so interested in ways to restore divine power!”

“No wonder THEIR symbol has appeared on the continent for hundreds of years without making a name. It’s probably because THEY has been lurking due to limited strength and only recently accumulated some power…”

“From this perspective, this mysterious God does seem like a suitable partner for Nez. After all… THEY are a deity but doesn’t seem to pose a huge threat yet!”

On the sailing Carrack ship, Count Yurst was writing furiously on a parchment while muttering to himself.

In the cabin, candlelight flickered, and a light blue incense smoke wafted, emitting a refreshing and aromatic scent.

He had to admit, the clan’s fleet knew how to enjoy themselves. Even the incense in the cabin was high-grade, invigorating and refreshing. Yurst almost wanted to ask where it was purchased.

However, recalling the information the Castell Countess mentioned about the Blood Demon Cult, his interest quickly dissipated, and his brows furrowed again.

“The Blood Demon Cult… could Elder Maxim still not have given up on cooperating with them?”

“They appeared in the North… could it be Elder Maxim’s doing?”

“No, this matter must also be reported to the Duke immediately!”

Yurst pondered for a moment, then picked up his quill and resumed writing his report on the parchment with increased speed. Just then, there was a gentle knock on the wooden door of the cabin.

"My Lord, it's time for afternoon tea. Today's treats are Bloodflower Red Wine from Luna Island and Crescent Almond Cake."

Hearing the voice outside the cabin door, Yurst instinctively paused his work.

Work was important, but for the elegant and enjoyment-loving bloodborne, so was life.

The Nez bloodborne could be driven to countryside castles by mortal nobles, but they would never miss their daily afternoon tea!

Unless, of course, they were asleep in their coffins.

"Come in."

Count Yurst said calmly.

The wooden door of the cabin was gently opened, and a young blood descendant entered, carrying a tray.

Yurst glanced casually and noticed it was one of the blood descendants escorting the delegation to the North.

He couldn’t remember exactly how many generations down this one was, maybe ninth or tenth, with strength approaching the Second Tier Silver Moon, making him a core member of the escort team.

"My Lord, please enjoy the refreshments."

The blood descendant stammered, appearing somewhat nervous.

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Seeing this, Yurst chuckled silently.

The bloodborne's hierarchy was strict, and many low-ranking blood descendants acted this way in his presence.

As an enlightened member of the clan, Yurst didn't view the status difference as seriously as some of the more rigid bloodbornes, but he was used to it and felt somewhat resigned.

Yurst covered the parchment, nodded lightly, and elegantly picked up the wine glass.

However, just as he was about to drink the red wine, he suddenly felt a sense of unease and stopped.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the blood descendant had not left.

Moreover, the descendant was staring intently at the red wine in Yurst’s hand, with trembling hands hidden under his sleeves.

The heartbeat, like a drum, was as clear as stars in the night to Yurst's perception.

Yurst's eyebrows furrowed.

He inconspicuously sniffed the wine, his expression changing slightly, and his demeanor darkened.

With a cold snort, he casually threw the wine glass to the ground, then pointed a finger. The blood descendant was instantly pulled forward by an invisible force.

In the cabin, the candlelight flickered as a fierce wind rose. The blood descendant, pale and terrified, was lifted into the air, unable to move.

Yurst looked at him calmly, his crimson eyes filled with sarcasm.

"Child, did no one tell you that your rapid heartbeat can't fool a high-ranking bloodborne's perception?"

"Tell me, who ordered you to do this?!"

Yurst’s voice boomed, his pressure like thunder.

The blood descendant before him, face pale, trembled with fear.

Just then, a commotion arose outside the cabin, mingled with exclamations, curses, and screams.

The faint scent of blood gradually permeated, reaching Yurst's nose.

Yursts expression shifted.

He threw the blood descendant aside, collected the parchment, and left the cabin.

On the deck, chaos reigned.

When Yurst arrived, he witnessed a brawl.

Those who had accompanied him as the delegation were surrounded, under attack from the escorting blood descendants, led by the ship's captain, a Bloodborne Viscount named Zachary.

At that moment, this captain, also of the Nez clan, raised a silver sword and stabbed at a blood descendant loyal to Yurst.

Seeing this, Yurst was furious.

With a roar, he summoned a shadow tendril that knocked Zachary to the ground. Then, transforming into a cloud of black mist, he appeared before his besieged blood descendants, coldly gazing at the attackers.

"Zachary! Have you lost your mind?"

"Cough, cough…"

Captain Zachary stood up, looked at Yurst with a complex expression, then lowered his head and said.

"Apologies, my Lord. My master does not wish to see the Castell negotiations succeed, so… we must inconvenience you."

Yurst was enraged.

"Inconvenience? Inconvenience means raising swords against your kin?!"

Red light flared around Yurst, and his oppressive aura surged.

However, just then, he felt a sharp pain in his chest, his face paled, and he spat out a mouthful of black blood.

His aura became unstable, and he collapsed.

Poisoned?

When?

Yurst was stunned.

Seeing his shocked expression, Captain Zachary said gravely.

"My Lord, it’s best if you don’t try to use your powers."

"Inhaling the scent of the Phantom Death Flower, the more you use your extraordinary abilities, the weaker you become…"

Hearing this, Yurst's expression changed.

"The scent? The incense…! You tampered with the incense?!"

Captain Zachary neither confirmed nor denied. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the ɴøvᴇlFɪre.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

"Apologies, Lord Yurst, but you are a Count. To deal with someone of your stature, I had to resort to such dishonorable means."

Yurst's expression was grim.

He snorted coldly and said.

"Zachary, I don't know which old fool is behind this, but… if you think poisoning can deal with a Bloodborne Count, you underestimate the power of a Count!"

"I will bind all of you and bring you to the Elder Council. You and your backers will face the clan’s punishment!"

With that, Yurst roared and forcibly activated his power, summoning a Spiritual Force Field.

Just then, a loud dragon's roar suddenly came from the sky.

The dragon's might, clashing with the Spiritual Force Field, pressed down on Yurst, shattering his force field.

A force field is linked to the soul. When it is damaged, so is the soul.

Yurst's face turned white, and he spat out another mouthful of black blood.

He staggered, nearly falling, but a blood descendant behind him quickly supported him, helping him stay upright.

A massive shadow covered the ship as a majestic black dragon slowly descended.

Seeing the figure on the dragon's back, shrouded in a black robe and wearing a Demon Eye Mask, Yurst’s expression changed.

"The Blood Demon Cult!"