Lorevil massaged more gently.
But Madam Sharon’s breathing seemed a bit quicker than before, and a faint blush crept up her fair earlobes.
When Lorevil’s fingers brushed across the skin below Madam Sharon’s neck, Madam Sharon suddenly tilted her head slightly, avoiding the touch, her voice slightly hoarse: “Alright, no need to massage anymore. That’s enough for today, Lorevil.”
“Oh, very well then.”
Lorevil was a bit puzzled, so she stopped and walked around to face her.
Madam Sharon’s eyelids were lowered, her pretty face flushed, and her gaze seemed a bit evasive, lacking her usual composure.
And Lorevil’s stare only made Madam Sharon more flustered.
She raised a hand to tuck a strand of silver-white hair behind her ear, her fingers inexplicably trembling, and her long, slender legs crossed together somewhat unnaturally.
The silver-haired girl looked at her unusual state and vaguely understood something, her own little face heating up as well.
Madam Sharon was always composed and dignified, so this flustered and helpless look was a rare sight.
“Ahem…“
Madam Sharon cleared her throat and spoke with feigned calm: “Jingji has a motley crew. Not only does it waste resources, but it’s also prone to mistakes.”
Lorevil nodded thoughtfully.
“I’ve already prepared two capable hands for you.”
Madam Sharon tapped her cane and summoned two maidservants.
The moment she finished speaking, two figures walked over from the corridor.
Both were female Vampires in black dresses, with beautiful faces and cold, alluring temperaments.
One Vampire held a ledger, her gaze sharp; the other had a short sword at her waist, looking dashing and spirited.
“This is Aisha. She excels at managing organizational structure and financial accounting. The other is Lina. She has a good eye for screening personnel and maintaining discipline.”
Madam Sharon introduced them, pointing at each in turn.
“They are both Vampires I trust deeply. Let them go to Jingji and help you sort things out. They’ll save you a lot of trouble.”
After thanking her, Lorevil took out a communication Blood Crystal and quickly sent a message to Ira about the arrangement.
Aisha and Lina bowed and turned to leave, leaving only Lorevil and Madam Sharon in the courtyard again.
“Do you remember how you used to love wearing pink dresses when you were little? Loridia would follow you around, and even when she fell, she wouldn’t cry. She’d just get up and keep chasing after you.”
Madam Sharon looked at Lorevil, a smile in her narrow, beautiful eyes, and reached out with a boneless, delicate hand to ruffle the girl’s hair.
“I’ve grown up.”
The girl didn’t dodge her hand, but said calmly.
Madam Sharon’s smile froze on her face.
She was silent for a long moment before finally saying, “I understand.”
“Madam Sharon, I think you should distinguish me from who I was as a child. I’m not a little girl anymore.”
Lorevil looked up at Madam Sharon and said seriously.
She didn’t want Madam Sharon to pry into the original body’s memories.
It was best if she could interact with Madam Sharon as who she was now.
Hearing this, Madam Sharon became a bit flustered.
Could it be that Lorevil knew something, and that was why she didn’t want to be close anymore?
At the thought, Madam Sharon’s heart ached, and her eyes reddened slightly.
“If you think my technique is good, Madam, I can come by often to massage you in the future.”
Feeling like she might have been too harsh, Lorevil spoke up again.
“Then that’s fine. Focus on your training for now. Don’t trouble yourself over me.”
Madam Sharon barely managed a smile, most of the calm returning to her eyes.
Madam Sharon mentioned her younger sister Loriditia, which prompted Lorevil to ask: “Madam, you know quite a bit about the secret realm. Could you tell me about it?”
“The secret realm is a special residence prepared by the Family for key training targets. The resources inside can greatly accelerate cultivation, but they’re limited. After one person goes in to absorb, the realm needs several years to recover.”
Madam Sharon’s smile faded a little, and she sighed, her voluptuous body leaning slightly forward.
With that, the lady extended three slender fingers and gave them a light shake.
“Each key training target gets only three chances to enter.”
“Once at Third Order Early Stage, once at Middle Stage, and the last time at Peak. That’s enough for a Vampire of decent aptitude to break through to Fourth Order.”
“Your younger sister Loriditia is a key training target. After those three trips to the secret realm, she should be ready to challenge Fourth Order.”
“However, she withdrew midway once. Even so, the resources were enough to keep her firmly at Third Order Peak.”
“It’s a pity. If it weren’t for you… Anyway, if you want to rise quickly, the secret realm is absolutely unavoidable.”
Madam Sharon shook her head, looking at Lorevil with regret, and sighed.
Lorevil was genuinely shocked. She hadn’t expected her younger sister to be so outstanding.
“In order to help you catch up to Loriditia as soon as possible, I’ll make time to supervise your training from now on.”
Madam Sharon looked at Lorevil and said seriously.
“Your talent was never lacking to begin with. You just wasted it in the past. As long as you work hard, breaking through quickly won’t be a problem.”
Hearing this, Lorevil felt a warmth in her heart and nodded slightly.
“What you need most right now are high-tier Blood Crystals to stabilize your Blood Qi. Take these two.”
As she spoke, Madam Sharon produced two brocade boxes and pushed them in front of Lorevil.
The moment they opened, a rich, pure Blood Qi rushed out—an extremely rare high-tier quality.
“I don’t lack these.”
Lorevil shook her head in refusal.
“I appreciate your kindness, Madam. If I ever need anything, I’ll speak up.”
“Alright then. It’s getting late. You should head to the Academy. If you have free time, come by here and chat with me.”
Madam Sharon gazed at the rose bushes in the courtyard, a hint of wistfulness in her voice, but she quickly masked it.
Just as she stepped into the building, Lorevil heard light footsteps behind her.
“Lorevil, wait for me!”
Soon after, Fini lifted her skirt and ran up, calling out joyfully.
It seemed her awakening had succeeded.
Lorevil stopped and turned around, giving her a small smile.
“Yesterday’s Third-Tier Awakening went so smoothly. I got super lucky and awakened a Water Bloodline.”
Fini ran up to Lorevil’s side and couldn’t help hopping a few times in excitement.
“Water Bloodline?”
Lorevil asked in surprise.
After all, bloodline awakenings related to traits were rare. Even Lorevil herself hadn’t awakened a trait.
Looking at the adorable girl before her, Lorevil quickly accepted the fact.
“Congratulations, Fini.”
“Hehe.“
Fini laughed and scratched her head, then extended her palm.
A wisp of Blood Energy with a faint hint of blue gathered in her hand, forming a thin ring of water.
“My talent is the Repelling Water Ring.”
“As long as I output my will and Blood Energy at the same time, I can expand the water ring. It works both for defense and restraint.”
“That’s a fine talent.”
Lorevil commented.
“Have you ever pushed it to the maximum?”
Vivian had also tested the limits of her talent Blood Line after awakening.
“No, let me try.”
The hallway happened to be empty of other Vampires, so Fini expanded the water ring half a foot, and within the blood-red hue, a shimmering, translucent blue glow could faintly be seen.
But soon, Fini’s face turned pale, and the water ring vanished along with it.
“It seems this talent consumes mental energy. Just take your time getting used to it.”
Seeing Fini looking exhausted, Lorevil supported her by the shoulder.
Fini rubbed her temples and smiled wryly: “Yeah, the moment I pushed it, I felt a headache coming on.”
“It’s fine. Take it slow. This ability suits you well—it’s both offensive and defensive.”
Lorevil let go and encouraged her.
Fini’s Water Bloodline made the girl think of what the mistress of the Blood Lake had said.
When she reached Fourth Order, that mysterious red-dressed girl would awaken her again.
Would she awaken a trait Bloodline like Fini’s?
Just as Lorevil was pondering this, a deep, resounding bell tolled across the Holy Blood Academy, accompanied by a low-frequency hum that seemed to make the entire Academy tremble slightly.