The next morning, Bai Li opened his eyes.
His eyelashes fluttered slightly, and the first thing he saw was Ziya, sleeping peacefully and quietly right before him.
The little one was still like a kitten clinging to warmth, her arms tightly encircling Bai Li’s waist.
This was perhaps the most stable and restful night they had shared in the 1 week they had spent together.
There was no tossing and turning in confusion, no cautious distance, only the peace and warmth of leaning on one another.
It was as if the barrier that had stood between them for days had quietly melted away during this night’s embrace.
Bai Li looked at his drowsy, defenseless little daughter in his arms, and a wave of indescribable tenderness rippled through his heart.
He gently patted Ziya’s back and spoke in an extremely low voice, his morning tone carrying a hint of lazy raspiness.
“Time to get up, Little Lazybones. The sun is already high in the sky.”
Wakened by this gentle call, Ziya looked up at Bai Li in a daze.
Her soft voice sounded sweet as she spoke.
“Mm… Good morning, Father.”
Bai Li’s tone was incredibly gentle.
“Mhm, good morning, Ziya. Let’s change our clothes and wash up first, then we can go downstairs for a hot breakfast, okay?”
Upon hearing this, Ziya immediately became more alert.
“Mm-hmm! I’ll do whatever Father says!”
The two petite little ones helped each other in the bedroom, changing into clean and comfortable clothes.
One helped tidy a collar while the other adjusted a hem.
The originally awkward atmosphere became increasingly warm and harmonious through these small interactions.
Once everything was ready, the two held hands and walked slowly down the spiral staircase, one after the other.
Their steps were light, and a hint of irrepressible joy touched their eyes.
The Little Meow Maid and Rongrong were already waiting at the base of the stairs.
The two little ones exchanged looks and shared a smile, their eyes filled with relief and understanding.
The breakfast already laid out in the Restaurant was fragrant, golden, and crispy.
It was exquisite and enticing, making one’s mouth water.
The father and daughter sat side by side at the dining table.
Unlike previous days when they had deliberately kept their distance, they now leaned close together, an invisible sense of intimacy radiating from them.
Anyone could see at a glance that after their heart-to-heart talk the previous night, the tension between them had vanished, softening the relationship by more than just a little.
Bai Li picked up a fried egg from his plate and took a small bite.
He discreetly looked at Ziya, who was eating obediently beside him.
After a moment of deliberation, he found the right time and slowly broke the silence at the table.
“Ziya, you personally promised Father last night that from now on, you would never hide anything from me again. You can’t go back on your word.”
Ziya’s small hand holding the spoon paused slightly.
She looked up and met Bai Li’s gentle but serious gaze.
Without any sign of avoidance, she nodded honestly, her voice clear and sincere.
“Mm, I remember. I won’t lie to Father!”
Seeing his daughter being so well-behaved and honest, Bai Li’s concerns lessened.
He slowed his tone and spoke patiently and softly, “How about this? Father will ask a question, and you will give an answer. That way, you won’t feel burdened or embarrassed to speak up. It will be easier for you, all right?”
Hearing this, a sweet smile appeared on Ziya’s small face as she whispered her thanks.
“Mm, thank you for being so understanding, Father.”
Bai Li took a deep breath.
His originally relaxed posture gradually straightened, and the expression on his face became serious.
The atmosphere around him grew slightly heavy as he looked intently at Ziya.
“Then Father asks you… is the Blood Race Territory currently at war with another country?”
As the words fell, a brief silence descended upon the dining table.
After hesitating for a long while, Ziya finally gave a small nod and responded in a low voice.
That soft answer confirmed the faint suspicion in Bai Li’s heart.
He sighed softly, a hint of helplessness coloring his brow as he continued to press.
“As I thought. Which country was war declared upon?”
A troubled look appeared on Ziya’s face.
Her eyes darted away as she whispered a plea, “Knowing will only increase your worries.”
Looking at Ziya’s hesitant and worried appearance, Bai Li already understood; the answer was obvious.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone carrying both certainty and an inescapable melancholy.
“You don’t have to hide it from me. Looking at your expression, it must be… the Human Realm, right?”
In truth, Bai Li had already deduced this answer countless times in his heart; he already knew it well.
Back when he had lived with Baining day and night, he had faintly sensed the dissatisfaction and obsession she harbored toward the Human Realm.
He knew that thought had always been hidden in her mind, but he had never expected the day would come so suddenly and so resolutely.
Seeing that her father had already guessed the truth, Ziya could no longer hide it.
She could only nod gently once more, her voice growing even smaller.
“… Yes.”
The moment he received final confirmation, Bai Li couldn’t help but let out a long sigh.
He felt a heavy weight in his chest and a sense of utter discouragement.
A flood of helplessness and conflict surged within him.
Although he had already prepared himself mentally, he still couldn’t suppress the frustration and aimlessness he felt now that the truth was laid bare.
What lay before him was a dilemma that left him caught between a rock and a hard place, causing him agonizing pain.
On one side was the Human Realm, the place he had once dedicated half a lifetime to and sworn to serve unto death.
It held the classmates he had studied with in his youth, the teachers who had taught him, the dear friends who had been by his side daily, and the King who had once treated him well.
Those memories were etched into his soul; even if communication had long been cut off, those unbreakable ties remained buried deep in his heart.
On the other side was the biological daughter he had painstakingly raised for 10 years and cherished in the palm of his hand—the most precious person in his life he could not let go of.
Blood relations and his former homeland stood on opposite ends; how was he supposed to choose?
Rongrong stood quietly to the side, her eyes discreetly observing the rapidly changing expressions on Bai Li’s face.
She saw the contradiction, struggle, and pain in his eyes, but her own expression remained as calm as a placid lake as if she were contemplating something.
Meanwhile, the Little Meow Maid had no such thoughts.
The little one stood quietly in the corner, her small head drooping bit by bit.
Her eyelids were heavy, and she looked adorable as she teetered on the edge of falling asleep while standing.
She was completely out of sync with the heavy atmosphere in the Restaurant, which instead added a bit of comical charm that slightly thinned the oppressive air.
Bai Li suppressed the emotions surging in his heart and forced himself to calm down.
He spoke again, his voice carrying a hint of urgency.
“Then tell me, what is the current state of the battle between the two sides? Is the situation good or bad?”
Ziya shook her head, answering truthfully with a face full of confusion.
“I’m not quite sure about the specific battle conditions… Father.”
Bai Li was slightly stunned, a trace of puzzlement crossing his brow.
“Why wouldn’t you know? When the Vampires encounter war, shouldn’t you, as a member of the race, head to the front lines to help or at least know something?”
“It is because there is no need for us to take action at all,” Ziya said honestly, her tone also carrying a bit of perplexity.
“From beginning to end, it has only been the Vampire Forces under Sister Baining’s command fighting a lone battle, unilaterally waging war against the Human Realm.”
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