Silence reigned for the longest while after Yulan finished retelling her story, she sobbed slightly remembering the Old Madam, she owed her life to that woman.
After experiencing literal hell with her 'family' back in Xingjian, it was this unknown woman who finally gave her a proper place to rest and live peacefully.
That's why…
"We can't keep this up… A kiss tonight… That's as far as I'm willing to go with you… After tonight we have to be just acquaintances again." Her mature voice sounded regretful, 'Why couldn't I meet someone like him back then?'
Back when she was still struggling to survive. She was still young and beautiful, but now…
Alucard sighed and remained silent.
"I still want to know many things though… Who are you? Why can you live after taking my poison and also… Why do you seek me so… I'm 52 this year you know? I know as a cultivator, age doesn't matter to you but… The Young Miss is so beautiful and I… am like a flower past its prime, each petal withers slowly with a gust of wind, why must you be so insistent with me?"
As she asked what bothered her the most, she leaned on him, this answer would determine many things for her.
Alucard got comfortable and started, "For your first question, my true name is Vlad Tepes, I didn't hide that… I'm a Nosferatu, I'm a creature that for reasons better not said now, cannot die or be killed. Aside from a Nosferatu and a Cultivator, apparently, I'm also a God… Does that answer your question?"
The more he spoke the more bewildered she became… Nosferatu? Unkillable? God?
Wait… God!?
"Are you a God of Olympus!? Which?!" This was by far the most shocking thing tonight!
One thing was for him to be a Karma Fire Cultivator, but a God of Olympus as well!? Wasn't he acting very carefree while beyond enemy lines!?
"I'm Ares, the God of War. I truly didn't want to, it happened by mistake."
"You don't want to be a God you say!? Prove to me that you're a God!" She was technically pulling his collar back and forth at this point.
Who was more aware of this situation than her? She, who was a cultivator and grew up jailed only hearing stories about immortals and Gods…
Suddenly such an existence was right in front of her, a God and an Immortal in one person…
Such an existence was so frightening… Mortals would never be able to understand the implications!
Yet, he sat here in front of her and was even courting her!?
Ridiculousness!
Moreover, he was also a Nosferatu? She didn't know what that is, but it sounds important…
Alucard sighed and a Golden light flashed and his golden gun made an act of appearance…
The gun floated under Yulan's stunned eyes and landed on her lap.
"T-This is… The Godly artefact of the Heretic God of War…" she took it like it was a treasure.
"Heretic God of War? I see…" It was only now that he noticed, that was indeed the way cultivators referred to the Gods of Olympus.
Heretics.
"You're truly the God of War." It was truly ridiculous, or maybe not… According to the rumours back then, the Gods hide in plain sight.
A vagrant in the streets, a mutton skewers seller.
Hell, even her Young Miss could be one and she couldn't possibly know!
She heaved a sigh and caressed the gun in her hands, "What is a Nosferatu?"
"Have you heard of vampires?"
"Of course, are you a vampire?" With his name, that was her first assumption upon seeing those eyes and shadows back then, but to think he's really a vampire… It wasn't really that surprising of existence to her.
"No, I'm a Nosferatu, a <True Vampire>, I'm the original. Those hybrids you call vampires, all descend from me. The ones back in my world at least." His eyes shone in red as the moonlight reflected on his fangs, giving the woman an ominous feeling.
He's the origin of vampires? How old is he then? Also, his world?
"If you want to know more, there is an easier way Yulan~. I can transform you into a Nosferatu… What do you think?" He threw the suggestion away and her body started shaking.
Transform into a creature like him? She thought maybe the word 'creature' wouldn't be the right way to call him...
"What advantage would that give me?"
"Well, for one you... will me Immortal… You can be killed, but will never die of old age."
… That was simply outrageous… Even powerhouses in Xingjian, although they called themselves 'Immortals' they simply had very long lifespans…
It was the same with the members of the Blood Clan, the closest thing to a 'Vampire' that existed, none of them was truly immortal.
But he was telling her that she could now be truly immortal. It was the dream and ultimate purpose of cultivators, to extend their lifespan and strength beyond impossibility.
"Second, you will be able to become stronger, by consuming people stronger than you. We Nosferatu 'eat' other people's abilities and lifespans as we consume their souls. That is the way I became a cultivator and a God. I 'ate' three elders from Xingjian and I also 'ate' Ares not too long ago."
*BOOM!*
It was as if an explosion occurred in her mind right at that instant and now she finally understood.
Aren't Nosferatus too terrifying!? He consumed their powers by eating them!?
"Did you eat their corpses!?" She looked at him and fear was apparent in her eyes! She just couldn't imagine this handsome man on his knees viciously munching on a corpse!
"No… I consumed them with my shadow, although there isn't really much of a difference…" It is not like he hadn't ever eaten a corpse... Or a living person... But saying that would only ruin the night ahead of time.
His shadow spread forth and she saw it with fear, 'That's how he eats...'
"So, tell me your answer. You will be able to go back to your prime, no, beyond your prime. You will be one of the most beautiful women once again and also, you will be more helpful to Ruoxi. There is even the possibility that you can further control your Yin Body by yourself. Isn't that a bargain one gets once in a lifetime~? " He whispered in her ears like the devil selling his prey a contract they couldn't reject.
'And you won't be able to sleep anymore...' Alcina chuckled inside him.
'That sacrifice is so insignificant it is not even worth mentioning...'
'Tell Catherine that...'
She blushed and her mind started its delusions… Aren't those the things that she wants? Finally, be able to control this accursed body of hers, strength to help her Young Miss and also… Beauty, she would have her beauty once again…
Immortality wasn't that much important to her.
"And… W-What's the catch?" After a brief moment of thought, the lady looked to the side, no way such a deal was free of charge.
...
"The catch my dear is that you will be mine…" He turned her head around and locked her evasive eyes for once.
…
Yulan looked into his eyes and bit her lips before giving him the gun back, "Please, allow me to think about it… I truly can't betray the Young Miss... What we did today, is enough for me to not be able to sleep..."
Having said that she stood up, bowed slightly and left for her room not with swaying hips as she would wish, but rather, with a pensive gaze. Thinking deeply about his suggestion, what they just did, and the implications.
...
'Do you think she will accept Master? Even if the temptation is great, she still looks like a rather levelheaded individual and very loyal too… Her heart is clearly infatuated, but she still won't give in. She'd probably have accepted right away if you didn't place such a catch.'
'Indeed, but… I would never let someone like her go. Her condition is way more special than I expected… A physique that only appears once in ten thousand years… To think I would meet such an eccentricity in this world.' Alucard chuckled and walked back to his room shortly after.
Her sole existence was taboo.
Having finished the day, Alucard went to 'sleep' in his room.