Chapter Ninety: Creatures of Darkness

Tonight, naturally, there was no way to properly wash up, nor did Mulan wish to disturb the residents any further. Besides, a comfortable warmth was spreading through his body, and he longed for rest.

“Hendel, tonight we’ll only remove our shoes and coats to sleep. Be careful not to sleep too deeply.”

“All right, Professor.”

Hendel understood exactly what Mulan meant. He took off his coat and laid it on a chair to the side, then slipped his gun beneath his pillow. Mulan sat on the bed, watching Hendel’s preparations, and suddenly spoke.

“Hendel, you should really work on your hand-to-hand combat skills. Relying solely on a gun often isn’t enough. Only by combining it with fighting techniques can you unlock the full potential of your body during the Awakening stage.”

Hendel recalled the terrifying strength Mulan had displayed on the train, and his heart filled with longing.

“I understand, Professor. My combat foundation isn’t bad, but I’ll definitely train harder. I suggest the school increase its combat courses. If you could teach us yourself, that would be ideal.”

For Hendel and most—if not all—the students, the Black Castle where they studied and lived was, in essence, a school. Its present state and future development only reinforced that perception.

“That’s a good suggestion. I’ll make arrangements as soon as we return. Even if I can’t personally teach the combat course, I’ll see to it you get the right instructor.”

The Black Castle’s teaching staff was stretched thin, so Mulan had already suggested to Walton and the Queen that some of the royal forces be assigned as instructors. For combat classes in particular, suitable teachers could certainly be found.

This idea, of course, delighted Niss Heliar. With Walton’s ambiguous attitude, she now had every reason to assign royal forces to teach at the Black Castle, thus strengthening the Crown’s influence there.

Mulan and Hendel discussed the werewolves from the train for a while, then, as sleep pressed in, Mulan also took off his coat, lightly covered himself with the blanket, and drifted off. Within a minute of closing his eyes, he was already asleep.

In his dreams, Mulan’s spirit floated as if in a small boat, drifting gently, or perhaps suspended directly in warm water, rocked by a soft, soothing motion. He could feel his body growing—bones, muscles, organs, even his mind and soul, all stretching and lengthening at a slow, steady pace.

When he opened his eyes, Mulan saw no color or shape, yet was keenly aware of his spiritual form. Lying on his back, he sensed both the wings of light and the wings of a demon—here, light and darkness were two sides of the same coin.

Or rather, at this moment, Mulan felt himself possessed by two spirits, two bodies, though it was not a split mind, for both consciousnesses were truly as one.

The light was neither scorching nor harsh; the demon was not violent or cruel. Yet it was clear that the energy of darkness was growing faster, with the satisfying fullness that follows a hearty feast. The flesh of the demon form was thriving, becoming far more real.

...

“Professor!”

At Hendel’s low call, Mulan’s eyes snapped open. The room was not especially dark, and with their eyes adjusted and the moonlight coming through the window, they could see everything clearly.

“Professor, listen, the wolves are howling!”

No sooner had Hendel spoken than a distant wolf’s howl echoed on the night air.

“Awoo...”

It was clear the sound was not close by. Wolf howls could carry for miles, and judging by the volume, they were not too near, but not so far away as to be ignored.

They waited for a long while with no further howls. Just as Hendel was about to speak, another howl broke the silence.

“Awoo...”

This time the sound was much closer, giving the impression the wolves were right at the edge of Shire Town. Mulan frowned slightly; Hendel threw off his blanket and drew his pistol from under the pillow.

Soon, scattered barking rose from around Shire Town, swelling into a cacophony as if every dog in town were howling.

The wolves did not howl again. Hendel stood by the window, gun in hand, waiting a long while before glancing back at Mulan, who still lay under the blanket.

“Rest,” Mulan said. “They’re searching for that vampire, but it seems there’s some tacit understanding with Shire—they won’t come in without cause.”

“An understanding?”

Hendel was startled.

“No need to be so jumpy. Go to sleep.”

Seeing the professor so calm, Hendel asked no further questions. He nodded and returned to bed.

The next morning, while Mulan and Hendel were having breakfast in the residents’ home, a group arrived outside. They were more elegantly dressed than the locals, with uniformed men leading the way.

They stopped at the door. In the center was a gentleman with a pronounced mustache. When he saw the door open, his gaze swept past the host family and fixed directly on Mulan and Hendel at the table. Their attire and bearing made it clear they were no ordinary country folk.

A smile spread across the mustached man’s face as he stepped forward briskly.

“Oh, may I ask which of you is Sir Jonster?”

Hendel stood and moved aside to join the host family, who had already left the table. Only Mulan remained seated.

“I am Mulan Jonster. Is there something you need?”

The man’s expression brightened. He stepped inside, hastening forward, his posture naturally deferential.

“Sir Jonster, my Lord the Baron heard you were here and sent me especially to invite you. Please, you must come with me to the Baron’s mansion.”

As he spoke, his eyes flicked to the table: a pot of some indeterminate gruel, a few slices of black bread, and a half-bowl of what was obviously reheated soup. He quickly added,

“My Lord Baron has ordered a sumptuous breakfast to be prepared. Sir Jonster, and your... companion, must join us!”

Baron Shire held a hereditary title. In the old days, Shire Town was his family’s domain—even the town bore their name. Though the Empire had since stripped the nobility of official lands and taxing rights, local aristocrats still wielded significant influence, especially in remote areas far from the seat of power. They often retained considerable authority, sometimes crossing into illegality.

Mulan rose.

“Very well. As Baron Shire has invited me, I, too, am a noble. Naturally, I will go. Hendel, let’s be off.”

“Yes, Professor.”

The mustached man paused at the word “Professor,” but his smile never wavered.

“This way, please. The carriage is just outside!”

A rather grand carriage waited out front—black, with brushed metal trim and a carved Stoneflower at its center, the Shire family crest.

The three of them entered the carriage, which soon rolled through Shire Town and out the far side.

Hendel was surprised.

“Hm? The Baron’s mansion isn’t in town?”

The mustached man laughed and explained,

“The Baron’s family is of noble blood. How could they live among commoners?”

Hendel grinned wryly.

“Her Majesty the Queen lives among the people in Digao.”

Mulan smiled.

“Digao is a bustling metropolis; how could Shire compare?”

“Quite right, Sir Jonster, quite right...” the man echoed, though he seemed to feel something was off.

The carriage followed a relatively smooth road, finally passing through a sparse woodland to a grand residence at the mountain’s foot. Baron Shire’s mansion was truly imposing—proof that former mine owners lived in style.

As Mulan and Hendel entered through the main doors, a man in refined, somewhat old-fashioned dress—complete with jeweled brooch and cufflinks—greeted them eagerly, flanked by two servants.

“Ha ha ha! To have the Queen’s own Knight-Protector grace my humble Shire is an honor beyond measure!”

The Baron appeared to be in his thirties or forties, his face alight with genuine enthusiasm.

Mulan raised his head slightly, squinting at the Baron for a moment before smiling and stepping forward.

“Thank you for your invitation, Baron Shire. We are the ones imposing upon you.”

A vampire—or, more accurately, not a fully turned vampire. He still retained most human traits, having undergone the ritual but not yet “tasted” for the first time. He was half-human, half-vampire, already instinctively averse to sunlight.

In this state, as long as he resisted the lure of blood, such a vampire was nearly impossible to identify—indistinguishable from an ordinary person, and, if sufficiently disciplined, could even walk in daylight.

But for Mulan, it was instantly clear. The demon in the shadows was already smiling; no creature of darkness could hide from Mulan’s gaze.

If you find “After Awakening” enjoyable, please share the book’s URL with your friends on QQ, WeChat, or Weibo. Thank you for your support!