EGO POV Yibo

It's been almost three years now since I was hired by Sigma back in the day to join a search party that was supposedly looking for missing persons in a previously unknown tunnel. Sigma, however, was not interested in the missing persons, but in what he hoped to find, artifacts and relics.

However, it quickly turned out that the tunnel was not a tunnel and I ended up in a cave labyrinth, together with 29 other men. Divided into small groups, I had to rethink my plan and figure out how to proceed first. In addition, I was also tired as hell, which made it a little more difficult for me to think.

After a long cave passage, another cave followed, another cave passage and finally I killed the first two men there according to my order. After all, Sigma told me to do it, no survivors! And I complied with his instruction. But right after I killed the first two men, I sensed a danger that was scary even to me, so I decided to go back through the cave passage and found several dead bodies.

Realizing that I was dealing with a danger that could not be evaluated, I teamed up with someone and we tried again along the path I had previously avoided. Only to end up in a tiny cave that you could only get through if you crawled through a narrow hole.

We were trapped inside, because all around us were creatures we neither knew nor could assess. And then out of nowhere, I heard a voice offering to help me. How could I have said no in my situation?

A little later, I found out that this voice belonged to the really sweet, naughty but also dear Xiao Zhan, a vampire! For the very first time ever, I had to deal with a vampire I was absolutely not afraid of. Instead, I even wanted to befriend him and decided to trust him.

After only a very short time, I realized that I had developed feelings for the vampire that I had also never had before in my life. For a vampire whose foster father was, of all people, the one who pronounced a curse on my ancestor Flora Wang after she had lied to him, betrayed him and hurt him. A curse that affected Flora Wang and all her descendants.

Well, what can I say? After some back and forth, Zhan and I managed to break the curse. And when that happened, I finally felt free of a burden and loved Zhan even more than before. We officially got mated by the council shortly after. A very sacred, intimate ceremony where only the council members themselves are allowed to be present. I became a vampire! But not just any vampire, I became a vampire assassin.

A few weeks and many hours of training later, we received our first mission from the council, to find and kill Meng Yao and Su She. We did it and were able to complete our mission. After that, we killed Jang Jan, the former director of the Vampire Academy. And after that, Zhan and I wanted to travel first.

But then I remembered that there was still the Yang who had betrayed me to the commander back then. Since I was no longer working for the Assassin Council, I couldn't ask them if they had taken care of him. And because Yang was human, I couldn't just kill him myself. Not without a permit from the Council of Vampires.

So Zhan and I made our way to our council and made my request to be allowed to kill Yang ourselves, if it hadn't already been done. Since it was about a human, it was discussed quite hard in the council. But no agreement could be reached. So Zhan and I were sent to the highest authorities. Which was also the first time for Zhan.

We flew by plane to Romania, traveled for two days in a special bus that the council organized for us, and finally arrived at an ancient castle. The castle where the three oldest vampires, the highest rulers, live.

For two days the heads made us wait in a room for a decision whether they are willing to listen to us at all. We were not allowed to leave the small dark room and waited anxiously for the decision.

After these two days a vampire came to us and took us to a bathroom. We had to bathe for a whole hour in bath water filled with all kinds of flowers and herbs before we were given white long robes that reminded me of those worn by monks. Our feet and hands were rubbed with an herbal ointment, then we were put on white stockings and given simple sandals.

An hour later we were taken to the great hall of the castle, where on three thrones sat the three oldest vampires. They have long white hair, black eyes and their faces clearly show that they are very old. They spoke in the vampire language that Zhan had begun to teach me. I understood a little of what they said, Zhan translated everything else for me.

We had to kneel in front of them and explain who we were. The elder in the middle clapped his hands and explained that they had already heard about us and were excited. We had to explain to them exactly how we met and fell in love. How our mating was and how we have been living as a couple ever since. And they were happy for us.

And finally I was allowed to present my request to them. Their decision was that Zhan and I could search for Yang and kill him. But, in return, we would have to live with them for two years and learn from them. They said they had bigger things in mind for us. But before they were ready to let us know what, they wanted to spend time with us and impart much of their knowledge.

Zhan and I had two days to think about it. Two days in which we were back in that small dark room. Cut off from everyone, Zhan and I then finally made the decision, we do what the elders want.

After another procedure like two days before, we went before the elders again and told them that we were willing to join them for two years and learn from them. They were delighted. Afterwards, we went back and told our family and the council what came out of the meeting.

Everyone's reactions were the same. They were absolutely thrilled. For there could be no greater honor among vampires than to be personally chosen and trained by the elders.

Zhan and I then went to the human world a few days later to look for Yang. And, we quickly found him. He was still working as a museum curator and was more than surprised when he saw me. Apparently, he assumed I had died like all the other men in the cave. And I received proof that the Council of Assassins does not always keep its word. Hadn't they said they would take care of him?

That same night, Zhan and I went to Yang's house and killed him. Short and painless. Luckily, his wife wasn't home. Because since she is innocent, I didn't want to have to kill her too.

Before we went back to our world, the world of vampires, we visited my parents. My father had broken down even more and my mom said he would be moving into the nursing home in a few days. He was barely able to walk or talk. It was clear that he would not have much time left. And since I had no idea if I would see him again before he died, I already said goodbye to him.

My mom had already started cleaning out and packing boxes. Because she said as soon as dad was in the nursing home, she was moving in with Sigma. And that she would sell the house. After all, what would she do alone in a big house?

The following day we returned to the castle where there were two things to celebrate. Once, the farewell of Zhan and me, because we would not be able to return home for two years. And, the mating of my brother and Cheng. Things happened very quickly with the two of them as well. The two of them will live with Cheng's family. But the celebration was in the castle. It was a beautiful celebration.

My brother and I then spent another day together. He was still completely overwhelmed and out of his depth by his new self as a vampire. But still we had spent a day together as brothers. The first time ever and then just him and me. And he confessed to me that he had always wanted to be able to protect and love me as his little brother. "And in the end, it was you who saved me. I love you and I thank you." He said, crying.

Yes, that day we really became very close as brothers. And we decided never to let ourselves become rivals again. Instead, once Zhan and I are back, we want to work on our relationship as brothers and finally get to know each other properly.

Two days later, Zhan and I left for Romania to begin our training with the elders. From then on, our day was structured. Every day was the same.

Up every night at 5 pm, workout/body strengthening. 7 pm breakfast, 1 large cup of blood. 7:15 pm, start of classes, mainly history about the vampires. 10 pm, Language lessons in the vampire language. 12 pm sharp, lunch, 1 large cup of blood. 12:15 - 1:15 am, rest time. 1:15 am, class again. 3 am weapons training. 5 am Tai Chi. 6 am dinner. After that Zhan and I had free time. Which was actually nonsense, because then we went to bed. Well, we had free time fun then, but that's something else.

Although every day, or actually every night, was always the same, it was never boring. I quickly learned the history of vampires, I learned the vampire language and I also learned how to teach the history of vampires myself, but also how to train others to fight. And so did Zhan.

And slowly it dawned on us what the elders intended to do with us. But we were not sure yet. We only knew, they themselves taught us every single day and also so that we could learn how to teach others.

The time, these two years, passed then nevertheless faster than thought. When you are busy every day, you don't notice how fast time passes. And so the two years ended and finally the elders explained to us what they planned to do with Zhan and me.

The elder who always sits on the throne in the middle said, "We have taught you everything we know for two years. At least the most important. However, your training is not quite over. We want you to travel the world in the next 5 years. Get to know other cultures. Learn from other vampires. Learn more languages and then we want you both to open the first Vampire Assassin Academy for young vampires and teach them."

Zhan and I had actually figured this out and had talked about it many times. We had even fantasized about Zhan teaching the theory and me teaching the practice. So even before they told us, it had been absolutely conceivable to Zhan and me. So we said yes.

We will go on our 5 year trip around the world in the coming days to learn things everywhere. And with this knowledge, in 5 years, we will open our own Vampire Assassin Academy and teach vampire children everything we have learned. Somehow I'm already looking forward to that.