Blood Queen

Secret historians from various countries have never been able to reach absolute consensus on when the Blood Clan first appeared.

The most widely accepted view is that during the Macedonian Kingdom period in the 5th century BCE, vampire legends first appeared in what is now Bulgarian territory, becoming the preferred starting point for secret historians from various countries to trace Blood Clan ancestral lineages.

The Sofia Blood Clan is considered the earliest Blood Clan ancestral lineage, named after Sofia, the current capital of Bulgaria.

Using the Greek Peninsula as a springboard, the Sofia Blood Clan spread along Mediterranean trade routes, entering the Apennine Peninsula, where the second ancestral lineage appeared, named the Apennine Blood Clan.

Subsequently, as Alexander's Empire rose, the Sofia Blood Clan accelerated their expansion in all directions. The third ancestral lineage was born in the Caucasus region, named the Caucasus Blood Clan.

When the Roman Empire defeated Carthage, the Apennine Blood Clan poured into North Africa and reached the Iberian Peninsula, evolving into the fourth ancestral lineage, named the Iberian Blood Clan. They then entered Western Europe and differentiated into the fifth ancestral lineage, named the Rhine Blood Clan.

The eastern Caucasus Blood Clan also accelerated their eastward and southward expansion during the same period, differentiating into the sixth ancestral lineage, the Altai Blood Clan, and the seventh ancestral lineage, the Ganges Blood Clan.

The Altai Blood Clan continued expanding eastward, differentiating into the eighth ancestral lineage, the Siberian Blood Clan.

During the peak of the Roman Empire, Emperor Claudius I led armies to invade Britain, and the final Blood Clan ancestral lineage appeared, named the British Blood Clan.

Thus, the nine great Blood Clan ancestral lineages took shape and remained stable through the medieval period, casting an invisible shadow over the entire world.

In the 14th century CE, Bulgaria's Second Empire was destroyed by the Ottoman Empire. The Sofia Blood Clan mysteriously went extinct over the following century. Thereafter, Blood Clan worldwide were left with only eight ancestral lineages.

No one knows how the acknowledged first ancestral lineage, the Sofia Blood Clan, completely disappeared within just a hundred years.

Some believe that given the technological development level of human society at that time, even if all of Europe's secret demon-hunting organizations joined forces, they couldn't have hunted down every single Sofia Blood Clan member within a century.

Theoretically, only Blood Clan can more easily detect other Blood Clan, so secret historians from various countries judge that the Sofia Blood Clan's extinction was most likely caused by encirclement and slaughter by other ancestral lineage Blood Clan. As for the underlying reasons, no one knows.

September 10th, Tuesday, 10 AM, Beijing, the capital of China.

In a certain military stronghold, a secret meeting was in progress, with main officials from the five major Shadow Arrow surveillance districts across the country gathered together.

"Absolutely ridiculous! Three action squads, including two heritage squads, were actually ambushed by two foreign vampire Barons, and one heritage squad was almost completely annihilated! This is the greatest shame in Shadow Arrow history! Han Guowei, the 430 Work Group is under your direct leadership. Your Western Surveillance District has really brought honor to the whole country this time!"

A bald major general roared at the meeting table, slamming the surface, his face terrifyingly grim.

For a moment, almost all the old military officers at the meeting table showed meaningful expressions, whispering among themselves.

Sitting in the corner of the meeting table, Han Guowei, also wearing major general insignia and serving as Deputy Commander of the Western Surveillance District, pursed his lips and remained silent, only calmly stroking the teacup in front of him with his hand.

Unlike the silent Han Guowei, Wang Hongjun, the white-haired Major General Commander of the Western Surveillance District, had an iron-blue face, filled with indignation.

Wang Hongjun clearly wouldn't allow people from other surveillance districts to point fingers at his old partner, immediately standing up with a sorrowful expression.

"I trust Old Han and all members of the 430 Work Group. All their plans were made with utmost dedication! But our opponents clearly possessed more intelligence than we did, which led to the heavy casualties of the Embroidered Uniform Squad. We cannot deny the efforts and sacrifices made by all officers and soldiers of the Western Surveillance District because of this one setback!"

The Western Surveillance District Commander's words were forceful and resonant. After all, when it came to devastating defeats, every surveillance district leader present had experience. Over the past seventy years since the founding of the nation, which family hadn't experienced them?

"Enough! Today is not a denunciation meeting! This incident wasn't without gains. It further confirms that the X497.4.30 operation incident was a conspiracy lasting several decades and deeply connected with foreign vampire forces! All our strategic and tactical arrangements need to be adjusted accordingly!"

A lieutenant general at the head of the table stood up, first nodding slightly toward the two Western Surveillance District leaders, then addressing everyone present, defining the nature of the defeat from several days ago.

"I represent headquarters in announcing the formal dissolution of the 430 Work Group. All related intelligence and subsequent operational planning will be merged into the Special Classified Action Group directly under headquarters."

The lieutenant general's expression was solemn, his tone extremely low: "This Special Classified Action Group is directly led by headquarters, has no direct connection with any surveillance district, but its mission execution priority is higher than all work you have at hand!"

Upon hearing this, everyone present except Han Guowei looked stunned, especially Wang Hongjun beside him, who looked completely bewildered, as if hearing about headquarters having a Special Classified Action Group for the first time.

"Remember, seventy years ago, headquarters obtained top-secret intelligence from our former Soviet comrades. Vampire forces from some Western European countries were already brewing a mysterious global plan before World War I, and our country was included in it. So the headquarters leadership at that time established a Special Classified Action Group..."

"Wu Zhongxian! Please watch your words. You're saying too much. Be careful not to violate confidentiality!"

Han Guowei suddenly stood up, looking angry, as if Lieutenant General Wu, the third-ranking figure at headquarters, was revealing an incredible secret. His form of address became completely impolite.

"Old Han, don't worry. I'm just giving everyone a general idea. Now I can confirm that the difficulties faced by the 430 Work Group are directly related to headquarters' Special Classified Action Group. There's much to summarize from this failure.

"However, while I'm heartbroken, I'm also gratified. After all, nearly seventy years have passed, and the Special Classified Action Group has gone through several generations of comrades. Now we've finally received the latest clues. The blood of the sacrificed officers and soldiers of the Embroidered Uniform Squad will not have been shed in vain..."

Tears appeared at the corners of the lieutenant general's eyes, but his face remained resolute.

Once it involved headquarters-level core secrets, everyone present, including the bald major general, became solemn, their previous anger and indignation dissipating completely.

"Calling everyone here serves two purposes: first, to conclude the events from several days ago; second, headquarters will make appropriate adjustments to the core direction of upcoming work. As usual, the content of this meeting is subject to strict confidentiality discipline."

For the following hour, officials from various surveillance districts could only record meeting content mentally, leaving no written records.

After the meeting ended, Wang Hongjun and Han Guowei got into a special car waiting outside the building. In the car, Western Surveillance District Chief of Staff Zhen Guangquan was waiting.

Although Zhen Guangquan was also a senior leader of the Western Surveillance District, with his senior colonel rank, he still wasn't qualified to attend such high-level secret meetings, serving only as routine accompanying personnel to Beijing.

"Chief of Staff Zhen, the Western Surveillance District may have a mole."

Just after sitting down, Wang Hongjun said coldly: "Betraying from within, colluding with foreign vampire forces. They likely know we were executing a B-level mission—time, location, forces, everything clear. They even knew the pursuit targets were Xia Yan and Gu Yao!

"Two Rhine Blood Clan Barons forcibly turned our pre-selected battlefield into their home field."

After speaking, Wang Hongjun raised a hand to cover his reddened eyes. Since the D City operation several months ago, this was the second time the Western Surveillance District had suffered heavy casualties, with both heritage squads being crippled.

"Old Wang, although headquarters didn't announce other information about Xia Yan and Gu Yao as B-level mission targets for confidentiality reasons, the importance and value of striking them is self-evident."

Han Guowei also sighed deeply. Although his expression was much better than Wang Hongjun's, his tone was very harsh: "Someone is preventing us from pursuing Xia Yan and Gu Yao, otherwise there wouldn't be such targeted ambush arrangements. Zhen Guangquan, organize internal review work when you get back!

"Old Wang, I plan to suspend all members who participated in the 430 Work Group for investigation, including Meng Huai and Han Xiao... Headquarters will also have Wu Zhongxian investigate exactly where the operational plan leaked."

Han Guowei's words showed no favoritism, which was his consistent style.

"Old Han, just give Meng Huai leave. I've seen his medical report too. A child who risks life and death like that couldn't possibly have problems. As for Han Xiao, she's your biological daughter, and she's still lying in the hospital. You should understand her better than I do!"

Wang Hongjun immediately interrupted his old partner's next words. Meanwhile, Zhen Guangquan quickly took out paper and pen to carefully record the two commanders' latest instructions.

…

…

"Who told you to come see me? Get out!"

The fruit basket on the bedside table was thrown by Han Xiao toward the door, hitting the half-open door panel directly.

Her bloodless face, disheveled hair, and eyes full of bloodshot lines mixed with fear, despair, grief, and regret all showed Han Xiao's mental state, still not emerging from the nightmare.

For two full days, Han Xiao had been hysterical in the hospital room.

"I came to tell you the final casualty count. If you don't want to hear it, I'll leave."

Meng Huai stood at the door in neat military uniform, upright posture, expression unchanged.

"Hehe, Meng Huai, are you trying to get revenge for that scene several months ago when I similarly mocked you in a hospital room..."

Han Xiao turned her head away coldly, teeth clenched tight.

"I've met several members of the Han family. You're the first to have such extreme pride.

"The deployment plan should have been leaked. The opponent didn't necessarily guess your intentions but thought even more than you did."

Meng Huai walked to the bedside, pulled over a chair to sit down, and placed the fruit he was carrying on the small cabinet.

Han Xiao's body trembled slightly. She slowly lowered her head, gripping the bedsheet tightly with both hands. Two streams of tears fell on the quilt, soaking a large area, her throat choking continuously.

After a long while, Han Xiao finally murmured: "How many died..."

Meng Huai removed his military cap, placed it beside the bed, took out a paper from his pocket, and put it beside Han Xiao's hand.

"Post-battle statistics, not including the special team supported by the Central Surveillance District. Of the Embroidered Uniform Squad members who entered the medical building that day, totaling ninety-six people, thirty-five died on the spot, seventeen died despite rescue efforts, twenty suffered severe disabilities, and two were blood-infected.

"The blood infection rate from blood transformation is very low. This was already the best outcome..."

Before Meng Huai could finish, Han Xiao burst into tears again, hugging Meng Huai tightly with both hands, one fist pounding his back.

Looking down at the sobbing, trembling body in his arms, Meng Huai didn't know what to do and could only remain silent in a daze.

A female officer had just entered the hospital room and immediately saw the scene before her, quickly turning her head and backing out.

"Come in if you have business."

Meng Huai caught sight of Tao Qiao'er entering then retreating in his peripheral vision and said in a deep voice: "Is it that another seriously wounded soldier didn't make it?"

"Well, Commander Meng... Squad Leader Han... I just received a call from Chief of Staff Zhen..."

Tao Qiao'er stood somewhat awkwardly beside the bed, hesitating to speak.

"Just say it directly."

Meng Huai frowned slightly, gently supporting Han Xiao's body in front of him. Although she had stopped crying, she still kept her head buried in his embrace, unwilling to look up at anyone.

"The leadership announced that starting today, the Xuan Jia Squad and Embroidered Uniform Squad are withdrawn from combat readiness duty and transferred to routine training and preparation. Commander Meng is to be placed on leave, duration to be determined. Squad Leader Han is the same, mandatory leave..."

Tao Qiao'er's gaze wandered with a trace of panic. "The leadership has Deputy Squad Leader Zhao take over the squad's stationary base. I'm temporarily responsible for daily training of the Assault Company and Support Company... Commander Meng, is there anything you need to instruct?"

"Nothing special. I'll hand over to Deputy Squad Leader Zhao later... You should return to base quickly and focus on training. If you don't understand something, you can ask Chief of Staff Zhen."

Meng Huai remained expressionless, only nodding lightly, as if he had expected this.

Tao Qiao'er opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing, saluted, and left.

After the door closed, Meng Huai lightly patted the back of the woman in front of him: "The person's gone. Stop hugging."

Han Xiao secretly looked up, glanced around the room, and seeing no one else, blushed slightly but pressed her face against Meng Huai's chest again: "Now we're both fallen from grace... Meng Huai, pursue me, okay? I'm very easy to pursue..."

Seeing no reaction from him, not even a change in heartbeat, Han Xiao bit her lip: "If you don't want to waste time dating, we can get married anytime. We'll have two children later, but one must be a boy with the surname Han, otherwise my father's line will end. If they're both girls..."

Meng Huai remained unmoved. Han Xiao's face grew redder: "I actually..."

"Nurse's station, it's time to change Major Han's medication."

Meng Huai suddenly grabbed the bedside call button and said coolly.

Slap!

As soon as the words fell, Han Xiao, ignoring her injuries, straightened up and directly slapped Meng Huai across the face. The crisp sound even startled the medical staff in the corridor.

The room door was pushed open slightly, shadows visible, then quietly closed again after a few seconds.

Meng Huai didn't move, only staring quietly at the woman before him with her various uncomfortable emotions, as if that slap hadn't landed on his own face.