Chapter 127: The Raging Torrent and the Possessed Spirit

Alone face to face, Lin Xiao felt rather restrained, unsure of what to say. After a moment’s thought, he took out the blood crystal of the Vampire Marquis he had obtained last time from his inventory and handed it to Zoe, reminding her to keep it safe and not let Stefan or Duke Karen see it.

The reason he hadn’t forged it into a complete piece of equipment before giving it to Zoe was that he wasn’t sure if she needed the gear. It was better to give her the blood crystal directly and let her decide how to use it. If she lacked materials, he would help.

Zoe smiled and accepted the blood crystal, then threw herself into his arms, whispering in his ear:

“Trying to make up for my first kiss with a piece of extraordinary material? Am I that cheap?”

“No, to me you are priceless. Even if I pluck all the stars from the sky, it wouldn’t be enough to buy your first kiss.”

Zoe giggled, pushed him away gently, and grinned:

“Consider yourself sensible. They’re all outside, and I don’t want anyone to suspect. You should get some rest now.”

With that, she opened the door and stepped out, closing it softly behind her.

Whew!

Lin Xiao exhaled deeply, a foolish smile spreading across his face like a lovestruck fool as he lay on the bed, his mind filled with Zoe’s voice and smile.

For someone like him, who had been single all his life, this was his first romance. With no experience at all, he could only rely on forcibly stolen kisses and giving gifts—methods learned from movies and TV shows. Heaven knew if she would find it annoying.

Lost in these wild thoughts, he soon fell into a deep sleep, utterly exhausted from the continuous battles.

After traveling for two straight days, when Lin Xiao finally regained his strength, the yacht had already crossed Lake Erie and was sailing along the Niagara River, where Lake Erie meets Lake Ontario.

Here lay the world-famous Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls is one of the six most iconic natural wonders of America. It is formed where the Niagara River plunges into a valley fault, descending sharply from an elevation of 174 meters to 75 meters. A limestone cliff spans the riverbed, and the abundant waters of the Niagara River rush over it, creating a mighty cascade with thunderous roar.

Of course, they would not be falling over the falls themselves. Next to the waterfall was a ship lock for navigation, allowing vessels to pass safely without going over Niagara Falls.

Lin Xiao stood on the yacht, staring at the falls not far away. Zoe and the others stood beside him. Barbara excitedly said:

“I’ve wanted to visit Niagara Falls for so long, but my parents thought it was too expensive and never brought me here. Today, I finally see the falls.”

Barbara’s family was not middle class; her parents were ordinary wage earners. In the original storyline, her parents had to sell their house to find her and deal with lawsuits, so their living standards were modest.

Number 11 also looked excited and tugged at Zoe’s hand, eager to fly over and admire the falls, but Zoe quickly stopped her, joking that the area below the falls was crowded with tourists. Flying openly like that would definitely expose their identities.

“Why can’t we reveal our identities? We’re not going to do anything bad,” Number 11 asked, puzzled. She felt that since everyone had supernatural powers, revealing themselves wasn’t such a big deal.

“The reason is simple, little one—fear. They are afraid of our powers. Once our identities are discovered, they will hunt us down.

“You witches share a fate similar to ours vampires—both are despised outcasts. In the dark Middle Ages, witch hunters hunted witches relentlessly; tens of thousands were burned at the stake, not to mention countless innocent victims.”

Duke Karen explained calmly. Essentially, they were all supernatural beings, different from ordinary humans, making them half a kindred.

Zoe and Misty’s expressions turned solemn. Duke Karen was right—the reason they concealed their identities was indeed for safety.

They possessed supernatural powers, yes, but human technology was no less advanced. Modern armies were equipped with the most advanced weapons, capable of destroying the Earth multiple times over.

If they were exposed, they would become targets for hunting. Although they would no longer be burned at the stake like in the Middle Ages, they would be heavily monitored and lose their freedom.

Number 11 seemed to understand but still looked gloomy, recalling past experiences and sinking into a low mood.

Lin Xiao patted her on the shoulder to comfort her. This was the downside of having special powers: being different from ordinary people meant being feared and rejected by the normal world, forcing them to hide.

The yacht passed through the ship lock into the lower Niagara River. Their supplies, taken last time, were depleted, so Lin Xiao and Stefan went ashore to restock. Number 11 insisted on following, and Michael insisted on coming along too.

With no choice, the two had to bring them along to Niagara Falls town, where they bought supplies at a supermarket by the shore.

Number 11 and Michael found excuses to slip away and whispered intimately by the riverside. Their relationship had blossomed quickly during the recent chase, becoming a couple even more open than Lin Xiao and Zoe.

After purchasing the supplies, they returned and dined at a nearby restaurant. After three days without a hot meal, they were starving. Michael and the three vampires didn’t need to eat, so they stayed on the boat to keep watch.

After dinner, the group returned to the yacht to continue the pursuit. This time Lin Xiao took the helm, and Stefan went to rest, planning to switch shifts later.

They sailed upstream along the Niagara River into Lake Ontario. The followers of the Sanctuary Church pressed forward relentlessly, moving much faster than before, seemingly determined to shake them off.

Lin Xiao sat in the cockpit, hands gripping the wheel, his eyes fixed ahead. After three attacks, he was on high alert, wary of another ambush from the Sanctuary Church.

After five or six hours, night had fallen completely. Lin Xiao felt drowsy when a chill ran down his spine. He shivered and looked back; the yacht was quiet, everyone resting in their rooms or the lounge.

To take care of the women, they had rooms on the ship. Michael and Stefan slept on the sofa, while Duke Karen, the old vampire, claimed to be absorbing moonlight essence and rested alone on the deck.

“Strange… what’s going on? This feeling is like when we first entered the haunted house. Could it be… something dirty is lurking again?”

Having experienced it before, Lin Xiao was no longer confused. His senses did not deceive him; any disturbance in magic meant danger or some abnormal presence nearby.

He silently raised his guard, outwardly still steering the yacht but inwardly alert. His mind connected to the communication system, ready to draw out the Starry Annihilation Battle Axe or activate the Holy Light Chakra.

Soon, he faintly sensed the door of a cabin open. A shadow slipped out quietly and headed toward the cockpit. Under the bow’s light, he caught a glimpse of who it was—Barbara.

Lin Xiao’s head ached. Thinking Barbara was coming to bother him, he pondered excuses to get rid of her. But the girl entered the cockpit and lowered her voice:

“Hi, Jonathan, you’re too tired. Let me drive for a bit; you should rest.”

She moved closer, reaching for the wheel, her eyes flashing briefly with an almost imperceptible light.

Lin Xiao said nothing. Alerted, he didn’t relax his guard and quietly lowered his right hand, silently channeling magic.

“No need. I’ll drive. I have a strong constitution; I can go without sleep for several nights. When Stefan wakes up, he can take over. You should go back to sleep.”

Barbara’s expression darkened. She naturally moved behind him, one hand stealthily reaching toward her waist, where a bulging object resembling a pistol rested.

The moment her palm touched the gun, a hand glowing with holy light clamped fiercely around her neck. Lin Xiao, like a tiger unleashed, flipped her to the ground and shouted:

“Who are you? If you’re possessing her, get out now!”