A Father's Gift

Liu Chang'an looked into Mrs. Karnstein's bloodshot eyes, then looked away after a moment. Mrs. Karnstein's words were logical and consistent with Liu Chang'an's understanding of Su Mei. This was definitely something Su Mei was capable of doing.

However, he was never one to listen to only one side of the story. He needed to hear Su Nanxiu's explanation of the complicated relationship between Su Mei and Mrs. Karnstein.

However, it's unlikely that Mrs. Karnstein fabricated this entirely, since Su Nanxiu had already found him, so they would meet eventually, a fact Mrs. Karnstein was aware of.

"She's no longer called Su Mei; she's changed her identity to Su Nanxiu. Were you aware of that?" Liu Chang'an continued.

Mrs. Karnstein shook her head without hesitation. Even the closest and longest-standing partners could not possibly know everything that the other party did behind the scenes.

"Besides my reasons, what other reason does she have to deal with you?" Liu Chang'an said with absolute certainty. "If you were still of use to her, she wouldn't act so rashly. A living vampire, whether for scientific research or as an ally, is of immeasurable value."

Liu Chang'an is not easily swayed by emotions, and besides, he has no particular reason to favor either Mrs. Karnstein or Su Nanxiu.

He doesn't care about right or wrong, nor will he uphold justice, reward or punish anyone... as long as their struggle doesn't affect him or the people he cares about now.

"I'm truly of no use to her anymore. She's thoroughly studied me; she's transplanted my physical abilities into her own body." Mrs. Karnstein looked at Liu Chang'an, her voice seeming to be squeezed out with all her might. "Father, you must be careful of her. She'll treat you the same way she treated me. She's a cold-blooded and ruthless person, her heart filled only with her own desires and goals. Anyone who stands in her way or hinders her will be eliminated."

Liu Chang'an has always admired those brilliant geniuses in human history. Many things, ideas and discoveries are achievements that Liu Chang'an could not have accomplished with time and experience alone.

It's quite remarkable that Su Nanxiu was able to transfer Mrs. Karnstein's physical abilities into herself.

"I'm more complex than you think... I'm an unscientific life form." Liu Chang'an shook his head. "Are you really a vampire? Like in the legends?"

"I only possess a longer lifespan, stronger regenerative abilities, and the ability to control bats with my voice... Aside from that, I don't have any of the mythical abilities described in legends. I can't turn someone into a vampire just by biting them." Mrs. Karnstein smiled slightly. "The title 'vampire' only comes from the fact that when I first gained my new life, I needed blood to stabilize my mental and physical state... When I experience aging or damage, I can also recover through blood. However, I no longer directly consume blood, since the vast majority of blood is just water and impurities, with only a very small portion of extracts being useful."

So that's how it is. When I put my finger in her mouth earlier, I didn't touch her two sharp teeth. The image of a vampire isn't quite right... Liu Chang'an pinched his finger, recalling the feeling in her mouth.

It's a bit of a shame, I feel the legendary figures are more interesting... But Liu Chang'an also knows that even if these myths and legends are based on some mysterious phenomena and creatures in reality, they are often exaggerated and embellished at will.

Vampires are often associated with sharp fangs that can leave deep bite marks on the necks of those they feed on. Many vampire movies depict the wounds of humans attacked by vampires as unusual bite marks.

The essence of this creature is actually a thirst for blood. Judging from this point of view, it's not wrong to say that Mrs. Karnstein was a vampire. Sharp teeth are merely a means to facilitate blood-sucking, not a manifestation of its true nature.

"You mean, after I saved you with my blood, your body developed abnormal conditions, as well as some abnormal psychological conditions, and it was during these abnormal times that you discovered that only drinking human blood could relieve these abnormalities?" Liu Chang'an continued to ask.

"Yes. At first, I always felt some indescribable urges within my body. My blood was flowing faster, my veins were expanding, bulging under my skin. My heart was beating faster and slower. Sometimes I felt extremely thirsty, and sometimes I had no appetite and wouldn't feel thirsty for days and nights. Accompanying these conditions, my mood fluctuated wildly, sometimes very excited, and sometimes lifeless... Even so, I was able to maintain a normal appearance and live my life as usual..." Mrs. Karnstein recalled, squinting her eyes. "But people who knew me well would notice my abnormality. Eventually, I left the opera house, lied that I was my father's girlfriend, gained Mr. Isaac's trust, and changed jobs."

"Isaac Newton?"

"Yes, that's the Mr. Isaac who, at the age of 19, listed 58 crimes he had committed in his life, including threatening his father and mother to set fire to the house and burn them to death."

"It's not exactly a lie. I have many girlfriends in London, but your actions when I was in trouble make you far more deserving of the title of my girlfriend than any of them. At least I was willing to use my own blood to save you... This isn't something I would do casually." Liu Chang'an nodded, as if telling someone else's story.

Mrs. Karnstein's mature face lit up with a hint of fervent joy as she continued, "Once, Mr. Isaac asked me to prepare an academic dinner for the gentlemen of the Royal Society, where they conducted a blood exchange experiment. I saw a test tube filled with blood... From then on, I probably became a real vampire, and my thirst for blood continued until the 1980s."

"So, Su Nanxiu... also known as Su Mei, has she also become a vampire?" Liu Chang'an understood. His blood could not only heal damaged bodies in some people, but could also cause mutations in others, such as the vampire in front of him... Su Nanxiu had been researching this kind of mutation, and now Su Nanxiu had probably mastered the basic principles of this mutation, and could even apply it to human clinical practice.

"Yes." Mrs. Karnstein looked at Liu Chang'an with a complicated expression.

"How difficult is her technology? What is the cost?" Liu Chang'an thought for a moment. If this technology were made public, everyone would know that the impact would be tremendous. But if we ignore the difficulty and cost and just discuss the consequences as if everyone could benefit, it would be meaningless... Liu Chang'an did not think that this was a simple technology that could meet the needs of the Volkswagen without too many restrictions.

"This technology has a fundamental condition that is the most important."

"Adaptive selection?" Liu Chang'an thought that was normal. It was impossible for everyone to be suitable. Just like the people who absorbed his blood, Mrs. Karnstein wasn't the only one, but she was the only one who mutated and became a long-lived vampire.

"Only women who have had relations with you, Father, received your other bodily fluids, or absorbed your blood are suitable for the use of this technology." As Su Nanxiu's longest-standing collaborator, Mrs. Karnstein was naturally very familiar with the details.

I see, that limitation is truly scientific.

Liu Chang'an thought about it and realized that there were actually very few people who could truly apply this technology.

Even if the conditions exist, it may not be necessary.

For example, Shangguan Dandan is suitable, but she has absolutely no interest in becoming a vampire. In her heart, she still considers herself the Empress Dowager, who is high and mighty in the empire, and probably looks down on vampires. Moreover, her coffin seems to be much more magical than any vampire transformation technology.

Qin Yanan is also a suitable candidate, but can she accept being modified by Su Nanxiu? She neither trusts Su Nanxiu nor sees any need for such modification.

In the end, it seems that Su Nanxiu only applied this technique to herself.

While Liu Chang'an was silently contemplating, Mrs. Karnstein pressed her fingers against the sides of the coffin, slowly sat up, and discovered the beautiful young girl lying on the coffin lid.

Mrs. Karnstein looked at Zhu Juntang's face, a slight smile playing on her lips. Of course, she knew who this girl was, but why was she here?

Liu Chang'an snapped out of his daze, noticing Mrs. Karnstein's gaze fixed on Zhu Juntang. He placed his fingers on her shoulder and explained gently, "She is the daughter of the Third Mistress, but not the biological daughter of the current Third Mistress. Settle your scores if you have any, but don't cause trouble for this little girl."

"I understand, Father. I know her identity, but she doesn't recognize me. She doesn't seem to be your woman either? I feel that her body is very beautiful and delicate, but I don't have that feeling of closeness or desire to touch her." Many people think that there is a big difference in aesthetics between Easterners and Westerners, but someone like Zhu Juntang, with her looks and temperament, will not be affected by aesthetic differences at all. Even Mrs. Karnstein would think that she is qualified to be a beauty that Father cherishes.

"She's my fat sheep." Liu Chang'an glanced at Zhu Juntang, who was lying quietly on the coffin lid. When the fairy wasn't speaking, her tranquil temperament did give people a much better feeling.

But when he thought of how lively and energetic she was when she was awake, Liu Chang'an felt no romantic feelings for her whatsoever.

"A fat sheep?" Mrs. Karnstein smiled faintly, seeking Liu Chang'an's opinion. "I feel I've recovered. May I come out?"

"Certainly."

Liu Chang'an watched her get up. Mrs. Karnstein was wearing a gold-embroidered dragon and phoenix skirt, a traditional Han Chinese skirt with a strong ancient style. This style of skirt is not only passed down as Hanfu, but traces of it can still be found in the traditional clothing of the Miao and Dong ethnic groups today.

The dress's fabric is lustrous and soft, and when paired with the seascape, rock formations, and dragon and phoenix patterns, it exudes elegance and luxury.

It is quite rare for a Western woman to wear such a dress with just the right amount of elegance, rather than making it look like a bizarre or outlandish outfit.

Mrs. Karnstein kicked open the coffin wall and stepped down, bathing in the moonlight. At this moment, her fair and delicate skin gradually took on a soft pink hue under the moonlight.

The moonlight seemed to flow over her skin, and the bats, which had been quiet, began to stir again. But after she moved her lips and tongue slightly and sang a strange and beautiful song, they returned to a silent stillness.

Mrs. Karnstein lifted her skirt, knelt down, and bowed her head.

Liu Chang'an stood right in front of her and did not stop her. He could accept any respect or admiration shown by someone who knew his identity; there was nothing for him to avoid.

"Was your survival part of your plan, or just pure luck?" Liu Chang'an raised his hand, gesturing for her to stand up.

"It's all thanks to Father's favor." Mrs. Karnstein had just stood up when she quickly knelt down again. "Father, I never imagined I could scheme against you, much less that you would come to appear before me."

"Then explain why your bat just happened to find me when you were on the verge of death." Liu Chang'an calmly looked at Mrs. Karnstein, whose expression showed panic.

There are no coincidences in this world. Not too early, not too late, just at the exact moment when she was about to die if he didn't act, he arrived at the top of Elephant Nose Hollow Mountain.

"Father, my only wish has always been to find you. How could I bear to die with my wish unfulfilled? How could I risk such a great danger to lure you to save me?" Mrs. Karnstein's chest heaved rapidly, her bloodshot eyes calmly fixed on Liu Chang'an's. "I was originally under Su Mei's control, but recently, for some unknown reason, she relaxed her surveillance on me, which gave me a chance to escape..."

Her panic just now wasn't because her lie had been exposed, but because she was concerned about his misunderstanding.

"There's a possibility that she deliberately let you escape," Liu Chang'an said after giving a nod.

Mrs. Karnstein gave a cold smile. There was no doubt that if Su Mei had deliberately let her escape, she certainly didn't have any good intentions.

"After I escaped, I came here. There's a magical magnetic field here that amplifies my ability to control bats, so I sent a swarm of bats to Junsha, hoping they would attract your attention and that you would come after me... This may all be part of Su Mei's plan, but for me, it's just a last-ditch effort." Mrs. Karnstein's eyes flickered with emotion as she unconsciously grasped Liu Chang'an's hand and gently stroked it against her chest. "Thank you, Father, you've given me a new life, allowing me to feel your warmth again."

Liu Chang'an then noticed that Mrs. Karnstein's hands and skin felt slightly cool, as if her body temperature had dropped. This was probably a characteristic of vampires.

What are your plans next?

"I don't know." A hint of confusion flickered in Mrs. Karnstein's eyes. "I originally thought that after finding my father, I would stay by his side. But I know that after all these years, my father has no lingering feelings for me, whom he met by chance, nor does he need my company."

"Yes." Liu Chang'an didn't have the habit of coaxing women to make them happy out of pity, but his tone remained gentle. "I have my life, and you can have yours. Many things are like this; only after you've truly achieved them do you realize they're not what you imagined."

"Should I leave this country?" Mrs. Karnstein forced a smile.

"Actually, I'm still very happy to have met you," Liu Chang'an explained. "What I mean is, we can interact like normal people; it doesn't mean I want you to disappear."

"Will I ever see my father again?" Mrs. Karnstein's smile was as beautiful as a withered flower petal that had been soaked in water and bloomed anew.

"We've known each other for hundreds of years, why can't we?" Liu Chang'an smiled. "I just don't want you to become like Su Mei... She wanted to make me her possession. That's what I can't accept. If it's just like normal interpersonal relationships, calling each other occasionally, having a meal together, meeting up occasionally, and catching up on things we haven't seen in a long time, why can't we?"

"Father, you have a gentle heart, more compassionate than God the Father." Mrs. Karnstein knelt down again and kissed Liu Chang'an's hand.

"You can continue doing some of the things you used to enjoy... for example, you can take back what Su Mei took from you." Liu Chang'an needed to find something for Su Nanxiu to do.

When she was the "Third Mistress," she would leave Junsha from time to time and travel all over the world. Recently, however, she has settled down and seems to be going to live and study in this city under the identity of Su Nanxiu.

It wasn't because she discovered that Liu Chang'an was actually Ye Chenyu that she settled down.

Most likely, it's because Su Nanxiu has won over Mrs. Karnstein; she has everything under control and has achieved her original plan... Now she's starting to execute her new plan under the identity of Su Nanxiu.

Su Nanxiu's current goals and plans are very likely related to Liu Chang'an, which is a bit of a headache for Liu Chang'an.

We can't let Su Nanxiu be so comfortable.

"Is she a burden to your father?" Mrs. Karnstein understood the hidden meaning in Liu Chang'an's words.

"It's not exactly a nuisance, she's just a bit annoying." Liu Chang'an waved his hand. If it were truly a nuisance, he would handle it himself.

"I'll make it impossible for her to continue harassing Father without distraction." Mrs. Karnstein glanced at Zhu Juntang, who remained motionless. "Actually, she did say that she's starting to groom Zhu Juntang as her successor, and she wants to extricate herself from many affairs."

Liu Chang'an glanced at the heir, Zhu Juntang, and almost laughed, but held it back.

"My first step is to investigate the mysterious person who has had frequent contact with Su Mei." Mrs. Karnstein frowned slightly. "I trusted her too much before and never questioned many things about her."

"Okay, you go ahead and get busy. Keep in touch when you have time." Liu Chang'an glanced at the sky; the moon was setting in the west, and dawn would break soon.

Liu Chang'an didn't ask any further questions about the "mysterious man" that Mrs. Karnstein. Since he was a "mysterious man," there was naturally no information about him that Mrs. Karnstein possessed. They could discuss it later.

Mrs. Karnstein bent down again, took Liu Chang'an's hand in hers, her moist, soft lips gently touching his fingers, and then left the small temple.

A swarm of bats followed behind her, blurring her figure and blending her into the night.

Just as Liu Chang'an was about to wake Zhu Juntang, his phone rang.

Could it be Su Nanxiu? Generally speaking, when a conspiracy in a story is exposed, the mastermind will make a mysterious phone call, revealing more information and forcing the male protagonist to take the next step.

Liu Chang'an then answered the phone.

"I am Pu Gengshou."

Liu Chang'an glanced at the phone number; it was probably some kind of VoIP call.

"Is something the matter?"

"I'll be waiting for you at the intersection of Liziwan Sanqiao Road and Xinpu Road in half an hour."

Pu Gengshou spoke with an air of confidence, seemingly unconcerned that Liu Chang'an would refuse to meet him.

"Okay." Liu Chang'an didn't ask any further questions.

"Aren't you going to ask me what's wrong?" Pu Gengshou was somewhat surprised by Liu Chang'an's decisiveness.

Let's talk about it when we meet.

"Alright, you're a straightforward person, we can make a deal."

"Um."

Liu Chang'an hung up the phone and didn't wake Zhu Juntang up again. Instead, he picked her up and carried her in his arms. It wasn't far from Elephant Nose Hollow Mountain to the intersection of Liziwan Sanqiao Road and Xinpu Road, so Liu Chang'an wasn't in a hurry. He ran, jumped, and walked slowly until they arrived at the designated location.

It was still dark, Zhu Juntang was dressed in a white dress. Carrying her like that was a bit scary. In some places, Liu Chang'an was worried about encountering ninth graders or senior high school students who were rushing to school early in the morning. He was very careful not to scare anyone. After arriving at the location, he found a landscape stone and placed Zhu Juntang behind it.

The darkest hour before dawn had passed. This area was in the suburbs and was not covered by ubiquitous surveillance cameras. Only a few dump trucks drove by. Liu Chang'an soon saw Pu Gengshou slowly walking over.

"Does anyone else know we met?" Liu Chang'an asked.

"Of course not." Pu Gengshou revealed a sly smile.

So Liu Chang'an killed him.

After handling the aftermath efficiently, Liu Chang'an carried Zhu Juntang to the roadside by the river. By then, it was already dawn, and it was impossible for Liu Chang'an to carry her and hop across the entire city to the rooftop of the Baolong Center in the most bustling part of the city center.

After waking Zhu Juntang up, Liu Chang'an supported her and waited until she regained her ability to stand before letting go of her. Then he put his hands in his pockets and looked at her.

"How did I get here?" Zhu Juntang looked around, somewhat confused, as she looked at Liu Chang'an.

"I was jogging past here this morning and saw someone leading you around on a rope, making you eat grass. I chased that person away, and as for anything else, I don't know anything else." Liu Chang'an looked at Zhu Juntang with a puzzled expression. "Is the grass tasty?"

"What?!" Zhu Juntang was shocked. She opened her mouth and spat, then paused for a moment before coming to her senses and staring at Liu Chang'an: "How is that possible! Do you think I've lost my memory? Last night you ran upstairs to my house, then carried me up the mountain, and we even saw a vampire!"

"You must be dreaming." Liu Chang'an looked at Zhu Juntang with a strange expression. "This dream is quite odd."

"And... where are my big breasts?" Zhu Juntang reached out and grabbed her chest, staring at Liu Chang'an with a look of panic.

"When did you have that?" Liu Chang'an touched Zhu Juntang's forehead. "You ate too much grass and got a fever?"

"I have... I have... my big breasts..." Zhu Juntang was heartbroken after accepting reality. "I clearly remember... I clearly remember... last night on the mountain, my big breasts grew out, and you tried to rape me, so you knocked me unconscious..."

"Neuropathy."

You still call me your Immortal Sheep!

"You really do eat grass."

"Ah... Liu Chang'an! I'm going crazy!" Zhu Juntang exclaimed in exasperation.

"Alright, let's go back."

"Oh right, last night I was playing in the water on the rooftop when you came up here..." Zhu Juntang recalled what happened last night, telling Liu Chang'an as she spoke. Was this man out of his mind, or was he deliberately trying to fool her?

"Then you must be sleepwalking." Liu Chang'an took out his phone and called Zhong Qing to ask Zhong Qing to come pick him up.

Liu Chang'an called Zhong Qing and sent Zhong Qing the address. During this time, Zhu Juntang remained quiet. After he sent the address, Zhu Juntang glared at Liu Chang'an again. "Don't lie to me! I'll check the security footage when I get back! There are security cameras around my pool!"

Liu Chang'an then laughed; teasing children is always so fun.

"You... you old geezer!" Zhu Juntang so angry when she saw his smile that she punched him dozens of times until she was out of breath and had no strength left. She leaned against the roadside railing and glared at him angrily.

"If you curse me again, I won't take you out to play next time something like this happens," Liu Chang'an threatened.

"You... Hmph..." Zhu Juntang stomped her foot in a huff, then turned around and smiled again, "Take me with you!"

"Call me Grandpa."

"Grandfather!"

What are you to me?

"Immortal Sheep!"

"Good boy." Liu Chang'an raised his hand.

Zhu Juntang immediately turned her head obediently and placed the top of her head under Liu Chang'an's palm. Liu Chang'an gently stroked the obedient Immortal Sheep.

"Last night, that drop of my blood had such strong life force that it affected your physical condition. I had to knock you unconscious immediately, otherwise your brain would be impacted, causing all sorts of hallucinations and ultimately damaging your nerves," Liu Chang'an explained, to prevent her from constantly asking him for his breasts.

"An illusion? You mean, I saw my breasts grow, and that was an illusion?" Zhu Juntang felt that this was the key point.

Liu Chang'an sensed her deep sorrow, and to offer comfort, he nodded very gently.

Zhu Juntang looked down at her chest, hugged herself, and stared sullenly at the flowing river in front of her.

What does your chest look like? It's just like a river of spring water flowing eastward, the river without waves or ripples.