Old Lunse's sagging big-dog face darkened as he looked at Niu Wengduo, bound in chains and lying prone on the ground. He turned to glance at Ruger, then looked back at Niu Wengduo.
"You should be able to guess what that one is. Though vile Bloodline-infected cannot possibly inherit its bloodline, they were still born because of it." The laughter vanished from Old Lunse's big-dog face. "Yet after using it, you dreamed of easily purging it from your body. I always thought you were using that foolish girl Elena for experiments. Now it seems my judgment was wrong—you really are a fool who loves to dream."
Niu Wengduo rolled his eyes as well, but not because he found it amusing. He simply no longer had the strength to speak and refute his old friend.
He slumped sideways with his head hanging down. Only after resting for quite a while did he open his mouth again.
"Of course I'm not that stupid, nor am I that despicable as to deceive a little girl," Niu Wengduo said sharply. "When I collected the blood, that lord was there. He had come to see Elena, intending to take her away. When she came here to see that foolish boy, I was fortunate enough to exchange a few words with that lord. You know me—I'm bold... I gathered my courage and kept telling him about my ideas. That lord did not say much, but he seemed slightly interested. Before leaving, he even pointed at the blood I had collected..."
"It was he who guaranteed it to me. He said that blood had already been treated by him and would remain weakened forever, ensuring that it would not grow stronger over time or under the Blood Sun's rays, even within my body. Look at my teeth—they're