It hasn't even been a year, yet in Lin Luo's memory, it felt like an age ago. After everything he'd experienced in the worlds of Demon Ban and Type-Moon, even though the God War remained a source of vigilance, he seemed to have completely forgotten that formidable Yujie known as Gui Qu Lai Xi.

Lin Luo could never have imagined that the person sending Lorelai Ya back from ten years in the future would be this formidable presence. However... interfering with time using supreme divine power, crossing the past and the future to allow two beings to coexist in the same temporal window—this was a miracle that even the First Magic of the Moon World likely couldn't achieve. But if it were Gui Qu Lai Xi, then it could perhaps be understood.

At least, among all the beings Lin Luo had encountered so far, none could compare to her. Even Gaia and Alaya, he felt, would likely rank beneath Gui Qu Lai Xi.

After all, those who participated in the God War could traverse various parallel worlds and even snatch combatants away from Gaia. To suggest Gui Qu Lai Xi was inferior to Gaia would be an absolute farce.

Lorelai Ya had departed. She arrived softly, bringing a jade pendant, and left dramatically, leaving behind a multitude of unanswered questions. Well, though it sounded somewhat inauspicious, Lin Luo wasn't overly worried. Since Gui Qu Lai Xi was the mastermind behind the scenes, she wouldn't allow Lorelai Ya to come to any real harm; she was probably just forcibly sent back ten years.

But speaking of which, the last thing Lorelai Ya said couldn't be ignored. The next world... what dangers would it hold?

"Lin Luo..." Just as Lin Luo was frowning in deep thought, a faint voice suddenly sounded near his ear. Following the sound, he saw a face of unparalleled beauty. Though her face held an intoxicating smile, Lin Luo could not summon a single one of his own... Lorelai Ya hadn't just left behind questions; she'd left behind a mountain of trouble.

"Um... Your Highness, it's a misunderstanding, truly, all a misunderstanding," Lin Luo thought, tears streaming down his face.

"Is that so? I hardly think there's any misunderstanding between us," Princess Ji Jun approached Lin Luo slowly, wearing an 'amiable' smile. Then, her flawless, snow-white hand reached out gently toward his face. "I just want to know, why do you know so many of my secrets?"

"I honestly don't know," Lin Luo replied with a pained expression.

"You don't know?" Hei Ji sneered repeatedly, twisting his ear hard with that hand, threateningly. "Do you think you can fob me off with just 'I don't know'? If you didn't know, how would that woman know?"

Lorelai Ya, you wicked thing, you've ruined me.

How was he supposed to answer that question? Although Lorelai Ya claimed she had told Hei Ji all the secrets herself, the secrets Lin Luo knew were ones he'd heard from Lorelai Ya. So, who told whom first? This was as unsolvable as the eternal riddle of 'which came first, the chicken or the egg?'

"This isn't fobbing you off; I genuinely don't know! Think about it, when I first met you, I didn't even know who you were, so how could I possibly know your secrets?" Feeling the burning pain in his ear, Lin Luo desperately wanted to cry.

"Hmm..." Hei Ji tilted her head, contemplating for a moment. Things did seem to align with what Lin Luo was saying; he hadn't known her at the start, much less her secrets. But—

"I won't pursue the reason why you know for now, but you actually told that wretched woman my secrets! How do you think we should settle this?"

With her power, secrets concerning physical privacy like hers absolutely could not be known by anyone who wasn't extremely close. Yet Lin Luo knew them in ten years. What did that imply? Setting aside what their relationship might be like in a decade, he had revealed all her secrets to that detestable sorceress—who was her enemy! That was the fundamental reason for Hei Ji's fury.

"Uh, well..." If this situation involved anyone else, Lin Luo would instantly say: That kind of scum, just chop them down.

But the person involved was him now, and this involved events ten years in the future. Who knew if there were extenuating circumstances or necessities he was forced to comply with? To pass judgment now would be far too arbitrary.

"Well, we cannot prematurely judge future events; that would be unfair. I think..."

"Do you think we should only pursue responsibility after the event has occurred?" Hei Ji asked with a darkened face, speaking sternly. "In any case, I won't let this matter slide. I must punish you properly!"

"..." Lin Luo felt tears welling up without any recourse.

"Ah... I've got it! I have a wonderful idea!" After a few minutes, Hei Ji suddenly shouted, a thick smile flashing in her eyes as she gazed at Lin Luo with ill intent.

Lin Luo felt a chill down his spine, sensing a bad omen. "That... your idea is?"

"Doesn't that hateful sorceress absolutely despise Dead Apostles? So, I just need to turn you into my Dead Apostle, and then nothing will be a problem anymore... Haha!" Hei Ji seemed delighted, laughing cheerfully.

Damn it all.

Lin Luo couldn't laugh at all and decisively shook his head. Becoming a Dead Apostle meant he'd have to be drained of blood first! What a joke. Humans drained by Dead Apostles usually died; the chance of 'dying and being reborn' as a Dead Apostle was barely one in a thousand. Putting aside what would happen if he became one, he couldn't guarantee he would successfully 'die and be reborn.'

Just as he was about to move, Hei Ji had already snatched his arm with lightning speed. Instantly, Lin Luo felt his entire body go limp, unable to exert even a sliver of strength, unable even to speak. His body softened like a noodle and slumped onto Hei Ji.

"Your refusal is useless; I've already decided to make you my Dead Apostle. You can rest assured, I am a hybrid of a True Ancestor and a Dead Apostle, the ruler of blood and contract. Anyone who forms a contract with me is guaranteed to become a Dead Apostle. If you behave, I will treat you very well too."

Saying that, she opened her mouth and lunged toward Lin Luo's neck.

The next moment, Lin Luo felt two sharp fangs pierce his neck, and the blood inside his body flowed uncontrollably outward. He felt groggy, as if submerged in a cloud of mist... Lin Luo had always thought being bitten was very painful, but now he suddenly realized it wasn't painful at all; in fact, it was... incredibly pleasurable.

'Enjoying' the euphoria of soaring through the clouds, Lin Luo quickly lost consciousness...

...

The very instant Lin Luo 'died' as Hei Ji drained his blood, thousands of miles away in Fuyuki City, at the Tohsaka residence.

On the first floor of the Tohsaka mansion's main hall, a small loli with twin black pigtails was struggling fiercely with an oversized suitcase. Although she seemed to be using every ounce of strength she possessed, the case, which weighed nearly twice as much as she did, remained stubbornly immobile.

This was Rin Tohsaka.

"Ugh, damn it! When I dragged this case last time, it wasn't this heavy! Why is it like this now?" Rin was half-collapsed on the case, panting heavily.

"Need a hand?" A faint voice drifted over.

"You jerk!" Hearing this, a blue vein immediately popped on the loli Rin's forehead. The exhaustion on her face instantly morphed into intense anger. She pointed