An angel appeared.

The next day, Qiao Wei took Xiaoxiao by the hand and stepped outside, discovering that Luo Chen and Luo Xuan had already buried all the villagers as she had requested. When Luo Xuan saw Qiao Wei emerge, he complained, “Qiao Qiao, Luo Chen and I are the most noble of the blood clan, you know, and yet you had us bury corpses all afternoon yesterday. If word got out, it would be utterly humiliating.”

Qiao Wei replied earnestly, “It’s about respect for the departed. Brother Luo Xuan ought to be proud of that.”

Luo Chen’s face was cold as his gaze turned to Xiaoxiao. “You little brat, don’t be so glib. Are you planning to bring that one along too?”

Qiao Wei’s expression darkened, and she answered him disapprovingly, “Her name is Xiaoxiao. I won’t leave her behind here on her own.”

With a touch of sorrow, Qiao Wei looked at Xiaoxiao’s frail appearance and gently patted her shoulder. Xiaoxiao pleaded softly, “Brother, please don’t abandon me. Let me come with you and Sister, won’t you? I promise I won’t be any trouble.”

Before Luo Chen could reply, Rhine spoke up in annoyance, “Neither of you, Xiaoxiao nor Qiao Wei, can even protect yourselves. It’ll just be us looking after you—what a bother!”

Xiaoxiao walked over and tugged lightly at the hem of Rhine’s clothing, her eyes full of pleading. “Sister Rhine, please…”

Rhine’s face flushed, and she turned away awkwardly, stammering, “F-fine. Do as you like, tagalong!”

Qiao Wei was surprised—she hadn’t expected Rhine to agree. She was about to speak when Luo Xuan interjected, “We need to start searching for the box. Don’t waste any more time.”

“Yes…” Qiao Wei nodded. “At first I thought it was at the bottom of the lake, but since this place is connected, the box must be somewhere in the village.”

“You talk too much. Hurry up and sense where it is,” Rhine said impatiently from the side.

Qiao Wei didn’t respond, instead closing her eyes and beginning to meditate.

“A tree… very tall… the box is… in the crown of the tree!” Qiao Wei slowly opened her eyes and turned to Xiaoxiao. “Xiaoxiao, do you know where such a tree is?”

Something seemed to occur to Xiaoxiao, and she hesitated before replying, “There is one in the village, but the grown-ups told us not to go near it. They say a celestial being lives there, and it mustn’t be disturbed.”

Qiao Wei smiled and reassured her, “Xiaoxiao, lead us there. I only need to retrieve something—we won’t trouble the celestial.”

“Alright… then Brother and Sister can go inside, and I’ll wait outside,” Xiaoxiao agreed, taking small steps to lead the way. After a while, they reached the location of the great tree. The four of them entered the courtyard where the tree stood.

Suddenly, Rhine clutched her ears and cried out in agony before collapsing. Luo Xuan and Luo Chen also struggled to endure, covering their ears as cold sweat dripped down their faces. Qiao Wei stared at them in shock, but then heard Luo Xuan gasp in pain, “What a horrible… sound…”

“Evil vampires! How dare you set foot here!” A radiant angel appeared above the tree’s crown, her face filled with hatred.

“I’m sorry—we only came to find the Secret Casket. If we have disturbed you, please forgive us!” Qiao Wei said sincerely to the angel. The angel descended from the treetop and stood before Qiao Wei, her gaze growing even sharper. “You are my descendant!”