Axolotl Translations

The moment Ruan Zhao heard those words, his eyes lit up—literally. They were so bright they almost blinded everyone nearby.

The squad members left behind looked at each other. Whatever they were thinking, they all had the same knowing expression. They’d noticed the boy hiding behind Lu Xingyao from the start. Even though he was clearly trying his best to shrink into the background, pretending he wasn’t there, he was just too noticeable.

His skin was paler and smoother than usual, his delicate features so perfect they seemed unreal. That tiny, fair face was half-hidden under Lu Xingyao’s dark trench coat. Even just standing there quietly, doing nothing, he naturally drew everyone’s attention. Some people are just born with that kind of pull.

And besides, he was with Lu Xingyao. That Lu Xingyao. The strongest agent in the whole Association. The guy who’d been number one on the “Most Difficult to Work With” and “Least Approachable” lists for five years straight. He was known for being cold, inside and out. Their own team captain had privately complained more than once, “He’s ice through and through. No one can get close. He’s gonna be single forever.”

And yet? Look at him now. Not only was Lu Xingyao no longer single—he’d somehow managed to keep it a secret all this time. Now he was openly stuck to someone, dragging them on missions, clinging to them like it hurt to let go, shoving his affection in the faces of his always-single coworkers. And to top it all off, that someone was unbelievably good-looking. Unforgivable.

Lu Xingyao, feeling the increasingly intense stares on Ruan Zhao, frowned a little. It was the kind of look that said he didn’t like others ogling what he considered his. He shifted sideways to block those vague, unreadable stares. Then, he adjusted his coat so it wrapped more tightly around Ruan Zhao, hiding most of that attention-grabbing face. Only those clear, lake-like eyes were still showing.

Next, he took Ruan Zhao’s arms and put them around his own neck, before wrapping one arm securely around the boy’s thin waist. The message couldn’t have been clearer. This was a very public claim of possession. He was letting everyone know, without apology: This person is mine.

“Hold on tight,” he said.

Ruan Zhao blinked, confused, but did as he was told. He wrapped his arms around Lu Xingyao. And in the very next second, he shot into the sky like a rocket. Not kidding, it actually happened.

He let out a surprised yelp. The sudden feeling of floating, the wind hitting his face, the tight squeeze in his stomach—it was unlike anything he’d ever felt. His heart dropped like it was trying to escape his chest, and he couldn’t breathe. For a scary moment, it felt like he was facing death.

Then, just as suddenly, his feet touched solid ground. Lu Xingyao had taken him to the roof of a really tall skyscraper, dozens of floors up. From there, they could see almost the whole city spread out below them.

Ruan Zhao’s already pale face turned even whiter. Even his legs started shaking uncontrollably. He clung to Lu Xingyao like a scared koala, burying his face in the man’s chest and refusing to even look down. If he weren’t so frozen with fear, he probably would’ve wrapped his legs around him too.

“You…” he choked out, his voice shaky. “Before you do something this crazy, can you please give me a heads-up next time?!”

Lu Xingyao replied calmly, “I didn’t think you’d be that scared.”

Of course I’m scared, Ruan Zhao grumbled to himself. Any normal person would freak out being suddenly thrown into the sky! What, did you think everyone was as fearless as you?

Lu Xingyao held him tighter, gently rubbing the back of his neck to calm him down. “Higher ground gives us a better view. It’s easier to track the fugitive this way.”

Ruan Zhao knew that. He wasn’t being unreasonable. If he were, he would’ve already made a fuss, demanding to be taken back down. But instead, he let Lu Xingyao bring him up here.

“Then hurry up and find them,” he mumbled, half-pouting, while burying himself even deeper into the man’s arms like a scared little kitten needing comfort. Being hundreds of meters above the ground had completely rattled him. He’d never realized until now just how bad his fear of heights was. His legs had turned to jelly. If it weren’t for the strong arm wrapped tightly around his waist, he would’ve collapsed to the ground already.

The man’s hug was warm and steady—like nothing in the world could hurt Ruan Zhao as long as he stayed right there. Feeling safe, Ruan Zhao gave a soft nudge, rubbing against him slightly as if trying to find an even more comfortable spot.

Lu Xingyao’s body stiffened for a brief moment, a reaction he couldn’t quite stop. It was like a small boat of calm caught in a stormy sea, almost flipping over from a wave of emotion. The person in his arms always had this strange ability to stir up his peace, easily, effortlessly.

But now wasn’t the time to lose control. He quickly pulled himself together, pushing back that odd urge, and focused on the job—scanning the tightly packed buildings below for any sign left by the vampire.

A black crow flying through the air, faint bloodstains on the sidewalk, signs left by Zhao Cheng’s team—nothing escaped his sharp, searching eyes. Then, a flash of deep blue shimmered in his half-closed eyes.

“Found him.”

Ruan Zhao’s arms tightened slightly. He asked in a small voice, “Are we heading down?”

“Mm. Hold on tight.”

The wind rushed past them again, louder and harsher this time, cold air stinging wherever it hit bare skin. The feeling of floating returned, stronger than before, pulling at his chest like invisible hands yanking at his heart.

But strangely, Ruan Zhao wasn’t as scared as he had been earlier. Maybe it was because he’d prepared himself this time. Or maybe… it was just because he knew he was still holding onto him. As long as he was there, he would be safe.

……

By the time they joined the fight, the battle was at its peak. Four or five teammates surrounded a wild vampire, trying to keep it from moving—blocking its attacks while also stopping it from escaping. They were spread thin, barely holding on.

Ruan Zhao knew himself well. He couldn’t fight, so the best thing he could do was stay out of the way and not become a problem. The moment his feet hit the ground, he quietly slipped to the side, tucked himself into a nearby corner, and made himself as small as possible.

Wrapped up in Lu Xingyao’s long trench coat, Ruan Zhao looked extra small as he crouched in the corner. From his hiding spot, he peeked out and gave Lu Xingyao a little fist-pump of encouragement.

Lu Xingyao: “Stay hidden.”

Ruan Zhao winked his left eye and gave him an “OK” sign.

Lu Xingyao really was impressive. The moment he joined the fight, the situation completely changed in their favor. The vampire, who’d been winning just moments ago, was now getting thoroughly beaten down.

Not that Ruan Zhao was just standing around either. He’d picked up a few small rocks from the roadside and, with the help of the system, started throwing them at the vampire in the middle of the fight. To do the most damage (or at least, annoy him), he carefully chose only the sharpest ones.

He tossed one. “Nah, that one’s too round. Not good enough.”

“Ah—this one’s perfect.” Toss!

Sure, he wasn’t strong enough to really hurt the vampire, and his throws were slow and easy to dodge, but… if they did hit, it was a huge insult. Just imagine it: a vampire barely dodges a deadly blow, breathes a sigh of relief—only to get hit in the forehead by a flying rock. And the next second? That same little ‘corner mouse’ peeks out again and throws another one—right in front of his face.

After two direct hits, the vampire completely lost it. He quickly found the source: a tiny figure crouched in the shadows, sneak-attacking with pebbles like some kind of crazy squirrel. His eyes narrowed into vertical slits, a chilling blood-red glow shining in their depths—wild, without emotion, like a beast zeroing in on its prey.

A low, threatening laugh escaped him—but before he could move to get revenge, Lu Xingyao was already there. The vampire didn’t even get the chance. The famous Hunter Association esper had broken his wrist in one quick move and put a prisoner’s collar around his neck. It was a special restraint. If the wearer even thought about attacking, it would release a painful jolt of electricity.

The vampire couldn’t accept that he’d been caught like an ordinary criminal. He started screaming and ranting in protest.

The vampire yelled loudly, cursing the Bureau of Supernatural Enforcement, the Hunter Association, and all of humanity. He declared that humans were naturally weaker—nothing more than blood bags and slaves. He claimed they weren’t even worthy of being compared to the superior blood race.

Lu Xingyao looked down at him, his gaze distant and cold—like he was staring at some tiny insect. Something he could crush at any moment if he felt like it. He waited patiently for the vampire to finish his last word. And then—under the vampire’s stunned, terrified eyes—he calmly broke the other wrist.

……

Once everything had calmed down, Ruan Zhao finally stepped out from his hiding spot. The main troublemaker behind the riot had been caught. No more trouble was expected. Ruan Zhao even saw a few of the other squad members taking the chance to give the captured vampire a few extra kicks while chaining him up.

“Is it over?” he asked.

Lu Xingyao nodded. “It’s over.” He had clearly noticed Ruan Zhao’s earlier pebble-throwing antics. “It’s all thanks to you, Zhaozhao. If you hadn’t helped from the sidelines, I wouldn’t have caught him so easily.”

Ruan Zhao, feeling that he’d done a good job, graciously accepted the praise. “Well, it’s only because he was dumb. Couldn’t even dodge a little rock.”

The vampire—who’d been knocked out by the electric shock collar—suddenly twitched and opened his eyes, just in time to hear that line. He looked up and saw Ruan Zhao’s face—striking and unforgettable. He froze for a second. Anyone from the higher blood clans would’ve recognized him instantly. The pampered, carefully protected youngest heir of the Ruan family—raised like a little prince in a sugar-spun world.

It wasn’t just his family’s status or his parents’ terrifying strength. Even among the blood clans known for their beauty, his face still left people breathless. The young vampire finally came to his senses. He never expected to see him here, in this kind of setting. And—what’s more—he seemed to be on very good terms with that famously ruthless hunter.

But… how could that be? Everyone knew how many vampires the Hunter Association had killed. Every one of them had blood on their hands. Even the ones who tried to get along with the Supernatural Bureau wouldn’t dare cozy up to hunters. His head, muddled by the electric shocks, couldn’t manage complex thoughts. So he simply asked the question burning in his mind.

“Ruan Zhao? Why is it you?”

Ruan Zhao, who had just been happily boasting to Lu Xingyao about how accurate his rock-throwing had been, froze the moment the vampire—half-unconscious on the ground—called his name with absolute certainty. The smile on his lips vanished instantly. Before he could respond, the vampire asked again.

“Shouldn’t you be sleeping in a coffin back at the castle? Why are you out here—clinging to a human?”

His words were too precise, too targeted. He knew Ruan Zhao’s name, knew what he looked like. He even spoke with the kind of casual familiarity that suggested this wasn’t just a random guess.

Everyone nearby turned toward Ruan Zhao. They stared at the stranger who had suddenly appeared at Lu Xingyao’s side—wearing the hunter’s coat, pale skin made even paler by the stark black fabric.

But unlike the last squad, whose looks had been filled with warmth and curiosity, this time the gazes were sharp. Cautious. Probing. Someone quietly tightened their grip on their weapon.

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