Chapter Forty-Five: The Fresh Beauty Like a Daisy

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The days as Sun Wukong’s junior brother came without warning. Liu Yunfei suddenly sensed movement inside the luminous jade slip—a peculiar phenomenon that had never occurred before, since it was a sealed realm, a simulated alternate space, and should not react to the outside world. Focusing his mind, he discovered that it was the Vampire King's Ring, a gift from Gao Renhou, emitting a strange radiance. From the seam of the red velvet box, a bright crimson beam shot forth.

Liu Yunfei took out the box and opened it. The ring glowed as if on fire, brilliant red light streaming in all directions.

"The Fangs Ring," murmured the ghosts, recognizing it at once. "Wonderful! After we became vampires, we inquired about it. If anyone uses the Fangs Ring, it can help us resurrect or reincarnate. But this treasure of the blood clan has vanished for centuries. To think, friend, you really possess the Fangs Ring?"

"I don’t know," Liu Yunfei thought. It turns out this ring only activates when it encounters vampire ghosts. No wonder Gao Renhou, who had studied it for so long, never unraveled its mystery. Gao Renhou never killed humans, so how could he know the ring’s true purpose?

"Quick, put on the ring and recite the incantation on its back. Recite it forward for resurrection, backward for reincarnation," the ghosts pressed, crowding around Liu Yunfei.

"This Sanskrit—I can’t read it." Liu Yunfei slipped on the ring, realizing the script on its back was incomprehensible. "Can’t you let him become human first, friends? Then I’ll help you. Hurry, the comet and the moon are about to align."

The ghosts exchanged glances. One said, "Very well, we trust you. We all heard last night’s conversation and know you’re honest and trustworthy. Please don’t let us down." With that, they joined hands, as if dancing some mysterious ritual, and instantly vanished, leaving the ground bright as midday.

"Thank goodness we made it! Harry, quick!" Liu Yunfei shouted.

He needn’t have called—Harry had already raised his hands, quietly repeating the incantation. At the instant the comet aligned with the moon, a soft white glow appeared above Harry’s head, slowly enveloping his entire body, then bursting outward like a wave.

"I did it, I did it!" Harry wept, embracing everyone, muttering, "I can grow now. My life truly begins today."

"Friend, we’ve done it. Please keep your word," the ghosts insisted, still surrounding Liu Yunfei.

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"My grandfather studied this for years. Call him and see if he recognizes those letters," Henry finally showed some cleverness. Grateful, Liu Yunfei looked at Henry and dialed, surprised that Gao Renhou could indeed read them. Liu Yunfei, wearing the ring, asked the ghosts, "Do you wish to resurrect or reincarnate?"

"If we resurrect now, others will treat us as monsters. It’s been so long—let us peacefully begin a new life."

Liu Yunfei extended the hand with the ring, holding the phone with the other, and carefully recited each letter as Gao Renhou dictated. "No reaction," he said.

"No, no, you little rascal! You mispronounced one sound. Read it again," Gao Renhou shouted from the other end.

Liu Yunfei repeated the incantation, but saw no change. Yet the ghosts already felt it. "Thank you, thank you," they said, at a loss for how to express their gratitude, repeating their thanks as the shadows gradually faded and disappeared. The graveyard returned to its deathly silence, and the Fangs Ring seemed to have spent all its energy, slowly dimming.

After such an ordeal, none felt like celebrating. Liu Yunfei led them back to Stockholm. Before leaving, he told young Harry, "A new life has begun. Cherish this one chance. Remember: good and evil have their recompense. By being kind, you save others—and yourself."

Liu Yunfei returned alone to the Florentine knight’s castle. After a day with the vampires, he found himself more able to savor life. With nothing to do, he’d sit in a reclining chair atop the castle, gazing at distant fields with a glass of rich crimson wine, flipping through books in Arabic and Italian. Occasionally, he would drive to museums and galleries in Florence to admire the works of renowned artists. During the European Renaissance, Florence was at its most glorious—Da Vinci, Dante, Michelangelo, and Galileo all gathered here, leaving behind masterpieces.

Looking at his garage, which resembled a luxury auto show, Liu Yunfei felt dizzy. He was not one to show off; the Chinese temperament favors moderation and restraint. He preferred dignified, understated cars like Bentley and Audi. Yet living in the knight's castle, he felt like a medieval adventurer. To fully embody the knightly spirit, he had to drive something as wild as a stallion. So, he chose the latest silver convertible Ferrari F612 as his steed.

Driving, the gentle wind caressed his face. The Italian radio blared boisterous rap songs. Under a sapphire sky, the roadside was lined with endless daisies, while the other side was a sea of lavender—the highway itself a boundary between golden yellow and purple. The air was filled with a delicate fragrance. Liu Yunfei rested his hand lightly on the steering wheel, eyes half closed. "What a beautiful life," he mused.

Suddenly, a ringing phone shattered his tranquil mood. He lowered the radio and pressed the Bluetooth headset.

It was Henry, calling to say that, after the old prince’s mediation, the palace guard had released Henry’s men, and Henry wanted to express his thanks. But after that, Henry lingered, reluctant to hang up, until he finally confessed: Hardy, having heard of the release from somewhere, called Henry. The two had met over a previous business deal, and while speaking, Henry accidentally let slip that Liu Yunfei was in Florence. Upon reflection, he felt uneasy and called to warn Liu Yunfei.

"What must come will come. Don’t blame yourself."

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Liu Yunfei then called Ovary, advising him not to go out alone and to call if anything happened. They agreed to meet in the afternoon to sample more dark beer. After a few calls, Liu Yunfei had entered Florence. Every afternoon these days, he would appear punctually at the famous Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. A Da Vinci exhibition was underway, with different masterpieces displayed each day.

Today, Liu Yunfei had meticulously combed his hair back into a mature style, exposing a high forehead. He wore slender black-framed glasses and a beige plaid T-shirt; one could easily mistake him for a very young university professor.

Liu Yunfei picked up the exhibition materials and lingered before today’s rare painting. In the past, he could hardly judge a painting’s merits, but now he could sense the artist’s creative intent.

"Excuse me, you’re standing on my materials," a gentle voice spoke beside him in Chinese.

Liu Yunfei turned to see a young Chinese woman smiling at his side. Her short hair framed delicate, curved brows reminiscent of the daisies by the roadside—not dazzling, but refreshingly lovely.

"Oh, sorry," Liu Yunfei quickly lifted his foot and handed the materials to her.

He seldom saw Chinese people in Florence, and such a beautiful Chinese girl for the first time. "Thank you, sir—do you speak Chinese?" she asked again, in Chinese.

"Oh." Liu Yunfei remembered he was now supposed to be an Arab. He was about to say he didn’t understand, but wouldn’t that reveal that he did understand? "What did you say? Please, could you speak English?"

"It’s nothing. Thank you," the girl replied in English and turned to leave.

Liu Yunfei was stunned, suddenly realizing how poor his skills at courting women were. Such a golden opportunity—he hadn’t even asked her name. By the time he tried to find her again, she had vanished.