It turned out that Father Glen Myers, the principal of Xiaoxian's school, had a childhood friend and school sponsor—Mr. Edward Williamson. He was an internationally renowned mobile phone manufacturer and one of Sweden's top super-billionaires.
This wealthy Mr. Edward had an only son named Jonak, a young college student who was deeply fascinated by supernatural ghost stories and loved thrilling adventures.
A few months ago, Jonak suddenly wrote to his father, claiming that due to his yearning for the supernatural world, he had, by chance, decided to abandon his human identity and become a vampire, doomed to live forever in darkness.
Edward's reaction to this news was, of course, nearly fainting. Although, as a sponsor of a magical academy, he was no stranger to supernatural phenomena, he never dreamed his son would become a vampire.
Fortunately, in this enlightened 21st century, the existence of vampires was no longer shocking news. After repeated persuasion from Father Glen, Edward reluctantly accepted the fact.
Then, just over two weeks ago, a terrorist attack occurred in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. The victim was Conrad Huber, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Anti-Terrorism Sovereignty Committee.
He had traveled to the Netherlands to prepare for the upcoming International Anti-Terrorism Summit scheduled for early next month, but unexpectedly fell victim to an attack. A total of 22 casualties were discovered in the hotel room, including himself, five aides, and 16 security personnel.
The incident immediately shocked the Dutch authorities. However, after investigating the crime scene, the police unexpectedly found that the case was far from simple, filled with inexplicable and bizarre details, forcing them to temporarily seal off the information.
The victims' deaths clearly resulted from an unimaginably powerful force tearing them apart. Some even had tooth-like bite marks on their necks, and their bodies were drained of blood.
After the Dutch police requested assistance from the European Demon Extermination Organization's branch in the Netherlands, they quickly concluded that this was the work of a vampire group called "Dark Fangs."
As the name suggested, "Dark Fangs" was composed entirely of notorious vampires, many of whom were already wanted targets of the Demon Extermination Organization.
Their leader, Roger Balth, was a handsome vampire who appeared to be in his early thirties but was actually over 150 years old.
Of course, while that age would be considered quite advanced for a human, by the standards of vampires—who were ageless and immortal—it was still very young.
Upon learning that the perpetrators were not human, the Dutch authorities immediately commissioned the Demon Extermination Organization's exorcists to hunt down and eliminate the "Dark Fangs" members. Surprisingly, however, the vampire group seemed to have vanished into thin air, disappearing without a trace.
Since his son became a vampire, Mr. Edward had become particularly attentive to supernatural news.
Although the details of the terrorist attack in the Netherlands were tightly sealed, as one of Europe's top billionaires, uncovering such information was child's play for him.
What worried him most was that Jonak had once mentioned that the dark godfather who performed the "blood-turning ritual" to transform him from a human into a vampire was none other than the leader of the vampire group, Roger Balth.
Edward refused to believe that Jonak, who had always been gentle-natured, could be involved in such a terrorist act. He firmly believed his son was innocent, merely deceived by the vampires into joining this brutal and evil organization.
Fearing that Jonak might be hunted and killed by the exorcists dispatched by the Demon Extermination Organization, Edward urgently sought Father Glen's help.
After mobilizing all his intelligence resources, Father Glen discovered that the vampires seemed to have secretly infiltrated the country. Considering geographical and suitability factors, he immediately decided to send Xiaoxian back to handle the matter.
After Xiaoxian's explanation, I finally understood that her mission this time was to rescue a vampire who had strayed onto the wrong path.
"The task Father Glen assigned me is to investigate this case thoroughly. If Jonak is indeed innocent, I must safely return him to the Netherlands to face a public trial by the Demon Extermination Organization."
"What if he's involved?" I countered.
"Then there's nothing to be done. I'll have to follow the Demon Extermination Organization's kill order and eliminate him," Xiaoxian said coldly.
Hearing this, I couldn't help but break into a cold sweat. When Xiaoxian uttered the word "eliminate," her childish face showed no expression, as if she were talking about the most ordinary thing in the world.
If it had been her sister Xiaoling, she would have looked excited, but the most terrifying type was undoubtedly someone who could kill without batting an eye.
This made me wonder what kind of education Xiaoxian had received at her school—or was she just born this way?
Regardless, as the older one here, I felt compelled to offer some advice: "Vampires must be tough opponents, right? Be careful when you're carrying out the mission alone!"
But Xiaoxian shook her head and pointed at me with her tiny finger. "…I'm not alone. You're coming with me."
"Why me?" I exclaimed in panic.
"Because, as I already said, my attribute is that of a witch, so I'm not good at close combat. When I cast spells, I need a subordinate to protect me."
"But you don't have to pick me! I don't know any spells, I can't fight, I'm a coward, and I'm only good at running away. I'm completely useless—choosing me as your subordinate would just add dead weight."
To avoid this impending disaster, I had no choice but to swallow my pride and degrade myself into a worthless burden.
"If I had a choice, I wouldn't pick you either. But I'm pressed for time and don't have other options, so I'll have to make do. Besides, my sister said that if there's ever danger, I can just push you out as a sacrifice to buy some escape time," Xiaoxian said flatly, without a hint of guilt.
Damn it, you little brat! So that's your real plan! I gritted my teeth and cursed inwardly, my face involuntarily twisting into a frown.
"Uh, sorry, but I really can't help with this. You'd better find someone else," I said firmly, shaking my head to reject her request.
"…Is that so? Then there's nothing to be done." Xiaoxian sighed softly, seemingly ready to give up.
But I celebrated too soon. Just as I breathed a sigh of relief, Xiaoxian hopped off the bed, walked slowly to the desk, picked up the phone, and casually pressed a few buttons.
Then, in her signature childish voice, she spoke into the receiver: "…Hello, police station? I'd like to report a crime. Yes, yes! Someone just tried to molest an underage girl…"
Startled, I rushed over to snatch the phone from her, but in my panic, I acted too roughly and accidentally knocked Xiaoxian onto the bed.
I froze, my arms braced near her shoulders as I quickly pushed myself up from her chest. The situation had become even more awkward—if anyone saw us like this, no amount of explaining would clear my name.
That said, even though Xiaoxian was still a child, the sensation of pressing against her was oddly intriguing. Her petite frame felt soft and delicate, as if applying too much force might accidentally crush her.
Moreover, she carried a natural fragrance—a sweet-and-sour scent reminiscent of unripe apples, refreshing and delightful.
"What are you doing? Why are you stopping me from calling?" Xiaoxian lay half on the bed, blinking her bright eyes as if completely unfazed. She didn't even resist, instead fixing me with a puzzled look.
"Ahem, let's talk this over, my little princess! You mentioned something about being a subordinate, right? No problem at all! Hahaha… I'll even be your slave if you want." I slowly climbed off her, swallowing my earlier refusal and forcing a pained smile.
"Are you volunteering? I don't want to force you," Xiaoxian said, narrowing her eyes slightly, her face expressionless.
"Hahaha… Of course! You're definitely not forcing me. You're threatening—I mean, I'm volunteering…"
I cursed inwardly several times. This girl was undoubtedly Xiaoling's sister. Though she looked innocent and angelic, her cunning methods far surpassed her sister's. It seemed my days of misfortune were far from over.
Come to think of it, Western mages were quite troublesome—needing protection while casting spells. As for Xiaoling, who could both cast spells and excel in close combat, what kind of attribute did that make her? A magic swordsman?
Perhaps sensing my displeasure, Xiaoxian softened her tone to reassure me: "Don't worry. As long as we're careful on this mission, I think… there shouldn't be much danger."
"Shouldn't be?" Meaning there was still danger! My heart immediately started beating a retreat.
Xiaoxian then pulled out an ancient-looking parchment scroll from her pocket and handed it to me to sign.
I skimmed through it casually. The scroll was covered in dense foreign text and strange geometric symbols that resembled some kind of unknown incantation.
"What's this?"
"It's a standardized contract between a mage and their subordinate."
"There's even something like this? But… I can't understand any of the words on here."
"Of course, it's all in German."
A glint of excitement flashed in Xiaoxian's eyes, though she deliberately maintained a nonchalant tone as she urged me: "This standardized contract is just a formality. The terms don't really mean anything. Just sign it quickly."
Half-doubting, I picked up the quill Xiaoxian had prepared for me and signed my name on the scroll.
Once I finished, she carefully stored it away and said, "Alright! Now our subordinate-master relationship is officially established. As the master, I have the obligation to fulfill your wishes. As the servant, you must protect my safety and carry out my orders."
Curious, I asked, "What happens if someone doesn't comply?"
Xiaoxian replied with a dark expression, "Then the magic in this contract will activate, and you'll die…"
"What about you? Do you get off scot-free?" I pressed tearfully.
Xiaoxian fell silent for a moment before turning her gaze out the window, avoiding the question entirely. "…The sky looks so blue today."
Holy crap! Did I just sign a life-binding contract and board a pirate ship?
I immediately snatched the parchment back from Xiaoxian, trying to tear it apart with all my might. But no matter how hard I tried, the thin parchment remained intact. After exhausting myself in vain, Xiaoxian leisurely walked over and took it back from me.
"There's magic on it. You can't tear it by ordinary means," Xiaoxian said coldly, looking down at me with disdain.
"Has anyone ever told you that your attitude will earn you enemies?" I didn't dare get physical with her, so I could only grumble. Though I had a feeling I'd said something similar to her sister before.
But Xiaoxian didn't care at all. Puffing out her flat chest, she declared heroically, "I've long been prepared for this. Since I've chosen the path of the dark witch, a little sacrifice is inevitable."
Such lofty ambitions for someone so young were admirable, but the problem was… I was the one being sacrificed!
It seemed her school hadn't been wrong in classifying Xiaoxian as a witch—she truly was a wicked and black-hearted demon girl!
Seeing my tearful expression, Xiaoxian patted my shoulder consolingly. "Don't worry. As long as you obey me, nothing will happen. And if you have any requests, just let me know—I'll fulfill them if I can. Also, Xiaoling pays you 50 bucks an hour, right? I won't be as stingy. I'll pay you… 51."
"Hmph, how generous of you!" I sneered sarcastically.
"I'm glad you understand. No need to praise me further," Xiaoxian replied flatly, pretending not to notice my sarcasm.
"Who's praising you?! You little brat, one of these days, I'll hang you up and give you a good spanking!" I gnashed my teeth in frustration, not daring to say it out loud, but the thought alone was satisfying.
However, the perceptive Xiaoxian seemed to pick up on my thoughts. She held up the strange doll from earlier in her left hand and pressed a long needle against its chest with her right.
"…For some reason, I suddenly feel like stabbing this doll's heart," Xiaoxian said coldly, eyeing me with ill intent.
I immediately realized the danger. Memories of the strange curse she'd used to throw me around came flooding back. If that curse took effect now, I'd probably drop dead from cardiac arrest on the spot.
"W-Wait! My bad, Master! Princess! Please don't stab the needle in!"
My legs gave out, and I dropped to my knees, clutching her tiny legs and begging tearfully for mercy. At the same time, I shamelessly rubbed my face against her slightly raised chest, stealing a little advantage.
Though Xiaoxian's chest was flat, pressing my cheek against it revealed a faint softness and elasticity. That budding, youthful sensation sent my heart racing.
"…Enough."
Xiaoxian impatiently shoved me away, gripping my neck with her small hand as she warned coldly, "I hate scheming, two-faced people. If we want to maintain a harmonious master-subordinate relationship, I suggest you drop any rebellious thoughts."
Oh, really? What about you? This girl, like her sister, had absolutely no concept of "self-reflection."
Still, for the sake of my safety, I decided to let the thought slide for now. I'd find a way to settle the score later.
"Were you just scheming again?" Xiaoxian narrowed her eyes at me.
"Hahaha… No way! How could I? I was just thinking about what we should do first to deal with the vampires," I quickly changed the subject.
Xiaoxian nodded silently but gave me an unexpected answer: "…First, we sleep."
"Sleep?! Why?" My eyes widened in surprise.
"Because vampires are nocturnal creatures. Since it's still broad daylight, we'll have to wait until nightfall."
Fair enough. Since the princess had spoken, I had no choice but to obey.
Since this was my room, I smirked and climbed onto the bed, lying down beside her—partly to see how Xiaoxian would react.
But whether she was naturally oblivious or just fearless, she completely ignored me. Covering a yawn with her small hand, she hugged her strange doll and lay down to sleep as if I didn't exist.
"Hey, are you sure you want to sleep here? Be careful, or I might eat you!" I teased, whispering the threat playfully near her tiny ear.
But Xiaoxian showed no reaction, seemingly already fast asleep.
Now I was the one at a loss!
In this cramped room, lying next to an exquisite lolita beauty should have been every man's dream. Unfortunately, if I dared make a move, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Aside from Xiaoxian being a child, she was also Xiaoling's sister—and her personality was far more sinister, cold, and ruthless than her sister's. If I did anything inappropriate, I'd likely face unimaginable retaliation.
With a resigned sigh, I turned onto my side, propping my head on one hand as I stared blankly into space. Just then, Xiaoxian rolled over, curling her upper body into my embrace. A sweet fragrance of vanilla and milk wafted into my nose.
Gazing at her sleeping face, so childlike and adorable, she looked as pure as an angel. But why would someone so young choose the path of the dark witch?
Then again, perhaps it was better than growing up to be a bloodthirsty, money-grubbing exorcist.
Worried she might catch a cold, I carefully unfolded the blanket at the foot of the bed and draped it over her. With a mix of nervousness and restraint, I willed myself to fall asleep.
I don't know how long I slept, but when I opened my eyes again, the sky outside had darkened, and Xiaoxian was already up and gone.
The aroma of food wafted from the dining room. When I walked in, I found the large table laden with a sumptuous Western-style dinner. Xiaoxian was already seated, waiting for me to join her.
"You cooked all this? Impressive!" I complimented casually. "I wouldn't have guessed someone so young could cook like this."
Xiaoxian nodded silently and gestured for me to sit. "Eat quickly. We have a lot to do tonight. After dinner, we'll set off."
I obeyed immediately, sitting down and digging in. The dishes were delicious, though I wasn't very skilled with knives and forks, so my table manners were a bit messy.
Having lived in Europe for so long, Xiaoxian had adopted Western dining habits. She handled her utensils effortlessly and with perfect etiquette. Paired with her ornate dress, she truly resembled a princess from ancient Europe.
But looking at the lavish spread, I worried it might be too much for just the two of us. That concern was quickly dispelled. Since Xiaoxian was Xiaoling's sister, she naturally shared her sister's bottomless appetite.
The tableful of dishes was swiftly devoured by Xiaoxian. The most astonishing part was that she used her knife and fork with elegant precision the entire time—just at an unbelievable speed. What a gluttonous little lolita.
I couldn't help but feel sorry for her parents. If their eldest sister, Xiaoshen, had the same appetite, raising them must have been quite the ordeal.
After dinner, Xiaoxian wheeled out a large suitcase from somewhere.
The case was made of premium ebony, about half a person's height. It looked heavy, but thanks to the wheels, it was easy to push. With a handle on top, it resembled a small wooden cabinet.
"What's this thing?" I asked curiously.
"It holds my exorcism tools and some other essentials," Xiaoxian replied.
"I see." I nodded.
Xiaoling's exorcism gear had always been a bulky bag too, but Xiaoxian's was even more exaggerated. It made me wonder what strange artifacts were inside.
"Come here." Xiaoxian beckoned, suddenly spreading her arms toward me. "Lift me onto the case."
"What for?" I chuckled.
"Obviously to sit! I hate walking!" Xiaoxian rolled her eyes.
I couldn't help but laugh. This lazy little brat—now I understood why her toolbox was so big.
Following orders, I held her under the arms and gently lifted her petite frame onto the case. She was so light it felt like holding a doll.
But when I started pushing her, it reminded me of the Japanese manga Lone Wolf and Cub. The protagonist pushed a pram with his little boy inside—though in my case, it was a suitcase and a little girl.
As we stepped outside, the long road ahead wasn't lined with a marching band welcoming the grand departure of the Dark Witch Princess. But the twinkling stars against the night sky could pass for celebratory fireworks.
Xiaoxian sat comfortably atop the tall toolbox, her dark clothes blending into the night. Her slender legs, clad in white stockings, dangled over the edge.
Occasionally, her black shoes would tap against the hard wooden surface with a soft click, adding a faint rhythm to the silent night.
"Alright, where to first, my princess?" I asked as I pushed the case.
"First, we need to gather intel on the vampires. Since it's the new moon tonight, we'll head to the Ghost Market," Xiaoxian declared from her perch.
I'd heard of the Ghost Market before from Xiaoling. Originating in mid-Qing Dynasty Beijing, it was initially a night market for antiques but later evolved into a black market for all sorts of goods.
The Ghost Market operated only on moonless nights, where buyers and sellers gathered to trade, no questions asked. Deals were made silently—if you liked something, you left money and took it; if not, you walked away. By dawn, everyone would disperse, none the wiser about each other's identities.
The Ghost Market Xiaoxian mentioned operated similarly, though its location was secret and ever-changing. The items sold were far more bizarre—from firearms and smuggled antiques to rare animals, cursed artifacts, and even human organs. Anything imaginable could be found there—including information.
I'd only heard about it from Xiaoling and had never been myself. Today, under Xiaoxian's guidance, I'd finally get to see it firsthand.
True to its name, the Ghost Market had an eerie atmosphere.
Though it resembled a temporary night market with stalls and customers, its remote location and lack of lighting—coupled with the moonless night—made it unnervingly dark. Only faint silhouettes moved silently through the shadows.
An unsuspecting passerby might mistake it for a gathering of spirits and flee in terror.
Most visitors, whether buyers or sellers, adhered to the same principles: mind your own business.
Yet for some reason, as Xiaoxian and I passed by the stalls, many vendors couldn't help but stare at us.
Just as I was growing puzzled, an obese, grotesque-looking man sidled up to me and asked, "Excuse me… how much for the little girl?"
"Huh?" I blinked at him, too stunned to respond.
"Wait! Don't sell to him—I'll pay more!" Another bystander chimed in.
"No, no! Such a rare find shouldn't go to waste. Sell her to me—I'll outbid them both!" another interjected loudly.
Before long, the bidding war escalated, turning the quiet Ghost Market into a noisy uproar. Turns out, these lolicon perverts had mistaken Xiaoxian for merchandise. Given her doll-like perfection, she was undoubtedly top-tier.
Too bad they didn't realize this angelic-looking girl was actually a cold-hearted, scheming Dark Witch Princess!
Judging by how she'd tricked me into signing a life-binding contract, her cunning far surpassed Xiaoling's. Taking her home would be inviting endless trouble.
"Hmm, looks like you're quite popular, my little princess. So… how much do you think you're worth?" I teased, amused by the chaos.
"…Idiot. Do you have a death wish?" Xiaoxian glared, her delicate brows knitting together.
Seeing her anger, I quickly dropped the joke and addressed the crowd sternly: "Sorry, folks. My little princess isn't for sale. Give it up."
"How can that be?! If you're at the Ghost Market, you have to trade something! Are you just here to window-shop?" The mob grew agitated, blocking our path angrily.
"Then what do I have to do for you to let us go?" I asked helplessly.
After some discussion, the fat man who'd spoken first handed me a white apron and a spatula. "Then… then… can you have the little girl wear this apron and say to me, 'S-Sorry, master… I burned dinner…'"
"Uh…" Black lines formed on my forehead. What kind of request was this? Glancing at Xiaoxian, I saw her looking equally confused.
With no way out, I sighed and begged Xiaoxian, "Just do as they say. Otherwise, we might not leave here alive tonight."
Perhaps because she'd lived abroad for so long and rarely encountered such perverts, Xiaoxian frowned, her cute face reluctant. But to escape, she complied.
She tied on the apron, gripped the spatula, and said shakily to the fat man, "S-Sorry, master… I burned dinner…"
"Gwah! So moe!" The fat man roared, then convulsed and collapsed, his face frozen in bliss.
"Me next! Me next!" A man with a nosebleed eagerly handed her a book. "Little girl, please read this passage to me…"
Suppressing her anger, Xiaoxian opened the book and recited in her clear, childlike voice: "…B-Big brother! N-Not there! Ah… ahhh… It's too big! I… I can't take it… Mmm… ahhh… I'm… I'm gonna…"
Halfway through, Xiaoxian's eyes widened, and she slowly lowered the book. Though her face remained expressionless, her slender shoulders trembled slightly—clearly at her limit.
"Hmph… I hate perverts," Xiaoxian muttered, her childish lips pouting in annoyance.
Suddenly, she bent down, pulled a small glass test tube from a hidden compartment in the case, and raised it high. The tube contained a strange blue liquid—its purpose unknown.
Then, she began chanting an incantation: "Me.Is.Bd.Sgsiklg.Dtytuj… Spirits slumbering in ice, awaken! Envelop my enemies in frost and regret…"
"Frozen… Tundra!" With that, she hurled the tube forward.
The vial exploded midair in a burst of blue light, engulfing the surroundings. A chilling gust swept over us, as if the temperature had plummeted dozens of degrees in an instant. Our breaths turned to mist.
When the light faded, the obstructive crowd had been frozen into giant ice sculptures. Their expressions, preserved in the ice, were uniformly stunned.
This was my first time witnessing Western magic—and it was awe-inspiring. Though fundamentally different from Eastern Taoism, its power was undeniable.
"Did you just kill them all?" I asked nervously, impressed by Xiaoxian's ruthlessness.
"…It's only a fourth-tier ice spell. They won't die… for now," Xiaoxian said flatly, her adorable face calm again.
"Oh, so… not completely dead yet?" I ventured.
That sounded even worse. Given Xiaoxian's personality, this likely meant "half-dead" or "worse than death." The ice probably wouldn't melt until doomsday.
That said, I didn't feel an ounce of sympathy for them. After all, they'd brought this upon themselves by provoking the Dark Witch Princess.
With the nuisance dealt with, we pressed onward. The commotion was quickly swallowed by the Ghost Market's silence, as if nothing had happened.
To pass the time, I struck up a conversation: "What was in that tube you threw earlier? It was terrifyingly powerful."
Xiaoxian explained softly, "That was a catalyst and magic potion—the Western equivalent of talismans. Chanting the incantation activates their effects."
"Wait, I thought Western mages used wands to cast spells?"
"That was ages ago. Hardly anyone uses them now."
"Why's that?"
"They have side effects."
According to recent studies, prolonged wand use exposed the body to magical radiation, causing various abnormalities. For instance, wizards who tucked wands into their belts often suffered kidney failure. Others who held wands near their ears like pencils developed brain tumors and cognitive decline.
Past wizards had abused wands, even adding bizarre features—like chimes when waved or spikes on the surface.
Of course, when spikes were involved, it was usually for combat—at which point wizards stopped calling them "wands" and opted for "maces."
One infamous case involved an elderly wizard named "Gandolf," who inserted his vibrating wand into his anus for pleasure. Overstimulated, he couldn't remove it and had to rush to the hospital in the dead of night.
"Wow, that's… something," I remarked, amazed.
"Yep. It was so embarrassing that wands fell out of fashion after that," Xiaoxian said impassively.
As I pushed the toolbox, listening to Xiaoxian's tales of Western magical oddities, we ventured deeper into the Ghost Market. Near the end, Xiaoxian suddenly ordered me to stop at a stall.
"Lift me down," she said, arms outstretched. Obediently, I held her under the arms and gently set her on the ground.