Chapter 392: Cassandra’s All-You-Can-Drink Blood Buffet

Two minutes later, Cynthia calmly walked back toward the group.

Through the gap behind her, they could see the captured bandits looking completely broken.

Cynthia smiled faintly as she stored her needles back inside her storage ring. "Thankfully, they were very cooperative."

Ren and Aiko glanced at the prisoners, then at Cynthia.

Neither said a word.

Damian ignored their expressions and turned toward her. "So, what did you find out?"

Cynthia answered immediately. "The bandits are being funded by the Hoshikawa Clan."

Aiko frowned. "Hoshikawa?"

Ren’s expression changed slightly. "That’s not good."

Damian glanced toward him. "Why?"

Ren explained, "The clan operating near Akamori Pass is technically minor, but it isn’t independent. It’s only a branch of the main Hoshikawa Family deeper inside Sakura Empire territory."

Damian nodded slowly. "So basically, if we crush the branch, the main family might get annoyed."

Ren gave him a serious look. "More than annoyed. The main family has real influence, and they’re known for protecting their branches even when those branches are clearly in the wrong."

Cassandra’s grin returned.

Damian noticed immediately. "Don’t look so happy."

Cassandra crossed her arms. "Why not? We finally found someone worth killing."

Ren glanced between them and quickly added, "I’m serious. If you act carelessly, this could become much bigger than a bandit problem."

His face turned serious, "Once the main Hoshikawa Family gets involved, you may end up attracting several factions at once."

Damian’s expression became more thoughtful.

Ren continued, "If you still want to deal with the branch, then at least find out exactly how deeply the main family is involved first."

Damian nodded slowly. "Fair enough. No point kicking a hornet’s nest before checking how many hornets are inside."

Cassandra clicked her tongue, but the moment Damian spoke again, her grin returned.

Damian placed one hand on Ren’s shoulder. "That advice would make sense if we were ordinary cultivators."

His smile widened. "Unfortunately, we’re not."

Cassandra’s crimson eyes lit up. "Hehe... so you’re finally letting me loose?"

Damian nodded lazily. "Yeah, yeah. Go deal with them quickly. We still have a long journey ahead."

Ren and Aiko immediately looked alarmed, but Damian raised one hand before either could argue. "Relax. Just trust me."

Ren still frowned. "At least send someone with her. Why let her go alone?"

Damian glanced toward Cassandra, who already looked far too excited. "Because she works even better alone."

He patted Ren’s shoulder once. "Just wait an hour. Then you’ll understand why."

Ren frowned, but Aiko quickly turned toward him and shook her head, silently telling him to let it go.

These people were far too confident for this to be simple recklessness.

Ren could only sigh and step aside.

Meanwhile, Damian and the others casually started preparing a meal as if Cassandra hadn’t just gone off to destroy an entire clan branch.

---

The Hoshikawa branch estate was quiet when Cassandra arrived.

That silence barely lasted a minute.

The guards at the gate had only just noticed the crimson-haired woman approaching with a vicious grin when several tiny red specks formed above her fingertips.

[Blood Nails]

Cassandra casually flicked her hand.

Several blood-red nails shot forward in an instant, tearing through the guards before they could even react, and they died instantly.

Cassandra stepped past them without slowing down, her crimson eyes gleaming with excitement. "Hehe... now this is more like it."

The moment the first guards fell, alarms exploded across the estate.

"ENEMY ATTACK!"

Cultivators rushed out from every direction, weapons drawn and Qi surging around them.

Cassandra looked around at the growing crowd and only grinned wider. "Hehe... now this is a proper blood feast."

More crimson nails formed around her fingers, and with another casual wave, they shot across the courtyard.

Several guards tried to block them with defensive Qi and weapons, but unfortunately for them, this was Cassandra they were facing.

The blood nails curved through the air, slipping around defenses and striking exposed openings with terrifying precision.

One elder staggered backward after barely deflecting two. "What kind of technique is this?!"

Cassandra casually stepped over a fallen cultivator, her smile turning vicious. "You don’t need to know."

Her crimson eyes narrowed. "You’ll forget all about it once you’re dead anyway."

Another elder frowned and quickly shouted, "Stop! Do you even know who we are?!"

Cassandra paused.

The man mistook that for hesitation and immediately continued, "We are a branch of the Hoshikawa Family!"

He stepped forward and grinned threateningly. "If you destroy us, the main family will never let you leave Sakura territory alive!"

Cassandra stared at him for a second before bursting into laughter. "That’s it? That’s your threat?"

The elder froze.

Cassandra tilted her head, her crimson eyes gleaming. "Did you really think I stopped because I was scared?"

Her grin widened. "Let me tell you something, old man. I already know about your little arrangement with the bandits. So no matter what name you hide behind... you’re all dying here."

The elder’s face changed.

Cassandra spread her arms and laughed. "Branch family, main family, great Hoshikawa bloodline... I don’t care. You all are still going to die."

Cassandra summoned another wave of blood nails, and the elders hurriedly raised their weapons.

It made no difference.

This time, Cassandra poured even more power into the technique.

Several crimson nails tore through their defenses and pierced the elders’ arms and legs, pinning them against the walls before they could retreat.

Cassandra walked toward one of them slowly, her grin growing wider with every step.

She dragged one finger across his neck, then formed a small blood-red glass in her hand.

The elder’s blood flowed into it.

Cassandra took a casual sip and hummed in satisfaction. "Hm... not bad. As expected of Nascent Soul blood."

She glanced down at the cup and licked one fang. "Still nowhere near as good as Damian’s, though."

Then her crimson eyes shifted toward the remaining elders. Her smile became far more dangerous. "But quantity has its own charm."

She raised the glass slightly. "And there’s certainly plenty of you here."

The elders could only stare at her in horror.

Just what the hell is this demon...?

Watching Cassandra casually drink their blood was somehow even more terrifying than the slaughter itself.