Returning from Russia, Liu Lei realized that Jiang Feng's wedding was soon approaching. He had long decided to attend, but he had yet to purchase a gift, unsure of what would be appropriate. Lying on the sofa, he lazily flipped through TV channels, pondering the question aloud: "What do you think I should buy for him, Christopher?" Christopher snatched the remote from his hand, switching to his preferred channel before replying, "A gift isn't about how valuable it is, it's about what the recipient truly desires."
"What does Jiang Feng want..." Liu Lei muttered thoughtfully to himself.
Jiang Feng's wedding was taking place at a small church on the outskirts of Chicago. Liu Lei didn't enter the church, instead waiting outside in quiet contemplation. The ceremony was set to begin at 5 PM. He found a patch of grass to sit on, patiently awaiting the moment when the newlyweds would step out of the church.
Inside, Jiang Feng didn't see the figure he had been hoping for, but he knew that person would come, for a promise had been made. From China to abroad, they had always worked together. This individual remained enigmatic, and their encounters were few, leaving Jiang Feng with many unanswered questions. Yet none of that diminished the bond between them. From their first meeting, this person had placed absolute trust in him, giving a young, impoverished man like himself a stage to showcase his talents. The way this person ran the company was unusual, but Jiang Feng considered him a true king—a leader who only needed to know what people could do, not one who had to tire himself out, like Jiang Feng, struggling through the everyday grind.
A cheer erupted from the church, its doors opening to allow the guests outside to pour forward, offering their blessings and flowers to the couple. Jiang Feng stepped out of the church, his black tailcoat and his bride's pristine white wedding dress harmonizing perfectly in the warm glow of the setting sun. From a distance, Liu Lei suddenly felt an overwhelming impulse to get married.
Jiang Feng, holding his bride, walked towards the wedding car, but just before entering, he stopped and looked around. Spotting Liu Lei waving from afar, he smiled and, after closing the car door, walked over to him. Liu Lei beamed back at him, and the two embraced warmly.
"Aren't you going to introduce me to the bride?" Liu Lei asked. Jiang Feng waved to the bride at the church entrance, who was now walking towards them, her wedding gown floating gracefully around her feet. She was a young Asian woman, a classic beauty, and Liu Lei couldn't help but wonder how such a young woman had won the heart of the older Jiang Feng.
"Shaomei," Jiang Feng introduced, gesturing to the bride, then pointing to Liu Lei. "Liu Lei." Liu Lei extended his hand, shaking Shaomei's briefly. Smiling, he remarked, "What a beautiful woman! Jiang Feng, how did you manage to win over such a stunning girl?" Then, turning to Shaomei, he teasingly asked, "Do you have a sister?"
Shaomei giggled, and Liu Lei pulled a small box from his pocket, handing it to her. "A gift for you." Shaomei opened it to reveal a diamond ring, its brilliant facets reflecting the light, the platinum band gleaming with a soft glow. Delighted, she carefully took it out, spinning the ring slowly on her finger. The diamonds sparkled in the fading sunlight, casting golden glimmers that were almost enchanting. Liu Lei smiled in satisfaction—he had read online that no woman could resist the allure of a diamond, and though the gift wasn't unique, its effect was clearly powerful.
He then pulled out a plastic bag and handed it to Jiang Feng. "A wedding gift!"
Jiang Feng opened it and immediately frowned. "This won't do!" He hastily tried to return the bag, but Liu Lei refused to take it. "Every man dreams of two things: a successful career and love. Now that you have love, your career is still lacking. The company has always been under your management—without you, it would have collapsed long ago. You've invested your youth into this, and now, this is the reward you deserve. I've taken fifty million from the company's savings. The rest is for you to use as working capital. From now on, it's your responsibility to run the company. If I ever run out of money, I'll be borrowing from you—don't pretend you don't have it, ha ha..."
He pushed the bag back towards Jiang Feng. "We'll probably meet less often from now on. Take care! I'm leaving." Turning to Shaomei, still admiring the ring, he added, "Hey, if you have any sisters or younger siblings, introduce them to me. Otherwise, I really have to go."
"Ah, you're leaving so soon?!" Shaomei, still a bit naive, clearly didn't understand. Liu Lei looked up at the sky and said, "Once things are done, one must leave. I won't be joining you for your wedding feast, but if you ever come to France, I'll invite you to taste the wines from my winery. By the way, Jiang Feng, are you going back to China for your honeymoon?"
"Yes," Jiang Feng nodded.
"Then take this bag to Kunming," Liu Lei said, picking up a travel bag from the ground. "Deliver it to the chairman of a company called 'Long Sheng.' Just say it's a letter from the Exiled One."
Jiang Feng took the bag, saying, "Don't worry, I'll handle it." Liu Lei nodded and said, "Alright, I'm off. If you need anything, just email me."
The company he referred to was an affiliate of the Cult of the Divine, and the chairman was one of Jiang Feng's disciples—his senior brother, in fact. Liu Lei hoped that by referring to him as such, his "brother" would understand and deliver the message to his parents.
As Liu Lei walked away slowly, he understood that once again, he had severed a connection with the mortal world—friendship. Looking at the clouds in the sky, he couldn't help but wonder: *Is this the inevitable fate of the immortals? The constant need to give up or be cast aside?*
Years later, he would continue to secretly assist Jiang Feng's descendants, often thinking that perhaps he was the most unsuccessful immortal of all.
After selling off all his properties in the United States, Liu Lei returned to Paris, his mood sinking deeper with each passing day. Christopher had just become a councilor and was caught up in urgent matters, leaving no time for him. The lonely vampire found himself longing for the violent woman. At least with her around, he never felt alone. These days, he had no interest in anything other than surfing the internet. Despite holding the title of senior councilor, he answered only to Christopher, and unless something required his attention, Christopher would never seek him out.
He opened a news website and scrolled through the headlines. Suddenly, a familiar face caught his eye—it was a photo news story titled, *"Mountain Village Mystery, Nine Dead."* The familiar face of the old man appeared among the photos! The old man was dead! *How could this be?* Liu Lei's mind went blank. The old man, who had also sought immortality, was gone, just like so many others with the same pursuit throughout history. For the first time since becoming a vampire, Liu Lei's eyes welled with tears. In the span of a week, he had lost yet another relationship he deeply valued—his bond with his mentor.
The old man had been right; the soul transfer had failed.
Liu Lei quietly made his way to the underground laboratory. "Ling Shi" stood silently in the corner, waiting. Since returning from Russia, he had not found time to continue the experiment. Today, he returned to the lab, tirelessly working to establish a cycle of inner energy for "Ling Shi," imbuing its body with dark power. He wished to honor the old man through this action, but as the memories of him flooded in, Liu Lei could no longer hold back the tears.