Yan Hao was in his home office, working on some juristic papers. He stopped, looking at the door, his eyes unfocused. He still can’t believe that the siphon he made is this powerful, and he isn’t even a fifteenth of Yan Wang’s age.

That means in the future he’ll be the strongest vampire in the kingdom. I need to use the artifact to deplete his power faster; with his essence plus Yan Ning’s, he’ll be stronger than Yan Wang.

Furthermore, he saw the influence his son had on Yan Wang. Usually, when Yan Wang got angry, no one could stop him, but he saw as A-Xuan soothed him with a single line.

Yan Hao smiled mischievously and stopped when he heard a knock. "Come in." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Yan Ning came in and closed the door behind him.

He sat in front of the desk and said: "Father, we need to hurry. You know how the vampires worship Yan Wang; soon the radicals will fall for his pretty words."

Yan Hao leaned back in his chair and said with a cruel smile: "Don’t worry, I have a plan. I have an amulet that can siphon a vampire’s essence faster. I didn’t use it before because I didn’t think A-Xu could take it, but now that I know his true power, I will. In the meantime, we’ll use the influence A-Xu has on Yan Wang. In a few weeks, I’ll arrange an accident in the main palace. How tragic would it be if an extremist who didn’t like the king’s new laws put him in dark slumber?"

Yan Ning smiled viciously. He knew he could count on his father. Ever since he was a kid, his father prepared him to be king; that’s the only thing he knows.

He was extremely angry when he saw Yan Wang enter the council room, and his anger reached unimaginable heights when he found out how powerful his brother was. What right does that bastard have to be more powerful than me?

The only relief he had was his knowledge that all that power will be his. He wanted to immediately put him into dark slumber when he heard Yan Wang say he was the one who ended his slumber.

’So it wasn’t enough for you to be a bastard; you had to go and destroy my plan?’ As soon as he is siphoned, he will kill him.

He was planning on giving him a quick death, but now he will make sure he suffers for betraying him. ’I’m the rightful king, and anyone who gets in the way will pay dearly.’

Yan Hao could see the gears turning in his son’s head. Do you think you’ll rule the kingdom once I put you on the throne? His son is just a tool to get what he wants, just like A-Xuan.

To him, they are both the same; he only shows care to Yan Ning so it would be easier to manipulate him.

His only goal has always been ruling this entire world, not just the kingdom. Once his useless son seats on the throne, he’ll end the peace treaty and take over the whole world. Every human will be enslaved, and if they refuse, they’ll die.

Yan Hao frowned when he heard sounds. He got up, and Yan Ning followed him. They followed the sound, which led them to A-Xuan’s room. He was instructing a few servants what to take and not to.

When he saw his father, he respectfully said: "Father."

Yan Hao narrowed his eyes and asked: "Why did you end the king’s slumber without my knowledge?"

A-Xuan innocently said: "I know you’ve been working hard for the kingdom every day since his slumber, and since I’m not part of the council, I wanted to do my part. I knew you always wanted for Yan Wang’s slumber to end, so I helped you. Like that, you don’t have to work as hard anymore. Aren’t you happy?"

Yan Hao wanted to strangle his son on the spot. He feels regret for not getting him involved in the plan; at least he wouldn’t have done something so stupid.

He watched indifferently how he struggled his whole life to gain his love; he, for sure, would’ve listened to him. Knowing him, he just needs to pull his strings, and he’ll do whatever he says.

He is still impressed that he managed to make Yan Wang smile; before that, only his brother could do that. He even wants him to move to the main palace when Yan Wang has been living there alone forever.

Yan Ning sneered: "Don’t get on your high horse because of your rich essence."

Yan Hao gave him a nudge. He literally told him before he was going to use him because of the influence he has on the king. He really wishes he didn’t have such a stupid son.

A-Xuan mumbled with fear: "Brother, I would never do that. Don’t you know you’ve always been my example?"

At that, Yan Ning smirked and lifted his head with pride. Even if you’re stronger than me, you’ll always bow to me. It’s always been like that. Yan Hao watched his first son with hatred.

When he turned to A-Xuan, he said, his tone soft and caring: "I’ll give you something to protect yourself; you’ll have to put it under your mattress. Even if the king is nice to you now, it will change; his temper is quite volatile."

A-Xuan insulted him in his heart. You actually dared to say that? He can’t wait for the moment he’ll make them pay.

He said emotionally as his eyes moistened: "Thank you, father."

Yan Hao smiled at him and left to get the amulet to drain his essence faster.

He knew he could manipulate him easily. He is so desperate to get a little bit of his love that he would do anything he’ll ask.

Yan Hao was back in less than 5 seconds. He gave him the amulet, saying: "Don’t forget to put it under your mattress. I always worry about you and now even more."

A-Xuan said determinately: "Don’t worry, father, as soon as I get there, I’ll put it under the mattress. I know how worried you would be if anything happened to me."

Yan Hao sneered in his heart; the only thing I care about is taking your essence.

Yan Hao approached him and put a hand on his shoulder: "Son, you know how I’ve slaved for the kingdom, and I don’t want the king to destroy everything I worked so hard for."

A-Xuan sneered in his heart. Is this a fucking joke? He felt disgusted about him putting a hand on his shoulder.

But he still said: "I know, father. You did more for the kingdom in 60 years than he has for even 10 years."

A-Xuan felt sick even saying that, but he has to show him for a while that he has him under his thumb.

Yan Hao was very pleased to hear this statement. How can a vampire be this dumb? At least one of his sons is beneficial.

He said: "Then try to talk to him so he won’t abolish the laws I worked so hard for."

"But father, how am I supposed to convince him?"

Yan Hao explained: "Son, he cares about you. I’ve known him since he was a baby, and he has never shown this much kindness to anyone except his brother."

A-Xuan said: "I trust in your judgment, so I’ll do as you say."

"Good, I knew I could rely on you."

"You can."

If you didn’t know what a despicable person he was, you would think it was a very sweet moment between father and son.

When the servants were done taking all the things A-Xuan needed, he left. Yan Hao gazed at his retreating back with a mocking smile on his face. Do you think I’ll ever care for you?