Chapter 397: Chapter 397 - 389: Don’t Cry, It Hurts Me

The thrust of this blade.

Both froze in place, the air filled with an increasingly intense scent of blood, as if time itself had stopped.

Shen Tang stared in shock at the sharp blade in her hand piercing a man’s cold, pale chest, blood spreading like a blooming flower, staining the white robes with crimson.

Shen Li’s face turned pale in an instant!

Her fingers trembled, suddenly releasing the grip, stepping back two steps, her face full of disbelief, "I..."

This fox had always been hiding his strength; he was the powerful Emperor of the Yiyuan Empire, capable of evading her attack completely.

She hadn’t intended to truly stab him; it was an unconscious reaction.

He could have dodged, so why didn’t he? He just let the blade pierce his heart.

Shen Li’s breaths trembled too.

He endured the severe pain, pulled out the bloody blade from his chest, "clang!" tossed it to the ground, his body uncontrollably staggering backward.

The blood from his chest sprayed even more fiercely, almost dyeing his pale robe completely red!

"Wu Qing Royal Female, you can’t go in!"

Suddenly, the commotion outside reached them, a snowy silhouette broke in forcefully.

A breathtaking beauty with snow-white long hair dressed in elegant green robes, with a graceful and enchanting figure, adorned with exquisite jewelry and golden bells on her waist and wrists, ringing gently with her movements.

Her features were exquisite and beautiful, her blue eyes like a clear spring in the mountains, but most strikingly, the snow-white fox ears atop her head and the nine tails behind her back like flowing clouds, a symbol of her identity as the Empire’s most noble pureblood Nine-tailed Fox female!

"Brother Li, are you okay?!"

Wu Qing pushed Shen Tang away anxiously, supporting Shen Li, looking at his unstoppable flow of blood, so anxious that tears welled in her beautiful eyes, "You, why is there so much blood on you? It’s this female who did it!"

Wu Qing turned angrily to glare at Shen Tang, furiously scolding, "What have you done, foreign female? You dared to harm Brother Li! Attempted assassination of the Monarch of our Yiyuan Empire at night! Guards, hurry! Arrest this female!"

Shen Li sternly rebuked, "Shut up, this matter doesn’t need your interference."

Wu Qing, scolded, showed a sad face; what’s going on with Brother Li? She was clearly considering for him, yet he spoke fiercely to her for the sake of an outsider female!

Shen Li turned to look at Shen Tang, also pale and troubled, his long-tailed eyes tinged with red, lips forming a bitter smile, revealing a desolate, lonely expression, "Xiao Tang’er, I never expected that one day, your blade would turn towards me..."

Shen Tang watched coldly at the pair of men and women embracing, fingers gripping her palm tightly, expression unmoved, "You not only deceived me but stole my country’s treasure; it’s what you deserve!"

She said word by word, "Return the Earth Core, and I might forgive past grievances and help treat you."

Continual heavy bleeding made Shen Li’s face more and more pale, his forehead sweating, dampening his fiery red hair, "...I won’t return the Earth Core to you."

Shen Tang stared fiercely at him, eyes full of angry hatred, wishing to cut him into pieces! Death is not too pitiable!

"Those with power deserve the treasure." He looked at her, his smile tragic, "Xiao Tang’er, being a Monarch now, you should understand this principle."

He clutched his chest, blood seeping through his fingers, voice icy and detached, "Back then, I could’ve led troops to attack, even kill you, seize everything, but I didn’t do it, because I couldn’t bear to hurt you, I gave you my most dignified ending, you... shouldn’t have come this time."

Listening to his arrogant yet relentless words, Shen Tang was trembling with anger, feeling she should’ve stabbed harder, ending him right away!

"This thrust avenges the deception; from now on, I owe you nothing."

Shen Li turned his back, voice cold like ice, "Guards, see the guest out!"

Suddenly, a massive group of Beastman guards surged in, surrounding Shen Tang, filled with murderous intent.

Shen Tang stared intently at the tall, dust-free figure, seemingly even thinner and more hunched than usual.

Before leaving, she said only three words.

"I hate you."

The man’s broad shoulders seemed to tremble slightly, or perhaps not. He never turned back.

Once the guards escorted Shen Tang out, Shen Li, finally unable to sustain, suddenly lost strength, falling to the ground.

Wu Qing knelt on the floor, shouting tensely, "Come, quickly! Brother Li has fainted, summon the Imperial Physician now!"

Deep in the night, the entire Imperial Palace exploded with urgency. The Imperial Physicians were summoned quickly, guards surrounded the bedroom impenetrably, barring any unrelated individuals from entering.

Even Wu Qing could only pace anxiously outside the hall, fearing for Ji Jiuli.

Fortunately, the King Beast had a robust physique, and after a night of rescue efforts, his life was finally saved.

The old Imperial Physician wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his back drenched, relieved that the person was saved, avoiding the potential danger!

"This was a tremendously dangerous situation for Your Majesty! That blade pierced directly at the heart; just a slight miss and not even immortals could save him!"

He looked at the man on the bed, face pale and papery, lips moved, whispering, "Your Majesty, you must discern clearly, don’t show mercy, that person... truly wanted your life!"

"With someone else, tonight, it might be impossible to turn back the situation!"

"Everyone, leave." Shen Li closed his eyes, voice hoarse beyond recognition, "Tonight’s events, anyone daring to leak a single word—"

"Executed without pardon!"

Imperial Physicians and guards looked at each other but dared not defy the sacred command, warily retreating to guard outside the hall.

Once the bedroom was completely silent, Shen Li slowly opened his eyes.

His gaze fell on the black-and-white cat jade carving on the table, eyes turning blood-red instantly—

"Boom!"

A burst of Fox Fire shot out, reducing the jade carving to ashes!

...

Elsewhere, Shen Tang was not detained by those guards; after leaving Zhuoxiang Hall, she heard the chaos in the palace, a hint of darkness and pain flashing in her eyes, avoiding the patrolling troops, finding a dark, deserted corner to hide.

The night was as dark as ink, distant thunder rumbling.

She hugged her knees tightly, tears falling like broken strings of pearls, soaking her clothes. Her lips, bitten to bleed, tasted metallic and rust-like.

Only at this moment did she truly experience the pain of betrayal by the beloved—like having a piece of flesh carved from her heart, hurting so much that even breathing trembles.

Xue Yinzhou looked for a long time before tracing the remnants of her scent to find Shen Tang curled in the corner.

He was about to step forward but heard suppressed sobbing from the shadows, freezing his steps.

He quietly stood behind her, listening to her weeping grow from low choking to heart-rending cries.

Dark clouds rolled along the horizon, rain imminent.

He approached, bent down to hold her,

"Don’t cry, it pains my heart."