Chapter 920 - 707: The Fox’s Mother (Part 3)
"Tangtang." Shen Li’s gaze upon her was filled with nostalgia and complexity. He opened his mouth, but even someone as eloquent as him seemed unsure where to begin.
Shen Tang immediately dismissed everyone, "This is not the place to talk. Let’s return to the palace first."
"Alright."
The two hurriedly made their way back to the palace, paying no mind to the chaos outside.
The palace attendants were utterly baffled; it was almost tear-inducing confusion. What on earth was happening?
Recently, the lady brought back a Young Master from the Snake Clan, and they were anxiously waiting for the Clan Leader to return and put an end to this romance. But how did the Clan Leader also bring back a mysterious female?
Could this mean that they were about to part ways?
Yet there were those who quickly noticed something was amiss, "What nonsense! Didn’t you notice that the female’s appearance resembles the Clan Leader? They must be relatives."
Inside the room, Shen Li carefully laid the unconscious female on the bed, attentively covering her with the blanket. His typically handsome and charming face was now filled with sorrow.
Shen Tang rarely saw him with such an expression; her heart tightened, unsure of how to offer comfort.
She looked at the emaciated female on the bed, already having a strong suspicion in her mind, yet still seeking confirmation, "She is..."
Shen Li hoarsely replied, "My mother."
Shen Li closed his eyes, his voice practically rasping and dry, and his hand beside him was clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, with streaks of blood seeping from his palm.
Shen Tang hurriedly stepped forward, took his hand, and gently pried open his tense fingers, speaking tenderly, "Don’t do this."
Shen Li usually maintained emotional composure, rarely exposing his true feelings, always wearing a facade of easygoing banter.
If he showed anger, it meant his emotions were nearing the brink of loss of control.
Under Shen Tang’s soothing presence, Shen Li’s mood gradually calmed, though the fury in his eyes hadn’t extinguished, "For over twenty years, they kept my mother in a laboratory, using her as a live blood pump! How can I not hate them."
Upon hearing this, Shen Tang understood, and a rush of shock and anger surged within her.
Who would have thought Shen Li’s mother was still alive, and the ones who took her back then, were indeed the Hand of Creation.
She looked at the female tortured into an unrecognizable state on the bed, and Shen Tang’s heart fiercely ached.
Shen Li’s kin was her kin too, and over these twenty years, how much suffering had this once-noble Empress of the Empire endured?
The deeds of the Hand of Creation were simply inhumane!
"Calm down first, I will heal Aunt." Shen Tang said as she walked to the bedside, her palm emanating a gentle green light, lightly placing it over the body of the late Empress of the Empire.
Su Jiu had been used as a blood pump for years, something that would have killed a normal person long ago, and even a body of the Blood Clan struggled to endure it. If the laboratory hadn’t kept her alive for continuous use, she wouldn’t have lasted until today.
Without the life-supporting devices of the lab, her condition became more precarious. If not treated promptly, she might truly pass away.
Su Jiu’s injuries were severe, and coupled with the unique constitution of the Blood Clan, the difficulty of healing was thousands of times greater than that for an ordinary Beastman. Fortunately, Shen Tang’s superpower had improved significantly; otherwise, she might have been powerless.
Shen Li stood guard nearby, watching tensely.
Finally, his mother’s parched and pallid cheeks gradually regained a fullness and redness, a semblance of vitality.
Shen Tang had transmitted a substantial amount of healing energy, and her complexion appeared a bit pale. Shen Li immediately stepped forward and held her in his arms, wiping the fine sweat from her brow, and made her drink a bottle of Recovery Potion.
"I’m fine, check on Aunt now." Shen Tang gently pushed him away, rising to check on Su Jiu.
Shen Li confirmed she was okay, then turned toward the bed.
Su Jiu still hadn’t awakened, but her vital signs had stabilized, and perhaps she might soon come around.
Shen Li’s throat moved slightly, his emotions roiling, uncertain whether it was the excitement of reunion or the anguish from past traumatic experiences.
Over twenty years ago, the conspiracy of the Hand of Creation shattered his family, leading to his father’s demise from depression, while his mother suffered extreme torment, becoming like this.
The mere recollection made his heart wrench in agony, his hatred vast as the sky.
Shen Tang stepped forward, gently took his hand, and softly comforted, "Don’t blame yourself, you’ve done excellently. The past can’t be changed, but at least you’ve saved Aunt."
Shen Li turned around and embraced her, his head resting on her shoulder, a rare display of vulnerability, "...Thank you, Tangtang."
Shen Tang wrapped her arms around his waist, speaking softly, "It’ll get better."
In truth, she too felt a surge of intense emotion.
On one hand, she was happy for Shen Li and his mother, glad she could be of assistance.
On the other hand, Shen Li’s mother was perhaps the last remaining Blood Clan member in the world.
Regarding the Blood Clan, and the deceased Necro, Shen Tang always harbored complex feelings she couldn’t shake.
She wanted to understand more about this species, and now the only clue lay with the former Empress of the Yiyuan Empire.
In the days that followed, Shen Tang frequently used her healing ability to nurture Su Jiu’s body, hoping she would awaken sooner.