Chapter 472: No One Can Stop Me
"Xixi, what are you looking at?"
Xijing reached out and waved his hand in front of Qiao Xixi.
Qiao Xixi snapped out of her daze and shook her head. "It’s nothing. Auntie Yaoxi was here. She just left."
Looking at Qiao Xixi’s expression, Xijing sensed there was more to the story.
He took her hand and led her into the courtyard, closing the door behind them before they went back to the living room.
"I sent some beastman soldiers to investigate. They reported that after emerging from the Thunder-swallowing Forest, many of the beastmen from those tribes have already left the royal palace. The ones from Tiger Beast City didn’t leave immediately, but they departed a few days ago."
Qiao Xixi pursed her lips. "So they’ve already left."
Xijing nodded. "They’ve likely left Beast King City by now."
"Looks like we’ll have to make a trip to Tiger Beast City."
Xijing glanced at the fruit on the table. "Did Auntie Yaoxi bring this?"
"Mhm."
Qiao Xixi picked up a Sun Fruit and held it to Xijing’s lips. He didn’t refuse, taking a bite while it was still in her hand.
The fruit was incredibly juicy. A single bite sent a gush of sweet juice flooding his mouth.
Xijing’s eyes widened in surprise. "Did Auntie Yaoxi say where she got this fruit?"
"She said a beastman soldier gave it to her."
Xijing’s expression slowly turned grim.
Qiao Xixi looked at the half-eaten Sun Fruit. "This is a Sun Fruit. The trees have very strict growing conditions and only bear fruit once every several years. But that’s also why their pulp is so incredibly sweet."
Qiao Xixi looked at Xijing. "Because of their rarity, Sun Fruits are served exclusively to the royal family."
"Auntie Yaoxi said she’s been mistreated by the Beast King for years, and that no one is allowed to show her any kindness. If that’s true, how could she have so easily come by so many Sun Fruits?"
’In that case, there was only one possibility: Yaoxi had lied to them.’
’Maybe she hadn’t lied about everything, but she definitely wasn’t telling the whole truth.’
"Xijing, do you regret losing the throne of the Mermaid Clan?"
Hearing her question, Xijing took her hand and pressed it to his cheek. "Never. I’m far more afraid of losing you than I am of losing the throne. As long as my brother is in that position and fulfilling his duties, I have no regrets."
Qiao Xixi wrapped her arms around Xijing’s neck and gave him a soft kiss. "But Xijing, not everyone is so willing to give up that position. I think... we need to start looking at certain things, and certain people, from a different angle."
Xijing held her by the waist, his gaze slowly darkening. "Mhm."
After leaving the Feather Palace, Yaoxi hurried back to her residence.
The moment she stepped inside, two male beastmen came forward and bowed deeply to her.
"Mrs. Yaoxi, we have made all the arrangements you ordered."
Yaoxi looked up, her expression turning stern and cold.
"Yu Qing doesn’t have much time left. Before she dies, she’ll definitely try to put one of her two whelps on the throne. Given her favoritism toward Yu Ling, it will almost certainly be her."
"Yes. We’ve learned that the Beast King has summoned the elders. They will be here before long."
Yaoxi’s expression hardened. "I must act before the elders arrive. Proceed with the plan."
"Yes."
After the two men left, Yaoxi clenched her fists.
"Qiao Yi... Xixi... I’ve waited far too long for this day. No one will stand in my way!"
「Outside Beast King City」
The released monsters swarmed out of the city.
On Chi Yan and the others’ signal, the beastman soldiers did nothing to stop them.
Watching the monsters search aimlessly outside the city like headless chickens, Yun Ji folded his wings and landed firmly on the ground.
"Round them up. The trail has gone cold; we can’t find it."
Chi Yan nodded. After exchanging a look with Lei Lie, several beastman guards moved forward and seized the monsters.
"Leave no survivors."
The monsters’ shrill screams instantly pierced the night sky.
"We couldn’t pick up a single trace, even after releasing these monsters. Who in the world stole that dark power?"
Sunxiao frowned as he looked up at the sky, where the Wing Clan soldiers were defeating the Golden Eagle Beasts.
"What’s the deal with those Golden Eagle Beasts?"
Xueche looked up at them. "Those Golden Eagle Beasts appeared right after the beastmen disguised as guards showed up. They’re probably all in on it together."
Jin Ling, Sunxiao, and the others exchanged a glance.
"Tiger Beast City."
Of all the tribes and Beast Cities, Tiger Beast City was the one that tamed the most Golden Eagle Beasts.
"If we can figure out where those Golden Eagle Beasts came from, we can probably identify who escaped."
Yun Ji nodded. Leaving Lei Lie and his men to dispose of the monsters, he returned to Beast King City with Jin Ling and the others.
Yun Ji summoned a beastman soldier and ordered him to release some of the Golden Eagle Beasts to see where they would fly back to.
The soldier accepted the order and withdrew.
What Sunxiao and the others didn’t know was that back in the royal palace, a bloodbath had already begun.
Without waiting for Sunxiao and the others to return, Xijing had Qiao Xixi wash up and get into bed early.
But Qiao Xixi couldn’t fall asleep.
She rested in Xijing’s arms, her mind racing.
Suddenly, the sound of urgent footsteps echoed from outside the palace gates, growing louder and louder, jolting her upright in bed.
"Xijing, did you hear that?"
Xijing’s arms around her tightened. "Mhm. Don’t be afraid, Xixi. I’ll go see what’s happening."
"Okay. Be careful."
Xijing nodded, then slipped out of bed, opened the door, and went outside.
Qiao Xixi didn’t stay in their room, either. Instead, she went to Sangze’s.
Sangze was still unconscious. If something happened, she wanted to be able to get him away quickly.
Xijing leaped onto the palace wall. In the faint moonlight, he could see a large number of beastman soldiers heading toward the Beast King’s palace.
After a moment’s thought, Xijing leaped down and followed the soldiers.
Qiao Xixi tightly gripped Sangze’s cool hand. Her expression darkened as she recalled the fleeting, resolute look in Yaoxi’s eyes when she had left earlier that day.
"Perhaps... she couldn’t wait any longer..."
"The royal palace is on fire! Put it out! Hurry!"
"Quickly, put out the fire!"
Hearing the commotion, Qiao Xixi stood up, pushed open the door, and went outside. Sure enough, the sky beyond the palace walls was lit by a raging inferno, and the flames were about to reach them.
Her expression turned to one of alarm. She spun around, went back inside, chanted an incantation, and formed a hand seal.
"Wind, rise."
A gust of wind lifted Sangze from the bed.
Just as they got outside, Qiao Xixi saw a familiar figure running toward them.
Their gazes met. Qiao Xixi saw fear and defiance in the other woman’s eyes. Under the protection of her beastman mate, she and her companion quickly vanished into the darkness.
"Yu Ling dared to harm the Beast King! Seize them! Don’t let them escape!"
Just as Yu Ling’s group ran past, beastman soldiers appeared in pursuit.
Qiao Xixi saw the fire spreading toward her. She turned to leave, but someone blocked her path.
"It’s you! You’re the ones behind all this!"
His face twisted with rage as he lunged at Qiao Xixi.