68: Crazy Beast King Palm Pet 8

Almost at the same time that the Wolf Tribe suffered a catastrophic disaster, the Royal Court, located in a deeper, more treacherous area, and managed by Lie Xiao with an iron fist to be like a fortress, also had a tense, but completely different, atmosphere.

Scouts had already reported back the scale and general direction of the beast tide.

Lie Xiao sat on his throne, his golden vertical pupils as cold as frost, without the slightest panic, only the calm of a top predator, in control of everything. Orders were rapidly issued:

"First and Second Legions, guard the passes of the East and West Canyons, set up rolling logs and boulders!"

"Third Legion, patrol the perimeter, clear out scattered approaching beast groups!"

"All non-combat personnel, retreat to the inner city core area, protected by the Royal Guard!"

"Logistics, ensure water and food supply!"

The entire Royal Court operated like a precise war machine, efficient and orderly.

The warriors' eyes were firm; though there was tension, there was more absolute trust in their King and a heart to protect their homeland.

Lie Xiao was no longer the tyrant who indiscriminately killed with only his personal strength; he had learned to mobilize power, and he had learned to protect.

Wen Ci was personally settled by Lie Xiao on the top floor of the most central and strongest stone fortress in the Royal Court.

The view here was open, yet far from the front lines. Around the stone fortress, Lie Xiao's most elite Royal Guard stood like a solid rock.

Outside the window, one could vaguely hear the distant, rumbling sound of the beast tide and scattered battle roars, but they were all isolated by the Royal Court's strong defenses and the warriors' orderly resistance.

Inside the stone fortress, it was warm and safe, brightly lit.

Wen Ci stood by the window, looking at the city walls illuminated by torches and the resolute backs of the warriors, her heart filled with worry, but no fear.

She knew Lie Xiao was outside, like an unshakable mountain, fending off the destructive surge for her, and for the entire Royal Court.

A warm, slightly rough large hand gently covered her hand resting on the window sill.

Wen Ci turned her head and saw that Lie Xiao had silently appeared behind her at some point.

His armor still carried the night dew and a faint scent of blood, and his golden vertical pupils gazed at her under the lamplight, with a hint of undetectable tension: "Are you scared?"

Wen Ci shook her head, turning her hand to grasp his calloused fingers, feeling his steady, strong pulse at her fingertips.

She offered a reassuring smile, her voice soft and certain: "With you here, I'm not scared."

Lie Xiao's taut jawline seemed to soften for a moment.

He turned his hand, completely enveloping her cool hand in his warm palm, as if guarding a rare treasure. He looked out the window at the distant, rolling dust on the horizon, a symbol of destruction, a cold killing intent flashing in his eyes, but more than that, an unprecedented sense of responsibility—the responsibility to protect the peace behind him.

He promised in a low, solemn voice, as if making the most sacred vow:

"Yes. I am here."

"Nothing will harm you in the slightest."

Inside the window, it was warm and peaceful, the only calm ark in the storm.

Outside the window, at the edge of the distant dark forest, in the ruins of the Wolf Tribe, Bai Shuang curled up in a cold pool of blood, her consciousness blurry, listening to the gnawing sounds nearby, feeling life slowly drain away.

She looked at the dark sky in the direction of the Royal Court, her lips moving silently, eventually completely swallowed by pain and darkness.

That direction... was there light? She didn't know.

She only knew that the place she once considered hell might now be the only safe haven in this bloody tide where one could breathe...

*

Lie Xiao's world completely revolved around Wen Ci.

Inside the Royal Court.

Wen Ci's teachings were like a clear spring, slowly flowing through Lie Xiao's heart, which had once been frozen by brutality and loneliness.

She not only taught him to control the all-consuming rage, but also carved a crack in his hard exterior, allowing the light called "vulnerability" to shine through.

"In front of me," she once held his face, her eyes gentle and firm, like moonlight piercing through the fog, "you can just be yourself. You don't need to be the omnipotent King, you don't need to be the terrifying beast.

You can be tired, you can be confused, and you can even be... weak. Lie Xiao, I accept all your forms."

These words were like a key, unlocking a corner deep within him that no one had ever touched.

He began to awkwardly try to shed that heavy armor.

When tired from training, he would gently rest his large, furry head on Wen Ci's lap, a comfortable purr rumbling in his throat, enjoying the gentle touch of her fingertips combing his mane.

When frustrated with handling state affairs, he would sit silently beside her, needing no words, just feeling the tranquility brought by her quiet presence.

What made the entire Royal Court's jaws drop was that their King, Lie Xiao, who once made the earth tremble, actually began to awkwardly tend to flowers and plants under Wen Ci's guidance, on a secluded, sun-drenched slope within the Royal Court!

His massive body squatted beside the small flowerbed, using his claws, which once easily tore enemies apart, to carefully dig into the soil and bury a few rare, shimmering "Moonlight Flower" seeds.

Moonlight Flowers only bloomed under the purest moonlight, were extremely delicate, demanding strict requirements for soil and water, and were widely considered the most difficult exotic flowers to cultivate.

Yet, Lie Xiao invested astonishing patience.

He personally checked on them every day, clumsily watered them, and even personally moved large, smoothly polished stone slabs to shield them from the midday sun.

When the first Moonlight Flower timidly unfurled its translucent, ice-crystal-like petals, flowing with a moon-white glow, on a quiet night, Lie Xiao stared at it for a long time.

Wen Ci stood beside him, looking at the small flower glowing silently in the night, and then at the golden-eyed giant beast beside her, intently gazing at the flower with an unprecedented softness in his eyes, a gentle smile spreading across her lips.

Just then, a patrolling Leopard Tribe guard happened to pass by and inadvertently caught sight of this scene: their powerful and terrifying King was... smiling at that small, fragile flower?

It wasn't a cold smile carrying killing intent or mockery, but a pure, somewhat clumsy smile of satisfaction and warmth...