Chapter 375: Chapter 375 : The Counterattack

Though their hearts ached with unwavering loyalty to the Heavenly Empire, a gnawing pessimism gnawed at Wu Shenxia and General Jiang as they faced the dawn of the final battle.

They had great respect for the current Heavenly Emperor, but unlike his younger brother, His Majesty was untested in the fire of wars against the Demonic Realm. All hope, a fragile ember, flickered in the hands of Supreme General Zhang Fengxi.

Five years of blood and valor had etched Zhang Fengxi’s name on the scrolls of legend, his rise to Supreme General a testament to his brilliance and ferocity. Yet, as dawn painted the sky, a chilling truth whispered in the wind -- even gods bleed, and even mountains crumble.

Today, the Heavenly Empire’s fate hung by a thread, and Zhang Fengxi, despite his prowess, was no invincible sun, just a mortal flickering against the encroaching darkness.

Despite that, Zhang Fengxi emerged from his tent with a face as bright as the sun hanging above their heads.

Behind him, a dark-faced Shi Qingyue followed.

"The reinforcement has come," Zhang Fengxi nodded toward Shi Qingyue.

Wu Shenxia and General Jiang stared at the omega in confusion.

"Wait, isn’t this Miss Shi Qingyue from Ling’an Palace?" Wu Shenxia asked incredulously.

"Why is she here?" General Jiang asked in bewilderment.

Shi Qingyue scowled in Zhang Fengxi’s direction and flared up like a firework shooting into the sky.

"Did you hear your generals, Supreme General??? Even they do not understand why I am here!"

Zhang Fengxi snickered in response.

"Let me explain. The reason why the demonic forces gain inexplicable strength in this war is a new addition to their troops. This new demon is in charge of amplifying the demonic strength by using music.

Shi Qingyue here is going to help us counter the new demon’s attack by neutralizing her music."

"I get that part, but why must I play the zither that you procured illegally from the Demonic Realm? The demonic aura is going to harm my body!" Shi Qingyue exclaimed.

"You fight poison with poison," Zhang Fengxi quipped. "You will have a constant flow of spiritual power the entire time, preventing the demonic aura from infiltrating your body even for one second."

"Heh. And who is going to do me this favor? Don’t forget that I am engaged! My betrothed is not going to forgive you if any random alpha gets too close to me!" Shi Qingyue sneered at Zhang Fengxi with arms crossed in front of her chest.

"Naturally, I thought about this point as well. Therefore, your fiance is going to assist you throughout the entire process."

As if on cue, the tent entrance flapped open and Zhou Guiying of Qingyuan Palace sauntered in with the air of a peacock preening its feathers.

"You????" Shi Qingyue widened her eyes and snapped after air dramatically. "Why are you here???"

To her knowledge, Zhou Guiying was out on "official business" again, which usually meant that he was out on another debauched escapade.

"I told you that I had work to do," Zhou Guiying winked at his betrothed. "I just didn’t say that I joined the war against the Demonic Realm."

Zhang Fengxi draped an arm around Zhou Guiying’s shoulders.

"Brother Guiying, all you have to do is keep the demonic aura away from Shi Qingyue as she plays on the black zither. I am leaving this crucial task in your good hands. Do not fail me."

Afterward, the Supreme General ushered his two generals out of the tent.

The alphas had come to an agreement, but they did not consider her feelings at all.

"Hey, Zhang Fengxi!" She cried out furiously. "Don’t you know what Zhou Guiying is capable of? I demand a chaperone! I don’t want to be left alone with this playboy!"

"Oh, come on."

Zhou Guiying draped his arms around Shi Qingyue’s body from behind.

"We are betrothed to each other. What are you so afraid of?"

Shi Qingyue whirled around and looked at him as if the latter had lost his mind.

"What am I afraid of? Shouldn’t you know the answer to that question? At the end of the day, I want to go back to Ling’an Palace with neither demonic aura in my body nor your baby in my belly!"

Zhou Guiying raised a hand and caressed Shi Qingyue’s jaw with smooth movements. Shi Qingyue shrieked when her nape was exposed to Zhou Guiying’s hungry eyes.

"Don’t you dare!" She cried out angrily.

"Dare to do what?"

Zhou Guiying landed a kiss on Shi Qingyue’s nape and gave it a tiny, playful bite, prompting Shi Qingyue to cry out again.

His other hand snaked mischievously toward Shi Qingyue’s flat belly and caressed it affectionately.

"Shi Qingyue, you know that I never forced any woman to lie with me. If you do return to Ling’an Palace with my baby in your stomach, know that it’s because you willingly give yourself to me."

A shudder rippled through her as the alpha’s touch ignited the desire in her heart. Her lips parted in a gasp, torn between denial and a raw, primal need that clawed at her insides. "No," she rasped, the word trembling against his skin, a mere whisper against the rising tide of desire.

Her eyes fluttered shut, but the heat of his palm imprinted on her skin, a scorching reminder of his dominance. "Never," she mumbled, the word a pathetic whimper against the thunder of her own pulse. Her body, a traitor to her will, craved more, aching for the promise of pleasure and pain.

"Are you sure that you want to leave them alone?" Wu Shenxia yanked at Zhang Fengxi’s arm while throwing one final glance in the direction of the tent they just left behind.

"Why not?"

"I do not wish to badmouth a fellow alpha, but Zhou Guiying is notorious in that aspect."

"He changed a lot," Zhang Fengxi patted Wu Shenxia on the shoulder. "Don’t worry."

Zhou Yunmeng’s return had been a crucible, forging Zhou Guiying anew. His philandering ways, once a notorious symphony, were abruptly silenced, replaced by a newfound determination to be a worthy brother.

The only person he entangled with in the past three years had been none other than his betrothed, Shi Qingyue.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay