Chapter 1645: Enrage

The days that followed unfolded in a quiet yet demanding routine.

With Leon acted as his asssiatant, Zhao Li Xin traversed the Kingdom of Xiya, visiting every region tainted by Bael’s poisonous blood. From farmlands that had once been fertile but were now transformed into a dry wastelands, to forests where every tree appeared blackened and dead—not a single place had escaped the calamity’s impact.

Each destination had been pre-arranged by the Minister of the Environment.

Meanwhile, President of Xiya, Zhang Yu Wei personally instructed local officials, governors, military commanders, and researchers to cooperate fully with the operation. Whenever they arrived in a new province, Leon handled all matters regarding receptions, negotiations, and official introductions with smooth, seemingly effortless diplomatic skill.

"Master Zhao is about to begin," Leon said, offering his usual polite smile as he fielded the questions directed at them. "Please maintain a safe distance until the purification process is complete."

Meanwhile, Zhao Li Xin remained aloof. He offered no greetings, nor he bother engaged in any pleasantries. Standing silently beside Leon, he appeared completely detached from his surroundings, as if the crowd before him did not exist at all. 𝔣𝖗ⅇℯ

Though it might have seemed rude, no one dared to complain. After all, they had witnessed enough miracles to understand that the young man before them was truly unlike anyone else.

Each morning, Zhao Li Xin would summon Jade to his room before leaving the presidential residence. Jade would emerge disguised as an ordinary teenager, dressed in a hooded robe and face mask that concealed most of his features. He never spoke and simply followed Zhao Li Xin wherever he went.

Since Jade always came from Zhao Li Xin’s room and remained by his side, people could only speculate about his identity. Most assumed he was a special asset under Zhao Li Xin’s protection, though some believed he might be a disciple, relative, or subordinate.

Regardless, no one dared to probe in fear to offend them. After all, Zhao Li Xin and Jade were Xiya’s only hope of purifying the poisoned land.

Jade remained equally silent during the purification. He never spoke to anyone or made eye contact, becoming nothing more than the mysterious young man who quietly followed Zhao Li Xin’s orders.

As Jade carried out the purification, Zhao Li Xin stood nearby with his hands clasped behind his back, silently observing with calm, unreadable eyes.

An invisible aura surrounded him—cold, distant, and commanding. It was not arrogance, but an effortless detachment that made him seem like a solitary mountain above the clouds, utterly removed from the mortal world.

Without realizing it, everyone kept their distance. Even seasoned generals and officials instinctively lowered their voices around him, as though an unseen boundary warned them not to approach or disturb him.

Still, there were always stubborn people determined to breach that invisible barrier.

Whenever Zhao Li Xin and his group returned to the State Palace, Zhang Fei Fei would somehow be waiting for him. She simply refused to believe that anyone could truly be so cold and indifferent. Convinced that his aloofness was merely a fa?ade, she made countless attempts to approach him.

Sometimes she greeted him in the hallway. Other times, she casually struck up a conversation during breakfast or politely asked whether he needed anything during his stay. In one particularly desperate attempt, she even pretended to lose her footing, hoping to fall into his arms.

Unfortunately, every attempt ended exactly the same way.

Zhao Li Xin never spared her a single glance. He always kept a careful distance, as though an invisible line separated him from everyone else.

When Zhang Fei Fei deliberately stumbled toward him, he simply took a swift step to the side. Without so much as a backward glance, Zhao Li Xin walked past her without slowing his pace, treating her existence as though she were no more significant than the air around him.

The humiliation was undeniable.

After that incident, Zhang Fei Fei no longer dared to approach him.

Leon actually felt a little sorry for the young woman. He doubted she had ever been rejected so mercilessly by any man before.

To be fair, Zhang Fei Fei was undeniably beautiful and possessed an excellent figure. Although, in his admittedly biased opinion, she still couldn’t compare to Lory, she was attractive enough that any normal man would have shown her at least a little courtesy.

But no, not Zhao Li Xin.

His expression never changed. His attitude never softened. He remained indifferent and utterly heartless, showing not the slightest trace of sympathy for the embarrassed young woman. Leon was even willing to bet that if Zhang Fei Fei were to collapse dead right in front of him, Zhao Li Xin probably wouldn’t even raise an eyebrow.

Leon wasn’t the only one who pitied Zhang Fei Fei. Many of the palace staff, guards, and servants who had witnessed her repeated failures felt sorry for her as well. They couldn’t help but think Zhao Li Xin’s treatment was far too harsh.

Still and all, not a single one of them dared to voice their dissatisfaction.

The survival of Xiya rested entirely upon Zhao Li Xin’s shoulders. Compared to restoring countless miles of corrupted land and saving millions of lives, a little rudeness was hardly worth mentioning.

Then, on the final day of the purification, disaster struck.

They had just finished purifying the last remaining area and were preparing to return when a series of deafening roars suddenly erupted from the distance.

The soldiers immediately turned toward the source of the disturbance, following the thunderous cries without waiting for further orders.

What they found sent a chill through the air. A small village had fallen into chaos. Dozens of grotesque beasts were tearing through the settlement, their monstrous forms covered in twisted bark and crawling vines as they rampaged among the terrified villagers.

The sight was immediately recognizable.

They are the Bael—hedious creatures with bodies encased in thick bark and a tangle of vines. Their twisting forms resemble ancient trees brought back to life; their blood-red eyes burn with madness, while toxic sap drips from razor-sharp, jagged claws capable of tearing through steel.

"They’re coming!"

"Everyone, prepare yourselves!"

The soldiers immediately formed defensive lines as the generals barked out orders. Gunfire erupted across the battlefield, followed by the deafening clash of steel against bark.

Leon could not remain idle either.

Drawing his weapon, he threw himself into the fray alongside the Xiyan soldiers. His blade flashed through the air as he cut down one Bael after another, shouting commands to coordinate their attacks and maintain their formation.

Amid the chaos, Zhao Li Xin unhurriedly stepped out of the vehicle. He remained where he was, his hands clasped behind his back as he calmly observed the battlefield. His expression was as indifferent as ever, as though the bloodshed unfolding before him had nothing to do with him.

Beside him stood Jade, dressed in his familiar hoodie and face mask. The young boy quietly watched the battle unfold, showing not the slightest trace of anxiety.

"Will you help them, Zhao Papa?" Jade asked softly.

Zhao Li Xin’s onyx eyes remained fixed on the chaotic battlefield, his expression perfectly placid.

"They can handle it," he said coolly.

By his judgment, with Leon present, there was little chance of anything serious happening to the soldiers. And even if something did go wrong, they needed to learn how to face such dangers themselves.

He could not allow them to become entirely dependent on Harland forever, cause that would be...annoying.

All of a sudden, a faint vibration came from inside his coat.

Without taking his eyes off the battlefield, Zhao Li Xin slipped a hand into his inner pocket and pulled out his phone. For a brief moment, he thought it was another message from Lory.

Instead...

It was a breaking news alert, it said: The Cestine Palace was under attack.’

Before leaving for Xiya, Zhao Li Xin had deliberately configured his phone to notify him immediately of anything related to the Cestine Palace.

The moment those words registered, everything froze.

The indifferent calm that had never once wavered since his arrival in Xiya began to crack, replaced by something darker...

Something deadly.

A terrifying killing intent erupted from his body like a dormant volcano violently awakening. The temperature around him seemed to plummet as an overwhelming pressure swept through the surroundings, so oppressive that everyone nearby instinctively found it difficult to breathe.

His whole face darkened, his usually calm features turning cold and ominous. Only one word echoed through his mind.

Lory.

The hand holding the phone tightened unconsciously until his knuckles turned white, the sturdy metal frame creaking beneath his grip.

An uncontrollable fury surged through his veins—cold, violent, and overwhelming—threatening to shatter the last fragments of his composure.

They dared...

They dared to attack the Cestine Palace!

In an instant, the image of Lory surfaced in his mind.

His pale, fragile wife lay quietly upon the bed, smiling gently at him despite her weakened condition. One hand rested protectively over the child growing within her.

His pregnant wife...

The murderous intent erupting from Zhao Li Xin’s body instantly reached an unprecedented height.

They dared to attack this Lord’s wife!

The already frigid atmosphere sank even lower, becoming so suffocating that everyone nearby instinctively shuddered. An invisible pressure descended upon the battlefield, crushing against every living soul like the weight of a mountain.

Zhao Li Xin’s first instinct was to leave immediately.

Every fiber of his being urged him to return to Cestine Palace and see Lory with his own eyes. Yet as his dark gaze swept across the battlefield, he knew he could not simply turn around and leave.

The battle was still raging.

Fortunately, despite the turmoil raging within him, Zhao Li Xin could still think clearly. It was a rare blessing, considering that in the past, he would never have cared about such matters.

Because of Lory, he was now more mindful of his conduct than he had ever been as the Jiang Wei Prince. He knew that every decision he made could represent Harland and ultimately reflect upon Lory as its princess. No matter what, he would not allow his personal distress to bring shame upon her or her nation.

Therefore, he had to finish this first, these ugly creatures. Every single Bael had to be eliminated.

Only then could he call for the aircraft and leave Xiya as soon as possible. His fingers tightened around the phone. His dark gaze slowly lifted toward the battlefield, the killing intent in his eyes growing colder by every second.

He would end this battle as quickly as possible. Then he could go home—to Lory.