The killing array he set up was deadly at every turn, relentless and fierce—truly impressive.
Little Shrimp was still in Lord Noctis’s arms, swaying and lurching as Noctis dodged attacks. Lily Bai was frantic, tugging at Tanya Quinn’s sleeve and pleading, “Divine Lord, Divine Lord, could you please help me bring Little Shrimp back?”
But Tanya Quinn’s gaze was a little dazed.
Jolted back to herself by Lily’s tug, she called out, “Stop!”
The sandstorm gradually died down.
She pressed her lips together and walked toward them.
Noctis watched her approach, his arms tightening slightly around Bobby Bai.
However, Tanya Quinn deliberately walked over to Liam Leshan and stood beside him.
Noctis lowered his gaze.
Even the demonic aura surging at his brow faded away, leaving him looking utterly drained, as if all life had been sucked out of him.
Bobby Bai was still nestled in Noctis’s arms, reaching out his little hand to gently pat Noctis’s back.
Just like every time he cried, and their Empress Mother would pat his back to comfort him.
Noctis glanced at him, seeing those big, round, clear eyes brimming with comfort.
His face remained expressionless, and he lowered his gaze again.
“Liam Leshan,” Tanya Quinn called.
“Tanya,” Liam Leshan replied, his voice full of emotion.
“Lord Noctis is Emperor Ray Quinn’s spirit beast—his seniority is high, and his cultivation even higher. Even His Majesty the Celestial Emperor must respectfully address him as ‘Lord Noctis.’” Tanya Quinn said. “I hope I never hear words like ‘rat’ from you again.”
Noctis suddenly looked at her, his eyes lighting up as if filled with countless stars.
Liam Leshan’s expression shifted slightly. After a long silence, he said, “Of course I meant no disrespect to Emperor Ray Quinn. I was just… upset by what Lord Noctis has done.”
Tanya Quinn nodded and added, “Besides, he’s one of my Southcourt Palace people. How I bring him back is Southcourt’s business. You and I may be engaged, but we’re not married yet, so this is not your concern.”
"But he—"
"I’ll make sure he gives the gods an explanation," Tanya Quinn interrupted. "Dispel your array and go home!"
Liam Leshan’s face fell. He stood silent for a long moment, then bowed his head. "Yes."
He dispelled the array, shot Noctis a cold glare, and left.
Only then did Tanya Quinn walk up to Noctis and say, "Noctis, ever since I started selecting imperial consorts, you’ve been acting stranger and stranger—until you finally stormed off in a huff. I’ve actually suspected..."
Noctis stared intently at Tanya Quinn.
Bobby Bai sensed Noctis was nervous and secretly flashed Lily Bai a big grin.
Lily Bai, standing behind Noctis, kept signaling and gesturing for Bobby Bai to come back to her.
But Bobby Bai just hugged Noctis’s neck tighter and shook his head.
Tanya Quinn continued, "Honestly, it doesn’t matter to me whether you or Liam Leshan becomes my imperial consort. But the Phoenix Clan gods will never let me marry someone tainted by demonic qi."
"So to you, there’s no difference between me and Liam Leshan?" Noctis asked, each word deliberate.
"That’s not the point," Tanya Quinn said. "The point is... your demonic qi. Even Emperor Ray Quinn, after marrying a Demon Clan princess, ended up crippling his own bloodline and dying childless. These days, anything tainted by demonkind is a huge taboo! You’ve followed him for hundreds of thousands of years, so you should know his story better than anyone."
"I’m only asking you," Noctis pressed, "in your heart, is there truly no difference between me and Liam Leshan?"
Tanya Quinn paused for a moment before answering, "Of course there’s a difference. After thousands of years living side by side, I have much deeper feelings for you than for him."