Chapter 417

Author's pov Tang stood frozen for a moment, his chest rising and falling in uneven rhythm, the last traces of lethal energy still clinging to his skin like static after a storm. At the sound of their concerned voices, the sharp edge in his eyes dulled, and the tension slowly drained from his shoulders. "I'm fine," he said flatly, his voice low but clipped, the kind of tone that made everyone hesitate to press further. Cecilia pointed at the crimson stains on his clothes, her finger shaking. "Then whose blood is that?" "Someone else’s," Tang replied, his face carefully blank. Only the tightness around his jaw betrayed the lie he clearly didn’t want to explain. "Thank the goddess," Cecilia breathed out, pressing a hand to her chest. "What about the two guards protecting my grandmother? Are they alright?" A flicker of darkness crossed Tang’s eyes, but his tone stayed deliberately calm. "Nothing serious. They’re injured, but not fatally. They’ll need time to recover, that’s all." Cecilia