A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1148 - 1149: Fight for Your Life!

The utmost priority.

Its chain is exceedingly slender, producing minimal wind noise as it moves, making it nearly impossible to evade.

What's even more perplexing is its complete invisibility and the unpredictability of its attack vector.

Consequently.

Yang Chenyi scanned his surroundings with vigilance, yet failed to pinpoint the weapon's origin.

In truth, he hadn't even grasped how Hai Tang had been propelled outwards moments before.

Precisely as the Life-Seizing Hook was poised to ensnare Yang Chenyi.

At a critical juncture.

Out of nowhere, a shadowy figure sprang from the ground.

Like a swift bat in the darkness, it soared skyward and once again descended with force before the warriors of the Chu Dynasty.

’Puff!’

Hai Tang expelled a mouthful of blood and lay still upon the earth.

A collective gasp arose from everyone present.

Xia Tingfeng and Yang Chenyi dismounted with haste.

"Hai Tang!"

Their voices echoed in unison, laced with tremor and a hint of anguish.

Xia Tingfeng gently cradled Hai Tang's head, while Yang Chenyi moved to offer support.

Together, they awkwardly maneuvered her onto level ground, urgently summoning the military physician.

Yang He, witnessing his son narrowly escape death.

Vengeful fury ignited within his heart, and he immediately rallied his forces to strike against the Western Xia adversary, Hai Xiangjin.

Hai Xiangjin, having depleted considerable energy in wielding the Life-Seizing Hook,

felt the tide turning against him and guided his men in a desperate charge through the fiery cordon.

There was no alternative.

Failure to break through meant certain demise; piercing the barrier offered a chance at survival, thus they fought with all their might!

...

Fueled by the ingenious strategy of Rat’s Fire Attack.

Western Xia's formidable contingent of 80,000 elite troops sustained devastating losses.

Hai Xiangjin, accompanied by two nephews and remnants of his shattered army, vanished without a trace after breaching the fiery encirclement.

As dawn broke, the Chu Dynasty forces commenced clearing the battlefield, the air thick with lingering smoke.

They had successfully captured the Western Xia encampments, along with all their provisions and amassed wealth.

The army then took a moment to recover within the captured territory.

Inside the opulent captured tent of Western Xia.

Hai Tang rested on a bed, her form bloodied.

All the officers of Chu stood vigil by her side.

Each individual felt a profound and genuine respect for the valiant deeds of this foreign heroine.

Particularly, Great General Yang He.

He stood at the forefront, nearest the bed.

Addressing his former subordinate, he experienced deep remorse and regret.

"Princess Hai Tang!"

"You saved my son's life; I offer you my deepest gratitude with this bow!"

With those words, he knelt upon one knee, expressing his sincere thanks.

Hai Tang coughed weakly on the bed, a startling stream of fresh blood seeping from her neck.

She faintly shook her head, her expression troubled.

"No! Please don’t!"

"Hai Tang, spare your strength and do not speak further!" Xia Tingfeng urged her gently, unable to hold back his concern.

Hai Tang managed a weak smile, still shaking her head.

"No harm done!"

"I... I am... not yet at the end!"

"General Yang!"

"You are... truly a Great General. Young Master Yang... is my... dear brother!"

"To have known you all... has been... a great fortune!"

Yang Chenyi's eyes welled with tears as he helped his father rise, then knelt once more on a single knee, bowing to his savior.

Hai Tang closed her eyes with a sense of helplessness.

"No... please... cease these bows!"

"Very well, I shall bow no further!"

Yang Chenyi rose, suppressing his sobs.

"You stubborn woman, recover quickly; I heard the Bai Fang Pavilion has acquired some lovely new courtesans!"

"When you're well, I'll treat you, and we shall drink for three whole days and nights!"

Hai Tang nodded, a faint smile gracing her lips.

"Alright! I promise you!"

Deputy General Cui and Deputy General Qin shed silent tears nearby.

Tiger, unable to contain himself, the burly man standing nine feet tall, wept openly.

"What is wrong with you?!"

"You vowed to find me some beautiful women from Western Xia to be my wives!"

"I've waited for years and seen none, are you planning to break your promise?!"

Hai Tang coughed several times, her breathing growing shallow, and she managed a laugh through her gasps.

"No!"

"How could I possibly go back on my word?!"

"There are many beauties in the royal palace; whatever you desire, let my brother..."

"No! I want you to choose for me!"

Tiger interjected, his voice thick with emotion.

"You promised to find me a wife, officiate our union, be the godmother to my child, and now you intend to renege?!"

"I'm telling you, that's absolutely not happening!"

Hai Tang appeared resigned.

She wished to say more, but alas, her strength waned, and she choked a few times, spitting out two mouthfuls of blood, her consciousness beginning to drift.

Seeing her fading state, Tiger truly could not bear it and let out a roar before running out.

Rat stepped forward, glancing around helplessly, wiped his tears, and followed suit.

It wasn't that words failed them, but the sight was too agonizing to bear, a pain so profound it made breathing difficult.

They were all men of deep feeling, once the closest of comrades!

How could they possibly accept such a reality?!

Yang He, with Yang Chenyi in tow, also departed, finding some scenes too sorrowful to endure.

Following their exit, Deputy General Cui and Deputy General Qin also left the tent.

Despite their limited direct interaction with the Western Xia princess, they had known her for many years.

Furthermore, she had on two separate occasions saved the lives of generals from the Chu army.

A woman of such chivalrous spirit, loyalty, courage, and unparalleled bravery was truly worthy of universal admiration.

Even as acquaintances rather than close friends, they felt a profound sense of regret.

Hai Tang's consciousness was rapidly fading, her life hanging precariously by a thread.

The military doctor, after a brief examination, could only shake his head.

"General Xia, please steel yourself for this difficult moment!"

"Her throat's blood vessels are severed, and she has lost nearly all her blood. There is nothing more that can be done."

With those somber words, he too sadly withdrew.

Left alone within the tent were Xia Tingfeng and Hai Tang.

Xia Tingfeng found himself unable to leave her side.

His gaze fell upon Hai Tang's unnaturally pale, bloodless face.

A searing pain, as if a piece of his heart had been violently torn away, gripped him.

Memories, like wisps of smoke, drifted before his eyes, scene after vivid scene.

Their initial meeting had been a dramatic turn of events, immediately following her act of saving his life.

And in a twist of fate, he had ended up rescuing her during their very first encounter.

It was during the Emperor's inaugural hunting expedition; she had been bitten by a venomous snake, and he had chanced upon her, bringing her back to safety.

That day remained indelibly etched in his memory.

The youth, though pale, possessed an astonishingly radiant smile—no, she was a young girl.

Her smile shone with the brilliance of the midday sun.

"I am Ye Tang, thank you, young master, for saving me!"

Those were their first words, exchanged during that initial meeting.

"So you truly are Ye Tang!"

"Ah, no, you really are Ye Tang!"

"Manxue spoke the truth; you are indeed a heroine among women!"

"No wonder Miss Ni holds you in such high regard; you are quite beautiful, and even more so now that you've recovered!"

"Hahaha..."

In retrospect, she had been so vibrant, so full of life, so utterly unique back then.

He often found himself regretting, at that time, that she had to be born a woman.

Had she been a man, they could have become the staunchest of brothers, hunting together on horseback, sharing drinks and revelry.

Yet now, because of her gender, despite her cheerful demeanor and handsome appearance, they could not be overly familiar.

Simultaneously, he often felt a sense of good fortune.

It was fortunate that she was a girl; if she had truly been a man.

He might have been completely overshadowed by this prodigy. Back then, during the selection for the Imperial Forest Army Commander, if Ye Tang had been a contender.

The outcome of the competition would have been undeniably uncertain.

Apart from their preferred weaponry, the two of them were always perfectly matched, weren't they?!