Chapter 366 My Heart Loves You

Shen Xu's expression stiffened slightly.

Zhao Wanqing has worn countless pearl hairbands over the years, but none of them are exactly the same as the one he wore on the day he was rescued.

He had also asked Zhao Wanqing why she no longer wore that headband.

Zhao Wanqing explained that the pearl on another hairband was lost, so she simply stopped wearing it.

He believed it to be true.

Was Zhao Wanqing lying to him all along?

Qin Wei stepped forward, unable to contain himself, "Your Highness, do not believe her words. We cannot delay any longer. These are just excuses they are making to survive!"

Shen Xu pursed his lips, hesitant and undecided.

Li Nanke said, "Your Highness, I never intended for you to release me. I only hope that you will release these innocent babies in consideration of the life-saving grace I once gave you."

She pointed to the baby on the stone platform.

"These children are innocent. If you release them, you will have done a great deed!"

Shen Xu looked at Qin Wei.

Qin Wei shook his head secretly.

"No, Your Highness, these infants must not be released! His Majesty still needs the antidote!"

Shen Cong frowned deeply.

"Ke'er!"

Li Nanke grabbed his hand, shook her head, and indicated that she would never abandon him.

"They won't let me go, and I won't abandon Ninth Brother. We'll die together, or we'll live together!"

Shen Cong was deeply moved by the determination in her eyes and held her hand tightly.

"Fine, we'll die together, we'll live together!"

At this moment, a sharp and eerie laugh suddenly rang out from inside the cave. It was Chen Wang, who had just been wounded by Qin Wei's men and was hiding in a corner.

He stumbled to his feet, brushed the hair from his face, and smiled in a very eerie way.

"Hahaha, what a pair of star-crossed lovers! Live? None of you will live! Die!"

He let out a sharp, piercing, inhuman howl, and his withered fingers tapped repeatedly on several seemingly ordinary protrusions on the cave wall at an astonishing speed.

The knocking sound had a strange rhythm to it.

In an instant, the cave seemed to come alive.

Dust and small pebbles began to fall from above, followed by a dull rumble from the depths of the earth.

Accompanied by his manic laughter.

"Hahaha, that bastard Shen Lang is definitely not going to live. He killed his son and his brother, so the entire Great Chu is doomed!"

"If I can't have this world, no one else can!"

Rumble!

Larger stones began to fall, crashing into the water and creating towering waves. They then struck the stone platform, causing the cauldron to vibrate and hum.

Bang! Bang!

The entire cave was shaking violently, as if a pair of giant hands were tearing it apart from the outside.

"Oh no!" Shen Cong's expression changed drastically. "This madman is going to cause the entire cave to collapse! Run!"

He grabbed Li Nanke's wrist and turned to run outside.

"But those children..."

Li Nanke turned around and tried to lunge at the stone platform, but Shen Cong grabbed him.

"It's too late, let's go!"

More and more stones and pebbles fell down, and the entire cave shook more and more violently.

"Quickly, protect His Highness the Crown Prince, let's go!"

Qin Wei gave a stern order to his men, and at the same time drew his sword and stabbed at Shen Cong.

Shen Cong was already injured. He pulled Li Nanke forward and ran. Suddenly, he saw Qin Wei's sword thrusting towards him. He subconsciously stopped and pulled Li Nanke to the side.

Qin Wei took the opportunity to leave.

Just then, a millstone-sized rock grazed Li Nanke's back and fell, sending fragments flying that stung her.

She stumbled, and Shen Cong held her tightly to prevent her from falling.

"careful!"

In that instant, a boulder crashed down from above, blocking their path and leaving only a narrow gap.

Shen Cong grabbed her, and the two rolled on the ground, barely managing to avoid the large rock.

The moment the entire cave collapsed, all around was a deafening roar.

Shen Cong's body jolted violently, and a muffled groan was drowned out by the sound of the falling stone.

Then, complete darkness descended upon the surroundings!

All sounds seemed to be instantly sucked away, leaving only the occasional rustling of pebbles sliding down.

Li Nanke was held in Shen Cong's arms, feeling the sound of their heartbeats and breaths almost touching.

She could feel herself being protected in Shen Cong's arms, with a small space between her and him.

In the darkness, her hands trembled as she reached out to touch Chen Cong, trying to check if he was injured, but her fingers touched something warm and sticky.

It's blood!

"Ninth Brother, where are you hurt?"

"Don't move, I'm fine." Shen Cong's voice was hoarse in the darkness, and his breathing was heavy.

Li Nanke bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes. She had never been so panicked before.

Even when the two of them tried to negotiate with Shen Xu by using the debt of saving her life to buy time, she was not afraid.

But now she's really scared.

"Ninth Brother, are we going to die here?"

Shen Cong did not answer her immediately.

She could feel his heavy breath on her neck through her clothes, it was frighteningly hot.

"Ninth Brother, don't sleep, talk to me."

She reached out and groped his body, trying to find his wound, but he grabbed her hand and held it tightly.

Her voice held a hint of a smile, "I'm really fine. What do you want to say?"

Li Nanke bit her lip and suddenly said, "Actually, I lied to Ninth Brother."

"What?"

"That day when I said I wanted to try getting along with Xie Xuanxiao, I lied to Ninth Brother. I wanted to test Ninth Brother's feelings for me."

Li Nanke stroked his hand, their fingers intertwined.

"I don't want to marry Shen Xu. I don't like him, and I don't like Xie Xuanxiao either. The person I like is you, Ninth Brother!"

I want to be with Ninth Brother for the rest of my life, but I don't know if he feels the same way about me.

I was afraid of being rejected if I spoke first, so I tested Ninth Brother.

Shen Cong didn't speak, but his breathing clearly faltered.

After a moment, she asked softly, "Why aren't you scared anymore?"

Li Nanke's voice was tinged with a sob.

“If we really die here, I’m afraid I’ll never have the chance to say these things again. I don’t want to die with regrets.”

Li Nanke held Shen Cong tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.

The next moment, I felt a cool sensation on my forehead.

She trembled all over, forgetting even to cry.

In the dark, one's senses are exceptionally sharp; she could feel Shen Cong's lips landing on her forehead.

He gave it a light kiss, then sighed.

"Silly girl, I love you too!"

“I was too cowardly before. I was afraid that the blood curse would not be broken and I would not be able to give you happiness, so I always restrained myself.”

"But now I regret it; I should have told you these things sooner!"

With each word Shen Cong spoke, he placed a kiss on her forehead.

Li Nanke wept with joy; at that moment, all her fear and dread were washed away by those few words.

Shen Cong hugged her back, holding her tightly in his arms, as if trying to melt them into each other's bones and blood.

The two stood close together, their heartbeats mingling, their hearts in sync, each the other's only support.

Shen Cong leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Silly girl, you said something wrong..."