That Frosty Night Beast had become her only source of spiritual essence, but Feng Wu would be finished off in one blow if she tried to face it on her own.

That was to say, if she still wanted to be first, Jun Linyuan was her only hope.

Feng Wu looked even more frustrated after figuring that out.

Jun Linyuan stared at her the whole time. His eyes were bright but brooding.

He was doing everything aboveboard.

And that was why Feng Wu couldn’t say no to the offer.

Feng Wu was a smart girl who took note of the situation. Jun Linyuan believed that she wouldn’t choose otherwise.

Leaning against the headboard, Jun Linyuan smiled at Feng Wu with a confident look in his eyes.

“Teehee —”

Feng Wu forced herself to beam at him.

To give in or not, that was the question.

And Feng Wu gave in without hesitation.

She had done it too many times to give a damn anyway.

Feng Wu asked, “Your Royal Highness, how are you feeling? Shall I change your bandages for you?”

Jun Linyuan snorted. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

Feng Wu went up to him in a hurry and tugged his sleeve. “Your Royal Highness, you flatter me. It would be my honor to change your bandages. I’m at your service.”

Feng Wu batted her eyelashes and winked. It could take anyone’s breath away.

However, she was dealing with Jun Linyuan.

Although, even the worldly crown prince almost came under her spell. He looked away uneasily.

Feng Wu said, “Please allow me to undress you.

“That’s done. I’m going to change your bandages now.

“Sorry, I touched your wound. Does it hurt?

“Shall I blow on it?”

Jun Linyuan was speechless.

He had dealt with Feng Wu too many times to fall for her tricks.

The girl was all about an equivalent exchange. She would fold at the slightest threat if she thought it worthwhile.

She finished wrapping Jun Linyuan up again in no time.

After putting everything away, Feng Wu wanted to leave.

But the crown prince would never cut her loose that easily. Moreover, Feng Wu wasn’t Jun Linyuan’s match when it came to playing tricks. Hence, she had to stay behind and serve him as told.

Outside —

Xuan Yi glanced at Feng Xun. “It’s been an hour.”

Mu Yaoyao had been in the cabin for less than a minute before the crown prince yelled at her and she fled the scene in tears.

But Feng Wu had been inside for an hour already… What did that mean? It was so obvious.

But Feng Xun still wouldn’t let go of his last hope. “Maybe… Boss Jun is asleep.”

Xuan Yi rolled his eyes at Feng Xun.

Feng Xun cried out, “I mean it! It’s possible! Right?”

Xuan Yi grabbed Feng Xun’s wrist.

“What? What are you doing?” Xuan Yi dragged Feng Xun toward the cabin.

Xuan Yi said, “To answer your question.”

He gave Feng Xun a teasing look. “We’re going to put your theory to the test.”

Feng Xun said, “Alright.”

“Possibility number one: Boss Jun isn’t in love with Feng Wu, which is your belief. And little Feng Wu was able to stay inside for this long because Boss Jun fell asleep.”

Feng Xun nodded.

Xuan Yi said, “If that’s the case, Boss Jun won’t be mad with us if we go in now.”

Feng Xun nodded. “That’s right!”

Xuan Yi had made up his mind that he would make Feng Xun see the light today. Otherwise, the goofball would be killed by Boss Jun one day.

Xuan Yi said, “Alright, here’s possibility number two. Boss Jun is in love with little Feng Wu —”

“He deliberately made little Feng Wu stay behind for some quiet time alone. What do you think will happen if we intrude on them now?”

Feng Xun said, “He’ll be furious!”

Xuan Yi nodded. The next moment, he pushed Feng Xun toward the door and there was a loud bang!

The door wasn’t locked, so Feng Xun was shoved into the cabin.

Feng Wu was wiping Jun Linyuan’s hands at the moment.

According to the crown prince, he would get peevish when his hands were dirty, and when he was peevish, he didn’t feel like talking. When he didn’t feel like talking… All in all, he would end up not wanting to share the Frosty Night Beast’s spiritual essence with Feng Wu, and she would end up getting a zero in the exam.

Would Feng Wu be threatened by that?

She actually would…

Therefore, she prepared some warm water and a white towel, and right now, she was sitting on a rush cushion as she wiped the crown prince’s already pristine fingers one at a time.

Feng Xun barged in at that moment.

And he couldn’t believe what he was seeing!

Wiping hands?

Jun Linyuan the neat freak would cut a person’s hand off if they dared to touch him. But now, he was having little Feng Wu clean his hands?!

Blood rushed into Feng Xun’s head and his mind went blank. He stood there dazed, as if he had just been struck by lightning.

Without Feng Wu realizing it, Jun Linyuan’s face darkened. He turned his sharp gaze on Feng Xun!

Feng Xun’s stomach lurched.

Boss Jun was pissed.

But since Feng Xun was here to test his theory, he might as well try everything.

Like usual, Feng Xun rushed over to Feng Wu’s side and began to push her toward the door. “What are you doing here, you silly girl? Are you waiting for Boss Jun to throw you out?!”

That had always been Feng Xun’s strategy. He would get Feng Wu out of Boss Jun’s sight whenever he saw them together.

However, this time, Feng Xun was looking at Boss Jun out of the corner of his eye when he did so.

And his heart sank!

That was because —

Boss Jun’s face had turned livid and he looked like he wanted to kill Feng Xun.

Feng Xun was dumbfounded.

Everything was clear!

He saw it now… finally…

Sensing Feng Xun’s uneasiness, Feng Wu looked up. “Feng Xun, are you not feeling well?”

She put her palm on Feng Xun’s smooth forehead to check his temperature, but couldn’t feel anything unusual. She then stood on tiptoe and touched Feng Xun’s forehead with her own.

Thump!

A bedside table next to Jun Linyuan shattered into pieces!

And something clicked in Feng Xun’s head as well.

Involuntarily, he pushed Feng Wu away from him.

He used a little too much force in his panicked state, and it was only because of Xuan Yi that Feng Wu didn’t knock into the wall.

Instead of minding her own wellbeing, Feng Wu went up to Feng Xun in a hurry and took his hand. “Feng Xun, what’s wrong? Why are you sweating so badly? Are you not feeling well? Here, let me check your —”

However, Feng Xun drew back his hand abruptly before Feng Wu could finish her sentence.

Feng Wu stared at him in bewilderment. Had the man lost his mind?

Before Feng Wu could ask another question, Feng Xun ran for the door!

“Hey —”

Feng Wu was so confused. What was going on?

Xuan Yi smiled wryly. “I’ll look after him.”

Feng Wu said, “It’s going to snow. Find him. He doesn’t seem right to me.”

Xuan Yi shook his head. The news was too big for Feng Xun to digest. Of course he didn’t seem right.

Little Feng Wu was probably the last person Feng Xun wanted to face right now.

Xuan Yi gave Feng Wu a solemn nod, then rushed out.

“What’s wrong with Feng Xun?”

Feng Wu stared at Jun Linyuan in bewilderment.

Meanwhile, Jun Linyuan tossed the warm towel into Feng Wu’s lap. “Wipe your hands!”

Feng Wu said, “But they’re clean.”

Jumping off the bed, Jun Linyuan marched toward Feng Wu. He then began to carelessly wipe her face.

Meanwhile, Feng Xun —

“Feng Xun, Feng Xun!” Xuan Yi finally caught up with Feng Xun, who was standing in front of a cliff. Xuan Yi smiled wryly. “I see you’ve figured it out.”

Feng Xun clenched his fists so hard that blue veins popped on the back of his hands.

“When did you find out?” Feng Xun stared at Xuan Yi!

“Not long, less than a month ago.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?!”

“I didn’t?” Xuan Yi looked perfectly innocent. “I tried, more than a few times. Think about it.”

Feng Xun was speechless.

His head was a mess and he couldn’t think straight.

But he began to recall what Xuan Yi told him.

Xuan Yi really had reminded him, more than once, but he only laughed at his friend in turn, saying that the guy was imagining things. As it turned out… Feng Xun realized that he couldn’t have been more wrong.

“May I ask, how do you feel right now?” Xuan Yi was still teasing Feng Xun.

How did he feel? Feng Xun scratched his head.

He felt conflicted.

He was shocked, angry, regretful, sad, conflicted, and ashamed… It was so overwhelming that Feng Xun couldn’t think straight.

“Xuan Yi! I’m gonna kill you! Ahhh —”

Before Xuan Yi could react, Feng Xun charged at him and threw a punch at Xuan Yi.

Xuan Yi knew that Feng Xun needed to vent his frustration now, or the guy would explode.

“Bring it on!” Xuan Yi calmly accepted the challenge.

The wind that was kicked up blew snow off the ground, and blades glinted in the sunlight.

The fight was so unexpected that everyone in the campsite was bewildered and flustered.

Mu Yaoyao was still crying her eyes out when —

Everyone rushed out.

“Young Lord Feng and Young Lord Xuan are fighting!”

“Oh god, why?!”

“It’s for real!”

“Young Lord Feng just got kicked away!”

“And he’s back on his feet!”

–

Everyone had heard the noise, and Feng Wu was no exception. She rushed out of the cabin.

“Stop!”

Seeing how fiercely the two of them were fighting, Feng Wu cried out.

By then, Xuan Yi and Feng Xun were pretty much done, and Feng Xun had bruises all over his face…

Naturally, Feng Wu ran toward Feng Xun first.

“Feng…”

Feng Xun took a step back as soon as Feng Wu opened her mouth.

“Feng Xun, what’s wrong…”

Feng Wu took Feng Xun’s hand, but he threw it off immediately!

Feng Wu frowned.

But before she could say another word, Feng Xun cast a stern look at Feng Wu. “Don’t talk to me!”

After that, he walked away as quickly as he could, as if he was being chased by some monster!

That surprised the crowd.

“What’s going on?”

“Doesn’t Young Lord Feng care for Feng Wu a lot?”

“That’s right. He once said that Feng Wu was his friend, and that picking on Feng Wu would be the same as picking on him.”

“But did you see the look he gave Feng Wu? It was as if he saw a ghost!”

Mu Yaoyao was ecstatic to hear that!

“That is to say, Young Lord Feng hates Feng Wu now!” Mu Yaoyao cried out.

Many in the crowd thought the same.

“Young Lord Feng hates Feng Wu? What did Feng Wu do to deserve that?”

“Can’t you tell?!” Yao Ying, Mu Yaoyao’s minion, snorted. “You’ve all seen how frivolous Feng Wu is! She was all over His Royal Highness in the beginning, and when that didn’t work out, she moved on to Yu Mingye. I saw her going to His Royal Highness again just then. Of course Young Lord Feng would be mad!”

“How can Feng Wu do that?!”

“Young Lord Feng has every right to be mad.”

Mu Yaoyao smirked. “She used to have Feng Xun to back her up, but now… Heh. Both His Royal Highness and Yu Mingye have stopped talking to her. I’d like to see who she can turn to now that she’s lost Young Lord Feng’s support!”

In the outside world —

Zuo Ming, the head of the Zuo clan, had requested to try and reconnect Imperial College with Proud Snowfield.

What was more, the Zuo clan had a plan of their own. The news already spread before Zuo Ming came to court.

“Your Majesty —” Master Bai whispered in Emperor Wu’s ear, “the families of the candidates are petitioning outside. They’re all kneeling outside the city gates, begging for Master Zuo to try his method.”

Emperor Wu’s face turned livid.

“Your Majesty!” The empress dowager stared at Emperor Wu. “The crown prince is still trapped inside! Aren’t you worried about his safety?!”

She also wanted Zuo Ming to have a go.

“Your Majesty —”

Empress Dugu was on their side as well.

Emperor Wu suddenly recalled the day Feng Wu killed Zuo He.

After killing Zuo He, the girl said decisively that the Zuo family was responsible for destroying her True Phoenix Blood back then.

Emperor Wu wasn’t fully convinced then, but now when he saw how aggressive the family was, plus the fact that even his wife was on their side…

“Fang, what do you think?”

Emperor Wu tossed the ball to Grand Secretary Fang.

Grand Secretary Fang said with a straight face, “I have faith in Your Majesty and His Royal Highness.”

Emperor Wu nodded. He then turned to the empress dowager. “Mother, do you have faith in the crown prince?”

The empress dowager gritted her teeth. Of course she had faith in the boy! Her Baby Jun was the best! He was a genius and he was invincible. She was so worried about him, but —

“Does Your Majesty think it’s unnecessary to try?”

Emperor Wu nodded. “I believe in my son.”

The empress dowager grunted. “I do, too, but I’m still worried about his safety.

“Will the crown prince be affected by the process of reconnecting Imperial College to Proud Snowfield?”

“No, he won’t.”

“If that’s the case, why don’t we let Zuo try?” The empress dowager snorted. “Imperial College is supposed to be led by the most capable man. If Grand Secretary Fang isn’t the right person, we should find a more suitable man.”

Emperor Wu frowned.

The empress dowager then led him to one side. “He’s Zuo Qingluan’s father!”

Emperor Wu looked at his mother in bewilderment.

“He’s the crown prince’s future father-in-law!”

Emperor Wu narrowed his eyes. “The crown prince doesn’t have to…”

His mother snorted. “Only a True Phoenix like Zuo Qingluan is good enough for the crown prince! No one but her will have my blessing!”

Emperor Wu didn’t know what to say.

“I shouldn’t meddle in politics, but I will have my say on his marriage!” The empress dowager smacked the table.

Emperor Wu found her troublesome. “Zuo Qingluan can wait. I guess it won’t harm anyone to let Zuo Ming try his method.”

In the end, Emperor Wu decided that Zuo Ming should try his method.

Countless people gathered in the square outside Imperial College and waited for Zuo Ming to work his magic.

In Proud Snowfield —

Feng Wu watched in bewilderment as Feng Xun walked away.

Confused, she turned to Xuan Yi. “What’s his problem?”

Of course she was confused. Feng Xun used to act like a hyperactive puppy around her, but he looked like he had been scared off by a ghost. He had practically run away.

Xuan Yi rubbed his chin. “I think… he’s having a hard time facing you.”

“Facing me?” Feng Wu was even more confused. “What did he do? Why is facing me that scary?”

Xuan Yi rubbed his nose. “Well…”

Just then —

Buzz —

Everyone heard a buzzing sound, which they had heard once before!

Shit!

Everyone blanched!

Xuan Yi involuntarily reached out for Feng Wu, and he did the right thing!

A green tentacle was also trying to get to Feng Wu. If Xuan Yi hadn’t dragged her out of the way in time, she would have been snatched again!

“Frosty Night Beast!” Feng Wu cried out.

The next second!

Rumble!

The beast burst out of the snowy ground!

Roarrr!

With one growl, it blew away half of the candidates in the campsite!

And it blew away the other half with a second growl.

It then turned around and glared at Feng Wu.

There was a frenzied, furious look in its eyes!

Feng Wu then spotted a sword stuck in the Frosty Night Beast’s chest.

It was Jun Linyuan’s Sky Destroyer!

That was why she hadn’t seen Jun Linyuan’s sword earlier. It had pierced the beast’s heart.

But why wasn’t the beast dead?

Feng Wu realized that compared with the last time she saw it, the beast was now more powerful!

Just as the Frosty Night Beast smashed its front paw down at Feng Wu’s head —

A tall figure landed from above and stood in front of Feng Wu.

Feng Wu cried out, “It’s mutated! It’s enhanced itself!”

That was to say, the beast had become even stronger. No wonder Sky Destroyer hadn’t killed it; the beast was able to block the strike.

Jun Linyuan gave off an intimidating air as he stood there.

He seemed untouchable.

The Frosty Night Beast made an eerie, triumphant sound!

The next second!

It leapt into the air!

Jun Linyuan pushed Feng Wu away, but he remained where he was.

He dropped to avoid the beast when it was almost onto him, and the next second, Sky Destroyer was back in his hand.

Whoosh —

As soon as the blade was drawn out, blood spurted out of the wound.

It splashed everywhere and painted the ground red.

The beast roared and charged at Jun Linyuan, and they both jumped into the air.

“Run!” Feng Wu knew what was coming, and she warned the others, “The fight will start an avalanche. Run or you’ll be killed!”

The candidates were already scared. They had seen what an avalanche could do.

They scattered as soon as they heard what Feng Wu said, and were soon out of sight.

Mu Yaoyao wanted to stay, but Yao Ying warned her, “You’ll be in danger if you stay here. Do you think His Royal Highness will save you?”

Reality check.

Mu Yaoyao felt as if she had been stabbed through the heart.

“But Feng Wu…”

“Can’t you tell by now?”

Yao Ying took a deep breath. A bystander saw everything. “Someone will come to her rescue. They always do.”

It could be His Royal Highness, Yu Mingye, Xuan Yi, or Feng Xun… Someone was always there for Feng Wu.

As much as she hated to admit it, Mu Yaoyao couldn’t retort.

“Slut!” Mu Yaoyao cursed under her breath, then hurried off.

“You, leave us.” Xuan Yi gave Feng Wu a little nudge, then rushed over to help Jun Linyuan.

Feng Xun also showed up out of nowhere. He ignored Feng Wu and ran to fight alongside Jun Linyuan as well.

Feng Wu shook her head. That wouldn’t do.

That beast was so emboldened because it knew that it had poisoned Jun Linyuan! He had been forcing himself to act normally!

Feng Wu looked up.

Before the beast, Jun Linyuan looked so towering and invincible!

But…

He really should be lying down and resting now.

With every bit of spiritual essence he summoned, the toxin that had yet to clear from his system would move a little bit closer to his heart, bringing him one step closer to death!

Feng Wu’s stomach lurched!

She couldn’t wait anymore!

Thump!

Feng Xun was smashed to the ground by the beast, and the impact created a pit in the snow.

A pit? An idea struck Feng Wu all of a sudden!

Yes!

Feng Wu pulled Feng Xun out of the pit, but Feng Xun brushed her hand off as if she were a venomous snake!

That was so strange.