This girl had just yelled at him. How dare she.

However…

Despite her reproach, Jun Linyuan didn’t feel offended at all. Instead, he even basked in her attitude, for it gave him the feeling that she cared for him.

That was so strange!

The crown prince got rid of that idea immediately and turned his attention back to Feng Wu, who was busy treating his wound.

Only… this felt so familiar, as if the same thing had happened before.

The girl’s smell, the look in her eyes, and her frown…

“That’s too much!” Jun Linyuan sounded displeased when he saw what Feng Wu was doing.

Did she have too many gauze bandages or what? How many more layers did she want to wrap around him?

Feng Wu threw a dirty look at him. “Do you have any idea how badly you’re injured? The beast’s claws were so close to your heart! One centimeter more and you would already be dead!”

She went on, “And that’s not the only injury you have. There are cuts all over your abdomen! They’ll get worse if I don’t wrap them up! Feel free to ignore your own health, but I won’t!”

“You care about my health?” Jun Linyuan asked in a mesmerizing and husky voice.

Feng Wu glanced at him. “A doctor cares about all her patients.”

Jun Linyuan grunted, but didn’t say anything.

All of a sudden, he blurted out, “There’s this person I really dislike.”

“Who’s that?” Feng Wu asked without looking up. She was finishing up with the bandages.

Jun Linyuan’s stare was intense.

Feng Wu paused a little, but before she could say anything, Jun Linyuan went on, stressing each word and keeping his gaze on her the entire time. “She’s this girl I met in Frozen Forest.”

Feng Wu’s heart skipped a beat.

A girl he met in Frozen Forest… Wasn’t that Feng Wu herself?

Her heart was pounding.

“She must be very pretty, then?” Feng Wu swore her voice was trembling.

“No, she wasn’t.”

“Right.” Can we please change the subject, Your Royal Highness? Aren’t you supposed to be a man of few words? What’s with all the small talk now?

“She’s a thief.” Jun Linyuan snorted and emphasized in a childish manner, “An annoying thief!”

Feng Wu said, “I see… She was very bold, to offend you like that.”

Jun Linyuan actually nodded. “Bao Er would be cured by now if that girl hadn’t stolen my Immortal Spiritual Fruit. She’s still bedridden now, with her life hanging in the balance.”

“So —”

“When I catch her, I’ll chop her into pieces!” Jun Linyuan smirked.

Feng Wu almost jolted.

Seriously? She thought that Jun Linyuan had forgotten about it by now. As it turned out, he had been holding a grudge this whole time and was eager to take revenge.

Feng Wu asked tentatively, “You still haven’t caught her, then?”

“Almost there.” Staring at Feng Wu, Jun Linyuan’s lips curled into a smile.

What was that supposed to mean? Did he have a lead, or had he found out who she was?

Feng Wu didn’t dare to look into Jun Linyuan’s eyes.

However, she thought she would give herself away if she avoided eye contact. So, she forced herself to meet Jun Linyuan’s gaze with wide open eyes.

“Why did you stop?” Jun Linyuan reminded her.

“Right, yes — there’s enough gauze already, I’m going to wrap it up.” At Jun Linyuan’s reminder, Feng Wu tied another type of knot instead of a bow.

Jun Linyuan stared at Feng Wu’s nimble fingers.

Jun Linyuan stared at Feng Wu’s nimble fingers.

And he smiled a little.

Feng Wu almost broke under the pressure. Her hands were shaking so badly that she had difficulty tying the knot.

“Why are you shaking?” The crown prince’s husky voice sounded mesmerizing.

Feng Wu stared at her fingers, which were trembling from her guilty conscience… She couldn’t control it.

She said the first thing that came to her mind. “Because it’s freezing. Look at all the snow around us. And the wind! Aren’t you cold?”

What she really thought was… If Jun Linyuan learned what really happened, she would be dead before she knew it.

Just then, a heavy cape fell on Feng Wu’s lap.

“Put it on, then.”

“But you’re still injured.” Feng Wu wanted to give the cape back, but the crown prince cast her a stern glance.

Face dark, he narrowed his eyes. “Say no again. I dare you.”

Feng Wu stole a diffident glance at Jun Linyuan.

What would happen if he knew who she was…

“By the way, who’s Bao Er?” Feng Wu asked curiously.

She had heard that name from several different people already, but after all these months in the imperial capital, she still hadn’t met her.

“I’ll introduce you to her next time,” Jun Linyuan said mildly.

“Alright.” As soon as Feng Wu replied, she felt that something was off.

What was it?

Jun Linyuan then said, “I’ve lost that Immortal Spiritual Fruit. I won’t let the same thing happen to the Heart of Frost Essence this time.”

Feng Wu’s eyes widened and she stared at Jun Linyuan.

“What… do you mean?”

“The Heart of Frost Essence will help Bao Er with her illness.”

Feng Wu started shaking again!

She had asked for Yu Mingye’s help to have the physical tryout take place in Proud Snowfield, just for that Heart of Frost Essence! And Jun Linyuan was going to compete with her for it once more?

“Why are you shaking again?” Jun Linyuan noticed Feng Wu’s pale face and how badly she was trembling.

Wrapped in the big, heavy cape, the girl looked tiny in contrast. Jun Linyuan found his heart going out to her…

But he eliminated that idea from his head almost immediately.

He felt pity for the fierce Feng Wu? His head had to be muddled from fighting that beast.

Feng Wu, on the other hand, began to formulate a strategy.

From now on, she had to stay as far away from Jun Linyuan as possible… The last thing she wanted was for him to realize that she was the ugly girl. After all, he was very smart and she could never be careful enough.

Just then —

“Boss Jun, Boss Jun —”

They heard a familiar voice in the distance.

Feng Wu looked up and spotted Feng Xun!

She had been alone with Jun Linyuan in the middle of nowhere, which made her really fidgety. Feng Wu had been at a loss over what to do, when Feng Xun showed up. What a blessing!

Feng Wu was over the moon. Jumping to her feet, she waved her hands in excitement and hopped around. “I’m here! Feng Xun, we’re here!”

Jun Linyuan darted a glance at Feng Wu, looking somewhat displeased.

Was she that happy to see Feng Xun?

Was she so reluctant to be alone with him?

Feng Xun ran at lightning speed. He started off two mountains away, but seemed to reach them in no time.

“Sister!”

“Brother!”

They held hands and jumped around.

Jun Linyuan glared at them with a grim look on his face.

Since when were the two of them that close?!

“Behave yourselves!” Jun Linyuan warned them in a cold voice.

Feng Wu let go of Feng Xun’s hands right away.

She believed that since Jun Linyuan considered Feng Xun his best friend, he had to be displeased to see Feng Xun being so friendly with her.

Hmph!

At that thought, Feng Wu threw a dirty look at Jun Linyuan. The guy was such an overprotective friend. When would she get to join the club?

Feng Xun let go of Feng Wu, turned in Jun Linyuan’s direction, and saw the gauze wrapped around him

“Ahhh —” Feng Xun shrieked and blanched in astonishment.

Feng Wu jumped up in surprise.

Rushing over to Jun Linyuan, Feng Xun stared at his chest. “Boss Jun, are you hurt?!”

Jun Linyuan grunted.

“Oh god, Boss Jun, you’re injured! How did that happen?!”

Feng Wu was bemused. “Why can’t it happen?”

She had seen those scars on Jun Linyuan. One look and she knew that they had been inflicted when he was little.

Feng Xun glanced at Feng Wu. “You don’t understand. Boss Jun has never lost a fight, not even to magical beasts. He crushes all his opponents. It’s impossible to injure him.”

Feng Wu rolled her eyes. “All human beings can get hurt.”

“But Boss Jun is…”

Jun Linyuan silenced Feng Xun with a wave of his hand.

As soon as Jun Linyuan rose to his feet, Feng Wu threw the cape over his shoulders.

Luckily, she had reacted quickly enough earlier. She had taken off the cape before Feng Xun reached them. Otherwise, she could guarantee that Feng Xun would overthink it.

Jun Linyuan kept his brooding gaze on Feng Wu the entire time, which gave her the creeps.

She was even more on edge…

“Not only hasn’t Boss Jun ever gotten injured, he’s never failed any assignment either!” Feng Xun said proudly. However, he decided to tell the truth after some thought. “Well, apart from that time when he was tricked by that ugly girl in Frozen Forest.”

Feng Wu: !!!

Clenching her fists, she shot an accusing glance at Feng Xun. My dear brother, please let it drop and talk about something else!

To her surprise, Jun Linyuan interjected.

He asked, “How’s the investigation going?”

Feng Xun replied, “Boss Jun, we’re getting close. Intel says that Feng Xiaowu has arrived at the imperial capital already.”

Feng Wu’s stomach lurched!

Feng Xun went on, “There’s more. I’ve learned that Feng Xiaowu is actually a cultivator, although she pretended she had no such ability in front of us.”

Feng Xun clenched his fists. “That little liar! I was so kind to her! I trusted her and took her under my wing. That was what she did to repay me! And she even set me up!”

Overwhelmed by her guilty conscience, Feng Wu quietly back away from Feng Xun.

“You… really have a lead on her?” Flustered, Feng Wu asked gingerly.

“Yes. She was often spotted in male clothing in neighboring northern border cities such as the cities of Luo, Lian, and Hu. Following that, we’ve been able to find out a lot about her.” Feng Xun grinned.

Feng Wu almost forgot to breathe!

He was right!

She had visited those cities in her disguise as a doctor. If Jun Linyuan followed that lead, it would only be a matter of time before he found out who she really was.

“Xiao Wu, why are you trembling?” Seeing Feng Wu shake from head to toe, Feng Xun said grumpily, “You’re little Feng Wu and she’s Feng Xiaowu. Your names are a bit similar, but she’s a totally different person! Why do you look so worried?”

Feng Wu wanted to smack Feng Xun on the head!

Was he trying to make Jun Linyuan connect the two names together? Stop reminding him already!

However, Jun Linyuan pondered over those words. “Little Feng Wu… Feng Xiaowu…”

Feng Wu jumped to her feet. “Stop calling me little Feng Wu! I’m just Feng Wu!”

She was overwhelmed with regret.

Why had she called herself Feng Xiaowu back then? She should have made up another name. Wait, she used that same name when she treated patients in other cities as well; she would only have brought more trouble on herself if those people didn’t know her as Feng Xiaowu.

Scratching her head, Feng Wu was a little on edge. She had an inkling that they would figure it out sooner or later.

How about turning herself in… instead of waiting to be discovered?

No, no, no —

Judging by Jun Linyuan’s attitude, Bao Er meant the world to him!

On the other hand, Feng Wu herself was worthless in comparison.

Feng Wu believed that Jun Linyuan would snap her neck as soon as he learned the truth.

For the sake of her own life, Feng Wu couldn’t expose herself now.

She tried to change the subject and turned to Feng Xun. “Hey, why are you alone? Where are the others?”

“We split up to look for you, but I got lucky. It didn’t take me long to find you, hahaha —” Feng Xun then examined Feng Wu and looked pained.

He rubbed Feng Wu’s head. “We thought we lost you when we realized that you had been snatched by the Frosty Night Beast… I’m so glad that you’re okay. Kiddo, I was so scared.”

Feng Xun pulled Feng Wu into his arms and patted her little head.

Narrowing his eyes, Jun Linyuan yanked Feng Wu back and put her on the other side.

That almost threw Feng Wu off balance.

“Xiao Wu —”

“Are you going to stay here forever?” After throwing a dirty look at Feng Xun, the crown prince shot a warning glance at Feng Wu.

Feng Wu rubbed her nose. Well, it seemed that Feng Xun was much more important to Jun Linyuan.

Back at the campsite.

Almost everyone welcomed Feng Wu and Jun Linyuan back.

Mu Yaoyao and her people were the only exceptions. They were noticeably disappointed when they saw Feng Wu.

“Why is she still alive?”

“I thought that beast would kill her for sure.”

“It’s like what they say: annoying people are the hardest to kill. Feng Wu is so repulsive, she’ll probably live forever.”

“I bet His Royal Highness saved her, or she would never have made it back alive.”

Feng Wu ignored Mu Yaoyao and her little group. She went to find Yu Mingye as soon as she got back.

The two of them met in a quiet corner.

Seeing how flustered and nervous Feng Wu was, Yu Mingye was concerned.

“What’s wrong? Something bothering you?” Yu Mingye’s imagination ran wild again. “It’s Jun Linyuan, isn’t it? I’ll go talk to him!”

“It’s not that!” Feng Wu stopped him.

“What is it, then?”

Feng Wu gritted her teeth. “I guess you’re partially right.”

“What do you mean?”

Feng Wu said, “He’s onto me.”

“Onto you what?”

“Frozen Forest.” Yu Mingye was the only person Feng Wu could talk to on the subject.

She hadn’t admitted it when Yu Mingye questioned her before, but this was as good as tacit confirmation.

Yu Mingye understood as soon as Feng Wu said those two words.

He smacked his hand down on a pile of snow. “It really was you! You’re Feng Xiaowu! You —”

Feng Wu covered his mouth immediately!

Jun Linyuan and Feng Xun were looking everywhere for Feng Xiaowu. What if they heard him?

Luckily, it was very similar to her real name, and no one was close enough to hear them.

“Hm —” Yu Mingye gestured that he would keep his voice down, and only then did Feng Wu let go of him.

“It was you! It really was you!” Yu Mingye pointed at Feng Wu. “You naughty girl! You fooled me for so long!”

Feng Wu grinned. “Teehee.”

Yu Mingye said, “Now, tell me, was that laxative powder really one of your concoctions?”

He had actually run an investigation, and his capable staff had gotten to the bottom of it. Feng Wu had created the recipe for that laxative powder when she was just a little girl.

Feng Wu glanced at Yu Mingye, then looked into the distance. “Do you mean ‘Excruciating Soul-Destroying Bone-Crushing Mind-Poisoning Pill of Ten Thousand Ants’?”

Yu Mingye: !!!

Feng Wu beamed at him.

Embarrassed, Yu Mingye glared at Feng Wu. “You’ll never let that drop, will you?”

“I didn’t say that, pffft —”

“Feng Wu!!!”

“What now?”

“How can you talk to me like nothing happened after what you did to me? I’m so —”

Yu Mingye was still lashing out at Feng Wu about his predicament when someone interrupted them.

“What did Feng Wu do to you?”

Was that Feng Xun?

Feng Wu looked over her shoulder and almost fainted!

Jun Linyuan and Xuan Yi were also here!

And the crown prince’s face was as dark as a stormy night.

As if Feng Wu didn’t have enough on her plate, Yu Mingye decided to sling an arm over Feng Wu’s shoulders as he threw a taunting look at Jun Linyuan. He then said to Feng Xun, “Young Lord Feng, I think Feng Wu and I can work it out ourselves.”

Feng Xun snapped.

Shoving Yu Mingye off Feng Wu’s shoulders, Feng Xun pulled his sister behind him. He then glared at Yu Mingye. “I’m warning you. She’s my sister! She’s off limits!”

Yu Mingye grinned. “Brother-in-law, be civil.”

Feng Xun flared up. “Who the hell is your brother-in-law? I’m going to kill you!”

Yu Mingye shrugged. “I’m the first person your sister met after she got back. Need I say more?”

Feng Xun turned to glare at Feng Wu. “Little Feng Wu, you —”

Yu Mingye dragged Feng Wu back to his side and whispered something in her ear.

Feng Wu wanted to smack the guy on the head.

The abominable Yu Mingye was blackmailing her!

Do as he said or he would tell everyone her secret.

Feng Wu seethed with anger!

She had considered Yu Mingye a good friend and had come to him as soon as she got back. After pouring her heart out and asking him for his opinion, this was what she got in return!

Feng Wu was furious!

However, she was facing a dilemma.

She could choose to collaborate with Yu Mingye and make people think that there was something going on between the two of them.

Or, she could ignore Yu Mingye, who would then reveal her secret. When that happened, Feng Xun probably would be the first one to jump at her.

Feng Wu was so conflicted.

However, the next second —

Jun Linyuan made his move.

No one saw exactly what he did, but the next thing they knew, Feng Wu was in his arms.

Yu Mingye narrowed his eyes.

He was already a legend among people of his age, but after all his hard training, he was still inferior to Jun Linyuan!

The frustration ruined his mood.

Jun Linyuan then began to carry Feng Wu away.

“Do you think you can get between me and Xiao Wu so easily?”

Yu Mingye shouted from behind.

“I know her secret!” Exasperated, Yu Mingye said those words.

What secret?

Suspicion was roused, and everyone shot Feng Wu strange looks.

Feng Wu wanted to throttle Yu Mingye.

He had said the worst thing!

Struggling free, Feng Wu jumped off Jun Linyuan and charged at Yu Mingye. She glared at him. “Fine, you know my secret. Come, share it with everybody!”

Yu Mingye was immediately intimidated.

He stumbled back when he saw the fury in Feng Wu’s eyes.

“Speak now! Don’t hold back! What secret? Tell me! I’m listening!” Feng Wu began to roll up her sleeves.

This guy had practically handed Jun Linyuan the answer! How dare he try to provoke her? He was so dead!

Yu Mingye backed off like a deflated balloon. He gave Feng Wu a pleading look. “I… I was bluffing, that’s all. People bluff, don’t they?”

Feng Wu spoke to Feng Xun over her shoulder as she rolled up her sleeves. “I’m sorry, but we need to sort something out. Please give us some privacy.”

She was asking them to leave.

Feng Xun darted a sympathetic glance at Yu Mingye. That guy had just dug his own grave. Little Feng Wu was going to teach him a lesson now. Too bad they couldn’t stay behind to witness it.

Feng Wu sneered at Yu Mingye after the others left.

Yu Mingye stepped back. “Xiao Wu, my dear Xiao Wu, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“You’re sorry for what?”

“I, I shouldn’t have said those things.”

“And?”

“I shouldn’t have taunted Jun Linyuan.”

“And?”

“I – I shouldn’t have tried to blackmail you.”

“And?”