"didn't you hear me? get the hell off that dais!"

how long did she plan to stand there and be gawked at for?!

there was a frown on jun linyuan's stunningly handsome face, and he looked displeased.

he said, "i'll let you off the hook today. interrupt a class again, and i'll have you kicked out of this college!"

he trusted that after this, no other boy would dare sit next to her or have a private conversation with her.

feng wu was so frustrated!

he was the one who made her give the lecture, and when everything was going fine, he told her to get her ass down from there!

he had threatened her with her classmates' lives before cutting her off!

so what if he was the crown prince?! big deal!

feng wu was furious. her cheeks flushed and blue veins popped in the corner of her forehead!

given the option, she would throttle jun linyuan right now. however, she had neither the capability nor the power.

hmph! she would find the broken star pieces and cure her beautiful master. no one would pick on her again when her beautiful master was around!

at that thought, feng wu threw a frustrated glance at jun linyuan, then ran out of the classroom.

feng wu had run away?!

the other students stared in bewilderment. the crown prince had let feng wu run away?

she was able to get away after offending his royal highness?

the crown prince's face couldn't be any darker. his black eyes seemed to be covered with a bloody red mist.

rising to his feet, he stepped out on long legs, and the next second, he was nowhere to be seen.

feng xun and xuan yi exchanged looks... now that boss jun and feng wu were gone, there was no need for them to remain here any longer.

hence, they took off as well.

they left as fast as they had come, and were out of sight in no time.

a hush fell over the classroom.

outside.

feng wu rushed out in frustration, and needed an outlet for her anger.

that jun linyuan was such a jerk!

she would love to see him pull that arrogant stunt again after her beautiful master woke up!

feng wu was still angrily headed for the school gate, when a tall figure suddenly blocked her path.

she had been walking with her head down as she complained inwardly about jun linyuan, and hadn't been paying attention to where she was going. she bumped into the man.

the impact made feng wu see stars. cursing under her breath, she thought she had to be having the worst day of her life. why did she keep bumping into people?

however, her face turned livid as soon as she looked up.

"jun. lin. yuan!" feng wu uttered his name through gritted teeth.

seeing feng wu's bruised nose and teary eyes, jun linyuan felt himself go soft inside.

he raised a hand to touch feng wu's nose, but feng wu was on the alert, and only backed away. she glared at him furiously!

just then, feng xun and xuan yi arrived in a hurry.

feng wu turned her teary eyes on feng xun.

it pained feng xun to see her like that. that was his baby sister, and she looked as pitiful as a puppy dog. he couldn't bear to see her like this.

feng xun rushed to her in a hurry. "kiddo, what happened? who did this to you?"

feng wu glanced at feng xun with tears welling up in her eyes as she pointed at jun linyuan. "it's him! now get revenge for me!"

feng xun rubbed his head with a bitter smile. as her big brother, he would have lunged at the guy who dared to pick on her.

however, that guy just happened to be boss jun...

and he was only bullying her as a way of showing his affection.

"come over here -"

feng xun led feng wu behind an old tree. he then said in a low voice, "my dear sister -"

Feng Wu stared at Feng Xun. "If I'm still your sister, beat him up for me!"

She decided that she would stop reasoning with him and do as she pleased!

Feng Xun felt a headache coming on, and he tried to reason with her. "Dear sister, it's not what you think. Boss Jun is actually..."

Feng Wu said, "Are you saying that he doesn't pick on me?"

Feng Xun said, "No, he does do that."

Feng Wu said, "So, your sister gets bullied, and you're going to do nothing? What kind of brother are you?"

Feng Xun said, "You're my dearest sister, but some guys show their affection by picking on the girl they like. You see where I'm going with this?"

Feng Xun knew that Boss Jun was beyond saving, but he might be able to persuade little Feng Wu.

However, Feng Wu almost choked on her own breath after she heard that.

"Cough, cough -"

She flushed, gasping for air.

"Sister, are you alright?"

Feng Xun reached out to hold Feng Wu's hand, but she threw him off.

She looked at Feng Xun as if he was an idiot. "Are you telling me that your Boss Jun likes me?"

Feng Xun nodded repeatedly. "Yes, that's it."

As unbelievable as it sounded, he was telling the truth. He had also learned it the hard way.

Feng Wu said, "You're saying that your Boss Jun is bullying me only because he likes me?"

Feng Xun kept nodding. "Yes. That's right."

Feng Wu gave him a "what an idiot" look. "Gimme your hand."

Was she trying to check her pulse? Did she think he was nuts?

Feng Xun didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

He knew how unbelievable it sounded, but it didn't make what he said any less true!

He tried to convince Feng Wu. "Xiao Wu, if you try to understand Boss Jun, you'll see that he actually likes you a lot..."

Feng Wu snorted.

"He likes me? He bullies me because he likes me? By abusing me, setting me up, and annoying me? If that's how liking someone works, I'm sorry, that's too much affection for me to take!"

Feng Wu thought Feng Xun had lost his mind!

From Feng Wu's point of view, Jun Linyuan had shown nothing but antagonism and repulsion toward her. He was mean, domineering, and vicious!

And Feng Xun called that affection?!

Feng Xun scratched his head. He knew that Boss Jun had a strange way of courting a girl, but that didn't make what he said any less true.

Feng Xun tried to convince Feng Wu, using what Xuan Yi told him before. However, he had only just started, before Feng Wu pushed him away and ran off.

She stood boldly in front of Jun Linyuan and met his gaze with her bloodshot eyes. She smirked. "Jun Linyuan, I heard that you like me. Is that true?"

She took the initiative!

That was so straightforward!

Instantly, everything fell into a hush, and it became so quiet that everyone could hear their hearts beating!

For a brief moment, Jun Linyuan forgot to breathe. He tensed up and his mind went blank. He didn't know what to do.

He could see the taunting and scornful look in Feng Wu's eyes.

Did he like her? Jun Linyuan didn't know the answer to that, but he did know that he couldn't admit it even if the answer was yes!

The last thing he wanted was to be laughed at by this girl!

Raising her chin proudly, Feng Wu sneered at Jun Linyuan. She then glowered. "Feng Xun said you like me. Is that true?"

Feng Xun?!

Jun Linyuan's pupils contracted, and a dark red mist seemed to blur his vision again.

Jun Linyuan's pupils contracted, and a dark red mist seemed to blur his vision. He then turned his sharp gaze on Feng Xun.

Poor Feng Xun. The crown prince's ferocious glare froze him in place.

Staring at Jun Linyuan, Feng Wu pressed. She repeated the question. "Is that it? You like me?"

Both Feng Xun and Xuan Yi stared at Jun Linyuan unblinkingly.

Tell her! Now!

Your Royal Highness, she'll never know your feelings if you don't tell her!

However, Jun Linyuan had seen the sneer in Feng Wu's eyes, and a guy as proud as he was would never admit the truth.

"Of course I don't! Don't flatter yourself!" The crown prince was all about saving face, and he glared at Feng Wu for what she said.

Oh god...

Exchanging looks, Feng Xun and Xuan Yi both cried out in their heads.

Naturally, Feng Wu flushed again, and she turned to glare at Feng Xun. "Is that what you call 'like me'?"

Feng Xun was rendered speechless.

Before he could explain, Feng Wu ran off.

"Hey..." Feng Xun stomped his foot in frustration. Turning around, he wanted to complain to Jun Linyuan, but before he could say anything, Jun Linyuan's intimidating energy had already filled the air!

The unbelievable power almost crushed Feng Xun and Xuan Yi's spines like an enormous mountain.

Both of them broke out sweating and felt chills run down their spines.

"Hmph!"

Jun Linyuan's already dark eyes seemed to turn even darker. They could smell danger in the air, as if a storm was brewing!

The crown prince flipped his sleeves and stormed off.

Xuan Yi and Feng Xun were left behind, eyeing each other in bewilderment.

Both their backs were hunched, as if they had a mountain on their shoulders, for Jun Linyuan's energy had expanded to fill the entire area.

Feng Xun gave Xuan Yi a pitiful look. "Now I know what it's been like for you."

Xuan Yi shrugged.

Feng Xun said, "Why do I feel that we've made it worse?"

Xuan Yi shrugged again.

Feng Xun said, "Will the two of them ever stop? They're so unpredictable and they fight nonstop. But in the end, we're the ones who suffer the consequences."

Xuan Yi heaved a sigh.

Feng Xun asked, "What are we going to do now?"

Xuan Yi said, "Just let it be."

Feng Wu headed back home, still angry, and Chaoge caught up to her on the way.

"Xiao Wu, are you alright?" Chaoge was concerned.

Feng Wu gritted her teeth!

Chaoge looked at her sympathetically. "I don't know what it is with His Royal Highness. Why are you the only one he picks on? What are we gonna do?"

Feng Wu ground her teeth.

Chaoge said, "We've only been in school for a day."

Feng Wu sighed in resignation. Chaoge was right. It was only the first day of school, and she still had four more years to go...

After she got back home, Feng Wu jumped into Fang Manor right away.

Grand Secretary Fang stayed at home most of the time these days, since he could cultivate more efficiently thanks to the Taiyi Formation.

"You want to... withdraw from school?" Grand Secretary Fang was teaching Feng Xiaoqi when Feng Wu arrived, and he looked up at her after hearing those words.

Feng Wu said, "Not exactly. I'll be studying on my own outside school, and I'll only show up for the exams."

Stroking his beard, Grand Secretary Fang gave it some thought. "You're only in Year 1 and the formation classes are indeed too easy for you... Try to cultivate in the Taiyi Formation for a few days; pick the spot you find the most efficient."

Feng Wu was elated.

Having the principal of Imperial College as a friend sure came in handy.

For the next three days, Feng Wu stayed in the Taiyi Formation for her cultivation.

All the time she spent in the Taiyi formation paid off. After Feng Wu started cultivating, she felt the spiritual energy flow freely into her body without any hindrance at all.The spiritual essence ran into her body like mischievous fairies. She couldn't stop it even if she wanted to.

Feng Wu was a Level 6 Spiritual Grandmaster, and after three days, she reached perfection at that level. She was that close to making a breakthrough.

But to achieve that required serendipity, and Feng Wu was stuck. The breakthrough just wouldn't happen.

Feng Wu stopped cultivating and opened her eyes.

Right after that, she met Grand Secretary Fang's knowing eyes, which still had a surprised look in them that he wasn't quick enough to hide.

"You're about to make a breakthrough again?" Grand Secretary Fang looked at Feng Wu in amazement.

He had never seen a kid make such swift progress. She had only just leveled up, but she was ready to move on to the next level again.

Feng Wu smiled. "The Taiyi formation is as amazing as it's said to be. It only takes me half the time to cultivate."

Feng Wu had thought that it would be a while before she reached the Spiritual Elder stage. As it turned out, she didn't have to wait that long.

A Spiritual Elder... That was what Zuo Qingluan was now.

Just then, there was knocking on the door outside.

Feng Wu looked at Grand Secretary Fang in bewilderment.

Grand Secretary Fang frowned. "It's them again."

"Them?" Feng Wu asked curiously.

Grand Secretary Fang frowned a little and didn't reply. Steward Fang answered with a wry smile, "Ever since my old master's sensational breakthrough, a lot more people started visiting us. It used to be very quiet here."

Feng Wu could see why that was the case. After his retirement, Grand Secretary Fang had had far less visitors. However, now that he had been promoted to principal of Imperial College, and with his capability now on par with Mr Lu's, it was only natural that more people would start to show up.

It was just that Grand Secretary Fang had turned all of them away to have some peace and quiet.

Since the Taiyi formation extended all the way to encompass Fallen Star Yard, Feng Wu could cultivate at home as well. Qiuling, Uncle Qiu, and Chaoge were all absorbing the spiritual essence and working on their cultivation there.

Feng Wu came back to Fallen Star Yard to find the place very quiet. Everyone was working hard.

As she was free at the moment, which was very rare, Feng Wu sat down under the grape trellis and considered her current situation.

Since she had found the first broken star piece, it was time she started looking for the second one.

Feng Wu couldn't wait to get all the pieces.

But... where could the second piece be? Feng Wu had no idea at all, but she faintly recalled that Jun Linyuan had mentioned that it was in Imperial College.

Feng Wu couldn't sit still anymore. She ran next door to Grand Secretary Fang.

"Broken star pieces?" Grand Secretary Fang frowned.

Feng Wu asked, "Have you never heard of them?"

Grand Secretary Fang shook his head. "As a matter of fact, I haven't... Are they very important?"

Feng Wu seldom looked this serious. "More important than my life."

Grand Secretary Fang didn't say anything in reply. It seemed that they were really very important.

"Maybe the other elders know about it. Hold on." Grand Secretary Fang then contacted the others.

Feng Wu waited patiently.

Meanwhile, in the crown prince's residence -

Feng and Granny Gong stood outside the study in utter silence, exchanging not a single word.

Granny Gong then heaved a sigh. "His Royal Highness has shut himself inside for two days. When is he going to break free of this mood?"

Feng looked up at the sky.

Because of the crown prince's rage, dark clouds had gathered overhead, covering the entire sky over the residence. Cold air filled the place and everyone was as silent as cicadas in autumn. It was too scary for them to utter a word.Feng sighed in resignation.

Chang San, the captain of the guards in the residence, was standing next to Feng side at the moment.

"Mr Feng, His Royal Highness has been in a bad mood for two days... It's never been this long before..." Chang San pulled a long face. "He must have reprimanded over a hundred officials and generals already."

Reprimand was an understatement. To be more precise, he had given them absolute hell.

Feng smiled bitterly. It had really been going on for too long.

"Who offended His Royal Highness this time?" Chang San cringed. "And when is it going to end?"

Luckily, His Royal Highness had only lashed out at the civil and military officials and the generals of the imperial guards. None of his close subordinates had been affected yet.

But who knew what could happen if his mood stayed like this.

Just then -

"Chang San, get you ass in here!" The crown prince's grumpy voice came from inside the room.

Chang San's eyes widened, and he turned to Feng for help.

What should he do now?!

Feng and Granny Gong looked the other way, as if they hadn't heard a thing...

Chang San had to force himself to go in when in fact, he wanted to cry for help.

Soon, they hear angry roars from inside.

Both Feng and Granny Gong felt their stomachs lurch.

Chang San came out about fifteen minutes later with blood oozing from his ears, nostrils, and the corner of his mouth. He looked listless. When the captain saw Feng, he almost burst into tears.

"Who on earth offended His Royal Highness?" Chang San hadn't seen that coming, and he was devastated.

"Who do you think?" Feng darted a glance at Chang San.

Luckily, Chang San was no fool. He saw the light right away. "Do you mean... Miss Feng Wu?"

Feng raised his head, looking like he knew nothing at all.

Rolling up his sleeves, Chang San headed for the door.

Feng asked, "Where are you going?"

Chang San said, "To find him a fire extinguisher!"

And he didn't go alone. Together with a team of his men, Chang San headed for the Feng manor.

Meanwhile, Feng Wu was waiting for the result of Grand Secretary Fang's inquiry.

If Grand Secretary Fang could find a lead on the broken star pieces, she wouldn't have to go to Jun Linyuan anymore. God knew how irritated she was even at just the thought of Jun Linyuan. The anger was simply uncontrollable.

"How did it go?" Feng Wu stared at Grand Secretary Fang nervously.

Grand Secretary Fang nodded at her. "I don't have the exact location of the broken star pieces, but... I have a lead."

"Really?" Feng Wu's eyes lit up.

Something was better than nothing; she could work with that.

"What lead?" Feng Wu stared at Grand Secretary Fang earnestly.

Grand Secretary Fang was secretly surprised. He had never seen the girl so devoted to something.

He told her, "Xuanyuan Kun is the person you should start working on."

"As in Elder Xuanyuan?" Feng Wu's eyes flickered.

Elder Xuanyuan was one of the seven members of the education board, and back in Yu Yue's office, that old man had wanted Feng Wu dead.

Grand Secretary Fang recalled the incident as well, and his face darkened. "Xuanyuan Kun isn't exactly your friend. Moreover, the Xuanyuan clan has close ties with the Zuo clan. You..."

By now, Grand Secretary Fang had learned about the enmity between Feng Wu and Zuo Qingluan. He couldn't help but worry about her dealing with the Zuo family.

"It's better than nothing," Feng Wu said with a brooding look in her eyes.As long as she had something to work with, she would find those broken star pieces, no matter what it took!

Back at the Feng manor.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Someone banged on the gate of the Feng manor.

Ever since Feng Wu's beautiful mother beat the crap out of Feng Yanfeng the other day, the guy had been too humiliated to leave the house. He had stayed at home, claiming to be sick.

The day he finally summoned up the courage to go out, the elderly steward came in.