Chapter 389

“The person the princess saw at the Heavenly Book Academy… seems somewhat familiar.”

“Ji You, when the human envoy visited the Snowlands, there was a man severely wounded and unconscious due to a barbarian attack—he was him.”

“No wonder the princess knows him; turns out this fellow is the one who injured General Chao Cang—yet he’s so young.”

Within the Shengjing Immortal Garden, Lin Dou and Yashan sat quietly in the leisure courtyard, chatting softly after returning from the Heavenly Book Academy.

They hadn’t stayed long at the Heavenly Book Academy, as this visit was entirely impromptu; only Feng Yang had any real purpose, while the others were merely accompanying him, with nothing essential they had to see.

After strolling through the inner and outer courtyards and observing the inner disciples cultivating in the Purple Bamboo Meditation Grove, they returned.

Given his own concerns, Yashan’s first thought upon confirming Ji You’s identity was Chao Cang’s injury—he felt a sudden surge of battle lust.

Lin Dou, however, was thinking of Feng Yang’s slightly raised earlobes and her faintly pink cheeks.

Those were all signs of a demon race woman in love…

Yet Feng Yang’s subsequent response seemed to negate that, making him wonder if he’d imagined it.

He stood on a green stone beside the courtyard, repeatedly pressing it into the flowerbed with his foot, his expression showing faint irritation.

“The Leftiu Hall Master of the Heavenly Book Academy is indeed as cunning as rumored—though he hides it well, he’s been observing us all along.”

“A Perfect Realm among the Top Five, the final stage before Ascension—how would our demon race’s Demon King Realm fare against him?”

On the Star-Gazing Tower to the east of the garden, Ye Han sipped tea and murmured to his sister.

But as he spoke, he noticed she didn’t respond, so he turned to look.

Feng Yang held her teacup, her gaze fixed on the high sun, yet her eyes were unfocused—clearly distracted.

Ye Han set down his teacup: “Did you see what you came to see at the Heavenly Book Academy?”

Feng Yang nodded at the sound: “I’ve gained a little understanding.”

“Your attitude surprised me, actually.”

“Why?” Feng Yang looked at him, puzzled.

“On the day you first arrived in Yunzhou, Yu Ling ordered his retainers to deliver a chest of medical texts to please you—do you remember?”

Feng Yang didn’t know why he brought this up, but nodded: “Xiao Rou passed them on to me later; the content was quite good.”

“Actually, those texts weren’t originally passed by Xiao Rou—I placed them in your room myself. I saw those portraits in your room, then told Xiao Rou not to disturb you. And on the day you led our people to migrate, you said you lingered in the Northern Frontier because it was your first time seeing the Nine Provinces—but you actually went to Fengzhou, didn’t you?”

Ye Han turned his gaze toward the direction of Nishan and murmured: “We’ve grown up together since childhood; you can’t hide things from me. You like that human, Ji You—but why didn’t you speak to him today?”

At the word “like,” Feng Yang’s eyelashes trembled slightly.

She hadn’t expected her brother to notice so closely, nor that he’d uncover her secret now.

Yet she showed no panic, only gently tapping the table with her slender fingers.

“Before coming to the Nine Provinces, I never understood why Father, you, and the Five Clan Leaders were so stubborn about returning here. But now that I’ve truly seen the Nine Provinces, I realize our people shouldn’t suffer in the frozen wastes. I still hate war, yet I ache for our people’s plight.”

Feng Yang looked at Ye Han: “If we stay in Yunzhou, we cannot live in peace with the humans. I am the demon race princess—I must consider my subjects’ feelings.”

Ye Han paused slightly: “So that’s why you refuse to even look at him?”

“Liking is my own matter—like liking the stars, like liking the sun and moon. It need not be known by the stars, need not be understood by the sun and moon, and need not concern him at all.”

As she spoke, Feng Yang gazed at the blue sky, her voice soft and still as calm water, without ripple or wave.

Liking is a solitary thing—it can be entirely unrelated to the other.

Just as the stars don’t know you love them, the sun and moon don’t know you love them, and you don’t need them to love you back.

Ye Han was momentarily stunned—he hadn’t expected such an answer. After staring at his sister for a long while, he spoke: “I never realized you thought this way.”

Feng Yang turned her head: “I’m no longer that naive little girl.”

“Do you feel sad?”

“Perhaps a little. But my knowledge of him comes only from hearsay—I haven’t felt anything strong yet.”

“Then choose one of the Five Clans’ heirs and marry him.”

“I won’t marry.”

“Why not?”

Feng Yang placed her teacup on the table: “I can remain silent for my people—and I can choose not to marry for myself.”

Ye Han straightened up instantly: “Are you planning to remain unmarried for life?”

“Does my elder brother fear he can’t afford to support me?”

“Feng Yang…”

“Elder brother, don’t bother trying to persuade me. You know I’ve never listened to advice since childhood—even Father couldn’t change me. How could you?”

After setting down her teacup, Feng Yang rose gracefully: “We’re leaving soon. The humans have many small trinkets I find fascinating—I’ve arranged to go shopping with Xiao Rou. Will you come with us?”

Ye Han fell silent for a long while, then shook his head: “Enjoy yourselves. Remember to bring back gifts for Mother.”

“Then I’ll take my leave first.”

“Feng Yang.”

“?”

Feng Yang had taken one step forward when she heard her brother call her name. She halted and turned, glancing at him in confusion.

“Someone saw Ji You in the city yesterday. Enter through Chunhua Alley, turn into the second alleyway to the west—that’s where he lives now.” Ye Han twisted the bone-carved bracelet on his wrist: “The Ancient Sages’ Sacred Ground is our demon race’s chance. We will launch war when it opens to seize its destiny entirely. Your next meeting with him may well be the moment you live or he dies.”

Feng Yang fell silent for a long time, her red lips pressing together slightly, then bowed slightly and took her leave.

Watching his sister pass through the courtyard, Ye Han rested his hand on the railing.

Father had always told him that to truly become master of the Nine Provinces, the most important things were the Dao’s will and destiny—he hadn’t lied to Feng Yang.

The humans wish to repair the Ancient Sages’ Sacred Ground and restore its destiny; the demon race intends to replace them now.

Given Ji You’s strength and character, after this new dawn replaces the old, he would never submit to the demon race. Even if the Five Clan Leaders united, they couldn’t capture him alive without killing him—let alone make him your servant.

Moreover, those not of our kind have different hearts; keeping him alive would surely bring future trouble. So your feelings for him must remain a regret—but I hope to lessen that regret for you, even just a little.

Ye Han stared for a long while, then slapped his palm against the wooden railing.

Damn it, this damned human with his yellow hair!!

“Princess Feng Yang.”

“Lord Lin Dou, good afternoon.”

“Where are you going, Princess?”

In the front courtyard teahouse, Lin Dou, seeing Feng Yang approach through the courtyard, eagerly spoke up.

Feng Yang, accompanied by her maid, paused and bowed slightly: “My elder brother instructed me to go out and buy gifts for Mother to bring back.”

“I’ve come to know Shengjing a bit from these days of wandering. Would you like me to accompany you?”

“No need to trouble you—women’s items aren’t suitable for men to help choose.”

“I apologize for my presumption…”

Feng Yang responded with a faint smile, then softly called to her maid Xiao Rou, and the two left the garden.

Shengjing City was vast; just the East and West Markets could take two days to explore, and the shops lining Yongsheng Street were countless, dazzling the eyes.

Princess Feng Yang bought gifts for nearly everyone around her: Father, Mother, younger siblings, and even her master, Baoli Shoushou.

She also bought small, delicate trinkets: clay whistles, rattle drums, small copper gongs, pigeon carts—she bought dozens of each, planning to take them back to Yunzhou and place them in the new clinic to give to the children who came for treatment.

These items added up to many, but they didn’t need to be carried by hand—the merchants could deliver them; all she had to do was instruct them to send the goods to the garden. So as they wandered, their hands remained empty.

From the hour of Ri Die (unshin) to Shen Hour, the sun began its descent.

At this moment, Feng Yang and her maid Xiao Rou arrived at the middle of Changjie. There lay Chunfeng Alley, which led through to Chunhua Alley.

Seeing the deep, narrow alley before her, Feng Yang paused gently.

She knew what her brother’s final words meant, and understood the implication behind his tone.

This might be her last time in Shengjing. And since she refused to fight on the battlefield and couldn’t bear to witness the slaughter of living beings, this was likely her final chance—there would be no more.

After long thought, Feng Yang stepped into the alley, her crimson eyes flickering.

As her personal maid, Xiao Rou naturally followed behind. She had already prepared to head straight south back to the garden, never expecting the princess to suddenly change direction—so she cast a puzzled glance.

Yet despite her confusion, she followed, and together they passed through streets and alleys until they reached a pair of double doors.

What puzzled her even more was that her princess stopped right there—didn’t knock, just stood silently.

“Princess…?”

“Wait here for a while.”