“Grand State Preceptor!”
Prince Ning watched as Chen Qing was sent flying by the white wolf with a single strike and shouted in alarm.
Chen Qing opened his mouth, as if trying to respond to the prince, but instead coughed up another mouthful of blood.
The white wolf advanced step by step.
“Protect His Highness!” someone roared. The stunned guards, steeling themselves, rushed forward to stand between the wolf and Prince Ning.
“Awooo—” The wolf howled, swiping its claws. The guards were instantly sent flying like willow catkins in a fierce gust, landing clumsily on the ground not far away.
“T-That’s one terrifying wolf,” Xiao Xiaoxiao stammered beside Yun Qingxue, swallowing hard. Suddenly, she felt a pang of worry. Even though she was a ghost now, who knew if this wolf was picky? She prayed it wouldn’t go so far as to devour spirits too…
She had already died once—she didn’t want to die again as a ghost, especially not by being eaten by a wolf!
With all obstacles effortlessly swept aside, the white wolf calmly strode toward Prince Ning and Yun Qingxue.
Faced with such a bizarre and powerful beast, only one thought flashed through Xiao Xiaoxiao’s mind: run!
True to the saying “a friend in need is a friend indeed,” even as she bolted, Xiao Xiaoxiao didn’t forget to grab Yun Qingxue’s hand.
Poor Prince Ning was still standing with his arms outstretched in a protective stance when Yun Qingxue was abruptly yanked away by Xiao Xiaoxiao, fleeing backward.
In an instant, everyone was stunned by the Flower King’s sudden desertion. Prince Ning’s emotions were particularly complicated—or rather, his heart had turned ice-cold. A desolate sense of abandonment welled up from deep within.
He had risked his life to shield Yun Qingxue, yet she had abandoned him and fled with her maid…
Though Chen Qing was still sprawled on the ground, unable to rise, his sharp eyes never left Prince Ning and Yun Qingxue.
Now, seeing Yun Qingxue abandon Prince Ning to save herself, Chen Qing was livid. He had always said demons were heartless and ungrateful! Even a divine being like the Flower King, a noble of another race, was this selfish!
Prince Ning of the human race had thrown himself in harm’s way for her, yet she cared only for her own survival. Such a selfish woman—no wonder she would bring calamity to the world in the future! Xiao Xiaoxiao’s act of dragging Yun Qingxue away only solidified Chen Qing’s resolve to kill her.
But now, as the white wolf charged toward Prince Ning—who knew no magic—Chen Qing roared and leaped into the air, launching himself at the beast.
“Evil creature, you dare run rampant?!”
Yun Qingxue, pulled along by Xiao Xiaoxiao for a few steps, snapped out of her daze and forcefully shook off her hand.
Xiao Xiaoxiao stumbled to a halt, turning back in alarm. “If we don’t run now, we’ll be wolf food!”
“Xiaoxiao, you go first!” Yun Qingxue took a step back. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Chen Qing soaring into the air, casting spells once more to save Prince Ning.
A cold smirk curled her lips, her eyes narrowing.
So the Grand State Preceptor of the human race wasn’t as weak as he pretended. He had taken a single hit from the wolf, collapsed, and spat blood—all an act!
To think Chen Qing was willing to sacrifice even Prince Ning, second only to the emperor in status, just to eliminate her. He truly spared no expense!
Chen Qing engaged the white wolf in fierce combat.
Yun Qingxue dashed back, grabbing Prince Ning’s hand and pulling him away. Whatever grudge she held against Chen Qing, Prince Ning’s earlier act of shielding her had moved her somewhat.
Besides, if Chen Qing somehow survived the wolf’s claws, Prince Ning would still be of great use to her.
“You…” Prince Ning, hand in hand with Yun Qingxue as they fled, felt his chilled heart warm again. He began concocting excuses for her earlier abandonment—perhaps the Flower King had some other plan…
“Flower King,” Prince Ning said after a few steps, pulling his hand free.
Frowning, Yun Qingxue turned to him, only to see him smile gently.
“I appreciate your kindness, Flower King. But our Grand State Preceptor is risking his life against the wolf demon. As a prince of my people, how can I abandon him and flee alone?”
“Idiot!”
The word flashed contemptuously through Yun Qingxue’s mind. Couldn’t Prince Ning see that Chen Qing had been ready to sacrifice him—the emperor’s own brother—just to kill her?
“Prince Ning, look—the Grand State Preceptor is locked in battle with the wolf. If we stay, we’ll only hinder him!”
Her words were a subtle hint: the supposedly gravely injured Grand State Preceptor was now fighting with full vigor—didn’t that strike him as odd?
Of course, she didn’t expect a few sentences to sever Prince Ning’s trust in Chen Qing. But even a sliver of doubt would be a victory.
Throughout history, the strongest bonds—between brothers, friends, rulers and ministers—had crumbled under the weight of suspicion.
Yun Qingxue knew she couldn’t openly defeat Chen Qing. So she had never planned to fight fair. In her scheme to avenge A’Dai, Prince Ning was a crucial piece.
She would seize every chance to sow discord between him and Chen Qing. Ideally, before reaching the human capital, she’d plant the seeds of deep mistrust in Prince Ning’s heart. Once their alliance fractured, striking at Chen Qing would be far safer.
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