The fierce wind rose abruptly, and for an instant, it blew so hard that people could barely keep their eyes open.
When the gale finally died down and everyone opened their eyes, they saw a man in flowing white robes standing before Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu.
He carried an air of icy detachment, his stunningly beautiful features exuding cold air from every angle. His thin lips, lightly pressed together, held not the slightest warmth. His frost-like eyes, with just a casual sweep, instinctively struck fear into anyone who met them.
Such a handsome man, with such noble bearing, yet such a chilling, forbidding coldness about him!
The Yin Yang Sect disciples instinctively retreated two steps, and even the Black and White Wuchang took a half-step back.
But the two quickly stopped themselves. After exchanging a glance, they suddenly leapt forward together, lunging at the white-robed man.
The white-robed man looked at them coldly, not a trace of emotion on his handsome face. Just as their weapons were about to reach his face, he suddenly swept his sleeve.
A vast, boundless surge of inner power shot out, and even the Black and White Wuchang, with their deep cultivation, were instantly thrown back by the rebound of his qi.
With two dull thuds, the black and white figures crashed to the ground — the sound so heavy and muffled that it sent a chill of fear through every disciple watching.
The Black and White Wuchang struggled to get up, and looking again at the man who still stood, utterly unmoved, before the two young girls, their chests churned with stifled rage, their blood roiling violently.
Black Wuchang, unable to bear it, spat out another mouthful of dark blood: “This man… his power is unfathomable. We mustn’t continue fighting him.”
He glanced at White Wuchang, but she was still staring at Feng Jiu’er behind the white-robed man, unable to let go of her greed for the Heavenly Silkworm Garment.
But the man before them clearly wasn’t someone they could withstand — staying any longer would be pointless.
“Hmph!” White Wuchang suddenly turned and walked away.
Black Wuchang immediately led his men after her, retreating at full speed.
They hadn’t come to the imperial city to fight — and since the Heavenly Silkworm Garment was out of reach, there was no point butting heads here for now.
They still had more important matters to attend to!
Several dozen men cleared out completely in no time at all.
Feng Jiu’er let out a long breath, wiped a hand across her forehead, and put away her short blade before walking up behind the white-robed man: “Your Highness.”
Qiao Mu was still staring, dazed — she’d been captivated the moment he arrived. If Jiu’er hadn’t just gone to pay respects, Qiao Mu might not have snapped out of it at all.
Hastily putting away her spear, she walked over too, bowing respectfully toward the figure behind Zhan Qingcheng: “Greetings, Ninth Prince.”
Zhan Qingcheng’s expression was far from pleasant. When he turned to look at Feng Jiu’er, his eyes held a complicated mix of emotions, yet remained cold.
Under his stare, Feng Jiu’er immediately felt the weight of pressure bearing down on her.
This Ninth Prince — even when he said nothing, just the way he looked at people was cold enough.
“So, Ninth Prince, what a coincidence!” Feng Jiu’er figured she’d take her usual approach — no harm in smiling at someone, so she put on her best act of playing dumb.
“What did you just call this prince?” Zhan Qingcheng’s eyes narrowed once more.
When his eyes narrowed like that, not just Feng Jiu’er but even Qiao Mu felt as though breathing itself had become difficult.
It seemed to have nothing to do with her, so Qiao Mu immediately lowered her head and began backing away, step by step, until she was a good dozen or so paces away — finally feeling somewhat safe.
Feng Jiu’er shot her a secret glare, resentment written all over her face.
To actually abandon her here alone — what a complete lack of loyalty!
Still, why exactly was she so afraid of the Ninth Prince? It wasn’t as though she’d done anything terribly wrong.
At the Imperial Academy, during free time, students could go out as long as they registered first. She’d gone out — that shouldn’t be wrong, right?
“Well…”
“This prince asked you — what did you just call this prince?” Zhan Qingcheng’s expression hadn’t changed at all, in truth, so why did it feel like his face was growing darker and darker?
Feng Jiu’er kept her head lowered, only sneaking the occasional glance upward at him.
Yikes! Better not to have looked — one glance, and her legs went weak! That gaze was terrifying!
“I, that… I… I called you Your Highness!” What was wrong with that? Why did he look as if he wanted to devour her whole?
Zhan Qingcheng suddenly took a step forward. Feng Jiu’er nearly yelped in fright and hastily stepped back twice, cold sweat instantly breaking out all over her body.
So terrifying, so cold, such an overpoweringly dominant aura!
Zhan Qingcheng took another step forward. Feng Jiu’er, still instinctively retreating, suddenly heard his icy voice ring out.
“Try retreating again and see what happens!”
Jiu’er’s spine instantly straightened. Retreating any further — she didn’t even dare think of it now.
Head held high, chest out, she met his ice-tempered gaze, not even daring to breathe hard.
“Y-Your Highness, is there something you need?” It seemed like she’d forgotten something. She quickly added: “Earlier — thank you, Your Highness, for saving my life.”
Actually, Qiao Mu had wanted to express her thanks too, but for some reason, the moment Zhan Qingcheng had opened his mouth earlier, she’d shot backward another dozen paces or so.
Some instinct in her simply knew those words hadn’t been meant for her, so retreating was the wisest course.
Even though the Ninth Prince truly was unmatched in his good looks, devastatingly handsome to the point of fatal charm, that overwhelming presence of his was, just as truly, terrifying enough to be the death of someone.
She liked him, liked him very, very much — liked him so much she sometimes wanted to tie him up and drag him off to bed to thoroughly have her way with him.
But something this dangerous — best not to even think about it. If it ever came down to actually doing it, Qiao Mu swore she would never have the nerve, not in this lifetime. She… had no courage for that. She still wanted to live a long, good life!
Zhan Qingcheng remained silent the whole time, continuing to walk toward Feng Jiu’er.
With every step closer he took, Feng Jiu’er felt as though the head on her own neck wobbled a little more — a persistent illusion that it might be twisted right off at any moment.
And besides, they were already standing so close, nearly pressed together — why was he still walking toward her?
Him walking closer was bad enough, but the worst part was, he wouldn’t let her retreat!
Wasn’t this — really going to end up pressed together?
“Your, Your Highness…” This close, she could practically feel even the breath he exhaled. One more step and he’d be close enough to touch with an outstretched hand.
What exactly was His Highness trying to do here? Was this his way of cornering her against a wall? Not far behind her, there did seem to be a stone wall — should she keep retreating?
In an instant, he had already taken that one final step.
Feng Jiu’er jumped in fright, her breathing instantly thrown into disarray. Instinctively she still tried to retreat, only to bump with a thud right into the stone wall behind her.
Even more terrifying — looking up, that pale, breathtakingly beautiful figure was already right in front of her.
He raised his hand, his large palm coming down beside her head, easily trapping her within the cage of his arm.
What exactly was this situation now? Truly, properly pinned against a wall?
Feng Jiu’er blinked, completely thrown into disarray by the moment!
Ninth Prince, you really are devastatingly handsome, but no matter how handsome, that doesn’t give you license to act like some shameless scoundrel, does it?
Qiao Mu had retreated far outside the battle perimeter long ago, now standing at least several dozen paces away from them. Watching His Highness bully a young girl like this, why didn’t it bother her at all that he was overstepping? On the contrary… her heart was pounding with excitement, eagerly anticipating what might happen next!