The boy hesitated, paralysed by a dual terror, the icy presence of Bai Xifeng and the grim prospect of returning to Zou Weizhe with the rejected gift still clutched tightly in his hands.

"Also..." Bai Xifeng added, dragging out her words as her tone turned razor-sharp. "If I catch another shadow stalking me, I will not be so generous with my warnings. You and your companions have your own mission, so focus on it. Otherwise, you had best not mind receiving a few beatings from me."

The boy gulped audibly upon hearing her threat. He bowed in frantic haste and vanished, melting back into the surrounding darkness.

"You are so mean." Tao-chan commented, though his judgment did not stop him from diving into a second bowl of soup the moment Bai Xifeng handed it over.

"What?" Bai Xifeng asked flatly.

"That cloak looks incredibly soft. It must be comfortable enough to sleep on." Tao-chan added, speaking with his mouth half-full.

"Humph! I have no need for such a thing. If I want comfort, I simply have to summon Princess Huahua and sleep with her. She is far more comfortable than any inanimate cloak." Bai Xifeng scoffed. Then, her expression shifted, her eyes turning cold and distant. "Besides, that is not just a normal cloak, Tao-chan. It is a leash."

Bai Xifeng took a slow, deliberate sip of her broth. The warmth radiated through her chest, providing a sense of grounded comfort that the prince’s gift never could.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Tao-chan asked, tilting his head in confusion.

To him, it was clearly just a high-quality garment. Why was this girl calling it a leash? Was he the one who was blind, or had she finally lost her mind?

"Zou Weizhe is far too used to people reaching for his bait." Bai Xifeng chuckled darkly. "He does not yet realise that I am the one holding the fishing pole."

Tao-chan remained baffled, unable to grasp the layers of subtext in her words. ’Human beings are truly the most complicated creatures.’ That was what he thought at the moment.

Bai Xifeng turned her gaze toward the dense forest. The surroundings were pitch black and thick with tension. This terrain reminded her of Sophia Mountain. It was a place that surely teemed with powerful beasts.

She found herself wondering what species inhabited this specific region. As she considered the local wildlife, she remembered that several of her subordinates still lacked contracted beasts. Perhaps she could use this trip to hunt down and tame a few suitable creatures to bolster her followers’ strength.

Somewhere deep within those jagged, distant peaks, the Xien stones were waiting, as were the legendary dangers the registration staff had been so frantic about. However, she felt no trepidation regarding the peril. If anything, she was worried the cave would prove too easy to make the journey worthwhile.

...

The boy eventually returned to Zou Weizhe’s encampment. The moment Zou Weizhe caught sight of the cloak still in the boy’s hands, his face darkened. He knew instantly that Bai Xifeng had rejected his overture.

"Your Highness, Lady Bai refused to accept the gift." The boy stated, his voice trembling slightly. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Zou Weizhe snatched the cloak back, his jaw tight, and stored it away within his inner world.

"Lady Bai also asked me to relay a message to you." The boy added.

Zou Weizhe’s eyes brightened at this news. His ego flared with curiosity, wondering what personal words she might have for him.

"What is it? Hurry up and speak!" Zou Weizhe urged, his impatience getting the better of him.

"Lady Bai reminded Your Highness not to follow her and to focus strictly on our own mission. If she finds out that you follow her again, she will not be so polite." The boy relayed faithfully.

Bai Xifeng’s intent was cuttingly clear. She wanted Zou Weizhe to stop bothering her. However, Zou Weizhe’s mind took the statement in an entirely different direction. He suddenly burst into laughter, causing his followers to jump and stare in confusion. They could not fathom why His Highness was reacting with such mirth to a blatant rejection.

"Lady Bai... I see how it is." Zou Weizhe said through his laughter. "You must have deep feelings for me. Otherwise, you would never have bothered to send such a message. You are clearly worried that I might get hurt while distracted by you during the quest. That is why you are telling me to focus. How thoughtful!"

The surrounding followers exchanged looks of sheer disbelief, silently wondering if their leader had finally lost his grip on reality. Nowhere in that message was there even a hint of concern. They wanted to correct him, but the fear of a royal scolding kept their lips sealed.

However, someone was brave enough to speak to Zou Weizhe at that moment, and that person was Jin Zhilan.

"Your Highness... she is nothing but an ungrateful wench." Jin Zhilan spat. "You offered her your kindness and a magnificent cloak, yet she threw it back in your face. You should not waste another thought on her."

"Silence!" Zou Weizhe snapped, casting a lethal glance her way.

Jin Zhilan recoiled, the sheer coldness in his stare effectively striking her dumb. She immediately clamped her mouth shut, though her eyes burned with resentment.

Zou Weizhe found Jin Zhilan increasingly insufferable. If she were not the granddaughter of the Prime Minister, he would not tolerate her presence for a single second. His father was constantly pushing him to secure an alliance with the Prime Minister by making her the Crown Princess, but Zou Weizhe had no intention of following that path. He already had the perfect candidate in mind for his throne. Even though she was already engaged, he brushed that fact aside. It was a mere engagement, not a marriage, and in his mind, the best man would always win.

***This novel is a contracted work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If you do not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, that means it has been stolen. Thank you, from your shameless author, ZerahNeko*