Chapter Three: The Crown Prince’s Concern

Everyone was already fast asleep. Han Tianyue climbed quietly into bed, lying there and gazing at the bright moon outside the window. “In three more years, I’ll be twenty. When I was young, I swore with Crown Princess Mao that we’d seek out the Book of Fate together. Yet now, I’ve accomplished nothing, while she’s already the top student at school. How could I ever hope to surpass her and become the Human Sovereign?”

The Icy Heart in his pocket continued to nourish his body. Han Tianyue closed his eyes. “Do I truly need to make a deal with that ghost?”

Early the next morning, he was woken by Feng Shang from the next bed. Feng Shang looked at Han Tianyue and laughed, “What’s this, defeated again?”

Like a judge, Feng Shang began questioning Han Tianyue about his contest with the Crown Princess, inspecting him all the while. He joked, “Not a scratch on you this time!”

Han Tianyue looked himself over. The wounds from yesterday had completely healed. “This Icy Heart is remarkably effective for my Icy Soul—my injuries have vanished overnight!”

“Here, for you,” came the cold voice of Fang Zhe. Each time Han Tianyue was injured, the Crown Princess would send Fang Zhe to bring him some healing salve.

Though the Crown Princess was Han Tianyue’s greatest rival, she had always cared for him since childhood. Accepting the medicine, Han Tianyue thought to himself, “Crown Princess, I will surpass you one day!”

The summoning bell suddenly clanged. Everyone leapt from their beds.

As always, Han Tianyue, Feng Shang, Fang Zhe, Wen Pin, Qing Mu, and Da Peng were the last to rush into the classroom. The advisor watched them sprint in, wearing an expression of barely concealed disdain. With a stern face, he announced, “Today’s lesson is to collect medicinal herbs on the back mountain. Each person must gather at least five stalks of Vermilion-Subduing Grass. Whoever collects the most will receive a healing salve as a reward!”

“What!” The classroom erupted in uproar.

“Here we go again—free labor for herb picking,” Feng Shang shrugged.

“This time, I’ll beat the Crown Princess!” Han Tianyue vowed silently.

Fang Zhe sneered, “Looks like the Crown Princess’s healing salve will be trampled again by a certain someone.”

Everyone knew that whenever Han Tianyue grew determined, he’d end up beaten black and blue by the Crown Princess, and in the end, her healing salve always ended up treating his wounds.

“Not this time—I absolutely won’t lose!” Han Tianyue marched up to the Crown Princess and swore with conviction.

The Crown Princess replied gravely, “The herbs won’t be so easy to find today.”

The advisor smiled coldly and continued, “Furthermore, anyone who fails to complete the task today will have their rations halved for the next six months!”

A chill ran through all the students.

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