Chapter 22: Feng Shang Saves a Life

Han Tianyue, Mao Xuanzi, and Fang Zhe searched for Feng Shang once again, but came up empty-handed. Meanwhile, the teachers and students from Hanlin Academy, who had been speaking with them earlier, had long since disappeared toward the Kingdom of Daughters.

“Where could Feng Shang have run off to this time?” Fang Zhe said with some frustration.

“It seems we have to return to the Kingdom of Daughters,” Han Tianyue replied. Since they had lost Feng Shang there, if he wasn’t foolish, he would surely return to wait for them. As Feng Shang’s close friend and companion, Han Tianyue firmly believed he would do so.

In fact, Feng Shang had indeed done just that. He and Lei Dong arrived near the Kingdom of Daughters only to find the skies changed—it was no longer safe to enter recklessly.

They lingered on the outskirts for some time before suddenly noticing a group of people flying toward them.

“It’s them!” Lei Dong stood up and flew to meet the approaching group.

Feng Shang hurried after him.

It was none other than the teachers and students from Hanlin Academy whom Han Tianyue and the others had encountered earlier. They had just arrived on the kingdom’s outskirts and immediately met Lei Dong and Feng Shang. Without exchanging pleasantries, Teacher Xia Zhi asked, “Feng Shang, do you have three companions with you?”

Startled, Feng Shang asked, “How do you know that?”

A student behind Teacher Xia Zhi replied, “On our way here, we ran into them—they were looking for you!”

“Where are they?” Feng Shang’s heart quickened at the news, and he pressed for more information.

“They originally intended to come to Hanlin Academy to find you,” Teacher Xia Zhi explained. “After encountering us, we told them you had already left. As for where they went afterward, we don’t know. Actually, if you had flown faster, you might have met them on the way.”

At her words, Feng Shang immediately took to the skies in haste.

Watching Feng Shang disappear into the distance, Lei Dong let out a long sigh. “I hope you find your companions.”

Meanwhile, upon learning that Feng Shang was no longer at Hanlin Academy, Han Tianyue and the others decided after some discussion to return to the Kingdom of Daughters and wait for him.

The three set off toward the kingdom.

Weariness weighed on them all from their back-and-forth travels. Moreover, the hurried teachers and students of Hanlin Academy were also heading toward the Kingdom of Daughters in a rush, their intentions unknown. To avoid conflict, Han Tianyue and his group slowed their pace and rested briefly in the Purple Bamboo Forest.

During this short respite, Feng Shang flew swiftly overhead, continuing on to the outskirts of Hanlin Academy, still unable to locate Han Tianyue, Mao Xuanzi, or Fang Zhe.

“Where have they gone?” Feng Shang searched again in vain. “Looks like I’ll have to return to the Kingdom of Daughters to wait for them.”

Disappointed but undeterred, Feng Shang resumed his journey toward the kingdom. Partway there, he glimpsed a figure dart past his eyes and then fall into the Purple Bamboo Forest.

“Could that person be one of Han Tianyue’s group?” Feng Shang worried and quickly pursued the figure, only to find an elderly woman with snow-white hair and dressed in a phoenix coronet and ceremonial robe lying unconscious on the ground.

Feng Shang approached cautiously, assessing her. She didn’t seem hostile. Placing his hand on her chest, he felt a heartbeat. “Looks like I’m going to have to play the good Samaritan this time.”

The old woman was covered in blood and appeared gravely injured. Feng Shang recalled that the herb they often gathered at school, the “Descending Vermilion Herb,” had hemostatic properties. He searched around and found two sprigs, chewing them before applying the paste to her wounds.

The herb had a clear effect; the bleeding soon stopped.

“I wonder whose elder she is, wandering about at such an age. If I hadn’t found her today, she surely would have died here,” Feng Shang muttered. Seeing that she still hadn’t regained consciousness, he lifted her onto his back and headed toward the Kingdom of Daughters. “Grandmother, don’t worry. Once I find Han Tianyue, Mao Xuanzi, and Fang Zhe, they will help you find your home.”

Feng Shang had carried many on his back before, but this was the first time he felt genuinely burdened. “How can just one old lady be so heavy? She doesn’t even look fat!”

Despite his confusion, Feng Shang bore the weight and pressed on. As he spoke, he arrived near the Kingdom of Daughters but saw no sign of Lei Dong or the Hanlin Academy teachers and students. Inside the kingdom, everything seemed normal.

“Well, this is just great. Even Lei Dong’s disappeared. Why am I always the one left behind?” Feng Shang sighed helplessly.

Just then, the elderly woman on his back coughed twice.

(End of excerpt)