Chapter Thirty-Five: This Is the Truth

Early in the morning, Han Tianyue woke to find that Feng Shang and Fang Zhe were nowhere to be seen. After getting out of bed, Han Tianyue asked, “Where are Feng Shang and Fang Zhe?”

Wen Pin shook his head. “They left early; I’m not sure where they went.”

Without a second thought, Han Tianyue assumed they had gone to the convalescent room and made his way there, but again, he found neither of them, not even Mao Xuanzi.

“Where could they have gone?” After searching everywhere in vain, Han Tianyue could only head toward Counselor Song’s office. From within, he heard the sound of a heated argument.

“We should tell Han Tianyue!” Fang Zhe was insisting.

Counselor Song was adamant. “No, absolutely not!”

“Is it about the Crown Prince?” Han Tianyue stood quietly outside the door, listening as the conversation continued.

“What’s the point of all this?” Fang Zhe pressed on.

Counselor Song spoke earnestly, “Han Tianyue has always had a seal within him, suppressing his unique power. If something were to cause that seal to break, the consequences would be unimaginable!”

“But how long can we keep the truth from him?”

Han Tianyue’s heart tightened. How desperately he wished to know news of the Crown Prince.

“As long as we can hide it, we must!” Counselor Song insisted.

“But what about my sister? Boka said she’s gone deaf. She’s out there all alone—who knows what could happen to her!” Mao Xuanzi could bear it no longer and jumped to his feet, agitated.

“Princess Mao is a clever child; I believe she will make it through this hardship.” Counselor Song’s conviction was unshakable.

The argument raged on inside, but Han Tianyue could no longer stand it. “Boka said the Crown Prince is deaf, the Crown Prince is deaf!” Han Tianyue’s mind spun frantically. “Boka said—Boka knows everything!”

Unwilling to listen any longer, Han Tianyue dashed toward the classroom where the Legendary Group was known to gather, shouting, “Boka, come out! Boka, come out!”

Inside, only Hong Fu and Jiutong were present. Watching Han Tianyue’s wild frenzy, they couldn’t help but think of Princess Mao. “They’re both mad,” they muttered.

Unable to find Boka in the classroom, Han Tianyue was certain he knew where to look next. He turned and rushed toward the back mountain.

“Boka!” Han Tianyue arrived at the western cliffside of the back mountain, his face filled with murderous intent. Boka sat at the edge of the precipice. Without turning, he sneered, “I told you, you would regret it.”

Before Han Tianyue could catch his breath, Boka continued, “That’s right—it was me who injured Princess Mao.”

“What!” Han Tianyue felt as if his very soul was swelling.

“She’s gone, but she can still be found. But my heart is dead—it will never return!” Boka still did not turn around. His gaze stretched into the distance, and a faint smile played at his lips.

“Find her!” Han Tianyue’s spirit trembled. “Yes, I must find the Crown Prince. No matter who becomes Emperor or Empress in the end, as long as we are together, nothing else matters!”

Having calmed himself, Han Tianyue glanced at Boka, who sat silently at the cliff’s edge. With a cold, mirthless laugh, he vanished into the vast, shadowy woods.

After Han Tianyue left, Boka turned at last, gazing after his retreating figure. At that moment, many things became clear to him. He stood, donned his mask, lifted his proud head, and cried coldly, “From this day forth, I am Boka, alone and unyielding!”

Gold medals, favorites, recommendations, clicks, comments, red envelopes, gifts—I’ll take them all! Whatever you have, send it my way!