Huo Feng fell silent for a moment, thinking… then gasped as if she had suddenly remembered something important. She rushed toward Master Li, and in a surprising gesture, grabbed his cheek, almost bursting with excitement at her discovery:
"I knew it! You were Little Li during that test…"
She let go for a second, then caught his ear this time, scolding him:
"You knew I was looking for her—Fuu, oh… I mean Shushu!And you never told me where she was.Come on, confess! Where did you hide after that attack?"
At that instant, the emperor's anger overflowed. He struck the ground with his whip so violently that it nearly split the floor. Only Li's quick movement—jumping in front of Huo Feng to shield her—kept the whip from hurting her.
The emperor's voice thundered for the second time:
"You miserable son!How can a girl scatter your pride like this?What is your relationship with her?"
Li's eyes turned black—dark as his kingdom—as he answered:
"She is merely a student… from the Sky Kingdom.And I am her teacher."
The phrase "merely a student" stung Huo Feng deep in her soul. But she comforted herself:It's fine… he's only trying to protect me from his father.
The emperor added, with a tone less harsh:
"You were gone for a long time… and now you return in this disgraceful state.Did you bring what I asked for?"
Huo Feng turned toward them, puzzled. What were they talking about?The answer came from the counselor:
"Did you bring the forbidden spell?Did you finally decide to save your friend Shushu, or…"
He glanced at Huo Feng, then continued:
"Or did you come for another reason?"
Li remained silent for what felt like ages… then said firmly:
"Yes."
At that moment, Wu Xin opened his eyes—fear for his beloved little one pulling him back into consciousness. He wanted to protect her… with whatever strength remained.
On the other side of the hall, Huo Feng sank into a whirlpool of thoughts:
He wanted the spell for his father… not for his friend?He told me he was hiding from an enemy—did he lie again?Did he plan all of this?Will I be the sacrifice to save Shushu?
Li read her entire inner battle in a single glance, and added sharply:
"Yes, it is Huo Feng…The one I choose right now.I will return her safely first… then I will find a way to save Shushu."
The counselor sneered wickedly:
"So you dare test the emperor's patience again… how stubborn you are."
Before Li could respond, Huo Feng cut him off coldly:
"No… you are the one who's truly stupid."
Li's eyes softened instantly. His blue, gentle color returned—an expression that didn't go unnoticed by anyone in the hall, especially the emperor. He realized then that the bond between them ran deeper than Li claimed.
The counselor leaned toward the emperor and whispered:
"There must be a secret between them.Maybe she knows where the spell is.We can use her."
The emperor shot him a disappointed look:
"You really are stupid… just as the girl said."
The counselor retreated, then addressed Huo Feng:
"Crown Prince Li was a close friend of the one you are searching for. She is missing… and she will not return unless he brings the forbidden spell."
Huo Feng asked:
"To whom will he bring it—and why?"
The counselor replied with a tone full of false wisdom:
"He will trade it for a magical artifact—the Spirit Vessel—which can bring Shushu back to life.So… where is the spell?"
Huo Feng raised her head with inhuman confidence:
"I am here."
Li froze. Even Wuxin gasped in shock.
Li moved toward her to silence her, but she quickly added:
"I mean… I guarantee that the spell will be in your hands very soon.But only if you let them go first."
The counselor laughed mockingly:
"And why should we trust a girl from the Sky Kingdom?Why negotiate at all, when you are a gift from the heavens—in our hands… under our mercy?"
For the first time, Huo Feng released a full, wild laugh:
"No… you are wrong.I am not negotiating for them.You will release them… whether you want it or not."
The counselor snapped angrily:
"And why would we do that?"
Huo Feng's features began to shift—just like on Frost Mountain—her voice calm but terrifying:
"First… you don't want to start a war with the Sky Kingdom.Wu Xin is the War Master.You wouldn't dare take him as a hostage."
Then she stared at the emperor as her hand slowly turned red:
"And second…Your son—the crown prince—is a winged dragon… without wings."
The emperor's eyes widened—fear or rage, it was impossible to tell.
Huo Feng continued:
"I plucked them twice…And I will not return what belongs to him… until I decide."
Li's heart twisted in pain—not from his father's gaze, but from Huo Feng's words.
Huo Feng added, with unshakable confidence:
"And the emperor is not reckless enough to consider me his enemy…Not yet.Not while he has no idea how powerful I am.Isn't that right?"
A heavy sigh escaped the emperor—quiet, but full of meaning.
Huo Feng's voice softened as she regained her calm:
"Then… the matter is settled.Now, let us negotiate about the spell."