Phoenix Power: The True Colors of the Empress - Chapter 13. Wait for me to return.

Cang Ling Ye could now distinctly hear the sounds of many people approaching. It wasn’t just a few; it was a large crowd. He couldn’t discern whether they were allies or enemies, but one thing was certain—they were searching for him. Whether he was alive or dead, they wanted him.

Glancing at the anxious Wu’er, Cang Ling Ye’s resolve hardened. He couldn’t allow this group to discover their hideout. If they found Wu’er, it would be disastrous for her. For her sake, he had to prevent that from happening.

“Wu’er, I know you understand,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “They’re after me, not you. I’ll go out alone. You must stay hidden in the cave and not come out. Once they spot me, they’ll stop searching around here.”

His eyes met Wu’er’s, full of urgency and reassurance.

Determined to protect Wu’er, Cang Ling Ye planned to lead the crowd away. He would distract them and ensure the cave remained concealed, keeping Wu’er safe from harm.

Outside, the howls of wolves mingled with the voices of the approaching humans. Wu’er, clearly frightened, was also deeply worried about Cang Ling Ye. Her fear and concern were evident in her eyes as she kept repeating his name.

“Don’t worry about me,” he said softly but resolutely. “They want to find me. Once they do, they’ll focus on me. You’re safest here.”

Time was running out. The search party was closing in. Cang Ling Ye readied himself to leave, prioritizing Wu’er’s safety above all.

Seeing Cang Ling Ye’s determination, Wu’er realized he intended to face the crowd alone. Her heart pounded with worry, afraid something terrible might happen to him.

Wu’er had spent her life in solitude within the Dark Moon Forest. Meeting Cang Ling Ye had brought rare joy and companionship into her life, feelings she hadn’t experienced in a long time. The thought of him leaving so soon was almost unbearable for her.

“I’ll leave this jade pendant with you. Take it as a token between us. When I’m done, I’ll come back for you. Stay safe here and wait for me,” Cang Ling Ye said, handing the pendant to Wu’er. This was his most treasured possession, a keepsake from his mother.

He always wore the jade pendant around his neck, finding solace in it whenever he faced difficulties or felt unhappy. Now, as he prepared to leave Wu’er, he gave her this precious item, a clear sign of her importance to him.

After spending several days together, Wu’er had become the most important person to Cang Ling Ye. He wouldn’t have entrusted such a valuable item to her otherwise.

Cang Ling Ye placed the pendant around Wu’er’s neck, looking at her with deep affection before resolutely leaving the cave. Wu’er had saved him out of kindness, and he couldn’t put her in danger.

Wu’er watched as Cang Ling Ye walked out of the cave, her eyes filled with reluctance. She longed to see him again, finding it hard to let him go.

As Cang Ling Ye walked away, he glanced back to see Wu’er standing at the entrance, looking after him. His heart was heavy with reluctance, but for her safety and his mission, he was determined to leave.

Before leaving, Cang Ling Ye waved at Wu’er, urging her to hide in the cave. He didn’t want to bring any danger to her.

Wu’er listened to his words, watching him until he disappeared from sight. Returning to the cave, she felt a profound sense of loss. Her brief period of happiness with her first friend had ended too soon.

Back in the cave, Wu’er watched Cang Ling Ye’s figure through a crack in the door, feeling dejected as he disappeared from view. Her eyes were filled with disappointment, as if she had lost a part of herself.

The wolves outside, having grown fond of Cang Ling Ye over the past few days, whimpered as they watched him leave, sharing Wu’er’s reluctance to part with him.

Cang Ling Ye hurried toward the voices. He needed to be found quickly to ensure Wu’er’s safety.

“Fourth Prince, it’s the Fourth Prince. He’s here!” a soldier shouted, spotting Cang Ling Ye.

Seeing their attire, Cang Ling Ye felt a wave of relief but remained cautious.

Earlier, Cang Ling Ye had smeared dirt on his face and cut his arm, making it look like he had barely escaped a dangerous encounter.

“Fourth Prince, are you alright?” one of the officers asked, clearly alarmed by his disheveled appearance.

“There… there are wild beasts inside. Very ferocious ones,” Cang Ling Ye gasped, pointing shakily towards the Dark Moon Forest with terror in his eyes. “I barely got away when it wasn’t looking. The beasts are coming. We need to run!”

His voice was loud and frantic, spreading a sense of immediate danger.

Seeing Cang Ling Ye’s state and hearing his urgent warning, the officers hesitated. They were used to handling much simpler tasks and weren’t prepared for this kind of peril.

The thought of facing ferocious wild beasts made them reluctant to go deeper into the forest.

“We’ve found the Fourth Prince. We should head back. If we stay, we might encounter those wild beasts and end up dead!” one officer, visibly shaken, urged.

His fear quickly spread through the group, causing the soldiers to panic.

Convinced they needed to leave with the Fourth Prince immediately, the officers decided they couldn’t risk any delay. Their main goal was to get Cang Ling Ye to safety as fast as possible.