Phoenix Power: The True Colors of the Empress - Chapter 28. Anxiety.

“Remember six years ago when you were almost killed by those monsters in the Dark Moon Forest? You got scratched up pretty bad and barely made it out alive. Isn’t that right?”

When Nangong Yu and Mo Fan heard Cang Ling Ye mention the Dark Moon Forest again, they were puzzled. Their eyes widened, staring at him with anxious disbelief.

“Actually, that wasn’t the whole story. I made it up for a reason. It was a complicated situation, and since no one brought it up again, I kept quiet. But now, I’ve found something strange!”

Cang Ling Ye’s voice trembled as he spoke. He even glanced at the door to make sure no one was listening in. Noticing people watching him, he had to be cautious.

“There’s more to it?” Nangong Yu asked nervously, surprised that Cang Ling Ye had kept something from them.

“Yes. That year, I thought I was going to die. I jumped off a cliff to escape. At the bottom, a little girl saved me. That’s how I survived.”

Cang Ling Ye recounted how Wu’er had rescued him, hoping they could help him figure out what to do next.

“But the Dark Moon Forest is full of wild beasts and incredibly dangerous! How could a little girl save you? This sounds unbelievable!” Nangong Yu exclaimed, astonished.

He couldn’t imagine such a thing happening in the perilous Dark Moon Forest. How could a little girl possibly save Cang Ling Ye?

“It’s true. Honestly, the Dark Moon Forest isn’t as terrifying as people say. It’s not even as scary as the Cang Qian Imperial Palace. That little girl seemed to have been living there. She couldn’t speak, only saying ‘Wu’er,’ so that’s what I called her. But now, she’s gone!”

Cang Ling Ye shared his worries about Wu’er, the lack of news stretching his patience thin. He hoped Nangong Yu and Mo Fan could help him find a solution.

“This really happened in the Dark Moon Forest? Are you serious? This isn’t a joke?” Mo Fan asked, incredulous.

Nangong Yu was still in shock, his eyes wide as he questioned Cang Ling Ye, his expression exaggerated.

“It’s true. That little girl saved me. Without her, I wouldn’t have escaped the Dark Moon Forest so easily,” Cang Ling Ye explained seriously. He knew it was hard to believe, so he patiently clarified things for them.

“But what now? Why are you so upset?” Mo Fan asked, looking from Nangong Yu’s shocked face to Cang Ling Ye’s worried one. He wanted to understand what had distressed Cang Ling Ye so much.

“A few days ago, I sensed something was wrong. After all these years, I hadn’t returned to the Dark Moon Forest, so I went back,” Cang Ling Ye replied, his eyes filled with concern as he looked at them both.

Cang Ling Ye knew he had to share what was troubling him with them.

“So, what did you find? Did something happen? Did you see Wu’er?” Mo Fan guessed that something must have happened to Wu’er, which explained Cang Ling Ye’s distress.

Mo Fan had known Cang Ling Ye since they were young. Despite Cang Ling Ye’s cold exterior and emotionless eyes, like a wolf always ready to hunt, Mo Fan knew this was just a facade. Cang Ling Ye was someone who longed for warmth but had never received it, which had shaped his current demeanor.

In Cang Ling Ye’s heart, Wu’er must have held a special place. That’s why he was so upset. Cang Ling Ye was a person who valued relationships deeply.

Having never truly experienced love and warmth before, he cherished and protected them fiercely when he did.

Cang Ling Ye had always kept his emotions sealed, making him appear invulnerable. But deep down, there was still a gentleness and warmth in his heart.

Mo Fan instantly realized that Cang Ling Ye must have held Wu’er in high regard, which explained his current state.

“No. When I went back, I noticed a faint smell of blood in the Dark Moon Forest. There were many wolf corpses scattered around. I also found a strange person’s corpse. But Wu’er was gone. There were no clues, but it looked like she had left recently,” Cang Ling Ye said, his worry evident.

Cang Ling Ye shook his head in distress. The inability to find Wu’er weighed heavily on his heart, filling him with worry.

With Wu’er missing, it felt as if his heart was being squeezed. Letting go of his concerns was incredibly difficult.

“But if we think about it, this might actually be good news. Since we only found that stranger’s corpse, Wu’er is likely still safe. So, there’s no need to worry too much. We can arrange for people to investigate discreetly. You also need to keep a clear head so that others don’t notice your distress,” Mo Fan suggested, always cautious. Seeing Cang Ling Ye’s troubled state, he quickly thought of a practical solution.

The second prince, Cang Xuan Jin, was currently favored by the Emperor and in the limelight, unlike Cang Ling Ye, who had fallen out of favor.

Now was the time for Cang Ling Ye to focus on his efforts. It was better to leave the search to Mo Fan and the others.

“You’re right. They are already being overbearing. I can’t afford to stay depressed. I must secretly search for Wu’er’s whereabouts, but we must keep this matter discreet,” Cang Ling Ye acknowledged Mo Fan’s advice, realizing he needed to consider this carefully. He couldn’t manage both tasks simultaneously, so he decided to deploy shadow guards to search for Wu’er.

“But there’s one thing. No matter what, you must find her!” Cang Ling Ye instructed Mo Fan firmly, emphasizing the importance of discovering Wu’er’s fate. He needed to know what had happened to her.