Chapter 682: Does Lin the Hero Know Who the Princess Is?

Chapter 682: Does Lin the Hero Know Who the Princess Is?

Lin Nuo returned to the military camp, where Luo Yi had just left, leaving him alone with the veiled princess.

From her bright, spirited eyes, he felt an uncanny sense of familiarity. Where had he seen her before? Was she really that princess?

He sometimes had confidence in his instincts, but they were fickle; the longer he looked at this princess, the more he felt that she might be genuine.

He wanted to draw his sword and take her down.

Han Xiao treated Lin Nuo graciously, serving him the best food from the military and pouring tea with great care.

Lin Nuo, having endured the chill outside, stepped into the tent to warm up with a sip of hot tea.

Comforting, indeed.

Lin Nuo turned to Han Xiao and asked, “Your Highness, why do you always wear a veil?”

Han Xiao paused and replied calmly, “I’ve injured my face and are recovering from scars, so I wear this veil to cover it.”

Scars? Recovering? Ha! Which version of the princess doesn’t wear a veil? Have all the princesses been disfigured?

Never mind, I’ll just lift it off her face!

But rushing to do so wasn’t really his style. Of course, it wouldn’t be too hard if he charged in to snatch it off.

He preferred something clever, something done without drawing attention.

Lin Nuo split off a shadow clone, silently positioning it behind the princess. She was enjoying her tea and snacks, completely oblivious to the shadow’s presence.

This operation was straightforward: just a quick shadow swap to sneak around her, lift her veil, and then switch back. She would definitely look around, giving him the perfect moment to dissolve the clone.

This required a bit of finesse.

After appreciating a cup of tea, he placed the cup down, and Han Xiao promptly refilled it for him.

At that moment, the clone had already crept behind Han Xiao.

Good, time to swap.

In an instant, Lin Nuo switched places with the clone, briskly reaching out to lift her veil.

Han Xiao gasped as she felt a sudden presence behind her, just as a pair of hands tugged at her veil.

Lin Nuo acted swiftly; by the time she realized what was happening, it was too late. He had already whisked the veil away.

Han Xiao turned around to find nobody there.

Lin Nuo looked back and beheld her face.

It was a very familiar countenance, somehow reminding him of someone.

Images flickered through Lin Nuo’s mind as he recalled who she was.

“Wait a minute, you’re not the princess? You’re that sidekick, Water Ghost Han Xiao, aren’t you? The one who survived soaking in water for half a day!”

“It’s you?? You’re not the princess.”

Lin Nuo confidently declared Han Xiao wasn’t the princess. Why? His instincts told him that the previous encounter with the princess could not have been a mistake; the one he killed had to be the real deal.

The veil had slipped off so quickly; Han Xiao hadn’t had a chance to brace herself for it.

Thank goodness this happened in the tent! If soldiers had seen her, it would have been chaos to clean up.

As for how her veil fell off, she was utterly baffled.

She decided not to hide the truth anymore: “Yes, Lin the Hero, I am not the real princess. There are reasons—I’m posing as the princess, handling military affairs. I thought you might have already figured it out?”

“Of course I did.”

Lin Nuo nodded, confirming that she was indeed a puppet. He didn’t expect her to be close to Luo Yi, that sidekick.

Looks like she’s a die-hard loyalist to the princess.

“You certainly can’t hide anything from Lin the Hero’s eyes. As for the reason…”

“The reason I already know.”

Lin Nuo interrupted. This was clearly a case where the real princess died, and they needed someone to keep things under wraps, especially to prevent bad news from spreading.

“Alright, you must know who the real princess is, right?”

Without Luo Xiaoxue’s guidance, Han Xiao hesitated to reveal the princess’s identity, realizing she should’ve told him long ago.

“Of course, it was last time in Huan Tian City.”

“Hmm, Huan Tian City, where Lin the Hero saved me.”

Han Xiao reflected, thinking Lin the Hero was all-knowing, pretending to be unaware of the deeper implications.

Her veil had fallen off quite unexpectedly; he must have known about it long before.

Huan Tian City, he was the one who sent the real princess to negotiate with the rebels, successfully persuading them to back down. If he had known that Luo Yi was the princess, he wouldn’t have sent so few people into negotiations, would he?

It seemed like coincidence, but it was all under his control.

Upon realizing this, Lin Nuo confirmed that the one who died last time was indeed the real princess.

“Reporting! Your Highness! The temperature has dropped again, and it’s starting to freeze!”

A soldier barged in, prompting Han Xiao to immediately don her veil, acting as if nothing had occurred.

“Again? It’s freezing already?”

Han Xiao frowned; this was genuinely awful news.

“Well then, Lin the Hero, should we…?”

“Let’s retreat before anyone freezes to death.”

Lin Nuo suggested, knowing it was up to Han Xiao, who was just a sidekick, to make the decision, or else it would be tough for her.

“Right. Pass the word—start packing up immediately and retreat!”

“Understood!”

The soldiers rushed out, hurrying to relay Han Xiao’s orders, everyone eager to leave the cold behind.

“How long do you plan to keep this up?” Lin Nuo asked.

“Who knows? We now hold the Royal Guards, expanding our power, and we hope to be able to stand against Dong Wei.”

“Stand against? Good, work harder.”

Lin Nuo clapped, showing his approval.

“So it’s just you and Luo Yi in charge of the Royal Guards?”

“Yes.”

“Very well.”

Lin Nuo clapped again, this was splendid! With both of them in command of the Royal Guards, there was no threat to him, at least he knew them.

Should he need assistance, he could always send a few to go fight in his stead.

This was fantastic! As a great villain, being able to commandeer the Royal Guards through proper channels was a direct slap in the face to the righteous!

“Lin the Hero, you should come with us.”

“No, I have my own business to attend to.”

“Business? Is it about the weather?”

“Kind of.”

Lin Nuo nodded, thinking he needed to go out for a bit.

But with the freezing temperatures, it’d be risking frostbite.

He remembered something—there was a fire fu that could be applied to one’s body to fend off the cold, but he didn’t have any. He’d need to find some.

However, the materials for that fire fu were scarce, and its only purpose was to keep warm. He usually didn’t bother with it; finding the materials now would be troublesome.

But he had to go looking.

Just as he was preparing to leave, Luo Xiaoxue rushed over: “Lin the Hero, are you leaving?”

“Yeah, I’m off.”

Lin Nuo replied coldly, only then noticing that Luo Yi was holding some light red grass.

“Where did you get that?”

“Oh, I found it outside by chance. This grass is red and feels very warm, so I brought it back.”

No way! Light Flame Grass, the rare material for making fire fu? You just stumbled upon it?

What incredible luck!

“Can I have some?”

“Of course! Take it all!”

Luo Xiaoxue squinted happily, handing all the light flame grass to Lin Nuo.

Lin Nuo took the grass, thinking having so much wouldn’t be of much use.

Best to give some back to her for warmth.

“I’ll give you some back.”

Lin Nuo returned a portion of the light flame grass to Luo Xiaoxue, and after accepting, she felt like it was different from what she had picked up.

This was a gift from Lin the Hero! She must treasure it well!