The Eighth Prince took out a handkerchief and handed it to her, saying, "Here, wipe your face." The face of the Black and White Impermanence was really ugly. It was unintentional, but Nan Yi said "Ah," took the handkerchief, and turned to leave.

The three men paused for a moment, then caught up with her. "Oh dear, you're still angry. Look, my ear is bleeding," the Tenth Prince said, rubbing his burning ear and blocking Nan Yi's path.

"Why don't you hit him a few more times?" the Ninth Prince chimed in.

The Tenth Prince choked up, wondering if this guy was really his brother.

The Eighth Prince reached out and grabbed the corner of her sleeve, scanning her entire body. Seeing that she seemed to have suffered no other harm besides being frightened by the snake, he felt relieved.

"How's the injury on your hand? We were so worried when we found out it was you that day," the Eighth Prince said, opening her hand to examine it closely. The scab had already formed. He was relieved and continued, "In a few days, I'll get you some scar-removing medicine. I guarantee it won't leave a single trace."

He should have kept quiet, because once he did, Nan Yi got even angrier, though she didn't know why, and remained silent.

Seeing her remain silent and her expression anxious, the Ninth Prince's mind raced through all the events that had transpired before. His heart clenched, and he tentatively asked, "Nan Yi, you know our identities, don't you?"

She must have heard Gu Zhao's address. She carefully observed her reaction. Sure enough, Nan nodded. Seeing that she was still silent, she took a deep breath. What was bound to happen would happen.

The Eighth Prince explained, "Since we've just met, it's inconvenient to reveal my identity..."

“I know,” Nan interrupted him.

"What did you see at Huikeju..." The Ninth Prince choked on his words, unable to utter the rest, his face showing considerable embarrassment.

She nodded, then shook her head, and said softly, "I'm not angry about this..." She couldn't explain why she was upset; she had initially thought they were three eligible bachelors, but it turned out they were all taken.

"Then what are you angry about?" the Ninth Prince asked urgently. He couldn't think of any other reason besides jealousy for breaking their promise and seeing that they were still avoiding him.

Nan hesitated for a moment, then suddenly spoke with irritation, "I don't know, I just feel uneasy." Being simple and straightforward, she truly couldn't understand the reason for her unease.

"You are my best friends, my only friends."

However, she discovered that she was not the other person's best friend. They had people closer to them, and she was just... what was she? A strange world, a strange dynasty. The more she thought about it, the more upset she became, and her eyes became misty. Fortunately, it was nighttime, and no one could see her.

Nan blinked, shaking off her unbearable emotions, and ended with a line from a past life: "Being good friends is for this life, not the next."

“Best friend,” the Eighth Prince murmured, his gaze fixed on the slender figure beside him. Just a friend? But he didn’t want to be just a friend. Friendship wouldn’t bring him more joy than love, and the Ninth Prince probably felt the same way.

"Be careful, my senior brothers used to sneak off to meet their girlfriends, and I would sabotage them, making them suffer a lot of injustices. Oh, my senior brothers are lay disciples of Shaolin, they can get married."

Nan Yi said a few nonsensical things, then, recalling happy days from the past, she suddenly started showing off her pranks.

In modern times, she grew up with her senior brothers and naturally enjoyed their kindness. When other men approached them, her senior brothers ignored her, which made her feel bad, so she took advantage of the situation.

While it didn't break them apart, it certainly made them suffer a lot.

The three were completely bewildered. They exchanged glances. "Be careful...be careful of what? Senior brothers, Shaolin..." "Girlfriend" could be interpreted as "fiancée," but who exactly was she? Her aura suggested a woman from a prominent family, but... a refined young lady becoming a disciple of Shaolin?

The Tenth Prince crossed his arms, raised his thick eyebrows, clearly not believing her, and laughed, "What are you doing at Shaolin Temple, a woman? You're not learning martial arts with the monks, are you?" They looked at each other, none of them believing her, but she didn't seem to be lying.

Nan Yi was furious. "You look down on me? Take this!" Before they could react, she attacked the Tenth Prince. The Tenth Prince hurriedly parried, but unfortunately, whether she was too strong or he was too weak, she knocked the Tenth Prince to the ground in just a few moves.

Nan clapped his hands, stood up, and proudly raised his hand, "How about that? Believe it or not, this is authentic Shaolin martial arts."

The Tenth Prince stood up awkwardly, brushed off the mud and grass from his clothes, straightened his disheveled robes, and said with a clownish gesture, "Heroine, I greet you."

He thought to himself, "How embarrassing."

The princes all studied the Six Arts from a young age, but their personal preferences differed slightly. He was fond of martial arts and was usually quite proud of himself. However, he was defeated by Nan Yi after only four moves, which severely damaged his self-esteem. He was determined to practice more when he got back.

Nan Yi cleared his throat, struck a pose, and said, "No need for formalities." The group burst into laughter.

However, the Eighth and Ninth Princes suddenly understood why she dared to go out alone without any guards. She was a master. The Tenth Prince, who was the best in martial arts among his brothers, only lasted a few moves against her.

"How did you manage to stay at Shaolin?" The Eighth Prince's doubts had not yet subsided. There was something untrue about her nonchalant words. If he were to investigate further, he would find that there were extreme contradictions.

Even if she wasn't a noblewoman, as the daughter of a prominent figure in the martial arts world, she shouldn't be allowed to enter Shaolin. The aura she exuded clearly indicated that she wasn't a woman from the common people. Moreover, as far as he knew, Shaolin had never accepted female disciples since ancient times, unless they were some kind of reclusive master.

"Oh, I was in poor health when I was young. My adoptive parents were afraid that I would not grow up, so they asked an old friend to help me disguise myself as a boy and go to Shaolin Temple. I finished my training at the age of sixteen and came down the mountain."

When the three heard that she was an orphan and in poor health, although they still had doubts, they did not press her for more information.

But that only made them feel more sorry for her.

How old are you now?

"sixteen."

Ah, she just came down the mountain. She must have suffered a lot on the mountain. Look at her simple and lovely nature, so greedy for money. She doesn't pay attention to the distinction between men and women when she's with them. Perhaps she spent too long in Shaolin with men, isolated from the world, and got used to a simple and carefree life.

The Tenth Prince was stunned by Nan Yi and became attached to her, wanting to learn kung fu from her.

She chuckled and said, "Sure, I'll teach you authentic Shaolin martial arts next time." Taking on a prince as a student isn't bad.

Upon hearing this, the Tenth Prince immediately pulled out a silver note from his pocket, scratched his head, and said, "Tuition, tuition... haha..." The Eighth and Ninth Princes were speechless.

"Nan Yi, aren't you going to tell us... your identity?" The Eighth Prince looked at her hand covering her mouth and nose with a handkerchief.

Nan Yi thought for a moment, then chuckled and said, "My face looks so ugly right now," so she'll talk about it next time. Her eyes then dimmed. They would recognize her sooner or later. What would she do? They were such rare friends. Even if she was oblivious, she understood how disappointed they would be if they found out she was their fourth brother's concubine.

Each of them had their own thoughts, but when they reached the fork in the road, Nan Yi glanced around and said, "You guys go first. Don't investigate me. Perhaps we'll be able to officially meet soon."

She chuckled softly again, "By the way, where do you live? I'll come visit you sometime."