C12 Princess Cai'er

The members of the Wang family stood up, supporting each other, their eyes wide with disbelief. It all seemed like a dream; they hadn't anticipated such an ending.

Wang Yan clutched his chest in disbelief, remembering his previous intentions to confront Wang Pingfan and shuddering at the thought. He was fortunate not to have acted on his impulse; otherwise, he might have been bedridden and unable to compete.

"You all seem to be recovering," Wang Pingfan said. "Let's tie up these people and take them down the mountain."

The Wang family members grabbed ropes and bound the captives, repurposing tools meant for trapping beasts to restrain the Zhao and Qian families' people. Even after securing them, their faces still registered shock.

Wang Qingshui approached with a smile. "Brother Pingfan, you're truly formidable. You subdued them all by yourself. We owe you a great deal this time. It's all because of Wang Yan. If not for him, we wouldn't have fallen into this trap." The Wang family glared at Wang Yan with resentment.

Wang Pingfan turned to Wang Yan and said, "I know Second Uncle has always coveted the position of family head, but our internal disputes should remain within the family. What you did was excessive, collaborating with outsiders. I won't act now, but once we return, the family will judge you and your son." Wang Yan, nursing his wound, remained silent, his head bowed.

The Wang family stripped the captives of their weapons, equipment, and medicinal pills. To ensure they didn't succumb to their injuries, they were even given healing pills.

As the group descended the mountain, a dispute arose ahead. "What's the meaning of the Zhao and Qian families following us?"

"There's no meaning. We simply hope you won't interfere with us." It turned out that upon entering, the Zhao and Qian families had dispatched a few members to shadow the Sun family's team to prevent any disruption. Little did they know, their main force had already been captured.

"Alright, I get it. What are you planning to do? I won't meddle, so stop following us," Sun Xiaoxiao declared.

"We couldn't possibly do that, Miss. Go ahead with your plans; we won't get in your way," the group responded.

"Hmph, if you insist on tagging along, then be my shadow," Sun Xiaoxiao muttered under her breath. If her father, Sun Wei, hadn't expressly instructed her not to engage with the three families, she would've already put them in their place. And to think, her father had even asked her to look after Wang Pingfan, that scoundrel who had the audacity to flirt with her. She couldn't very well defy her father's wishes, so she decided to feign ignorance of their whereabouts.

Just then, a cacophony of footsteps echoed from the woods ahead, suggesting the presence of at least fifty to sixty people—probably the sum total of all the competitors combined. The remnants of the Zhao and Qian families wondered if the Wang family had been annihilated so swiftly. Then, Wang Pingfan and Wang Qingshui emerged, leading the Wang family members who encircled the Zhao and Qian families. Wang Yan followed silently at the rear of the group.

"Looks like a few have slipped through the net," Wang Pingfan remarked. No sooner had he spoken than Wang Qingshui and a few others charged forward, swiftly neutralizing the stragglers and corralling them with the main force. Those captured were visibly confused, struggling to grasp the reality before them. The Sun family members exchanged puzzled looks, equally perplexed by the turn of events. Sun Xiaoxiao couldn't help but wonder—weren't the Zhao and Qian families supposed to confront the Wang family? Why had the tables turned? When she caught sight of Wang Pingfan, she couldn't help but exclaim, "You! You lecher, what are you doing here?"

Wang Pingfan touched his nose, offering an embarrassed grin. It appeared his former self had indeed made advances on her, though it now seemed he had been the pawn in someone else's scheme. He remained silent.

At that moment, a young girl beside Sun Xiaoxiao spoke up, "Oh, Xiaoxiao, is this the jerk who harassed you? Hmph, watch me teach him a lesson." She launched a palm strike, the force of which reached him before her hand did. Though she appeared to be only sixteen, she had already attained the rank of a six-star Martial Cultivator, her prowess surpassing even that of Zhao Donglai and Qian Fugui, who had taken the Qi Burst Pill.

Wang Pingfan didn't even glance at the girl before he unleashed a punch, sending her stumbling backward. Luckily, she was caught by someone. Wang Pingfan had held back; he knew his opponent was a girl, after all. The girl looked at him in utter disbelief. She hadn't used her full strength, only about sixty percent, but even a five-star Martial Cultivator wouldn't dare to face it head-on. Wasn't this guy supposed to be a non-cultivator? What was happening? Had she mistaken him for someone else?

The two individuals behind the girl bellowed, "Kid, do you realize whom you've struck? She's the princess of the Aetherwind Dynasty. You've committed a grave offense. Kneel down and apologize immediately, or we won't hesitate to cripple you."

Wang Pingfan glanced at the girl and retorted, "She attacked me first. I barely exerted any effort. If I had, she wouldn't be standing here."

"You have the audacity to address the princess in such a manner? We'll deal with you," the two young men declared as they launched their attack. They exuded the aura of two Eight-star Martial Cultivators and looked to be only in their twenties.

Wang Pingfan's expression chilled. If that's how it was going to be, they couldn't blame him for what came next. He clenched his fists, which emitted a series of cracks, and as he threw them forward, the two young men were forced back five steps, while Wang Pingfan only took three.

The expressions on the young men's faces soured. They hadn't expected their full-force punch, even without martial techniques, to be countered by someone who appeared to be no older than eighteen. Could it be that he was already a Nine-star Martial Cultivator?

"That's enough, Wang Pingfan! Are you intent on challenging the City Lord's Manor?" Sun Xiaoxiao yelled.

"Me, start this? Are you spouting nonsense with your eyes wide open?" Wang Pingfan responded coolly.

Sun Xiaoxiao was left speechless with rage. "You... just wait! We're leaving." Before departing, the young princess cast a lingering glance at Wang Pingfan, her thoughts a mystery.

Soon after, the Sun family and the princess of the royal family vanished from sight.

After watching them depart, Wang Pingfan couldn't help but think that he had once again crossed paths with some unsavory characters. But he was not one to turn away from trouble. It was clear to him that his own power was still insufficient; he needed to enhance his cultivation level without delay.

Wang Qingshui gazed at Wang Pingfan, perplexed, and inquired, "What's your current level of strength? Those were two Eight-star Martial Cultivators. Could it be that you've already reached the Nine-star level?"

Pondering for a moment, Wang Pingfan replied, "I'm not quite at the Nine-star Martial Cultivator level yet. Let's drop the subject and make haste down the mountain. There's another spectacle ahead that awaits us." With those words, he strode away.

As the Wang family observed his retreating figure, they were struck by a sudden sense of estrangement but followed him in silence nonetheless.