Thus, after an exuberant torment for a long while, Zhao Ruoxi finally let out a satisfied breath and released her evil claws. William’s once smooth and lustrous fur had become disheveled, and even his spirit seemed to have withered, as he lay prone on the ground, unmoving. Although this little witch Zhao Ruoxi appeared innocent, her hands were not light at all.
Suddenly, Zhao Ruoxi let out an “ah,” remembering that she still needed to chase Bai Kongzhao. She soared into the air, scanning her surroundings, and soon locked onto a direction. Then, frowning, she said, “Ah, she’s escaped so far already?”
The moment Zhao Ruoxi’s clutches released, William struggled to stand up, intending to escape. However, when Zhao Ruoxi levitated, she activated the power of the Mandala Flower once more. Blossoms of the River of Souls bloomed everywhere, with several of them conveniently opening right next to William, whether intentionally or not. Looking at these swaying flowers of the River of Souls, William could only lie on the ground, regardless of his willingness.
Wang Bo appeared again, seeing Zhao Ruoxi’s hesitation, and asked, “What is the young mistress hesitating about?”
Zhao Ruoxi pointed in the distance and said, “The little bitch I want to kill is in this direction, about five hundred kilometers away. I’m thinking if I should continue the chase.”
William was startled, immediately standing up, only to find that he could only howl or bark, unable to speak. Even if he howled at the moon, it would probably sound like “woof woof” to Zhao Ruoxi.
However, William knew that in that direction and at that distance, a large fortress was under construction. The dark races were preparing to use it as a pivot on the front lines, to face off against the Zhao Clan’s fortresses. Such a grand and important project was overseen by marquises, and there must be a duke behind the scenes as well.
No matter how powerful Zhao Ruoxi was, she relied on the power of the Mandala Flower. If she went alone into the heartland of the dark races, once surrounded, she would surely meet a tragic end.
Yet, William did not know how to stop her. In a panic, he stood on his hind legs, biting down on Zhao Ruoxi’s skirt, and tried to pull her down to the ground.
“Hmm? Big dog, do you not want me to go?”
At that moment, William felt an overwhelming urge to bury himself in the ground. Sadly, he was a wolf, not a spider demon, and lacked the talent for digging holes.
Fortunately, Wang Bo came to his rescue in time, advising, “Young mistress, according to the latest intelligence, the dark races have been very active in this direction and are likely to make a big move. If you encounter danger, the Fourth Young Master will not be able to come to your aid from so far away.”
Zhao Ruoxi gritted her teeth, “Do you mean to let that little bitch get away just like that?”
Wang Bo smiled, “Although she has strange talents, you are her nemesis. As long as you are here, she won’t dare to come within a thousand miles. But she probably doesn’t know this. You can return to Unfallen City and wait quietly. It won’t be long before she can’t resist coming back herself.”
“Good! When that time comes, I will chase her to the ends of the earth!” Zhao Ruoxi’s eyes gleamed fiercely.
Wang Bo nodded, “Next time, she won’t escape.”
“No, next time, I will let her go.” Zhao Ruoxi made a startling statement, her pure and beautiful face radiating a terrifying light. “If I kill her now, it would be too easy on the Bai Clan. Only by letting her live first will they intervene. Once they start intercepting her, I will have a reason to use the Mandala Flower. Before killing the little bitch, I must take out a few batches of the Bai Clan’s people to vent my anger!”
“Young mistress, this might lead to a full-scale war between the two families,” Wang Bo gently reminded her.
Zhao Ruoxi’s face turned cold, “So what? After all, fighting is the business of the Fourth Young Master.”
William, listening nearby, was astounded. Zhao Ruoxi was clearly dragging Zhao Jundu into this. This cunning little witch did not hesitate to drag her own brother into trouble; dealing with others would be even easier.
William suddenly felt a faint tightening around his golden neck fur. For the first time in his life, he thought that his silver wolf form was a bit too flashy.
Wang Bo even smiled and agreed, “That’s true, the Fourth Young Master will handle it.”
“Fine, then let’s go back first. I heard many people are scheduled to have a drinking contest tonight, it should be lively.”
Hearing that the little witch was planning to return, William finally breathed a sigh of relief. As a mysterious big dog, this was the time to be set free. So, he quietly turned around, slowly extended his paws, and tried to crawl away.
But then, his neck fur tightened, and he was lifted up by Zhao Ruoxi, hanging in mid-air.
Wang Bo coughed, “Young mistress, this… dog…”
“Isn’t he adorable? Let’s take him back and play with him for a few days. After all, he’s unbreakable, right, big dog?”
William did not answer, and Zhao Ruoxi didn’t need him to. She held him by the scruff of his neck and flew towards Unfallen City.
As night fell, Unfallen City lit up with lanterns, like stars falling from the sky. On the eve of the great battle, this was the last calm. Outside the city, the fortresses continued to be built with great enthusiasm, while inside, there were celebrations everywhere. No one dared say they would survive the final battle, so everyone was trying to enjoy the last good times.
Wei Potian’s courtyard was brightly lit, with a barbecue grill set up in the center, roasting a small calf. The aroma of the meat filled the air, gradually gaining the right temperature.
Leaning against the courtyard wall were rows of wine barrels, all filled with strong liquor. Just by looking at these ten barrels of strong wine, it was clear that Prince Wei intended to wash away the shame of being defeated during the elite recruitment years.
To Wei Potian, losing to Qian Ye in a fight was no longer a disgrace, but rather something that had turned into a source of pride, especially after Qian Ye slew the Baron Ged. How many people could now claim to fight Qian Ye and not be killed? He, the great young master, only suffered minor injuries.
Thus, Wei Potian’s path to revenge was destined to be on the wine table, although this path was also arduous.
In the courtyard, there were several beautiful young girls, sometimes whispering and giggling, occasionally glancing inadvertently at the entrance, their eyes full of anticipation.
These young girls were all from noble families, each with a significant background. However, their status brought them a luxurious life, but also inescapable restraints. Arranged marriages in the aristocratic families were their inevitable fate.
In their hearts, Qian Ye’s record of beheading a baron was nothing compared to another rumor—that Qian Ye was very handsome, even more beautiful than Young Master Song Qi.
The girls were as close as sisters, but as the time approached, the atmosphere began to change subtly, with sparks flying amid the laughter and chatter.
Wei Potian looked around the courtyard once more, his gaze falling on the wine barrels, with a vague worry. He thought about it and waved for a servant, instructing, “Get more wine!”
The servant was startled, quickly replying, “More? How much?”
“As much as possible. The people coming tonight are fierce!” Seeing the servant still dazed, Wei Potian kicked him out of the courtyard.
As the night grew darker and the time for revenge neared, Wei Potian’s heart grew inexplicably heavy.
Just as he was lost in thought, a heavy hand slapped him on the shoulder, almost knocking him to the ground.
“Hey! Not bad! You can take a slap from me, you’ve improved!” Wearing a broad grin, Zhao Yuying, who had appeared out of nowhere, praised him, slapping him again, making Wei Potian’s face turn red.
“Why are you here?”
“I heard you have wine, so I came over. What, don’t welcome me?” Zhao Yuying said brazenly.
Wei Potian whispered, “Sis, keep it down, there are a lot of people watching!”
Zhao Yuying turned her head and saw the group of young girls in the courtyard. Seeing Zhao Yuying, they all bowed, saying, “Hello, Miss Yuying!”
Zhao Yuying, though wild, behaved like this only in front of acquaintances. With outsiders present, she still played the role of a proper lady. She returned the bow, saying, “You’re all daughters of… what marquise or earl, right?”
“Yes.” They each introduced themselves, indeed all from the marquis or earl families. The empire was vast, with many marquises and earls, and each family strived to multiply, with countless daughters and granddaughters. From Zhao Yuying’s expression, it was clear she wasn’t really paying attention.
However, as the daughter of the Duke of Yu, and a strong figure in the Zhao Clan, Zhao Yuying’s acknowledgment was already a great honor. The girls dared not be dissatisfied.
After the formalities, Zhao Yuying pulled Wei Potian aside, asking, “What are these little girls doing here?”
“They’re here to see Qian Ye.”
“Want to arrange a marriage? That’s useless. Better to beat Qian Ye down and get it over with.” Zhao Yuying’s thoughts were certainly unique.
Wei Potian laughed bitterly, “Sis, think about it, who can beat Qian Ye now? Even you might not be able to. They just want to try their luck, see what happens. Maybe Qian Ye will like one of them.”
Zhao Yuying snorted, “They’re all so weak, even if Qian Ye agrees, I won’t!”
“Qian Ye will be here soon, let’s see what he does. For now, things are fine, but you’ll see, more people will come as time goes on.”
Zhao Yuying was puzzled, “Why is that? When did Qian Ye become so popular?”
Wei Potian gave her a helpless look, too lazy to explain. Zhao Yuying figured it out on her own.
Just then, someone directly pushed open the courtyard gate and walked in. The two servants at the entrance seemed blind, ignoring the person.
Wei Potian, upon seeing it was Song Zining, immediately frowned, “What are you doing here? I don’t remember inviting you.”
Song Zining, having faced many storms, could have skin thicker than a city wall when necessary, and was not easily flustered. He lightly fanned himself, smiling, “I heard there’s a grand gathering here tonight, with many friends, how could I miss it? Besides, someone with a poor tolerance for alcohol but high courage, who lost to me last time, must not dare to see me again. I couldn’t let him get his wish, so I had to come and beat him once more, showing him the strength of this young master!”
Wei Potian was instantly furious, “When did I ever lose to you? Don’t leave, explain it to me! If not, we’ll have another drink-off tonight, in front of everyone, to settle the score. I don’t believe I can’t handle you, even if I can’t beat Qian Ye.”
Song Zining laughed, “Keep boasting, by all means!”
Wei Potian, angrier, instructed his subordinates to bring more wine, completely unaware that he had fallen into a trap.
With Song Zining and Wei Potian standing together, the noble girls’ eyes lit up. The Seventh Young Master was already famous for his charm, and though Wei Potian was not as refined-looking as Song Zining, he was also handsome, exuding a rugged and bold aura, which was also captivating.
The girls looked from one to the other, truly unable to decide which one would be better to marry.
At that moment, a servant outside the courtyard shouted, “General Qian Ye has arrived!”
All the girls’ eyes instantly turned to the courtyard gate.
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