31: Chapter 31 Wang Family, Wang Yuyan

"Many thanks to City Lord Zhao for your righteous assistance! This Zhao will keep it in mind. If you have any assignments in the future, I will certainly not hesitate to face death!"

"Brother Zhao is too polite." Zhao Shanhe smiled slightly, his gaze sweeping over the guards behind Zhao Lie as he pondered inwardly.

This Zhao Lie had brought so many experts with him this time. It seemed that Ye Yun and Liu Ruyan were definitely no ordinary fugitives.

The two chatted for a few more moments before Zhao Lie changed the subject, asking seemingly casually:

"By the way, City Lord Zhao, why haven't I seen your two Young Masters today? I met them once years ago. Thinking back now, they should have grown into pillars of talent, shouldn't they?"

At the mention of his sons, Zhao Shanhe's face instantly darkened. A flash of imperceptible pain and irritation flickered in his eyes as he spoke in a stiff tone.

"They have important matters to attend to, so they won't be coming out to see guests."

Seeing this, Zhao Lie's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

As shrewd as he was, he instantly sensed that something was wrong.

Zhao Shanhe's reaction was too abnormal; clearly, something had happened to one of the two Young Masters.

"I see." Zhao Lie tactfully didn't press further, his face still wearing a smile, but his mind was already calculating.

"It seems that many things have indeed happened in Shiyun City recently. Perhaps the disappearance of Ye Yun and Liu Ruyan is somehow connected to the changes in the City Lord's Manor?"

After chatting for a while longer, Zhao Lie stood up to take his leave.

"City Lord Zhao, I have disturbed you for long enough, so I shall take my leave first. If there is any news in the future, please inform me in a timely manner."

"Take care, Brother Zhao." Zhao Shanhe nodded, not standing up to see him off.

Zhao Lie led his guards out of the City Lord's Manor, boarded a carriage, and drove toward his pre-arranged residence.

Inside the carriage, Zhao Lie's expression gradually turned somber.

"It seems the waters of Shiyun City are even deeper than I imagined. Something big must have happened in the City Lord's Manor, and it might even be related to that kid Ye Yun. Pass down the order: have our men investigate in secret. We must find out exactly what has happened in the City Lord's Manor recently!"

"Yes, Patriarch!" the guard beside him quickly responded.

As the carriage slowly drove away, inside the City Lord's Manor, Zhao Shanhe looked out the window, his face growing increasingly gloomy.

He had a premonition that the Ye Yun whom Zhao Lie was looking for might be the culprit behind his second son's disappearance.

If that were truly the case, he would definitely make that boy pay a price in blood!

...

Meanwhile, at another residence in Shiyun City—the Wang Family Compound.

The Wang Family was a top-tier power in Shiyun City, second only to the City Lord's Manor. The Patriarch, Wang Xiaotian, possessed unfathomable strength.

It was said that he had long ago reached the Great Martial Master Realm, putting him on par with Zhao Shanhe.

The Wang Family estate covered a vast area, with pavilions and towers arranged in an orderly fashion, exuding the atmosphere of a powerful clan.

In the Martial Arts Arena deep within the estate, a slender figure was dancing gracefully.

The girl was about sixteen or seventeen years old, dressed in moon-white training clothes. Her skirt fluttered with her movements like a light butterfly.

Her skin was fair as jade, and her features were as exquisite as a Fairy from a painting. Her eyes, in particular, were clear and spirited.

Yet they also held a touch of determination and sharpness that transcended her age.

She was the pearl of the Wang Family, Wang Yuyan.

Wang Yuyan held a longsword in her hand. The sword light flickered, weaving and dancing like a bolt of silk.

Her swordsmanship was exquisite beyond compare, sometimes fast as lightning, sometimes soft as flowing water.

Every move and every style contained a profound foundation in the Martial Dao; she had clearly received guidance from a famous master.

"Yuyan, how is your cultivation going today?"

A gentle voice called out as a middle-aged man dressed in a green brocade robe walked over slowly.

The man had a refined face and gentle eyes. He was Wang Yuyan's father and the Patriarch of the Wang Family, Wang Xiaotian.

Hearing the voice, Wang Yuyan withdrew her sword and stood still, the tip of the blade pointing at the ground as a drop of water slid down the steel.

She turned around and bowed slightly to Wang Xiaotian, a bright smile appearing on her face.

"Father, I feel I have made further progress today."

Wang Xiaotian looked at his daughter, his eyes full of gratification and pride.

Wang Yuyan was not only peerlessly beautiful, but her martial talent was also a once-in-a-century occurrence. At only sixteen years old...

...she had already reached the 7th Stage of the Martial Master Realm, even more outstanding than he had been at her age.

"In less than a month, it will be the day the Four Great Sects of the Tianyang Kingdom recruit Disciples."

Wang Xiaotian walked to his daughter's side, his tone carrying a hint of expectation.

"Are you confident?"

A flash of determination and confidence crossed Wang Yuyan's eyes, and a proud smile curled at the corners of her mouth.

"Don't worry, Father, I am completely confident! Within Shiyun City, aside from Zhao Tianlong of the City Lord's Manor, no one is my match! I am determined to secure a spot in the Four Great Sects!"

Her tone was resolute, without the slightest hesitation.

Zhao Tianlong's talent was indeed extraordinary. He was already at the 9th Stage of Martial Master Realm, only one step away from the Great Martial Master Realm, making him her greatest competitor this time.

But Wang Yuyan never feared a challenge; instead, she saw it as motivation to stimulate her own potential.

Wang Xiaotian nodded with satisfaction.

"Good! Such ambition! You truly are a daughter of my Wang Family! As long as you can enter the Four Great Sects, your future achievements will surely far surpass your father's!"

He paused, as if remembering something, and said in a somewhat casual tone.

"By the way, it seems the City Lord's Manor hasn't been very peaceful lately."

A flash of curiosity appeared in Wang Yuyan's eyes.

"Oh? What happened at the City Lord's Manor? Could it be that something happened to Zhao Tianlong?" In her view, the only thing in Shiyun City that could make the City Lord's Manor unpeaceful was if something had happened to Zhao Tianlong.

Wang Xiaotian shook his head and smiled.

"It's not Zhao Tianlong, but his younger brother, Zhao Tianheng. I heard he's been missing for several days, and even Li Mo, that Martial Master Realm Peak consecrator from the City Lord's Manor, has vanished along with him."

"Zhao Tianheng?" The curiosity on Wang Yuyan's face instantly vanished, replaced by a hint of disdain.

"He's nothing more than a playboy who idles about all day causing trouble. It's not surprising if he's gone missing."

In her eyes, Zhao Tianheng and Zhao Tianlong were worlds apart.

One had outstanding talent and was steady and capable; the other had no great ambitions and only knew how to use the power of the City Lord's Manor to act like a tyrant.

Such a person was simply not worth her time or attention.

Seeing his daughter's reaction, Wang Xiaotian shook his head helplessly.

"You, your personality is just too proud. But that's fine; focusing on cultivation is what's most important for you."

"Father, I want to Cultivate for a while longer."

Wang Yuyan said, her eyes reigniting with passion for her training.

"Alright, go ahead. Just remember to balance work and rest; don't overwork yourself."

Wang Xiaotian doted on her, rubbing her hair before turning to leave the Martial Arts Arena.

Wang Yuyan watched her father's departing figure and gripped her longsword, her gaze becoming even more determined.

Zhao Tianlong, Four Great Sects—here I come!

On the arena, the sword light flickered once more, and the girl's figure stood even taller under the sunlight.

...

A few days later.

In the villa on the west side of the city, the vegetation in the courtyard was lush, quiet, and serene.

Ye Yun sat cross-legged on a stone platform in the courtyard, surrounded by Mystic Power that formed a faint vortex of airflow.

His 8th Stage Martial Master Realm cultivation circulated steadily within his body. With every complete cycle, his Mystic Power became more condensed and thick.

Having experienced the life-and-death battle at the Earth God Temple, his comprehension of the Martial Dao had become even more profound, making his cultivation twice as effective with half the effort.