Chapter 613 - 594: Glorious Battle Record

Wang City, due to its rising status, had already become a vortex of contention for the major powers. Of course, the great houses of the Great Zhou wouldn’t act directly—it hadn’t come to that point yet. But the competition was omnipresent. If you took a step back, others would push forward, especially concerning something as strategic as True Essence Beasts.

Therefore, every move in Wang City could no longer be judged by surface appearances; it was very likely that they all had deeper meanings.

Could Wang Meng be a pawn used by the Wang Family to break the stalemate?

It would also be his final value. If the good-for-nothing Wang Rencai died in Wang City, the Wang Family would have a reason to intervene. If he successfully married into the Jiang Family, the Wang Family would also have a reason to get involved.

Killing two birds with one stone.

Wang Meng had a vague feeling about this, though Wang Rencai himself had been oblivious. However, even though his surname was Wang, he wasn’t interested in the Haojing Royal Family’s affairs. If there was any debt of gratitude, it was to Wang Rencai.

Over the next few days, Wang Meng clearly felt the warmth from the Jiang Family. Regardless of whether Wang Meng was genuinely skilled or not, Jiang Shiqing knew that this Wang Meng still had some power.

To say nothing of anything else, the very fact that he could earn the high regard of Luo Shan and Yang Qi was no small feat.

At the very least, he was worth the Jiang Family’s serious consideration. Jiang Shiqing also had Jiang Biyao make a gesture.

To be honest, Jiang Biyao wasn’t very willing. Acting so two-faced and snobbish made her feel like a hypocrite. It was just that her hands were often tied. In reality, though, she was also very curious.

Wan’Er, however, was delighted that her mistress was taking the initiative to see Wang Meng and quickly led Jiang Biyao over.

Wang Meng wasn’t the least bit surprised to see Jiang Biyao. He was very polite, which actually left Jiang Biyao at a loss for the words she had prepared. She could clearly feel a sense of distance from him.

He wasn’t interested in her.

This genuinely frustrated Jiang Biyao and left her feeling a little indignant. ’Who do you think you are, acting so high and mighty?’

After some small talk, Wang Meng smiled. "Thank you for your care during this time, Miss Jiang. I’ll probably be leaving for a while."

Jiang Biyao was taken aback. She hadn’t expected Wang Meng to leave. ’Where else could he go?’

"Brother Wang, are you returning to Haojing?"

Wang Meng shook his head. "I’m all alone in the world now. But after leaving Haojing, I suddenly feel like my life is starting over. I want to do some things I’ve never done before, to make this life worthwhile."

Wang Meng’s tone was filled with a carefree spirit and a unique charm that, frankly, was devastatingly effective against someone like Jiang Biyao.

Only then did Jiang Biyao realize that Wang Meng’s former pale, weak, and wretched air had vanished at some point. In its place was a confident indifference, as if he had everything under control.

But her pride wouldn’t let her back down. "It seems you’re a new man, Brother Wang. Congratulations. If there’s anything you need help with, please don’t hesitate to ask."

Wang Meng nodded. "Thank you for everything during this time. Heh, and Wan’Er, thank you for your care as well."

Hearing that Wang Meng was leaving, Wan’Er’s big eyes immediately turned red, but she held back her tears, not daring to show her emotions.

"It was my honor to care for you, Young Master."

"Haha, little one. Just take good care of your mistress from now on."

The conversation seemed to die down. Jiang Biyao’s expression gradually calmed, and she said coolly, "In that case, I won’t disturb your rest, Brother Wang. Wan’Er, let’s go."

After leaving Wang Meng’s residence, Jiang Biyao couldn’t quite put a name to what she was feeling. From the moment Wang Meng had arrived, her main goal had been to subtly make him realize the difficulties and retreat. Now that her goal was achieved, she felt an unexpected emptiness.

Perhaps it was because he wasn’t retreating in the face of difficulty, but was simply uninterested.

Jiang Biyao shook her head slightly. ’Don’t overthink this. That man is capable of any evil. A dog can’t change its habit of eating shit—how could he change just like that? Nine times out of ten, he’s just putting on an act, trying to get the people in Haojing to take him back.’

’If this is all for one specific goal, he could certainly persuade some people to play along with his act.’

’People, especially nobles, are just more complicated. Or rather, their pride makes them absolutely refuse to admit their own mistakes.’

Having said his goodbyes to Jiang Biyao, Wang Meng had one less thing on his mind. He didn’t have much to pack and left that same day. His top priority now was to get a True Essence Beast.

When he came, Wang Meng was riding an old horse. When he left, Wang Meng was still alone, riding an old horse.

The only difference was that when he left, someone was secretly seeing him off.

Wan’Er, the kind little maid.

The Taibai Mountain Range. This was Wang Meng’s hunting ground, and this was the real business. Wang Meng had invested everything he owned; he wasn’t planning on coming out until he had something substantial to show for it.

Wang Meng’s departure didn’t cause any ripples. After all, in a bustling trade city like Wang City, countless people came and went every day. Who would pay attention to any single person?

As it happened, there were indeed some interested parties.

They weren’t from the Jiang Family.

To be precise, there was more than one group.

People from the Kun Family and the Muhe Clan both watched as Wang Meng casually strolled into the Taibai Mountain Range. The trackers saw Wang Meng enter the dangerous depths and had no choice but to stop. The Taibai Mountain Range was too vast and labyrinthine, making it easy to get lost. Even when the major families sent expeditions, they always dispatched powerful teams.

Yet Wang Meng had foolishly gone in alone. He was truly courting death.

Or perhaps he was seeking death to begin with?

They couldn’t figure it out, but the Kun Family felt slightly relieved. After all, between a weak Wang Meng and an unfathomable one, they much preferred to see the former.

If the Wang Family were to meddle in Wang City, the already chaotic situation would become even more complicated.

The Muhe Family residence.

Across from Muhe Xiaoyu sat a cultivator in his thirties. The two looked quite similar. This was the man known as the number one expert of Wang City’s younger generation, Mulholland Drive.

A formidable Power Cultivator, Mulholland Drive had a calm and steady personality and had already inherited the family’s legacy. With this brother and sister duo, the Muhe Clan had enough to ensure the stable development of their family’s power.

Mulholland Drive was focused on internal affairs, managing the clan and concentrating on his cultivation. Muhe Xiaoyu, on the other hand, was part of the Spirit Control Association and benefited from its power. Coupled with the network of connections the Muhe Clan had built up over a long time, even the arrogant Kun Family was unwilling to provoke them. To be precise, their masters felt the same way.

"Big Brother, this Wang Meng is very interesting. Could the intelligence be wrong?"

From Muhe Xiaoyu’s perspective, something about this was strange.

Mulholland Drive smiled. "Since you’re the one saying it, Xiaoyu, there might be something to it. But according to reliable intelligence from Haojing, this Wang Rencai is indeed a worthless profligate."

"That’s what I heard in Haojing as well, and even worse things... But according to Biyao, he was set up by Jiang on his way to Wang City and ended up in the Taiyuan Bone Land by mistake. I never expected him to walk out of there alive. What’s even stranger is that he didn’t use the opportunity to cause trouble or make threats."

Muhe Xiaoyu’s eyes gleamed.

"This person is a bit strange. His strength is different from what we understand, and his personality has also changed. Although they say a prodigal’s return is worth more than gold, this change is a bit too drastic."

"Big Brother, are you saying this person is an imposter?"

"No. He just got into a big fight at the Celestial Fragrance Tower, and he definitely used a Wang Family Cultivation Technique. Unfortunately, his True Essence lacks the Five Elements, so he can’t display its power. That part can’t be faked."

"Then...?"

"It’s hard to say. I can only make two assumptions. One, he was putting on an act the entire time and wanted to leave Haojing for some reason. Two, he had a fortuitous encounter in the Taiyuan Bone Land."

The brother and sister smiled. They both clearly leaned toward the former explanation. No fortuitous encounter could cause such a drastic change.

"In any case, this is Haojing’s business. We’re only responsible for observing; it’s best not to get too deeply involved. Besides, the word from Haojing is that his life and death are up to fate. We just need to report the outcome."

Mulholland Drive waved his hand dismissively.

But Muhe Xiaoyu’s eyes showed a hint of hesitation. Mulholland Drive noticed this small flicker of emotion. "What, are you a little interested in him?"

Mulholland Drive didn’t mean anything else by it. He knew his sister had become interested in the Spirit Control abilities the man had displayed.

"Yes. I’ve never seen anyone suppress a Third-Transformation True Essence Beast with sheer presence, without relying on Magical Treasures or Magic. In the Spirit Control Association, only a limited number of people can do that. It was either a fluke, or this person has some kind of innate talent. But with the Wang Family’s resources, how could they not have discovered it? I just can’t figure it out."

"Xiaoyu, don’t overcomplicate things. Instead of making wild guesses, we should just wait and see. We just need to keep watching."

Mulholland Drive smiled faintly.

"You’re right, Big Brother."

"Regardless, the Jiang Family has made one mistake after another this time. In life and in business, you have to admit when you’re wrong. They lack magnanimity."

Mulholland Drive passed his judgment on the Jiang Family.

Muhe Xiaoyu smiled. She didn’t worry about clan affairs. She didn’t plan on leaving right away either. It was rare for her to return, so she had to use her strength to bolster her clan’s prestige.

「Meanwhile, in Haojing.」

「The Great Zhou Imperial Palace.」

The Seventh Princess, Ji Ruyan, was known as one of the three great beauties of Haojing. With her status as a princess, she had countless suitors. She could have been enjoying a pleasant life, but ever since that incident, she had been living in a state of constant anger.

That hooligan had actually lifted her skirt in public. For a proud and haughty princess, the blow was imaginable. But in the end, her Imperial Father had simply let the matter drop.

When she heard the news that Wang Rencai had been driven out, Ji Ruyan was undoubtedly the happiest. However, she had no intention of letting him off so easily.

A woman who doesn’t take revenge is no woman at all!

But Ji Ruyan wasn’t alone in her loneliness. Besides her, there was the Tenth Princess, Ji Jin’Er. The little girl hadn’t understood before, but as she grew up, she came to know what had happened. When it came to this villain, she and her Seventh Sister shared a common enemy.

Listening to her subordinate’s report, Ji Ruyan was in complete disbelief. She refused to believe it!

’He has talent???’

’That’s so ridiculous, the rocks on the roadside would laugh. Getting into fights at the Celestial Fragrance Tower—that’s his true nature.’

"Seventh Sister, he must be using the Wang Family’s name to swindle people! A guy like that really needs to be taught a lesson!"

Ji Jin’Er was still young. To her, this kind of person didn’t just need to be taught a lesson; he deserved to be destroyed.

The princess’s knights were all fired up. With just one order from the princess, they would immediately rush to Wang City and blast a certain someone to smithereens. The Wang Family didn’t want him anymore, anyway. Without that halo, he was just someone for anyone to step on.

But the Seventh Princess wasn’t satisfied. That would be letting him off too easily.

She wanted to make him pay it all back, doubled!

’What he did to me was one thing, but my sister was so young back then. A person like that... he really deserves to die.’

In truth, Wang Rencai had been wronged in this matter. The fellow had no interest in little girls; he had just wanted to peek at the palace maids bathing and ended up in the wrong place. Before he could see anything, he was discovered by the guards. An attempt was still a major crime, especially for something like this, and Wang Rencai didn’t even bother to explain himself, adopting a completely "since I’m already cracked, I might as well be shattered" attitude.