I became a prince in a martial arts world.

"My surname is Wang, and my given name is Yu," Wang Yu introduced himself, then pointed to Li Yunxiu in the carriage, "This is my wife, Li Shi."

"Brother Wang! Sister-in-law!"

After exchanging names, the oxcart continued its journey. By this time, they were not far from Puning County. After another half hour, they saw the rammed earth city wall of Puning County.

"Senior Brother Fang!"

Just as they arrived at the city gate, a disciple of the Taihua Sect, dressed in a light blue robe and carrying a long sword, emerged from the teahouse next door.

"Junior Brother Lin."

"This is my junior brother, Lin Zhiyuan," Fang Shaobai introduced to Wang Yu, then said to Lin Zhiyuan, "Brother Wang is a good friend of mine whom I hit it off with at first sight."

"Greetings, Brother Wang! Greetings, Sister-in-law!" Lin Zhiyuan was very polite, but also quite surprised.

Fang Shaobai is usually carefree and unrestrained, and seems approachable. He can make friends with anyone, but there has never been anyone he calls an instant friend.

"Is that 'Flower-Picking Young Master' still in Puning County?" Fang Shaobai asked. "And how come he even brought Master Hongzhao here?"

"Yes, he launched a surprise attack on the Xu family last night. Although the young lady of the Xu family was unharmed, the head of the Xu family was still struck in the chest by him and was injured, spitting blood."

Lin Zhiyuan replied, "Master Hongzhao came for his disciple. His disciple, Fazhu, is a distant relative of the Zhou family. A few days ago, he was a guest at Jinshibao and helped the young master Zhehua, but was seriously injured by him."

Upon hearing the news, Master Hongzhao tracked the trail all the way to Puning County. He even fought with the Flower-Picking Prince last night, but was unable to capture him.

"Oh?" Fang Shaobai was somewhat surprised. "Even Master Hongzhao couldn't stop him. This flower thief's martial arts are quite impressive!"

"The main reason is that Master Hongzhao's lightness skill is inferior to his opponent's," Lin Zhiyuan said. "That Young Master Zhehua's lightness skill is indeed superb; he can move through the air and evade Master Hongzhao's Vajra Palm force, escaping far away."

Fang Shaobai nodded. "Let's go into the city first. I ran into Curly Bear on the way, and he said there are other tough guys in the city?"

Lin Zhiyuan led the oxcart into the city, and at the same time answered Fang Shaobai, "There is also Duan Ping, the Golden Knife Master; Meng Chonghu, the Iron Palm Mountain-Opener; and the Jiang brothers, the Twin Heroes of Nanshan."

Duan Ping and Meng Chonghu had a past grudge. Yesterday, they got into a fight on West Street, damaging seven or eight shops. In the end, Master Hongzhao persuaded them to stop.

Fang Shaobai nodded knowingly, "No wonder the curly-haired bear ran away."

Curly Bear established a gang in Puning County, set rules, and collected protection fees. He was also responsible for protecting these merchants from theft, robbery, and trouble. However, Golden Knife and Iron Palm Mountain-Opener were clearly beyond his capabilities, so he had to go into hiding.

"Are they all here for Zhao Yu? It seems there are quite a few bounties in the capital," Fang Shaobai joked. "The Twin Heroes of Nanshan have always prided themselves on being righteous heroes, but I didn't expect them to get involved in this mess."

Lin Zhiyuan laughed and said, "The Jiang brothers said yesterday that they weren't doing this for the bonus, but to rid the people of a scourge."

The group returned to the inn, where Wei Yan, another young disciple of the Taihua Sect, was also present. He and Lin Zhiyuan had taken turns greeting Fang Shaobai at the east gate of the city, and Wei Yan was currently sleeping at the inn.

Upon seeing Fang Shaobai, Wei Yan was overjoyed. "Senior brother's here! That Flower-Picking Prince is doomed!"

Fang Shaobai waved his hand, "Stop flattering me, tell me about the current situation."

Wei Yan looked curiously at Wang Yu and the other two, who were listening intently from the side and showed no sign of leaving.

Fang Shaobai shook his head and said, "Brother Wang is very knowledgeable; perhaps he can give us some advice."

Since Fang Shaobai agreed, Wei Yan said directly, "After the Young Master Zhehua succeeded in Jinshibao, he said that he would sleep with the young ladies of the three martial arts families in Puning County, and then he really came to Puning County."

Lin Zhiyuan continued, "My junior brother Wei and I happen to be in Puning County. We met him yesterday, but we were no match for him, so we sent someone to ask our sect for help."

Puning County is located in Hangu Prefecture, which is within the sphere of influence of the Taihua Sect. Every year during festivals, the three minor martial arts families, including the Xu family and the Golden Lion Fortress, would send gifts to the Taihua Sect, which could be considered a form of protection money.

Many of the young disciples of the Taihua Sect were also practicing chivalry in Hangu Prefecture, which is why they were able to meet in time.

"I happened to be not far from Puning County, and I intercepted the man on the way," Fang Shaobai said.

Lin Zhiyuan suddenly realized, "No wonder Senior Brother came so early. I thought it would be good if the sect's support could arrive tomorrow."

Wei Yan said, "Brother Lin and I have both decided to take turns keeping watch at the Luo and Liu families tonight."

Fang Shaobai nodded, "But I don't know which house that Flower-Picking Young Master is going to tonight."

Lin Zhiyuan said, "How about we discuss it with Master Hongzhao, and each of you take one family?"

Just then, Wang Yu suddenly asked, "Didn't he fail at the Xu family yesterday? Why do you think he won't go back to the Xu family?"

Wei Yan blurted out instinctively, "Master Hongzhao was at the Xu family's house last night, how could he dare to return tonight..."

"Um?"

Fang Shaobai and the other two realized that if Master Hongzhao went to the Liu or Luo family tonight, the Xu family would be left without anyone. Young Master Zhehua might have guessed this.

"Junior Brother Wei and I will stay at the Xu family's residence," Lin Zhiyuan said.

Fang Shaobai shook his head and looked at Wang Yu, "Brother Wang, do you have any guidance?"

Wang Yu stroked his chin and asked Lin Zhiyuan, "Where in the city are the Xu family, the Luo family, and the Liu family?"

Lin Zhiyuan replied, "The Xu family is in the north of the city, while the Luo and Liu families are in the south, so they are not far apart."

Just then, the waiter knocked on the door, "Master Lin, Master Wei, a Zen master from the Great Vajra Temple is looking for you downstairs."

Fang Shaobai stood up and said, "I'll go see..."

"Wait a minute." Wang Yu stopped Fang Shaobai.

Fang Shaobai looked at Wang Yu, "What's wrong?"

"Let me think about it." Wang Yu rubbed his temples. "I think I have some ideas, but I can't quite put them into words right now. Please wait while I sort them out."

Lin Zhiyuan said softly, "But we can't leave Master Hongzhao waiting, can we? Why don't we go see Master Hongzhao first, and Brother Wang can think about it slowly?"

Seeing that Wang Yu was still pondering, Fang Shaobai prepared to leave when Li Yunxiu finally spoke up, "Brother Fang cannot go to see Master Hongzhao."

Lin Zhiyuan asked instinctively, "Why?"

Li Yunxiu looked at Fang Shaobai, "You were the messenger who intercepted them halfway, which means the Taihua faction's reinforcements were supposed to arrive tomorrow?"

Fang Shaobai nodded, "Yes."

Li Yunxiu then looked at Lin Zhiyuan, "Just now, Master Lin said that Young Master Zhehua's lightness skill is superior to Master Hongzhao's?"

This time, Lin Zhiyuan nodded, "That's right."

"So, as long as you don't show up, does that mean Young Master Zhehua doesn't actually know that the Taihua Sect's reinforcements have arrived?" Li Yunxiu asked.

"That's right." Fang Shaobai nodded. "No matter how bold he is, he wouldn't dare to show himself after the Taihua Sect's experts arrived in Puning County."

Li Yunxiu understood this as well. "So he knows that tonight he is only facing Master Hongzhao, and his lightness skill is superior to Master Hongzhao's. Is it possible that Young Master Zhehua is secretly following Master Hongzhao to find out where he is tonight?"

"Possibly." Fang Shaobai thought for a moment, his eyes lighting up as if he had just realized something. "You mean..."

Li Yunxiu smiled and looked at Wang Yu. Wang Yu had also sorted things out and said, "What I mean is, don't show yourself yet. Wherever Master Hongzhao goes tonight, you should go in the opposite direction."

"That makes sense!" Fang Shaobai exclaimed, clapping his fists together. "Brother Wang and your wife are truly wise; I admire them!"

Li Yunxiu smiled slightly, even making a prediction in advance: "If I'm not mistaken, Master Hongzhao also believes that Young Master Zhehua will go to those two houses in the south of the city tonight. So he probably wants Hero Lin and Hero Wei to guard the Luo and Liu houses, while he waits for the signal between the two houses. The two houses are not far apart, so he can get there in time."

After a pause, Li Yunxiu added, "Of course, if he had realized he was being followed, he might have rushed back to the Xu family after nightfall."

Fang Shaobai immediately said to Lin Zhiyuan and Wei Yan, "Go see Master Hongzhao, and don't tell them I'm here."

"Okay!" The two nodded and went downstairs to meet the guests.

A moment later, the two returned to the room and looked at Li Yunxiu with admiration in their eyes.

Without them saying a word, Fang Shaobai knew that Li Yunxiu had guessed Master Hongzhao's thoughts.

Wang Yu gave Li Yunxiu a thumbs up, "Awesome!"

Li Yunxiu smiled and said to Fang Shaobai, "Hero Lin and Hero Wei are on night watch in the south of the city tonight. Patriarch Xu was also injured. That Young Master Zhehua failed last night and must be resentful. Tonight is his last chance."

Fang Shaobai's eyes gleamed. "So there's no doubt he'll be going to the Xu family tonight!"

……

Night, gentle breeze.

There are no stars tonight, only a lonely moon hanging high in the sky, casting beams of moonlight that illuminate the already silent Puning County.

"Dry weather! Be careful with fire!"

The night watchman, holding a gong, swayed as he walked through the streets and alleys, striking the gong every now and then to briefly wake those who were asleep and to check for any dangers nearby.

The Xu family mansion was in chaos last night. The head of the family was seriously injured and bedridden, and the young lady was almost in danger. The servants in the mansion have turned the courtyard into daylight tonight, with bright lights and patrolling back and forth.

On a tower not far from the mansion, Wang Yu, Li Yunxiu, and Zi Ling were also watching the commotion. The three of them were hidden in the shadows of the night, and would not be noticed unless one looked closely.

"Where is Fang Shaobai?" Wang Yu looked carefully by the moonlight and the lights in the Xu family mansion, but he could not see Fang Shaobai's figure.

"If you could see him from this far away, Young Master Zhehua would have run away long ago," Ziling teased.

Wang Yu nodded and asked Li Yunxiu for confirmation, "Fang Shaobai should be able to beat that Flower-Picking Young Master, right?"

Li Yunxiu sighed, "If the number one young master of the Taihua Sect, a dignified innate expert, can't even take down a minor flower thief, then the Taihua Sect shouldn't be one of the seven great sword sects."

Wang Yu blinked. "Fang Shaobai is a master of the Innate Realm?"

Li Yunxiu laughed and said, "What do you think?"

Just then, a clear whistle suddenly came from the backyard of the Xu family mansion, and then a white shadow soared into the air and rushed outwards.

But the next moment, a sword light rose from the corner, shining like lightning under the moonlight. Even from hundreds of meters away, it made Wang Yu and the other two squint and feel a chill run down their spines.

A scream rang out, followed by the rustling of clothes in the wind.

When Wang Yu and the other two opened their eyes again, Fang Shaobai had already arrived at the tower where they were, carrying a man in white clothes stained with blood.