I became a prince in a martial arts world.

All eyes were now on Wang Yu and his group.

Compared to the Taihua Sect's position in Hangu Prefecture and the Great Vajra Temple's position in Daxing Prefecture, the Zhenxi Prince's Mansion, although not as prestigious in the martial arts world, was still the de facto leader of the three prefectures in the Northwest, with the former Zhenxi Prince Zhao Zheng wielding the Fire Cloud Blade and commanding 50,000 troops.

Although Zhao Zheng is dead, the situation remains the same. Now that a powerful figure is targeting Qianliu Manor, an affiliated force of the Zhenxi Prince's Mansion, should the Zhenxi Prince's Mansion step forward to help?

Moreover, with the current Prince of Zhenxi personally present, if he cannot protect his subordinates' forces, the morale of the people may collapse.

Qianqian glanced at Ding Jianshen, a flash of murderous intent passing through her.

Li Yunxiu narrowed her eyes slightly; she had already noted down Qianliu Manor in her little notebook.

Zhao Yingjie's expression changed. He knew how powerful the couple beside the girl were. They had only shown a little skill, but he felt that they were no less than his father, Zhao Rong. After all, Zhao Rong was the only Xiantian master in the Zhenxi Prince's Mansion!

So Zhao Yingjie pushed the table aside and stood up, ready to sever ties with the Zhenxi Prince's Mansion over this matter.

But before he could speak, Wang Yu raised his hand to interrupt him, "Sit down, don't rush."

After pressing Zhao Yingjie down, Wang Yu nodded to Ding Jianshen and said arrogantly, "Don't worry, with me here, no one can bully the Ding family!"

Ding Jianshen was overjoyed, and solemnly clasped his hands in thanks, "Thank you, Your Highness!"

Wang Yu nodded and shouted loudly towards the outside of the hall, "The Ding family makes a living under my rule. As long as the Ding family is upright and honest, anyone who wants to bully the Ding family will have to cross the threshold of the Zhenxi Prince's Mansion first!"

The guests at the wedding banquet cheered loudly.

"Of course, rights and responsibilities are equal. If the Ding family colludes with bandits to wipe out an entire family, actively provokes enemies, and uses the Zhenxi Prince's Mansion as a pawn, then the soldiers of my Zhenxi Prince's Mansion will not be at a disadvantage either!"

As soon as he said that, the courtyard fell silent again.

Only Wang Yu smiled and looked at Yuan Feifei, "You just said that the groom colluded with bandits to harm your whole family and force you to jump off a cliff, but the Ding family denied it outright."

"I am a friend of the Ding family, and of course I trust their character. If you cannot produce any evidence, I can only assume you are spouting nonsense and slandering me."

Yuan Feifei said coldly, "What if I can produce evidence?"

Wang Yu said proudly, "The Zhenxi Prince's Mansion is located in the Northwest, governing the lands of the three prefectures and protecting the Northwest trade routes. We are mortal enemies with the Qishan bandits and the Northwest horse bandits. If anyone colludes with bandits to commit crimes, I will take matters into my own hands without you having to tell me what to do."

Ding Jianshen's heart pounded wildly, and he hurriedly said, "Your Highness, please don't listen to her nonsense. Qianliu Manor is located in Longshan Prefecture. How could it possibly collude with the Taiheng Thirty-Six Strongholds in Shanhe Road? My son's martial arts are weak, how could he possibly have the ability to wipe out an entire family?"

"Don't worry! I believe you!" Wang Yu waved his hand, comforting him. "It's precisely because I believe you that I want her to speak. Otherwise, it would be bad for your reputation if word got out that she was being punished without being taught."

Once she can't produce any evidence, she'll naturally clear Qianliu Manor of suspicion. Then the Prince of Zhenxi's mansion will have a legitimate reason to arrest her, and your son won't have to bear the infamy of colluding with bandits and wiping out an entire family.

Ding Jianshen was dumbfounded, unsure whether Wang Yu genuinely believed in the Ding family or was deliberately setting a trap for them.

Of course, the people who came to the wedding banquet had already suspected the Ding family at the first moment. However, since they were friends with the Ding family and did not know Yuan Feifei, and the Ding family could not harm them, they naturally sided with the Ding family. Those with a little conscience would not take sides, at least not on Yuan Feifei's side.

Logically speaking, Wang Yu should have noticed it immediately.

But Wang Yu is young, and he doesn't have a good reputation in the capital. He's really a good-for-nothing.

Ding Jianshen was filled with doubt and suspicion, but seeing his son's panicked state, he felt a mixture of disappointment and exasperation. He slapped his son on the back of the head, then forced himself to suppress his panic before saying, "Your Highness is right. Our Ding family has nothing to hide. We have nothing to fear. I'd like to see what evidence she can produce!"

Upon hearing this, Ding Xian felt certain.

That's right! He colluded with bandits from Taiheng Mountain to wipe out the entire Yuan family and forced Yuan Feifei to jump off a cliff. He didn't even show up or leave any trace. Where did she get the evidence to identify him?

Thinking of this, Ding Xian couldn't help but smile and was about to comfort the bride beside him.

But the bride who had just been standing next to him suddenly disappeared.

What about people?

Just then, he heard Yuan Feifei in the courtyard say with a cold laugh, "You did a good job of being discreet and leaving no trace. But since you want to deal with my family, you must have some ulterior motive. You may not have left any trace of your actions, but you still have your goals."

The hatred in Yuan Feifei's eyes was almost like two sharp swords. "My family's heirloom guqin, 'Ice Spring Melody,' is in your house!"

Ding Jianshen and Ding Xian's expressions changed simultaneously.

Yuan Feifei turned to Wang Yu, "Your Highness may search the Ding family's residence yourself. The Ice Spring has been passed down for a hundred years; it has ice marks and water patterns on its surface, and its sound is melancholic yet clear. You can recognize it at a glance!"

Ding Xian turned around, "Father!"

Ding Jianshen's eyes darted around, and he said to Wang Yu, "This woman is indeed talking nonsense. I obtained the Ice Spring Melody by chance half a year ago when I went to Hexi Road on business. I don't know where she got the information and deliberately framed me. I beg Your Highness to investigate!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a series of piercing sonic booms suddenly echoed from the backyard.

"I never imagined that the gentle and refined Lady Ziyu could be so cunning as to break into someone's backyard and steal their belongings," a seductive voice teased.

"I wondered who was sneaking around in the backyard. It's a pity that after the death of Mei Yanqiu, a great master, the Qianyin School has become increasingly worthless."

A dignified and elegant voice rang out, "Rong Qingying, you're over fifty years old, still pretending to be a bride to deceive people. Don't you feel ashamed?"

A seductive voice hummed, followed by a musical note that was neither human nor instrumental, captivating the soul and seemingly capable of stirring up a range of emotions.

Upon hearing the music, those with weak internal energy unconsciously revealed expressions of joy, anger, or sorrow. Only a few were able to circulate their internal energy, guard their minds, and remain unaffected.

The next moment, three sharp notes from the piano disrupted the rhythm of the music.

"Lone paulownia and purple jade, inseparable," the alluring voice said resentfully. "Relying on numbers, what kind of skill is that!"

Yan Ziyu smiled gently, "My husband just couldn't bear to involve innocent people, he didn't directly attack you. How about we have another three hundred rounds of fighting?"

"Pah! With your husband by my side, how can I fight you? If you're so capable, come with me to Qianyin Pavilion and fight!" Although Rong Qingying was angry, her voice was still charming and alluring.

Yan Ziyu smiled and said, "I would never dare to do that."

The next moment, a red shadow flew through the air, almost in the blink of an eye, sweeping across half the manor and disappearing over the western wall.

Immediately afterwards, a beautiful woman in purple appeared beside Yuan Feifei, holding an ancient zither with ice-marked spring patterns in her hands, and looked at Ding Jianshen indifferently.

"Master Ding, this Bingquanming is the personal zither of Yuan Shanggui, a great master from a hundred years ago. Since his death, it has been treasured in the Yuan family. I wonder where you bought it?" Yan Ziyu asked casually.

Ding Jianshen was speechless, his heart sinking to the bottom.

Gu Tong Zi Yu is a renowned master in the martial arts world. Even Zhao Zheng would have to give him some face. Their words are the evidence. What can he use to refute them?

Besides, he couldn't refute it at all!

Zhao Yingjie lightly slapped himself, clicking his tongue softly, "So they are Mr. Gutong and Mrs. Ziyu. I should have known!"

Wang Yu nodded. "Colluding with bandits and deceiving the Prince's Mansion, what should be the punishment?"

Zhao Yingjie sneered, "He should be killed!"

Wang Yu said calmly, "Don't overstep your bounds. This is a matter of江湖恩怨 (jianghu grudges), and the Ding family was in the wrong first. Just hand them over to Miss Yuan."

Zhao Yingjie immediately agreed, then clapped his hands, and four figures leaped into the main hall from the front yard. Two of them grabbed Ding Xian and Madam Ding, and two grabbed Ding Jianshen.

Ding Jianshen extended his right hand, and a willow-leaf knife slid out from his sleeve. With a flick of his wrist, a flurry of blade flashed, and the four plainclothes guards all stopped him. They turned to Wang Yu and pleaded urgently, "Your Highness, please save my family's lives! I, Ding, am willing to give my entire fortune to the Prince's mansion!"

Even now, they're still digging a hole!

Ding Jianshen was putting Wang Yu in a very difficult position. If Wang Yu didn't save the Ding family and then took over their assets, all the Jianghu forces in Longshan Prefecture would feel a sense of shared fate and wonder if the Zhenxi Prince's Mansion would do the same to them.

Wang Yu narrowed his eyes, but Li Yunxiu spoke up quietly beside him, "Don't worry, Master. We won't let the family suffer. We will transfer the Ding family's assets to your collateral branches so that your life's work won't go to waste."

Li Yunxiu made a promise from a moral high ground. Of course, whether the Ding family's collateral branch could hold onto Qianliu Manor, or whether they would sell it off cheaply and move away, was uncertain.

Ding Jianshen's expression changed drastically. He had put Wang Yu in a difficult position twice, but Wang Yu and Li Yunxiu had countered his moves and neutralized them all.

If he still doesn't understand now that Wang Yu was deliberately setting a trap for him, then he's lived these past few decades in vain.

Knowing he had no chance of survival, Ding Jianshen roared, forcing back the guards in front of him. He then turned and pounced on Wang Yu, his willow-leaf dagger flashing like willow leaves as he unleashed the ultimate strike of his life.

But in reality, he still held back, because he wanted to control Wang Yu, who was their family's only way to survive.

Wang Yu didn't move, Li Yunxiu and Qianqian didn't move, and even Zhao Yingjie didn't move.

"laugh--"

A sharp, piercing sound came as a flying stone struck Ding Jianshen's willow-leaf knife, breaking it in two.

A figure appeared behind Ding Jianshen immediately, grabbed him from behind, and sealed his acupoints with a burst of internal energy. Then, the figure threw Ding Jianshen out of the main hall and landed in front of Yuan Feifei and Yan Ziyu.

These two were the Wang family's top guards who were secretly protecting Wang Yu. One was skilled in hidden weapons, and the other in grappling. They were both first-rate experts in the martial arts world, and dealing with Ding Jianshen, who had lost his mind, would be a piece of cake for them.

At the same time, the remaining four guards knocked down Ding Xian and Madam Ding, and threw them together with Ding Jianshen.

On one side was the renowned Gu Tong Zi Yu, and on the other was the local tyrant of the Northwest, the Zhenxi Wangfu. Both sides shared the same goal, and everyone in the manor was completely silent. Even Ding's closest friends did not speak at this moment.

Yuan Feifei looked at Yan Ziyu, and seeing that Yan Ziyu nodded, she stopped being polite and said nothing more. She simply drew her long sword and, with one sword each, stabbed Ding Jianshen and his family of three to death.

Seeing Ding Xian and his son breathe their last, he let out a howl, threw down his longsword, and threw himself into Yan Ziyu's arms, weeping bitterly.

Wang Yu stood up, pointed to the three empty seats at the main table, cupped his hands, and said, "Today was originally the Ding family's wedding banquet, although it has now become Miss Yuan's banquet to avenge her great wrongs. It is still a joyous occasion and worth celebrating. Please, the three of you, take your seats and let's celebrate!"