*BOOM! BOOM!*

Li Yuan’s expression was bad when he saw the pack of wolves charging at him.

" Get into the formation! Don’t give those beasts a chance to tear us apart!"

" Damn it! How the hell is there mist in broad daylight?"

" The signal has been fired! The guards must be arriving shortly."

" AWOOOO*

Li Yuan raised his sword he jumped at an incoming wolf. With a single thrust, he managed to drive his sword into the wolf’s neck.

" Prince Yuan, let me help you!"

Seeing Li Yuan fighting, a few other young masters joined in. However, their strength and techniques weren’t refined like Li Yuan’s.

Instantly, a brawl broke out between the wolves and the hunters. Agonizing cries echoed as one young man’s arm got bitten off.

" AHHHHH!"

Li Yuan roared as his sword flashed with scorching flames. Flames raged as he managed to create a border between the wolves and the others.

However, at that time, he suddenly felt Lian Luoqiu’s shout, " Prince Yuan, watch out!"

Li Yuan turned around and saw a giant wolf leaping towards him. However, it was too late for him to swing his sword.

*SWOOOSH!*

Suddenly, an arrow buzzed past Li Yuan as it pierced the eye of the wolf, stabbing into its brain. The wolf lost its balance, giving Li Yuan a chance to dodge.

*BOOOM!*

The wolf crasheed on the ground, completely unmoving. Li Yuan turned around, seeing Cai Yixue holding a silver bow in her hand.

" Miss Cai, thank you for this." Li Yuan cupped his fist, " Without you, I might have..."

" Save it for next time. We need to kill more of those. Else everyone will die before reinforcement even comes."

Li Yuan strutted near Cai Yixue, " Miss Yixue, you know the Nnahai Mountain better than us. Can you tell me what we should do?"

" Let’s create a perimeter. Those with ranged attacks should stay behind, while the melee attackers would finish the wolves."

" Since there are many wolves here, that means there must be a leader." Cai Yixue frowned.

" She is right." Lian Luoqiu joined in as she explained hurriedly. " These aren’t ordinary wolves, but Green Eyed Great Wolves. These could almost be called demonic beasts rather than normal animals."

" However, their leader must be a true demonic beast with mystical abilities. Along with his pack, it will be impossible for us to kill him."

Cai Yixue loaded another arrow in her bow, " All we need to do is to survive. The elders outside must have seen the fog already. They would be rushing here soon."

Li Yuan stood before Cai Yixue as he turned around, " Miss Yixue, just break the momentum of the wolves. I will handle the rest."

With Cai Yixue’s help, Li Yuan managed to kill five more wolves. Thanks to creating a perimeter, the defense of the hunters became more robust.

Barely after half an incense stick of time, the Imperial Guards and elders arrived at the place, killing off all the wolves.

" We are truly sorry, Prince Yuan." The Head Steward of City Lord came rushing, kneeling before Li Yuan.

" We didn’t know the Dark Mist phenomenon would happen during the competition."

The Dark Mist is called the sudden flow of mist in the Nanhai Mountain. It blocks even the sense of a Martial Artist, making them lose their way in the forest.

However, the mist is also beneficial because it contains a faint amount of natural energy that strengthens the corps and trees.

" It’s alright. Nanhai Mountain is a treacherous zone. Accidents can happen anytime." Li Yuan waved his hands. " The thing is, we managed to come out unscathed even amidst such great peril."

One person stood up and shouted, " It’s all because of Prince Yuan."

" Indeed! If he hadn’t given us command, we would have been scattered and hunted by those wolves!"

" Hai,l Prince Yuan! He is the savior!"

" Hahaha, good, good!"

City Lord Suo finally arrived praising Li Yuan as well. " Well, since the competition is over, we ought to give prizes, right?"

" Along with the talismans presented by Prince Li Yuan, along with the extra merit of hunting the wolves, he has scored the most, a total of 84 points!"

" The second prize goes to..." City Lord Suo’s tone became slightly forceful as he continued, " Miss Cai Yixue of Cai Family, with a total of 78 points!"

Cai Yixue nodded gracefully as she stood on the stage. However, Li Yuan walked to her and held her hand.

" If Miss Yixue hadn’t arrived on time, perhaps I wouldn’t be standing here."

He raised his hand and declared loudly, " So, if someone is the winner of the competition, it should be Lady Cai!"

Cai Yixue was stunned when she heard that, unable to think of what to do. Li Yuan smiled as he looked at her, " Miss Yixue, I will always be grateful to you."

" Speaking of which, your archery is remarkable."

Cai Yixue nodded, " I learned it from my father. He used to say that one should be skilled with both close and long range. And the Cai Family does have an archery unit, too."

" Is that so? You should definitely teach me a few tricks..."

Lian Luoqiu stood on the side as she saw Li Yuan and Cai Yixue talking as they walked away.

Her fingernails were already digging into her soft palm, and blood dripped slowly, staining her soles.

" My lady..."

Lian Luoqiu’s voice became chilled, " Prepare for the banquet in the evening. I want everything in my room within an hour."

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.

.

.

.

.

The banquet in City Lord’s manor happened in the evening. Everyone who participated in the competition had attended in the banquet.

" Prince Yuan, listen to me..."

Lian Luoqiu chased after Prince Yuan as he angrily walked away.

" Lian Luoqiu, don’t you dare to chase after me." Li Yuan spoke with suppressed anger, " Before I lose my patience, fuck off."

" I swear I didn’t know that." Lian Luoqiu hurriedly explained herself, " I didn’t know that bitch is already so powerful! I just wanted you to defeat her in a duel. So approaching her would be..."

*PAAAAA*

Li Yuan turned around as his hand swung. A crisp noise echoed, startling everyone.

Lian Luoqiu felt a sharp burn on her cheek as the world around her swirled. With a sudden imbalance, she crashed into the nearby pool.

*SPLASH*

" HAAAHHHHH!"

Gasping out, Lian Luoqiu’s face contorted as she pushed her head out of the water, trying to gasp for breath.

Her revealing dress, beautiful makeup, expensive jewelry, everything she prepared to entice Li Yuan, now in ruin.

She hurriedly swam to the edge and saw someone extending a hand for help. However, Lian Luoqiu saw that it was none other than Cai Yixue.

" Lian Luoqiu! Get up hurriedly!"

Seeing Cai Yixue’s concerned face, Lian Luoqiu’s fueled her anger even further.

" Thui! I don’t want your help, Yixue. Save your generosity for others. I don’t want your pity."

Cai Yixue yanked her hand back in speechlessness when she saw Lian Luoqiu spit on it. She wanted to talk with Lian Luoqiu, but Lian Luoqiu got up on her own and walked to the exit.

" PFFTT! Look at her!"

" Hahah! Is that a toad sitting on her head? She is totally soaked."

" Tsk, can’t hide that figure though. Everything is so full and curvy..."

" So what? Li Yuan didn’t even spared his glance at her. She can never surpass Cai Yixue."

Lian Luoqiu’s face burned with anger and shame, tears mixed with her already wet face. With a deep breath, she walked out of the Cai Family estate.

Turning around and looking at the Cai Family for the last time, Lian Luoqiu bit her lips till blood seeped out.

" Cai Yixue, I will remember it. One day, if I don’t make you and this fucking house lick my feet, I will change my surname."

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Present day.

Cai Yixue’s brows creased as the door banged in the arly morning.

" Ugh, what is it? Maid, open the door."

Yet no reply came, but the door kept ringing. Angrily, Cai Yixue got up and opened the door.

But to her shock, she saw the city guards were standing outside the door.

Without saying anything, they put a shackle on Cai Yixue’s hands.

" Lady Cai, you are under arrest, for suspicion of murder of Governor Wu’s son, Wu Xiao.