Xie Zhiwei cleared his throat before speaking, "Brother, we are extremely pleased with your recent advancement and would like to congratulate you and celebrate this momentous occasion. Naturally, we all want a party from you."
His expression soon turned grim as he added, "However, we come bearing sorrowful news."
Wang Jian raised his brows as he asked, "What happened? And where is Li Wei?"
Tang Xiaohui responded with a grave expression, "That's what we're here to tell you, bro. Li Wei is no more. There's someone out there who is targeting us as soon as we leave Aria City."
Luo Ying added with a worried tone, "He wears dark clothes and a mask to hide his identity. He has already attacked Xiaohui and me. Fortunately, we were able to fend him off with our powerful guards, or he may have killed us as well."
Wang Jian spoke nonchalantly, "Ah, that person, huh? He attacked me too."
All of his four friends were stunned by his words. They couldn't believe that the assailant would be foolish enough to target a prince.
"Did you manage to discover his identity?" Xie Zhiwei asked curiously.
The other guys were also eager to know Wang Jian's response. With his strength at the King Realm, it should have been easy for him to defeat the assailant who was only at the Lord Realm.
Wang Jian spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, "Yes, Ye Chen of the Heavenly Blade Sect."
Xie Zhiwei's face turned red with anger. "How dare he! I have many contacts in the Heavenly Blade Sect, and I'll make sure he regrets crossing us!"
His friends nodded in agreement, their expressions similarly furious.
Luo Ying's voice was resolute, "I might not have many contacts in the Heavenly Blade Sect, but I will issue a decree in the Sacred Crane Sect to make Ye Chen's death our top priority."
Liu Yu chimed in, "I will offer free talismans to disciples of all sects on the condition that they kill Ye Chen. Let's see how long he can survive with a bounty on his head!"
Tang Xiaohui calmly suggested, "I will alert all the merchants in the Empire to keep an eye on Ye Chen and charge exorbitant prices for anything he wants to buy. Let's cut off his supplies and see how he survives."
Wang Jian sweat-dropped upon hearing each one of his friends' declarations. He understood they really deserved to be called the Outlaws of Aria City.
Clearing his throat, he spoke with a firm and commanding tone, "I forbid any of you from taking action against Ye Chen. Firstly, Ye Chen's identity is special. He is the only disciple of the previous sect master of the Heavenly Blade Sect."
His words hung heavily in the air, leaving no room for argument or disobedience.
His friends' expressions changed from anger to fear upon hearing this revelation.\
The previous sect master was a illustrious figure whose status was far above their own backgrounds. They knew that any reckless action could lead to severe consequences.
"Secondly, I will take care of Ye Chen personally. You all just need to use your networks and resources to help me gather information about him," Wang Jian stated with conviction.
Xie Zhiwei looked skeptical, "Are you sure about this, Wang Jian? Although our background might not compare to Ye Chen's, we can still help you."
Wang Jian reassured him, "Don't worry, I am well aware of his strength. I have defeated him once and I can do so again. However, I need your help on another matter. Could you please invite a few King Realm experts to discuss her insights on cultivation with a couple of warriors?"
Tang Xiaohui inquired, "Is there someone specific you have in mind?"
"The experts from the Lotus Blossom Sect would be ideal," Wang Jian answered.
Liu Yu nodded thoughtfully, "I know an elder from that sect. I will contact her and ask if she is interested and would know any other experts who can assist us."
"Thank you, Liu Yu. I appreciate your help. Please let her know that I am willing to offer a generous compensation for her time and expertise," Wang Jian said with gratitude.
Liu Yu smiled and replied, "Of course, Wang Jian. We're all good friends here. I'll make sure to convey your message and get back to you with her response."
"Zhiwei, I need you to send an elder from the Alchemy Association to the Jin Clan immediately. The two King Realm experts who were poisoned need to be healed," Wang Jian requested.
Xie Zhiwei raised an eyebrow, "Jin Clan experts? We did receive a request regarding their condition, but the higher ups told us to ignore it."
Wang Jian shrugged dismissively, "It's not hard to figure out that someone who has a grudge against the Jin Family may have exerted pressure on the Dao of Alchemy Society to deny their request for treatment."
Wang Jian asked nonchalantly, "Was it my third brother?"
His friends looked at Xie Zhiwei with inquisitive gazes, waiting for his response.
Xie Zhiwei confirmed Wang Jian's suspicions with a solemn nod, his expression reflecting the gravity of the situation.
"I suspected as much," said Wang Jian with a wry smile. "It's just like my third brother to pull something like this. He even had the Jade Serpent Sect implicate the crown prince as the one who instigated the attack."
With a serious expression, Wang Jian stared at Xie Zhiwei and spoke, "Regardless of this pressure, I want you to send someone from the Dao of Alchemy Society to the Jin Clan's residence and heal those two King Realm experts. Can you do that?"
Xie Zhiwei raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure it's a good idea to involve ourselves in this political mess? It could lead to trouble with the third prince's faction. Besides, the Jin Clan is a part of the second princess's faction, not ours. Should we risk offending the third prince's faction for the sake of the Jin Clan?"
Wang Jian replied with conviction, "I understand the risks, but I want to help them."
Tang Xiaohui chimed in, "I wonder why the second princess hasn't sent an alchemist to the Jin Clan yet. After all, they are a part of her faction. It's her responsibility to help them in their time of need."
Wang Jian's voice remained steady as he spoke, "If my deduction is correct, my second sister must have received a message from the Hua Clan, requesting her not to aid the Jin Clan. As long as my sister remains passive, she will gain unwavering support from the Hua Clan."
Liu Yu's voice was filled with incredulity as he said, "The political games played in the royal family are incredibly complex. I don't think I could survive even a day in the midst of all this intrigue."
Luo Ying sighed wistfully, his thoughts wandering back to his days in the sect. "I agree. Life in the sect was a lot simpler. The one with the stronger martial arts skills was the one who made the rules."
"Also, Zhiwei, make sure that the elder you send mentions that it's all because of a personal request from me that the Dao of Alchemy Society sent him. Otherwise, no one would have arrived," Wang Jian declared with a sly smile.
All his friends' eyes widened as they realized the depths of Wang Jian's political maneuvering.
"You're trying to woo the Jin Clan away from the second princess's faction, aren't you?!" Tang Xiaohui exclaimed, unable to hide her surprise.
"Correct," Wang Jian confirmed, his voice calm and collected.
Liu Yu raised an eyebrow, "Winning them over won't be a walk in the park. I mean, the Jin Clan won't lose faith in the second princess that easily."
"Perhaps, but we have to start somewhere," Wang Jian replied calmly.
Luo Ying's voice trembled slightly, "But won't we be making enemies with both the third prince and the second princess?"
Wang Jian sighed, "I promise you that neither you nor your families will be targeted. If you trust me, then follow my lead."
Wang Jian's friends exchanged uncertain glances, contemplating their next move.
Xie Zhiwei spoke up abruptly, his tone confident, "I trust Jian."
His friends looked at him curiously, wondering what made him so sure.
Xie Zhiwei explained his reasoning, "Think about it. Jian is now a King Realm expert, which means he will inevitably contend for the throne against the Crown Prince and Second Princess. We can either sit on the sidelines and watch or join forces with Jian's faction. If he wins the throne, our fame and influence will skyrocket. It's a risk, yes, but one that's worth taking." His words carried conviction, and his friends couldn't help but feel persuaded.
Tang Xiaohui nodded thoughtfully, "He has a point. If we align ourselves with Jian now, we'll have a better chance of coming out on top if he succeeds."
Liu Yu chimed in, "And if he doesn't succeed, at least we'll have made some powerful allies along the way."
Wang Jian listened intently, then spoke up. "I appreciate your support, but let's not be too hasty. It's best if you continue to support me from the shadows. When the time is right, we'll reveal our alliance to the world."
His friends nodded, understanding the wisdom in his words.
With their minds made up, they began to plan their next move, ready to navigate the dangerous waters of imperial politics.
