Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

The cleansing of the horse bandits continued until sunset and dusk before it officially ended.

With two thousand elite Feathered Forest Guards joining the battle, less than one tenth of the horse bandits managed to escape from the battlefield. Countless bodies were scattered over several miles radius, and flowing blood dyed vast stretches of the prairie red.

This battle was undoubtedly glorious. After counting the casualties, a total of over ten thousand horse bandits led by the White Wolf Thieves were slain, while the losses among the Feathered Forest Guards did not exceed one hundred.

During the battle, a large number of horse bandits knelt and surrendered, but were ruthlessly killed by the Feathered Forest Guards.

Only a few captives were kept alive.

These horse bandits were covered in the blood of innocent civilians, and deservedly met their end. The task of the Feathered Forest Guards was to escort Princess Qingyun to Great Yan, and it was not possible to travel with a large number of captives.

Sending them off was naturally the best choice!

When the peace envoy camp set up again, Sun Zhengheng brought three heads to Wang Chen.

Three heads with eyes wide open in death!

Wang Chen understood immediately: "The leaders of the horse bandits?"

"These are the White Wolf leaders."

Sun Zhengheng pointed to one of the heads which had a single-eyed and white-haired appearance and said, "The total bounty on him exceeded one million silver taels."

The White Wolf Thieves had plagued the West Sea Great Prairie for several decades, looting countless merchants. Naturally, the local government office and various merchant associations despised them deeply, piling up a very high bounty altogether.

Yet, the White Wolf leader was fiendishly cunning, and high-tier Martial Artists organized teams trying to kill him, only to end up losing their lives.

The other two heads were also leaders of the White Wolf Thieves, each possessing the strength of a fifth-tier Martial Ancestor!

The bounty for these two heads also totaled several hundred thousand silver taels.

Wang Chen glanced at them, remembering faintly.

With his current combat power as a seventh-tier Martial Saint, a few fifth-tier Martial Ancestors were hardly different from ordinary horse bandits.

None could withstand a single strike from Wang Chen's spear!

From the captives, it was learned that the operation to intercept the peace envoy was initiated by the White Wolf leader, who then rallied forces from dozens of groups in the West Sea Great Prairie, forming such a large scale.

This single battle had almost completely wiped out the horse bandit gangs on the West Sea Great Prairie!

"Protector Wang."

Sun Zhengheng licked his lips and said, "We have extracted the location of their lair from the captives. It is located in Lianyun Mountain. I plan to lead a team there to cleanse it thoroughly right now!"

For this operation, the White Wolf Thieves had emerged in full force, with all three leaders appearing, only to be annihilated.

Now their lair was extremely vulnerable, a perfect time to eradicate it.

"Good."

Wang Chen nodded: "I will stay here to protect Her Highness. You proceed swiftly, and be careful."

He was well aware that Sun Zhengheng's most crucial reason for eagerly wanting to destroy the thieves' den was the wealth accumulated by the White Wolf Thieves over the years.

Furthermore, Wang Chen's performance in this battle was too spectacular, and Sun Zhengheng did not want himself and the Feathered Forest Guards to seem too incompetent, hence he took this responsibility.

"Don't worry!"

Sun Zhengheng, full of ambition, immediately gathered a thousand elite Feathered Forest Guards, taking the captives to Lianyun Mountain to cleanse the thieves' den.

The sky gradually darkened, and piles of campfires were lit in the camp.

The Feathered Forest Guards, who had fought hard all day, gathered around the campfires, drinking and eating meat, all while talking and laughing merrily.

The battle today was extremely exhilarating!

Seeing Wang Chen, they all stood up to salute him, each with immense respect.

After this battle, Wang Chen was like a god descended to earth, a war god among men, in the eyes of these Feathered Forest Guards!

Wang Chen's prestige completely overshadowed Sun Zhengheng.

"Sir."

At that moment, a female Knight came over and softly said, "Her Highness invites you to come over."

Wang Chen thought for a moment, then went to the carriage where Princess Qingyun was.

"Master!"

The next moment, Princess Qingyun poked her head out of the carriage window: "Please come in, it's more comfortable inside!"

Wang Chen couldn't help but laugh and politely declined: "Your Highness, I think it's better to talk standing up."

Previously, when they were in Daye City, it was alright for Princess Qingyun to seek his advice in private.

But now, in the wilderness with all eyes on them, how would it look if he entered the princess's carriage?

Even under the guise of mentorship, it would be crossing a line!

"Alright then."

Princess Qingyun wrinkled her nose, revealing a big smile: "Master, you are so amazing. You single-handedly drove away so many horse bandits. I don't think anyone in Great Liang can compare to you!"

Wang Chen smiled and said: "Did you invite me over just to flatter me?"

"Not..."

Princess Qingyun lowered her head and hesitated before asking: "Master, you are so powerful, can you take me with you?"

"Take you with me?"

Wang Chen was surprised: "Where do you want to go?"

"Anywhere."

A faint sorrow appeared on Princess Qingyun's face: "I don't want to marry into Great Yan, nor do I like that Third Prince."

A cold light surfaced in her eyes.

Wang Chen: "I can."

Although eloping with Princess Qingyun might completely disrupt his plans, looking at the pitiful person before him, his heart just couldn't harden.

After all, Princess Qingyun is his disciple.

The only one!

"Ah?"

Princess Qingyun was wide-eyed with surprise: "Are you, are you serious?"

She couldn't believe her ears.

"Of course."

Wang Chen said calmly: "I can first take you to Great Yan to complete the mission, wait for Sun Zhengheng and the others to return, and then I will take you away, ensuring you won't be harmed in the slightest."

If he were to take Princess Qingyun away now, Sun Zhengheng and the three thousand Feathered Forest Guards would be in big trouble!

To appease Great Yan's anger, Great Liang might even behead all of them.

Once the delivery is done and something happens on the way back, the blame wouldn't fall on Sun Zhengheng and his men.

Emperor Shaowu could then question Great Yan instead!

"Master..."

Tears welled up in Princess Qingyun's eyes in gratitude: "Thank you, but I, I, never mind."

She wanted Wang Chen to take her away, but it was just a momentary impulse. Once she sobered up, she realized it was impossible.

This marriage was tied to the alliance between Great Liang and Great Yan, relating to the peace and happiness of millions of common people, as well as the reputation and honor of the Great Liang Royal Family.

Just imagine, if she disappeared in the capital of Yan without a cause, and the marriage alliance failed, causing strife and suspicion between the two nations.

Who would benefit from that?

Certainly, Great Qi to the north!

As a member of the Royal Family, how could she selfishly disregard the greater good?

Wang Chen sighed silently and said: "Then think it over carefully. You can tell me before we reach the capital of Yan."

Princess Qingyun blinked her eyes, and two crystal clear tears slid down her cheeks. She smiled and said: "Master, you are really kind!"

Princess Qingyun felt that meeting Wang Chen was the greatest fortune of her life.

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Second update for the day, ask for monthly ticket support, thank you everyone!