Wang Zhaoling's expression was unpleasant.

They really couldn't threaten Zhao Changhe, let alone kill him casually.

Although they didn't realize the true relationship between Zhao Changhe and Cui Yuanyang, no matter what, Zhao Changhe was Cui Yuanyang's benefactor. The Cui family had given the Longque as a gift, which already showed their recognition of his identity. If it weren't for this recognition from the Cui family, who would recognize Zhao Changhe's identity? They could have killed him in secret, but not now.

The Longque brought a lot of inconvenience to Zhao Changhe, but it also had great benefits. Everything had two sides.

Now, Cui Wenjing's attitude was like a sharp sword hanging over them. The Wang family definitely didn't want to offend an ally like the Cui family. What was the point of doing anything significant if they did? They might as well go home and sleep.

Not to mention Cui Wenjing, even the countless forces and followers associated with the Wang family would find it difficult to support the killing of the prince. If news of this spread, the Wang family's power could potentially become chaotic and weak overnight.

The biggest difference between the noble families and those demonic cultists was here. They needed to follow the principles of law in everything they did. Once they deviated from this point, history would teach them the severe consequences. But if they handled it well, it would be much easier to succeed than those rebellious cultists. They just needed to change their banner...

Wang Zhaoling looked at Cui Yuanyang with a pained expression, while Cui Yuanyang blinked her eyes, looking like a little rabbit who didn't understand anything. Wang Zhaoling knew that he couldn't expect any response from her. It was already a friendly gesture from the Cui family for her to come and be a mascot.

Cui Yuanyang didn't come because of the "not seeing each other before marriage"... It was purely because the matters she represented were different from Cui Yuanyang's significance. It was intentional avoidance. She came as an innocent little rabbit, and no matter what she did, the Cui family could play dumb.

All of them were thousand-year-old foxes.

After a moment of silence, Wang Zhaoling decided to give up on trying to win over Zhao Changhe.

As long as Zhao Changhe stayed here and didn't leave to ruin things, outsiders wouldn't know the situation. They could also consider it as his support and participation, so there was no need to complicate matters.

Thinking of this, Wang Zhaoling smiled again and clapped his hands. "That's it then. Whether you participate in the sword competition or not, I thank everyone for coming to celebrate my birthday. Let's eat and drink first, and then we'll have the sword competition... Bring the food and start the music!"

"I won't eat." Situ Xiaoyao stood up unsteadily and stretched lazily. "Situ has had enough wine. Now, I just need a sword to accompany it."

Wang Zhaoling was stunned. "Situ brother, what do you mean..."

Situ Xiaoyao smiled and said lazily, "Old Wang, don't think too much and forget the basics. Earlier, everyone speculated that you used your birthday as an excuse to invite hidden dragons from all over the world to test their skills. Frankly, although it's arrogant, it suits my taste. Testing the heroes of the world is the spirit of a warrior. I'm willing to accompany you in this sword fight and verify it for myself. We can both gain something. Did I come all the way from Huguang just to have a meal with you?"

Wang Zhaoling's expression gradually became serious.

Situ Xiaoyao smiled and said lazily, "Wang Zhaoling, you said that the training was difficult and invited heroes from all over the world here. But what kind of trashy dirty business did you miss during this good time? Looking back, ask yourself, do you have no regrets?"

He slowly drew the heavy sword from his back. "Situ Xiaoyao of the Shenhuang Sect invites the hidden dragons of the world to fight. Let's have a toast!"

There was silence in the field, and Wang Zhaoling took a deep breath.

He set up the stage, but it had become Situ Xiaoyao's martial arts arena.

But this was the original intention...

Even Wang Zhaoling himself couldn't help but feel a surge of heroic spirit in his heart.

But how could the sword competition end before it even started, with the two strongest fighters fighting each other like this? Wouldn't the following hidden dragon competition become a joke?

If he wanted to raise his status and style, he should be sitting in the main seat, watching others fight, and then challenge the winner himself. That would be a perfect ending.

Wang Zhaoling suppressed his desire to fight and turned it into a smile. "Since Situ brother wants to test his sword, he must not rely on force to overpower others. Who is willing to come forward and verify their skills with Situ brother?"

There was silence for a moment. Who the hell would go and fight? Situ Xiaoyao didn't say he wouldn't use force, and even if he didn't, no one had the confidence to win.

Just like Chilian back then, the only one who could fight him was Yue Hongling. Now that Situ Xiaoyao was standing here, the only one who could really fight him was Wang Zhaoling himself.

Situ Xiaoyao stood in the field with his sword, but no one responded. The ragged drunkard's eyes gradually filled with clear disappointment and disdain.

Suddenly, laughter came from the side. "A toast to Brother Situ!"

Everyone turned their heads and saw Zhao Changhe throwing the wine cup in his hand directly towards Situ Xiaoyao in the field.

Situ Xiaoyao's eyes instantly lit up.

Wang Zhaoling twitched his mouth. "Brother Zhao, didn't you say you wouldn't participate?"

Zhao Changhe asked in surprise, "I met Brother Situ at the wine banquet and wanted to have a friendly match. It has nothing to do with the sword competition of the Wang family."

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Wang Zhaoling: "..."

Xia Chichi couldn't help but burst into laughter, and her grip on the sword hilt gradually loosened.

She also wanted to participate, but hesitated because of her identity. She didn't expect Zhao Changhe to be so shameless.

Others didn't think too much about it and stared at the wine cup intently.

The cup was full, level with the rim, but as it flew towards the field, not a drop of wine spilled out, highlighting the exquisite control.

"The Shari Flying Feather hidden weapon technique of Yue Hongling, combined with the gentle intent of the Tang family's Blue Wave Clear Ripple, is indescribably wonderful." Wang Zhaoling muttered to himself in a low voice, the fighting spirit in his eyes growing stronger and stronger, almost forgetting why he held this banquet in the first place.

Situ Xiaoyao's eyes were also filled with joy as he raised his heavy sword.

With a "crack," the bottom of the wine cup brushed against the blade, slid along the sword, and was stopped for a moment at the hilt. But instead of falling backward and spilling, it plunged forward, and the wine splashed out like arrows.

Situxiao opened his mouth to catch the wine, not a drop was wasted as it flowed into his mouth. The cup then landed steadily on the sword, as if someone had just poured him a drink.

"Great wine!"

Situxiao laughed heartily. With a pat on his waist, the stopper of his wine pouch popped open, and a stream of wine gushed out, landing precisely in the cup. When the stream of wine ceased, the cup was just full.

He then swept his heavy sword: "A toast to Brother Zhao!"

Despite the heavy sword whistling through the air, when it hit the cup, there was only a very faint "ding" sound. The cup leisurely flew back, with not a drop of wine spilled.

This move was much more difficult than Zhao Changhe's cup toss just now. In terms of skill alone, it was a notch above Zhao Changhe.

Zhao Changhe didn't have a more impressive trick up his sleeve. He simply reached out to catch the cup, drained it in one gulp, and exclaimed with joy: "Excellent, excellent swordsmanship, excellent kung fu!"

After saying this, he put the cup down on the table, and drew his sword!

With the sound of the dragon's roar, the dim blood light crossed the hall and headed straight for Situxiao in the center.

Situxiao casually swung his sword to counterattack. The blade's blood color suddenly changed in mid-air. Zhao Changhe's figure seemed to move in mid-air, elegantly sidestepping half a step, transforming his slash into a thrust, and piercing towards Situxiao's chest.

Situxiao's expression finally became serious. He urgently sidestepped to avoid the thrust, and also exclaimed with joy: "Good! Good swordsmanship! Good footwork!"

Good swordsmanship...

Many of the spectators were greatly puzzled. Wasn't Zhao Changhe using a saber, a very outrageous broad saber at that...

But that thrust just now was indeed a sword move. Where did he get this swordsmanship, and how did he integrate it into his saber technique? Could a newcomer to the martial arts world do such a thing?

"Tang family's Water Treading Lingbo..." Wang Zhaoling muttered to himself: "I can't recognize the swordsmanship, it's probably Tang Wanzhuang who helped him integrate it into his saber. His relationship with Tang Wanzhuang..."

Cui Yuanyang pouted and sniffed.

"Clang!" The swords in the field finally clashed for the first time, but it was not the fierce collision of heavy swords and broad sabers that people imagined, but a scraping of sword against saber, producing a harsh friction sound.

The two passed by each other, and in the moment they passed, their left hands each slapped towards the other's chest and ribs, and then they exchanged a flurry of blows.

Zhao Changhe's fingers brushed past Situxiao's ribs, as if brushing against iron, nothing happened, and his fingers were a bit painful. Situxiao's finger pointed at Zhao Changhe's Yutang acupoint, and likewise, nothing happened.

The two passed by each other and looked back at each other.

Zhao Changhe rubbed his Yutang point on his chest, feeling that he had lost. The opponent's horizontal training was painless, and he only moved his acupoints, which was still painful, and he was at a disadvantage.

The joy on Situxiao's face became a bit strange: "Brother Zhao..."

Zhao Changhe: "Huh?"

"You're a grown man, and you're playing with me with your flower-picking catching hand! Do you want to reach in and feel it?"

"...I don't know any fierce boxing or palm techniques, I'm just looking for them, can you teach me?"

Situxiao showed a helpless smile: "You're really not shy."

After saying that, he held his sword with both hands, slightly bowed his body, and stared with tiger-like eyes: "My boxing and palm techniques are not particularly fierce, but they are as strong as iron. If Brother Zhao can gain something from this battle, I will give you a set of boxing and palm techniques, what's the harm?"

Zhao Changhe stood with his saber, took a small step, and the blood-sha roar rose to the sky: "Compared to that, I am more interested in seeing how this blunt heavy sword can be used without any fancy moves."

Wang Zhaoling: "..."

Is this the sword discussion they wanted?

On the surface, yes, very much so.

But why does it feel off...

Before this sword and saber show, he, Wang Zhaoling, seemed to have become a passerby, and no one cared about him anymore.

I recommend a book "My Senior Sister, Is Not Human!", and the daily life with non-human senior sisters.