C6 She Forcefully Retreated the Enemy

"Xian'er, be careful!"

Ning Chaoping had no interest in Hai Yuntian's shameless demeanor; his attention remained fixed on the unfolding scene in the arena. Upon witnessing the alarming development, he couldn't help but cry out in alarm.

But then, a streak of black wakan flashed by, and Ning Xian'er vanished before the eyes of the astonished onlookers.

Hai Yuntian, whose momentum had been unstoppable, gaped in astonishment. He frantically looked around, yet he was unable to detect even a trace of Ning Xian'er's presence.

Hai Yuntian, who had been so sure of his victory, wore an expression of disbelief. With his level of strength, he could sense that Ning Xian'er was still in the arena, though her figure had inexplicably disappeared.

"What is this…?"

Unable to contain his curiosity, Hai Yuntian turned to the black-robed figure behind him, his face etched with respectful inquiry.

"Dark attribute wakan is quite uncommon, so your unfamiliarity is to be expected. Yet, such a level of concealment can't elude my eyes," the black-robed individual responded, breaking his usual silence. He lifted his head to survey the arena, and then a barely audible voice reached Hai Yuntian's ears.

"To the left."

Caught in the throes of panic, Hai Yuntian's nerves were on edge. Hearing the whispered instruction, his expression softened. With a swift gesture, he launched his trident straight ahead, while his other hand stealthily reached out to the left!

A black glow flickered, momentarily hindering Hai Yuntian's outstretched hand, causing a slight delay and thwarting his attempt. Not far off, Ning Xian'er's figure gradually reappeared. The technique she used to mask her presence seemed to drain a considerable amount of wakan, as evidenced by the faint blush on her cheeks and the slight disarray in her aura.

"Keep hiding, then."

Emboldened by his successful strike, Hai Yuntian fixed his gaze on Ning Xian'er, whose flushed complexion only fueled his ignoble desires. He launched another attack, his trident, now edged with frost, aiming at difficult angles, momentarily gaining the upper hand.

"Xian'er seems to be struggling to keep up."

Ning Chaoping slapped his chair, voicing his concern to Wu Cong, who could only shake his head helplessly in response.

Ning Xian'er was visibly exhausted, with beads of sweat trickling down her forehead. She mustered her strength for a moment longer, as if steeling herself with determination. Biting her lip, she launched an attack that forced Tsunami back and then vanished from sight once more.

Tsunami, however, did not panic as he had before. Instead, he stood in anticipation, casting a glance at the figure in the black robe.

"Spiritual Vine Dance," came a voice, cold and detached. The ground where they had been clashing was suddenly shrouded in pure black. Then, slender Spirit Devouring Vines began to sway and rise, swiftly entangling Tsunami.

Now Tsunami began to panic. He had already felt the vexation of the Spirit Devouring Vines; a single vine had caused him great trouble, and now he was nearly out of options.

"To the right, above!" At this crucial moment, a voice reached his ears. His expression brightened with relief, and without a second thought, he channeled all his wakan and struck out towards the indicated direction. A faint grunt was heard as a frail figure tumbled to the ground, causing the writhing vines to slowly fade away.

Ning Xian'er glared at him, her shoulders quivering. Her fists were clenched tightly, signaling her refusal to submit, but her wakan was depleted, leaving her unable to continue.

"So, do I win this duel? Master Ning, my apologies. As Miss Xian'er herself stated, she now belongs to me. Does anyone here object?" Tsunami boomed with laughter, scanning the assembly. He then leaned in close to Ning Xian'er, whispering, "Rest assured, once you're with the Hai family, I'll make sure to 'educate' you properly. You'll learn that being too strong-willed as my woman doesn't lead to a pleasant life."

"Hehe, since the agreement was made, the Ning family certainly won't renege. Besides, the elders have already consented to the union of our families. Thus, the matter is settled," Ning Jingtao declared, rising to his feet with a smile. A weight had been lifted from his chest. He addressed Tsunami with a loud, clear voice before turning to Ning Chaoping with a look of sheer contempt.

"Elders, do we have any suggestions regarding who should assume the role of family head?"

The elders began murmuring among themselves. Elder Wu Cong, visibly enraged, pointed at the group and berated them, "You old fools, have you forgotten who led our Ning family to establish our legacy here in Oceanwatch City? Now that you've grown accustomed to a life of ease, you're contemplating betrayal?"

"I suggest we strip Ning Chaoping of his title as Patriarch and appoint Ning Jingtao as the new head of the family."

After some deliberation, the group reached a decision. Despite Ning Xian'er's impressive talents, she was ultimately bested by Tsunami Sky. The Ning family was no longer what it once was; they had no choice but to make concessions.

Ning Chaoping wore a wry smile, realizing that all his lifelong efforts for the Ning family might have been in vain.

"You come into the Ning family council hall, coerce my father, and bully my sister, treating me as if I'm a fool."

A deep sigh echoed through the hall, drawing everyone's gaze to a frail figure emerging from the shadows in the corner, his expression icy.

Ning Chaoping was the first to respond, his hands shaking uncontrollably as he stuttered, "Que, Que'er..."

The rest of the Ning family members were equally dumbstruck. Who could have imagined that Ning Que, once thought a fool, had not only survived his near-drowning but appeared to have regained his wits?

"Father, I have been unfilial. You have endured much hardship over these years."

Ning Que approached the center of the hall and knelt before Ning Chaoping, his voice clear and strong.

In this life, he was Ning Que, and it was both fitting and proper to kneel in gratitude to his father.

"Well, who would have thought the young master of the Ning family would return to his senses? This is indeed cause for celebration. Today, the Ning Mansion is doubly blessed."

Tsunami Sky turned to witness the scene, a laugh escaping him, his voice dripping with smugness and mockery. To him, the Ning family had lost its resolve and was destined to fall to the Hai family eventually.

As for Ning Que, who had suddenly appeared, he was merely a fool. Even if he had regained his senses, what kind of upheaval could he possibly cause?

"It's none of your concern whether the Ning family is celebrating a wedding. But if you don't keep your mouth shut, I might just have to arrange a funeral for the Hai family instead," Ning Que retorted with a chilling voice as he watched Tsunami Sky grab Ning Xian'er by the throat, his gaze sweeping menacingly over the two from the Hai family and the black-robed figure behind them.

Ning Que had been present in the meeting hall, witnessing the entire sparring match between Ning Xian'er and Tsunami Sky. With the heightened awareness granted by Ling Jing, he had a clear grasp of everything that transpired, including the secret message passed to Tsunami Sky by the man in black.

The match was supposed to be fair, but the Hai family resorted to underhanded tactics, first taking a pill and then offering unsolicited advice. Such dishonorable behavior was contemptible to Ning Que.

"Big talk is cheap. You agreed to the wager, so accept the loss. Miss Xian'er is mine now. If you disagree, why don't you try to take her back?" Tsunami Sky taunted with a smug grin, beckoning Ning Que with a flick of his finger. He was already set on crushing the Ning family beneath his heel, seizing the chance to assert dominance.

"Agreed," Ning Que responded curtly. In the blink of an eye, his body shimmered with blue light, and he materialized beside Tsunami Sky. His hand reached out, deceptively gentle as he grasped the other man's arm. A sudden burst of force followed, and with a crisp snap, Tsunami Sky's face contorted in agony. Ning Xian'er swiftly moved to stand behind Ning Que.

Without a moment's delay, Ning Que's decisive strike left Hai Yunqi unable to react. But Ning Que wasn't finished. He delivered a powerful kick to Tsunami Sky's abdomen, sending him hurtling through the air to land heavily in Hai Yunqi's embrace.

Blood gushed forth in torrents as Tsunami Sky stared at Ning Que in disbelief. He couldn't fathom how he, a four-star Soul Warrior on the cusp of five-star strength after taking the Spirit Mend Elixir, was utterly defeated by the town fool of Oceanwatch.

This was the epitome of humiliation.

The entire council hall was deathly quiet, everyone stunned by Ning Que's swift and seasoned attack. No one could reconcile the image of the young man before them with the fool they once knew.

"I broke one of your arms because you used it to harm my Xian'er," Ning Que stated nonchalantly, as though he had done Tsunami Sky a favor. Ning Xian'er, overhearing this, blushed even deeper as her breathing steadied.

"Well played, young man. Have you been feigning foolishness all this time? With such prowess at your age, if it was all an act, I must say, I'm impressed by the cunning of you and your father," Hai Yunqi said through clenched teeth, assessing Tsunami Sky's severe injuries, which would undoubtedly require at least half a year to heal.

Ning Que's emergence had shaken him; inflicting such damage to Tsunami Sky with a single blow was something he wasn't sure he could replicate. Such talent was truly exceptional. If all this time Ning Que had been playing the fool, his temperament was equally remarkable.

Considering the patience of the Patriarch's son, who could guess what other forces Ning Chaoping might be concealing?

The Ning family was likely far more complex than it appeared.

"Enough talk. Do you want to keep fighting, or will you leave? The choice is yours. But you, your strength isn't sufficient. The one in the black robe, though, might prove a challenge," Ning Que said, waving his hand with impatience. He couldn't rely on the Ling Jing's power for too long; he had never trained and his body couldn't withstand the wakan indefinitely. He was intent on a quick resolution, eager to dispatch these three first.

"You've got spirit, young man. I can't gauge your depth. Let's leave today's matters here. Farewell."

The figure cloaked in black did not appear inclined to engage in combat. With a cold voice, he turned and strode away.

Hai Yunqi supported Tsunamisky, a hint of reluctance in his demeanor, but upon witnessing the decisive departure of the man in black, he reluctantly quelled the rage within him and followed suit.

As the trio exited the doors of the council hall, Ning Que's tightly wound nerves finally eased. He was at his limit, yet he mustered the strength to maintain his composure, avoiding any embarrassment within these walls.

Ning Xian'er noticed something was off and subtly moved closer. She gracefully took Ning Que's arm, steadying him. To onlookers, they seemed to share a close bond, oblivious to the underlying dynamics at play.

"Elders, now that the Hai family has been dispatched, are you truly intent on stripping my father, Ning Chaoping, of his role as Patriarch?" Ning Que raised his head to address the elders, who wore a mix of expressions, and spoke with a knowing smile. He was aware of their thoughts; a simpleton who had often been the target of ridicule within the clan had just repelled a formidable adversary in public. Such a stark contrast was sure to take some time to process.