Wu Chengqian, who is extremely persistent.

Wu Chengqian found himself in a dire predicament, yet he was not the most unfortunate of souls. At that very moment, as he grappled with the repercussions of Qin Yunmeng's sudden assault, Die Ke was ensnared in a perilous situation of his own—attacked by none other than Cao Wenbin.

"Cao!" Die Ke exclaimed, his voice laced with anguish. "You seduced my matriarch—how can you still lay your hands upon the younger generation?"

As he felt the sword piercing through him, Die Ke's heart ached with betrayal. To be honest, had Cao Wenbin struck him anywhere else, even in the head, he might have swallowed his rage. But the blow landed squarely in his kidney—a grievous injury to a man's very essence.

Initially, Die Ke had harbored thoughts of launching a desperate counterattack. However, before he could make a move, a voice erupted within his mind, urgent and panicked. 

"Run, boy! That weapon in Cao Wenbin's grasp is an upper-grade imperial sword. In a battle of equal strength, you stand no chance against him!"

Trusting this voice, which belonged to his venerable elder, Die Ke did not hesitate; he fled the battlefield at once. True to his character, he didn't abandon his companion without a word. Just before taking flight, he shouted a warning to Wu Chengqian.

"Watch out! It's a formidable opponent! Retreat now! We'll regroup at the rendezvous point once we've shaken him off!"

Wu Chengqian felt a pang of frustration in his chest. The rendezvous point—the birthplace of their hopes—seemed distant. Yet he understood that the tide had turned against them, and killing Cao Wenbin was no longer a feasible goal. Thus, after successfully parrying the dagger aimed at him by Qin Yunmeng, he swiftly retreated, using the momentum to propel himself away.

"Master, whom should we pursue?" one of his allies asked, glancing back at the two retreating figures, their auras flickering in and out of visibility.

Cao Wenbin surveyed the scene with a calm demeanor, a faint smile gracing his lips. "We shall pursue no one. Our immediate priority is to gather the treasures this place offers."

...

Though both Wu Chengqian and Die Ke bore severe injuries, their speed remained astonishing. Merely half an hour later, they arrived at the designated meeting spot, presenting themselves as if nothing had transpired.

"Brother Wu," Die Ke quipped, a smirk dancing on his lips, "your charm with women leaves much to be desired. How could you let your own mother be swayed?"

Wu Chengqian felt the sting of Die Ke's words but held his tongue, recognizing the validity of the criticism. Soon, however, he found himself questioning, "I was caught off guard because my assailant was my mother—how could I be prepared? But what about you? You also seemed unprepared when you were attacked!"

Die Ke found himself momentarily at a loss for words. His focus had been entirely absorbed by the alluring sight of Qin Yunmeng's shapely legs, leaving him little room for evasive action. Naturally, he could not voice this embarrassment; it would unravel the tenuous alliance they had built.

"Let's not dwell on what has passed," Die Ke replied hastily. "We need to devise a plan to eliminate Cao Wenbin. Now that we've confronted him, we cannot allow him to escape this place alive."

Wu Chengqian nodded solemnly. "Indeed. If he survives and returns, my family will cast me aside, shifting the blame onto my shoulders. I would lose everything, even my claim to the throne."

United in purpose, they began to brainstorm, combining their minds as best as they could. As the saying goes, three heads are better than one, and despite their misgivings, they managed to formulate a cunning strategy named "Return the Favor" within a mere ten minutes.

"Perfect! Let's proceed with this plan!" Die Ke declared, his determination evident.

Wu Chengqian frowned slightly. "It is sufficient to eliminate Cao Wenbin. My mother, however, must be spared. She has merely been deceived by him, and I am confident I can guide her back to her senses."

Die Ke rolled his eyes, exasperated. The prince was hopelessly infatuated, unable to detach himself from a single woman even in the face of such danger. Still, as he recalled the sight of Qin Yunmeng's legs, he found it difficult to fault Wu Chengqian entirely. If it were his own mother, he too would struggle to contemplate causing her harm, even if she attempted to stab him.

"Very well, then," Die Ke acquiesced. "I'll pay special attention during our confrontation." He paused, his brow furrowing in thought. "By the way, I plan to use my Sacred Grade Smoke Pot to lure Cao Wenbin into a trap. What about you?"

Wu Chengqian glanced at Die Ke's possessions before resolutely producing a Demon Suppression Tower. 

"I'll offer a low-grade imperial weapon; otherwise, I fear he might dismiss it as unworthy."

Die Ke's eyes sparkled with envy as he gave Wu Chengqian a thumbs up. "No surprise there; as expected from someone of royal blood. Your resources are far beyond my reach."

"Having an imperial weapon as bait will significantly enhance our chances of success," Wu Chengqian affirmed, his confidence bolstered.

In this world, everyone appreciates a compliment, and Wu Chengqian was no exception, even if he maintained his composure. 

"Just a blessing from my ancestors—nothing of great significance. I'm sure that with your talents, Die Ke, you too will acquire an imperial weapon in time." He then turned serious, urging, "We should expedite our search for an appropriate ambush site. After all, time is of the essence!"