In a split second, the carriage door was pushed open. A man in his thirties walked in from the adjoining carriage, followed closely by three men in black suits who filed in one after another. Every single one of these three bodyguards was robust and powerfully built, exuding a sharp, fierce aura purely from their demeanor and physical presence, looking very much like discharged elite soldiers.
The lead man wore a grim expression. He coldly scanned the carriage and quickly locked his eyes onto Hu Yuan and Wang Minghao, striding directly toward them.
"Were you the ones bullying my sister just now?" The leading man asked in an icy tone, a hint of threat in his gaze. His subordinates also stood their ground, looking ready to strike at any moment.
Seeing this, the woman became even more arrogant. "Brother, it was them! It was these two hicks who disrespected me!"
Wang Minghao did not flinch. He stood up and met the man's gaze directly. "First of all, we didn't bully her; there was simply a misunderstanding. I already apologized, but she clearly refused to accept it."
Hu Yuan also stepped up beside Wang Minghao, saying in a gentle yet firm voice, "Mister, we harbor no ill intent—it was just a minor friction. If there is any misunderstanding, we hope to resolve it peacefully."
The lead man frowned and glanced at the woman. It was blatantly obvious that his sister's face was full of provocation and smugness, which meant she had no intention of letting the matter rest. The man knew deep down that this incident was merely another display of his sister's willful caprice, but as an older brother, he had no choice but to back her up. "An apology? You bullied my sister, and you think an apology settles it? Since you are so impolite, I'll teach you a lesson so you can learn to remember this."
Just then, a train police officer hurried over, speaking with a polite yet firm tone. "Passengers, please maintain restraint. This is a business class carriage. We hope everyone can behave in a civilized manner. If there are any issues, you can resolve them through our crew."
The woman's brother intercepted the approaching police officer, pulled a form of identification from his pocket, and exchanged a few words with him in a low voice. The officer carefully examined the identification, then glanced at Wang Minghao's stern face, appearing to weigh something. After a moment, he nodded, said nothing more, and turned to leave the carriage.
This woman's name was Zhang Feifei, and her brother was Zhang Jiaxiong. The Zhang family not only owned businesses locally, but their operations also extended overseas. Although Zhang Jiaxiong was a typical spoiled rich heir who spent his days surrounded by a pack of bad company, his indulgence toward his sister had reached an extreme. No matter how unreasonable and willful she acted, he never minded at all, and he granted every single demand she made.
Zhang Jiaxiong ordered the three men in black behind him, "Quick work. Teach these two idiots a lesson."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the three men in black moved like cheetahs responding to a combat signal, a fierce glint flashing in their eyes. They quickly dispersed, forming a perimeter that trapped Wang Minghao and Hu Yuan in the center. Their steps were steady and their movements coordinated, clearly marking them as rigorously trained martial arts experts.
Wang Minghao shot a glance at Hu Yuan, signaling him to step aside. "Brother Hu, you're getting dragged into this. Step back, I can handle this alone." Wang Minghao's voice was calm and steady, radiating absolute confidence.
Hu Yuan nodded and retreated to a corner of the carriage. He knew the upcoming fight would be an absolute masterpiece to witness. The leader of the three men in black, a hulking brute, let out a cold snort and launched the first attack. His fist whistled through the air, aiming straight for Wang Minghao's face. Yet Wang Minghao merely leaned slightly to the side, effortlessly dodging the blow. His movements were fluid and natural, as if he were dancing rather than engaging in a life-or-death struggle.
"Too slow!" Wang Minghao's voice carried a hint of mockery as his figure flitted like a ghost among the three men in black. Every strike he landed was unfailingly precise, and every attack carried the force of a thunderbolt.
"Ah!" One of the men in black took a heavy blow to the abdomen from Wang Minghao, flying backward like a kite with a snapped string before slamming heavily against the carriage wall and sliding down to the floor, groaning in agony.
"You're asking for a death wish!" Another man in black roared furiously at the sight. His attacks grew even more frantic, but in Wang Minghao's eyes, his movements appeared utterly clumsy and feeble. Wang Minghao's defenses were flawless, and every counterattack landed with pinpoint accuracy. Screams echoed continuously through the carriage as passengers scrambled out of the way, terrified of getting caught in the crossfire of this sudden brawl.
"Enough!" Wang Minghao's voice suddenly turned harsh, a flash of cold light piercing his eyes. He held back no longer, releasing his power like an erupting volcano. Between his fists and feet seemed to lie the strength of an entire army, each strike driving despair into his opponents.
*Thud! Thud! Thud!* Three dull thuds echoed out as all three men in black were knocked flat to the ground. Lying there, they struggled in pain, utterly unable to stand back up.
The carriage suddenly fell dead silent. Everyone stared at Wang Minghao with dropped jaws. Standing right where he was as if nothing had happened, he casually dusted off his hands, shifted his gaze to Zhang Feifei, and delivered a reprimand in a lecturing tone: "I hope you learn to respect others."
Wang Minghao returned to his seat, his expression as calm as still water, as though everything that had just transpired was nothing more than an insignificant interlude. Meanwhile, the other passengers in the carriage took a long time to recover from their shock.
This spectacle opened Hu Yuan's eyes. Facing three well-trained opponents and finishing the fight in just a few breaths, he couldn't help but admire Wang Minghao's martial prowess. Zhang Feifei's complexion shifted drastically at the sight; clearly, she hadn't expected Wang Minghao to possess such strength.
Zhang Feifei tried to retort, but her brother stopped her, gesturing for her to stay quiet. Looking at Wang Minghao, Zhang Jiaxiong said, "Very well. I hope you can remain just as arrogant after we get off the station." With that, Zhang Jiaxiong took his sister to another carriage.
A trace of lingering tension seemed to hang in the air, but Wang Minghao sat there unbothered, as though everything remained entirely within his control.
Watching this unfold, a wave of genuine admiration welled up inside Hu Yuan. Such a carefree and unflustered poise could only be forged through long-term tempering.
"Brother Hu, how much do you know about the cultivation world?" Wang Minghao asked, breaking the silence.
Hu Yuan pondered for a moment before replying, "I've just recently stepped into it, so I wouldn't call myself knowledgeable. I only know a little from various books and my master's teachings."
Wang Minghao nodded. "That's completely normal. Information in the cultivation world is unlocked progressively; you only learn about deeper secrets once you reach a certain tier. Take the Tianji Exchange this time, for instance—without a certain level of cultivation and background, it's virtually impossible to secure an invitation."
Hu Yuan nodded thoughtfully. "It seems the path of cultivation is indeed far more complicated than I imagined."
Wang Minghao chuckled. "That's precisely the charm of cultivation, though. Every step is fraught with challenges, yet brimming with opportunities. Every single breakthrough signifies a new height and a much broader horizon."
As the two continued discussing their respective situations, Hu Yuan gradually sensed a deep resonance forming between them. This feeling prompted him to naturally open up, sharing more of his own insights and doubts.
Suddenly recalling something, Wang Minghao turned to Hu Yuan and said, "Brother Hu, it's quite a fate that we crossed paths. Would you like to come along to this Tianji Exchange event?"
Taken aback, Hu Yuan chuckled and said, "Oh, how could I possibly qualify for that? I didn't even receive an invitation."
Wang Minghao waved a hand dismissively and looked at Hu Yuan. "You're being too modest. I can tell your realm isn't low; you're bound to achieve great things in the future. If you want to go, I can bring you along. This time, a single Tianji Exchange invitation grants entry for two people. Right now, it's just me and my cousin, but she had matters to attend to and went to the Imperial Capital ahead of time. So there's still one slot left. If you're willing, Brother, you can come with us."
A stir ran through Hu Yuan's heart. Thinking of the numerous puzzles along his own cultivation path, having such an opportunity to witness a higher-tier circle of cultivators might prove immensely beneficial to his progress. He spoke with solemn sincerity, "Brother Wang, would that be convenient? If I can secure such an opportunity, I will be endlessly grateful."
Wang Minghao nodded. "No problem at all. It's settled, then. Once we arrive in the Imperial Capital, you'll stay with me at the resort villa arranged for this conference. However, I must remind you of one thing, Brother Hu—the Tianji Exchange is crawling with powerful figures, so you must watch your words and actions closely, and approach everything with a humble heart."
Hu Yuan nodded in agreement. "I understand. Thank you for the guidance, Brother Wang."
Shortly after, the two exchanged contact information. Wang Minghao handed Hu Yuan a business card. "This is my contact info. If you ever run into trouble in the Bashu region, you can come straight to me using the address on this card." Hu Yuan also left his own contact details with Wang Minghao.
Following that, Hu Yuan sent a text message to President Zhang to request time off, explaining that a friend from afar had come to the Imperial Capital on business and needed him to accompany them for a few days, asking for a three-day leave. Perhaps owing to the successful signing with White Sail Company a few days prior, President Zhang readily approved the three-day personal leave this time.
After chatting a little longer, the high-speed train broadcast reminded passengers that they were about to reach their destination. Hu Yuan and Wang Minghao packed their belongings and prepared to get off the train.