"Are you the volunteer group sent by Jade Country?" Princess Aier, having recovered, asked in standard Huaxia language.

"Yes."

"I am deeply saddened and outraged by what happened to you. We came to rescue you as soon as we got the message... Although it's like locking the stable after the horse has bolted... we've done our best. It was our fault for not taking adequate safety measures, and I am very sorry." Princess Aier respectfully bowed to Wang Lan and the other two.

The sensation from that touch earlier was indeed unmistakable... so impressive! Wang Lan hastily averted his gaze, while Wu Shaohua looked on with helpless resignation, silently gazing skyward.

"Princess Aier, you need not feel guilty. Our helicopter was not shot down, and we successfully landed in Iced City. It was King Cain who requested our assistance for you."

"..." Princess Aier's eyes instantly widened like light bulbs, then a sincere smile spread across her face. "That's excellent news."

"Let's head back; it's going to be dark soon," Wu Shaohua said indifferently.

Even though Princess Aier was still weak, she had no problem traveling. An hour later, Wang Lan returned to their landing spot, where the helicopter was still waiting.

Since several hundred members of the Royal Guard had been rescued, it obviously wasn't suitable for everyone to take the helicopter back, so the group decided to walk. Even a Star Cloud Stage Star Martial Warrior, when moving at full speed, could travel faster than a car.

Of course, not the kind of car on a highway, but rather one moving at typical city speeds, around forty to fifty miles per hour.

The Kingdom of Ice and Snow is not large, covering an area equivalent to three Suzhou Cities, and more than half of it is dense mountainous forests. Even if the other rescue team was on foot, they could return within four hours.

On the helicopter, Wang Lan and Yu Ruoyun exchanged names. When Princess Aier heard Wang Lan's name, her eyes, already wide as light bulbs, seemed to become glowing ones.

"Are you the peerless Princess Yu of Jade Country? I often heard your name while studying abroad in Elan Country. You awakened your Star Martial Art talent at the age of six, possessing innate talent in four elements, and by the age of ten, you had already reached the level of a professional warrior. In terms of talent, no one in any royal family around the world can compare to you."

"Princess Aier, you praise me too highly. Jade Country is a republic; we have no royalty, and therefore no princesses."

"But Jade Country is unique. It was the great Benevolent Emperor who, with such foresight two hundred years ago, realized that the monarchical system was no longer suitable for Jade Country. Compared to the constitutional monarchies of other countries, Jade Country's reform was the most thorough and successful.

"The royal family of Jade Country are the nation's benefactors. Although your status as a princess is unofficial, it is very real. Unlike my title, which is merely nominal."

"How could Princess Aier, known as the 'Pearl of Ice and Snow,' be a princess in name only? You have already become the spiritual beacon of the Kingdom of Ice and Snow."

"Have you ever seen a princess who has to worry each day whether she will survive until the next dawn?"

As the conversation reached this point, the atmosphere suddenly turned solemn.

"Why don't you two stop with the mutual flattery? You're both genuine princesses, alright?" Wang Lan said with a playful laugh, breaking the silence.

"It's not mutual flattery. I've actually known about Princess Aier since I was very young. I once even regarded her as my idol." Yu Ruoyun's lips curved into a slight smile. "Princess Aier was once the genius most likely to break through to the Star Sea Stage before the age of twenty. Had it not been for the upheaval in the Kingdom of Ice and Snow... perhaps that record would have been broken five years ago?"

"Oh?" Wang Lan looked at Aier in surprise. Although she had clearly suffered greatly, her Star Sea Stage strength was undeniable. Moreover, since Westerners' features often made their age difficult to guess, Wang Lan had misjudged Princess Aier's age, assuming she was at least in her late twenties.

"Princess Aier awakened her Star Martial Art talent at eight and was then sent to Elan Country to receive a high-standard education. She broke through to the Star Shine Stage at eleven, the Star Cloud Stage at fourteen, and by eighteen, she was a genius at the mid-Galaxy Stage.

"At that time, at least ten Titled Strongmen expressed their desire to take Princess Aier as their disciple; even the Pope from God's Country conveyed this sentiment. But at nineteen, when she was preparing to challenge the Star Sea Stage, she resolutely gave up her advantageous conditions to return to her country.

"Afterward, news of Princess Aier became scarce, apart from the announcement a year ago that she had broken through to the Star Sea Stage."

"My country nurtured me, and my people need me. As the princess of the Kingdom of Ice and Snow, I had to return. This is my mission."

As they spoke, the helicopter returned to the Imperial Courtyard Airport of the Kingdom of Ice and Snow. From the air, Wang Lan had seen a group of royal family members eagerly waiting outside the tarmac. When the helicopter landed, the royal family members surged forward.

"Thank heavens, my daughter, you're back safe and sound!"

"Thank you, Mr. Wu, and thank you, Princess Yu, and thank you, Mr. Wang!" Kester sincerely thanked the three of them. Compared to Cain, who was solely focused on his beloved daughter, Kester was impeccable in his diplomacy.

Fortunately, Wang Lan and the others weren't concerned with such details. It was understandable for a father to be terrified and worried when his daughter had so narrowly escaped death.

As for the group leading the Royal Guard on foot, they had not yet returned. However, Longya had already contacted them; they had left the dense forest and reached a border town, and were now on their way back by car.

"Mission: Rescue the Princess - Complete. Reward: 10,000 Experience Points, 800 Skill Points."

After Wu Shaohua disbanded the team, Wang Lan and Yu Ruoyun returned to their dormitories. The volunteer group's dorms were single rooms, each equipped with a dedicated attendant who could be addressed for any needs.

This arrangement showed the sincerity of the Kingdom of Ice and Snow. Wang Lan's luggage had already been delivered to his room; since it contained personal items, the attendant had not touched it. From the moment he disembarked the aircraft upon arrival, Wang Lan had been taken to a meeting room, followed immediately by the mission to rescue Princess Aier. He had been busy for three full hours without rest. Coupled with the energy expended shooting down missiles during the flight earlier, Wang Lan was now utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally.

However, the two large bags in the room were too conspicuous to ignore. With no other choice, Wang Lan got up and took some necessities out of his luggage. After taking a shower, he lay on the bed and took out his cell phone. He suddenly realized he was in the Kingdom of Ice and Snow, a country struggling for basic survival, let alone possessing a functional network. Without a network, his phone was essentially useless.

Still groggy, Wang Lan was startled by a sudden intensification of noise from outside. He sprang to his feet and went to the window. It turned out the other rescue team had returned, and it was also dinnertime.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK— Someone knocked on the door.

Opening the door, the female attendant responsible for his room stood at the entrance. "Respected sir, Princess Aier invites you to dine with her this evening."

"Just me alone?" Wang Lan frowned.

"I... I don't know about that."

"Never mind, I'll eat with my comrades. It's not good to receive special treatment."

"Sir, you're overthinking it. The princess's dinner is the same as the one for the aid team. It's just in a different location. Princess Aier would like to have a chat with you."

"I see... Should I consult my superior first?"

"Of course!"

Wang Lan found Wu Shaohua. After explaining the situation, Wu Shaohua, without a second thought, gave his immediate consent with a wave of his hand.

Guided by the maid, Wang Lan entered the inner court of the palace and was then led into Princess Aier's sleeping quarters.

Princess Aier seemed to have just taken a bath. Her hair was still slightly damp, and she had changed into a tight-fitting, purple long dress. Her curvaceous figure and majestic peaks sent Wang Lan's pulse racing.

Fortunately, Wang Lan had strong willpower. His gaze only lingered on Princess Aier for an instant before he offered a smile. "Did you only invite me, Princess? I thought Ruoyun would be here as well."

"I invited Princess Yu as well; she just hasn't arrived yet." Hearing this, Wang Lan let out a quiet sigh of relief.

The moment Wang Lan stepped into Princess Aier's chambers and laid eyes on her, he tensed up. It wasn't that Princess Aier's beauty set off his hormones, but her attire was clearly a honey trap.

If Princess Aier were to tear her dress now and cry for help, he figured he'd be doomed.

This wasn't unfounded paranoia. The dress Princess Aier wore was designed to stir a man's desire, provocative from head to toe. Although he didn't know why she would do such a thing or what she stood to gain, Wang Lan had to remain on guard as long as there was any possibility.

Unable to discern the expression she hoped for on Wang Lan's face, Princess Aier gestured with her hand, and two maids brought over a fur-lined cloak to put on her. Clothed in the cloak, Princess Aier instantly transformed from seductive to regal and dignified, devoid of any trace of tempting allure.

Alright... she was definitely doing this on purpose.

"Princess Yu has arrived."

"Wang Lan, how come you're here so quickly?"

"I thought I was moving quite slowly," Wang Lan said with a light smile, knowing Yu Ruoyun would surely understand his meaning.

"Both of you came to aid the Kingdom of Ice and Snow in its time of need, braving dangers from afar. I am deeply grateful. With this cup, I toast our friends who have journeyed so far." With that, she lifted her glass of red wine.

"Princess Aier, Jade Country and the Kingdom of Ice and Snow have maintained diplomatic relations for nearly a hundred years. Our countries share a profound friendship. Jade Country could never stand by idly while the Kingdom of Ice and Snow is in trouble. Our friendship doesn't require thanks; this is simply what we should do."

"Twelve years ago, I was still studying in Elan Country. Whenever friends around me asked, 'What is your homeland like?' I would tell them, 'My homeland is an emerald nestled in a vast snowfield.'

"It enjoys spring-like weather year-round, always blossoming with flowers. It has chilling snow but also warm springs. It boasts the world's most magnificent natural wonders and the most enchanting blue skies and white clouds. The people living in the Kingdom of Ice and Snow are fortunate; they never worry about food or the cold. They simply live happily, governed by my father and uncle. I deeply love my country.

"But all this changed when I was ten years old. That day, I learned from the news that a Different Dimensional Space had appeared in the Kingdom of Ice and Snow, spewing out numerous vicious Exotic Beasts.

"At that time, like all my countrymen, I wasn't overly concerned, because we all believed we could easily overcome the difficulty.

"However, we hadn't anticipated that the cost of closing that Different Dimensional Space would be so immense. It took half our national strength and the sacrifice of thirty thousand elite warriors to seal it. In that battle, twelve of our country's fifty Star Sea realm experts perished.

"Just as we were cheering that we'd finally closed that accursed Different Dimensional Space, another, even more brutal one, opened up.

"What we thought was the worst moment proved to be only the beginning..."

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