Chapter 100

Chapter 99: Crisis Reveals True Friendship

Xu Yuan Kun sighed deeply as he walked out of the City Lord's residence.

Ding Hao was polite, good at socializing, and generous, and Xu Yuan Kun felt they were quite compatible.

He had originally wanted to get closer to Ding Hao, but he never expected things to turn out this way.

According to Ling Yunxiao's suggestion, Ding Hao should escape to the outer realms and become a blacklisted person! The consequence of this would be that Ding Hao would never be able to enter the Nine Provinces Academy, or even the Heavenly Will, and would have to join the ranks of the demons and evil spirits!

While theoretically, Ding Hao could still leave the Nine Provinces world from the outer realms, the number of demons and evil spirits who could cultivate to the Foundation Establishment stage and leave the Nine Provinces world was extremely rare.

In essence, if Ding Hao entered the outer realms, his future would be completely ruined.

The green statue of the Dancing Fairy stood tall in the City Lord's residence square, making people walking beneath it seem like ants. Xu Yuan Kun looked at the massive statue and sighed, "What a pity for such a great talent in Wuzhou!"

If Ding Hao became a demon or evil spirit master in the outer realms, he would be an enemy when he met Xu Yuan Kun!

Thinking of this, he felt extremely regretful.

However, Xu Yuan Kun also knew that Ling Yunxiao was already being lenient!

If Ding Hao were interrogated by the Heavenly Will and confessed to destroying the Tang family's spirit wood, no one could save him. Even if Minister Min Zhengyuan came personally, it would be useless!

There were only four spirit woods in the entire Nine Provinces world, each of immense value, treasures among treasures! Moreover, this thing was not only a treasure of the Tang family but also a treasure of the entire Nine Provinces world. Without the Eye-Washing Tree Spring, wouldn't all the disciples be in the dark?

Therefore, Ding Hao's crime was too great, and the Nine Provinces Academy would be enraged! Even if he were a top genius, he would still face punishment!

"Brother Ding Hao, this time, it seems no one can save you, sigh..."

Thinking of this, Xu Yuan Kun hurried to the Iron Hoof Eighty Riders' camp to inform his brothers to scatter and search for Ding Hao.

However, to his surprise, after taking a few steps, he saw a familiar young figure leisurely walking from the other end of the Dancing Fairy Square.

"This kid..." Xu Yuan Kun smiled bitterly, thinking, "Brother, why do you appear now? Aren't you just asking for death?"

He quickly ran over and called out, "Young Master Ding."

Ding Hao walked over leisurely and smiled, "Little General Xu, what a coincidence? You look quite well?"

Xu Yuan Kun almost spat blood, thinking, "What kind of eyesight do you have? I'm worried to death, and you say I look well?"

At this moment, he remembered what Ling Yunxiao had said about the crowd at the City Lord's residence, so he said, "Young Master Ding, I was just looking for you. Let's talk somewhere else."

Ding Hao said casually, "Why go somewhere else? I'm going to see City Lord Ling, let's go together."

Xu Yuan Kun smiled bitterly, "You'd better not go to the City Lord's residence. Come with me to the estate outside the city. City Lord Ling will meet you there and then send you away."

"Meet at the estate outside the city? Send me away?" Ding Hao was confused, "Little General Xu, what do you mean? I don't understand."

"Brother, you've caused a huge disaster!" Xu Yuan Kun whispered in his ear, "Tang Yuanhao has come! The Tang Emperor has personally intervened and obtained the Nine Provinces Academy's consent to interrogate you by the Heavenly Will! The notice has already been delivered to the City Lord's residence!"

Ding Hao was stunned, "So what?"

"So what?" Xu Yuan Kun felt like he was about to faint. He was so anxious, but this kid didn't take it seriously.

"So what? Young Master Ding! How can you be so smart at times and so foolish at others? After the Heavenly Will interrogation, you won't be able to hide the fact that you destroyed the Eye-Washing Tree Spring. The Tang family will capture you and take you to Tangzhou, and it won't end well!"

Xu Yuan Kun felt he had explained clearly, but he didn't expect Ding Hao to laugh, "So what? Do you think I'm afraid of anything? Don't worry, it's fine."

Ding Hao continued walking towards the City Lord's residence.

"Young Master Ding, listen to me, it's very serious!" Xu Yuan Kun pulled Ding Hao, "Don't go. City Lord Ling suspects that there might be Tang family people watching the City Lord's residence, and they will discover you."

"Discover me, so what? I have nothing to hide. Stop talking nonsense, I'm going to see City Lord Ling."

Saying this, he shook off Xu Yuan Kun's hand and walked towards the City Lord's residence.

"Young Master Ding, you, oh, you..." Xu Yuan Kun was speechless, watching Ding Hao's back, he stomped his feet anxiously, "Oh, how can you be so smart at times and so foolish at others?"

...

In fact, Ling Yunxiao's suspicion was correct. The Tang family indeed had people watching the City Lord's residence. The moment Ding Hao appeared, someone reported back. When Xu Yuan Kun pulled Ding Hao, someone prepared to follow. When Ding Hao walked towards the City Lord's residence, a second group reported back.

In the main hall of the Tang family's business, the Grand Elder and the Heavenly Hero General under the Tang Emperor were drinking tea, with the head manager Tang Kongming accompanying them.

"Report, Ding Hao has appeared! He just appeared on the square in front of the City Lord's residence!"

"Really!" Tang Kongming, with white hair and beard, dropped his teacup and stood up.

The reporting clerk nodded, "I saw it with my own eyes!"

"Ha, hahaha!" Tang Kongming laughed wildly, feeling extremely relieved. The most frustrating days of his life were about to end, and everything would be over with Ding Hao's death!

"Little brat! Your time has come!" Tang Kongming's old eyes were filled with fierce light.

The Grand Elder was calmer, putting down his teacup, "Ding Hao probably hasn't received the news, otherwise, he wouldn't dare to come out so openly."

At this moment, the second group of reporters arrived, reporting, "Ding Hao has entered the City Lord's residence!"

The Grand Elder also stood up, asking, "Heavenly Hero General..."

The Heavenly Hero General remained seated, calmly drinking tea, "Don't worry, I've already dispatched the Imperial Guards! No matter where Ding Hao goes, he won't escape our hands. I actually hope Ling Yunxiao secretly releases this kid!"

Saying this, he smiled sinisterly.

"Originally..." The Grand Elder's expression changed, then he also smiled, "The Emperor has already planned this?"

"Exactly," the Heavenly Hero General explained, "Although Ling Yunxiao is one of the Tang Emperor's generals, and Wuzhou is a royal province, Ling Yunxiao has often acted against the Tang Emperor's will. The Tang Emperor has already had his doubts! If Ling Yunxiao dares to defy orders and secretly release Ding Hao, he will be captured along with Ding Hao! Hmph, this is an order from the Nine Provinces Academy, and they won't protect him if he defies it!"

"Indeed!" Head Manager Tang Kongming laughed again, his face twisted, "Ling Yunxiao, this is the consequence of opposing my Tang family! Ha, this time, you and that little brat will both be finished!"

The Heavenly Hero General added, "We'll wait here. If Ding Hao leaves the City Lord's residence and tries to escape, my people will report back."

The three of them continued to sit and drink tea.

At the same time, a clerk rushed into the main hall of the Shang family's Wuzhou headquarters, shouting, "Young Miss, Ding Hao has appeared! He just entered the City Lord's residence."

"What? He appeared now!" Shang Yun and Shang Pei came out, their faces filled with shock and worry.

Shang Pei sighed, "This kid didn't appear earlier or later, but now, when the Tang family has already arrived in Wuzhou. Isn't he just asking for death?"

Shang Yun, more decisive, said, "No matter what, we must protect Ding Hao! Notify the Iron Blood Guard to prepare. Manager Shang Pei, come with me!"

The two of them rushed out of the business and hurried to the City Lord's residence square.

On the way, Shang Pei asked, "Do you think Ling Yunxiao will secretly release Ding Hao?"

"Hard to say," Shang Yun's face was grim, "At this moment, the Tang family might actually hope Ling Yunxiao secretly releases Ding Hao! Then, the Tang family will capture both Ling Yunxiao and Ding Hao, and Ding Hao won't be able to escape!"

Shang Pei worried, "If that's the case, isn't Young Master Ding doomed?"

Shang Yun's face was determined, "There's still hope! Ling Yunxiao might not be able to protect Ding Hao, but we can. The Iron Blood Guard I brought are the most elite warriors under the Qin Emperor, far surpassing Ling Yunxiao's Iron Hoof Eighty Riders!"

"That's good." Shang Pei nodded, but his face was still grim. As they approached the City Lord's residence square, he said, "But Manager Shang Yun, there's something I've always wanted to ask. If Young Master Ding really comes with us, will the head manager keep his promise?"

At this moment, Shang Pei was still worried.

After all, the Shang family's main goal was the Eye-Washing Spirit Water. If Ding Hao fell into the Shang family's hands, merchants prioritize profit over loyalty. If the Shang family obtained the Eye-Washing Spirit Water and didn't keep their promise, Ding Hao would have no way out!

Thinking of this, Shang Pei gritted his teeth, "Manager Shang Yun, Young Master Ding has done me a favor. I can't harm him. Answer me honestly, will the head manager keep his promise?"

"I didn't expect you to be so loyal, Manager Shang Pei," Shang Yun flicked her hair and smiled, "It's true that merchants prioritize profit over loyalty. But in business, the most important thing is not profit, but credibility! What's most important in business is credibility! Among the four major businesses in the native city, the Tang family only cares about power; the Qian family will do anything for money; the Duanmu family doesn't do business for money; only our Shang family is a true merchant. Manager Shang Pei, after being in the business for so long, don't you trust our Shang family's credibility?"

Shang Pei's face showed a hint of regret, and he nodded, "I'm just afraid of harming Young Master Ding. Alright, let's wait for him to come out."

They continued forward and arrived outside the City Lord's residence. Shang Yun acted boldly and didn't hide, standing openly at the entrance of the City Lord's residence, waiting for Ding Hao.

After a while, they saw a young figure walking out of the City Lord's residence.