Chapter 1177: Shen Lingfeng Meets Trouble in Tonghe Town!

Wen Shang teased with suspense: "Since it's a surprise, of course, I can't say anything now. In a while, Grand Duke Lu, you'll know."

"Oh right, there's one more thing. Regarding what you mentioned last time, about maintaining peace and prosperity within the country."

"The higher-ups have already begun operations, carrying out a large-scale purge within the nation. Now that word of our nation's strength and alliance with Lü Mountain has spread, other factions wouldn't dare act recklessly for now."

"Great Han is currently led by the 749 Bureau, with the military providing support. I estimate it won't be long before we achieve the results you anticipated."

Lu Ding was quite satisfied.

At least Great Han was taking things seriously.

"Good, extend my thanks to the Chiefs."

Wen Shang said: "Don't worry, Grand Duke Lu. Then you go ahead and handle your business, we'll be on our way now. We still need to return and report our mission. Also, please remember to go to the Demon Dragon Valley on the Demon Continent's border, to provide some support for Great Han's advance team."

"As for the technical personnel you mentioned, we'll make our selections later and have them come over. They probably won't be able to depart until tomorrow, and at full speed, it'll still take a few more days before they arrive."

Lu Ding nodded: "Alright, no problem. There's no rush, you all have worked hard as well."

With that said.

Wen Shang left with the experts, all of them carrying a full harvest of gains.

Ever since Lu Ding brought out the spirit stones, they had stopped participating in the conversation entirely.

Each one of them wished they could glue their eyes onto the spirit stones.

Not a word spoken.

After they left.

Yan Feifan sat down across from Lu Ding: "Brother Lu, you've worked hard."

Say what you will.

Yan Feifan was still that attentive.

It had always been Lu Ding telling others they worked hard, but never once had anyone said it to him.

Lu Ding smiled: "Sometimes the things you say really hit the nail on the head."

"Here."

Lu Ding pulled out several spirit stones of excellent quality and tossed them to Yan Feifan.

"Use these, I'll bring you more later."

If you could cheer Lu Ding up, didn't that mean you could get whatever you wanted?

Although Yan Feifan's intentions were pure, and he wasn't after this outcome.

But to Lu Ding.

It didn't matter.

He was filthy rich, with plenty of capital to spare.

"Thanks, Brother Lu."

Yan Feifan dutifully accepted them, without the slightest bit of false modesty.

Lu Ding asked him: "How's the new city been lately?"

Yan Feifan replied: "Thriving and growing. The Ji Continent forces cooperating with Great Han have also arrived at the new city. They didn't choose other cities within Great Han's territory, nor Hanjing."

"With their addition, the western region is like a tiger with wings."

"During this period, special envoys from other regions also came to negotiate with me, wanting to merge into the western region, but I rejected them all."

Lu Ding stood up: "Well done. With you all in the western region, I can rest easy. Alright, I won't keep talking. I still have matters to attend to on the Demon Continent. We'll meet again next time."

Yan Feifan stood up to see him off: "See you next time, Brother Lu."

With a bang.

Lu Ding departed using [Celestial Shift].

After Yan Feifan left Lu Ding's office, he found Bai Hemen and Huangfu Lingyun.

He took out the spirit stones Lu Ding had given him.

Distributed a portion to the two of them.

And told them.

'Brother Lu is back, but because there's so much to handle over there, he left the spirit stones and went. He asked me to pass them to you, to cultivate well and not let down his expectations.'

Lu Ding's thinking was simple. He wasn't a babysitter, he couldn't look after that many people. If you wanted something, you fought for it yourself. But to Yan Feifan, who had made him happy, Lu Ding wouldn't be stingy.

Or rather.

If you made him happy, he wouldn't be stingy with anyone.

But for Yan Feifan, Bai Hemen and Huangfu Lingyun were his comrades who had come up together from the Third Circle, old subordinates of Brother Lu.

Brother Lu's reward was his alone.

But he considered things from Brother Lu's perspective, so he was willing to share some of his reward, giving it to Xiao Bai and Huangfu Lingyun in Brother Lu's name.

After all, their talents were better.

Their hearts hadn't changed either, still loyal to Brother Lu. Giving the spirit stones to them would be more effective.

But that didn't mean Yan Feifan hadn't kept any for himself.

He had kept half for himself.

After receiving the spirit stones and hearing Yan Feifan's description of their effects.

Bai Hemen and Huangfu Lingyun were deeply moved.

Secretly resolving that they would definitely cultivate with all their might!!!!

They had to make contributions, and would absolutely never again take, eat, or use Lu Ding's things for free!

They had to help Lu Ding to an even greater extent.

Meanwhile.

On the other side.

On the Demon Continent, in Wushuang City, night had already fallen.

After Lu Ding returned via [Celestial Shift], he found Wu Yong and asked.

"Where's Shen Lingfeng? Didn't you say he should be back by tonight?"

Wu Yong was also puzzled. He immediately bowed and replied: "Reporting to Immortal Master, from here to Tonghe Town, and then back from Tonghe Town, at my master's speed, he should have arrived by evening."

"Now that so much time has passed, something must have gone wrong!"

"Otherwise, my master, upon learning that such a huge incident had happened at home, how could he possibly not come back."

Lu Ding frowned: "Do you know what your master went there to do?"

Wu Yong replied: "This humble one does not know. My master's affairs, this humble one......"

Before he could finish speaking.

Voices sounded from outside the Shen Family's main gate.

"Xiao Yong...... Xiao Yong........."

Lu Ding followed the sound and looked over. With [Star-Plucking Moon-Grasping Hand], he suddenly pulled the person at the gate over, gripping them in his hand.

Wu Yong exclaimed on the spot: "Father!!?"

Lu Ding then set him down: "You're Butler Wu?"

Wu Cai looked at Lu Ding with lingering fear in his eyes, then at the unharmed Wu Yong, before answering: "Re... Reporting to Your Excellency, this humble one is indeed the butler of the Shen Estate, Wu Cai."

These names.

The father's name was Wu Cai, and the son's name was Wu Yong.

Absolutely classic.

Lu Ding's demeanor softened somewhat: "Rise. Do you know what your master, Shen Lingfeng, went to Tonghe Town to do?"

As Lu Ding asked.

Beside him, Wu Yong quietly nodded to his father.

Wu Cai answered truthfully: "Reporting to Your Excellency, my master went to Tonghe Town to seize the Heart-Connecting Bamboo."

"Miss Jiannan's heart was dug out, and my master used a secret method to keep her alive, but it wasn't a long-term solution. Miss Jiannan's heart condition flared up frequently, and my master couldn't bear to see her suffer from it, so he went to Tonghe Town, wanting to seize the Heart-Connecting Bamboo to prop up the empty cavity in the young lady's heart."

Lu Ding listened: "Then knowing this situation, you still sent your young lady to that desolate mountain wilderness with no one around. There are holes in your story, front and back. You'd better give me a reasonable explanation."

Wu Cai hadn't expected Lu Ding to know about this matter.

He hastily kowtowed: "Reporting to Your Excellency, it was my master who told me that Tonghe Town was a dragon's pool and tiger's den. This trip was fraught with danger, but even with the slimmest chance, he had to try."

"Previously, I had made an inadvertent mistake, and the Matriarch got a hold of leverage against me, threatening me. Later, I truthfully told my master everything."

"My master then had me stay hidden by the Matriarch's side, pretending to help her, so I could always keep an eye on the Matriarch's movements and schemes."

"So, this time, before my master left, he told me that if the Matriarch wanted to make a move against Miss Jiannan, given the Matriarch's personality, I would definitely be the one chosen to do it."

"Because my master had already sown discord between the Matriarch and her younger brother Jin Tianran beforehand."