......

Zhan Tingzhou stood nearby, the boomerang striking firmly between his eyebrows.

Just moments ago, he had raised his hand to interrupt Fang He, thinking there was no need to say anything—it was just a Mineral Node, and he had plenty of confidence.

Then Lu Ding turned around and interrupted him in turn, also thinking it unnecessary—it was just a Mustached Man, and he had plenty of methods.

The Mustached Man lay on the ground, breathing more in than out, his head dizzy and his butt in pain, speaking weakly: "No... no more comparing...."

"I'll leave..... I'll leave right away......"

That single move just now instantly made him understand the gap in raw strength between himself and the young man before him.

Although the Mustached Man was extremely unhappy inside!

Weren't we talking about Geomancy and Earth Arts? Why did you start fighting me?

I didn't say we were comparing this, I meant comparing Geomancy and Earth Arts.

But these thoughts, he didn't dare voice them.

He could see this was a ruthless character.

Right now, the Mustached Man just wanted to leave, then go call for reinforcements.

But how could Lu Ding make such a low-level mistake?

Shaking his head: "Not allowed."

"Aren't you supposed to be impressive?"

He lifted the Mustached Man from the ground and looked at Fang He: "Come on, take us into the mine."

Then he patted the Mustached Man's face, slapping it loudly to wake him up: "Later you'll show us your real skills."

"You'd better have genuine ability, otherwise if you're just scamming people, I will, shatter, you, into, pieces!"

From the old man's shifty eyes, Lu Ding could see his lack of confidence.

Just ask yourself—if someone had solid confidence, who would willingly give the first move opportunity to someone else?

In novels and TV shows, giving the first move is for showing off, but in reality, giving the first move based solely on age without knowing the opponent's strength is just stupid.

Watching the red light flicker in Lu Ding's eyes for a moment, the Mustached Man began to panic.

What ability did he actually have?

If they entered the mine and this person discovered he had no real skill...

Given Lu Ding's current state, he would probably truly shatter him.

The Mustached Man struggled and begged for mercy: "I won't go! I won't go!! You're illegally restricting my personal freedom!!"

Oh, still knows the law pretty well.

Lu Ding reached out and pinched, as if performing magic, produced his credentials, opened them, and flashed them in the Mustached Man's face.

"I'm asking you to cooperate now, can you cooperate or not?"

His questions always came only once—if the Mustached Man dared say "no" today...

Lu Ding would definitely plant him in the ground.

The Mustached Man took a quick look.

His pupils contracted then suddenly dilated, the color draining from his face: "7.....749....special investigator..Lu....Lu Ding?"

During this period.

The storm raised by Lu Ding's famous name hadn't just ravaged White Ridge urban area, but had blown all the way to Xiankong Town.

Whether in the urban area or Xiankong Town, just sit in any old teahouse.

And listen.

Guaranteed nine out of ten places would be talking about him.

The storyteller's block slamming down.

SLAM!!!

The old storyteller on stage flicked his sleeves: "Before we begin today's tale, let's talk about recent news."

"They say here in White Ridge, we have fresh small matters every year, but fresh big matters are rare."

"Several major incidents all relate to one person!"

Saying this, the old man raised several fingers and extended them outward, hinting at how many major events he was about to discuss.

Below, people began giving tips—some scanning QR codes, others throwing money.

The old man on stage smiled, took a sip of strong tea, gently spat out half a tea leaf, and waited until the money flow slowed.

The block slammed again.

SLAM!!!

"Today we'll talk about the special investigator who proves 'no fierce dragon crosses the river without reason,' who received heaven's mandate to govern the borders—Corpse-Shattering Taishui, Lu Ding!!!"

Once the old man opened his mouth, the phrases came in sets—far more interesting than news broadcasts or newspapers.

Combined with the teahouse atmosphere.

Lu Ding's reputation spread everywhere like autumn wind sweeping fallen leaves.

The exaggeration was beyond description.

From powerful families and aristocratic clans, gangs and syndicates, down to street vendors and laborers, people from all walks of life.

All knew this name like hearing thunder.

Plus, with storytelling, there's always some artistic embellishment, and word-of-mouth tends to exaggerate.

Added to Lu Ding's impression in many people's minds—somewhat fierce and menacing, not in appearance but in methods.

So when the Mustached Man saw the name Lu Ding written on the credentials...

His body went limp: "Grand Duke Lu...... I was wrong, please spare me, I didn't mean it, it was all..... all Chen Yan..... Chen Yan sent me here."

He was never a tough person to begin with, and with Lu Ding's fierce reputation, he was so scared he started babbling nonsense, completely absolving himself of responsibility.

The moment Fang He heard Chen Yan's name, he rushed forward excitedly and asked: "What did he send you to do!!?"

The Mustached Man responded: "He sent me to activate the Mineral Node in your mine, to make your Iron Stone Cave unworkable and force it to close, then he would take over Iron Stone Cave afterwards."

Say what you will, this blame-shifting had some logic to it.

Fang He already hated Chen Yan, his father's killer.

Hearing this now.

He instantly reddened with rage, losing all independent thinking ability.

"Chen Yan, you go too far! You killed my father and brothers, and now you want to destroy the Fang family foundation! I swear eternal enmity with you!!!!!"

Lu Ding glanced at Fang He.

Slightly shook his head.

Young.

Lacking independent thinking ability, believing whatever others say—if you don't get scammed, who will?

Yanking the Mustached Man up to face him, Lu Ding said: "Then call him over here."

The Mustached Man froze.

He truly hadn't expected Lu Ding to ask him to summon Chen Yan.

If he could summon Chen Yan, he wouldn't have gone through all this trouble to cause trouble at Iron Stone Cave, trying to curry favor with Chen Yan through this.

During his brief hesitation, Lu Ding saw through his lack of confidence.

"Since you can't call him over, then you can die."

As the words fell, the Mustached Man's terrified expression hadn't fully formed in his eyes when the Slash Attack of the Way of the Jinche erupted from Lu Ding's hand.

Before dying, a question lingered in his mind:

'Shouldn't I have been allowed to make excuses, to beg for mercy a bit more...'

Little did he know that even if he begged, Lu Ding wouldn't spare him, so the begging environment was meaningless and could be directly skipped.

The Mustached Man instantly dissolved into a mist of blood, carried by the breeze to stain the uneven sandy ground.

Shattered into the finest particles.

Lu Ding shook his hand and looked at Fang He, who had been shocked dumb by his cruel methods, the impact overwhelming his anger.

Thinking he still needed him as a guide later.

Lu Ding offered him some advice: "Although Chen Yan killed your father and brothers, when facing situations, you still need to think calmly, otherwise you'll be used by others."

His words were like a bucket of cold water.

Drenching Fang He to the bone.

Rationality returned at that moment.

The image of the Mustached Man's hesitation reappeared before his eyes.

Fang He, who had managed to keep Iron Stone Cave running alone after his father and brothers died, wasn't a fool—he had just been blinded by rage.

Now, reminded by Lu Ding like this.

He instantly understood—this matter might have indirect connections to Chen Yan, but it definitely had no direct relationship with him.