Huang Wenshan: "Tell me, the people who come to investigateāwill they believe what I say, or what someone else says?"
Ding Hong: "Since that's the case, why haven't you made a move yet? What are you afraid of?"
Huang Wenshan was momentarily at a loss for words.
Chai Jie glanced at Huang Wenshan, thoughtful.
He suddenly realized that he might still have a sliver of hopeāand it was tied to Ding Hong.
If Huang Wenshan didn't dare strike to kill Ding Hong, then he probably wouldn't dare kill him right in front of Ding Hong either.
But if Huang Wenshan really dared to kill, Chai Jie would, in all likelihood, die as well.
Chai Jie had never imagined that one day the Ye Family's chief Tributor, a strong person ranked on the Earth List, would actually be cowed by a mere Qi Change Stage martial master?
"No, he's not cowed by Ding Hongāhe's cowed by those ten laws written on that sheet of paper! He's cowed by the one who wrote those laws!"
Chai Jie clenched his fists, his back already soaked in cold sweat, nervously awaiting Huang Wenshan's reaction.
Huang Wenshan stayed silent for a few seconds, his expression gradually turning ferocious, the killing intent on him growing heavier and heavier!
Chai Jie's heart sank; he knew he had bet wrong.
"Pa! Pa! Pa!"
Ye Qin, who'd been quiet all this time, suddenly started clapping, drawing everyone's attention.
Ye Qin looked at Ding Hong with a face full of appreciation:
"Young man, you're remarkable!"
"If the old man weren't here today, you might really have scared these people off. Unfortunately, I have something on me that they must obtain. By standing in front like this, you're only forcing them to kill you."
Ding Hong looked at Ye Qin and asked seriously:
"Elder, who are you? What is it you carry on you?"
Ye Qin looked a bit desolate: "I am a steward of the Ye Mansion. I hold some of the Ye Mansion's secrets in my hands."
"What steward? You're the Ye Family's traitor! A wretch who bites the hand that feeds him!"
Huang Wenshan cursed angrily from the side.
Ding Hong gave Huang Wenshan a glance, then asked Ye Qin:
"Mr. Ye, you're also at Martial Arts Master cultivation, aren't you? Do you hold any official post?"
Ye Qin shook his head.
Ding Hong: "So that means you're also a member of the Blue Patrol Pavilion. He, as a Level 1 Patrol Inspector, wants to slaughter members of the Blue Patrol Pavilion. That's something I all the more cannot just stand by and watch."
With that, he actually took the initiative to step forward, blocking Ye Qin behind him:
"Inspector Huang, if you insist on violating the Ten Laws today, then step over my corpse first!"
Huang Wenshan's face grew darker as he stared fixedly at Ding Hong, speaking word by word:
"Young man, I'll say this one last time: once you die, everything is gone. Are you truly not going to move aside?"
Ding Hong suddenly laughed:
"On the day I became an Inspector, although I didn't get to meet Duke Jing'an in person, a senior passed on a message from the Duke to all of usā
'Once you step through this door, never ask about your future!'
Duke Jing'an said he would not grant us high office, wealth, or power, but he could give us one promise:
If we fall in the name of justice and righteousness, he will never let our sacrifice be in vain!
He said that when most people face overwhelming power and life-and-death, they don't dare take that one step forward, because they know that extra step is meaningless.
But he would give that 'step' to usā
From that day on, the human world need not be so cramped, and heroes may stand tall!"
Duke Jing'an's words left to all Inspectors, Ding Hong had silently recited them in his heart countless times.
Every time he thought of them, an unyielding figure would surface in his mind.
That figure had once faced Heavenly Tribulation head-on!
Had once single-handedly blocked a million-strong Northern Barbarians army!
Had once stood against the siege of Peak Strong Persons!
So long as he recalled that figure, Ding Hong's heart would be filled with endless courage.
"I wonder, when Duke Jing'an spoke those words, who was he thinking of?"
Ding Hong suddenly found himself wondering.
Sadly, it seemed he would never have the chance to know the answer.
The golden sunlight still poured through the window onto his body. Facing the strong person ranked eighth on the Earth List, he did not retreat a single step:
"Come then, kill me, Ding Hongāand let's see how long you can live afterwards?!"
.....
PS: As this book heads into its closing phase, there will definitely be some chapters that some people find 'filler', but to me, they're necessary for the endingāsome things must be wrapped up and echoed.
This chapter is both a setup and something written for Hao Yi~
So long as he recalled that figure, Ding Hong's heart would be filled with endless courage.
"I wonder, when Duke Jing'an spoke those words, who was he thinking of?"
Ding Hong suddenly found himself wondering.
Sadly, it seemed he would never have the chance to know the answer.
The golden sunlight still poured through the window onto his body. Facing the strong person ranked eighth on the Earth List, he did not retreat a single step:
"Come then, kill me, Ding Hongāand let's see how long you can live afterwards?!"