Free Web NovelChapter 2199: Chapter 2234: You’re Mistaken
Wu Qingxia held back her tears and choked, "Island Master, you finally returned, welcome home."
Ding Fan hadn’t changed much since before he left. He nodded slightly and said, "Don’t act like this, everyone stand up. Let’s go back."
"Island Master Ding Fan, quite a grand air you have there, truly impressive!"
A cold voice rang out, and Xu Jianqiang, standing beside, said, "Island Master Ding traveled thousands of miles, bloodily swept the Wu Family Fortress, shocking the Northern Desolation of the Divine Realm. Is such a powerful figure still lurking in our small Tianmu Sea? Still subordinate to our Moon Mist Island? How can we bear this? In my opinion, I’ll go back immediately and request my father, better let Moon Mist Island be subsidiary to Skull Island."
Ding Fan wore a blue robe, hadn’t slept well in recent days, and ate poorly, looking skinny and dark, but his expression was calm, eyes shining, possessing a different demeanor.
He didn’t get angry; instead, he said to Xu Jianqiang, "Master Xu, what are you saying? Skull Island has always followed the orders of Moon Mist Island and has never been disrespectful. If Young Master Xu feels Ding Fan has done something inadequate, Ding here will surely rectify it."
"What happened?"
Xu Jianqiang spoke coldly, looking at Ding Fan with disgust. The more polite Ding Fan was, the more uncomfortable he felt.
After some thought, he said, "What you’re doing now is wrong; I’m your future master. As the eldest young master of the Xu Family and future lord, is this how you show respect to your master? Kneel down to speak to me!"
The reason why Xu Jianqiang stayed was to humiliate Ding Fan, to destroy his prestige, letting Herr Rufeng and Herr Ningshuang see that he was indeed one of the most outstanding young masters of Tianmu Sea, and Ding Fan was just a worthless little figure.
So, now he wanted Ding Fan to kneel, because a person who kneels to him, if Herr Rufeng and Herr Ningshuang still liked him, it would lower the prestige of their Herr Family.
Whoosh~
Wu Qingxia and the Second Elder’s faces changed, though traditionally Ding Fan should bow to Xu Jianqiang based on their identities, such a situation would rarely occur, otherwise the Xu Family would lose the people’s hearts, and Xu Guotao would severely scold Xu Jianqiang upon learning.
But now Xu Jianqiang was enraged by jealousy, lost his sanity, and lost control.
Countless eyes were on Ding Fan, watching how he would handle the situation. Ding Fan was slightly surprised, glanced at Xu Jianqiang, then stopped caring about him, lifted his foot, and headed towards the council hall on Skull Island.
He left just one sentence: "How did Xu Guotao have a son like a pig? Xu Jianqiang, this time I’m giving your father face by not arguing with you, don’t humiliate me. Mu Gaosou, if Xu Jianqiang tries to act recklessly, throw him into the sea!"
Ding Fan never had much favor for someone like Xu Jianqiang; these young masters from great powers always had their eyes above their heads, looking down on common folk like Ding Fan.
He originally didn’t mind being looked down upon, as long as everyone could get along. If they just gave cold brows and faces, he wouldn’t care. But when Xu Jianqiang went too far, wanting him to kneel, that Ding Fan couldn’t tolerate.
A hot-blooded man has gold beneath his knees; he wouldn’t kneel to anyone besides heavens, earth, monarchs, parents, and teachers, a principle Ding Fan learned from an early age.
Growing up, Ding Fan had never knelt to anyone, not a little Xu Jianqiang; even if Xu Guotao himself came and made such a request, he’d turn on him too.
Indeed, Skull Island was a subsidiary of Moon Mist Island; the Xu Family is supposed to be Ding Fan’s master. But they are no real master-servant relationship, and even if it were, if the master disregards the servant’s dignity, the servant would surely defy.
And most importantly, Ding Fan is no longer afraid of the Xu Family!
At Wu Family Fortress, the Zhong Family had a Fourth-Level Peak expert in the Divine Realm, whose Heavenly Divine Sword was invincible, yet it was bitten and shattered by Sirius, allowing Ding Fan to crush his head with the Heaven Measuring Ruler.
What is Xu Guotao’s realm? Only Fourth-Level Peak in the Divine Realm. If Xu Guotao were to disregard face, unwilling to heed the Herr Family’s words, and insisted on acting, Ding Fan could certainly kill him!
Ding Fan’s words startled the disciples of Skeleton Sect. Everyone’s bodies tightened, their eyes turned to Xu Jianqiang, worried, fearing Xu Jianqiang would lash out in anger, intending to kill Ding Fan on the spot.
Indeed, Xu Jianqiang was furious, seeing Ding Fan stride towards the council hall on Skull Island. True Yuan flickered in his hand, immediately releasing True Force, wanting to split Ding Fan in two.
"Whoosh!"
Mu Gaosou, absolutely loyal to Ding Fan’s command, saw Xu Jianqiang indeed striking at Ding Fan, turned into a blur, reaching Xu Jianqiang’s side, grabbed his throat, and promptly threw him into Tianmu Sea.
"Puff!"
Mu Gaosou was a Fourth-Level expert in the Divine Realm, while Xu Jianqiang was merely Elementary Stage Third-Level in the Divine Realm; the two were not on the same level. Hence, Xu Jianqiang’s Divine Realm Third-Level bodyguards hadn’t even reacted before Mu Gaosou had already tossed Xu Jianqiang into the Tianmu Sea.
"Oh no, master, Mu Gaosou are you not afraid to die?"
Realizing they were too late, Xu Jianqiang’s guard still drew his blade towards Mu Gaosou, but Mu Gaosou merely glanced at him sideways, lifted his leg, and kicked him into the sea as well.
The entire Skeleton Sect was dumbfounded. Wu Qingxia and the Second Elder were at a loss, while the Fourth Elder’s face turned pale. They were terrified. Ding Fan was too bold. How could he be so sure that Xu Guotao wouldn’t be furious and flatten Skull Island because of this?
"Well, you’ve really got some nerve!"
Xu Jianqiang, drenched in seawater, shook the water from his head and shouted, "Ding Fan, you’ve got guts. Let’s wait and see."
Mu Gaosou was stronger than both of them, and neither Xu Jianqiang nor the guard was a match. If they had to fight, they’d only embarrass themselves. With no other option, Xu Jianqiang could only swim back to his warship, seething with rage as he sailed towards Moon Mist Island. Hatred filled his heart, and if he could, he would kill everyone on Skull Island.
"Island Master!"
Wu Qingxia and the others came to their senses and pursued Ding Fan. When she caught up with him, Wu Qingxia said, "Island Master, about Xu Jianqiang..."
Ding Fan waved his hand and said, "No more talk on this matter. If anything happens, I’ll handle it. Xu Jianqiang cannot stir up any storms."
Hearing Ding Fan’s words and seeing the confidence on his face, Wu Qingxia felt a sudden calm. Pondering for a moment, she said, "Miss Ningshuang and Miss Rufeng are waiting for you in Jingshan Castle. I’ve already sent someone to inform them."
"Really? They’re here too!"
The images of the two women flashed in Ding Fan’s mind, causing his heart to beat faster. He said to Wu Qingxia, "I’ll go see them right away!"
He waved his hand to bring Mu Gaosou along, and together they headed towards Jingshan Castle with long strides. As they ascended Jingshan, they saw two beautiful women with identical appearances standing in front of the castle, staring at Ding Fan.
A small table was set at the castle gate. One was sipping tea quietly, while the other was looking at Ding Fan. Both were dressed similarly, with hairpins in their hair, exuding an air of nobility and grace.
Ding Fan immediately recognized that standing was Herr Rufeng, while sitting and sipping tea was Herr Ningshuang. His gaze met Herr Ningshuang’s, and there seemed to be a flicker of something in their eyes.
Herr Ningshuang looked at Ding Fan. She hadn’t seen him for a while, and he seemed thinner, but somehow more spirited. The time spent braving the elements had tanned his skin, and his beard had grown longer, giving him a more masculine aura. Perhaps it was the tempering at the Wu Family Fortress that added a sharp quality to him, making Herr Ningshuang feel indescribably moved.
Growing up, Herr Ningshuang had many suitors, most of whom were handsome and dashing, but they lacked a certain masculinity.
Ding Fan, to her, was more like a lone wolf, a lone wolf that defied control!
That’s how Herr Ningshuang felt now. This feeling was entirely different from what those young noblemen gave her. It was a quality refined through numerous dangers and hardships, something that those spoiled brats could never have.
Herr Ningshuang stood up, while Herr Rufeng, lacking those feelings, just smiled and said to Ding Fan, "Ding Fan, you actually made it back! We thought you’d become fish food!"
Ding Fan approached the two women, folded his hands in a salute, and said, "I am deeply grateful for the assistance of the two ladies. I will never forget such great kindness. I owe you both my life."
"Haha!"
Herr Rufeng was quite pleased to see Ding Fan showing such gratitude. Herr Ningshuang, however, smiled and said, "Ding Fan, there’s no need for this. If it weren’t for you saving us in the Tomb of Emperor Yelang, we would have already turned to dust. We shouldn’t be indebted to each other for past events. I said before that we are friends, and it is what friends should do to help one another."
Ding Fan remained silent. He had always been a man of few words, preferring to keep things in his heart. Herr Ningshuang, not letting him speak, continued, "Actually, we didn’t really help this time. We just played a distracting role. The fact that you returned alive is due to your own capabilities."
Ding Fan replied, "You still greatly assisted me. If you hadn’t kept Zhong Family’s Divine Realm Fifth Level expert busy and even helped me eliminate many of Zhong Family’s scout cavalry, I might not have made it to Wu Family Fortress alive."
"You’re mistaken!" Herr Ningshuang’s expression turned serious as she said to Ding Fan, "The ones who helped clear the Zhong Family scout cavalry were not experts from our Herr Family. I was going to ask you about it. Who was the expert helping you?"
"What did you say?"
Ding Fan was stunned and then filled with doubt, he said, "Miss Ningshuang, are you sure it wasn’t your Herr Family’s expert? This is strange, other than the Herr Family, I can’t think of anyone else who would help me!"
In the supernatural realm, the Ye Family and Meng Family couldn’t come out now. Crimson Flame hadn’t appeared since Ding Fan told him he wasn’t the Young Master. So, the helper couldn’t be him. If it wasn’t him, nor the Herr Family’s expert, then who helped him?
Herr Ningshuang was also very interested in this matter, so she kept watching Ding Fan’s expression. Once she confirmed Ding Fan truly didn’t know, she was perplexed too and shook her head gently saying, "Grandpa Zhan said he didn’t send anyone. He’s not one to lie, so if he says no, then it’s not. The expert should be someone above the Fifth Level in the Divine Realm. In the Tianmu Sea’s Divine Realm, besides our Herr Family, several other Fourth Grade family heads might know. Do you know them?"
Ding Fan shook his head repeatedly, saying, "I don’t know them at all. I don’t know what they look like or what they’re called."
At this point, Herr Rufeng said, "Ding Fan, could it be that you know some Fifth Level expert in the Divine Realm?"
"Impossible. I’m new to the Divine Realm and was unknown before. I was just a small figure. If it weren’t for being chased and forced into the Tianmu Sea, I’d already be dead. Do you think someone like me would know a Fifth Level expert in the Divine Realm?"
