Mainland Martial Arts

Chapter 458 Ding Moyuan, the Patriarch of the Ding Family

"Greetings, Lord City Lord!" A trembling, respectful voice echoed through the silent courtyard. But Ming Zeshu and Gao Jinghao seemed oblivious. Their eyes held only anxiety and urgency as they strode inside. Their footsteps echoed on the cobblestones, stirring up a cloud of dust.

Passing through winding corridors, they arrived at the brightly lit courtyard. Ding Moyuan, the head of the Ding family, dressed in a black robe and with a stern expression, was directing the servants to form a line. Beside him, Ding Mohou, the fourth elder of the Ding family, had a sullen expression, his hands clenched. Nearby stood several young heirs: Ding Wenxuan, Ding Wenhao, Ding Wenfeng, and Ding Wenming. Their faces were filled with anger and fear, and their bodies trembled slightly.

Gao Jinghao understood the situation at a glance, his face suddenly changed, and he shouted: "You are going to die. Even if your ancestors are included, you will only die." His voice was deep and powerful, with unquestionable majesty, echoing in the courtyard.

Ding Moyuan and Ding Mohou turned around when they heard the voice. Seeing Gao Jinghao, the anger on their faces instantly turned to awe. Their legs softened and they knelt on the ground, shouting, "Welcome, Lord City Lord!"

Gao Jinghao frowned and said impatiently, "Get up." Then he asked anxiously, "Where is Ding Junhao?"

Ding Moyuan looked up and saw the blood on Gao Jinghao and Ming Zeshu, his heart tightening. He knew that even the City Lord, a Grandmaster, couldn't subdue Xu Tian. If he allowed the ancestor to come out of seclusion, he would be in great danger. After a moment's hesitation, he gritted his teeth and decided to keep it a secret: "Reporting to the City Lord, the ancestor has gone on a journey and has not yet returned."

Ming Zeshu snorted coldly, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes: "Hmph, Ding Moyuan, don't lie. Given your Ding family's style of doing things, why would the ancestor go out traveling at this time?" His voice was cold, as if it could penetrate people's hearts.

Seeing Ming Zeshu's disbelief, Gao Jinghao also grew suspicious. He took a step forward, his eyes threatening, "Ding Moyuan, I don't have time to beat around the bush with you. Tell me Ding Junhao's location right now, or we'll all die at the hands of Xu Tian tonight."

Ding Moyuan's face was pale, and a look of struggle flashed in his eyes. In order not to disturb the old ancestor's retreat, he still gritted his teeth and refused to let go: "Lord City Lord, everything I said is true. The old ancestor really went on a journey."

At this stalemate, Gao Jinghao's eyes flashed with fierceness. He clenched his fists slightly, and his inner Qi surged. The air around him trembled slightly with his anger. Just as he was about to strike, a sharp whistling sound came from the back of the mansion. Before anyone could react, a thick wooden block shot out like black lightning, bursting into the courtyard with fierce momentum.

With four muffled "Puff, Puff, Puff" sounds, the wood had actually pierced the four Ding family Half-Step Grandmasters together. Their eyes widened, faces filled with horror and disbelief. Their bodies were pierced, and blood gushed out, dripping onto the ground in a dark red pool. Then, the wood, carrying their bodies, nailed them firmly to the wall next to the Ding family's gate.

This sudden scene stunned everyone. Gao Jinghao and Ming Zeshu instantly entered combat mode, their eyes alert and fierce, their bodies slightly crouched, ready to face the unknown enemy at any time.

Ding Wenxuan and the other four young men were so frightened that their faces turned pale and their bodies trembled constantly. Their lips trembled, but they could not make any sound, only faint whimpers.

Ding Moyuan and Ding Mohou were also frightened. Their bodies trembled violently, their faces filled with shock and confusion. They stared at the piece of wood nailed to the wall with wide eyes, as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing.

"This...what on earth is going on?" Ding Moyuan's voice trembled, full of fear and confusion.

The courtyard was completely silent, save for the dripping blood of the four strung-together Half-Step Grandmasters, which made a ticking sound, like the countdown to the death. A chilling wind blew, bringing with it a hint of blood, casting a shadow over everyone's heart.

Xu Tian, ​​like a demon freed from hell, rampaged through the darkness. His figure loomed amidst the flames and smoke. Every time he waved his arms, buildings collapsed, sending bricks and stones flying and clouds of dust billowing into the air. Pitiful screams echoed through the night, only to be drowned out by the howling wind and the roar of collapsing buildings.

Gao Jinghao and Ming Zeshu stood in the Ding family compound, watching the city being ravaged by Xu Tian in the distance. Their hearts felt heavy, as if a huge rock were pressing down on them. Gao Jinghao's face was bedraggled with dust and sweat, but his eyes held the fortitude and resolve of a city lord. Ming Zeshu, clad in a black robe, his white hair dancing freely in the wind, his deep eyes filled with worry about the situation.

When they confirmed that Xu Tian wasn't heading their way, their tense nerves relaxed slightly, and they both breathed a sigh of relief. However, this brief moment of relief didn't last long, as the harsh reality once again loomed over them like a dark cloud.

Gao Jinghao turned to look at Ding Moyuan with a solemn expression, his tone revealing unquestionable urgency: "Ding Moyuan, see, this is the horror of Xu Tian. If it weren't for your ancestor Ding Junhao taking action and sealing his power with us, this Lingyuan City would be doomed and everyone's life would be in danger." His voice was low and powerful, echoing in the silent courtyard, and every word struck everyone's heart.

Ding Moyuan's face was pale, his forehead covered in beads of sweat, gleaming coldly in the dim light. His eyes were filled with turmoil and struggle, his heart torn between the safety of his family and disturbing his ancestor's retreat. After a long pause, he gritted his teeth and said with determination, "Lord City Lord, please follow me."

Just after taking two steps, Ding Moyuan suddenly stopped and slowly turned around. This action instantly alerted Gao Jinghao and Ming Zeshu, and their eyes were fixed on Ding Moyuan. Ding Moyuan bowed his head slightly and said respectfully to Ming Zeshu, "Grandpa Ming, please stay. This time we are going to the secret room of our Ding family."

Gao Jinghao and Ming Zeshu exchanged a glance, their eyes meeting, a mutual understanding and concern. Ming Zeshu nodded slightly, then bent his legs slightly, his knees cracking softly. Then, with a sudden push, he leaped onto the roof like an arrow from a bow. Standing on the ridge, his clothes rustling in the wind, he looked like a guardian god of war, his eyes filled with vigilance and determination.

Seeing this, Ding Moyuan felt a little relieved. He made a gesture of invitation to Gao Jinghao and said, "Please." Then, the two of them walked along a narrow and dark passage towards the deeper part of the Ding family mansion.

The passage was filled with a damp smell. The torches on the wall flickered, and the flickering light and shadows danced on the two men's faces, outlining their tense and solemn expressions.