Chapter 1099: That Lu Ding Really Does Control Everything — He Even Reached Nanshan Kingdom

The two of them tacitly stayed silent, simply listening. After quite a long while, the Nanshan King finally made up his mind.

“Do it, go and negotiate with the Nie Family, make them hand over some people.”

If there had been another option, the Nanshan King would never have compromised so easily.

Lu Ding was simply too hard to deal with.

He couldn't be beaten, couldn't be driven away; once he showed up, he cemented his position.

If Lu Ding’s existence were exposed, and then other nations’ powerhouses came looking for a fight, this was not the Great Han. If Lu Ding unleashed his Dharma Form, it would be war.

What would become of Nanshan Kingdom then?

Damn!!!

The Nanshan King was furious and at a loss.

Yin Aosi allowed a faint, ambiguous smile to appear at the corner of her mouth. “As you command, Your Majesty!”

She turned and left with the order in hand.

Soon after,

Yin Aosi led her people and the imperial edict to the Nie Family.

When she met the head of the Nie Family, she got straight to the point.

“Master Nie, His Majesty has ordered you to hand over the mastermind and accomplices behind the destruction of the Miaodao Sect.”

Although the Nanshan King had said “hand over some people,”

this matter was entrusted to Yin Aosi. “Some people” didn’t specify who, so whoever she said should be handed over, would be handed over.

Nie Shen, head of the Nie Family, could hardly believe his ears.

“Ho...how is that possible? I must go to the palace to see His Majesty!!!”

Back when the Miaodao Sect was wiped out, the key reason was a conflict between his eldest son and members of the Miaodao Sect.

They later found his aunt — the beloved consort of the current Nanshan King. Out of pity for her nephew, his aunt ordered someone to deal with them.

But they couldn't overpower Qin Jinghao’s master and his associates.

Those two later joined forces, went to the Nie Family’s ancestral elder, and began pestering him.

That was how they forced the old ancestor to move, ultimately exterminating the Miaodao Sect.

Counting it all up, it didn’t just involve Nie Shen’s son; it implicated the Nanshan King’s favorite consort and the Nie Family’s old ancestor.

If they were to hand over both the accomplices and the mastermind, none of those three would escape.

How could the sovereign possibly allow him to hand them over!

Yin Aosi quickly used diversionary tactics, making the problem sound even bigger. “Master Nie, I advise you to calm down. Why not hear me out first, then decide whether you truly want to make things difficult for His Majesty?”

Nie Shen, who had risen, sat down again.

“Commander Yin, speak.”

Yin Aosi began: “Originally, your Nie Family’s destruction of the Miaodao Sect was an unlawful, disorderly act, something everyone tacitly agreed to let go.”

“Originally, the matter would have been over.”

“But those two Miaodao disciples still wandering outside — the ones expelled from the sect earlier, do you recall them?”

Nie Shen frowned. “You mean Qin... Qin Jinghao and Xiao Jingbai?”

Yin Aosi nodded. “Yes, those two. No one expected that Qin Jinghao is now an official investigator for the Great Han 749 Bureau, and he’s attached to Lu Ding, the Corpse-Shattering Taishui of the Great Han. He follows Lu Ding in the western part of Great Han’s New City, and even holds a small leadership post in the west.”

“Now the situation in Nanshan Kingdom is dire, and the Great Han has sent people to assist. Lu Ding came along, and he brought Qin Jinghao.”

“Lu Ding’s arrogance was such that he barged into the Whole-Force Night Squad’s general assembly and openly declared: if Nanshan Kingdom does not hand over the people he requests, if no explanation is offered for his subordinates, he will hold the entire Nanshan Kingdom accountable.”

“You know how ruthless Lu Ding is. How many people has he killed in Baoji Kingdom’s Royal Capital? You surely know how high his status in the Great Han is. Nanshan Kingdom is already inferior to the Great Han. Now, having suffered severe blows, if we offend someone as capricious and cruel as Lu Ding...”

Yin Aosi clicked her tongue and sighed theatrically. “Tsk tsk tsk... well... ah...”

The Nie Family was always the one forcing others before; this was the first time Nie Shen felt the helplessness of being pressured.

When they forced others, they felt justified.

Now being forced, Nie Shen could not accept it.

“Does Lu Ding have to be this extreme!!!?”

Yin Aosi continued to pile on the pressure with embellished rhetoric: “His Majesty wants to protect the Nie Family, after all, it was all said to be over before.”

“But now Lu Ding is here. If things don’t go his way, never mind the implications for Nanshan Kingdom — should he personally come and attack, the Nie Family will lose face. If he helps you keep face... think about it — with his temperament, would the Nie Family fare well?”

At this point Yin Aosi cast a glance around. “You might even see the Nie Family’s foundations sink.”

“And Baoji Kingdom has so many God Ascension cultivators, yet he crushed them all. Your Nie Family’s old ancestor is just one God Ascension, aged and frail... facing Lu Ding, after stubborn resistance, there could be extinction-level disaster for your clan...”

Her implications were clear: do not urge Nie Shen to go see the sovereign, and she hinted that His Majesty already leaned toward protecting the Nie Family.

Otherwise, the alternative would be Lu Ding coming in person.

Of course, Lu Ding preferred to come himself, but before leaving, Secretary Qiu had told him to restrain himself somewhat.

Let them try to resolve it themselves first; if they couldn’t, then they would intervene.

That restraint had another layer of meaning — to claim the moral high ground.

Nie Shen slumped in his chair, dejected. “What about my younger sister...”

Yin Aosi replied, “As for Consort Nie, that side is uncertain.”

Nie Shen sighed, helpless. He had more than one son, but only one father.

“Can I just hand over my son Nie Lei?”

Yin Aosi had long disliked this spoiled little brat of the Nie Family.

“That might be possible; try it. But ultimately it depends on Lu Ding’s mood.”

Those words were a cutting mockery.

They wounded Nie Shen’s heart deeply. “Hahaha... to depend on Lu Ding’s mood — I never thought it. My Nie Family, so far away in Nanshan Kingdom, must now watch Lu Ding’s temper and face.”

“Lu Ding really does control everything!”

“From the Great Han all the way into Nanshan Kingdom!!!”

By the end, Nie Shen was nearly gritting his teeth as he spoke.

He rose.

“Commander Yin, wait here. I'm going to get that good-for-nothing little brat of mine!!!”

Nie Shen strode off in long steps.

He rushed into Nie Lei’s courtyard, kicked the door open, and found, in broad daylight, Nie Lei again seated on a rattan chair with one of the household maidservants...

Nie Shen, already furious, brought his palm down and struck, shattering the maidservant who was straddling Nie Lei.

“You worthless wretch!!!”

Nie Lei showed not the slightest fear. Calmly brushing the fragments of flesh from his body, half-naked, he stood and pulled on his trousers.

“Father, what are you doing here?”

Nie Shen did not answer; he slapped again — clap!!!

He sent Nie Shen crashing to the ground.

Then, dragging his legs, he began pulling him out: “I am not your father. I do not want to utter another word to you!!!”

This time Nie Lei finally panicked.

He shouted frantically, “Father, what are you doing! Let go of me!!!”

“Mother!!! Mother!!!!! Mother, save me!!!”

“Big brother, second brother... sixth sister!!! Help me, Father has gone mad, he’s going to kill me!!!”