Almost at the same time.
Tang Clan Headquarters.
The atmosphere in the council hall remained oppressive.
They had also received news that Yu Xiaogang had fled overnight.
This was like adding insult to injury for the already demoralized members of the Tang Clan and Shrek Academy.
Even their "teacher" was so frightened by Ning Lin that he ran away in terror. What should they do now?
"We can't wait any longer."
Tang San stood up, his eyes flashing with determination.
After a night of calm, he seemed to have recovered from his previous rage.
He looked at everyone and said in a deep voice, "Ning Lin's strength far exceeds our expectations. Bibi Dong's ascension to godhood makes her an existence we cannot contend with."
"If we stay here, we'll only face death."
Dai Mubai and the others remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement with his statement.
"So, I've made up my mind."
Tang San took a deep breath.
"I'm going to the Starry Sky Forest."
"What are you doing there, mistress?"
Oscar asked, puzzled.
"Go and save Daming and Erming."
A complex emotion flashed in Tang San's eyes.
"After Xiao Wu sacrificed herself, I promised them that I would find a way to revive her. But now, they seem to be in trouble."
"I can feel that their presence is becoming weaker and weaker."
He paused, his voice becoming even more resolute.
"They are Xiao Wu's last remaining family members; I cannot stand by and watch them die. Besides… I also need greater power."
"Only by becoming stronger can we take revenge on Ning Lin and the Spirit Hall!"
Having said that, no one said anything more.
They knew that Tang San had made up his mind.
"We'll go with you!"
Dai Mubai stepped forward.
Tang San shook his head.
"No, you're too big a target. The Spirit Hall is definitely watching us."
"You will leave Tiandou City in batches and find a safe place to settle down first. We will meet up again when I return from the Star Dou Great Forest."
"And what about me?"
A weak voice came from the corner.
It's Ma Hongjun.
His face was pale, he had lost a lot of weight, and his eyes had lost their former sparkle, leaving only endless despair.
Tang San looked at him, his heart ached, and he stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder.
"Fatty, don't worry, I will definitely find a way to cure you."
"You should go back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School with Rongrong first; it's the safest place there."
Ma Hongjun didn't speak, but simply nodded silently.
And so the plan was set.
This small group, which once attracted the attention of the entire continent, chose to temporarily disintegrate under the immense pressure brought by Ning Lin, each seeking their own way out.
Tang San embarked on his journey to the Star Dou Great Forest.
A new storm is quietly brewing deep in the forest.
---
The next day, early morning.
The news that Prince Yu Xiaogang of the Blue Lightning had deserted his post and fled overnight spread throughout Tiandou City.
The entire Tiandou City was transformed into a sea of joy.
Yu Xiaogang, this clown, has become a laughing stock across the entire mainland.
Ning Lin, through this duel that subdued the enemy without a fight, propelled his reputation to an unprecedented peak.
However, he himself did not say much about it.
While the whole city cheered for his victory, he had already changed into simple civilian clothes and sat in the courtroom of the city lord's mansion.
He was handling the city's administrative affairs.
For Ning Lin, nothing is more important than being the best in the world or having unparalleled prestige than the peaceful and prosperous life of the people in Tiandou City.
This is the essence of his position as the lord of a city.
Today, a rather thorny case is being heard in court.
The plaintiff was an elderly farmer who made a living by farming.
The defendant, however, was a powerful, albeit low-ranking, nobleman in the city.
The case is very simple.
The old farmer said that the nobles had forcibly seized his family's 30 mu of fertile land, which had been passed down through generations.
The nobleman said that he had bought those thirty acres of fertile land from the old farmer's father many years ago with real gold and silver, and that he had a land deed as proof.
Both sides stuck to their own versions of events and could not reach an agreement.
"Lord City Lord! You must do justice for us commoners!"
The old farmer knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face.
"That land has been passed down through generations of my family; it's the lifeblood of my entire family! My father… he's illiterate; how could he possibly sign a land deed!"
On the other side, the nobleman had an arrogant expression on his face.
"Lord Ning, I am only willing to come to this court because I respect you as the city lord."
"It's all in black and white, with a red seal as proof, this land is mine! This old bastard is clearly trying to extort me because he thinks I'm easy to bully!"
As he spoke, he presented a yellowed land deed.
Ning Lin picked up the land deed and examined it carefully.
The paper and ink on the land deed do look quite old.
The signature and fingerprint on it show no obvious flaws.
If it were an ordinary official, the old farmer would probably have lost the case.
This is the scene that Hu Liena saw when she entered the courtroom.
She came to report to Ning Lin on the movements of Yu Xiaogang, Tang San, and the others.
She had assumed that Ning Lin would be celebrating his victory, but she never expected him to be here adjudicating such a trivial case.
She didn't say anything to disturb them, but simply stood quietly to the side and watched.
Ning Lin finished looking at the land deed but did not immediately make a decision.
He raised his head and his gaze fell on the nobleman.
"You're saying you bought this land deed from his father ten years ago?"
"That's right!"
The nobleman, head held high, replied.
"It cost a full three hundred gold soul coins! Many people can testify to that!"
A faint smile appeared on Ning Lin's face.
"Is that so?"
He gently placed the land deed on the table, extended his finger, and lightly touched the red inkpad in the lower right corner.
"This inkpad is made with the finest 'Fire Spider' inkpad, its color is bright red and it won't fade even after ten years, right?"
Upon hearing this, a hint of smugness flashed in the nobleman's eyes.
"Lord City Lord, you have a discerning eye! This is precisely the inkpad used exclusively by my family!"
"Yes, it's definitely good stuff."
Ning Lin nodded.
"Unfortunately, you forgot."
His voice suddenly turned deep.
According to the laws of Tiandou City, the "Fire Spider" inkpad was developed and popularized by the "Baowenzhai" in the south of the city only eight years ago.
"I'm curious, how did you manage to sign a land deed from ten years ago using something that only came into existence eight years later?"
Upon hearing this, the entire room fell silent.
The nobleman's face turned deathly pale in an instant.
Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.
"I...I..."
He stammered and couldn't say a word.
The truth is self-evident.
"Someone come here!"
Ning Lin slammed his gavel down.
"Forging land deeds and seizing farmland is punishable by fifty strokes of the cane according to imperial law, and all family property shall be confiscated and deposited into the city treasury!"
"As for these thirty acres of fertile land, they shall be returned to their rightful owner!"
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(End of chapter)