Ding Dian shook his head, even though this was something Li Daoqiang had promised him. But since the other party had followed through, he had to acknowledge this debt of gratitude. Moreover, this debt weighed far too heavily on him. Still, he said nothing more—everything was understood without words.
"Alright, let's get down to business." Li Daoqiang's expression turned slightly serious as he said calmly, "What do you think about what comes next?"
Ding Dian's face grew even more solemn. After a brief pause, he said, "Ling Tuisi is ruthless and heartless. For the sake of safety, the chieftain should act decisively, settle this matter swiftly, and bring Shuanghua out. From what I know of Ling Tuisi, he won't let this go easily."
"Are you sure Ling Tuisi won't back down, even after agreeing to marry his daughter to you, which could ease tensions between both sides, and with a grandmaster like me here?" Li Daoqiang asked with interest.
Ding Dian shook his head, a trace of disdain flickering across his face, but his tone grew heavier. "No. In these years of imprisonment, I've seen through Ling Tuisi's character completely. This man is utterly self-serving and judges others by his own standards. He won't trust me. He can't let go of this grudge himself, so he assumes I can't either. As long as there's an opportunity—no, he'll actively create one to kill me."
Li Daoqiang smiled faintly. Good—Ding Dian hadn't wasted those years in prison. He hadn't lost his wits just because he'd gotten what he wanted and was now with Ling Shuanghua.
"What do you think he'll do?"
Ding Dian pondered again before speaking firmly. "The best approach would be to use the *Liancheng Treasure Map* as bait to lure a grandmaster to the Black Dragon Stronghold. Most likely, he'll target you, chieftain."
"Not bad, not bad—you haven't lost your vigilance," Li Daoqiang said with a light chuckle.
Ding Dian gave a self-deprecating smile and said calmly, "After spending years in prison, if I still haven't learned my lesson, I'd truly be a fool."
"You're right. Ling Tuisi only believes what he wants to believe. He thinks you won't let him off, no matter what you say. He believes that since I forced him today, there will be a next time, and he feels his life is constantly in my hands—he won't accept that. So, he'll definitely try to deal with us next," Li Daoqiang said unhurriedly, without a hint of tension.
Ding Dian nodded, fully agreeing with the assessment. His mind raced for countermeasures as he said gravely, "How do you plan to handle this, chieftain?"
"What ideas do you have?" Li Daoqiang asked calmly.
Ding Dian fell silent for a moment, a flicker of killing intent flashing in his eyes. "The best way is to eliminate Ling Tuisi."
Li Daoqiang raised an eyebrow and smiled. "But Miss Ling is with you now."
Ding Dian smiled back, his expression open and honest. "Ling Tuisi will never truly see me as his son-in-law. And for Shuanghua's sake, I won't kill him with my own hands. But anything beyond that has nothing to do with me."
Li Daoqiang nodded with a smile, understanding Ding Dian's meaning and mostly trusting that Ding Dian wouldn't be easily fooled by Ling Tuisi. Shaking his head casually, he said, "Don't always think about solving problems by killing. Ling Tuisi is, after all, a high-ranking official of the Song Kingdom. If he dies even slightly suspiciously, it'll blow up into a big mess."
He paused, his smile turning playful and confident, with a hint of depth. "Besides, why would I kill him? A man like that is rare. As long as he's in Jingzhou, the Black Dragon Stronghold is the uncrowned king of the region. Such a good partner shouldn't be killed lightly."
Ding Dian felt a bit uneasy. The way Li Daoqiang said this didn't exactly paint him as a good person. But then, thinking about someone like Ling Tuisi, he still felt Li Daoqiang was far better. And dealing with Ling Tuisi that way didn't seem so bad.
Pushing aside his discomfort, Ding Dian said solemnly, "So, what's your plan, chieftain?"
"Ling Tuisi wants to go after us because he thinks there's still hope. He believes the *Liancheng Treasure* might be enough to deal with one grandmaster. But what about two grandmasters?" Li Daoqiang said calmly.
Ding Dian's eyes flickered as realization dawned. He said with certainty, "The *Liancheng Treasure* was left by Emperor Yuan of Liang. Though it contains vast riches, anyone smart knows it's finite. After all, Emperor Yuan was a fallen ruler—how much treasure could he have? So, taking on one grandmaster for it might tempt some, but taking on two? No grandmaster would be that foolish."
With that, he burst into hearty laughter. Confidently, he declared, "Rest assured, chieftain. I may not match your strength, but now that my wish is fulfilled, I'll break through within a few months."
"Good!" Li Daoqiang laughed loudly, brimming with bold ambition. "That's exactly what I was waiting for, Brother Ding. Let this storm be our declaration to the world—the Black Dragon Stronghold has arrived."
Though Ding Dian still felt a bit awkward about being a bandit, he knew this was mainly his own trouble. He had to fight for his promise, for his and Shuanghua's home. So he nodded firmly and said resolutely, "I won't let you down, chieftain."
"Mm, get ready. We'll head back to the stronghold today. After your wedding, focus entirely on breaking through," Li Daoqiang said gently.
Ding Dian nodded and left to prepare. Li Daoqiang watched his retreating figure, a glint of anticipation and fervor in his eyes.
This was a gamble. A plan he'd only just settled on. But thinking of the nine million bandit points he still needed—and the even more points to come—he felt the risk was worth it.
As long as Ding Dian broke through quickly, or as long as no overly powerful grandmaster showed up this time, he was certain this would net him a massive windfall. His life-saving favor was still itching to be cashed in.
His gaze shifted toward Ling Tuisi's mansion, his anticipation growing. *Brother Ling, Brother Ling—don't let me down. That 'brother' of mine isn't so easy to earn.*
A while later, Li Daoqiang and his group headed back to the Black Dragon Stronghold. Ling Tuisi soon received the news, his face cold and grim. He dismissed Gao Yuan, who had reported the information, and sat alone, his mind racing.
Occasionally, hesitation flickered in his eyes. Was it really worth making a mortal enemy of a grandmaster? If he failed to kill Li Daoqiang and Ding Dian, he'd be the one dead. So he had to hesitate.
Could the *Liancheng Treasure* kill a grandmaster? And what if Ding Dian broke through too?
Countless thoughts tangled in his mind. Finally, a flash of venomous resolve surfaced. *Ding Dian won't let me off. Neither will Li Daoqiang. He threatened me today, and he'll do it again tomorrow. Am I supposed to endure this forever? No. I have to deal with them.*
His thoughts tilted further toward one direction, growing firm. Gritting his teeth, he picked up a brush and began to write. In moments, several sheets of paper were filled. Ling Tuisi summoned Lin Yuan and said coldly, "Deliver this letter to the Chancellor's residence with utmost speed."
"Yes," Lin Yuan replied respectfully and set off immediately.
Ling Tuisi's heart was uneasy. He wasn't sure if the *Liancheng Treasure* alone could tempt the Chancellor into dealing with a grandmaster. But it was the simplest, most direct method. If the Chancellor took the bait, Li Daoqiang's chances of dying would be seventy to eighty percent. If not...
Ling Tuisi's eyes narrowed, his resolve hardening. *Then I'll use the martial world's strength. I refuse to believe no one will be tempted.*
At the Black Dragon Stronghold, Li Daoqiang returned with Ding Dian and immediately gathered the entire stronghold to announce an appointment.
"Brothers, from today onward, this man beside me, Ding Dian, is our Enforcement Hall Master. He will establish the Enforcement Hall to oversee and investigate all violations of our stronghold's rules. His rank is second only to mine, above all other leaders."
His bold, unquestionable voice rang out across the assembly. Below, many faces changed—some in defiance, some in displeasure—as they looked at Ding Dian. But no matter their thoughts, no one dared to speak out.
Ding Dian remained calm, facing the scrutiny with ease. Taking the role of Enforcement Hall Master had been discussed with Li Daoqiang beforehand. He was satisfied with the position—it would let him better oversee the stronghold and prevent harm to ordinary folk.
"Everyone, welcome him," Li Daoqiang announced.
"Cheers!"
Immediately, over a thousand men below raised their arms in unison. After a few moments, Li Daoqiang raised his hand to quiet them and said loudly, "Alright, make sure you all remember this. Anyone who pays lip service while acting otherwise will face the stronghold's rules."
After the announcement, Li Daoqiang dismissed the crowd and began arranging Ding Dian's wedding. Conveniently, he had just held one with Qi Fang, so nothing was lacking.
Two days later, the wedding went smoothly. The Black Dragon Stronghold buzzed with celebration once more. After the festivities, the Enforcement Hall was formally established.
Ding Dian seemed injected with new energy, his spirits soaring. He focused mainly on cultivation, using spare time to build the Enforcement Hall. It was clear he was making the stronghold his home.
Li Daoqiang watched with satisfaction and began his own busy schedule. Aside from training, he held talks with the major powers of Jingzhou. Raising prices couldn't rely solely on Ling Tuisi's word—it required the personal touch of a grandmaster to have proper discussions with those people.
Unsurprisingly, within two days, the major powers in Jingzhou City, shaken and awed, agreed. Those outside the city just needed time to be notified. New agreements on trade and business were reached.
At the same time, news of Li Daoqiang's breakthrough to grandmaster began spreading rapidly. Across Jingzhou, from top to bottom, a storm stirred. And it was spreading outward.
Such was the prestige of a grandmaster—its mere existence naturally propagated in all directions. Of course, without special forces driving it, gaining widespread fame still took time. Li Daoqiang had pushed it along, but only within Jingzhou's borders. Beyond that, his influence was limited.
Still, the name Li Daoqiang was spreading like wildfire across the world.
(Thanks for your support.) ······