When Lu Ming heard the commotion outside the carriage, he knew that he had arrived in Fengyang City. He immediately lifted the curtain and saw a majestic and imposing city reflected in his eyes like a giant beast.
The towering city walls, about a hundred feet high, resembled mountain cliffs, and were inscribed with countless runes that shimmered with light, resembling a massive protective Divine Ability Restriction.
At the city gate, the flow of people was bustling and noisy, a scene of extreme prosperity.
Lu Ming Fengyang City very few times, and his memories of it were mostly from years ago. Even now, seeing it again, he was still amazed by its grandeur.
Compared to this, Qingyuan Market does indeed lack some grandeur, befitting its status as the capital of Fengyang Prefecture.
However, Lu Ming himself still preferred Qingyuan Market, the place where he grew up, filled with too many stories and emotions, which no other magnificent place could compare to.
After the carriage entered the city, Lu Ming, Zhou Xuan, and Zhou Fuling left their addresses and then went their separate ways.
They were heading to the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall, and Zhou Xuan also had other important matters to attend to, so Zhou Fuling naturally had to go along.
After they parted ways, Lu Ming pulled Lu Mengmeng along to follow Zhong Ying, while she, after figuring out the direction, headed towards the " Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall " from her memory.
After walking through several streets, Lu Mengmeng's hands were full of snacks, and she was eating them with great enjoyment. Finally, at the intersection of several main streets, a vast and magnificent manor came into view.
Inside the manor, pavilions and towers stand tall, and figures move about.
Every now and then, powerful fluctuations of Primordial Qi would erupt from it.
On the plaque outside the manor are five large gilded characters, written with bold strokes and exuding a majestic aura.
Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall!
Zhong Ying stared at the familiar Divine Ability Hall, her expression becoming somewhat dazed. She paused, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes. Just then, she felt a warmth on her shoulder as Lu Qingyan stepped forward and took her arm, his eyes filled with encouragement.
At the same time, she felt a warm touch on her right palm. Lu Ming smiled, took her hand, and squeezed it gently.
A small hand followed suit, reaching out from the left palm. However, the sugar water on it quickly made her palm sticky, which amused and annoyed Zhong Ying. She took out her water bottle and washed Lu Mengmeng's little hands.
However, with the support of her family, Zhong Ying's emotions calmed down, and she finally stopped shrinking back and mustered up the courage to walk towards the Divine Ability Hall.
The area in front of the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall was bustling with people.
Many visitors brought gifts and registered at the entrance. In a few days, it would be the birthday of Zhong Taiyue, the head of the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall. Therefore, many influential forces in Fengyang Prefecture sent their gifts in advance.
Lu Ming and his group stepped forward without making a fuss, and quietly followed the gift-giving team in line.
Soon it was their turn. The person recording the gifts was an elderly man with gray hair. He didn't even look up, but simply raised his hand to signal the visitors to introduce themselves.
Zhong Ying spoke up, " Qingyuan Market Thunderfire Hall, Zhong Ying."
The old man wrote two strokes, and after Zhong Ying's name was written, he paused, then suddenly looked up, staring at Zhong Ying in shock, and exclaimed, "Miss?!"
Zhong Ying looked at the elderly man whose features seemed vaguely familiar, hesitated for a moment, and then tentatively asked, "Uncle Liang?"
She remembered that the old man in front of her was named Liang Gao. He was a senior member of the academy and had followed her father, Zhong Taiyue, since he was young, witnessing him build the " Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall ". Therefore, he was very senior in the academy. In the past, Zhong Taiyue liked to entrust Liang Gao with the management of all the big and small things in the family and trusted him very much.
"Oh my, it really is you, Miss! You're finally back!"
Upon hearing the familiar shout, the old man named Liang Gao became excited. His eyes turned red, and he quickly stood up and grabbed Zhong Ying's hand with great force, as if afraid that she would run away again.
"Uncle Liang, I'm here to wish my father a happy birthday." Zhong Ying felt the strength in the other man's hand and couldn't help but smile wryly.
"After all these years, you've finally come on your own. Actually, the Grand Master has been waiting for you all along. You two are both so stubborn; no wonder you're father and daughter." Uncle Liang sighed, then laughed excitedly, "Come on, let me take you inside to find the Grand Master."
"Oh, right, Uncle Liang, these are my children. This is the eldest son, Lu Ming, and the second son, Lu Mengmeng. As for Qingyan, you've probably met him before," Zhong Ying said, pointing to Lu Ming and Lu Mengmeng beside her.
"Uncle Liang," Lu Ming called out with a smile, and Lu Mengmeng followed suit.
"When Lu Ming and Mengmeng were little, Qingyan brought them here once or twice. I never imagined they would grow up so much now." Uncle Liang looked at Lu Ming and Lu Mengmeng and nodded with a kind smile.
Afterwards, Uncle Liang made some arrangements at the entrance, personally led the group of four into the " Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall," and then headed straight for the main courtyard.
Zhong Ying stared blankly at these familiar scenes from her memories, her eyes displaying a complex expression.
Uncle Liang held Zhong Ying's hand the whole way, chattering on and on. After a while, they arrived at the main hall of the courtyard.
"Miss, please wait a moment. I've already sent someone to inform the head chef. He'll come as soon as he hears you're back." Uncle Liang arranged for everyone to sit down in the main hall and personally served them tea.
Zhong Ying nodded slightly, but her tightly clenched fists betrayed her nervousness.
Uncle Liang noticed her nervousness, so he would chat with her from time to time, talking about her childhood to ease her anxiety.
After waiting for a while, a lot of footsteps suddenly came from outside the main hall. A moment later, a group of figures rushed into the hall. Lu Ming looked up and immediately saw the figure at the front.
He was a burly old man with a rugged face, a white beard, and a menacing gaze. He walked with the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger, exuding a powerful and domineering aura.
As soon as he appeared, his piercing gaze was like a torch directed at the female figure in the main hall. He immediately paused, and his usually strong and stern expression showed an unnatural stiffness at this moment.
At that moment, Zhong Ying looked up and met the old man's gaze.
The atmosphere in the main hall seemed to freeze for a moment.
However, it was Zhong Ying who finally broke the suffocating atmosphere by speaking softly, "Father."
This old man was none other than Lu Ming's maternal grandfather, Zhong Taiyue, the head of the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall.
Upon hearing Zhong Ying's call, Zhong Taiyue's expression became extremely complex. He moved his lips a few times, and finally nodded slowly, saying, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."
Many years have passed since those events, and the conflicts between father and daughter have long been diluted by time. However, they remain stubborn and unable to break the deadlock. But now, with Zhong Ying's shout, the feelings that come from their bloodline have quietly revived.
The atmosphere began to ease.
Zhong Taiyue's tiger-like eyes swept across the room, immediately settling on the boy and girl beside Zhong Ying. His eyes lit up, and he said, "These must be A-Ming and Mengmeng, right? They've grown up so much."
Zhong Taiyue clearly knew about Lu Ming, since he had sent gifts to Lu Ming every year since Lu Ming was born, and a long time ago, Lu Qingyan had also brought two children to the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall.
"Grandpa," Lu Ming called out respectfully.
Lu Mengmeng also called out in a clear, crisp voice.
"Haha, good boy."
Zhong Taiyue was clearly very interested in Lu Ming. He strode over and then extended his fan-like palm to Lu Ming.
The old man exuded a powerful aura, and having spent half his life in a domineering and tyrannical manner, every move he made was like that of a mountain king. Just the way he reached out his hand was like a tiger extending its claws. Even the most Great Divine Ability Practitioner would feel fear upon seeing him and would be frightened away.
But Lu Ming didn't even blink, calmly watching the large hand as it landed on his hair.
This kind of imposing aura clearly had no effect on Lu Ming. After all, this was a ruthless person who dared to smash True Qi Master to death when he saw him in distress. So it was obviously impossible to intimidate him with his aura.
Do you really think the Thunderfire Killing Prodigy for show?