Chapter 457: A Brawl

Ding Laji communicated with Lei En on the way to Rock Lion City.

If unnecessary, there is no need to let the Dans family know Lei En's identity; Ding Laji's purpose on this trip is to persuade, and Lei En's task is to protect his safety.

"Koste, they are my friends," Ding Laji introduced casually: "Lei En, Boleqi."

While questioning, Koste kept watching Lei En, completely ignoring Boleqi beside him, until Ding Laji pointed at Boleqi, prompting him to notice Boleqi's presence.

Lion‑heart knights are innately intuitive about danger; after Boleqi assumed human form, the dragon's aura was fully restrained, and ordinary detection spells could not see through his transformation, yet Koste still sensed some danger—Boleqi is far from an ordinary transcendent.

Both of them are at least legends!

Koste saw Lei En and Boleqi salute him; outwardly he responded calmly, maintaining aristocratic bearing, but inwardly he grew wary.

"Welcome, both, as guests to Rock Lion City," Koste said with a smile, shifting his gaze to his younger brother and asking concernedly: "Ding Laji, where have you been all these years, why have we heard nothing?"

He was also curious how Ding Laji came to know these two powerful transcedents.

When Ding Laji was expelled from the family, Koste saw him off in secret, promising to keep in touch, but after only a few months Ding Laji's whereabouts were lost; they sent people throughout Kangjiatuo but found nothing, assuming an accident or foul play, nearly causing a rift with his father. Over the years the pain softened, and the tension between father and son gradually eased.

"I left Kangjiatuo and followed Her Majesty Ai Milisi," Ding Laji replied bluntly.

Koste was stunned before realizing that Her Majesty Ai Milisi is the Dragonborn.

His face instantly filled with astonishment.

The events that occurred a few days earlier in Barosuke City have already spread throughout Kangjiatuo; the Dragonborn's return, Duke Feishe's declaration of allegiance, were the talk of the kingdom, shocking everyone.

Koste had discussed the family's direction with his father several times, without conclusion or clear insight into his father's thoughts, yet he never expected Ding Laji to have long followed the Dragonborn, apparently holding a high position.

He scanned Lei En and Boleqi again, guessing they too must be followers of the Dragonborn.

"You pledged allegiance to the Dragonborn?" Koste's expression turned sour.

Lei En's soul eye noted his soul's color shifting rapidly, his emotions fluctuating intensely; it seemed odd—this duke's son's reaction was overly extreme, beyond normal bounds, as if faced with a great upheaval.

"Yes," Ding Laji frowned, surprised: "You didn't know?"

During the Haitoke incident, that leaker had already sold information about Her Majesty the Queen to the Dans family, certainly including intel on himself, Valorgen and Atans, as well as the centaur and Dragonstone mercenary forces—every faction present in Haitoke.

Unexpectedly, Koste was bewildered, asking, "How could I know?"

Ding Laji immediately understood what was happening.

"All these years, my father hasn't changed a bit," he sneered, "Where is he? I want to see him now."

Koste glanced back at the castle, his expression hesitant.

"Brother, you needn't worry about me," Ding Laji felt a warmth inside, continuing: "I'm no longer the dwarf who was bullied back then; he can't harm me. On the contrary, my return to Rock Lion City has a purpose, a chance for the family's redemption."

For the third time, Koste scanned Lei En and Boleqi without expression, thought for a few seconds, then nodded: "Follow me."

He led the way, and the three of Ding Laji followed.

The Dans family's castle is called Golden Castle; upon entering, a massive, opulent fortress unfolds before the eyes—vast in size and grand in scale, rock‑carved structures rise from the ground, forming a main keep, towers, and long corridors. Every wall and pillar is gilded, surrounded by beautiful gardens and fountains, with expensive crystal chandeliers everywhere, lighting the castle like daylight, resplendent as a lavish palace.

Within the castle, there is a guard post every five steps and a sentry every ten; all the soldiers are Lion‑heart knights.

Koste walked down the castle's long corridor; a group of maids in plain long robes approached, quickly stepping aside and greeting in unison.

"Leader, sir!"

Koste gave a slight nod in response.

Lei En noticed that every maid was a youthful maiden; they stole glances at Koste, admiration almost spilling from their eyes, showing his standing and popularity within the family.

By contrast, Ding Laji was barely a leaf beside Koste; two or three maids cast curious looks, seeing him as a dwarf with an ugly face, all showing disgust.

Ding Laji, full of envy, sighed, "Still the same old way."

Koste shook his head helplessly.

Lei En, following behind, could better perceive the brothers' disparity: one tall and handsome, immensely powerful—a genius among geniomes; the other born with a deformed, ugly face, also a transcendent but a demon sorcerer people dread.

Such a gulf, like a celestial chasm, makes it hard to believe they are blood brothers.

Against this stark contrast, Ding Laji's upbringing is truly worrisome; that he grew up at all without falling into the Abyss is already a miracle.

Lei En upheld his guard duty silently, but noticed Boleqi looking around eagerly, countless gold pieces flashing before his eyes, almost making him salivate.

"Mind your image."

Lei En had to warn him again.

Boleqi felt a pain in his head, craned his neck, muttered a few incoherent words, but dared not resist.

Soon after, Koste led his men through the golden corridor into the main keep, ascended to the second floor, and sat in a luxurious reception hall where maids promptly served tea and delicate pastries.

"I've already sent word to my father; he'll arrive shortly," Koste said.

Ding Laji relaxed, plopped onto the sofa, grabbed a pastry and popped it into his mouth, showing no sign of being a guest.

Lei En and Boleqi stood behind him, like true guards.

Koste chatted casually with Ding Laji, inquiring about his brother's years of experiences, while intermittently observing the two behind Ding Laji, especially Lei En, whose striking appearance and deep aura exuded a mysterious charm that beckoned exploration.

He repeatedly tried to steer the conversation toward the two, but Ding Laji always subtly shifted away.

After waiting fifteen minutes in the reception hall, Duke Dans had not yet appeared.

"Where is he?" Ding Laji tossed the pastry aside, his face composed, and asked, "Does he dare not come to see me, or is he deliberately leaving us here, testing our patience?"

Koste was slightly embarrassed, "My father may be delayed by something..."

"Hmph!"

Ding Laji suppressed his anger, "I'm not here for personal matters today; I represent Queen Ai Milisi of Zhuogeng Fortress, negotiating with the Dans family. Five minutes—if I don't see Duke Dans after another five, I will bear the consequences myself."

"What a bold claim!"

A woman's voice rang out, and a slender noble lady entered from outside the hall; she bore radiant golden hair coiled atop her head, wore an ornate robe, flawless complexion, strikingly beautiful features with a hint of pride, a graceful figure, an aristocratic aura impossible to describe, unforgettable at first sight.

However, her expression was displeased, her gaze at Ding Laji filled with contempt, she sneered, "I wondered who it was, only to find it's you, the bastard, back again, daring to speak wildly to my father."

Ding Laji sprang to his feet, glaring angrily.

"Lin Na Dans, if you utter that word again, I will make you regret it," he snarled, his face twisted like a predatory beast, becoming even uglier.

Lin Na Dans stared at Ding Laji, her expression icy, as if she were looking not at her brother but at a disgusting monster.

She didn't hesitate and cursed again, "You wild…".

As soon as the word left his mouth, Dinglaji acted; his pupils turned pitch‑black, filled with evil aura, his short body swelled like a balloon, curved twin horns sprouted on his forehead, and a pair of bat‑shaped demonic wings unfolded from his back.

Demon possession!

Dinglaji instantly grew over two meters tall; the Demon aura blew the nearby chair apart, his massive body turned into a black silhouette that rushed at Lina*Dens, and he raised his hand to hurl a Shadow Magic.

Lina is also a Lion‑Heart Knight, but her talent is far inferior to her older brother Kost, and even with massive resources she only reached a High‑rank Knight; she spends all her mind on preserving youth, so her strength is unremarkable. Confronted with Dinglaji's outburst, she was at a loss.

"Stop!"

At the instant Dinglaji moved, Kost sensed it, his figure turned into golden light shielding Lina, and he erected a golden‑hued energy wall.

Dinglaji's Shadow Magic struck the wall; the barrier was as solid as rock, easily nullifying the energy erosion.

Kost let out a sigh of relief.

He had already gauged Dinglaji's strength; after years apart he had improved a lot, yet still far behind his own progress. A high‑rank Demon sorcerer trying to breach his Golden Lion Force Wall was absolutely impossible.

Not even Dinglaji who hasn't reached Legend, let alone a Legend‑tier or even Mid-stage, could likely pierce this defense.

Enraged, Dinglaji charged to the front of the wall.

At this moment he was possessed by a Horned Demon, gripping a rust‑stained triangular iron fork, he frantically assaulted the golden wall; the fork struck the wall, scattering sparks, yet the barrier remained unmoved, and Kost made no counter‑attack, simply standing and letting him strike.

Lina, protected behind the wall, was startled and only then regained her senses.

She realized she was unharmed, felt proud, a faint victorious smile lifted her lips, and she said to Dinglaji, "You really should look at yourself now—you're even more disgusting than before, no progress at all, and you still have the nerve to come back? A wild spawn is a wild spawn, never changing!"

Dinglaji, provoked, grew angrier, and a roar from the Abyss issued from his mouth.

Yet the gap in power between him and Kost was enormous.

This feeling of helplessness and pain, combined with Lina's insults, reminded him of the countless humiliations he suffered here years ago; instantly his black eyes leaked blood, a black mist seeped from his body, and his form began to change.

"He's about to lose control."

Kost sensed something amiss, was about to act to subdue Dinglaji, when his mind stalled, his perception briefly scrambled, his soul power halted, and the Golden Lion Force Field vanished instantly.

"Damn!" Kost shouted, sensing trouble.

Dinglaji regained a sliver of reason; instead of continuing to attack Kost, he seized the chance to circle behind his opponent, brandishing the iron fork toward the Lina hiding there.

Kost's soul power quivered, his blood qi was disrupted and back‑fired, leaving him to watch helplessly as Lina was struck by the iron fork.

Bang!

"Ah…" Lina let out a shrill scream; a golden shield materialized around her, blocking the lethal blow.

But it only blocked that one strike; after the shield took effect it shattered.

"Die!"

Dinglaji shouted wildly, swinging the iron fork at Lina's chest, certain to land, but at the last moment Lina's figure vanished, reappearing in another corner of the living room, terror on her face, and she bolted out the door to flee.

"You're doomed to die today!" Dinglaji vibrated his demonic wings, black flames blazing on his body, and surged forward.

He had only taken two steps when Kost stepped in front again, already drawing his longsword, and shouted, "Dinglaji, stop right now!"

Yet Dinglaji paid him no heed, not even glancing at him.

Kost raised his sword, sensing danger beside him; a flash of his peripheral vision caught a lightning‑crackling war hammer flying toward him, thrown by that young man. He reacted like lightning, swung his longsword with triple force, trying to knock the hammer to the ground.

Clang!

With a booming crack, the hammer not only failed to hit the ground, but a terrifying recoil surged through Kost's hand, accompanied by a violent electric shock that nearly made him lose grip on his sword and stumble.

"What a terrifying power!"

Kost saw the nick on his blade, his heart ached, and he was also shocked by the hammer's force. The hammer, after being struck once, only tilted slightly, then a bolt of lightning yanked it back into the opponent's hand, as if it were a trivial matter.

Dinglaji seized the opportunity and rushed out of the living room.

Outside came his wild roar and Lina's scream, "Golden Lion Corps, kill him! Kill this wild spawn!"

Kost's face darkened; as he tried to chase out, he realized Lei En had locked onto him.

"You'd better stay here."

Lei En gave a cool warning, then turned and said, "Boleqi, go out and protect Dinglaji; don't let him die, but also don't let him kill that woman—just give her a lesson."

Boleqi murmured assent, his body instantly shifting into radiant light‑forged holy armor, brandishing a two‑handed greatsword as he sprinted out.

(End of Chapter)