No one spoke anymore.
Their silence ant they acquiesced.
Thus the process continued.
There wasn't much left to discuss after that.
It was mainly about signing various agreents.
For example:
[All comrcial profits from the Special Economic Zone shall not be taxed by the other country, but only by the Great Han]
[No taxes on imports or exports]
[Permission for citizens eting Great Han's approval criteria to reside and establish consulates]
[The Great Han possesses complete control over the Special Economic Zone, including but not limited to stationing troops..........]
As he read through the extensive list, Lu Ding found it increasingly familiar...
Where had he heard this before?
So hard to rember, where exactly?
Forget it, no point thinking about it. Just smile.
Lu Ding leaned back in his chair, a gradual smile appearing on his face.
Rising startled from death's door, only to find we're the imperialist power ourselves...
Mountains and rivers adrift like willow down, while the Jing Dynasty cedes territory, we acquire land...
Withered vines, ancient trees, twilight crows, carrying reparations ho...
Stopping the carriage to admire the maple woods at dusk, Great Han's affairs are none of your concern...
At this mont, Lu Ding's mood could be sumd up in two words: absolutely satisfying!!!
...
After most matters were roughly settled.
Lu Ding walked out of the hall.
Stretching toward the setting sun.
A series of popping cracks echoed like firecrackers.
It was ti to return to Yunhai.
He had eaten, drunk, and demanded what he wanted.
Nothing interesting left here—ti to go back and wait for the expedited 'compensation' to arrive so he could begin cultivating.
This ti, multiple countries would be compensating him simultaneously.
Lu Ding estimated he might be able to breakthrough directly to the Five Decays of Heaven-Man realm.
Perfect opportunity to test whether Heaven-Man Unity could eliminate the side effects of the Five Decays.
Just as he prepared to take flight.
Deputy Director Lü hurried over and called out: "Lu Ding."
Approaching closely.
He heard him say: "The Rabbit Head's restoration is nearly complete, should be finished soon. Originally we planned to send soone to deliver it, but given today's developnts."
"How about you carry it up yourself? What do you think?"
"Sure thing, boss. Delivering it personally would add more emotional weight—might even catch so big shot's attention and get taken as a disciple."
Lu Ding said with a laugh.
Deputy Director Lü bumped his shoulder: "Damn it, what nonsense are you thinking? Our 749 Bureau doesn't work that way. Besides, the person who wanted to take you as disciple has already gone up."
Hearing this.
Lu Ding looked surprised: "The Crooked-Mouth Old Man has influence up there too?"
Deputy Director Lü nodded emphatically, shaking his thumb as he said: "He's absolutely formidable up there!"
"Don't know the specifics, but when your Crooked-Mouth Old Man arrived, the mont he got there—eerie winds sprang up, strange phenona erged one after another: shadowy mountains, hell realms, ghost gates, the Yellow Spring, the River of Forgetfulness, the Nostalgia Platform."
"Yin soldiers cleared the path, Yin generals paid homage, and a massive palanquin that blotted out the sky carried your Crooked-Mouth Old Man away."
Well then.
Crooked-Mouth Old Man, you've been hiding your capabilities deep!!!
Lu Ding instinctively asked: "Where did they take him?"
"Damn it, I don't know! I want to ask too!"
No matter, probably not a big issue.
With such grand spectacle and being carried in a palanquin, he should be fine.
Lu Ding felt happy for the Crooked-Mouth Old Man too.
"Thanks, boss. I understand. Should I get going now?"
"Damn it, what's the hurry? Wait, let tell you—Director ng is busy and can't get away. His aning is, since you've accomplished such great deeds for the Great Han this ti and secured so much additional benefits, so..."
"Stop, stop, stop, boss."
Lu Ding quickly interrupted Deputy Director Lü: "I've already received plenty—tens of thousands of contribution points back and forth, this and that, plus Tai Island and Wei Gao still owe compensation."
"I'll take what I should take, but won't take what I shouldn't. I just have one small request."
Deputy Director Lü raised his eyes with a frown, looked at him, lowered his gaze, then looked up again: "Tell ."
Lu Ding smiled: "Improve Yunhai 749's benefits package."
"Damn it, improve, improve, I'll improve them straight to heaven!!!"
Lü Ao laughed and cursed. After they chatted for a while longer.
Lu Ding soared into the air and left.
Returning to Yunhai.
To wait for the compensations from various nations to arrive.
In the anti, he would visit Elder Deng with Bai Hen to chat and talk.
If they didn't talk now, who knew how long it would be until they t again.
They didn't leave Elder Deng's courtyard until deep night.
On the way back.
Bai Hen said: "Last ti we talked about spending New Year's with Elder Deng. Looks like that won't be possible now."
Lu Ding thought for a mont.
"Not necessarily impossible."
Bai Hen looked puzzled: "Huh? But I thought those who go up can't return casually?"
This was the rule—not easily changed unless for sothing extrely important, exceptionally crucial matters.
Lu Ding smiled: "So the pressure's on you now. Elder Deng is at Heavenly Perception ninth level—he can go up whenever he wants."
"There's still ti before New Year's anyway. Use this ti to charge straight ahead and break through to Heavenly Perception, isn't that perfect?"
Bai Hen:.......
He felt Lu Ding made it sound so effortless.
Talking about reaching Heavenly Perception like it was going to the bathroom........
Was it really sothing you could achieve so casually?
But then he reconsidered.
Elder Deng had sufficient cultivation to ascend, and Lu Ding would be going up soon.
That left only him. If he wanted to celebrate New Year's together.
Then he'd have to reach Heavenly Perception ninth level before New Year's....
No!!!
Not necessarily!!
If he could be like Lu Ding, beating surrounding nations into submission... then maybe he wouldn't need Heavenly Perception ninth level to ascend.
At this mont, Bai Hen rembered when he and Lu Ding had been recomnded by the three districts together.
Back then, even if there was a gap between them, it wasn't particularly large.
Not like now, where it felt like an insurmountable chasm.
Bai Hen didn't aspire to catch up to Lu Ding.
Just being able to keep pace and not fall too far behind would satisfy him!
At the very least, they should have a proper New Year's celebration!
Grandma said New Year's was the most important festival.
After a long silence, Bai Hen quietly resolved: "I'll give it a try."
At worst, he'd just break through to Heavenly Perception!
After saying this, Bai Hen walked wordlessly into the darkness.
Lu Ding stopped and watched his retreating figure.
"Not even saying goodbye?"
Bai Hen waved without looking back: "It's 'see you later'."
He still rembered what Lu Ding had said long ago.
"Goodbye" was a flag—bad luck. You should say "see you later".
Lu Ding also rembered belatedly.
Waving back: "See you later."
This was their last eting.
Next ti...
Their reunion would be in the Second Circle.
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