Their back-and-forth banter resembled a poorly performed comedy duo act.
Yet it successfully drew the attention of many in the hall.
Just as a war of words was about to erupt in the auditorium...
The main doors swung open.
Gong Cang entered first, leading the way.
"Mr. Clark, please come in."
Instantly, all eyes turned toward them.
Taking in Lu Ding's youthful face.
The young masters and ladies of Tianxing Group present immediately felt their hearts leap into their throats.
"He looks so young, could he be another bloodline candidate?" Follow current novels on NovєlFіre.net
"Why? Gong Cang... Head Butler Gong never treated us with such respect before."
"Fuck it, if this guy really is a bloodline candidate, he'll become one of our strongest competitors."
All considerations of expression, aura, or clothing became meaningless in the eyes of these newly-minted young masters and ladies.
They only noticed one thing:
Gong Cang's attitude was far too submissive.
Like a proper butler serving his true master.
Only those among them who were already established bloodline heirs maintained enough composure to analyze Lu Ding calmly.
"He can't possibly be a bloodline candidate. That attitude and gait don't suggest someone coming to compete for heir status—more like someone here to wreck the place. Too arrogant."
"Right, and his eyes—though seemingly calm, if you look closely, they're full of disdain."
"If he were a bloodline heir, given Head Butler Gong's attitude, he wouldn't even glance at those trash candidates because they wouldn't be on the same starting line to begin with."
"Kim Yeon-ju, what do you think?"
Someone asked Kim Yeon-ju.
Kim Yeon-ju shook her head: "I don't know."
Her gaze remained fixed on Kim Gyeong-joo walking between Lu Ding and An Wuyang.
That face... looked so much like Mother's.
And at this age, combined with the information she'd accidentally learned from her mother before.
Plus the fact that her "aunt" had a daughter who'd never appeared.
All the pieces came together.
Kim Yeon-ju was 99% certain—this girl before her was her "aunt's" daughter.
Her half-sister and cousin at the same time.
Kim Yeon-ju's mind raced through possibilities.
Given Tianxing Group's operational style, they wouldn't have brought her back prematurely.
And based on what she knew from her mother.
This "cousin" of hers couldn't possibly have existing faction support.
Because her mother had suffered severe internal injuries.
Moreover, one thing was certain—this "cousin's" mother would never attach herself to another man, because Tianxing Group's leadership would never allow it.
Yet today she entered the hall in this manner, accompanied by these people.
Even managing to make Gong Cang, Tianxing Group's head butler, treat her with such deference.
There could only be one explanation!
Kim Yeon-ju's eyes locked onto Lu Ding.
It must be because of him!
Watching Lu Ding pass by, momentarily blocking the light from the windows.
Kim Yeon-ju's eyes flickered between light and shadow.
An idea took root in her heart.
But it needed verification before fully sprouting.
Lu Ding walked straight to the front.
After scanning the auditorium seating, he asked Gong Cang: "Where's her seat?"
Gong Cang smiled gently at Kim Gyeong-joo.
"Where do you think she should sit?"
Lu Ding raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
Spiritual Energy materialized a golden throne, firmly positioned ahead of all other seats yet distinct from theirs.
Not facing the hall's golden-jade inlaid round table with its back to the entrance.
But directly facing everyone.
"I think she should sit here."
With that, Lu Ding gestured to the seat.
Kim Gyeong-joo steadied her emotions and stepped forward.
The moment she sat down—
Her previously anxious eyes transformed instantly!
Before sitting, it was just a chair. After sitting, it became a symbol of status and power.
It could make the insecure confident, the cowardly brave.
Only at this moment did everyone realize:
Lu Ding wasn't the bloodline candidate.
The real candidate was this seemingly ordinary girl.
Immediately, a young man from the front row stood and shouted: "What qualifies her to sit there?!"
Lu Ding pressed Kim Gyeong-joo's shoulder, keeping her seated.
His gaze shifted and locked onto the speaker.
Noticing the nameplate before him:
"Are you speaking to me?"
Kim Suk from the second row stiffened but persisted: "You could take it that way, but I'm mainly questioning her!!"
"What's her strength? Background? Reputation? Why does she get to sit above all of us!"
His eyes swept across the gathered bloodline heirs.
"Everyone here today is a bloodline heir. I won't claim to know them all, but I recognize most by name, and those I don't know, I've at least seen before."
"But I've never seen her—meaning she hasn't undergone bloodline verification or return procedures."
"Even if she has returned, her seating should be determined by strength, reputation, achievements, contributions, talent—not immediately elevated above us all!"
Reasonable. Procedural. Almost convincing.
Lu Ding hadn't come today to reason with these people.
Though unsure of Lu Ding's intent, Gong Cang shook his head.
Lu Ding asked again: "Is he an heir?"
Gong Cang shook his head once more.
Kim Suk couldn't help interjecting: "Even if I'm not top ten or an heir—"
With one look from Lu Ding.
An overwhelming aura erupted.
Kim Suk exploded in his seat, blood splattering across his neighbors.
Pulverized uniformly.
The auditorium fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.
No one had expected Lu Ding to act so decisively—killing a Tianxing Group member in their grand hall!
And a bloodline candidate at that!!!
Amid the deathly silence, Lu Ding's voice rang out:
"Not top ten, not an heir—how dare such defective goods question me?"
Turning to Gong Cang: "Won't you thank me for disposing of a resource-wasting defective product for Tianxing Group?"
Gong Cang wiped the blood splattered on his face.
He could have dodged.
But that might have offended the man before him.
His expression remained unchanged: "Thank you for disposing of a resource-wasting defective bloodline product for Tianxing Group."