Chapter 102: Cao Bin's Visit

Chapter 102: Cao Bin's Visit

At the Martial Academy, Jiang Ning had just finished his inventory.

Suddenly, he heard someone shouting outside.

"Jiang Senior Apprentice Brother! Jiang Senior Apprentice Brother!!"

Upon hearing this voice, Jiang Ning tidied up and walked out of the room, only to see the disciple who had been guarding the academy's entrance now standing in his courtyard.

The disciple, upon seeing Jiang Ning, promptly cupped his fists in a respectful gesture.

"Jiang Senior Apprentice Brother, a constable is outside the academy and asked me to deliver a message to you. A Constable Cao is currently visiting your brother's home, and I'm here to inform you to return home."

Constable Cao?

At the mention of these three words, Jiang Ning's gaze intensified, and his mind raced.

It's Cao Bin! What is he doing at my brother and sister-in-law's place?

These thoughts flashed through his mind, and then Jiang Ning said, "Thank you, Junior Apprentice Brother Yu, for the notification. I'll head back now."

As he exited the academy, he spotted a young man dressed in a constable's attire.

Is it him?

Jiang Ning suddenly remembered that when Constable Feng visited his home, this young man was by his side.

He had also heard his brother mention him; his name was Yang Zong.

Yang Zong, upon seeing Jiang Ning, promptly cupped his fists and said, "Jiang Ning, please come with me to the horse carriage! Constable Cao and Constable Feng should have already arrived at Brother Li's place, and they specifically asked me to invite you to come back!"

At this moment, Yang Zong was exceptionally polite.

When Constable Feng sent him, he had strictly instructed Yang Zong to be respectful towards Jiang Ning and not to offend him in any way.

Although Yang Zong didn't know the reason for this, he understood that Constable Feng must have had a valid reason for his emphasis.

"Alright!" Jiang Ning nodded and then said, "Thank you, Brother Yang!"

After that, the two of them boarded the horse carriage, and with Yang Zong's whip, the carriage set off.

Soon after.

In the outer city.

Jiang Ning arrived at a familiar alley and turned a corner, only to find himself in a familiar setting—a courtyard enclosed by a bamboo fence.

The courtyard gate was a wooden door, which was now wide open.

Through the voices coming from the front, Jiang Ning heard Constable Feng, who had visited earlier, and his brother's voice, along with another voice that carried a commanding presence.

Just from this voice, he could tell that the speaker was used to giving orders and held a position of authority.

"Cao Bin has indeed come!" Jiang Ning thought to himself.

He had met Cao Bin once before inside the academy and naturally remembered his voice.

Now, just from the sound of his voice, he knew that Cao Bin had arrived.

Jiang Ning quickened his pace, and Yang Zong hurriedly followed behind.

A moment later.

Jiang Ning appeared before the group.

In the courtyard, three people were seated under a grapevine, and among them was Cao Bin.

The moment Jiang Ning appeared, the two men stopped their conversation, and Cao Bin's gaze fell upon him.

He gave Jiang Ning a quick once-over, his mind racing.

The information was correct; this young man was indeed unharmed! It seems that Shen Congyun had left him something valuable, and with it, he managed to kill Hong Chengtao and Xu Yunfeng, escaping unscathed. Impressive!

Seeing this, even if I were to take action personally, it wouldn't be a guaranteed success.

Even an eighth-rank warrior might face unforeseen challenges.

There's no need to escalate the conflict further! If they can't be killed, it might backfire in the future.

It's better to ease the tension first. If they can turn enmity into friendship, that would be ideal.

If not, reducing their guard is still a positive outcome.

Hopefully, this young man is smart enough.

Cao Bin's thoughts reached this point, and he smiled, rising to greet Jiang Ning.

"Jiang Ning, it's been a while!"

Jiang Ning smiled and replied, "Greetings, Constable Cao and Constable Feng. I wonder what brings you both here today?"

Cao Bin smiled and said, "Jiang Ning, you've just arrived. Why don't you have some water to wet your throat before we talk?"

"Sure!" Jiang Ning smiled.

On his way here, he had been somewhat puzzled about Cao Bin's visit, but now, seeing Cao Bin's friendly demeanor, he understood the reason for the visit.

Cao Bin came today as a friend, not an enemy.

Jiang Ning sat next to his brother and took a sip of the cooling tea.

After sitting in the carriage for almost an hour in the afternoon, he was indeed a bit thirsty.

After putting down the cooling tea, before Jiang Ning could speak, Cao Bin said, "Jiang Ning, the reason for my visit today is simple. I hope to resolve this misunderstanding and turn enmity into friendship!"

After saying this, he gestured to the attendant beside him.

The attendant promptly took out a small red box from his sleeve and handed it to Cao Bin.

Cao Bin took the small red box and placed it on the stone table in front of Jiang Ning.

"This is a small token of appreciation. Please accept it, Jiang Ning."

Jiang Ning opened the box, and the contents inside emitted a bright golden glow under the speckled sunlight.

The item inside was a one-liang gold leaf.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning's eyes widened in surprise.

The accompanying Constable Feng, who had seen the gold leaf, was even more astonished, knowing Cao Bin's greedy nature from their years of working together.

Cao Bin had indeed come today as a friend, not an enemy.

Jiang Ning sat next to his brother and took a sip of the cooling tea.

After sitting in the carriage for almost an hour in the afternoon, he was indeed a bit thirsty.

After putting down the cooling tea, before Jiang Ning could speak, Cao Bin said, "Jiang Ning, the reason for my visit today is simple. I hope to resolve this misunderstanding and turn enmity into friendship!"

After saying this, he gestured to the attendant beside him.

The attendant promptly took out a small red box from his sleeve and handed it to Cao Bin.

Cao Bin took the small red box and placed it on the stone table in front of Jiang Ning.

"This is a small token of appreciation. Please accept it, Jiang Ning."

Jiang Ning opened the box, and the contents inside emitted a bright golden glow under the speckled sunlight.

The item inside was a one-liang gold leaf.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning's eyes widened in surprise.

The accompanying Constable Feng, who had seen the gold leaf, was even more astonished, knowing Cao Bin's greedy nature from their years of working together.

Cao Bin had indeed come today as a friend, not an enemy.

Jiang Ning sat next to his brother and took a sip of the cooling tea.

After sitting in the carriage for almost an hour in the afternoon, he was indeed a bit thirsty.

Today, however, he witnessed a gold leaf slip out of Cao Bin's hand.

"Could it be that the matter is true?" Jiang Li's heart pondered, "Could it be that Jiang Ning really killed Xu Yunfeng and the deputy leader of the Qingnian Gang, Hong Chengtao?"

"But how is this possible?"

"Hong Chengtao is at the Ninth Rank Minor Success of the Martial Dao, with a body refined like stone."

With a strength of seven to eight hundred jin, coupled with his perfected Iron Sand Palm and battle experience from countless fights, how could he fall at the hands of a mere youth?"

Inspector Feng found it hard to believe.

When he first heard this rumor, he dismissed it as nonsense.

But now, witnessing it with his own eyes, his heart wavered.

If not for this incident, why would Cao Bin call him over and prepare such a grand gift for Jiang Ning?

It was common knowledge that a single gold leaf weighed one liang and was worth a thousand liang of silver.

With their monthly salary of ten liang, it would take them nearly a decade to earn that much.

At this moment, Jiang Ning noticed the gold leaf in the small red box.

His face immediately showed hesitation, "Inspector Cao, what does this mean?"

Cao Bin smiled, "This is just a small token of my appreciation and also a belated apology gift."

"There was a misunderstanding before, and I almost arrested Jiang Ning."

"These days, I've been restless day and night!"

"I originally wanted to visit a few days ago, but I heard that Jiang Ning had left the city. Only today did I learn that he had returned, so I came to visit!"

"Also, there's another matter for which I need to apologize to you!"

After saying this, Cao Bin sat on the chair and slightly bowed to Jiang Ning.

He continued, "Because Xu Yunfeng's investigation was incorrect, I punished him, allowing him to remove his inspector's uniform and be removed from the official register, becoming a commoner!"

"I didn't expect Xu Yunfeng to agree on the surface but harbor hatred for you behind your back. He followed you out of the city with the intention of harming you, but fortunately, you have extraordinary luck, and you've returned safely."

To express his apology, Cao Bin wanted to show Jiang Ning something.

After saying this, Cao Bin signaled to his follower with his eyes.

His follower quickly left.

After just over ten breaths, Cao Bin's follower returned, holding a cloth bag.

Then, Cao Bin's follower placed the cloth bag on the stone table in front of Jiang Ning. As the black cloth was untied, the box hidden within was revealed to everyone.

At this moment, Jiang Ning also smelled a strong bloody odor.

"What's inside?" Jiang Ning frowned.

Cao Bin smiled, "You'll know once you open it, Jiang Ning."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning slid open the lid of the wooden box. As the lid was pulled back, an old woman's head appeared before them, her head covered in withered silver hair.

At the same time, a strong bloody smell filled the air.

Jiang Ning's eyebrows furrowed again, "What does this mean?"

Cao Bin smiled slightly, "This is Xu Yunfeng's blind old mother, and she's his only relative in the world! Since Xu Yunfeng did this, intending to harm you, his mother must have failed in teaching him, and she deserves this fate!"

Then, Cao Bin looked at Jiang Ning, "I wonder if Jiang Ning is satisfied with these two gifts?"

Jiang Ning's gaze met his.

After a moment, Jiang Ning slowly closed the box containing Xu Yunfeng's old mother.

"Inspector Cao, you may leave now!"

"Alright!" Cao Bin smiled and then said, "I'll keep these two gifts!"

Jiang Ning nodded.

Seeing Jiang Ning's reaction, Cao Bin smiled and stood up to leave.

Inspector Feng also stood up and bowed to Jiang Ning and Jiang Li, "I'll take my leave as well!"

Jiang Li said, "Take care, Inspector Feng!"

A moment later, the entire courtyard was left with only Jiang Ning and Jiang Li.

"Little brother, did you really kill Xu Yunfeng?" Jiang Li asked.

"Mhm!" Jiang Ning nodded, "I suddenly disappeared a few days ago because I sensed that Xu Yunfeng and the others were following me. I left the city to find them a good burial site!"

"Little brother, this truly surprises me!" Jiang Li sighed.

Then, he pointed at the two items on the table.

"Little brother, what should we do with these?"

Jiang Ning said, "Big brother, I'll take them both!"

Jiang Ning sighed, "No harm to family! Let's give Xu Yunfeng's old mother a proper burial!"

Jiang Li nodded, "Little brother is right, no harm to family. I'll arrange a burial for Xu Yunfeng's old mother, big brother will take care of it!"

"Alright!" Jiang Ning nodded and then said, "Then I'll trouble you, big brother!"

Jiang Li smiled, "Now, big brother's right hand is useless, and his abilities are limited. He can't help you much, so it's better for me to handle these small matters. Your time is more valuable and shouldn't be wasted on such trivial things."

Then, he took the small box containing the gold leaf and closed it, placing it in Jiang Ning's hand.

"Little brother, keep this well! It's worth a thousand liang of silver, and it will greatly help your martial arts training! I have enough money now!"

"Alright!" Jiang Ning nodded.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end