https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-101-A-New-Perspective-After-Three-Days/13021771/
Chapter 102: Cao Bin's Visit
Chapter 102: Cao Bin's Visit
At the martial arts academy, Jiang Ning had just finished his inventory count when he heard someone shouting from outside.
"Brother Jiang! Brother Jiang!"
Upon hearing this voice, Jiang Ning tidied up and stepped 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, immediately clasped his hands in a respectful gesture.
"Brother Jiang, there's a patrolman outside the academy who asked me to deliver a message to you. A Captain Cao is currently visiting your elder brother's home, and I'm here to inform you to return home."
Captain Cao? Jiang Ning's eyes narrowed at the mention of those three words, his mind racing with thoughts.
It's Cao Bin! What's he doing at my brother's house?
These thoughts flashed through his mind, and then Jiang Ning spoke, "Thank you, Brother Yu, for the notification. I'll head back now."
As he stepped out of the academy, he spotted a young man dressed in a patrolman's uniform.
Is that him?
Jiang Ning instantly recalled that when Captain Feng had 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, immediately bowed respectfully, "Brother Jiang Ning, please accompany me to the carriage! Captain Cao and Captain Feng should both be at Brother Li's residence, and I was specifically sent to invite you back!"
At this moment, Yang Zong was exceptionally polite.
When Captain Feng had sent him earlier, he had sternly instructed him to be respectful towards Jiang Ning and not to offend him in any way.
Although he didn't know the reason for this, he understood that Captain Feng's serious instructions must have had a purpose.
"Alright!" Jiang Ning nodded and then said, "Thank you, Brother Yang."
After that, the two of them boarded the carriage, and under Yang Zong's whip, the carriage sped towards the outer city.
Not long after.
Outer City.
Jiang Ning arrived at a familiar alley and, upon turning the corner, he saw a familiar scene—a courtyard enclosed by a hedge.
The courtyard's main gate was a wooden door, now wide open.
Through the voices coming from the front, Jiang Ning heard the voices of Captain Feng, who had visited earlier, and his own brother, as well as another voice that carried a sense of authority.
Judging by this voice, it was clear that the person was accustomed to giving orders and held a position of power.
"So, Cao Bin has indeed come!" Jiang Ning thought to himself.
The last time they met at the academy, he had briefly encountered Cao Bin, so he naturally remembered his voice.
Now, just from the sound of his voice, Jiang Ning knew that Cao Bin had arrived.
He quickened his pace, and Yang Zong hurriedly followed behind.
A moment later.
Jiang Ning appeared before the group.
In the courtyard, three people were sitting under a grapevine, and Cao Bin was conversing with Captain Feng at that moment.
When they saw Jiang Ning, the two of them immediately stopped their conversation, and Cao Bin's gaze fell upon Jiang Ning.
He scrutinized him from head to toe, his mind racing with thoughts.
The intelligence was accurate; this young man was indeed unharmed! It seems that Shen Congyun had indeed left him a valuable gift before leaving, allowing him to kill Hong Chengtao and Xu Yunfeng's group and escape unscathed. Impressive!
Now it seems that even if I personally intervened, it wouldn't be a guaranteed success.
Even an eighth-rank martial artist might face the risk of an unexpected defeat.
There's no need to escalate the conflict further! If they can't be killed, they might become a future threat.
Let's try to ease the tension first. If we can turn enmity into friendship, that would be a good thing.
If not, at least lowering their guard wouldn't be a bad outcome.
I hope this young man is smart enough.
Cao Bin's thoughts reached this point, and he smiled, rising to greet them.
"Little Brother Jiang Ning, it's been a while!"
Jiang Ning also smiled, "Greetings to Captain Cao and Captain Feng. I wonder what brings you both here today?"
Cao Bin smiled, "Little Brother Jiang Ning has just returned, let's have some water to moisten our throats before we talk."
"Alright!" Jiang Ning smiled.
On his way here, he had been somewhat puzzled about Captain Cao's visit, but now, seeing Captain Cao in person and witnessing his goodwill, he had a rough idea.
Cao Bin's visit today was one of friendship, not hostility.
Jiang Ning sat beside his brother and picked up a cup of cold tea, taking a few sips.
After sitting in the carriage for nearly an hour in the afternoon, he was indeed thirsty.
After putting down the cup of cold tea, before Jiang Ning could speak, Cao Bin said, "Little Brother Jiang Ning, my visit today is simple. I hope to resolve this misunderstanding and turn enmity into friendship!"
After saying this, he gestured to the attendant by his side.
The attendant immediately took out a small red box from his sleeve and handed it to Cao Bin.
Cao Bin accepted 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, Little Brother Jiang Ning."
Jiang Ning opened the small red box in front of him, and instantly, the box emitted a bright golden light with speckled patterns.
Inside the box was a gold leaf, a one-tael gold leaf.
Upon seeing this gold leaf, Jiang Ning's face showed surprise.
Captain Feng, who had accompanied Cao Bin, was even more shocked to see the gold leaf.
Having worked with Cao Bin for many years, he knew that Cao Bin was extremely greedy for money.
But today, he saw a gold leaf in Cao Bin's hands.
"Could it be that the incident is true?" Feng Buchou thought to himself, "Could it be that Jiang Ning really killed Xu Yunfeng and the Deputy Head of the Green Serpent Gang, Hong Chengtao?"
"But how is that possible?"
"Hong Chengtao is a Minor Ninth Stage Martial Artist, an existence with Condensed Stone Skin."
"With a strength of seven to eight hundred jin, coupled with his perfected Iron Sand Palm and his battle experience from countless fights, how could he fall at the hands of a mere child?"
Feng Buchou found it hard to believe.
When he had heard this rumor before, he had dismissed it as nonsense.
But now, witnessing it with his own eyes, his heart wavered.
If it weren't for this matter, why would Cao Bin call on him and even prepare such a generous gift for Jiang Ning?
One must know that each of these gold leaves weighs a tael, and they are worth a thousand taels of silver.
It would take nearly ten years of their patrolmen's monthly salary of ten taels to afford this.
At this moment, Jiang Ning saw the gold leaves in the small red box.
His face immediately showed hesitation: "Captain Cao, what does this mean?"
Cao Bin smiled and said, "This is just a small token of my appreciation, as well as a late apology gift."
"There was a misunderstanding before, and I almost arrested Jiang Ning."
"These past few days have been restless!"
"I wanted to visit earlier, but I heard that Jiang Ning had left the city. It wasn't until today that I learned of his return, so I came to visit!"
"Also, there's another matter I need to apologize to you for!"
After saying this, Cao Bin sat in a chair and slightly bowed to Jiang Ning.
Then he continued, "Because Xu Yunfeng's investigation was incorrect, I punished him by making him take off his patrolman's uniform and removing him from the government register, reducing him to a commoner!"
"I didn't expect Xu Yunfeng to pretend to comply but secretly harbor hatred towards you. He followed you out of the city with the intention to harm you, but fortunately, your luck is extraordinary, and you've returned safely."
"To express my apology, I have one more thing for you to see."
After saying this, Cao Bin signaled to his follower.
His follower quickly left.
After just over ten breaths, Cao Bin's follower reappeared, 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, a box wrapped in it appeared before them.
At this moment, Jiang Ning also smelled a strong bloody scent.
"What's inside?" Jiang Ning frowned.
Cao Bin smiled, "You'll know when you open it, Jiang Ning!"
Hearing this, Jiang Ning slid open the lid of the wooden box. As the lid was opened, a head suddenly appeared before them, its scalp covered in withered silver hair.
At the same time, a strong bloody smell wafted out.
Jiang Ning frowned again and looked at Cao Bin, "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 failed to teach him properly. I should have her buried!"
Cao Bin looked at Jiang Ning with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, "I wonder if Jiang Ning is satisfied with these two gifts?"
Jiang Ning's gaze remained calm as he looked back at Cao Bin.
After a moment, Jiang Ning slowly closed the box containing Xu Yunfeng's old mother.
"Captain Cao, you may leave now!"
"Good!" Cao Bin smiled and then said, "I'll keep these two gifts, then!"
Jiang Ning nodded.
Seeing this, Cao Bin smiled and stood up to leave.
Feng Buchou also stood up and bowed to Jiang Ning and Jiang Li, "I'll be taking my leave as well!"
Jiang Li said, "Take care, Captain Feng!"
After a moment, the entire courtyard was left with only Jiang Ning and Jiang Li.
"Younger Brother, did you really kill Xu Yunfeng?" Jiang Li asked.
"Yes!" Jiang Ning nodded, "I suddenly disappeared those days because I sensed that Xu Yunfeng and the others were following me. I lured them out of the city and found them a good burial site."
"Younger Brother, this truly shocks me!" Jiang Li sighed.
Then he pointed to the two items on the table.
"Younger Brother, what should we do with these?"
Jiang Ning said, "Older Brother, I'll take them."
Jiang Li sighed, "No harm to family! Let's bury Xu Yunfeng's old mother properly!"
Jiang Ning nodded, "I'll take care of it! I'll arrange a burial site for Xu Yunfeng's old mother!"
"Good!" Jiang Ning nodded and then said, "I'll trouble you with this, Older Brother!"
Jiang Li smiled, "Now that my right hand is disabled, my abilities are limited. I can't help Younger Brother much, but I can handle this small matter. Younger Brother's time is more valuable and shouldn't be wasted on such trivialities."
Then he took the small red box containing the gold leaves, closed it, and placed it in Jiang Ning's hand.
"Younger Brother, take good care of this! It's worth a thousand taels of silver and will greatly aid your martial arts training! I have enough money now!"
"Alright!" Jiang Ning nodded.
(End of Chapter)
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