Chapter 338: Meeting Bai Luoyu

Chapter 338: Meeting Bai Luoyu

2024-12-06

Dongling City.

Between the east and west banks of the river, there was only a wide suspension bridge spanning twenty feet.

Beneath the bridge lay the Nu River, which divided Dongling City into two parts.

The river was named Nu because of its turbulent waves, hidden currents, and dense reefs.

The river was filled with white, foamy waves.

Walking on the suspension bridge, even during the dry season, one could hear the rushing waves crashing against the reefs and cliffs below.

Facing the hard reefs and cliffs, the waves were instantly turned into foamy snow-like bubbles.

Jiang Ning looked up at the majestic city walls ahead and couldn't help but marvel at the strategic advantage of the eastern bank.

Dongling City, as the name suggested, was situated in the mountains.

It was built based on the natural terrain.

The rapid currents of the Nu River made it almost impossible to attack the eastern district from the water.

And the only connection to the eastern district was this twenty-foot-wide suspension bridge.

Once the bridge was raised, there would be no way to enter the city.

Moreover, the eastern district had a twenty-foot-high city wall built on the steep terrain.

Such a high wall was almost impossible to scale.

Only with such personal strength could this feat be achieved.

Jiang Ning crossed the three-foot-wide bridge and paid the entrance fee at the city gate, finally stepping into the eastern district, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold.

Walking on the spacious road, he heard the hawkers' cries.

"Freshly baked pancakes! Get your freshly baked pancakes! Hot out of the oven!"

"Tofu pudding! Dong Shi's tofu pudding!"

"Fried kidneys! Women's favorite, men's weapon!"

Jiang Ning's mouth watered at the aroma of scallions wafting through the air.

"Boss, I'll take two pancakes!"

"Coming right up!"

"Thirty coppers!"

"That's expensive," Jiang Ning frowned.

He was well aware of the market prices.

Last year in Luoshui County, even with a slight increase in grain prices, pancakes were only five coppers each.

Although they were in the county town of Dongling County, prices were generally higher than in the county, but a threefold increase was still a bit outrageous.

According to his understanding, commoners worked hard, and a day's labor would earn them only twenty to thirty coppers.

In other words, a day's hard work would only buy one or two pancakes.

This seemed a bit unreasonable to him.

"Are you from out of town?" the pancake vendor asked.

"Yes, I just arrived in Dongling City!" Jiang Ning nodded.

"Then it's no wonder!" The vendor smiled and explained, "Dongling City has a challenging terrain, and most of the food is imported, increasing the cost. And this is the eastern district, as you know, prices here are generally higher than in the west. After all, there's the stall fee and the entrance fee to consider."

Hearing this, Jiang Ning nodded, understanding the situation.

He took out a half-ounce silver ingot from his Sumeru Ring.

"Keep the change!" Leaving the silver, Jiang Ning took the oil-paper-wrapped pancakes and headed towards the address White Luo Yu had given him.

"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!" The pancake vendor held the silver ingot and bowed repeatedly to Jiang Ning's departing figure.

Half an ounce of silver was worth five hundred coppers, almost half a month's worth of hard-earned money for a street vendor.

Along the way.

Jiang Ning held the oil-paper-wrapped pancakes and took bites as he walked towards the address White Luo Yu had given him.

He had memorized the layout of Dongling City and knew it like the back of his hand.

As he walked, the terrain gradually rose.

White Manor.

This was the name of the wine shop White Luo Yu had mentioned.

It was also a landmark in the eastern district of Dongling City.

At the same time.

Outside the White Manor, the two guards holding knives saw Jiang Ning approaching and immediately became alert.

"Halt!"

One of them gestured with his knife, signaling Jiang Ning to stop.

Jiang Ning bowed, "I'm Jiang Ning from Luoshui County. Please inform White Luo Yu that I'm here to visit him!"

Hearing this, the two guards exchanged glances.

"He's here to see White Luo Yu," one of them said, his lips slightly parted.

The other guard nodded slightly.

Then he looked at Jiang Ning, "Please wait here. White Luo Yu is probably still resting. I'll go and inform him!"

After saying this, the guard crossed the threshold and hurried into the inner courtyard.

As soon as the words left Jiang Ning's mouth, he couldn't help but take him seriously.

For Bai Luoyu to address him as a brother, he must be either a fool or a truly influential figure.

He didn't dare to gamble.

Watching the figure of the man who went to deliver the message, Jiang Ning stood patiently waiting in place.

In just a moment.

Before the guardian martial artist who went to deliver the message had not yet returned, Bai Luoyu's figure appeared in Jiang Ning's eyes.

In the blink of an eye, Bai Luoyu strode through the spacious front yard and appeared at the door.

"Brother Jiang!!" Bai Luoyu's face instantly lit up with joy, like a breath of spring.

"Brother Bai, I'm here to bother you today!" Jiang Ning smiled and bowed.

"What are you talking about!" Bai Luoyu stepped over the threshold and appeared in front of Jiang Ning in just a few strides.

His strides were large, yet they didn't seem out of place at all.

"Come, let's go for a drink. I'll treat you to a welcoming feast!" Bai Luoyu grabbed Jiang Ning's sleeve and pulled him into the mansion.

"Alright, I'll follow Brother Bai's arrangement!" Jiang Ning smiled.

At the same time.

The two guardian martial artists watched as Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu entered the mansion, their eyes met, and a glimmer of relief flashed across their eyes.

They were relieved that they hadn't acted arrogantly.

At this moment, they also took a good look at Jiang Ning's features, committing them to memory.

They knew that anyone who received such attention from Bai Luoyu must be an influential figure.

In the inner courtyard.

"Brother Jiang, this wine is called Jade Nectar. Have a taste!" Bai Luoyu poured a cup of emerald-green wine and gestured for Jiang Ning to take a sip.

The wine in the cup was emerald green, and especially in the absence of wind, it was like a solidified piece of jade.

"I'll have a taste!"

Jiang Ning picked up the wine cup and took a small sip.

"Good wine!" Jiang Ning nodded.

"Brother Jiang, you're not being sincere!" Bai Luoyu looked at Jiang Ning and then spoke seriously, "Seeing Brother Jiang looking so preoccupied, has something happened?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning smiled bitterly and then said, "It seems I can't hide it from Brother Bai."

"Brother Jiang, tell me about it!" Bai Luoyu put down the wine in his hand and gestured for Jiang Ning to sit down.

After they sat down, Jiang Ning told him everything that had happened.

Not long after.

"I thought it was something else?" Bai Luoyu smiled and then continued, "Leave this matter to me. If your brother and sister-in-law's family even lose a single hair, I'll bring their heads to you!"

"In Dong Ling City, if it's indeed Yu Manyun's doing, this little Yu Manyun can't turn the world upside down!"

"She has offended me several times, and I'll kill her on the street. Even if the Water Moon Sword Palace is angry, they still need to be taught a lesson."

Upon hearing Bai Luoyu's words, a flash of astonishment appeared in Jiang Ning's eyes.

If Bai Luoyu wasn't exaggerating, he felt that he might have underestimated Bai Luoyu before.

Bai Luoyu saw the fleeting expression in Jiang Ning's eyes and couldn't help but smile.

"Brother Jiang, do you think I'm boasting?"

Jiang Ning said, "No, I'm just a bit shocked and can't believe it!"

"Brother Jiang, you're so tactful!" Bai Luoyu chuckled.

Then he stood up, looked towards the direction of the imperial capital, and said with determination, "Brother Jiang, you need to understand one thing. This world still belongs to the Great Xia Dynasty!"

"I hold an important position and wield great power. When it comes to officials, I'm one rank higher."

"No matter how strong Xiao Qiushui of the Water Moon Sword Palace is, no matter how renowned she is, she's not a Grandmaster. She doesn't have the qualifications to challenge the authority of the Great Xia Dynasty."

"If she dares to leave the palace, the Grandmasters of the Great Xia can cut off her path to becoming a Grandmaster and cause her to fall in the Water Moon Sword Palace, crushing it!"

Hearing Bai Luoyu's powerful statement, Jiang Ning felt that he might have underestimated the Great Xia court.

The Great Xia Dynasty had ruled the world for over eight hundred years, and it wasn't just about talking things out; it, not by reasoning, but by the oppression of its power.

In front of the Great Xia, a mere fourth-stage martial artist was nothing.

Jiang Ning stood up and bowed, "Then I'll leave this matter to Brother Bai!"

"No need to be so polite!" Bai Luoyu waved his hand.

Then he asked, "By the way, where is your brother and sister-in-law's family now?"

"At the Riverside Pavilion!"

"Riverside Pavilion? That kind of place?" Bai Luoyu was surprised, and then he nodded, "That's right, Brother Jiang is from Luoshui County, and he doesn't have a residence here."

Jiang Ning said, "That's right, so I'm also planning to buy a residence in the eastern part of the city. Unfortunately, I don't have much time to spare here."

"If Brother Jiang wants to buy a house, I might have a way to help you, and it'll be quick. What do you think, can you manage it in one or two hours?" Bai Luoyu asked.

"One or two hours?" Jiang Ning looked at Bai Luoyu and nodded, "That should be fine!"

Finding Wang Jin and taking him to treat his injuries was important, but settling his brother and sister-in-law's family was even more crucial.

In the eastern district, closer to Bai Luoyu, and under Bai Luoyu's better protection, his brother and sister-in-law's family would be safer.

Bai Luoyu looked at Jiang Ning and nodded, then clapped his hands, "Xiao Mei!"

As Bai Luoyu spoke, the slightly ajar door was pushed open.

A girl in a white skirt walked in, "Master!"

Bai Luoyu said, "Go and get Wang Fugui for me! Tell him to appear before me within half an hour! Also, instruct him to bring the records of houses for sale in the eastern district."

"Yes, Master!" the girl replied and immediately left.

"Brother Bai, who is Wang Fugui?" Jiang Ning asked.

Bai Luoyu smiled and said, "He's the Land Registrar, in charge of land transactions in Dongling City. He has the most comprehensive information, and all the houses for sale in the eastern district are recorded with him."

"Just have some patience and drink with me, Jiang, within half an hour, he will appear before us!"

"Good!" Jiang Ning nodded.

Less than two hours passed.

A pot-bellied man, panting heavily, appeared before the two of them.

"White Commander!" Wang Fugui swallowed his saliva, suppressing the urge to exhale loudly from his chest.

"Wang Fugui, did you bring the things?" Bai Luoyu picked up the folding fan on the table and stood up to speak.

"White Commander, I brought them!" Wang Fugui nodded repeatedly.

Then he placed the purple-gold box he was holding onto the table in front of them.

"White Commander, all the records of houses for sale in the eastern district are inside this box. Please take a look, sir!"

"I don't have the time to look at it!" Bai Luoyu opened the folding fan in his hand and gently shook it, then said, "I'll let my brother state the requirements, and you find a suitable house for me."

"No problem, White Commander!" Wang Fugui patted his chest, making a loud sound, "I've memorized all the housing information in the city. Just give me the conditions, and I will definitely find a house that meets them."

"Good!" Bai Luoyu nodded.

Then he turned to Jiang Ning, "Jiang, tell me your requirements for the house."

At this moment, Wang Fugui, "Is this gentleman looking to buy a house? May I ask for your esteemed name?"

"I am Jiang Ning!" Jiang Ning bowed.

"So it's Jiang, sir!" Wang Fugui said respectfully.

Birds of a feather flock together.

He knew that Bai Luoyu was friends with such a person, and his friends must be extraordinary.

So, even though he didn't know who Jiang Ning was, he didn't dare to show any disrespect or negligence.

Then, Wang Fugui continued respectfully, "Sir Jiang, let me think about the conditions for choosing a house."

Jiang Ning thought for a moment and then said, "Near water, the larger the area, the better, and the closer it is to this place, the better!"

"Jiang's choice, I like it too!" Bai Luoyu's folding fan made a "swish" sound as he closed it, and then he patted his palm and smiled.

He turned to Wang Fugui, "Did you hear that? The closer it is to my manor, the better!"

"Yes, sir!" Wang Fugui nodded repeatedly.

He thought for a moment.

Then he opened the purple-gold wooden box in front of him and searched for the land deeds inside.

After a while, he took out a land deed and brought it to Bai Luoyu and Jiang Ning.

"Please take a look, gentlemen! This house was originally a residence of the Bai family, and it was confiscated last year when the Bai family was investigated. Now both land deeds are with me. Whether it's the location or other aspects, it should meet Jiang's requirements. The key point is that it's less than a mile away from the Bai family's residence."

"The Bai family?" Bai Luoyu's face showed a hint of doubt, and then he asked, "Is it He Guangkun's house?"

"Yes!" Liu Fugui replied.

"Bring the land deed for me to see!" Bai Luoyu said.

"Yes!" Liu Fugui nodded and handed the land deed to Bai Luoyu.

Bai Luoyu took the land deed and glanced at it, then nodded.

"Jiang, take a look!"

Jiang Ning took the land deed from Bai Luoyu, glanced at it, and nodded.

On the land deed, not only was the size of the house marked, but the surrounding terrain was also indicated.

In Dongling City, the Wrath River's tributary flowed through the entire eastern district.

The tributary was also channeled through a canal.

And in the painting on the land deed, a small river about ten feet wide ran alongside the house.

It could be said to be nestled between the mountains and rivers.

Moreover, this house was quite spacious.

It was even larger than the house he had in Luoshui County, with an area of six and a half acres, or about four thousand three hundred square meters.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end