Chapter 338: Meeting Bai Luoyu

Chapter 338: Meeting Bai Luoyu

Dongling City.

Between the East and West Banks, a single suspension bridge spans the river, measuring a mere two zhang in width.

Beneath the bridge lies the Nu River, dividing the entire city into two halves.

The river's name, Nu, signifies its raging currents, hidden whirlpools, and dense rocky outcrops.

The river is filled with frothy white foam, resembling snow-white bubbles.

Even during the dry season, when the river is at its lowest, one can hear the thunderous roar of the rapids crashing against the rocky outcrops and cliffs as they walk across the bridge.

The relentless waves crash against the hard rocks and cliffs, instantly turning into a flurry of white foam.

Jiang Ning gazes up at the majestic city wall ahead, marveling at the strategic advantage of the East Bank's geographical location.

As its name suggests, Dongling City is situated in a hilly area, strategically built to take advantage of the natural terrain.

The swift currents of the Nu River make it nearly impossible to launch a water-based attack on the eastern district.

The only connection to the eastern district is the two-zhang-wide suspension bridge.

Once the bridge is raised, there is no entry into the city.

Moreover, the eastern district is further fortified by a twenty-zhang-high city wall, built on the steep terrain along the riverbank.

Such a tall wall is virtually impenetrable, even for flying birds.

Only in a feudal environment, where individual strength reigns supreme, could such a feat be achieved.

Jiang Ning crosses the three-zhang-wide bridge and pays the entrance fee to enter the eastern district, stepping into the densely populated and valuable area.

Walking along the spacious streets, he hears various hawkers shouting their wares.

"Pancakes for sale! Freshly baked pancakes!"

"Tofu pudding, Dongshi family's specialty!"

"Grilled kidneys, ladies' favorite, men's strength!"

"..."

The bustling market in the eastern district reminds Jiang Ning of the inner city of Luoshui County.

The aroma of scallions wafts through the air, causing his mouth to water.

"Boss, I'll have two pancakes!"

"Coming right up!"

"Thirty coppers, please!"

Jiang Ning furrows his brows, surprised by the price.

He is well-informed about market prices.

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

Although Dongling City is the county seat of Dongling County, and prices are generally higher than in smaller towns, a threefold increase is still quite excessive.

According to his knowledge, an average person's hard work for a day's labor only earns them twenty to thirty coppers.

In other words, a day's labor can only buy one or two pancakes.

This seems rather unreasonable to Jiang Ning.

"Are you a visitor from outside?" the pancake vendor asks.

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

"That explains it!" The vendor smiles, "Dongling City has challenging terrain, and most of its food is imported, which increases the cost. Moreover, this is the eastern district, and as you may know, prices here are generally higher than in the western district. After all, there are stall fees and entrance fees to consider."

Hearing this, Jiang Ning nods in understanding.

He takes out a half-liang silver ingot from his Sumeru Ring.

"Keep the change!" Jiang Ning says, leaving the silver ingot and taking the oil-paper-wrapped pancakes as he heads towards the address Bai Luoyu had given him earlier.

"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!" The vendor, holding the silver ingot, bows repeatedly to Jiang Ning's departing figure.

Half a liang of silver is equivalent to five hundred coppers, almost half a month's earnings for a street vendor.

As Jiang Ning walks, holding the oil-paper-wrapped pancakes, he recalls that he had already memorized the map of Dongling City before his arrival, ensuring he knew the way.

As he progresses, the terrain gradually rises.

Bai Manor.

Jiang Ning reads the two characters on the gilded plaque.

"This should be the place!" Jiang Ning glances at the nearby restaurant and mutters to himself.

Above the Clouds.

That's the name of the restaurant.

It's also a landmark in the eastern part of Dongling City, as Bai Luoyu had informed him.

Meanwhile, at the entrance of Bai Manor, two knife-wielding guards notice Jiang Ning's approach and immediately become alert.

"Greetings! I'm Jiang Ning from Luoshui County. Please inform Bai Xiong that I'm here to pay him a visit!" Jiang Ning says with a bow.

The two guards exchange glances.

"Bai Xiong!" one of them mouths silently.

The other guard nods slightly and turns to Jiang Ning, "Please wait a moment, sir. Bai Xiong is probably still resting. I'll go and inform him right away!"

With that, the guard strides across the threshold and hurries towards the inner courtyard.

The title given by Jiang Ning left him in awe, making it impossible to ignore.

To address Inspector Bai as a brother, one must either be blind or a true figure of great importance.

He couldn't afford to gamble.

As the messenger left to deliver the message, Jiang Ning patiently waited in his original spot.

In just a moment, Bai Luoyu appeared before Jiang Ning's eyes, even before the messenger returned.

In the blink of an eye, Bai Luoyu swiftly crossed the spacious front yard and emerged at the entrance.

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

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

"Nonsense!" Bai Luoyu stepped over the threshold and appeared before 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 host a welcoming feast for you!" 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 martial arts masters who had escorted Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu into the mansion exchanged glances, a fleeting sense of relief flashing in their eyes.

They were relieved that they hadn't acted rudely or arrogantly.

At that moment, they deeply committed Jiang Ning's appearance to memory.

They knew that anyone who received such attention from Bai Luoyu must be a person of great importance.

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 try it.

The wine in the cup resembled a solid piece of emerald green jade, especially in the absence of wind.

"I'll have a taste!"

Jiang Ning picked up the 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 said seriously, "Seeing you with such a heavy heart, has something happened?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning gave a bitter smile and said, "It seems I can't hide it from Brother Bai."

"Brother Jiang, tell me what's going on!" Bai Luoyu put down the wine gourd in his hand and gestured for Jiang Ning to sit down.

After they both sat down, Jiang Ning immediately recounted everything that had happened earlier.

A short while later...

"I thought it was something serious!" Bai chuckled and continued, "Leave this matter to me. If your brother and sister-in-law's family loses even a single strand of hair, I'll bring my head to you!"

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

"If she dares to offend me, I'll publicly execute her in the Water Moon Sword Palace, even if it means holding back my anger."

Hearing Bai Luoyu's words, Jiang Ning's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise.

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

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

"Does Brother Jiang think I'm boasting?"

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

"Brother Jiang, you're so polite!" Bai Luoyu smiled.

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

"As a sixth-rank official, I hold a high position and wield great power. I outrank other officials."

"No matter how strong or renowned Xiao Qiushui of the Water Moon Sword Palace is, she is not a Grandmaster. She is not a Grandmaster. She doesn't have the qualifications to stand above the power of the Great Xia Dynasty."

"If she dares to leave the palace, our Great Xia Grandmasters can end her Grandmaster path and cause her downfall within the Water Moon Sword Palace!"

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, not just through reasoning but also by the might of their authority.

In the face of the Great Xia, a mere fourth-rank in martial arts was insignificant.

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

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

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

"At the Riverside Tower!"

"Riverside Tower? Such a place?" Bai Luoyu's expression was one of surprise, but then he nodded in understanding, "Of course, Brother Jiang is a native of Luo Shui County. You don't have a residence in Dongling City."

"If you want to buy a house, I have a way, and it can be done quickly, within one or two hours. What do you think?" Bai Luoyu asked.

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

Returning to find Wang Jin, although it was important to take him for treatment, it was even more crucial to settle his older brother and sister-in-law's family.

In the eastern district, closer to Bai Luoyu, it was also better for her to protect the older brother and sister-in-law's family.

Bai Luoyu nodded at Jiang Ning, then clapped her hands, "Xiao Mei!"

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

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

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

"Yes, Master!" The woman 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 deed transactions in Dongling City. He has the most comprehensive information, and all the houses for sale in the eastern district are recorded there."

"Just have a drink with me, Brother Jiang. In half an hour, he will appear before us!"

"Good!" Jiang Ning nodded.

In less than two hours.

A stout man with a potbelly appeared before the two, panting heavily.

"Inspector Bai!" Wang Fugui swallowed his saliva and suppressed the heavy breath that was about to burst out of his chest.

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

"Inspector Bai, I brought it!" Wang Fugui immediately nodded repeatedly.

Then he placed the purple-gold box he was holding on the table in front of him.

"Inspector Bai, all the registration information for the houses for sale in the eastern district is inside. Please take a look, sir!"

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

"No problem, Inspector Bai!" Wang Fugui immediately thumped his chest, "I've memorized the information about houses all over the city. Just state your conditions, and I'll definitely find a suitable house for you."

"Good!" Bai Luoyu nodded.

Then she looked at Jiang Ning, "Brother Jiang, tell me your requirements for the house."

At this moment, Wang Fugui also looked at Jiang Ning, his face respectful, "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 Master Jiang!" Wang Fugui's face was filled with respect.

Like-minded people attract like-minded friends.

He knew that the kind of person Inspector Bai was, and the friends she associated with were certainly extraordinary.

So, even if he didn't know who Jiang Ning was, he dared not show any disrespect or neglect.

Wang Fugui continued respectfully, "Master Jiang, please state your conditions for choosing a house, and I'll help you think about it."

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

"I like your choice, Brother Jiang!" Bai Luoyu's folding fan snapped shut with a "swish," and she lightly laughed, patting her palm.

She turned to Wang Fugui, "Did you hear that? The closer to my residence, the better!"

"Understood!" Wang Fugui nodded repeatedly.

He pondered for a moment where he stood.

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

After a while.

He picked up a land deed and brought it to Bai Luoyu and Jiang Ning.

"Please take a look, gentlemen! This residence was originally a residence of your family. Last year, it was confiscated after Inspector Bai's raid. Now both land deeds are with me. Whether it's the location or other factors, it should meet Master Jiang's requirements. The most important thing is that it's less than a mile away from Inspector Bai's residence."

"Your family?" Bai Luoyu's face showed a hint of doubt, and then she said, "Is it with Guangkun?"

"Exactly!" Liu Fugui said.

"Let me see the land deed!" Bai Luoyu said.

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

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

"Brother Jiang, take a look!"

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

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

In Dongling City, a tributary of the Nu River flowed through the entire eastern district.

The tributary was also channeled through a canal.

And in the land deed's painting, a small river about one zhang wide ran alongside the residence.

It was indeed a prime location.

Moreover, the area of this residence was also quite good.

It was better than the house he had in Luo Water County, a full six and a half acres, or four mu in area.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end