Chapter 343: Returning to Dongling City

Chapter 343: Returning to Dongling City

December 10th, 2024

At the entrance of the Liu family's residence.

Liu Sansheng looked towards Liu Wanwan.

"Sister, has Commander Jiang arrived?"

"He came, but he's returned to Luo Water County!"

"Good, that's good!" Liu Sansheng heaved a silent sigh of relief.

He dared not imagine what would happen if Jiang Ning were here, given what he knew.

If Jiang Ning saw Jiang Li being humiliated, the Liu family would be in deep trouble.

During the past few months in Luo Water County, he had come to understand Jiang Li's style and conduct quite well.

He knew that Jiang Ning appeared amiable on the surface, but he could be ruthless to those who offended him.

A moment of relief flashed through his mind.

He was grateful that he had taken a short leave of absence to visit his family due to the recent peace in Luo Water County.

Otherwise, he couldn't imagine the trouble that the old steward and his son would have caused if the previous scene had escalated.

After that.

"Sister, brother-in-law, come in with me!" Liu Sansheng invited.

"Okay!" Jiang Li nodded.

Dongling City.

As Jiang Ning gazed at the majestic city in the distance, the sun had already set in the west.

A moment later.

As he stepped through the city gates.

A man in black, athletic attire approached Jiang Ning.

"Commander Jiang!" The man bowed, "Inspector Bai sent me."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning slightly nodded.

The man in black attire said, "Yu Manyun entered the city this morning. She bears signs of a long journey, and she's currently at the Water Moon Sword Palace residence in the city."

Hearing this, Jiang Ning instantly understood.

As the top power in Dongling Prefecture, the Water Moon Sword Palace naturally had a base in Dongling City.

This was also one of their preferred locations for recruiting disciples.

For the continuation of a sect, discovering disciples with innate talent was the long-term solution.

The rise of a heaven-born, powerful martial artist could lead a sect and a family to greater heights.

"Thank you for the information!" Jiang Ning expressed his gratitude.

"Commander Jiang, you're too kind. I'm merely following orders!" The usually stern man in black attire revealed a faint smile.

Walking on the wide road.

Jiang Ning fell into deep thought.

Now that he knew Yu Manyun's movements, he wasn't too anxious.

Based on the man's behavior, it was clear that Bai Luoyu was taking his request seriously.

Moreover, since he had returned to Dongling City, he wasn't overly concerned about the safety of his brother-in-law's family.

He was now pondering how to deal with Yu Manyun.

Yu Manyun was already in Dongling City.

If he wanted to kill her, he could do it at any time.

However, the question he was considering was whether he could handle the consequences of killing Yu Manyun.

Everyone wasn't foolish.

No matter how quietly he eliminated Yu Manyun, it would undoubtedly attract the attention of the Water Moon Sword Palace, and there was a fifty percent chance it would involve Xiao Qiushui, known as the top woman in Dongling City, second only to the sect leader.

Yu Manyun held a high position in the Water Moon Sword Palace, making her a strong contender for the next Palace Leader.

Her status represented the reputation of the Water Moon Sword Palace.

If Yu Manyun died, the Water Moon Sword Palace, the overlord of Dongling Prefecture, would not remain silent.

If Xiao Qiushui didn't react to the death of the Palace Leader's heir, the Water Moon Sword Palace's reputation in Dongling Prefecture would be completely ruined.

For a sect, face and reputation were often more important than an individual's life and death.

Once Xiao Qiushui took action, Jiang Ning wasn't confident he could handle this woman at the moment.

Especially with his inner breath not yet transformed and many of his abilities unable to be used openly.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look towards the direction of the Water Moon Sword Palace's residence in Dongling City.

"Xiao Emei should have arrived too. I'll go and find out the situation from her!"

Below the city walls of the eastern district.

Below was the raging Nu River, and in the distance was a vast, open vista.

The wild wind blowing through the mountains made Jiang Ning's robe flutter, and his forehead hair was slightly disheveled.

"Commander Jiang!" A voice, both gentle and charming, came from behind.

Xiao Emei stood behind Jiang Ning, gazing at his back, suddenly lost in thought. She suddenly realized that her hatred for Jiang Ning had diminished.

What she didn't know was that the Divine Bloodline Mark was taking effect, subtly influencing her perception of Jiang Ning.

"Miss Xiao, long time no see!" Jiang Ning turned around and said.

"Commander Jiang, my disciple sister, Yu Manyun, is currently in the city." Xiao Emei spoke up.

"I know!" Jiang Ning nodded.

Know?

Xiao Emei was secretly surprised and glanced at Jiang Ning, recalling the attitude of Bai Luoyu when they visited Luo Water County. She instantly understood.

"Commander Jiang, how do you plan to deal with my disciple sister?"

Jiang Ning had already prepared an explanation and didn't intend to tell Xiao Emei about Wang Jin's injury.

Despite the fact that Xiao Emei was currently under his control, she had yet to fully submit, and thus, was not trustworthy.

"How I treat her depends on her choice!"

Jiang Ning's voice was calm, but as it fell upon Xiao Emei's ears, it inexplicably brought a chill to her.

"I understand!" Xiao Emei nodded in response.

"If there's any news, remember to deliver it to me promptly!"

"Yes!" Xiao Emei replied, then asked, "Where can I find you?"

"Just send a message by pigeon!" After saying this, Jiang Ning tore off a piece of cloth from his clothing and handed it to Xiao Emei. "I'll be in Dongling City these days."

"Alright!" Xiao Emei nodded.

On the other side.

A girl in a pink dress was burning paper money on the city wall.

"Miss, someone who doesn't value their own life isn't worth your sympathy."

"I just feel sorry for him! He's still so young, yet he's so desperate that he jumped into the river to commit suicide!" The girl sighed softly.

As they spoke, the girl finished burning the paper money and stood up.

There he was!!

She couldn't help but widen her eyes.

The next moment.

She hurriedly chased after him.

"Miss, miss, where are you going?"

The maid behind her saw this and quickly gathered the things on the ground, following her.

A moment later.

The girl leaned against the city wall, sticking her head out, but among the crowd, she couldn't find the familiar figure she had just seen.

At this time, Jiang Ning had already left the city wall.

"Miss, what's wrong?" The maid behind her asked, holding her waist and leaning against the city wall, panting.

"I saw him!"

"Who?" The maid asked.

"The person who jumped into the river last time."

"Miss, are you sure you didn't see him wrong? Jumping from such a height, how could he still be alive?" The maid's face was filled with disbelief, then she said, "Miss, you must have made a mistake!"

"No!" The girl shook her head repeatedly. "I couldn't have made a mistake! And didn't you say that they searched downstream for a day and night but couldn't find his body? This also proves that he's still alive."

"Impossible!" The maid shook her head.

Jiang Ning's Mansion.

Knock, knock, knock—

Jiang Ning knocked on his own front door.

In less than a moment.

The door was opened.

"Young Master, Young Master!" Lu Yi poked her head out, and upon seeing Jiang Ning, her eyes lit up.

"It's me!" Jiang Ning smiled.

Seeing this, Lu Yi quickly opened the door wide.

"Young Master, come in quickly!"

Then, he stepped over the threshold and entered the front courtyard of the mansion.

Before his eyes were well-tended flowers, grass, and flowing streams.

Fresh water was drawn from the small river outside and flowed through various parts of the mansion.

"Where is everyone? Why is it so quiet?" Jiang Ning asked in surprise.

"Young Master, Lady Liu mentioned that she didn't like having too many people in the house, so she declined the servants offered by Inspector Bai."

"Then where are my brother and his family?" Jiang Ning asked.

"They went to the Liu Family after lunch."

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"The Liu Family." Jiang Ning muttered.

He knew that his brother wanted to take his sister-in-law back to her hometown, and this was also Jiang Li's concern.

Liu Wanwan had to break ties with her family to marry Jiang Li, resulting in her removal from the Liu family registry and a severed relationship with her parents.

After all, who wouldn't want a marriage blessed by their parents?

This made Jiang Li feel indebted to Liu Wanwan.

And this time, upon returning to Dongling City, Jiang Ning also knew that their main purpose was to visit the Liu Family.

Thinking of this, Jiang Ning felt a sense of unease in his heart.

As a prominent family in Dongling City, the Liu Family had always looked down upon Jiang Li.

Hence, the subsequent events unfolded.

Due to Liu Wanwan's determination to marry Jiang Li, the Liu Family removed her from the family registry, severing her relationship with her parents.

This was the primary reason for Liu Wanwan's estrangement from her parents.

With this factor in mind, it was foreseeable that Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan's visit to the Liu Family wouldn't go smoothly.

"Let's go to the Liu Family!" Jiang Ning said.

"Yes, Young Master!" Seeing this, Lu Yi quickly followed Jiang Ning's footsteps.

The next moment.

The two stepped out of the mansion.

Lu Yi closed the door behind them and locked it.

After locking the door, she put the key in her pocket and then ran to catch up with Jiang Ning.

The Liu Family.

"Uncle San."

Liu Wanwan looked at the elderly man with a goatee who appeared from the front door and stood up.

Jiang Li also stood up.

"Uncle San!" He called out as well.

Hearing this voice, the elderly man with a goatee glanced at Jiang Li indifferently and then calmly looked at Liu Wanwan.

"Xiao Wan, have you been waiting long?"

"Uncle San, if you want to see us, we'll be here, but if you don't, we'll leave."

"You're still as blunt as ever." The old man with the goatee chuckled.

"Uncle San has always known my temperament. I speak my mind." Liu Wanwan replied calmly.

"After all these years, you still haven't changed a bit, you little brat!"

"I couldn't change back then, and I certainly won't change now!" Liu Wanwan said.

"That's true. If you could, you would have done it long ago!" The old man with the goatee agreed, then glanced at Jiang Li, Liu Wanwan, Xiaodoubao, and Jiang Yiming.

"This must be Yiming, right? You've grown so tall!" He reached out to pat Jiang Yiming's head.

Jiang Yiming, sensing his mother's words, took a small step back, protecting his sister.

He looked calmly at his mother's Uncle San.

He hadn't forgotten what had happened the first time he visited the Liu family.

"My child!" The old man with the goatee smiled to ease the awkwardness.

"Yiming, this is your third granduncle. Apologize to him." Liu Wanwan spoke up.

She then added, "Uncle San, my child is stubborn and holds grudges. Please forgive her!"

"You're just like your auntie, carved from the same mold!" The old man with the goatee remarked.

"Granduncle, I'm sorry!" Jiang Yiming said calmly.

After saying this, he closed his mouth and stood silently, his thin lips pressed together.

At that moment—

Liu Wanwan spoke up, "Where are my father and mother? Don't they want to see me?"

"How could they not!" The old man with the goatee laughed. "Sansheng has already gone to fetch them! Just be patient and wait!"

"Alright! I'll keep waiting!" Liu Wanwan replied, "My father may not want to acknowledge me as his daughter, but he can't stop my mother from doing so."

Then, the old man with the goatee glanced at the group.

"Wanwan, let Yiming and Yuanyuan go play with the other children in the backyard! I have something to discuss with you!"

Hearing this, Liu Wanwan looked at Uncle San seriously, their gazes locking for a moment.

She slowly nodded.

"Yiming, take Xiaodoubao to play in the backyard, and remember, don't bully them."

"Young Master, please follow me!" The maid waiting outside immediately stepped forward to lead the way.

Jiang Yiming held Xiaodoubao's small hand and headed towards the backyard.

This time, they were so polite because of Uncle San? Jiang Yiming wondered as he walked.

He still remembered visiting the Liu family once with his parents when he was young.

On that occasion, they had encountered nothing but cold stares.

They hadn't even stepped inside the Liu family's main gate, let alone received the kind of treatment they were getting today.

He now understood many things.

Meanwhile, at the Water Moon Sword Palace—

"Xiao Sheshi, what brings you here?" Yu Manyun stepped out of the room, wearing casual attire and wiping her wet hair.

"Yu Sheshi, I came here to advise you on one thing." Xiao Emei said.

"What is it?" Yu Manyun stopped what she was doing, holding a towel in her right hand as she looked at Xiao Emei.

"Give up on that task! Don't make an enemy of Jiang Ning. He's not someone you can handle!"

"Is he beyond my capabilities?" Yu Manyun smiled. "Is he someone only you can handle, Sheshi?"

Hearing this, Xiao Emei slowly shook her head. "I can't handle him either."

Her mind flashed back to that night.

At that moment, she had felt like her life was about to end.

If Jiang Ning hadn't held back, she would have perished long ago.

Only after experiencing the thin line between life and death did she truly appreciate the beauty of being alive.

"Sheshi, I'm not you!" Yu Manyun smiled. "You're boosting his morale and diminishing your own!"

Then she continued, "That Jiang Tongling is only a Sixth Stage Martial Artist, and his strongest skill is archery! What's there to fear about mere archery?"

"If he obediently follows me back to the Water Moon Sword Palace, I'll be polite. If he has a high opinion of himself, I'll teach him the meaning of 'show respect before force'."

Hearing Yu Manyun's words, Xiao Emei couldn't help but smile.

Then she said, "I hope you won't regret it!"

"Sheshi, I never regret my decisions, whether it's this matter or that!" Yu Manyun replied firmly.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Emei turned and left.

After taking a few steps, she stopped again.

"Sheshi, I've said all I have to say. Do as you please! According to my information, that Jiang Tongling is already in the city."

Leaving these words behind, she continued on her way, a hint of mockery playing on her lips, hidden from Yu Manyun's view.

She understood Yu Manyun's personality very well.

Therefore, she knew that after saying this, Yu Manyun would not only refuse to give up but would also execute her plan with even greater determination.

And because of this, Yu Manyun would eventually get into trouble.

At that time, Xiao Emei would sleep soundly without a care in the world.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end