Chapter 102: Chapter 29: River Dragon, Tian Buyi
Luoshui County, county town.
Within the county governnt.
“How goes it?” Cao Bin sat on a Taishi Chair.
In front of him, a man dressed as a constable gave a formal salute.
“Mr. Cao, because only yesterday did we find Xu Yunfeng’s skeletal remains.”
“The county governnt’s coroner said it’s been too long since death! Moreover, the body was picked clean by jackals and beasts of prey. Now only dry bones and clothes stained with blood remain; it’s impossible to determine the exact cause of Xu Yunfeng and the others’ deaths.”
...
Upon hearing this, Cao Bin pondered for a mont.
Then he said, “What about the bodies of Hong Chengtao and the others?”
The constable replied, “They’ve been found too! Pretty much the sa! Likely all killed by the sa person.”
Then he added, “Mr. Cao, according to my investigation, Xu Yunfeng and Hong Chengtao followed Jiang Ning out of the city that day, and after leaving the city, none returned.”
“To think they failed!” Cao Bin suddenly looked down and frowned, muttering to himself.
During this, the constable in front of him remained silent, quietly waiting for Cao Bin’s reaction.
Then Cao Bin looked up again, “And Jiang Ning? Is there any news of his return to the city?”
The constable shook his head, “I don’t know either. Those guarding the city gates are under the jurisdiction of the City Guard Departnt. My influence doesn’t extend there! And they don’t recognize Jiang Ning anyway!”
“Forget it!” Hearing this, Cao Bin imdiately shook his head, “Even if it’s not him, it’s related to him!”
Hearing this, the constable took over the conversation.
“Does Mr. Cao an that the deaths of Xu Yunfeng and Hong Chengtao were caused by Jiang Ning?”
Cao Bin shook his head, “That’s unlikely! Jiang Ning has exceptional talent, and although he’s only been studying martial arts for a little over a month, even if he could kill Xu Yunfeng, it’s impossible for him to have killed Hong Chengtao!”
“Hong Chengtao had achieved small success in Refining Skin, and last month his Iron Sand Palm had reached Perfection, mastering power. Added to his rich fighting experience, even I wouldn’t dare claim to be able to capture him, let alone kill him!”
“Hong Chengtao has been mixed up in factions for so many years; running away has always been his expertise.”
Cao Bin then gave a thoughtful look, “It seems that after Shen Congyun left, he indeed prepared against us! Who knows what he left for Jiang Ning; now it’s not good to offend further!”
Hearing this, the constable breathed a sigh of relief.
“Mr. Cao is wise! Surely Shen Congyun left sothing behind before he departed! It could be so precious hidden weapon, like the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle or Thunder Shock.”
Cao Bin nodded slightly, “It’s possible. It must be so extrely precious object that allowed for the clean and neat deaths of Hong Chengtao and Xu Yunfeng.”
Then Cao Bin said, “Send soone to guard the city gate. Keep watch for half a month. If Jiang Ning is spotted returning to the city, let know!”
“At that ti, I’ll bring the head of Xu Yunfeng’s mother to apologize to him, and that’s that.”
Hearing this, the constable echoed in agreent.
“Mr. Cao is correct! Judging from his past actions, he is a smart man! A smart man will know how to weigh the situation and turn discord into friendship. That’s best for him, and I believe he knows it.”
“Dismissed,” Cao Bin waved his hand.
Then, watching the departing constable, he reminded again, “Rember to inform Shi Xiaoyuan. Tell him we’ll let this matter go for now!”
“Yes, Mr. Cao!” The constable saluted again and then left the room.
…
Canglang Martial Arts Hall.
“Master Wang, is there still no word of my brother?” Worry was written all over Jiang Li’s face.
Wang Jin shook his head slightly, “Still no news.”
Then looking at Jiang Li, he consoled, “Don’t worry! I visited Mr. Chen from the City Guard Departnt yesterday. He said he’d do his best to help find Jiang Ning.”
“Thank you, Master Wang!” Jiang Li bowed respectfully.
Wang Jin imdiately gestured, “No need for that. Jiang Ning isn’t just your brother; he’s also my disciple, the one I value the most!”
“If he truly is missing, I naturally must do everything in my power to find him!”
“If he really is in trouble!” At this point, a fierce light flashed in Wang Jin’s eyes, “Then I’ll eventually unearth the person behind this and ensure blood for blood!”
…
Green Snake Gang headquarters.
“What did you say!” Shi Xiaoyuan, seated upon the White Tiger chair, slamd his hand down on the table and stood up.
Boom—
The table beside him instantly turned into a pile of splinters.
The corner of the constable’s eye twitched slightly, then he put on a calm front and said, “Gang Leader Shi, Mr. Cao said we should drop the matter!”
“He says drop it and we drop it? Are my brothers’ deaths in vain?” Shi Xiaoyuan’s face was full of anger as he spoke.
He continued, “If word of this gets out, won’t the other two major gangs laugh at , Shi Xiaoyuan, for being a coward, afraid of a barely weaned boy?”
The constable replied, “But Jiang Ning has Shen Congyun standing behind him; in a couple of years at most, Shen Congyun will return to Luoshui County. Not to ntion Wang Jin, who is not soone to be provoked.”
Hearing the three words “Shen Congyun,” Shi Xiaoyuan’s eyelids twitched slightly.
He admitted that Wang Jin was indeed beyond his provocations.
Then he snorted coldly.
“Go back and tell Cao Bin, if Jiang Ning returns unscathed, I can’t swallow this. I’ll find a way to avenge the brothers’ death.”
Hearing this, the constable saluted, “I have conveyed all that should be conveyed, the rest is for Gang Leader Shi to consider!”
“But Mr. Cao also instructed to pass along a ssage to Gang Leader Shi.”
“There are two big mountains behind Jiang Ning, both are formidable foes!”
“If Shen Congyun cos back one day, he’d be nearly invincible here in Luoshui County. Although Wang Jin is old, there are only a dozen or so in Luoshui County who can defeat him.”
“If Jiang Ning is dead, then everything becos easier to handle! No one would choose to be an enemy of the Cao family or the Green Snake Gang over a dead man. But as long as he is alive, those two formidable forces will remain,”
“If it weren’t for this, how could Mr. Cao choose to swallow his pride?”
“Moreover, if Jiang Ning returns unscathed, the mystery of how he killed Hong Chengtao and Xu Yunfeng, among others, is sothing Boss Shi must not forget!”
“If he has the strength to kill Hong Chengtao, who had achieved a small success in Martial Arts Ninth Grade, he might also pose a threat to those at Martial Arts Eighth Grade!”
“It’s precisely because of this unknown factor that Mr. Cao chose to back down. Nobody knows what ace Shen Congyun left him, nor what level of fighter it could take down.”
Having said these words, the constable made his way out of the house.
Not until the constable had left did Shi Xiaoyuan mutter to himself,
“Jiang Ning?”
“I had not expected this man to beco so influential that even Cao Bin would choose to back down.”
“However, I am not such a person. Don’t give an opportunity, for if you do, I shall see what you are relying on!”
“To think you could capsize Brother Hong in a ditch.”
…
Another day passed.
Approaching noon.
The east city gate of Luoshui County.
A man carrying a knapsack and slinging a long saber across his waist slowly approached.
This man was Jiang Ning.
“I’m finally back!” Jiang Ning sighed, looking at the three big characters of Luoshui County on the city wall before him.
Although he had only left Luoshui County for a dozen days, it felt to him as though he had been away for many years.
Now, returning once more filled him with indescribable sentint.
Imdiately, he murmured to himself,
“Having disappeared for more than ten days, my elder brothers must all be worried by now.”
Thinking of this, he quickened his pace toward the gate leading into the city.
At this mont,
At the city gate stood a soldier holding a white wanted poster.
As he posted the wanted notice near the city gate, the crowd passing by imdiately gathered around.
“Officer, whom are you issuing a warrant for this ti?” a wood-cutter who glanced at the just-posted wanted poster, curiously asked.
The officer who posted the wanted notice glanced at the people gathered around and spoke, “Folks! A chance to make a fortune has arrived!”
“The order has co down to apprehend a notorious river bandit, a kingpin nad Tian Buyi.”
“This man has committed a grave offense in dicine King Valley, and therefore, a bounty of one hundred taels will be rewarded for his capture. Anyone who reports credible information about this person’s whereabouts will also be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver.”
Upon hearing these words, the onlookers suddenly beca excited.
“Is what you’re saying true, Officer?” soone hastily asked.
“It’s written in black and white right here, so of course it’s true!” the soldier said.
Another person asked, “Is there really a reward of one hundred taels for capturing this person? And if we find evidence of his whereabouts, do we really get a hundred taels of silver as a reward?”
The soldier answered, “If any of you folks can bring in Tian Buyi for justice, you will indeed be rewarded with one hundred taels. This reward is backed by dicine King Valley, so there’s no need to worry about the money.”
Then the soldier added, “However, don’t be greedy. This man ranks at Martial Arts Eighth Grade and is a true notorious river bandit. Capturing him is a matter for the bigshots, not sothing you should be eyeing for one hundred taels of reward.”
“If you find any detailed information about Tian Buyi, report it to the officials at the City Guard Departnt or the county governnt. Claiming the one hundred taels of reward is the feasible option.”
After hearing this, another person inquired, “Officer, what exactly is dicine King Valley?”
Before the soldier had the chance to respond, soone in the crowd began to speak, shaking their head knowledgeably,
“dicine King Valley is a second-tier sect in Dongling County! Although second-tier, the sect is well-regarded for its exceptional ability to prepare and refine dicines, which makes it popular and wealthy.”
“If the bounty is indeed provided by dicine King Valley, then there really is no concern about the reward money.”
anwhile, as Jiang Ning passed by the city gate, he was also drawn to the wanted poster.
“A reward of one hundred taels for the capture of soone with Martial Arts Eighth Grade strength? That’s rather extravagant,” he mused to himself.
He then stopped at the city gate to take a look at the poster.
After reading it, the information was indeed as the soldier had said.
Tian Buyi indeed possessed Martial Arts Eighth Grade strength.
He had indeed committed a major cri, angered dicine King Valley, and was now being hunted with a hefty bounty.
One hundred taels for his capture.
One hundred taels of silver for information leading to his whereabouts.
After confirming this, Jiang Ning was even more shocked.
After all, that was one hundred taels of gold.
One tael of gold is equivalent to a thousand taels of silver.
One hundred taels of gold, therefore, would be one hundred thousand taels of silver.
Just what taboo must have been violated by this person with dicine King Valley to warrant such an enormous bounty.
Jiang Ning did not understand.
But from the amount of the reward alone, he could feel the wrath of dicine King Valley.
If they weren’t extrely furious, how could they spend such a great deal of resources just to capture this Martial Arts Eighth Grade, notorious river bandit, Tian Buyi?
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