Chapter 81 Untying the Belt
Rong Linyan led his men in a fierce pursuit out of the city, originally intending to track down the bandits outside the city and fight them to the death. However, to his surprise, the wedding procession was still stuck at the original agreed location, neither scattered nor showing any signs of casualties.
As for the menacing, masked robbers in black described by the messenger, they did not flee and disappear as is customary. Instead, they sat quietly and harmoniously with the wedding procession, creating a strangely eerie scene.
Seeing him ride over on horseback, looking menacing, the men in black slowly raised their eyes, their eyes showing only weariness, not panic.
Their reaction was calm; they seemed to have no intention of getting up to resist or hiding. In fact, their eyes lit up, showing anticipation of their arrival.
Rong Linyan's expression was calm; he had no time to ponder this strange place, his mind preoccupied only with his cousin's safety.
He sat high on his horse, glancing around, but Bai Hua was nowhere to be seen. His heart was filled with anxiety, and his brows furrowed deeply. Then, he pulled on the reins, dismounted, rushed forward, and drew his sword, pointing it straight at the throat of a man in black.
"Who are you? State your names!" Rong Linyan roared, his voice threatening.
He had originally planned to forcefully ask his cousin for her whereabouts, but to his surprise, she looked at him, tremblingly took off her mask, knelt on the ground, and dryly called out "Young Master".
Young Master?
Rong Linyan felt a chill run down his spine, sensing something was wrong, and kicked the person away.
He took two steps to the side, approached another man in black, and raised his sword as if to stab him. The other man also bowed his head, showing no arrogance whatsoever, and stammered, without any of the fierce aura that a bandit should have.
They're all cowards.
He didn't even need to use torture to interrogate them; he just pretended to raise the tip of his sword, and these people immediately broke down and told the whole truth.
"Young master, we...we were sent by the madam."
Rong Linyan didn't understand: "Which lady?"
The man in black, who had been threatened by the sword at the beginning, bent down and stretched his neck, his narrow eyes slightly narrowed as he looked at Rong Linyan, and replied with a stiff upper lip: "It is your mother, Madam Rong."
Rong Linyan was surprised, but then breathed a sigh of relief. If his mother was secretly plotting something behind his back, then his cousin's safety should be guaranteed, at least her life was not in danger.
Before he could even catch his breath, the man continued to speak.
"But the people who kidnapped Miss Biao just now were not sent by Madam. We don't know them, and we don't know what happened. Perhaps... we just happened to run into real robbers?"
Rong Linyan's emotions were in turmoil; he absolutely hated the person who had spoken for not getting to the point.
He asked urgently, "After kidnapping Hua'er, which direction did they go?"
The man in black raised his hand and pointed in a trembling direction.
While giving directions, his arm was shaking violently, and he would occasionally hiss. Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that he had injured his wrist.
Rong Linyan, with his keen eye, stared at a spot of blood and asked, "You fought with them?"
The man in black hesitated for a moment, unsure how to respond. Although he had indeed been injured, it shouldn't be considered a direct confrontation, since the other party hadn't even dismounted before the dagger flew at him. He had only been one-sidedly beaten. But saying that would be too embarrassing, so he put on a brave face and nodded in acquiescence.
Following the clue, Rong Linyan continued to ask, "What did the person you fought look like? Of all these people, you must remember the one most vividly."
The man in black racked his brains to recall, and said somewhat guiltily, "The scene was chaotic at the time, and I didn't have time to look closely. I only vaguely remember that the other person was definitely not a weirdo; he should have looked quite decent."
Probably, or should be?
It was all vague talk, without revealing any obvious features; it was as good as saying nothing at all.
There was no time to ask further questions; time could not be wasted any longer…
Rong Linyan hurriedly mounted his horse and led his men to gallop in the direction they had just been pointed out.
...
Chen Fu was not alone in his kindness; Ning Jue had arranged for him to have an assistant beforehand. This assistant was a local from Jiling named Zang Fan, whose family was in the business of escorting goods.
This person is a good friend of Young Master Ning, but the two have very different personalities. Young Master Ning is calm and composed in the face of adversity, while Young Master Zang is clearly a fiery and impulsive person.
When they first met, Zang Fan was reluctant and mocking when he heard it was about Miss Bai. When he heard that Young Master Ning intended to abduct the bride, his expression became even more awkward, and he could practically write "I'm so disappointed in you" on his face.
He roared, “What did I say at the beginning? Stay away from her, stay away from her! She’s just a honey trap used by Rong Linyan, an obvious spy, you know that yourself, but you couldn’t bear to get rid of her, willingly letting her deceive you, and even arrogantly thinking you could persuade her to join our side, but in the end you still fell into her trap and were led by the nose. Tell me honestly, did you give Rong Linyan what he wanted?”
Ning Jue remained silent and did not express his opinion.
Zang Fan understood immediately, and then laughed angrily: "Fine, fine! They're all happy now, with both career advancement and a beautiful woman on their way. Why are you causing trouble again? Why not be generous to the end, give them the sword manual, and also help them find a marriage!"
Even without knowing the details, others could tell that Young Master Zang's words were forceful and his tone aggressive, directly hitting the nail on the head.
Chen Fu hesitated, wanting to offer some advice, but couldn't think of the right words. Young Master Ning had already spoken up first.
"I know what's important and what's not about the sword manual. As for Bai Hua, I'm not generous at all. If you help me, stay; if not, leave."
"Fine, you've turned your back on your brothers because of a troublemaker. How come I never realized you valued women over friends? If she were my own brother's wife, I'd go through fire and water to help you. But she's about to become Rong Linyan's wife, and her heart isn't with you anymore. It's pointless for me to help you, you know?"
Zang Fan was so angry that his face turned red and his neck bulged. After saying that, he turned around and was about to leave.
Chen Fu wanted to stop him, but felt he had no right to do so. He raised his arm but froze in mid-air, unsure of what to do.
Ning Jue turned around and abruptly said, "Why can't I treat you as my sister-in-law? If thinking like that makes you feel better, then so be it."
Zang Fan stopped in his tracks, pondered for a moment, and asked, "What do you mean... Are you serious? Is it what I think?"
Chen Fu, standing to the side, couldn't understand a word of it. He didn't know what kind of riddle it was. But the brothers had a tacit understanding and could understand each other even when they were speaking indirectly.
Ning Jue's expression remained unchanged, and he simply replied, "Mm."
Zang Fan's expression was a bit strange. His eyes darted around, and the previous anger was gone, along with his less aggrieved expression.
“I just can’t stand Rong Linyan’s smugness. You know what’s going on with the sword manual. This time he suffered a loss, so let’s teach him a lesson. Fine, he’s your man, I’ll help him out.”
Zang Fan suddenly changed his tune, leaving Chen Fu completely bewildered. He looked at the two of them, utterly confused.
...
After meeting with Rong Linyan's men, Ning Jue planned to take them away first, leaving the cleanup to Zang Fan and Chen Fu.
While covering Ning Jue's departure, Zang Fan and Chen Fu worked together seamlessly. One of them led a group of masked men to rob the dowry, shouting and acting fiercely, leaving not a single chest behind.
A group of thugs pretending to be bandits, only knowing some fancy moves, were no match for Chen Fu and his men, who were real veterans who had been through thick and thin in the martial arts world.
As for Zang Fan, he deliberately appeared later, and the chaotic three-way battle made it difficult to figure out who was on whose side.
In short, one side pretended to be real bandits, while the other side disguised themselves as a passing caravan. Zang Fan played his role naturally and calmly, appearing as a righteous and helpful local resident. Chen Fu felt ashamed of himself after watching him.
If things were done this way, when Rong Linyan investigated to the end, he would only come to one conclusion: the person was kidnapped by real bandits, and just as they were about to steal the money, the Zang Family Escort Agency happened to pass by and chivalrously helped them avoid financial loss.
As for the delicate bride, the escort agency arrived late and could do nothing to help. The only thing they could do was send people to search for her and do their part.
Despite his tireless efforts, Rong Linyan spent several hours investigating but found nothing. Upon returning, he saw Zang Fan appear before him with a knowing smile, as if seeking credit. He felt extremely displeased.
Zang Fan and Ning Jue have a private relationship, which is no secret in Jiling.
Rong Linyan was inherently suspicious, so of course he wouldn't believe that meeting Zang Fan at this time was just a coincidence. However, he was frustrated because he couldn't produce any evidence to directly prove that Hua'er's disappearance was related to them, so he could only swallow his anger.
Just as one problem was about to subside, another arose. As dusk fell, a messenger from the city arrived with news that Miss Yang had been waiting for her young master to return home for a long time and had become furious. She declared that she, the daughter of a general, was being treated so poorly and was utterly humiliated. She insisted on going to the Great General to complain about her grievances, and that the master and mistress were currently trying their best to dissuade her.
Upon hearing this, Rong Linyan felt a headache coming on and had no choice but to return home to deal with the thorny issue.
As for tracking down Hua'er's whereabouts, he could only slow down and plan for the long term.
...
Ning Jue and Bai Hua rode westward for more than thirty miles, covered in dust, and finally arrived at their destination.
After dismounting, Bai Hua walked around to stretch her legs. She had been jostled around on the horse the whole way, and her lower back and legs were a bit sore. As her muscles and bones gradually relaxed and the stiffness disappeared, she felt a little lighter.
Ning Jue handed the reins to the gatekeeper, then led Bai Hua through the gate of the inn.
The inn occupies a considerable area. Upon entering, you walk straight in, with warehouses on the right and a trading area on the left, lined with numerous counters and shelves. Continuing further in, you pass through a door to reach the living area for accommodation and dining.
Bai Hua walked along, observing silently. Judging from the yellowing of the walls, the inn must have been established for quite some time. Although the building was old, the interior was bright and clean. Ning Jue was probably a regular customer. After entering, he nodded and greeted the innkeeper briefly. He didn't choose a room, took the key, and led her up the stairs with practiced ease.
The accommodation area has two floors. Their room was on the second floor, at the very back. It was a bit cramped, but the view was nice. When the window was open, it faced the distant mountains and forests, shrouded in mist.
It's too late now, so we can't see any good scenery. But when the sun rises tomorrow, we'll lift the curtain and see for ourselves. We're sure to see some beautiful sights.
Ning Jue closed the door, drew the curtains tightly, and lit three candles. As soon as the wicks ignited, the room suddenly became brightly lit.
A soft, warm halo of light fell upon the two of them, making their features appear exceptionally striking.
Their eyes met, and neither of them spoke first to break the quiet atmosphere.
An unnamed fire was burning secretly and growing stronger, the room temperature rose, their breaths became heavier, and the distance between the two people was getting closer and closer. They looked into each other's eyes in tacit understanding, and saw only their own reflections in them, feeling a unique sense of satisfaction.
Ning Jue's voice was hoarse, and he took the initiative: "Hua'er, I miss you so much, so much..."
Before Bai Hua could react, a loud commotion suddenly erupted in the outdoor corridor. Footsteps were loud and heavy, and the voices didn't sound like one person.
Bai Hua felt a sudden panic and tense up, fearing that her cousin was leading his men to catch up and approach the door.
Holding my breath and listening intently, I realized something was off. The conversation outside was mixed with accents from other places; they weren't from Jiling.
Bai Hua breathed a sigh of relief.
Those people were probably guests staying on the second floor. They had drunk too much and were unsteady on their feet as they climbed the stairs, joking and laughing as they went, without caring whether they were disturbing others.
"You guys can't hold your liquor as well as I can! Let's do it again next time, next time!"
"Bragging? How about we go downstairs and get another table? Bring it on if you disagree..."
His tongue was all rolled up, his speech was incoherent, and he was still stubborn and unwilling to admit defeat—a common problem for men when they're drunk.
Bai Hua was lost in thought when she suddenly felt her chin being lifted up by someone's grip, with considerable force.
She immediately snapped out of her daze, blinked a few times, and was caught off guard when she met Ning Jue's dark and deep eyes, causing her to blush slightly without realizing it.
Ning Jue stared at her, asking with displeasure, "Aren't you concentrating when you're with me?"
Bai Hua said sullenly, "Concentrate. There was a commotion outside just now. I'm afraid it's people chasing us."
Ning Jue took a step forward, his chest almost brushing against Bai Hua's body, so close that he could see her even more clearly.
Bai Hua blushed and missed the sight.
Ning Jue placed one hand on her waist, leaned down, and said in a deep voice, "I live in this room all the time. Even if others come in and search the place thoroughly, they won't find us. You don't need to be nervous."
Upon hearing this, Bai Hua's gaze fell on the door latch. A thin wooden plank was blocking the two doors, its stability was average, and it probably couldn't withstand the force of a kick from an adult male.
She couldn't understand this and asked, "Why?"
Ning Jue remained silent, only leaning forward again, his lips almost brushing against Bai Hua's earlobe. She instinctively felt her ears burning and tried to dodge, but Ning Jue restrained her by holding her waist.
The two remained motionless in this ambiguous pose.
Ning Jue slowly reached out and turned the potted plant on the tall shelf. As soon as he stopped, the wooden bed frame suddenly spun inward. After the creaking stopped, a hidden door appeared, seemingly connecting to another room next door.
"This is……"
"Aren't you worried about this and afraid of that? Let's go into the secret room inside. The door won't open unless the mechanism is activated. Will that put your mind at ease?"
Bai Hua lowered her eyes shyly and hesitated for a moment before not moving.
Ning Jue didn't want to waste any time. He was already impatient, so he took half a step forward, picked the person up, and turned to walk into the dark room.
The dark room had a skylight but no door. It was an inner room of the previous room, exceptionally secluded, yet unlike the stuffy and damp atmosphere of a typical dark room.
Bai Hua was placed on the bed by Ning Jue. She reached out and touched the soft sheets, and asked uncertainly in a low voice, "This room isn't open to the public, is it?"
Ning Jue: "Yes, apart from the shop owner occasionally coming in to clean, only I come. Don't worry, the sheets and blankets are all clean."
Bai Hua reached out and tugged at the folds of the bedding, her face flushed, and nodded.
Once the hidden door was closed, it was too dark inside.
Ning Jue opened the drawer to look for candles. Bai Hua sat by the couch, neither helping nor making a sound.
The dimly lit room slowly filled with light as candles lit up one by one, their brightness converging and casting shadows on the floor, table, and bed. Ning Jue turned around, and Bai Hua looked in his direction as well. He noticed that her red wedding dress was even more eye-catching, while she realized that the candles being lit were all red.
Ning Jue approached her again, bent down in front of her, and reached out to unbutton her collar.
Bai Hua awkwardly backed away, but Ning Jue pressed her forcefully and pushed her onto the bed.
It's clear who's in control, with one on top and one on the bottom.
Ning Jue said disdainfully, "This outfit is extremely beautiful, it's a pity Rong Linyan can't see it."
Bai Hua said in a muffled voice, "Don't mention other people."
Ning Jue smiled, lowered his head and sucked on her sensitive earlobe, rubbing her until she lost all her temper. Then he loosened her belt, reached inside, and roamed her body closely.
Bai Hua bowed and began to hum along.
Ning Jue said in a hoarse voice, "Alright, let's not talk about it. Let's get down to business."
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