Martial Arts School.
Jiang Ning had just finished taking stock of his resources when he heard someone calling outside.
"Brother Jiang! Brother Jiang!!"
Hearing the voice, Jiang Ning tidied up and stepped out of his room. He saw the disciple who usually guarded the school's gate standing in his courtyard.
The disciple cupped his hands in greeting upon seeing Jiang Ning. "Brother Jiang, there's a constable outside the school who asked me to relay a message to you. Constable Cao is currently visiting your elder brother's home and requests that you return home."
Constable Cao?
Hearing these words, Jiang Ning's eyes narrowed slightly, and he thought to himself, Cao Bin? What is he doing at my brother's house?
The thought flashed through his mind, and Jiang Ning replied, "Thank you, Brother Yu, for the message. I'll head back now."
As he walked out of the martial arts school, he immediately spotted a young man dressed in a constable's uniform.
It's him!
Jiang Ning recognized him as the same person who had accompanied Constable Feng during his previous visit to his home. He also recalled his brother mentioning that this man's name was Yang Zong.
Yang Zong, upon seeing Jiang Ning, immediately cupped his hands and said, "Brother Jiang Ning, please come with me in the carriage! Constable Cao and Constable Feng are already at Brother Li's home, and they specifically sent me to fetch you."
Yang Zong was being unusually polite. When Constable Feng had sent him, he had sternly instructed him to treat Jiang Ning with respect and not to offend him in any way. Although Yang Zong didn't know the reason for this, he understood that Constable Feng's serious tone meant there was a good reason for it.
"Alright," Jiang Ning nodded. "Thank you, Brother Yang."
The two of them boarded the carriage, and with a crack of Yang Zong's whip, the carriage sped toward the outer city.
Outer City.
Jiang Ning soon arrived at the familiar alleyway. Turning a corner, he saw the familiar sight of a small courtyard surrounded by a bamboo fence. The wooden gate of the courtyard was wide open.
From the front, he could hear the voices of Constable Feng, his elder brother, and another deep, authoritative voice. Judging by the tone, the latter was someone accustomed to giving orders and held a position of authority.
Cao Bin is indeed here! Jiang Ning thought to himself.
He had met Cao Bin once before at the martial arts school and had remembered his voice. Now, just from hearing it, he knew Cao Bin had come.
Quickening his pace, Jiang Ning walked into the courtyard, with Yang Zong following closely behind.
Courtyard.
Under the grapevine trellis, three men were seated. Cao Bin was in the middle of a conversation with Constable Feng. When Jiang Ning appeared, the two of them stopped talking, and Cao Bin's gaze immediately fell on Jiang Ning.
He gave Jiang Ning a once-over, thinking to himself that the intelligence was correct. This young man is indeed unharmed! It seems Shen Congyun left him something valuable before departing. To think he managed to kill Hong Chengtao and Xu Yunfeng and come back unscathed this kid is no ordinary person.
Even if I were to personally take action now, it wouldn't be a sure thing. Even an Eighth Grade expert could stumble in a situation like this. There's no need to escalate the conflict further. If I can't finish him off, he might come back to haunt me later.
It's better to ease tensions. If we can turn hostility into friendship, that would be ideal. If not, at least lowering his guard wouldn't be a bad thing. I hope this kid is smart enough to see that.
With these thoughts in mind, Cao Bin stood up with a smile and greeted Jiang Ning.
"Brother Jiang Ning, it's been a while!"
Jiang Ning also smiled. "Greetings, Constable Cao and Constable Feng. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today?"
Cao Bin chuckled. "Brother Jiang Ning, you've just returned. Why don't you have some water to quench your thirst first?"
"Alright," Jiang Ning replied with a smile.
On the way here, he had been puzzled about Cao Bin's sudden visit. But now, seeing Cao Bin's friendly demeanor, he had a rough idea of what was going on.
Cao Bin is here as a friend, not an enemy.
Jiang Ning sat down beside his elder brother and picked up a cup of cold tea, taking a few sips. After riding in the carriage for nearly an hour in the afternoon heat, he was indeed thirsty.
Before Jiang Ning could speak, Cao Bin said, "Brother Jiang Ning, the reason for my visit today is simple. I hope to clear up any misunderstandings between us and turn hostility into friendship."
With that, he gestured to his attendant, who promptly took out a small red box from his sleeve and handed it to Cao Bin.
Cao Bin placed the red box on the stone table in front of Jiang Ning. "This is a small gift, a token of my sincerity. Please accept it."
Jiang Ning opened the box, and under the dappled sunlight, the contents gleamed with a bright golden light. Inside was a gold leaf, weighing one tael.
Seeing the gold leaf, Jiang Ning couldn't help but show a hint of surprise.
Constable Feng, who had accompanied Cao Bin, was even more shocked. Having worked with Cao Bin for many years, he knew how greedy Cao Bin was with money. To see a gold leaf being given away by Cao Bin was almost unbelievable.
Could the rumors be true? Constable Feng thought to himself. Did Jiang Ning kill Xu Yunfeng and Hong Chengtao, the deputy leader of the Green Snake Gang? But how is that possible? Hong Chengtao was a ninth-grade martial artist with stone-like skin, capable of exerting seven or eight hundred pounds of force. With his mastery of Iron Sand Palm and his combat experience, how could he have fallen to someone so young?
Constable Feng found it hard to believe. He had initially dismissed the rumors as baseless, but now, seeing this scene with his own eyes, he began to have doubts.
If it weren't for this incident, why would Cao Bin have brought such an expensive gift? A single gold leaf was worth a thousand taels of silver. With a constable's monthly salary of ten taels, it would take nearly ten years to earn that much.
Jiang Ning looked at the gold leaf in the box and asked, "Constable Cao, what is the meaning of this?"
Cao Bin smiled. "This is a small token of my sincerity, as well as a belated apology. There was a misunderstanding earlier, and I nearly arrested you. These past few days, I've been unable to sleep, thinking about it. I wanted to visit earlier, but I heard you had left the city. Now that I know you've returned, I came to apologize in person."
He paused, then added, "There's one more thing I need to apologize for."
With that, Cao Bin cupped his hands toward Jiang Ning from his seat and continued, "Due to Xu Yunfeng's mishandling of the investigation, I punished him by stripping him of his constable's uniform and removing him from the official registry, reducing him to a commoner. However, Xu Yunfeng secretly harbored resentment toward you and followed you out of the city with the intent to harm you. Fortunately, you have extraordinary luck and returned safely."
"To express my apology, I have one more thing to show you."
Cao Bin signaled to his attendant, who quickly left and returned moments later carrying a cloth bag.
The attendant placed the bag on the stone table in front of Jiang Ning and unwrapped it, revealing a wooden box. A strong smell of blood wafted out.
Jiang Ning frowned. "What's inside?"
Cao Bin smiled. "Open it and see."
Jiang Ning slid open the lid of the box, revealing the severed head of an elderly woman with silver hair. The stench of blood filled the air.
Jiang Ning's frown deepened as he looked at Cao Bin. "What is the meaning of this?"
Cao Bin smiled faintly. "This is Xu Yunfeng's blind mother, his only remaining family. Since Xu Yunfeng attempted to harm you, his mother failed in her duty to raise him properly. This is her fate."
Cao Bin then looked at Jiang Ning with a half-smile. "I hope these two gifts are to your satisfaction."
Jiang Ning met Cao Bin's gaze calmly. After a moment, he slowly closed the box containing Xu Yunfeng's mother's head.
"Constable Cao, you may leave now."
"Very well," Cao Bin said with a smile. "I'll leave these gifts here."
Jiang Ning nodded.
Seeing this, Cao Bin stood up and left with a smile. Constable Feng also stood and cupped his hands toward Jiang Ning and Jiang Li. "Gentlemen, I'll take my leave as well."
Jiang Li said, "Constable Feng, take care."
Courtyard.
After the two men left, only Jiang Ning and Jiang Li remained in the courtyard.
"Little brother, did you kill Xu Yunfeng?" Jiang Li asked.
"Yes," Jiang Ning nodded. "When I suddenly disappeared a few days ago, it was because I noticed Xu Yunfeng and his men following me. I led them out of the city to a 'favorable' spot."
"Little brother... you truly amaze me," Jiang Li sighed.
He then pointed to the two items on the table. "What should we do with these?"
Jiang Ning said, "Big brother, keep them."
He then sighed. "The sins of the son should not fall on the mother. Let's give Xu Yunfeng's mother a proper burial."
Jiang Li nodded. "You're right. The sins of the son should not extend to the family. I'll arrange for a proper burial."
"Thank you, big brother," Jiang Ning said.
Jiang Li smiled. "With my right hand crippled, my abilities are limited. I can't help you much, but I can handle small matters like this. Your time is more valuable and shouldn't be wasted on such things."
He then picked up the small red box containing the gold leaf, closed it, and handed it to Jiang Ning. "You should keep this. It's worth a thousand taels of silver and will be a great help in your martial training. I have enough money for now."
"Alright," Jiang Ning nodded.
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