Chapter 812: Chapter 272: You Must Still Love Me_2
Sun Lingtong shrugged and said indifferently, “Since it’s something that can be done easily, let’s go with your plan.”
Ning Zhuo stroked the mechanical ring and then checked the jade slip and token to confirm they were harmless before putting them away.
Besides the Jiao family’s several cultivation techniques, the jade slip also contained a treasure map.
The Jiao family almost mobilized their entire clan for support, and before setting off, they had made many preparations, including distributing and hiding the family’s wealth in various locations.
Ning Zhuo wasn’t interested in the treasure map; the Jiao family’s standards weren’t high, and most of their wealth had been distributed among family members, leaving nothing of much value.
He was also not interested in the cultivation techniques in the jade slip; after glancing at them briefly, he no longer paid attention.
The Three Superior Sect Techniques he was practicing were more than enough for him at the moment.
His cultivation of the physical body continued steadily with the help of the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat.
His focus was currently on soul cultivation.
After all, the four Nascent Soul-level soul cultivation treasures were not something an ordinary cultivator could possess. The Hungry Ghost Retribution Cauldron and the “Underworld Penal Code” were borrowed from the White Paper City Lord and would need to be returned when leaving the city.
Ning Zhuo’s soul foundation was rapidly growing.
The city had organized multiple night assaults, which hadn’t shaken the Yin Soldiers’ camp but did cause trouble and casualties for the enemy. Overall, the results were effective.
Wen Ruanyu frequently visited Ning Zhuo, urging him to search for the traitor.
Finding a traitor isn’t easy at all!
Ning Zhuo was aware of his limitations; he wasn’t skilled in investigations. Instead of wasting time on uncertain tasks, he preferred to seize the opportunity to cultivate zealously.
Wen Ruanyu was persistent, finally revealing his thoughts during one of the urging sessions: “The City Lord entrusted us with an important task; how can we slack off? Jiao Ma, put in more effort, gather more intel, and we might uncover the traitor.”
It turned out that Ning Zhuo, through Sun Lingtong, had been secretly gathering specific military intelligence, sending flying messages to the Jiao family, guiding their night assaults to target the enemy’s weak spots.
Such actions done repeatedly naturally raised suspicions among those with a keen eye.
In Wen Ruanyu’s mind, it confirmed that Jiao Ma wasn’t Jiao Ma, having been specially tasked by the City Lord to investigate the traitor, seemingly relying on his unique intelligence capabilities.
Ning Zhuo, annoyed by the urge, made some excuses to avoid it.
Wen Ruanyu, concerned about the White Paper Immortal City, wasn’t easily dismissed.
After some thought, Ning Zhuo could only propose, “Lord Wen, please be patient. Whether the White Paper Immortal City can survive the Ghost Tide disaster fundamentally depends not on the traitor but on our City Lord.”
“As long as the City Lord recovers and solves the problem of excessive Yin Qi, gaining the ability to act freely, then with this Immortal City, who could possibly attack us successfully?”
Wen Ruanyu nodded: “That’s true, but the current state of the City Lord is still an issue.”
Ning Zhuo shook his head, staring at Wen Ruanyu, “Lord Wen, I don’t believe that the grand White Paper Immortal City would have no contingency plan for this.”
After a brief hesitation, Wen Ruanyu transmitted a message to Ning Zhuo, “Well, you are now the Deputy City Lord, so this plan won’t be hidden from you.”
Immediately, he explained it succinctly.
Ning Zhuo, upon hearing this, had a flicker of surprise, “Golden Swallow Fork?”
Sun Lingtong found out almost simultaneously, secretly laughing: “Little Zhuo, this treasure has a great name, and it especially matches our Iron Han Armor, it’s meant to be ours.”
Wen Ruanyu’s plan was straightforward: find a suitable cultivator to become the master of the Golden Swallow Fork. Then, using this extremely Yang treasure, unleash vast Yang energy to help the White Paper City Lord dissipate her overwhelming Yin Qi.
Once the burden is sufficiently reduced, the White Paper City Lord’s body would regain some mobility.
Wen Ruanyu sighed, “Originally, Jin Yangzi was the best candidate for this plan.”
“This person was a pawn inserted by Baishou Dragon Lord. We knew it, but for the sake of the situation, we endured.”
“Unfortunately, the traitor acted first, eliminating him.”
Ning Zhuo said, “So, the traitor was also aware of this plan.”
Wen Ruanyu said, “The existence of the Golden Swallow Fork was already known among the high ranks. In fact, it symbolizes hope and plays a crucial role in calming hearts and stabilizing morale!”
Ning Zhuo clapped his hands, “In that case, why don’t we set a trap with this matter?”
“If we run around investigating, it’s not only dangerous, but what if the enemy spreads false information, wasting our energy and time?”
“Rather than being easily distracted by the enemy, it’s better to lay a snare and wait!”
Wen Ruanyu was convinced, nodding slightly, “Makes sense.”
Ning Zhuo added, “But before that, let’s transfer me to the Yang Enhancement Institute first.”
During this time, too many Human Clan males had been brought into the Cangyang Villa, making the environment quite noisy and unsuitable for Ning Zhuo’s cultivation.
“That’s easy!” Wen Ruanyu readily agreed.
In fact, if Ning Zhuo showed his position as Deputy City Lord, he could easily handle it himself.
Ning Zhuo successfully entered the Yang Enhancement Institute.
The temperature in the Yang Enhancement Institute was significantly higher than outside.
Deep underground, there was a pool of Fire Essence.
The main hall was the Fiery Sun Hall, with the Sunrise Stele in the backyard, and in the front courtyard plaza stood a pillar named the Golden Crow Scorches the Sky Pillar, presenting an overwhelming aura of grandeur.
The place where Ning Zhuo moved a unified area known as the Yang Flame Residence, with much of its furniture crafted from Fire Jade.
The atmosphere here was quite unpleasant.
Ning Zhuo, on the afternoon he moved in, was ambushed in the back garden during a stroll.
“Kid, I heard you were personally arranged to be here by Lord Wen?”
“You have quite the connections, but don’t be delusional.”
“I am destined to be the master of the Golden Swallow Fork!”
Zuo Han, with a left eye gleaming like cold moonlight, sternly threatened Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo was about to speak when a figure sprang out from behind a fake mountain nearby.
It was his acquaintance, someone from the “same village,” Yang Weida.
Yang Weida nodded and bowed to Zuo Han, helping Ning Zhuo get through the encounter.
“Jiao Ma, you’ve finally been promoted.”
“That’s wonderful!”
“We are our own people, and we should help each other, letting these bullying old men glare at us in disbelief as we succeed.”
After saying this, he looked intently at Ning Zhuo, “Jiao Ma, the medicine I sold you, have you finished it? Would you like to buy more?”
“That’s not necessary.” Ning Zhuo refused outright, turned, and left, not wanting to get entangled with Yang Weida.
He had to practice.
Regarding soul cultivation, Ning Zhuo practiced diligently without rest.
Wen Ruanyu took almost full responsibility for setting up the trap around the Golden Swallow Fork.
Ning Zhuo acted as a carefree boss, enjoying a tranquil life.
The arrival of a young girl disrupted Ning Zhuo’s peaceful days.
Her skin was a teal color with deep green spiral patterns at the joints, and her elbows and knees had scale-like keratin.
Two spiral short horns protruded from her forehead, resembling curved blades forged from copper.
She wore leather armor, her figure curvaceous and voluptuous, yet her waist was slender, creating a smooth yet exaggerated contour.
The girl approached proactively, staring intensely at Ning Zhuo, her eyes filled with strong emotions, “Little Ma, you still like me, don’t you?”
Ning Zhuo immediately understood; this young girl must be Qing Yan’s daughter, the Ghost Clan girl Qing Chi, who loved Jiao Ma.
He felt a headache coming, expressionlessly shook his head, “At this point, what’s the point in talking about liking or not. You should leave quickly, and don’t come looking for me again in the future; let’s pretend we’ve never met.”
The girl took a step back, face pale, clutching her heart in pain, “Little Ma, how could you be so heartless, saying words like knives!”
“I don’t believe it!” She shook her head, then locked her determined and pleading eyes onto Ning Zhuo, “You must still love me; you’re just saying one thing and meaning another!”