Chapter 818: Empty-handed, Ning Jing reveals a trap (2/2)

Once Long Feiye calmed down, he had plenty of things to do. Since Ning Jing and Ning Cheng were their suspects, that meant Ning Cheng was still somewhere in Medical City. He found Department Head Shen and increased the number of searchers around the city. At the same time, the poison guards that Han Yunxi had transferred to her side arrived as well. Fortunately, these guards still listened to Long Feiye’s orders, so he carefully deployed them before waiting for news from Ning Jing’s scout. Meanwhile, he replied to letters from the Tang Clan and the Baili military.

He had received both letters before arriving at Medical City. Both asked after Han Yunxi’s identity, but he only replied with five words:

You can’t believe in rumors.

He didn’t elaborate further. One he dealt with the matters on hand, Tang Li dashed into the scene.

“Big bro, it’s the Apricot Woods! She’s in the Apricot Woods!”

Tang Li was still outside the door when Long Feiye flew out of the rooms. He almost crashed into the man, but then turned to chase after him. “Big bro, Ning Jing went in circles around the city multiple times before slipping into the Apricot Woods.”

The Apricot Woods were closed to the public except during the medical academy’s conferences. Ning Jing had walked around in circles just to avoid being seen or heard as she slipped inside. Her motives were obvious.

Xu Donglin followed after them, but Long Feiye only ordered him, “Guard well your own places. No need to come along.” His precautions were meant to lure the enemy away from his base.

As long as he could ascertain the person was imprisoned there, then his current abilities were enough to stop three Ning Chengs from escaping, to say nothing of a single one! Under the guidance of a secret agent, Long Feiye saw a discarded courtyard in the distance. For the sake of evading suspicion, Tang Li had hidden himself in the shadows instead of showing himself.

“You Highness, this subordinate saw Ning Jing enter there with my own eyes. This subordinate was afraid to get too close, so I kept watch here. She still hasn’t come out, but I didn’t see anyone else go in, either,” the agent reported in a low voice.

“Very good!” Long Feiye murmured before flying out at a speed too fast for the human eye to see. All of his fears, worries, and longing didn’t matter now. All he wanted to do was to see her! But when Long Feiye entered the room, all he saw was Ning Jing sitting by herself in the courtyard and crying.

“You...Duke of Qin?!” Ning Jing exclaimed as she sprang to her feet.

Long Feiye sensed something amiss, but ignored her to charge into the rooms. Unfortunately, he didn’t find the person he wanted even after searching through the premises. By the time he returned to the courtyard, it was to see Ning Jing standing there with a face full of tears, looking lost and confused. Naturally, this was all an act. Long Feiye didn’t hesitate to turn on his heel and leave!

This was an abandoned courtyard, but there had been a bed in one of the rooms, along with clean table and chairs. Someone had lived there once, but it wasn’t Ning Jing.

As expected, this was to lure the tiger out of his mountain!

Long Feiye made a beeline for the city gates as soon as he left the woods. Fortunately, the exits were still quiet--no one had disturbed them.

“Xu Donglin, where’s Tang Li?” Long Feiye asked in a low voice.

“Still in the Apricot Woods,” Xu Donglin reported.

“Tell him there’s no need to pretend. Ning Jing’s long suspected the Tang Clan,” Long Feiye said coldly.

Ning Jing must have suspected Tang Li as well, so she must have Ning Cheng to leave ahead of time while filling in the gaps herself. There was no need for Tang Li to keep up his ignorant act at a time like this. It didn’t matter whether or not they got Cloud Realm Trade Consortium’s arms trade anymore. The Tang Clan’s assassination weapons were already East Qin’s greatest strength!

Xu Donglin had hardly gone to find Tang Li when he returned by himself. “Big bro, if you’re guarding the east gate, then I’ll take the west. The various secret passages are all blocked as well. I refuse to believe that Ning Cheng can grow wings and fly out of here!”

“Where’s Ning Jing?” Long Feiye asked coldly.

“I tied her up and gave her the choice between her life or the arms trade routes,” Tang Li said carelessly. “Big bro, even if she chooses the latter, I can still get all of the account books and ledgers, as well as the records of the stocks. In any case, I’ll definitely complete the mission!”

If this was any other day, Long Feiye would let Tang Li go without another word, but not this time. He looked at him with a peculiar look. Tang Li avoided his gaze again to laugh out loud.

“This clan head’s been waiting for this day for a long time! Big bro, if we still can’t find Ning Cheng, let’s hang that woman over the city gates tomorrow for three days and three nights. I refuse to believe that Ning Cheng won’t show up then!”

“She’s your wife by marriage and law,” Long Feiye said icily. “You decide what to do.”

“Then it’s set!” Tang Li left in high spirits, his disappointment well hidden behind his eyes.

Long Feiye kept guarding and searching, but Ning Cheng had already left Medical City with Han Yunxi long ago. They vanished last night without alerting a soul--but how?