Chapter 826: The princesss whereabouts are unknown (2/2)

These three teams of battle horses, when added to Northern Li’s original ranks, would be more than enough to support 100,000 cavalry forces! If the Ning Clan army and Long Feiye fought on against each other, it’d be Jun Yixie reaping all the rewards in the end!

Ning Cheng’s first reaction was to stop fighting immediately! By suspending the fight with East Qin, he could maintain his strength. He had to expose the Wind Clan’s sinister plots and eliminate its threat. Otherwise, the world would fall to the Wind Clan’s hands and they’d be helping it gain all the power. At the very least, he should delay until the Northern Li cavalry could fight together with the Ning Clan troops. This way he could use the Wind Clan while keeping them in check.

I never expected to rely on Long Feiye’s army to deal with this Wind Clan, Ning Cheng’s lips curled into a mocking smile.

Both pledges of loyalty and reviving the country were matters of the mission. None could escape it, nor had he ever dared to consider the option. His path of loyalty had been a lonely one.

“Very good!” Ning Cheng put on a cheerful air. “How long before the first team of horses reach the battlefields?”

“The horses need to be trained before they reach the south from Northern Li and Wintercrow Country. It’ll take about one and a half months,” Bai Yanqing answered.

“Don’t you need to break in the horses first?” Ning Cheng asked.

“No need. My master convinced the Wintercrow Country’s horse trainer to come. One is enough to command tens of thousands of horses,” Bai Yanqing couldn’t help his pride. This time, Jun Yixie had really exceeded his expectations.

“Hehe, Jun Yixie’s got some skills!” Ning Cheng then asked, “What about the second and third teams? When will they arrive?” He had to make sure of the times so he could guard against the other two teams of battle horses.

“That’s hard to say. It’ll depend on the road conditions. It’s going to snow in Northern Li after a month,” Bai Yanqing said reasonably. Ning Cheng only grew more guarded. Privately, he rejoiced that Han Yunxi had enlightened him to the Wind Clan’s infidelity.

He didn’t express his views, but simply changed the topic. “Where is the imperial jade seal?”

“We’ve naturally brought it with us. It’s just that…” Bai Yanqing was very polite. “I’m not sure if it’s convenient to see the princess so late?”

In other words, he wasn’t handing it over unless he saw Han Yunxi.

Ning Cheng sighed before he intoned, “The princess isn’t in my hands.”

“What?” Bai Yanqing was alarmed, while Bai Yuqiao was completely caught by surprise. “How can this be…”

The news they received was that Medical City had been sealed off for days, a clear sign that Han Yunxi had been kidnapped. Ning Cheng had been in Medical City himself, so if it wasn’t he who took Han Yunxi, then who was it?

“Han Yunxi truly wasn’t at Medical City. It’s not just Long Feiye who’s looking for her, but me as well. Could it be that…”

Ning Cheng trailed off for a long time before Bai Yuqiao couldn’t resist asking, “Who do you suspect?”

“A certain person…” Ning Cheng hesitated again until Bai Yanqing grew anxious.

“Who?” he asked.

“A member of the Shadow Clan!” Ning Cheng said coldly. “Chu Qingge confessed before her death that Gu Beiyue was the descendant of the Shadow Clan. Medical City’s announced that Gu Beiyue’s currently in seclusion. Could it be...him?”

“It wouldn’t be!” Bai Yuqiao denied immediately. Bai Yanqing shot her an unhappy look. He had guessed that Ning Cheng would get Gu Beiyue’s identity from the chu Clan, but never expected Han Yunxi to not be in his hands. Was he right or wrong to come in person this time?

“Why are you so sure?” Ning Cheng pressed.

Bai Yuqiao was quick-minded enough to reply. “Gu Beiyue went into seclusion long before the princess disappeared. How would he know of her identity? Moreover, even if he did know the truth, why would he kidnap the princess? He should be bringing her to find you instead.”

Ning Cheng laughed inwardly while stroking his chin in apparent thought. “Judging by the current situation, all we can do is look wholeheartedly for the princess. I ask this elder Bai to personally attend to garrison duty in the battlefield.”

“It’s important that we find the princess, just…” Bai Yanqing put on a serious expression. “But in terms of the battlefield, this old man is willing but incapable. Leaving that aside, even if my master came in person, it’s unlike he can simply rely on the Qimen Dunjia arts to repel the East Qin troops.”

Bai Yanqing was naturally afraid of Ning Cheng sending him into the battlefield and leaving Bai Yuqiao behind. Additionally, the Wind Clan’s Qimen Dunjia technique needed sufficient manpower to work. Ning Cheng and the Wind Clan’s current forces could only come to a stalemate against East Qin rather than fight back completely. Since Han Yunxi was missing, they would have to find her first. He was in no rush to go to war as delays would only prove more unfavorable for the Ning Clan troops’ side.

Once Jun Yixie’s first team of horses arrived, the Northern Li cavalry could head south. Without soldiers at his command, Ning Cheng would lose control of the majority force.

Bai Yanqing felt that his reasoning was very sound, but Ning Cheng only said, “Heheh, Uncle Bai certainly knows how to joke. Why would I let you command all those troops by yourself? I only need you to assist my Ning Clan troops and temporarily stop the fighting. Once we find the princess, it won’t be too late to rally morale to fight!”

At that moment, a guard suddenly shouted a warning from outside.

“Master, there's an assassin!”