Chapter 885: Just who took the bait? (1/2)

Ning Cheng!

Ning Jing never thought she’d see Ning Cheng here. Wasn’t he supposed to be with the army? Although Ning Cheng was the leader of Myriad Merchant Hall, it was rare for him to deal with things here in person after Tianning’s internal unrest. What was he doing here now?

Ning Jing only knew that East and West Qin had stopping fighting, but not the specific reasons why. Nor did she know that Han Yunxi had already gone to Long Feiye’s side. Her second thought was to wonder whether Han Yunxi was nearby as well. One thing she had never understood was why Han Yunxi never bothered telling Ning Cheng the connection between the Tang Clan and Long Feiye herself. She must have known it the earliest of them all.

When she was taken back to the Tang Clan after the interrogation in the forest, she had waited for Tang Li to hold discussions with the Cloud Realm Trade Consortium elders. From there, she was certain Han Yunxi hadn’t revealed the truth to Ning Cheng.

As West Qin’s princess, what was Han Yunxi plotting?

Despite her suspicions, she couldn’t bother with so many details when her own life was currently at stake. Flustered, she felt at a loss for what to do. All she did was lower her head, afraid that Ning Cheng would recognize her. But soon enough, she realized she was wrong!

She had a face mask on, but Tang Li hadn’t bothered to disguise himself at all. Once he was seen, then Ning Cheng would guess her identity soon enough.

What to do?

Ning Jing wanted to calm down and think up a plan. There had to be a way! But she couldn’t still her nerves. If Ning Cheng was at the Three-Way Black Market, then her plan was a failure. She couldn’t escape today or ever leave Three-Way Black Market again!

Agitation, gloom, alarm, despair, and grievances filled her heart. Ning Jing suddenly felt exhausted and wanted to have a good cry. What was she supposed to do? Although she had older siblings, she’d never relied on either of them. She had always been stubborn and persistent on her own. Now she desperately wanted someone to lean on and tell her how to act. Her own brother was right there and her husband by her side, but she couldn’t depend on either of them.

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Ning Cheng had just finished his rounds of the auction houses and was planning to go back and rest when he inexplicably entered this gambling house. The first lesson he learned in his youth after entering the army was not to fight a battle he couldn’t win. The Three-Way Black Market’s gambling houses never dealt with games of calculation, but ones based on pure luck. Thus, Ning Cheng disliked them and rarely visited the premises.

But he was feeling gloomy today and had nowhere to vent. Would he feel better after some random gambling?

Only the Di Clan and the highest echelons of Cloud Realm Trade Consortium were aware that Long Feiye had taken Han Yunxi hostage. He himself had only told Uncle Cheng about Han Yunxi’s feelings for the man. After she left, his heart had been in perpetual shadow.

“Bring out 30,000 chips,” he instructed Uncle Cheng.

“Master, you’ve never gambled before,” Uncle Cheng reminded him in a low tone.

“I said, bring out 30,000 chips! Do you need me to say it a third time?” Ning Cheng snapped.

Uncle Cheng backed off, and Ning Cheng’s gaze drifted through the crowds before catching a familiar face.

“Tang Li…” he muttered to himself.

Uncle Cheng returned with a box full of chips and followed Ning Cheng’s gaze. He saw Tang Li immediately, but was drawn to the masked girl he held in his arms while weaving in and out of the crowds.

“That couldn’t be Miss Jing, could it?” Uncle Cheng was surprised.

“Why is she hiding her face?” Ning Cheng sensed something off instantly.

Ever since the Di Clan and Cloud Realm Trade Consortium’s identities were exposed, there were no more secrets. Even common people knew that the Three-Way Black Market’s Myriad Merchant Hall was under his Di Clan. Naturally, Tang Li should know this as well, so there was no need for Ning Jing to disguise herself. She must have avoided the private tunnels, so she hadn’t tipped off any member of Myriad Merchant Hall. Her mask was to prevent people from recognizing her.

Why?

Ning Cheng’s comment left Uncle Cheng puzzled as well. “Strange! Could it be that Miss Jing is here to play and didn’t want to alarm the people on the floor?”

Ning cheng’s eyes flashed shrewdly. Others might not understand, but he knew Ning Jing quite well. That girl placed emphasis on wealth and would never frequent a gambling house like this. If she wasn’t dragged here by force by Tang Li, then there had to be an agenda!

After some hesitation, Ning Cheng dropped his head to tell Uncle Cheng a few words before entering the secret passage. Tang Li had yet to notice Ning Cheng, but Ning Jing already knew that they’d been caught. She noticed how her brother had whispered into Uncle Cheng’s ear. She wished she could take Tang Li and leave, but now they were in a tight spot. If she departed right now, Ning Cheng would be too smart and suspect her. The Three-Way Black Market by the Three-Way Battlefield nearby were all Ning Cheng’s turf! They’d never be able to escape!

In the midst of her chaos, her hands drifted to her stomach again. Once there, it stayed as she brushed her fingers against her slightly showing belly. She suddenly fell quiet. There was still one more person she could depend on in this world to give her strength: the tiny life within her womb, the mark left on her by Tang Li. This was the only memory she could take away from him.