Chapter 892: Ning Cheng takes a huge gamble (2/2)

Uncle Cheng felt chilled by the sight. His master was really taking a big risk cooperating with this girl. However, Ning Cheng was quite happy to hear her words and laughed as well. “Alright!”

It wouldn’t be too late to deal with Gu Qishao once he finished affairs at Blacktower.

“What kind of ways do you have to deal with your master?” Ning Cheng asked.

“Come on, I’ll tell you when we get there,” Bai Yuqiao grew serious once more. “We have to get there soon because we can’t afford to delay. When master and I went to Tianning’s capital city, he said he wanted to bring Su Xiaoyu to Blacktower.”

Ning Cheng wasn’t impulsive, but insisted coldly, “Tell me before we go.”

Bai Yuqiao beckoned him closer with her finger, so he bent down. She immediately scooted close, but he instantly backed away, disliking such proximity with a female. Seeing this, Bai Yuqiao laughed. “Aiya, I couldn’t tell that Master Ning was such a prude. It’s a shame, it really is…”

Ning Cheng’s face fell. “Are you telling me or not?!”

“Master Ning, I actually think you’d make a great match with the West Qin princess. Once the two of you revive West Qin, you might as well marry into the royal clan and be her fuma![2] If she doesn’t proclaim herself emperor, then your Ning Clan can rule West Qin as its sovereign!” Bai Yuqiao grinned.

Ning Cheng gripped her neck without hesitation. “If you dare say such things again, I promise I’ll cut off your tongue and feed it to the dogs!”

Bai Yuqiao slapped Ning Cheng’s hands repeatedly as she struggled, but she didn’t poison him. She wasn’t sure whether Ning Cheng was truly angry, or probing her. They were so close that she long had a chance to poison him before he could find Han Yunxi for help. But she didn’t want to do that. Over 100 million in that gold card was too big of a sum to resist. The Northern Li emperor had started keeping her senior brother in check since last year, so the soldiers’ pay and provisions were extremely tight. If she could give this money to senior brother, then he would definitely be thrilled. Moreover, she had other plans in mind for the money, too.

She understood her master better than anyone else. She was certain that unless Han Yunxi was around, it’d be impossible for Ning Cheng and Gu Qishao to kill him, even if they worked together. She had agreed to accompany them to Blacktower in the first place to give them hope, but she had her own motives at work. She didn’t lie when she said the guards there were all her subordinates. As long as she reached the place, she’d have more chances to escape.

Before, she had been hesitating because Gu Qishao was there. She would have needed to lay a trap to escape smoothly from Blacktower. Now that Ning Cheng and Gu Qishao were at odds and he’d come to find her, this was nothing short of a heaven-sent chance! How could she really refrain from poisoning Ning Cheng? Of course, since she’d accepted 160 million already, she would help Ning Cheng a little bit first before running away. Ning Cheng had led troops in the vicinity of the Three-Way Battlefield for ages. Add that to the wealth of Myriad Merchant Hall and he should be quite powerful in this region. Thus, although it was unlikely that Ning Cheng would kill her master, Bai Yuqiao still wanted to borrow his strength to hurt master a bit. That would not only get her revenge, but help avenge senior brother as well while giving them a fighting chance to get out of his clutches. After going to Blacktower with Ning Cheng tonight and bribing the guards, they could set a stage for master to return. Then she’d seize the chance to take Su Xiaoyu and flee. Su Xiaoyu was an important piece of the puzzle to tracking down the Perplexing Butterfly Illusion. Of course she’d do her best to bring her to her senior brother.

Bai Yuqiao’s harsh features subconsciously eased into a warm smile at the thought. No matter what, she had to make sure everything went smoothly. Once senior brother knows the truth and what I’ve done for him, he’ll stop treating me so coldly.

Ning Cheng quite approved of Bai Yuqiao’s plans after hearing the details. Of course, he wasn’t stupid enough to trust on pure tactics to kill Bai Yanqing. He had agents of his own on the sly and had made ample preparations without Bai Yuqiao’s own knowledge. He dearly hoped that Han Yunxi could be here to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with him right now to kill that traitor Bai Yanqing! Unfortunately, she was still with the East Qin army. Despite his depression and resentment, Ning Cheng’s icy eyes would always turn gentle at the thought of her name. His fingers moved as if to grasp something, but caught nothing but air. It’s good that Han Yunxi isn’t here. Otherwise, if Bai Yanqing plays the same old tricks and threatens Gu Beiyue, it’ll be all for naught again.

Ning Cheng finally released Bai Yuqiao, and the girl staggered back a few steps to gasp for breath. She had nearly been choked to death.

“You make preparations. After an hour, wait for me by the door,” Ning Cheng said frostily before turning to leave.

Bai Yuqiao exhaled in relief. Just then, she almost couldn’t take it.

As soon as Ning Cheng left the rooms, Uncle Cheng hastened to catch up. “Master, please reconsider. You can’t afford to be rash here!”

“What kind of man is Bai Yanqing? None of our men know poisons, this is too risky. If Gu Qishao…”

Before Uncle Cheng could finish, Ning Cheng cut him off coldly, “Add 1,000 more archers. And also, bring the Pear Blossom Teardrop Rain needles.” He refused to believe that Bai Yanqing’s poison could be faster than those needles. This time, he would kill the man without fail.

By the time Ning Cheng was ready to go, the head elder had arrived as well.

“What’s wrong with Ning Jing? Why is she hiding her face?” Ning Cheng asked.

1. Specifically, the number six, or liu (六) sounds similar to liu (流), which means flowing/smooth, such as smooth progress or a smooth journey.

2. fuma (驸马) - an official title for the husband of the emperor’s daughter, aka the royal son-in-law of the emperor.