Chapter 985: The faster and sooner, the better (1/2)

Ning Jing lied to him?

Ning Cheng looked at her intently before he guessed, “Tang Li?”

Uncle Cheng might have forgotten the events at Myriad Merchant Hall, but not Ning Cheng. When Ning Jing and Tang Li had first shown up there, she was wearing a face veil and hiding her identity. Just what had she been planning to do?

She had always told him that she hadn’t taken care of Tang Li yet. But now Tang Li was using the Tang Clan’s blueprints to exchange for her return. It was clear that the man liked her!

In truth, Ning Jing herself was clear. If Ning Cheng hadn’t been unexpectedly kidnapped outside of Blacktower, she and Tang Li might still be imprisoned in Myriad Merchant Hall today, or Ning Cheng could use Tang Li to directly threaten the Tang Clan. Her brother had already started suspecting her then.

“Brother, it’s not Tang Li,” Ning Jing lowered her head. “Brother, I...I…” Although her words wouldn’t hurt the Di Clan or Ning Cheng much now, she still found it hard to admit the truth.

“Speak,” Ning Cheng’s voice was very cold. He couldn’t afford for Ning Jing to tarry here.

“Brother, I--I lied to you about one thing. The Tang Clan is actually--” Ning Jing steeled her heart and finally blurted it out. “The Tang Clan is actually part of Long Feiye’s strength. Tang Li is not only Long Feiye’s cousin, but his subordinate.”

Ning Cheng stood stunned. After a while, he broke into a cold chuckle. “Long Feiye...Long Feiye…”

He had done his utmost and sacrificed his most competent and intimate little sister’s own happiness to pull the Tang Clan to their side, just for the sake of obtaining their assassination weapons. Who knew everything was one big joke! Long Feiye had been watching this big farce the entire time!

The Tang Clan was part of Long Feiye’s strength?

So...so from the start, the wedding wasn’t the Di Clan making up for their mistakes and marrying Ning Jing into the Tang Clan, but Long Feiye allowing the mistake and having Tang Li marry Ning Jing with motives in mind! If Ning Jing hadn’t taken care of Tang Li and got taken care of in turn, then what kind of losses would Cloud Realm Trade Consortium be facing now? He immediately recalled the dowry and realized: the arms trade routes!

At last, the truth was out!

“When did you find out?” Ning Cheng demanded furiously. Who could keep their temper after finding out they’d be thoroughly and utterly played?

“At Medical City, I discovered the truth,” Ning Jing admitted.

“Why didn’t you say anything? Just what were you thinking, bringing Tang Li to the casinos?” Ning Cheng asked.

Ning Jing fell silent a long time before she murmured, “Brother, I like Tang Li. I…” She didn’t even know how to explain. There were plenty of excuses in the world, but feelings remained unfathomable. Nothing about it could be defined by absolute logic. In the end, Ning Jing touched her round stomach hidden beneath the robes and said, “The child’s almost five months old. I was planning to leave by myself with the baby, but now…”

Ning Jing knew she shouldn’t be asking Ning Cheng her question at a time like this, but she needed the answer to release her heart from remorse.

“Brother,” she said, “If...if we can leave this place alive, can I still return to the Tang Clan?”

Since the grudge between East and West Qin was all a misunderstanding, then there was no barrier between her and Tang Li anymore! She dearly missed her days at the Tang Clan and desperately wished to see Tang Li before her baby was born.

Ning Cheng looked at her for a long time before he broke into a bitter laugh. Ning Jing had no idea why he was laughing, but the sound disturbed her heart. No matter what, she had betrayed the Di Clan in the end.

Unexpectedly, Ning Cheng only said, “It’s enough if we’re the only ones who know this. If...if we can leave this place alive, hehe, then don’t forget to send me an invitation for my nephew’s one-month anniversary!”

Ning Jing was so moved that she almost threw herself at Ning Cheng. In the end, she didn’t dare do to more than nod vigorously. “Brother, we’ll definitely make it out alive! Brother, Han Yunxi didn’t mean to hurt you on purpose, she was aiming for Bai Yanqing with her needle! She told me herself, that attack was by accident! Brother, after you went missing, Han Yunxi helped Myriad Merchant Hall with so many things…”

Ning Jing told Ning Cheng all about the happenings at Myriad Merchant Hall while he listened quietly. Somewhere along the line, his hand had rose to caress his phoenix wing mask.

“Brother, we not only have to stop Han Yunxi and Long Feiye from attacking the Di Clan first, but prevent Han Yunxi from cutting off the Di Clan’s source of revenue! Once Myriad Merchant Hall loses its money, you won’t be able to pay Jun Yixie his share!” Ning Jing grew tense. “Brother, we have to get in contact with Han Yunxi as fast as possible!”

Ning Cheng’s face was already ashen from all he’d learned. “East Origin Hall...Kangan Private Bank…”

His shock and despair was even more severe than Gu Qishao’s upon discovering the truth. After all, the various gold cards in his possession, including one limitless gold card, all came from Kangan Private Bank. Even with Han Yunxi stopping Myriad Merchant Hall, it was likely Long Feiye had already frozen his accounts. He had no money to offer Jun Yixie at all!

If that was the case, Jun Yixie wouldn’t be able to afford a war against the Northern Li emperor, which meant the north would be stuck in a stalemate on both sides. Thus, Long Feiye wouldn’t need to fear them unless the emperor and Jun Yixie decided to join hands and attack the south! However, the Di Clan’s current coffers were only enough to support their own armies for a year at most. If they had to take care of Jun Yixie’s armies as well, then they’d only last six more months. Even if the Di Clan and Jun Yixie joined up to guard against Northern Li, they still wouldn’t be a match for Long Feiye’s forces!

Ning Cheng finally realized one truth he’d never considered before: Long Feiye was the richest man in Cloud Realm Continent! Everything on the continent and all of its changes couldn’t escape the palm of that man’s hand. If Myriad Merchant Hall hadn’t undergone those two disasters, perhaps they could last a little longer until the Di Clan gained an advantage.