Chapter 1195: Dont bother me, dont come find me (2/2)

“Do you think you can still go to Yunning if I passed on her to words to Han Yunxi?” Ning Cheng’s voice grew frigid as well.

Jin Zi paused, then intoned, “Ning Cheng, I’ve always thought of you as a friend. Can you stop digging into things between Mu Linger and me?”

Ning Cheng was a little angry. “Calm down. If I didn’t treat you as a friend, could I have returned your indenture agreement? Do you know Han Yunxi’s been asking me repeatedly to keep an eye on you? Of all the people you could provoke, you chose her younger sister!”

It was only in private settings that Ning Cheng ever used “Han Yunxi” in speech. Jin Zi turned to look at him and saw wine jugs on the side. Without a word, he strode to one, lifted it up, and downed its contents! His alcohol tolerance was only average at best, but drinking daily with Ning Cheng had improved him immensely. One whole jug was no longer capable of rendering him drunk.

After finishing the drink, Jin Zi went to sit on the side while Ning Cheng crossed his arms and leaned against the wall map, staring at him. Jin Zi was a recticurn man to begin with, so now he looked even lonelier sitting all by himself.

He began to tell Ning Cheng about the agreement between him and Mu Linger.

After some careful thought, Ning Cheng concluded, “Missed appointments don’t count, you know?”

“I only promised to let her go if Gu Qishao took a fancy to her within a year. That deadline’s already passed. Whenever I choose to bring her back with me to Wintercrow Country is my business!” Jin Zi said confidently.

Ning Cheng grew curious. “Gu Qishao didn’t come with us…”

Besides Han Yunxi and a select few, the rest were ignorant to Gu Qishao’s condition. Ning Cheng and Jin Zi had never investigated the man, either. But the fact that Mu Linger was here without Gu Qishao, combined with Han Yunxi’s special instructions, made it clear that Gu Qishao and Mu Linger weren’t a pair. According to the previous promise, Jin Zi had full rights to take Mu Linger away. Moreover, Mu Linger had even come to the army camp herself and asked about his whereabouts.

“She definitely came to fulfill the promise. Otherwise, her personality would have her hiding far away ages ago. She never would have come here,” Jin Zi’s lips rose into a self-mocking grin. “Ning Cheng, we’re both businessmen who value our contracts. But…”

But he was actually afraid that she would default on hers!

Over the past three months, he’d been avoiding her in case she came to try negotiations with him. He feared that he’d grow soft if he saw her pitiful eyes!

How could he give up on prey that was already delivered to his mouth?

Ning Cheng smiled helplessly and patted Jin Zi on the shoulder. “Done! I’ll pretend I know nothing about this matter. If you want to head for Yunning, hurry and make preparations!”

Jin Zi was about to leave when Mu Linger actually backtracked. She didn’t enter the tent, but loudly called out from outside, “Great General Ning, can I ask you a favor?”

Ning Cheng glanced at Jin Zi before he agreed. “What is it?”

“I have a gold card with me. I’d like to trouble you to give it to Jin Zi when you see him in the future. Just say I’m returning it to him.”

Outside the tent, Mu Linger was already drawing up the horse carriage with her luggage on her back.

“Alright, you can just hand it to the guard,” Ning Cheng replied loudly.

“I’ve troubled you. And now I’m off!” Mu Linger’s voice was cheerful.

Jin Zi’s expression was cold and dissatisfied as he listened to this exchange. After Mu Linger left, both men walked out of the tent. Jin Zi played with the gold card as he told Ning Cheng, “I’ll see you in Yunning. Also, we agreed beforehand that you’d pay me back for the private bank I lost. Otherwise, even if I stay in Northern Li, I won’t get involved with the Black Clan!”

Ning Cheng was rather easygoing. “No problem. Leave your tiger tally here. For the past few months, the Black Clan and tiger army members have been nothing short of chaotic.”

Jin Zi didn’t think twice before handing over the special command token. He hurried off, planning to shadow Mu Linger in secret. It wasn’t until he left that Ning Cheng smiled slyly.

“Brother, so it seems only that person and money both are capable of keeping you here. If you want cash, go ask Long Feiye!”

When Ning Cheng returned to the tent, he picked up his brush and begin to quickly draw dots and circles on the wall map. The spots that Gu Beiyue had noticed were all old marks. The real places he wanted to station his garrison troops hadn’t been decided yet!

He spent an entire night to arrange everything--a map of Northern Li dominated by the Black Clan and tiger army. He wasn’t giving this map to the princess, but drawing up a chessboard for her sake! No matter what, Northern Li should remain under the princess’s power!

The very next day, he used Jin Zi’s name to deploy the Black Clan troops and tiger army to station themselves at Three-Way Pass and various major passes within Northern Li. A few days later, Ning Cheng handed over all his duties to his deputy general and left the camp by himself to head for Yunning.

Three days later, the deputy general received a letter penned by Ning Cheng himself. Its contents read: Everything is fine. Don’t bother me, don’t come find me.

The deputy general grew alarmed and began to search for Ning Cheng in earnest, but he couldn’t contact the man or find him no matter how he tried. Ning Cheng seemed to have vanished while on his way to Yunning!

The deputy general did track down Jin Zi and told him to search. He also informed Ning Jing and Ning Nuo and told them to search. But none of them succeeded. Various army factions had already prepared themselves to await Ning Cheng’s arrival in Yunning so they could fight with him over the rights to Northern Li, but Ning Cheng had simply abandoned the country and left himself!

Even Long Feiye, who had prepared the best, most potent alcohol for their promised bout, was left waiting for nothing!