Grinding Cultivation Toward Martial Saint-Chapter 1374 - 229: Break Limit Again! (2)
"I lost by half a move! That Jiang Ning from Dongling County truly lives up to being a top-ranked expert on the Heavenly List. His foundation is solid, and his strength is formidable, stronger than even what the Heavenly List records suggest."
"Brother Xu is also very strong. That Jiang Ning from Dongling County is the most renowned figure in recent years, ranking fourth on the Heavenly List. Brother Xu lost by half a move, showing that his strength is greater than what appears on the surface."
Upon hearing these words, the young man laughed heartily.
"One must always keep something hidden."
Subsequently, the young man listened to the compliments and praises from his companions with a pleased expression.
Jiang Ning lost interest in listening further.
...
On the other side.
At the South City Gate of the Royal Capital.
"So this is the Royal Capital!!" Jiang Li stepped out of the carriage, looking fatigued.
But when he saw the towering city walls stretching into the clouds, his eyes shone brightly.
"Brother Li, should we first enter the city, find a place to settle, and then write to Ah Ning to let him know we’re safe?" Liuu Wanwan stood beside Jiang Li.
The hairpin atop her head shook slightly.
She glanced at the looming city walls ahead, then turned to look at Jiang Li’s resolute profile, her eyes seeming to hold a sparkle.
Noticing Liuu Wanwan’s gaze, Jiang Li turned to look at her and smiled gently.
"That’s the plan! But we don’t need to find a place to settle; my younger brother said we can go directly to the National Master Mansion!"
"Will that... be okay?" Liuu Wanwan hesitated.
Throughout their journey, they had inquired and learned a lot about the capital.
They were well aware of the status that the State Preceptor holds in the Royal Capital.
The National Master Mansion was a place off-limits to outsiders, a place for the Great Xia State Preceptor’s secluded cultivation.
"Since my younger brother said so, there must be no problem!" Jiang Li said.
"Alright then, I’ll follow Brother Li’s arrangements!" Liuu Wanwan nodded compliantly.
...
A moment later.
At the city gate.
"Coming from Dongling City?" The guard took the travel pass and glanced at Jiang Li.
"Yes!" Jiang Li nodded repeatedly and then handed over a "Shangjing Passage" bronze token.
The guard took the token, gave it a cursory glance, then returned it to Jiang Li.
He then looked at the two carriages behind Jiang Li.
"What’s in the carriages?"
"Family, and some supplies." Jiang Li replied.
"We need to inspect them, is that alright?" the guard asked.
"No problem!" Jiang Li nodded, knowing this was a rule for entering the city.
Seeing Jiang Li’s cooperation, the guard remained expressionless, then casually asked, "What’s your name?"
"Jiang Li."
"Jiang Li?" The guard suddenly stopped, looking at Jiang Li with surprise.
"Is there a problem, officer?" Jiang Li asked nervously, noticing the guard’s gaze.
"You came from Dongling County?" the guard asked again.
"From Dongling City’s jurisdiction under Dongling County." Jiang Li corrected.
"It’s a match!" the guard murmured.
He then looked at Jiang Li: "Please wait here for a moment."
Leaving these words, he turned and ran into a small room within the city walls.
"Brother Li, what’s going on?" Liuu Wanwan peeked out from the carriage, asking with curiosity.
"I’m not sure yet!" Jiang Li shook his head.
Just then, he saw a general in red scale armor step out of the small room within the city walls.
"Greetings, General!" Jiang Li greeted the man in red scale armor with respect.
"Let me see your travel pass." The red scale-armored man requested.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Li handed over the travel pass in his hand.
"Dongling County, Dongling City!" the red scale-armored man murmured, looking at the pass, then raised his gaze to Jiang Li, "Is your surname Jiang, and your given name Li?"
"Yes!" Jiang Li nodded.
"Is your wife’s surname Liu and given name Wanwan?" the red scale-armored man asked again.
Hearing this, Jiang Li was surprised, but nodded slowly, "Yes."
"Then it matches!" The red scale-armored man smiled and nodded immediately.
His demeanor became respectful: "Brother Jiang Li, please wait at the city gate for a moment. I will send someone to invite Miss Qinghe from the National Master Mansion."
The National Master Mansion?
He was a bit surprised upon hearing these words.
But he immediately understood; this was a prior arrangement by Jiang Ning.
"Thank you, General!" Jiang Li expressed his gratitude.
"No trouble at all! It’s a small matter." The red scale-armored man waved his hand dismissively.
As he spoke, he signaled with his eyes.
The nearby guard immediately headed towards the queue behind Jiang Li.
Then, the side city gate where Jiang Li was was closed, and the long line behind was guided aside.
"Brother Jiang Li, please wait here for a moment until Miss Qinghe from the National Master Mansion arrives."
...
"Satisfied!" Jiang Ning rubbed his belly, looking content.
"Sir, the food here tastes quite good!" Su Qingying also discreetly rubbed her small, rounded belly.
"Indeed, it’s quite good!" Jiang Ning nodded, "Mark this place; we’ll come back to try other dishes next time."
"Sir, what does it mean to ’mark’?" Su Qingying asked, puzzled.
"It’s not important!" Jiang Ning waved it off and then stood up.
Seeing this, Su Qingying also stood up.
The two striking figures, one tall and one short, walking in the corridor immediately drew attention from many of the guests on the second floor.
"Isn’t that... the State Preceptor!!!"
"And Jiang Ning!!!"
At the table just engaged in conversation, someone suddenly recognized Jiang Ning and Su Qingying.
"I understand now!!"
"Understand what?"
"I understand why this Jiang Ning from Dongling County hasn’t shown up for so long; it must be because he is valued by the State Preceptor and taken in as a personal disciple."
"If it’s as you say, it truly makes one envious."
"It must be so. Otherwise, why would Jiang Ning be accompanying the State Preceptor to dine at Qiong Building?"
"No, that’s not right!" Just then, a young man at the table spoke up.
"Brother Li, what’s not right?"
"The two are walking one behind the other, with Jiang Ning leading and the State Preceptor following. Clearly, Jiang Ning is the dominant figure between them."
"Brother Li, you’re overthinking it! The State Preceptor, such a figure, doesn’t care about worldly etiquette! And what kind of person is the State Preceptor? How could he become a subordinate to this Patrol Envoy Jiang?"
As the few people discussed, the two figures disappeared from their sight down the stairs.
...
The two descended the stairs.
"Next time we go out, we need to disguise ourselves a bit!" Jiang Ning said.
After today’s outing, he realized.
Even though he hadn’t been active in the Royal Capital, many people had already recognized him.
"As the Master says, so shall it be!" Su Qingying replied.
As they spoke, the two of them walked down the wooden stairs to the first-floor hall.
Then they passed through the hallway in the hall and stepped outside of Qiong Building.
The midday sun poured down from overhead, reflecting dazzling white light on the ground.
"It’s really bustling!" Jiang Ning remarked, looking at the busy street ahead, filled with men and women with parasols coming and going.
"This is the most bustling subsidiary street of Vermilion Bird Street; of course, it’s lively!" Su Qingying explained, then added, "And today, there seems to be a temple fair!"
"I see!" Jiang Ning nodded.
He understood that in this entertainment-scarce era, events like temple fairs, which were somewhat interesting, would naturally attract a large crowd of both men and women.
And with the Martial Examination not yet started, people from various prefectures and states were still in the Royal Capital.
"Master, shall we go take a look?" Su Qingying inquired.
"No need!" Jiang Ning shook his head, "Let’s wander around a bit and then head back! For now, I’m not entitled to such enjoyment."
"Why does Master feel such urgency in his heart?" Su Qingying asked.
Hearing this, Jiang Ning looked in the direction of Dongling County.
In his mind, he thought of Lin Qingyi, the Side-by-Side King, and how he had been drawn into the storm of the prince’s fight for the throne.
These matters, not one was something he could resolve with his current strength.
And as time passed, each matter would only become more pressing.
Having no way to extricate himself, he could only face them head-on.
