Chapter 105: Return to the Yongzhou Chamber of Commerce
When Dong Li, the Prince of Jiyang, and Ning Zhuo each returned to the Yongzhou Chamber of Commerce with their own thoughts, the Prince of Jiyang still had a flushed face, looking unusually excited:
“Chairman Dong, did you see that terrifying appearance of that anaconda just now?!”
“It actually had wings!”
“That is clearly a child of a True Dragon!”
Although Dong Li had lost the Demonic Core and his expression looked extremely poor, he still had to force a smile for the Prince of Jiyang:
“What His Highness says is true. Even though I witnessed that scene myself, I was still frightened out of my wits.”
This was indeed the truth.
A Demonic Beast like Mo Lin was something even for someone as experienced and well-travelled as Dong Li had never encountered before.
The Prince of Jiyang obviously did not notice Dong Li’s sour mood—or perhaps even if he had, he would not have cared in the slightest.
He paced back and forth excitedly, finally turning his gaze toward Dong Li:
“Chairman Dong, your Chamber of Commerce has extensive information. I ask that you keep an eye on that anaconda demon for this prince.”
“A Demonic Beast so extraordinary as that one cannot possibly be some unknown creature.”
“If you can find information on that anaconda demon for me, any reward can be negotiated.”
Dong Li forced a smile:
“His Highness’s request is something I naturally dare not refuse. I will have people inquire about its whereabouts.”
“The moment I receive news of it, I will inform Your Highness at once.”
The Prince of Jiyang nodded with satisfaction:
“Then I shall trouble you, Chairman Dong. I am returning to Jiyang. Having met such an anaconda demon that suits my taste, I must make preparations.”
With that, the Prince of Jiyang left the Yongzhou Chamber of Commerce.
After sending off the Prince of Jiyang, Dong Li no longer had to force his smile. His face instantly turned frighteningly dark, and he wordlessly walked into the depths of the Chamber of Commerce.
Ning Zhuo followed behind Dong Li, feeling apprehensive. After all, strictly speaking, the Demonic Core had been lost in his hands.
Ning Zhuo hesitated for a moment and said:
“Chairman…”
It was only then that Dong Li remembered Ning Zhuo was still trailing behind him.
He shot a glance at Ning Zhuo, feeling a strong urge to slap him across the face.
I warned you over and over again—how hard is it to watch over a box!
And yet you let such an important thing be stolen by a Demonic Beast!
But in the next instant, Dong Li sighed helplessly.
Forget Ning Zhuo—was he himself any better?
Even working together with the Prince of Jiyang, they had still failed to capture the anaconda demon.
There were, of course, various reasons for this, but the end result was that he had watched helplessly as the Demonic Core was taken away by the anaconda demon.
If he himself could not even protect the Demonic Core, what use was there in blaming Ning Zhuo, a mere upper Profound Rank?
Dong Li patted Ning Zhuo on the shoulder:
“Forget it. You did not do this intentionally. Who could have imagined that such a Demonic Beast was hiding in the Ning River? Go and rest for a while.”
Ning Zhuo had not expected Dong Li to refrain from blaming him, and he felt deeply moved:
“Chairman…”
Dong Li returned alone to his room. He reached out and smashed the tea pet on his desk to pieces, finally letting out a breath.
Dong Li’s expression shifted between darkness and gloom.
The Demonic Core hidden in the Black-Iron Spirit-Sealing Box had actually been taken from a high-grade Earth Rank Sea Dragon Louse.
The Sea Dragon Louse was originally a river Demonic Beast.
One day it came ashore and wrought havoc. It was discovered by the Bureau of Heaven Monitoring, but no one had expected it to wield a powerful water-control spell, allowing it to escape their capture.
Of course, it had not escaped unscathed. Carrying grievous injuries, it fled the Bureau’s pursuit and, by chance, was discovered by people of the Yongzhou Chamber of Commerce, who found a way to kill it.
After dissecting its body, the Chamber of Commerce extracted its Demonic Core, discovering that it could calm waves and control water currents.
As a supporter of the Red Turban Army’s efforts to overthrow the Great Qian Dynasty, Dong Li immediately decided to have the Demonic Core sent back to the Yongzhou Chamber of Commerce, which would then pass it on to the Red Turban Army—
A high-grade Earth Rank Demonic Core capable of controlling water would certainly be of great help to the Red Turban Army.
Unexpectedly, the Demonic Core had been lost on the way back to the Chamber of Commerce.
Dong Li could not help but sigh. If he had known this would happen, he would have preferred never to know of its existence.
……
While Dong Li and the others were in their varied moods, Mo Lin had already returned to the riverside of the Yongzhou Chamber of Commerce.
Yes, although it appeared to have flown away with the Demonic Core, this was only to deceive others.
After circling above in the sky, Mo Lin had once again returned to the Yongzhou Chamber of Commerce.
Do not forget, its original purpose in coming to the Yongzhou Chamber of Commerce was the Earth Vein Yin Marrow; the Demonic Core had merely been an unexpected bonus discovered along the way.
Thus, Mo Lin arrived outside the Chamber of Commerce, transforming into a small Grass Snake, coldly watching the bustling crowd:
So, how am I supposed to know where the Earth Vein Yin Marrow is kept within the Chamber of Commerce?
Just as Mo Lin was contemplating whether to grab two people to interrogate them about the location of the Earth Vein Yin Marrow or other treasures, he saw a familiar figure emerging from the gate.
It was Ning Zhuo.
Mo Lin’s heart stirred as he looked at the frowning Ning Zhuo.
He watched the direction Ning Zhuo was heading and quietly slipped away into an unnoticed corner.
……
Ning Zhuo found Ning Ruirui, who was currently at Yu Ziqiu’s side.
“Ruirui.”
Ning Ruirui turned in delight to look at Ning Zhuo:
“Father!”
Ning Zhuo picked Ning Ruirui up and nodded toward Yu Ziqiu:
“Thank you for looking after Ruirui on such short notice. I must have troubled you.”
Yu Ziqiu shook her head:
“Ruirui was very well-behaved. She caused me no trouble at all.”
She looked at Ning Zhuo:
“Rather, it’s you—did you encounter some trouble?”
Ning Zhuo let out a helpless sigh:
“Ah, I messed up the matter the Chairman entrusted to me.”
Seeing this, Yu Ziqiu consoled him:
“You’re the Chairman’s trusted assistant. He entrusts many things to you. I’m sure he won’t hold this against you.”
Ning Zhuo gave a bitter smile:
“I hope so.”
The two chatted idly as they walked out of the Chamber of Commerce.
“What are you planning to do next?”
Holding Ning Ruirui in his arms, Ning Zhuo said:
“I’ll rest for a day or two first, then ask the Chairman if he has any new tasks.”
After exchanging a few more words, Ning Zhuo parted ways with Yu Ziqiu while holding Ning Ruirui.
He returned to his residence at the Chamber of Commerce and placed Ning Ruirui on the bed:
“Ruirui, Daddy is going to take a bath first. You play for a while, okay?”
“Alright, Father.”
Looking at his obedient daughter, Ning Zhuo felt a surge of mixed emotions. His daughter had followed him through wind and rain every day.
Even though they had no fixed home, she had never uttered a complaint.
He could not bear to leave her in someone else’s care. Truly, she had suffered much.
Ning Zhuo sighed again, intending to wash up in the washroom and collect his thoughts.
The instant Ning Zhuo stepped into the washroom, his back suddenly turned cold.
In the next moment, before he could react, he felt his body stiffen, unable to move at all.
Ning Zhuo’s eyes widened, fear flashing within them.
This feeling—as though the very space around him had been imprisoned by some mysterious force—was all too familiar. He had only just experienced it not long ago!
It was that anaconda demon!
It had not left at all. It had even snuck into his washroom!