Marquis Who Pacifies the North

The night was deep.

The Marquis Who Guards the North was locked in a fierce battle in one of his concubines' chambers.

The commotion was considerable. Clearly, the Marquis Who Guards the North was in his prime.

A few seconds later, the battle ceased. Drenched in sweat, the Marquis Who Guards the North lay on the bed, his thick brows slightly knitted, as though he were pondering something.

"Ah!!!"

The concubine beside him let out a scream.

Startled, the Marquis Who Guards the North was about to circulate his Qi and rise, but a cold edge pressed against his throat.

He looked closely and saw a figure shrouded from head to toe in darkness.

An illusion?

To his shock, the Marquis Who Guards the North found that he could not see the man's true face.

"Make her shut up."

Chen Ning spoke calmly. His voice had naturally been disguised, while his ability to conceal his presence and figure was all thanks to the Body Concealment Talisman.

It could conceal his presence and figure,

The woman on the bed was wailing like a ghost and howling like a wolf, making an awful racket. Chen Ning had been planning to quietly ask a couple of questions.

Without changing expression, the Marquis Who Guards the North reached out and snapped the concubine's neck.

"You... you really are ruthless."

Chen Ning's brow twitched. He had only wanted the Marquis Who Guards the North to knock the woman out, but the man had killed her outright. As expected of someone from the military—was he really that ruthless?

"What can I do for you, sir?"

The Marquis Who Guards the North's gaze was sharp. His years in a high position left him quite unyielding even in a situation like this.

But he was no fool. He found that he could not circulate even the slightest bit of his elemental power. He had no idea what method the other man had used, but if he fought back, the assassin would surely kill him.

"I have only one question. Where is the Thief God now?"

"Why are you looking for the Thief God?"

"That's none of your concern. You only need to tell me."

"I don't know."

The Marquis Who Guards the North answered without expression.

Chen Ning smiled. "Are you really willing to die? Willing to give up the Listening Rain Tower's business? The three hundred thousand soldiers under your command?"

This time, the Marquis Who Guards the North's expression finally darkened. The assassin before him was smarter than he had thought.

A single sentence had struck his weak point.

Chen Ning, meanwhile, made as if to strike and reminded him, "My lord, stretch your neck out a little in a moment. One slash will be quick."

"Don't you just want to ask about the Thief God? I'll tell you."

The Marquis Who Guards the North sighed helplessly. "Can you let me catch my breath first? My meridians have been sealed by some method of yours anyway."

Hearing this, Chen Ning drew the blade away from the Marquis Who Guards the North's neck.

"Sorry for the offense."

"No matter."

The two of them now acted as though nothing had happened. The Marquis Who Guards the North in particular showed no panic; instead, he was thinking seriously.

After a long while, he said slowly, "Half a year ago, that thief paid a visit to my residence and stole its greatest treasure, the Nine Revolutions Exquisite Treasure Pagoda. But the soldiers under my command fought bravely and formed a formation to trap him."

"And then?"

The Marquis Who Guards the North continued, "Then we threw him into the dungeon and locked him up."

A chill gleamed in the Marquis Who Guards the North's eyes.

Just then, a system notification sounded.

"Ding! Congratulations, host, on completing the first stage of the [I Have an Agreement with the Thief God] mission."

"Ding! The second stage of the mission has begun!"

"Mission requirement: rescue the Thief God, who is trapped in the dungeon."

Chen Ning couldn't help pressing a hand to his forehead. Then he gave a wry smile. "Well, my lord, I imagine you've already recovered the Exquisite Treasure Pagoda from the Thief God?"

"Naturally," the Marquis Who Guards the North replied.

"Then could you do me a favor and release him too?"

Chen Ning felt a little embarrassed. After all, he had just held the Marquis Who Guards the North hostage and was now asking him to release someone.

It would sound rather impolite if word got out.

Sure enough, Marquis Who Guards the North's expression changed. "What do you take me for?"

The atmosphere turned icy. Even though he could not use his cultivation at the moment, the imposing bearing of a man who had held power for years still brought considerable pressure to bear.

"My lord, I naturally wouldn't leave you unable to save face."

Chen Ning smiled. "Since you've already recovered the Nine Revolutions Exquisite Pagoda, I imagine you haven't suffered any loss. On top of that, I'll take it upon myself to have the Thief God compensate you with ten times the treasure. How about it?"

Hearing this, Marquis Who Guards the North gave a strange smile. "Whenever the Thief God steals, he carries no money or valuables with him. I've spent half a year questioning him, but I haven't been able to pry his mouth open and make him hand over the treasures he's hidden away over his lifetime. Can you persuade him? What are you to him?"

"You needn't worry about that, my lord. I have my ways."

With his connection to Su Ling'er, Chen Ning could naturally accomplish it with ease.

She was the Thief God's own granddaughter. Surely he could figure out that it was worth bleeding a little and paying some money to buy his freedom.

Besides, it wasn't his own blood he would be shedding, or his own money he would be spending. The Thief God had stolen for so many years and was famous far and wide; surely he had that much put away.

"Very well. I'll do you this favor."

Marquis Who Guards the North was a man of considerable cunning. Now he agreed with bold generosity, without blaming Chen Ning at all for holding him hostage earlier.

"To avoid attracting attention, come to the dungeon at midnight tomorrow. I'll release the Thief God myself."

"Forget tomorrow night. Let's do it now. After you, my lord."

Smiling, Chen Ning backed toward the door and gestured for Marquis Who Guards the North to get dressed.

"You really are clever."

Marquis Who Guards the North smiled and offered a word of praise as he silently put on his clothes. "You're afraid I'll gather my men tomorrow and have them surround and kill you?"

"Not at all. I trust your character, my lord. I'm just rather lazy and can't be bothered to make another trip."

Chen Ning's words were not entirely false.

He really was lazy, but he was also wary of Marquis Who Guards the North, worried that a long night would bring many dreams.

Chen Ning pushed the door open with complete ease. Marquis Who Guards the North, by contrast, gave him a surprised look. "Aren't you afraid of the guards in my residence?"

But then he saw that the two guards who had been standing at the door now stood there with vacant eyes, like a pair of puppets.

"Impressive methods indeed. I can't complain about falling into your hands."

Rarely, Marquis Who Guards the North found himself appreciating talent. He added, "Would you be interested in working for me?"

"Haha, you flatter me, my lord. I'm not suited to military life, and I have no desire to become a general or minister."

Chen Ning followed behind Marquis Who Guards the North, the two of them walking step by step toward the dungeon.

Marquis Who Guards the North's power was evident in this respect as well.

His residence even had its own dungeon. Didn't the imperial family care?

Chen Ning couldn't help wondering.

Marquis Who Guards the North laughed heartily. "If you follow me, you'll surely establish achievements that will endure for ages. I guarantee you'll stand below one person and above ten thousand."

Marquis Who Guards the North was still trying to persuade him.

Chen Ning merely smiled and shook his head.

For all his shortcomings, he was still the sect master of one of the most badass sects in this world.

If he gave up the power he already had to come work for someone else, wouldn't he have eaten his fill and had nothing better to do?

Before long, the two arrived at the dungeon entrance.

"My lord!"

The soldiers standing guard all saluted Marquis Who Guards the North.

He merely waved his hand, and the guards immediately made way.

Chen Ning then followed Marquis Who Guards the North into the dim dungeon.