The Royal Capital.
Marquis Dongling's Residence.
As Jiang Ning listened to Chen Canghai and Jing Wuming's report, his brows drew together slightly, and he pondered in silence.
His instincts told him something was amiss.
If bandits who had taken to the hills possessed the strength to plunder his belongings, they could hardly have been reduced to banditry in the first place.
"Tell me everything in detail!" Jiang Ning's gaze sharpened slightly as he looked at Chen Canghai and Jing Wuming, his voice calm.
Chen Canghai's expression was grave. "My lord, Xie Xiaoj iu and Feng Jiเก accompanied this shipment. The convoy was attacked at Ninefold Mountain. Xie Xiaoj iu and the others were no match for them. Even invoking your name did no good. Strangely, however, they did not strike to kill."
Jing Wuming added, "My lord, after hearing of this, Brother Chen and I went to Ninefold Mountain as well. But we were still no match for them, and could only retreat to the Royal Capital to report to you."
A flicker of surprise crossed Jiang Ning's eyes.
"Even the two of you were no match for them?"
Chen Canghai nodded in confirmation.
Jiang Ning could not help giving a derisive chuckle.
"If bandits of such formidable strength truly existed in this world, that would be far too absurd."
Then his gaze cooled. "Ninefold Mountain! It seems someone is deliberately using banditry as a guise to target me, seize my resources, and lure me there."
Chen Canghai and Jing Wuming exchanged glances, each seeing the gravity in the other's eyes. Chen Canghai said quietly, "Your insight is keen, my lord! When Brother Jing and I went to Ninefold Mountain, our opponent never revealed his true face. He wore a black cloth over it."
"His strength was utterly unfathomable!"
"I