Dongling City.
Between the eastern and western banks of the river, there was only a single suspension bridge, two zhang wide, connecting the two.
Beneath the suspension bridge lay the Angry River, which split Dongling City cleanly in half.
The river earned its name from the ferocity of its waves and swift, turbulent currents riddled with hidden reefs.
The water churned with foam-capped waves as white as snow.
Even during the dry season, walking across the suspension bridge, one could hear the violent crashing of waves against the jagged rocks and cliffs below.
The relentless waves shattered into snowy spray upon impact with the unyielding stone.
Jiang Ning looked up at the towering city walls ahead and couldn't help but marvel at the natural defenses of the eastern district.
Dongling City, as its name suggested, was built amidst rugged mountainous terrain.
Its construction took full advantage of the natural barriers.
The ferocity of the Angry River made any waterborne assault on the eastern district nearly impossible.
The only land access to the eastern district was that two-zhang-wide suspension bridge.
Once raised, the bridge would cut off all entry.
Moreover, the eastern district's walls stood twenty zhang high, built along the steep riverbanks.
Walls of such height were virtually insurmountable even birds would struggle to fly over them.
Only in a feudal world where individual strength reigned supreme could such a feat be achieved.
Jiang Ning crossed the three-zhang-wide suspension bridge, paid the entry toll at the city gate, and finally stepped into the eastern district a place where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold.
As he walked along the broad streets...
"Freshly baked flatbread for sale! Get your flatbread here!"
"Tofu pudding! Dongshi family's tofu pudding!"
"Grilled kidneys! A woman's delight, a man's weapon!"
"..."
Amidst the bustling market of the eastern district, the cacophony of hawkers' cries filled Jiang Ning's ears, giving him the illusion of being back in the inner city of Luoshui County.
The scent of scallions wafting through the air made his mouth water.
"Boss, two flatbreads, please!"
"Coming right up!"
"That'll be thirty coins!"
"So expensive?" Jiang Ning frowned.
He was familiar with market prices.
Back in Luoshui County last year, even with a slight increase in grain prices, two flatbreads cost only five coins.
Now, though this was the prefectural city of Dongling where prices were generally higher than in the county a threefold increase seemed excessive.
From what he knew, an ordinary laborer working a full day's wage would earn only twenty to thirty coins.
In other words, a hard day's work would buy just one or two flatbreads.
To him, that was absurd.
"First time in Dongling, sir?" the flatbread vendor asked.
"Yes, just arrived," Jiang Ning nodded.
"That explains it!" The vendor chuckled. "Dangling's terrain isn't suited for farming, so most of our grain is imported. Transport costs drive prices up. And this is the eastern district you must know things here are generally pricier than in the western district. Stall fees, entry tolls it all adds up."
Jiang Ning nodded in understanding.
He retrieved a small piece of silver from his spatial ring, roughly half a tael.
"Keep the change." Leaving the silver behind, he took the oil-paper-wrapped flatbreads and headed toward the address Bai Luoyu had given him.
"Thank you, kind sir! Thank you!" The vendor clutched the silver, bowing repeatedly at Jiang Ning's retreating figure.
Half a tael of silver was equivalent to five hundred coins nearly half a month's earnings from selling flatbreads.
Along the way, Jiang Ning nibbled on the flatbread as he made his way toward Bai Luoyu's residence.
Before arriving in Dongling City, he had already memorized every detail of its map.
The path sloped upward as he walked.
Bai Manor.
The two characters engraved on the gilded plaque confirmed his destination.
"This must be the place." Jiang Ning glanced at the nearby tavern and nodded to himself.
Above the Clouds.
That was the name of the restaurant.
It was also a landmark on the east bank of Dongling City.
And the location Bai Luoyu had previously told him.
At the same time.
Outside the Bai residence, the two armed guards at the gate immediately perked up as Jiang Ning approached.
"Halt!"
One of them gripped his scabbard, signaling Jiang Ning to stop.
Jiang Ning clasped his hands in greeting. "I am Jiang Ning from Luoshui County. May I trouble you to inform Brother Bai that I've come to visit him?"
Hearing this, the two exchanged glances.
"Brother Bai!" one mouthed silently.
The other nodded slightly.
Then he turned to Jiang Ning. "Esteemed guest, please wait a moment. Lord Bai should still be awake I'll go notify him right away!"
With that, the man turned, stepped over the threshold, and hurried toward the inner courtyard.
The way Jiang Ning had referred to Bai Luoyu made him dare not take the matter lightly.
Anyone who dared to address the Bai Inspector as "brother" was either a fool with no sense of propriety or a truly important figure.
He wasn't willing to gamble on it.
Watching the guard disappear to deliver the message, Jiang Ning stood patiently and waited.
In just a short while.
Before the guard even returned, Bai Luoyu's figure appeared in Jiang Ning's line of sight.
In the blink of an eye, Bai Luoyu crossed the spacious front courtyard and reached the gate.
"Brother Jiang!" A look of delight spread across Bai Luoyu's face, warm as a spring breeze.
"Brother Bai, I've come to trouble you today!" Jiang Ning smiled and cupped his hands in greeting.
"What kind of talk is that!" Bai Luoyu strode across the threshold and was at Jiang Ning's side in a few steps.
His strides were large, yet not the least bit awkward.
"Come, let's go for a drink I'll host you and celebrate your arrival!" Bai Luoyu grabbed Jiang Ning's sleeve and pulled him toward the residence.
"Good, I'll follow your arrangements, Brother Bai!" Jiang Ning chuckled.
Meanwhile.
The two guards watched as Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu entered the residence, exchanging glances with a trace of relief in their eyes.
They were glad they hadn't been rude or arrogant.
Both silently committed Jiang Ning's appearance to memory.
They knew that anyone Bai Luoyu treated with such importance had to be a person of great standing.
Inner courtyard.
"Brother Jiang, this wine is called 'Nectar of Jade.' Try it!" Bai Luoyu filled a cup with emerald-green wine and gestured for Jiang Ning to taste it.
The liquid in the cup resembled green jade, so still it seemed almost solid, like a piece of crystallized jade.
"Let me try."
Jiang Ning picked up the cup and took a small sip.
"Excellent wine!" He nodded.
"Brother Jiang, you're not being sincere!" Bai Luoyu studied him and said seriously, "You seem preoccupied. Did something happen?"
Hearing this, Jiang Ning gave a bitter smile. "It seems I can't hide anything from you, Brother Bai."
"Brother Jiang, speak your mind." Bai Luoyu set down his wine cup and motioned for Jiang Ning to sit.
Once they were seated, Jiang Ning recounted everything that had happened earlier.
A short while later.
"And here I thought it was something serious!" Bai Luoyu chuckled lightly, then continued, "Leave this matter to me. If even a single hair is harmed on your elder brother and his family, I'll present my head to you!"
"In Dongling City, if Yu Manyun dares to make a move, she won't be able to turn the skies upside down!"
"If she dares to provoke me, I'll cut her down in the streets, and even the Water Moon Sword Palace will have no choice but to swallow their anger."
Hearing Bai Luoyu's words, a flicker of surprise passed through Jiang Ning's eyes.
If Bai Luoyu wasn't exaggerating, Jiang Ning felt he might have underestimated him before.
Noticing Jiang Ning's reaction, Bai Luoyu smiled faintly.
"Brother Jiang, do you think I'm boasting?"
Jiang Ning replied, "No, I'm just a bit shocked it's hard to believe."
"Brother Jiang is being diplomatic!" Bai Luoyu laughed.
Then he stood up, gazing in the direction of the capital, and declared with conviction:
"Brother Jiang, you must understand one thing this world is still the Great Xia's world!"
"As a sixth-rank official holding a key position, I wield significant authority and outrank most officials."
"No matter how strong Yu Manyun's master, Xiao Qiushui, is, no matter how renowned she may be, she is not a grandmaster. And as long as she isn't a grandmaster, she has no right to defy the might of Great Xia."
"If she dares to step out of line, the grandmasters of Great Xia can cut off her path to mastery and ensure she meets her end within the Water Moon Sword Palace shattering it to the ground!"
Listening to Bai Luoyu's forceful declaration, Jiang Ning realized he might have underestimated the Great Xia imperial court.
The Great Xia Dynasty had ruled the land for over 800 years not by reasoning with others but by the iron fist of authority.
In the face of Great Xia's power, even a fourth-rank martial artist was insignificant.
He immediately stood and clasped his hands. "Then I'll entrust this matter to you, Brother Bai!"
"No need for such formalities!" Bai Luoyu waved his hand.
Then he asked, "By the way, where are your elder brother and his family now?"
"Riverside Pavilion."
"Riverside Pavilion? That kind of place?" Bai Luoyu looked surprised, then nodded in understanding. "Right, Brother Jiang, you're a native of Luoshui County you wouldn't have a residence in Dongling City."
Jiang Ning said, "Exactly. I was planning to buy a house in the eastern part of the city, but time is tight, and I can't afford to delay here for long."
"If you're looking to buy a house, I have connections that can make it quick just an hour or two at most. Would that work?" Bai Luoyu asked.
"An hour or two?" Jiang Ning looked at Bai Luoyu, then nodded. "That would be perfect!"
Going back to find Wang Jin and taking him to heal his injuries is important, but settling my elder brother and sister-in-law's family is even more crucial.
In the eastern district, they would be closer to Bai Luoyu, who could also better protect them.
Bai Luoyu looked at Jiang Ning and nodded, then clapped his hands: "Xiao Mei!"
As soon as he spoke, the slightly ajar door was pushed open.
A young woman in a white dress walked in: "Master!"
Bai Luoyu said, "Go and summon Wang Fugui for me! Give him half an hour to appear before me! And remind him to bring the residential listings for the eastern district that are up for sale."
"Yes, Master!" The woman replied and immediately left.
"Brother Bai, who is Wang Fugui?" Jiang Ning asked.
Bai Luoyu smiled and said, "He's the land deed official, in charge of property transactions in Dongling City. He has the most comprehensive records all the houses for sale in the eastern district are documented with him."
"Brother Jiang, just relax and have a drink with me. He'll be here in no more than half an hour!"
"Good!" Jiang Ning nodded.
In less than half an hour.
A portly man, panting heavily, appeared before them.
"Patrol Envoy Bai!" Wang Fugui swallowed hard, trying to suppress the heavy breaths threatening to burst from his chest.
"Wang Fugui, did you bring what I asked for?" Bai Luoyu stood up, holding a folding fan from the table.
"Patrol Envoy Bai, I've brought it!" Wang Fugui nodded repeatedly.
Then he placed the purple-gold box he was carrying onto the table in front of them.
"Patrol Envoy Bai, all the registration records for houses up for sale in the eastern district are inside. Please take a look!"
"I don't have the patience to go through them!" Bai Luoyu opened his fan and waved it gently. Then he said, "My brother here will state his requirements, and you'll find a suitable residence for him."
"No problem, Patrol Envoy Bai!" Wang Fugui immediately thumped his chest emphatically: "I've memorized all the property details in the city. Just state the conditions, and I'll find the perfect match if it exists."
"Good!" Bai Luoyu nodded.
Then he turned to Jiang Ning: "Brother Jiang, tell us what you're looking for in a house."
Wang Fugui also looked at Jiang Ning, his expression respectful: "So it's this gentleman who wishes to buy a house! May I ask for your esteemed name, sir?"
"I am Jiang Ning," Jiang Ning said with a cupped-hand salute.
"So it's Lord Jiang!" Wang Fugui replied respectfully.
Birds of a feather flock together.
He knew that someone like Patrol Envoy Bai would only call a friend "brother" if they were extraordinary.
Thus, even though he didn't recognize Jiang Ning, he dared not show the slightest disrespect or neglect.
Then Wang Fugui continued respectfully: "Lord Jiang, please state your requirements for the property, and I'll help you find the right one."
Jiang Ning thought for a moment and said: "Close to water, the larger the area, the better, and as near to this location as possible."
"Brother Jiang's choice I like it!" Bai Luoyu snapped his fan shut with a "swish," then clapped his hands lightly and laughed.
He turned to Wang Fugui: "Did you hear that? The closer to my residence, the better!"
"Understood!" Wang Fugui nodded repeatedly.
He stood there, lost in thought for a moment.
Then he opened the purple-gold box in front of him and began flipping through the deeds inside.
A short while later.
He picked out one deed and brought it to Bai Luoyu and Jiang Ning.
"Gentlemen, please take a look! This residence originally belonged to a certain Lord He's family. Last year, it was confiscated by Patrol Envoy Bai's order, and the property was seized. Now both deeds are in my possession. Its location and other features should meet Lord Jiang's requirements. Most importantly, it's less than half a mile from Patrol Envoy Bai's home."
"Lord He?" Bai Luoyu looked puzzled, then asked, "You mean He Guangkun?"
"That's the one!" Wang Fugui said.
"Let me see the deed," Bai Luoyu said.
"Of course!" Wang Fugui immediately nodded and handed the deed to Bai Luoyu.
Bai Luoyu glanced over it and nodded.
"Brother Jiang, take a look."
Taking the deed from Bai Luoyu, Jiang Ning examined it briefly and nodded in approval.
The deed not only indicated the size of the property but also depicted the surrounding terrain.
In Dongling City, a tributary of the Raging River runs through the entire eastern district.
The tributary had even been channeled into smaller canals.
According to the drawing on the deed, a three-meter-wide river ran alongside the residence.
It was truly nestled between mountains and water.
Moreover, the property was quite spacious.
Larger than his estate in Luoshui County, it covered six and a half mu about 4,300 square meters in total area.
-support me on Patreon for more chapters, 410+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LordoftheReader