035. Who is the employer

[Who is the employer] Ning Jing was standing outside the door, exhausted from his journey. "Here to find you, kill or mutilate however you like." Su Liang came out, temporarily not asking where Ning Jing was the past two days. Ning Jing handed over a cloth bag. Su Liang took it, opened it, and inside were over a dozen yellow wild fruit. She didn't recognize them, but they looked delicious. She took them to the kitchen, washed them clean, and put them in a small bamboo basket. She tried one - they were soft, glutinous, and juicy, with a sour and sweet taste. When Su Liang decided to listen to Ning Jing and Yan Shiba talking, Ning Jing came out of her room and went back to his own. Su Liang ate a fruit and entered the room, seeing Yan Shiba lying on the ground with a cold face and not killed. "I'm hungry." Yan Shiba looked at Su Liang. Su Liang called Ning Jing, "Your guest is hungry. Will you feed her something?" "It was you who saved her; you decide." Ning Jing's voice came through the wall. Su Liang's expression was uncertain, "What did he just say to you?" Yan Shiba snorted softly, "He told me not to think of doing anything to you. He treated me as if I were to take away his woman." "I am mine, not anyone else's." Su Liang shook her head. "Very good." Yan Shiba's lips curved slightly, "I thought you fell in love with Ning Jing, but it turns out he can't leave you. In that case, I want to take you away even more." Su Liang was speechless. What kind of absurd competitive desire was this? What did they consider her to be? Since Ning Jing didn't kill Yan Shiba, it meant he was saving her. Su Liang couldn't let her starve to death. She heated the white porridge and brought it over, feeding her a bowl. Only then did Yan Shiba know Su Liang's name and expressed her liking for it... After drinking the porridge, Yan Shiba drank another bowl of medicine and fell asleep again. By the time Su Liang saw Ning Jing again, he had washed and changed clothes, recovered his original appearance, and was sitting in the kitchen drinking the remaining white porridge. "Where did you go?" Su Liang asked. "I was dealing with that family." Ning Jing said. "That family..." Su Liang hesitated, "You went to the mine?" Only Su Dafu and Su Daming were released, with four more working as labor in the mine. Ning Jing nodded lightly. Su Liang was very surprised. She had heard from Hu Er that the nearest mine was in Bei'an County, not far from here. Ning Jing didn't have a car or a horse, had only been gone two days and a night, and had even sneaked into the mine to kill people. No wonder he was so exhausted when he came back; it must have been because he hadn't slept at all. "The night Su Dafu and Su Daming were released, Xu Shi and Su Xiaodie died." Ning Jing said. The survival of the fittest in the mine was very cruel, with mostly men of strong and youthful age and very few women. Su Dafu and Su Daming were able to protect Xu Shi and Su Xiaodie while they were around, but as soon as they left, the fate of those two women was predictable. Su Daqiang and Su Xiaoming, both old and young, were also beaten half to death. Ning Jing disguised as a soldier to sneak in. When he found them, the grandfather and grandson duo tried to save themselves by revealing that there was a demon in Su Village... "Who ordered Su Dafu and Su Daming to kill you?" Su Liang asked. "Ning Huan, Xingliu." Ning Jing answered tersely, "Zhao Ming came with them." "And them?" Su Liang asked. "Dead." Ning Jing's expression was indifferent, "Su Dafu mentioned you to Ning Huan." Su Liang understood at heart. If it was known by the Ning family, they would definitely make a fuss about it. This matter must be settled thoroughly and not handed over to others, causing more people to know. "Thanks." Su Liang said. Ning Jing went to deal with the people who wanted to kill him, but if it wasn't for Su Liang's secret, he wouldn't have to go to such lengths. "As for Yan Shiba..." Su Liang asked. "Keep her for now." Ning Jing said, "She's highly skilled in martial arts. If you need to leave one day, she can protect you." Su Liang raised her eyebrows, "Didn't you say talking about feelings with an assassin is too naive?" "I meant she shouldn't talk about feelings with Yan Sui. She still retains her humanity and has some naivety. Make some friends, and you may need them later." Ning Jing explained. No matter if it was Yang Yu, Xing Yusheng, or Yan Shiba, they all came into contact with Su Liang because of Ning Jing. Su Liang knew that Ning Jing wanted to save these people, not because they were of special ability or had saved people, but because they were unrelated to their identities. He didn't want to make friends with them and didn't need repayment. At the same time, he had been providing Su Liang with opportunities to help others. He had repeatedly said that he hoped Su Liang would stay to work for him, but he was also paving the way for her life after leaving him. "Didn't you want me to stay? You should have made me dependent on you, with no support but following you." Su Liang said. Ning Jing's expression was indifferent, "You can consider it a case of mercy." Su Liang: ...So openly calculating? Very well! "Let's talk about it later." Su Liang had her judgment, but since Ning Jing said so, she decided to put aside the few points of emotion that had just sprung up in her and consider it again. In a moment, she asked Ning Jing if he was confident enough to deal with Yan Sui. "Yan Shiba also injured Yan Sui's fatal point; he won't come for now." Ning Jing said, "You should heal her as soon as possible. When the time comes, let her deal with the trouble from Yanyun Building on her own." This was also one of the reasons for keeping Yan Shiba. She would fight against those people from Yanyun Building who wanted to kill Ning Jing. "Okay." Su Liang indicated she would do her best. After making dinner, Su Liang let Ning Jing go to Erniu's house to deliver food. Ning Jing found out that while he was away for two days, everyone in the village knew about Su Liang's medical skills, and she had already started practicing medicine. When Ning Jing went to Erniu's house, he put down the food and was about to leave when Erniu chased him out, "Brother Ning! You have to treat Sister Su Liang well!" Ning Jing looked back and saw Erniu's round eyes shining brightly in the dim twilight, filled with deep concern and waiting for his answer. Ning Jing nodded slightly before turning around and leaving. At the door of his home, Su Liang rushed out again in a hurry. A child in the village had a fever, and she was asked to come over and examine him. Ning Jing did not go with her, took the food by himself, and heard Yan Shiba calling him from next door. After finishing his meal and sending the dishes to the kitchen, he went to Su Liang's room. Yan Shiba's voice was cold, "You and Su Liang are not husband and wife." "What does it have to do with you?" Ning Jing retorted. "She suits my temperament very well, so once I recover, I will take her away. Don't blame me for not informing you in advance," Yan Shiba said. "She won't go with you," Ning Jing said. Yan Shiba sneered, "Well, let's wait and see!" By the time Su Liang returned home, it was completely dark, and Ning Jing had gone to bed. Dinner was still warm in the pot, she ate some and went to feed Yan Shiba, also helped her get up and go to the backyard for a restroom break. Yan Shiba looked up at the sky, her pale face was illuminated by the cold moonlight, making her look even more lifeless. "Actually, I knew that I might die when I went back that time." Su Liang paused and looked at the moon as well. The crescent moon reminded her of how her grandmother had held her when she was young, telling her the story of Chang'e flying to the moon. Her grandmother's voice was old and warm, but she had lost all her relatives ever since her grandmother passed away "Do you know why I still went back?" Yan Shiba asked Su Liang, as though she were asking herself too. Su Liang replied, "You thought you were special." "Heh, how ridiculous!" Yan Shiba sneered, "He raised me with his own hands and always talked about father-daughter affection with me. But when I wanted to talk about my feelings, he turned his back on me." "Emotions are just tools he uses to control you. If you believe in them, you lose," Su Liang remembered those so-called relatives who had morally kidnapped her in her past life. "But even if I know the result, I will still go back," Yan Shiba's eyes turned cold. "If he's still my adoptive father, that would be good. But if he turns his back on me, it's life or death. I won't choose to flee and hide, letting him feel good!" The ruthless Yan Shiba is not reckless. She is gambling and prepared for defeat. "The previous owner of Yanyun Building, my father. Yan Sui once swore to my dead father that he would protect me with his life. Now that I think about it, if it weren't for the elders my father had recruited, he would have killed me long ago. This time his attempt to kill Ning Jing failed, and he finally has a reason to take action against me. But I have been prepared for this; all the secrets of Yanyun Building are in my head, and he can't afford the consequences of them leaking out!" Yan Shiba said coldly. Su Liang was intrigued, "You mean, information about the past employers?" Yan Shiba looked at her deeply, "Do you want to cooperate with me? Just kill Yan Sui, and I will be the building's owner! By then, you can walk across this world diagonally!" Su Liang finally understood that Yan Shiba was testing her and tempting her. Yet, to be honest, the future owner of Yanyun Building has great appeal, ensuring safety and huge wealth. But Su Liang refused, "Crabs walk diagonally. I wish you success." "If you don't help me, you won't get any benefits in the future!" Yan Shiba snorted coldly, "Don't be fooled by Ning Jing's appearance! He, a son of a merchant who was expelled from his family, has such hidden martial arts skills. His intentions must be enormous! He married you because your medical skills are useful. Be careful not to end up just being a pawn!" "If he is as you say, what's the difference between you and him?" Su Liang countered. Yan Shiba laughed, "Little sister, the biggest difference between him and me, of course, is gender. He wants to deceive your heart and your body completely consumed and then kicks you away. Don't come crying to me! If you're with me, your sister will ensure that you live a free and happy life!" After thinking for a while, Su Liang said, "It sounds really good. How about this: after you recover, help me with one thing. If it succeeds, I will agree to your request." Yan Shiba nodded, "You say." "I always admire the rumored Crown Prince Gu. Bring him to me," Su Liang said. Yan Shiba was slightly startled, "Gu Ling? You like him?" "I want to see how good-looking the first beauty in the capital rumored is," Su Liang said. Yan Shiba laughed, "Interesting. Then it's a deal!" As if unintentionally, Su Liang asked, "By the way, who hired Yanyun Building to kill Gu Ling?" Without thinking, Yan Shiba blurted out, "Nian Ruxue." Su Liang was surprised, she knew this name, Gu Ling's fiancee. What grudge could there be? "I promise, as long as I help you find Gu Ling, you'll leave Ning Jing and go with me," Yan Shiba once again confirmed with Su Liang after lying down. Su Liang absentmindedly nodded, "Mhm." But she knew that the person in the next room might be the missing Gu Ling, and Yan Shiba would never find out. ... Captial city of Qian Country. After Nian Jincheng returned from the palace to report his mission, he had just sat down to drink some water when a servant reported that the fourth young lady had come. Nian Ruxue, dressed in white, entered and dismissed the servant, staring coldly at Nian Jincheng, "Second brother, where's my jade hairpin?" Nian Jincheng shook his head, "It's just a hairpin. Just forget about it if you lost it." "It was you who took it, give it back!" Nian Ruxue's face showed anger. Nian Jincheng didn't deny it anymore, "I didn't want to see you hurt by Gu Ling anymore, so I threw it away." Nian Ruxue pulled off a sword from the wall and pointed it at Nian Jincheng, "Second brother, don't lie to me, you know where he is. Tell me or I'll die right in front of you!" Nian Jincheng saw that Nian Ruxue had placed the sharp sword against her own neck, and his face changed, "What are you doing? Put it down!" Nian Ruxue's eyes were resolute, "Second brother, father is forcing me to be an imperial concubine for the crown prince, can you really bear to see me marry someone I don't love? Just tell me where he is, and I'll go find him, even if it means roaming the world with him, I'm willing!" Nian Jincheng snatched Nian Ruxue's sword and said coldly, "I don't know! Can you wake up? The jade hairpin was given to you by Gu Ling's mother, not by him! He left you, expressing his intentions. You are willing to roam the world for him, but do you know he doesn't want it at all?. Don't be foolish!" Nian Ruxue seemed to have all her strength drained in an instant, her eyes welling up with tears, "I hired people from Yanyun Building to find him, but there's been no news... " Nian Jincheng looked at Nian Ruxue incredulously, "Are you crazy? You're going to have him killed?" "No, I know the assassins won't kill him. I just want him to come back and find me. He'll understand," Nian Ruxue murmured. Nian Jincheng frowned, "Cancel your order to Yanyun Building now!" Nian Ruxue shook her head, "Unless second brother tells me where he is, you must know." Nian Jincheng had a vision of a frail figure in a wedding dress, he said impassively, "Perhaps by now, he's already married and has children." Nian Ruxue stared at Nian Jincheng in disbelief, "You...what did you say? He...he got married?" Nian Jincheng didn't answer any more and left with a flick of his sleeve. "It's impossible... it's impossible... he's so proud, who could possibly catch his eye?" Nian Ruxue shook her head, but couldn't help her tears from flowing.