Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 311 Missing
Xiao Wang sent his Ninth Uncle to find the magistrate of Chang'an County in order to obtain a topographical map of the West Market. With the map, they could better support Yan Ciwan.

But to Xiao Wang's surprise, the magistrate of Chang'an County personally accompanied Uncle Jiu to the West Market.

The county magistrate's name was Jiang Qiuyu. He was forty-three years old this year. He was quite tall, but very thin. The wide official robe he wore looked empty on him.

He arrived on horseback, followed by two guards.

Xiao Wang clasped his hands in a salute: "Xiao Family Sixth Son greets Magistrate Jiang."

He had heard of the deeds of Jiang Qiuyu, the magistrate of Chang'an County. He was a serious, rigid, and unapproachable man with poor interpersonal relationships in official circles. Yet, it was no easy feat for such a stubborn man to climb the ranks to become the magistrate of Chang'an County.

Jiang Qiuyu looked him up and down, his expression quite cold and his tone quite serious: "The Grand Master has already informed me that there might be members of the Five Gods Sect in the West Market tonight, and told me to be ready to provide support at any time. You asked me for a map of the West Market, is it also to deal with the Five Gods Sect?"

“A friend of mine has entered the West Market. She’s going to negotiate with the Five Gods Cult. I was worried about her safety, so I waited here so I could be there to help her at any time.”

Jiang Qiuyu narrowed his eyes slightly: "Is your friend named Ning Ci?"

"Yes, Magistrate Jiang knows her?"

“I don’t know her. It was the Grand Commander who told me about her.” Jiang Qiuyu paused, his tone becoming somewhat strange. “You care so much about her safety; it seems she’s very important to you.”

Xiao Wang was quite surprised. Why did the other party suddenly bring this up?

He answered truthfully, "Yes, it's very important."

Jiang Qiuyu didn't continue gossiping. He took out a scroll from his sleeve: "This is the West Market map you requested."

"Thank you, Magistrate Jiang."

Xiao Wang took the scroll with both hands, untied the thin rope, and slowly unrolled the scroll.

Uncle Nine deliberately held the lantern closer so that he could see it more clearly.

Xiao Wang carefully examined the map, trying to memorize all the routes in the West Market. Jiang Qiuyu stood quietly beside him, waiting without the slightest impatience.

Suddenly, someone exclaimed in surprise.

What happened over there?

Upon hearing the sound, Xiao Wang looked up and saw thick white smoke rising in the distance.

He was startled; Yan Ciwan had used the chimney.

Could it be that she encountered some danger?
Xiao Wang immediately closed the scroll and handed it back to Jiang Qiuyu, saying quickly, "Ning Ci may have gotten into trouble; we need to go help her."

Jiang Qiuyu didn't ask him how he knew Ning Ci was in trouble, but went straight to the point: "What do you want to do?"

"First, close the West Market and prevent anyone from leaving, lest the Five Gods Sect members take advantage of the chaos to escape. Then send people to that place—" Xiao Wang said, pointing to the direction where the white smoke was rising. "Ning Ci should be there now. We need to take more people with us. If possible, please send someone to Physician Liu's house and ask his daughter, Chao Lu, to come over. Chao Lu is a good doctor, and she's a friend of ours. If anyone is injured, she can help."

"it is good."

Jiang Qiuyu ordered all the guards from the Chang'an County government to be summoned, and also notified the magistrate of the West Market to come over as soon as possible. At the same time, he also sent someone to the home of Physician Liu.

Soon a large number of government soldiers arrived on horseback, and they gathered near the West Market, fully armed.

Upon hearing that the magistrate of the West Market was to arrest former rebels, he dared not slacken his efforts in the slightest and quickly issued an order to temporarily close the West Market and seal off all entrances and exits, prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving.

Xiao Wang and Jiang Qiuyu led the garrison soldiers into the West Market. The streets were originally crowded with people who were extremely dissatisfied with the sudden market closure and were venting their anger by cursing. However, upon seeing so many fully armed garrison soldiers appear before them, they were all silenced in fear. Although the people of the West Market did not know what had happened, the sudden closure of the market and the alarm of so many garrison soldiers must have been something very important.

The crowd consciously stepped aside, making way for them.

Jiang Qiuyu rode at the front, followed closely by Xiao Wang, and behind them was a large group of people. The group marched swiftly towards the direction where the white smoke was rising.

They happened to run into Yuejin on the way.

Upon recognizing an acquaintance, Yue Jin immediately shouted, "Ning Ci is surrounded by the Five Gods Sect! Your Excellency wants to take her to the Five Gods Sect's headquarters! Go and rescue her!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wang unconsciously tightened his grip on the reins, his knuckles turning white.

Before Jiang Qiuyu could speak, Xiao Wang impatiently cracked his whip, urging his horse to gallop forward.

Jiang Qiuyu called out to him, but he didn't turn around. Jiang Qiuyu frowned, and ordered in a deep voice to have the soldiers speed up their journey.

When Xiao Wang arrived at the alley, the white smoke inside had almost dissipated. Several people dressed in black and wearing masks were lying haphazardly on the ground, and more than a dozen other people in black were running in another direction, seemingly trying to escape when things turned bad.

Looking around, Yan Ciwan was nowhere to be seen.

Xiao Wang's heart pounded rapidly. He jumped off his horse, rushed into the alley, and called out loudly for Aci.

The shouts echoed through the night, but received no response.

His blood grew colder and colder, and his heart sank lower and lower.

Yan Ciwan isn't here. Where did she go? Was she kidnapped by the envoy? Is she injured?

Most importantly, will she be able to come back in the future?

Jiang Qiuyu, Uncle Jiu, Yue Jin, and others arrived quickly.

The guards grabbed all the men in black who had fallen to the ground, and Yue Jin grabbed one of them by the collar and interrogated him.

"Where did you take Ning Ci?"

The man in black had his ribs broken and suffered severe internal injuries; he coughed up blood as soon as he opened his mouth.

Judging from his half-dead state, he probably can't answer.

Undeterred, Yue Jin interrogated the other men in black one by one, only to discover that they were all severely injured and barely clinging to life. No matter how Yue Jin questioned them, they remained silent. Yue Jin dared not lay a hand on them, fearing he might accidentally kill them.

Fortunately, the morning dew has arrived.

Upon receiving the news, she immediately took a carriage and rushed to the West Market.

"Where is Aci? Is she hurt?"

Uncle Jiu said she was missing.

Chao Lu's heart tightened, and she hurriedly asked, "What do you mean 'gone missing'? Explain yourself clearly!"

Uncle Nine recounted the events in general, concluding, "When we arrived here, Madam Ning and the Venerable Envoy were nowhere to be found. To find out where they went, we could only ask these men in black, but they were all seriously injured and unconscious."

Chaolu immediately rolled up her sleeves: "Leave it to me, I'll wake them up right away!"