Chapter Fifty-two: Qingyang Town

  This Qingyang Town is the lair of the Black Tiger Mercenary Group, and in this town, the Black Tiger Mercenary Group is like an emperor, even a dog from the Black Tiger Mercenary Group can dominate the town.

  Although Ning Jing and others were quite strong, they had only five people, after all, and fell into the lair of the Black Tiger Mercenary Group, which was extremely dangerous. Facing the continuous influx of powerful enemies from the Black Tiger Mercenary Group, they only lasted for a while before being taken down one by one.

  Zhang Long took advantage of his speed and agility to escape from Qingyang Town, but was pursued by the Black Tiger Mercenary Group all the way until he met Ning Chong and was finally safe.

  After listening to Zhang Long's account, Ning Chong's eyebrows sank and he hastily asked: "When Ning Jing was caught, did she say that she was a member of the Ning family?"

  Zhang Long shook his head.

  Ning Chong let out a sigh of relief and nodded: "It's okay..."

  Compared to the behemoths like Black Tiger Mercenary Group and Ning Family, they are not worth mentioning. Even if you gave Black Tiger Mercenary Group ten thousand times more courage, they would still not dare to provoke Ning Family. So, once Black Tiger Mercenary Group discovered that the Ning Jing they provoked was actually a member of Ning Family, they absolutely wouldn't let Ning Jing off, apologize and make amends; instead, they would be ruthless and merciless, killing him immediately to silence him, destroying his corpse, and thoroughly covering up the incident.

  Ning Jing and others were in the forest to save Ning Chong's life, they fell into danger, Ning Chong had no choice but to take action to rescue them.

  Hei Hu Mercenary Group had a deep grudge with Ning Chong, who had always wanted to thoroughly eliminate them and uproot them. Now, hearing that they were not only evil but also bullied men and women, and even bullied his friends, made him extremely angry, with raging flames in his chest.

  Time waits for no man. After entrusting Zhang Long to take care of himself, he unfolded his body technique and rushed towards the direction of Qingyang Town.

  "Brother Ningchong!" Zhang Long hastily grabbed hold of Ning Chong and asked, "What exactly is your plan to rescue Miss Ning Jing and the others? Don't be rash, why not notify someone from the Ning family to go and rescue them instead?"

  Ning Chong shook his head and said: "Time is pressing, when the Ning family arrives, it will be too late. I must go to rescue now."

  "Ah... but... isn't Qingyang Town the territory of the Black Tiger Mercenary Group? Most of the high-ranking members of the Black Tiger Mercenary Group are concentrated in that town, aren't you walking into a trap by going there?"

  Although Zhang Long was anxious in his heart, he didn't want to harm Ning Chong. The Black Tiger Mercenary Group had been operating in Qingyang Town for nearly thirty years and had become a formidable force. Ning Chong's strength was powerful, but after all, he was only one person. Zhang Long thought that Ning Chong's bold intrusion was very dangerous.

  "Is this the place?" Ning Chong smiled slightly and said to Zhang Long, "Don't worry, it won't be after tonight. After tonight, the Black Tiger Mercenary Group will completely disappear from this world!"

  "Ah..."

  Zhang Long wanted to say something else, but saw Ning Chong's figure flash by, and in just a few blinks of an eye, he quickly disappeared into the forest.

  Thinking of Ning Chong's confident expression and movements, Zhang Long opened his mouth, but could only close it again, and thoroughly gave up the idea of following Ning Chong forward. Indeed, if Ning Chong were to force his way through, his current physical state would only hold Ning Chong back.

  Ning Chong worried about Ning Jing's safety, and with all his might, he unfolded his body technique, not stopping for a moment. In just half an hour, he arrived at Qingyang Town.

  Qingyang Town and Xuan Yuan City are incomparable, but because of its proximity to the vast Xuan Yuan mountain range, it is located on the edge of the Xuan Yuan forest, with an excellent location, and many travelers will choose to rest in the town. Merchants who do business in fur, demon cores, heavenly materials, and earthly treasures often stop by, and adventurers heading into the Xuan Yuan forest are even more numerous.

  Even though this town was controlled by the Black Tiger Mercenary Corps thirty years ago, the Black Tiger Mercenary Corps did a lot of evil and set the tax rate very high, with strict rules and regulations. However, many profitable and beneficial businessmen and adventurers still choose to come to this small town.

  So this town is extremely prosperous.

  At this time, the sky had just darkened, and many places in the town lit up with lights, shining brightly. Many shops were still actively soliciting customers.

  Ning Chong hastily rushed over, his heart burning with anxiety, only to suddenly realize that he still didn't know the location of the Black Tiger Mercenary Group's headquarters.

  Although his heart was burning with anger and he was extremely anxious, Ning Chong also knew that he had to understand the situation first. Not to mention that his current strength was not invincible, many martial artists died miserably due to their carelessness and arrogance, and such stories were often told in the martial arts world.

  Ning Chong calmed down slightly and patiently walked slowly on the main street, planning to find a way to ask about the situation.

  He walked a few steps and arrived in front of a hotel, just as the waiter was calling out to him. Ning Chong thought for a moment that Qingyang Town was a small place, and if anything big or small happened in this town, there should be rumors in hotels and restaurants like this one.

  Thinking so, Ning Chong followed the little servant into the hotel.

  The hotel only sells wine and food, does not provide accommodation, has only one floor, but is very spacious, with more than 20 tables placed loosely throughout the entire hotel, business is quite good, with half of them filled with guests.

  Ning Chong found a conveniently located empty table to sit down, ordered the waiter to bring some food and wine, and quietly began to listen in.

  Since Ning Chong entered the Xuan Yuan Forest to practice, he had been through life and death battles, his strength surged, and his hearing became even more sensitive. As long as he paid attention, he could hear clearly what the guests at each table were talking about, even if they were speaking in a low voice.

  At a hotel of this caliber, the people who come to drink and dine at this hour are mostly traveling businessmen who are frugal with their money; or local idle rascals, three or five friends gathering together, drinking inferior wine, and boasting to each other.

  It is often the case that the lower classes have more rumors and stories. All one can hear are these wine guests discussing topics from all over, covering everything from major events in the imperial palace to trivial matters such as which widow in a neighboring village stole something from whom.

  Ning Chong naturally listened selectively, especially paying attention to the key words in the guests' conversations. After a while, he indeed gained something.

  A table by the window with two people sitting opposite each other.

  One of them had a slender eye and a long mustache, wearing a golden yellow robe. Ning Chong recognized that the fabric of the golden yellow robe on this person was made from the famous Golden Silkworm Silk, which was not cheap.

  Although Ning Chong was the legitimate heir of the Ning family, he had not worn robes made of this fabric since his parents passed away. However, Ning Xingbi, who became the clan leader, wore silk brocade every day, with extremely strict and luxurious requirements.

  The person wearing the golden silk robe did not have any fluctuations in their yuan energy, and looked rather thin and frail, with little flesh on their body. It seems that this person should be a merchant, as only those from large families or wealthy merchants would be able to afford such attire.

  The man facing the yellow-robed merchant had a ruddy complexion, whiskers all over his face, and a loud voice. He wore a simple coarse hemp coat with a large axe on his back. Judging from his accent, he should be a local adventurer.