Guangning City.

Screech——

A single crane’s cry echoed across the sky.

Soon after, an Immortal Crane rapidly descended from above.

"It’s the Dongling Marquis!!" Several eyes in the city saw the Immortal Crane plummeting rapidly, and immediately recognized the figure on its back.

At the moment, they saw the Immortal Crane dive straight towards Wenyuan Mansion.

...

Inside the government office.

"Let’s go, to Marquis Wen Yuan Mansion!" Zhu Huaijin immediately spoke, and Liu Teng, who was waiting on the side for news, also immediately stood up.

Both of them understood that they wouldn’t be of any help at Zhuge Manor.

Especially Zhu Huaijin, being the Magistrate, felt this even more.

Because that was a battlefield above the level of a Grandmaster.

In front of such powerful individuals, lacking sufficient strength, they would only be a burden.

Moreover, Guangning Prefecture needed someone to hold the fort.

And now that Jiang Ning had returned riding the crane, regardless of whether it was good or bad, it certainly meant there was news from Zhuge Manor.

At the same time.

Riding on the crane’s back, Jiang Ning extended his heart spirit, enveloping the whole city.

"He actually didn’t come back!" Jiang Ning said softly.

"Who didn’t come back?" Ji Mingyue huddled in Jiang Ning’s embrace, instinctively asking softly.

"Wang Wenzong." Jiang Ning replied.

"So you were talking about him!!" Ji Mingyue immediately recalled what Jiang Ning had just said.

At this moment, Jiang Ning also opened his eyes and retracted his heart spirit.

Wang Wenzong had fled, and he didn’t bother to look for him.

Given the time he just delayed, and with a Great Grandmaster’s speed, he would naturally be faster in returning to the city.

Furthermore, as his heart spirit spread to envelop the city, he also discovered that the old mansion where Wang Wenzong previously stayed, with three entrances and exits, was already deserted.

Even that child around ten years old was nowhere to be seen.

He didn’t need to think to know that Wang Wenzong must have rushed back to Guangning City first and took the child away.

The purpose was to avoid him.

After all, Wang Wenzong broke his promise, and seeing Jiang Ning’s power during combat, it was normal for him to fear Jiang Ning’s retaliation on his return.

These thoughts flashed through his mind, and Jiang Ning wasn’t surprised.

Soon after, he plunged headlong into the front courtyard of the mansion.

Even though he was determined to flatten the Cross Immortal Gate and shatter the Yingtian Alliance’s plans,

he wasn’t in a rush to make a move.

To accomplish this, it wasn’t something he could do alone.

Instead, it required the cooperation of a large force.

In this regard, he still needed Liu Teng’s strength, as well as the various forces of Guangning City’s Inspection Office.

And now that Ji Mingzhou and Li Sixiang were both gone,

with the fall of two sect leaders, the Cross Immortal Gate was leaderless, making him even less urgent.

He came this time also to draw the world’s attention, to encourage people to lower their guard against him, rather than to truly settle the chaos in Guangning Prefecture.

With different purposes, his actions were different, and he was in no hurry.

...

Elsewhere.

Outside Guangning City.

An elderly man, thin and with a head full of silver hair, stood on a cliff watching the undulating city walls in the distance.

Beside him stood a child of about ten years old.

These two people were precisely Wang Wenzong, and the child by his side.

On the cliff, Wang Wenzong looked at the distant outline of Guangning City and was silent for a long time.

The child looked up, seeing complex emotions in his eyes, couldn’t help but ask softly, "Grandfather, do we really need to leave?"

Wang Wenzong withdrew his gaze and patted the child’s head: "The world is like a game of chess; progress and retreat must be considered. Jiang Ning is unfathomable. Today, he faced Ji Mingzhou and didn’t hesitate to burn his life using Forbidden Technique to strike him down, like a thunderbolt. His character is extremely ruthless, not only to others but also to himself. I don’t want to deal with such a person."

"Grandfather! But he saved Zhuge Manor." The child blinked. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Wang Wenzong nodded: "He is a good official, a rare good man! But precisely because of this, I fear him more. Back in the day, I was a great villain!"

"In my heart, Grandfather is a good person!" the child declared resolutely.

Hearing this, Wang Wenzong laughed heartily and then turned around.

"That’s because Grandfather has grown old!"

"Grandfather is not old at all!" the child replied firmly.

As they spoke, the child quickly followed Wang Wenzong’s steps.

...

Meanwhile.

The Yunying Crane spiraled down, landing in the front courtyard of Marquis Wen Yuan Mansion.

"Greetings to the Dongling Marquis!" The waiting servants of the mansion immediately bowed to Jiang Ning.

"Greetings to the Princess!" Then they bowed to Ji Mingyue.

Jiang Ning, with Ji Mingyue, jumped off the crane’s back.

Just then,

a dignified and noblewoman hurried over.

The arrival was the lady of the mansion, also Shen Wenyan’s legitimate wife.

Having met several times before, Jiang Ning remembered her.

"This humble woman greets the Dongling Marquis and the Seventeenth Princess!" the lady of the mansion bowed to Jiang Ning and Ji Mingyue.

"Madam, you are too polite!" Jiang Ning said.

"Marquis, may I ask..." After greeting, the lady of the mansion hesitated as she looked at Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning, with a heart like a bright mirror, knew what she wanted to ask.

"Lady of the mansion, do not worry. The matter at Zhuge Manor has been settled, everything is fine. I returned to the city first using the speed of the Yunying Crane, and Mr. Shen will return safely later."

Hearing Jiang Ning’s words, the lady of the mansion breathed a sigh of relief.

Her expression also became much more relaxed.

"Thank you very much, Marquis!" The lady of the mansion bowed to Jiang Ning.

Then she said, "Dongling Marquis, Seventeenth Princess, please come inside and rest!"

After speaking, the lady of the mansion stepped aside to lead the way, her brows no longer furrowed with the previous worry but filled with a smile.

"Alright!" Jiang Ning nodded and responded.

A moment later.

They arrived at the front hall.

By this time, the servants in the mansion had already prepared hot tea and a copper basin for washing hands, and the brazier was burning bright, letting warmth flow throughout the entire mansion.

"Dongling Marquis, Seventeenth Princess, please rest here for a while, have some tea, and snack on melon seeds. I am just a woman and don’t know the etiquette well, if there’s any lack in hospitality, please forgive me!"