Chapter 988 - Chapter 988: Dungeon Entrance

Chapter 988: Dungeon Entrance

Editor: Henyee Translations

“Well, if you need anything, just tell me. I’ll definitely help,” Li Hongjue nodded.

…

At Tang Camp.

Lan Qiongzhen saw Chu Qingning preparing to leave the camp, so she hurried after her and asked, “Qingning, are you going to the city to buy medicinal herbs?”

Chu Qingning nodded, “Is there something else?”

“I’ve been cooped up in the military camp for so long, I would like to go out for a walk too,” Lan Qiongzhen expressed her wish with a hopeful look.

“I’ll ask Jinghong first,” Chu Qingning always maintained a certain vigilance around Lan Qiongzhen and did not trust her completely.

Lan Qiongzhen responded, “Okay, I’ll wait for you.”

After asking Tang Jinghong, he allowed her to take Lan Qiongzhen with her but would secretly send someone to follow and see what she was up to.

Chu Qingning returned from the main tent and said, “Qiongzhen, let’s go.”

“Thank you, Qingning,” Lan Qiongzhen expressed her gratitude.

The two left the military camp together and headed to the nearest city to buy medicinal herbs suitable for treating soldiers’ wounds, as the situation in the eastern border was getting increasingly dangerous.

Upon reaching the city, they went straight to the herb shop. Chu Qingning handed over the prescription to the shop assistant to prepare the required herbs. Since the quantity was large, she and Lan Qiongzhen sat down to wait.

After sitting for a while, Lan Qiongzhen suddenly said, “Qingning, there’s a place nearby that sells really tasty sesame cakes. I’m a little hungry; I’ll go buy some, okay?”

Chu Qingning nodded, “Go ahead, I’ll wait here.”

“Alright.” Lan Qiongzhen got up and headed to the sesame cake stall, returning shortly with two cakes and handed one to Chu Qingning.

Chu Qingning took the cake but didn’t eat it, pretending to be busy checking the herbs. Once the cake cooled down, she casually set it aside.

Tang Jinghong had warned her not to eat anything outside unless she saw it being made herself.

With this caution in mind, she didn’t eat the cake.

Lan Qiongzhen watched Chu Qingning, noting that she didn’t eat the sesame cake and understood that Chu Qingning was on guard against her, but she said nothing.

Once the herbs were prepared, they prepared to return to the camp.

On their way back, Chu Qingning suddenly felt dizzy. Lan Qiongzhen supported her to a nearby tea stall, “Qingning, what’s wrong?”

Chu Qingning rubbed her temples, but the dizziness worsened, and she eventually passed out.

The person secretly following them quickly approached to carry Chu Qingning away, but suddenly the tea stall’s canopy collapsed, blocking their path. By the time they cleared the debris, she was gone.

They hurried back to report to Tang Jinghong.

Tang Jinghong personally led a search at the small tea stall. How could he explain losing Qiongzhen?

Meng Shengdong anxiously said, “General, what should we do now?”

Tang Jinghong ordered sternly, “Dispatch people to search everywhere; we must find Chu Qingning.”

“Yes,” everyone quickly dispersed to search the surrounding areas.

Tang Jinghong closely questioned those who had been following covertly. They reported that Chu Qingning and Lan Qiongzhen had entered the small tea stall, and then after the canopy collapsed, she vanished.

After questioning, Tang Jinghong climbed a tree and surveyed the area. Noticing a small house not far away, he flew directly towards it.

Drawing his sword, he split open the door of the house, which contained some hunter’s tools but little else of interest.

As he was leaving, arrows shot towards him, and Tang Jinghong, with his sword, blocked them all. Frustrated, the attackers used fire arrows next, setting the small house ablaze.

The dense barrage of arrows forced Tang Jinghong to retreat, slashing through the back wall to escape.

Meng Shengdong and others, seeing the fire, rushed to help while Tang Jinghong reentered the fray, capturing all the assailants.

Tang Jinghong rested his sword against the neck of the leader, “Speak, who sent you? Where is Chu Qingning?”

The leader sneered defiantly, “Such a mighty general should investigate himself!”

“I will find out,” Tang Jinghong assured calmly, “Take all of them back and pry their mouths open.”

“Yes,” Meng Shengdong motioned, taking the captives away.

Once again, Tang Jinghong ascended to the treetops, looking around at the dense forest, scant of clues. After a moment’s thought, he returned to base.

His subordinates reported back one by one, “General, we haven’t found her.”

Tang Jinghong ordered, “Continue to expand the search area!”

“Yes.”

…

That night, Tang Jinghong relayed the news of Chu Qingning’s abduction to Chu Qiongzhen, “Qiongzhen, I will definitely find your fourth sister.”

“I’ll be back soon,” Chu Qiongzhen responded.

Feeling responsible, Tang Jinghong cautioned her, “Be careful on the road.”

Just then, an arrow shot into the tent from outside. Tang Jinghong caught it, unrolled the attached note, and read, “Return what you took from our Yun Organization, and we will return Chu Qingning to you.”

So, it was the Yun Organization behind this. But was Lan Qiongzhen involved too?

Tang Jinghong’s brows furrowed more deeply. The adversaries planned to exchange Chu Qingning for whatever they believed the Yun Organization had lost—food supplies? Divine elixir? People? Or all of them? It was a well-played move.

Another arrow flew in, but this time Tang Jinghong did not bother reading the message; instead, he dashed out to catch the shooter.

The trees rustled slightly ahead, indicating movement. Tang Jinghong pursued. The shooter had likely anticipated this and fled early, leaving Tang Jinghong grasping at air.

Standing atop a tree, Tang Jinghong surveyed the area, then chased in one direction.

A chase ensued, culminating in the capture of the archer, “Speak, where are the others?”

Visibly frightened, the man replied, “It’s just me alone.”

Using the hilt of his sword, Tang Jinghong knocked the man unconscious and carried him back to the camp, throwing him to Meng Shengdong, “Pry his mouth open; he must know where Chu Qingning is.”

“Yes, General.”

…

Meanwhile, in Shu City.

Chu Tang was discussing rescuing Jiang Zhaoyong from the eastern border King’s mansion but was interrupted by the distressing news of Chu Qingning’s disappearance, causing him irritation.

Seeing Chu Tang’s furrowed brow, Shang Zixing asked, “Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, let’s go,” Chu Tang decided to rescue Jiang Zhaoyong first before heading to Tang Camp, “Follow my lead later, and don’t act on your own.”

“I understand,” Shang Zixing, having witnessed Chu Tang’s capabilities, complied without hesitation.

They approached the outer walls of the eastern border King’s mansion. Chu Tang released his spiritual sense to scout the location, then, confirming the position, infiltrated the King’s mansion, knocking out a guard and disguising himself to blend in with the patrolling guards.

Shang Zixing waited outside for a signal.

Blending into the patrol, Chu Tang slipped away when passing a secluded alley and headed towards the dungeon.

Unsure of the dungeon’s exact entrance, Chu Tang decided to seek information, and the steward seemed like a good target to start with.