Chapter 846: Chapter 288: Joy and Sorrow_2

Although Ning Zhuo had already secluded himself and deliberately restrained his presence, he didn’t expose his secret of being the Deputy Commander of the Qing Jiao Army. However, his close relationship with Qing Chi pulled him into the whirlwind of public opinion.

The gossip and private affairs concerning the White Paper City Lord were even more intriguing, leading to the rapid spread of rumors.

Rumors can kill!

Various forces and powerful figures were closely watching the White Paper City Lord’s reaction.

Under the public’s keen attention, the White Paper City Lord grandly summoned Jiao Ma. With the gates tightly closed, it was only after half an hour that Jiao Ma finally departed.

While the outside world speculated on what kind of interrogation or reprimand Jiao Ma might have faced, he was calmly sipping tea.

The White Paper City Lord’s avatar personally entertained him and praised him: No wonder he is the savior mentioned in the Omen Poem! He saved the Paperman Giant Statue last time, and now he has facilitated the formation of a new army. The entire crisis is changing because of Jiao Ma.

All of this added even more anticipation for the White Paper City Lord.

As for those rumors, it had already been verified to be the work of the Sun Family. As long as Ning Zhuo nodded slightly, the White Paper City Lord would immediately issue an order to make the entire Sun Family vanish.

These people actually dared to provoke the relationship between the City Lord and the savior, purely for their own benefit, with such sinister intentions; their hearts deserved to be condemned!

Ning Zhuo immediately shook his head: “No need for that. Currently, inside and outside the Immortal City, crises abound, and the Sun Family is still useful. Who doesn’t have a selfish heart? It can still be forgiven.”

“Moreover, once you rashly execute an entire clan, such harsh methods could easily be exploited by the enemy. The real traitor hasn’t even been identified yet.”

The avatar of the White Paper City Lord immediately praised Ning Zhuo, recognizing his magnanimity, strategic vision, and exceptional integrity beyond the ordinary.

As the “victim,” the White Paper City Lord had not a shred of the arrogance of a Nascent Soul level expert and actually praised Jiao Ma (Ning Zhuo) for his generosity. If this were spoken of, perhaps no one in the entire city would believe it.

The White Paper City Lord also summoned Qing Chi, Qing Yan, and Jiao Ma’s biological father.

The three were exceedingly anxious, while the White Paper City Lord’s avatar was notably colder towards them. Initially, the avatar listened to their successive reports, then called for the Paperman Puppet to serve tea, before withdrawing.

The three of them awkwardly drank several rounds of tea and ate some pastries of the dark variety, staying for a full hour before being allowed to leave.

From the perspective of the White Paper Immortal City’s Lord, she had long discovered Jiao Ma was a guise by Ning Zhuo, naturally not worrying about the emotional ties between Jiao Ma and Qing Chi, and even feeling reassured.

Because she held this secret, once exposed, a huge rift would immediately form between Jiao Ma and the Qing Jiao Army.

She wouldn’t do this, at least under the current circumstances, making “Jiao Ma” and Qing Chi inseparable was more advantageous for the White Paper Immortal City.

The White Paper City Lord’s repeated light handling clearly demonstrated her stance, making both enemy and ally, and the various forces within the Immortal City quickly understand the situation.

That night, at least six forces secretly contacted Qing Yan.

Qing Yan, although a Golden Core Cultivator, was, after all, from the Ghost Clan, and deemed inferior.

Jiao Ma’s father, however, was a Golden Core Cultivator of the Human Clan, and he received a stack of invitations, with more than ten forces visiting despite the late hour.

Even at Ning Zhuo’s place, visitors came looking for him.

Most were courteously declined by Ning Zhuo; he was not in the mood to deal with these opportunistic forces, wasting his cultivation time on empty pleasantries.

On reflection, the matter of Qing Chi grasping military organization slightly stirred Ning Zhuo.

Qing Chi normally hadn’t been involved with military art, whereas Ning Zhuo had accumulated experience from two major wars in Liangzhu Country and possessed two military treasures: Gao Sheng’s Legacy and the ability to make soldiers share armor.

He intended to use these two treasures to aid himself, but regrettably, he hadn’t yet fully comprehended the Heroic Return Skill from before.

Only by thoroughly understanding it could he employ the soldiers sharing the armor.

Sun Lingtong could do it, but he had more important tasks at present. Merely staying within the enemy army and providing Ning Zhuo with military intelligence was an exceptionally significant and irreplaceable role.

“I refuse to believe it.” As Ning Zhuo delved deeply into military books, a “friend” came visiting, forcing him to interrupt his cultivation and entertain the guest.

It was none other than Yang Weida.

Ning Zhuo led him into the reception room, and Yang Weida immediately bowed, expressing his intention to pledge allegiance.

Ning Zhuo was taken aback and quickly helped him up: “Brother Yang, why do this?”

Yang Weida wore a bitter smile, “Brother Jiao, elusive as ever, I’ve been waiting anxiously for many days, finally catching you back at the Yang Enhancement Institute.”

“Please, Brother Jiao, do not worry. I’ve come to pledge my allegiance with full sincerity.”

Then, Yang Weida demonstrated his sincerity.

He handed Ning Zhuo a heavy storage bag, containing nearly his entire fortune.

“I’ve been in trade for many years, possessing some small wealth. I’ve heard the new army creation still requires funds. Though it’s a mere drop in the bucket, I wish to contribute a small token. I humbly ask Brother Jiao to accept it.”

Ning Zhuo was silent.

The assets in the storage bag already surpassed most Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Moreover, it contained a rare treasure called Sky-Piercing Shuttle Iron, graded at the Nascent Soul Level and very rare in the market.

Ning Zhuo was somewhat perplexed, raising his eyes to Yang Weida: “Other forces come from the Immortal City itself, which I can understand. But you, as an outsider, why do this?”

Yang Weida sighed deeply, his face showing bitter emotions.

Ning Zhuo timely invited him to sit, taking out tea to entertain him.

Yang Weida sat upright, sipping the tea slowly, setting himself in a humble position, devoid of the previous camaraderie.

He put down his cup and changed the subject: “Brother Jiao, are you aware Sun Tiesheng has already promised to Lord Li Xiangshang, accepting the Golden Nest Demon Seed?”