Chapter 306: Kidnapping

Other factions wanting to deal with Ning Zhuo and acting against him was something Ning Xiaoren loved to see.

But now, the assassin had dragged him into it. His feeling was absolutely terrible!

This kind of encounter, where he was implicated by an enemy and plunged into a life-or-death crisis, was something Ning Xiaoren didn't want to experience at all.

He forced himself to calm down: "First, go solve the Gu inside my body!"

However, the moment he had this thought, the Gu worm flared up violently.

Ning Xiaoren once again rolled on the ground in pain, wailing and screaming at the top of his lungs.

"If I openly ask for help, I'm afraid I'll be pained to death!"

He finally understood that the masked assassin could let him return to freedom because he was extremely confident in his own Gu worm, having already considered the possibility of him seeking help.

"I must find Father and have him take action to help. Others likely don't have a way to undo the Gu, and they won't sincerely help me."

However, the Ning Clan Head had not entered the Immortal Palace. He was still in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, presiding over the clan's overall situation.

Ning Xiaoren could not contact him for the time being, nor did he dare to rashly leave the palace.

Forced into a corner, Ning Xiaoren could only act according to the assassin's wishes for now, trying his best to stall for time.

After resting for a moment, he walked out of the house and headed toward Ning Zhuo's current residence.

After scouting for a while, Ning Xiaoren fell into despair once again.

The residence of Ning Zhuo and Ning Jiufan was heavily guarded. Surrounding the courtyard, Ning clan cultivators were stationed in force, wrapping it in layer upon layer.

Among them were not only the Ning clan's main lineage but also a large number of branch lineage members and members of the black market.

"I have no way to get close to the center of the station. It's extremely difficult even to see Ning Zhuo! How can I cause trouble for him?" Ning Xiaoren huddled in a dark corner, feeling increasingly desperate.

At this moment, a young cultivator walked out with a swagger, head held high.

He was surrounded by several cultivators, truly surrounded by a crowd.

It was none other than Ning Ji.

Everyone surrounded him, constantly flattering and fawning over him.

Ning Ji was quite pleased, casually taking out elixirs or spirit stones to reward them.

Such actions made the surrounding flattery even more intense.

Ning Xiaoren's eyes turned red as he watched: "Isn't this kid Ning Zhuo's cousin? After Ning Zhuo became successful, he decisively quit his job at the Talisman Hall to attach himself to Ning Zhuo."

"So generous with his spending, hmph, a petty person who has achieved his ambition!"

Ning Xiaoren felt resentful and bitter.

Once upon a time, he was the one surrounded by crowds. Times had changed; a previously unremarkable Qi Refining cultivator from a branch lineage was now being held in high regard, while he, Ning Xiaoren, could only shrink in a dark corner!

The Dao of Heaven is unfair!

Ning Xiaoren stared at Ning Ji, wishing he could break the arrogant boy's bones.

"Wait!"

"I can't get close to Ning Zhuo, but I can take action against this little brat Ning Ji."

"The assassin only wants me to bring interference to Ning Zhuo. If I kidnap Ning Ji and send a ransom note, isn't that interference?"

Ning Xiaoren suddenly had a flash of inspiration and thought of a way to deal with the masked assassin.

He narrowed his eyes, sinister glints emerging from the slits, and began to tail Ning Ji.

After following for a distance, Ning Xiaoren found an opportunity, but just as he was about to act, he hesitated again.

"I shouldn't do it myself. This is too risky!"

"I need to find someone else to do it for me."

But who could he find?

Ning Xiaoren was no longer the young clan head of the Ning clan.

He had already been expelled from the clan and had become a loner.

Ning Xiaoren also had a cunning mind, and a person quickly popped into his head—Ning Xiaohui's grandmother!

Ning Xiaohui's grandmother was becoming increasingly demented, and her normal reason was becoming scarcer.

Ning Xiaoren had stepped down to recuperate, and Ning Xiaohui's grandmother had been seriously injured and had to withdraw from the front lines for treatment.

Ning Xiaoren then saw Ning Xiaohui's grandmother lying on a hospital bed in the rear medical station.

"Grandma Xiaohui, I know where Ning Xiaohui is." Ning Xiaoren's first sentence made Grandma Xiaohui scream.

"Quiet, quiet!" Ning Xiaoren hurriedly cautioned, "If you're so loud, the enemies will know and take Xiaohui away."

"No, my Xiaohui!" Grandma Xiaohui's face was full of terror, and she immediately lowered her voice.

Under Grandma Xiaohui's questioning, Ning Xiaoren told her: Ning Xiaohui was secretly imprisoned by Ning Zhuo, and only a few people knew this secret. If you want to save your granddaughter, you must treat him as he treats others, kidnap Ning Zhuo's relative as well, and then negotiate with Ning Zhuo to exchange hostages!

Grandma Xiaohui's eyes widened: "This method is good!"

A plot against Ning Zhuo was taking shape.

The two conspirators did not know that this situation had already been learned by the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit.

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was very hesitant at first; it didn't really want to contact Ning Zhuo.

From a subjective emotional standpoint, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit wanted to see Ning Zhuo suffer.

But now, with Zhu Xuanji's threat right before its eyes, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit had to rely on Ning Zhuo's power to have any hope of eliminating all clues.

Ning Zhuo had previously explicitly requested that it scout for him and inform him in advance of anything unfavorable to him.

If this conspiracy were to be launched in the future and Ning Zhuo did not receive a warning from the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, he likely wouldn't cooperate with the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit as he had before.

Thinking of this, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit coughed a few times, and although it was unwilling, it finally contacted Ning Zhuo again.

It told Ning Zhuo in a weak tone about the plan of Ning Xiaoren and Grandma Xiaohui to kidnap Ning Ji.

Ning Zhuo's heart stirred: "Just this?"

From childhood to adulthood, his relationship with Ning Ji had never been good.

Allowing Ning Ji to attach himself and indulging him was more for the sake of his own reputation and image in the righteous path.

If the enemy really wanted to use Ning Ji to threaten Ning Zhuo, it would be a completely laughable mistake.

"What's going on with Ning Xiaoren? He's the mastermind; he clearly knows that my relationship with my uncle's family isn't good, so why come up with such a bad idea?"

Ning Zhuo felt it was strange and asked the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit.

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit did not know about Ning Xiaoren's previous encounter.

It was also attracted by the word "Ning Zhuo" in Ning Xiaoren's mouth and then probed into their conspiracy.

Therefore, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit did not know that Ning Xiaoren had been Gu-poisoned by the masked assassin.

Unless it accessed the records in the History Pavilion.

However, unfortunately, the History Pavilion was gone!

This was the result of the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit's main push.

"Little Master, I've performed a meritorious service this time. You only need to restrain that Ning Ji or strengthen his guards." The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit did not forget to claim credit for itself.

"No, no, no." Ning Zhuo's eyes flashed with brilliance.

He perceived a crucial opportunity in this conspiracy against him.

"Let them act, do not stop them at all. Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, from now on, you must closely monitor the movements of these two. Report to me at least once a day." Ning Zhuo instructed.

He decided to use their own strategy against them!

Grandma Xiaohui's action was extremely swift.

Taking advantage of Ning Ji being alone, she succeeded easily.

Ning Ji himself was just a small Qi Refining cultivator, while Grandma Xiaohui was an experienced Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Capturing a small Ning Ji was completely effortless.

"I know you are Ning Zhuo's cousin, write a letter to your good cousin. Also write a plea for help to your parents!" Ning Xiaoren disguised his appearance and deliberately changed his tone.

Ning Ji was scared out of his wits: "Two heroes, don't kill me. I'll do as you say, I'll do anything you want, just don't kill me!"

"Wuwuwu..."

"My cousin is Ning Zhuo, he is the master of the black market, he has talent. If you let me go, he will pay you enough ransom!"

Ning Xiaoren didn't need to search; what he did had already been sensed by the masked man's group.

The masked men were just doing it unintentionally, not expecting to have made a name for themselves.

They had already investigated Ning Zhuo's situation.

They knew that Ning Zhuo's relationship with his uncle, Ning Ze's family, was not close.

Even so, after Ning Zhuo became successful, he took quite good care of Ning Ze's family. After his cousin Ning Ji left the Ning clan's Talisman Hall, he lived quite comfortably in the black market. Relying on his relationship with Ning Zhuo, he acted like a fox exploiting a tiger's might, engaging in corruption, violating laws and discipline, yet always remaining safe and sound, becoming increasingly arrogant and willful.

It wasn't that no one had reported him, but in the end, Ning Zhuo never reacted.

The masked men's group analyzed: whether Ning Zhuo was nostalgic for old feelings or concerned about his own righteous reputation, Ning Ze's family was indeed Ning Zhuo's weak point.

With no progress in other areas, this small weak point became the only breakthrough.

Immediately, the masked man appeared again, assisting Ning Xiaoren in sending out the letter and soothing Ning Xiaoren.

Ning Xiaoren was secretly shocked.

Now that they were surrounded by demon beasts, it was not easy to contact the outside world. This faction had great power; he didn't know which side they were on.

Whoever's side it was didn't really matter. Because Ning Xiaoren was a complete nobody, he couldn't resist at all; to survive, he could only go with the flow.

"My son has been kidnapped!" Ning Ze's expression changed drastically after receiving the letter.

"Heavens, my child, you must not have any mishaps. Without you, how can I live?" Wang Lan panicked and shouted loudly.

"Shut up! Do you want the whole clan to know?" Ning Ze scolded.

This time, Wang Lan, in her anxiety, retorted to Ning Ze: "Master, isn't this your fault? You were the one who let Ji'er go to such a dangerous place as the Lava Immortal Palace. Now it's good, he's been kidnapped!"

Ning Ze snorted coldly: "You think the black market is safe? Ning Zhuo participated in the second round of the palace examination, and all the cultivators in the examination were targeted. You think Ji'er wouldn't have been kidnapped if he stayed in the black market? On the contrary, arriving at the Lava Immortal Palace, he is more likely to perform meritorious service."

"This useless thing, relying on his relationship with Ning Zhuo, is becoming more and more outrageous. If he doesn't have merit to rely on, he will have trouble sooner or later!"

Wang Lan's expression froze, and she suddenly realized: "So, our Ji'er was implicated by this brat Ning Zhuo?!"

"I said it, he's a troublemaker, I've seen it since he was a child."

"Oh my, without Ji'er, how can I live!"

"I won't live, I won't live!"

Ning Ze slammed the table hard, stood up in anger: "Ji'er isn't dead yet, are you mourning for him already?!"

"The only plan now is to find Ning Zhuo. Pack your things, we will immediately take the next shift to the Lava Immortal Palace to find Ning Zhuo."

"Hmph!"

"We are Ning Zhuo's closest relatives in this world. He cannot sit idly by."

Every once in a while, Fire Persimmon Immortal City would organize a group of people, and with the internal and external cooperation of cultivators like Meng Kui and Zhu Xuanji, use temporarily built short-distance teleportation arrays to rotate personnel.

On one hand, they replenished manpower for the Lava Immortal Palace, the great front line; on the other hand, they replaced cultivators who were seriously injured and difficult to treat or who had to leave the palace.

Ning Ze and Wang Lan took advantage of this channel to successfully enter the Lava Immortal Palace.

Relying on their status, the two were granted an audience by Ning Zhuo.

"What? My cousin was captured? How come I didn't know?!" Ning Zhuo was "shocked."

Wang Lan shed tears: "Little Zhuo, Ji'er grew up with you. You can't ignore him! If you don't care about him, he'll lose his life."

Ning Zhuo immediately stated: "Uncle, Aunt, please calm down."

"I see this letter, the kidnappers want a ransom."

"For the sake of my cousin's safety, we might as well redeem him first. No amount of money matters, my cousin's life is the most important!"

Ning Ze and Wang Lan's expressions softened slightly.

Regardless, Ning Zhuo's statement was very correct and reassuring.

Having gained the approval of his uncle and aunt, Ning Zhuo immediately summoned his subordinate Ning Xiangguo, asking him to take the ransom to the kidnappers to redeem the person.

How could the masked men's group care about the ransom?

After seeing Ning Xiangguo, they were quite excited.

"That brat Ning Zhuo has taken the bait!"

"Keep him hanging, drain his energy. We can also report to the superiors."

The masked man immediately raised the ransom, making Ning Xiangguo return empty-handed.

Ning Ze and Wang Lan's expectations were dashed, and they immediately came to find Ning Zhuo again.