Wuxia: Starting Off With 60 Years of Inner Strength

Jiang Ran asked softly.

"...To investigate in secret, of course."

Hearing this, Chang Sheng glanced at Jiang Ran.

"Who exactly are you?"

"Investigating in secret... That’s too slow."

Jiang Ran let out a breath. "I have a faster way. Want to give it a try?"

"What way?"

Chang Sheng froze.

Then he heard Jiang Ran say:

"Young Master Fang, you can come in now."

Chang Sheng’s eyes flew wide. For a moment, he didn’t know if he should sit up or stay lying down.

While he was at a loss, Fang Li had already pushed the door open and entered.

"Chang Sheng, how are you?"

"I..."

Chang Sheng could only nod. "Still alive, for now."

"As long as you’re alive."

Fang Li said, "I haven’t had a chance to repay you for the great debt of saving my life, so you absolutely can’t die now. Speaking of which, I also have to thank Brother Duan... Where is Brother Duan?"

As he spoke, he turned to look, only to find that Jiang Ran had, at some point, moved to the door.

He reached out and shut the door.

Hearing Fang Li’s words, he turned back and smiled at him.

"I’m right here."

"..."

Fang Li looked at the closed door, momentarily surprised.

"What are you closing the door for?"

"Because there are some things I’d like to discuss with you in detail, Young Master."

Jiang Ran’s smile was utterly harmless.

Chang Sheng’s eyes widened. He suddenly understood what Jiang Ran’s "faster way" was.

At that moment, Fang Li also realized what was happening.

His figure suddenly spun, and he tried to rush past Jiang Ran.

But with Jiang Ran standing before him, there was no escape.

Reaching out with the Thirteen Crazed Demon Claws, his five fingers were like blades, aimed straight for Fang Li.

Fang Li’s face paled in shock.

’This guy dared to say he doesn’t know martial arts?’

He immediately pivoted, retreated swiftly, and with a SHING, the longsword at his waist was already unsheathed. With a flick of the blade, he created three sword flourishes, striking toward three acupoints on Jiang Ran’s chest.

But Jiang Ran merely smiled, neither dodging nor evading the three strikes.

A vicious glint flashed in Fang Li’s eyes.

"You’re courting death!!"

The blade swept across, aiming to sever Jiang Ran’s arm.

At this point, Chang Sheng didn’t even know if he should step in to help.

He wanted to move, but the wound on his waist flared with heart-piercing pain.

But just then, as the blade swept past—clearly passing through Jiang Ran’s arm—it left no mark, as if his arm were merely an illusory shadow.

Fang Li’s eyes shot wide open.

"What kind of Demon Skill is this?"

Before he could finish his sentence, his neck was in Jiang Ran’s grasp.

Jiang Ran casually slapped the longsword from his hand and glanced at Chang Sheng.

"See? Isn’t this faster?"

"..."

Chang Sheng was speechless.

"You two!?"

Hearing Jiang Ran’s words, Fang Li looked at him, then at Chang Sheng sitting on the bed, and was utterly dumbstruck.

"You’re actually in this together?"

"Don’t make it sound so ugly."

Jiang Ran smiled.

"I’ll ask you, where are Ruan Yuqing and the others?"

"I don’t know."

Fang Li tilted his neck back, looking up at the ceiling.

Jiang Ran raised an eyebrow, then smiled.

"Young Master Fang, do you think I’m negotiating with you?"

"You vile heretic! Show me what you’ve got! Let me see what you’re capable of."

Fang Li gritted his teeth.

"Inviting you two... I, Fang Li, must have been blind. I never thought you’d harbor such malicious intentions... Now stop asking all this nonsense. If you’ve got the guts, just give me a quick death."

Jiang Ran was almost amused by him.

’This Fang Li is actually quite interesting,’ he thought.

After a moment of silence, he flicked his fingers to seal Fang Li’s acupoints, then walked over to his bundle. After rummaging for a bit, he pulled out a small vial.

He took out the contents—it was another medicinal pill.

Watching Jiang Ran approach him step by step with the pill, Fang Li’s expression gradually changed.

"You... What are you going to do?"

Jiang Ran laughed. "What do you think?"

As he spoke, he pried open Fang Li’s mouth and stuffed the pill inside.

Then, with a push of his Inner Strength, GULP, the pill went down into his stomach.

Fang Li’s eyes went wide.

"What did you make me eat?"

"Poison, of course. But it won’t take effect for a little while."

Jiang Ran smiled.

"If you hand over Ruan Yuqing and the others, I might consider letting you live."

"In your dreams!!"

This statement, in fact, already proved that what Chang Sheng had said was true; Ruan Yuqing was indeed in their hands.

Fang Li was about to say more when he felt the ship shudder slightly.

Immediately after, a voice came from outside the door.

"Young Master, the ship has docked."

Fang Li’s expression changed. Just as he was about to speak, Jiang Ran grabbed his neck and whispered in his ear:

"Think before you speak."

"..."

Fang Li fell silent. After a long moment, he finally called out to the person outside.

"We’re going ashore."

"Yes, sir."

The person outside turned and left.

Jiang Ran glanced at Chang Sheng, who, with a deep frown, rolled off the bed.

His injuries really weren’t that serious. Since he’d been stabbed by one of his own, the blow had naturally avoided any vital spots.

It was just a flesh wound, and he had Jiang Ran’s healing balm. Even though some poison had been applied, it didn’t reduce the balm’s effectiveness.

Now, he could get out of bed and walk around without any issue.

Jiang Ran then said to Fang Li:

"Young Master Fang, I’ll be right behind you.

"If you dare make a single wrong move, it’ll cost you your life."

"Hmph!"

Fang Li snorted coldly.

Chang Sheng, however, frowned deeply.

"What’s the plan now?"

"We go ashore and find Fang Yinuo."

Jiang Ran continued, "We’ll trade his son’s life and see what he values more: the lives of the people from the Shuiyue Sword Sect, or the life of his own son."

"A pipe dream!"

Fang Li couldn’t help but interject.

Jiang Ran gave him a shove.

"Shut up."

Fang Li shot Jiang Ran a murderous glare over his shoulder before indignantly stalking out.