Wuxia: Starting Off With 60 Years of Inner Strength

"What?"

"The Jiaowei is on him?"

"Just who is this young man?"

Jiang Ran’s single sentence sent shockwaves through the crowd, leaving everyone dumbfounded.

Even those still sprawled on the ground, unable to get up, hurried to whisper amongst themselves, as if afraid they’d fall behind on the latest news.

Ruan Yuqing, however, stiffly turned her neck to look at Jiang Ran.

"What... what nonsense are you spouting?"

Jiang Ran glanced at her and sighed.

"I know why Miss Ruan wishes to keep this a secret, but there’s truly no need."

"There’s even less reason to let others die for it."

"You!"

Ruan Yuqing was furious. "Do you have any idea what you’ve done? You’re courting disaster, asking for trouble!"

"So what?"

Jiang Ran smiled.

"From the moment I accepted this zither, the trouble became mine. I’ve never been in the habit of letting others suffer in my place."

"You’re utterly unreasonable!"

Ruan Yuqing was beside herself with anger and frustration.

Seeing this, Jiang Ran simply smiled again. He didn’t continue arguing with her, instead turning his gaze to Wu Zhong in the distance.

"Why so quiet?"

"Don’t you want to come and take it?"

"..."

After all this time, Wu Zhong still hadn’t recovered.

He had expected to hear a name, a place, or even some organization, gang, or sect from Jiang Ran’s lips...

But he never imagined that the Jiaowei zither was on the very person before him.

However, he had just been beaten like a dead dog by this man’s punch.

At this very moment, even knowing the Jiaowei was on him, what could he possibly do?

Take it?

’I might have the life to take it, but I won’t have the life to use it!’

At this thought, Wu Zhong grimaced into a smile.

"Good. ’New talent emerges in every generation, each leading the way for centuries to come!’"

"For Your Excellency to possess such martial skill and courage at such a young age... it truly puts this old man to shame."

"I wonder, do you dare to leave your name?"

"Why wouldn’t I dare?"

Jiang Ran smiled faintly.

"I don’t hide my name. I am Jiang Ran, an Assassin."

"Jiang Ran!?"

"So he’s Jiang Ran!"

"The Jiang Ran who stunned everyone at the Cangzhou Heroic Assembly and cut down Li Feiyun!"

"He really is young, and his martial arts are incredible."

"His skills seem even more formidable than the rumors say. No wonder Li Feiyun was no match for him."

The disciples of the Three Rivers Gang erupted in discussion once again.

But Chang Sheng, who was perched on the wall, was dumbfounded.

He suddenly felt that Jiang Ran poisoning him wasn’t so hard to understand anymore.

It wasn’t that he truly thought there was anything wrong with the Master’s account of the Cangzhou Heroic Assembly.

Nor was he truly unconvinced of Jiang Ran’s prowess.

The real reason he’d said those things back in the Golden Goblet Tower was just to pick a fight, hoping he and Fang Li could become friends after trading blows.

Who could have guessed that the Jiang Ran everyone in the tavern talked about every day was sitting right there in that very tavern?

’He likes listening to stories about the Cangzhou Heroic Assembly too?’

For a moment, Chang Sheng had no idea what kind of expression could possibly convey his current feelings.

He had a nagging feeling that Jiang Ran would settle the score with him later.

Fang Li’s eyes, on the other hand, were shining.

The rumors about him being generous, heroic, and fond of making friends were true.

He himself was indeed fond of making friends, especially with heroic figures.

And recently, the person with the greatest reputation was none other than Jiang Ran, who had shone so brilliantly at the Cangzhou Heroic Assembly.

He never thought he would actually get to meet him.

’However, if the name Duan Feng was fake, then Xiao Zhu and Murong Xu must be fake too.’

He subconsciously glanced at Li Tianxin and Luo Qingyi. After studying them for a moment, his gaze fell on Li Tianxin.

"You’re Li Tianxin?"

"...Yes."

"Then you must be Luo Qingyi! I heard you’re the son of the former Cangzhou Prefecture Magistrate and that you’ve endured humiliation for years, all to avenge your father’s murder!?"

Fang Li was like a star-struck fan who had just met his idol, asking questions impatiently.

Luo Qingyi, however, ignored him, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on the scene in the courtyard.

The announcement of Jiang Ran’s name caused quite a stir.

Wu Zhong was also stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Excellent, excellent! Young Hero Jiang, you truly live up to your reputation."

"I will never forget the lesson you’ve taught me today. Our paths will cross again. Until we meet again."

As his voice fell, he finally put the strength he’d been gathering to use. With a flicker of his body, he was about to leap away.

Just as he was about to clear the wall, he looked up and saw a flash of golden light descending from above.

In his haste, he scrambled to block it.

But unexpectedly, the slash looked simple yet defied all logic. He could clearly see the blade’s trajectory, but the outcome was completely unforeseen.

By the time he realized what was happening and tried to dodge, it was already too late.

The blade severed half his arm with a sharp SLICE!

He tumbled from mid-air and crashed back to the ground.

Jiang Ran, holding his saber in one hand, leaped down from the wall. He casually swung the Shattered Gold Saber in his hand.

"Did I say you could leave?"

"You..."

Wu Zhong tried to retaliate, but before he could even execute a move, a bloody gash appeared on his body.

Excruciating pain shot through him, and he staggered backward.

"You come and go as you please. What do you take this Three Rivers Gang for?"

Jiang Ran attacked as he spoke.

Wu Zhong was forced back again and again by the slashes, his body dripping with blood.

Fang Yinuo, meanwhile, nodded repeatedly, thinking Jiang Ran made a lot of sense.

Wu Zhong, however, flew into a rage.

"You’ve gone too far!"

Ignoring his injuries, he channeled his Inner Strength through his remaining arm and prepared to attack again.

But his vision blurred, and it was as if he saw the fleeting trace of a blade.

The blade carved a seemingly unremarkable arc, yet it felt profoundly real. It was as if it held infinite possibilities within it—a single strike impossible to block, regardless of one’s skills or methods.