Wuxia: Starting Off With 60 Years of Inner Strength

"The matter of the Jiaowei is significant... I won’t hide it from you, though it’s embarrassing to admit.

"Even I felt a flicker of greed the moment I heard its name.

"If word gets out, I’m afraid you’ll never know another day of peace, Young Hero Jiang."

"If I have my peace, it’s hard to say what will happen to others."

Jiang Ran smiled.

"The matter of the Jiaowei’s ownership has to be settled one way or another.

"My claim to this zither is perfectly legitimate... It originally belonged to the Ye family of Red Maple, and then..."

He recounted the series of events.

Only then did Fang Yinuo and the others realize that Jiang Ran had previously joined forces with the Five Great Sword Sects to deal with Shi Pingzhang.

And they had successfully taken down the man once known as the notorious ’Heart Demon’.

Looking at Jiang Ran now, they saw him in a completely different light.

Jiang Ran continued, "I don’t know how this information was leaked.

"But since someone has already made a move against the Shuiyue Sword Sect, I suspect the events at Red Maple Manor have been twisted and used against us.

"That must be why they were targeted.

"And it won’t be just the Shuiyue Sword Sect. The Liuyun, Yun Mountain, Qingsong, and Danyang sects will likely be targeted as well.

"If we keep this under wraps any longer, many disciples from the Five Great Sword Sects could be injured or killed.

"I cannot let the Five Great Sword Sects be dragged into this because of me."

"How dare you!"

Ruan Yuqing couldn’t help but glare at Jiang Ran.

"Do you think the Five Great Sword Sects are to be trifled with?

"You’ve done a great service to all five of our sects. What’s the big deal about us doing something for you in return?"

"Of course you’re not to be trifled with."

Jiang Ran smiled. "But you have to think about your disciples...

"Besides, it’s not just the people who covet the Jiaowei we have to worry about. We must also guard against whoever is pulling the strings from the shadows."

Ruan Yuqing frowned.

"So what do you intend to do?"

Jiang Ran considered for a moment, then said with a smile,

"I’m on my way to Jinyang Prefecture, and there are many fine places along the route.

"I’ve heard that near Evergreen Mansion, there’s a place called Sanxian Mountain.

"And on that mountain is Sunset Plateau, said to be one of the most breathtaking sights in the world."

He paused and looked at Fang Yinuo.

"There is a favor I’d like to ask of you, Gang Leader Fang."

"Please, just say the word, Young Hero Jiang."

Fang Yinuo’s expression immediately turned serious.

Jiang Ran said,

"I’d like to ask you, Gang Leader Fang, to help me spread the word. Say that... I will be holding a ’Tea and Zither Appreciation Assembly’ on Sunset Plateau.

"I am inviting cultured guests from all corners to come and appreciate the Jiaowei.

"No invitations will be necessary. Anyone who comes will be eligible to participate.

"The time... shall be set for one month from now.

"On the eighth day of the tenth month!"

Based on his itinerary, a month was more than enough time to get from here to Sunset Plateau.

He set the date this way to leave a buffer for any unexpected incidents.

Fang Yinuo glanced at Ruan Yuqing.

They both understood that Jiang Ran was doing this to give the Jianghu People a chance.

A chance to obtain the Jiaowei.

The Jiaowei had been masterless for years before falling into the hands of the Ye family of Red Maple, thereby becoming their property.

Now that Ye Konggu was dead and Ye Jingshuang had gifted the Jiaowei zither to Jiang Ran, his claim was perfectly legitimate.

Anyone else who wanted to seize the Jiaowei would have to resort to secret plots and backhanded methods.

By holding this Tea and Zither Appreciation Assembly, Jiang Ran was giving these people an equally legitimate chance to claim it.

No one would choose to acquire it through clandestine means—and be forced to hide it—if they could win it openly and honorably.

This would drastically reduce the number of people scheming for the zither in secret.

At the same time, the Five Great Sword Sects would no longer be embroiled in this affair, thus preventing casualties among their disciples.

Furthermore, if Jiang Ran proved himself superior to all challengers, he could possess the zither openly and justifiably, and no one would dare to covet it again.

Finally, Jiang Ran was bringing everything out into the open.

Even if he failed to best the competition and someone else won the Jiaowei, at least he himself would be safe from harm.

He would lose a zither, but not his life.

It was truly a plan that killed several birds with one stone.

However, dangers still existed.

For every person willing to acquire the zither openly, there were bound to be others who preferred to operate in the shadows.

These people would surely do everything in their power to make a move against Jiang Ran before the eighth day of the tenth month.

And even afterward, they might continue to conspire to take the zither.

But these people were not the type to be easily shaken off, regardless of whether he held the assembly or not.

This was simply the price Jiang Ran had to pay for possessing such a treasure.

Seeing Jiang Ran’s firm resolve, Fang Yinuo nodded.

"Very well. The Sanhe Gang will put all its resources into spreading this news."

"Thank you."

Jiang Ran nodded. What Fang Yinuo and Ruan Yuqing didn’t know was...

...that for him, there was another benefit to this plan.

’These shady characters who can’t bear the light of day are mostly degenerates.’

’They might not be on the official government wanted posters, but it’s highly likely they’re on the Sword Holding Department’s kill list.’

’Before the eighth of the tenth month, most of them will probably leap out and throw themselves onto my blade.’

’And become my life-extending elixirs!’

That concluded the serious business, and the conversation turned to pleasantries.

Fang Yinuo enthusiastically invited Jiang Ran and his companions to stay with the Sanhe Gang for a few days.

Jiang Ran demurred for a time but eventually agreed to impose on their hospitality for one night.

Delighted, Fang Yinuo immediately gave orders to prepare a banquet.

He then had Fang Li lead Jiang Ran and the others to the guest rooms.

Jiang Ran told Li Tianxin and Luo Qingyi to follow Fang Li, but he himself didn’t go to the guest rooms. Instead, he went with Ruan Yuqing to her personal quarters.

Upon entering the courtyard, they saw a group of Shuiyue Sword Sect disciples waiting.

They had already heard from members of the Sanhe Gang that Jiang Ran had arrived.

They were all overjoyed to see him, though their injuries made for a rather miserable sight.

After greeting them, Jiang Ran followed Ruan Yuqing inside, entering her private room.

He took a purple medicine vial from his robes but wasn’t in a hurry to give it to her.

Instead, he said to Ruan Yuqing,

"Hold out your hand."