Wuxia: Starting Off With 60 Years of Inner Strength

After listening, Jiang Ran connected the story with what he had seen that night.

He now understood the whole story.

The story wasn’t complicated. The Three Rivers Demon Lord of old had apparently never died.

He had come back from the dead, returned with a vengeance, and found Zuo Mingqiu to take on as his disciple.

That was why, when Zuo Mingqiu arrived tonight, he had claimed to be acting on his master’s orders.

He had even inherited the Three Rivers Demon Lord’s Netherworld Demon Skill.

This was what made Fang Yinuo afraid to face him head-on.

The reason he didn’t dare to use his martial arts to win the Three Rivers Order at the Three Rivers Assembly...

...was because the Netherworld Demon Skill could not be seen in public.

Back then, the Three Rivers Demon Lord had caused a huge disturbance. Everyone in the Three Rivers region likely hated him to the bone.

If Zuo Mingqiu dared to use this Demon Skill at the Three Rivers Assembly, he would undoubtedly be swarmed and attacked by everyone present.

Forget about the Three Rivers Order; he’d be lucky to escape with his life, a testament to his skill if he did.

But without the Netherworld Demon Skill, he probably wasn’t a match for Fang Yinuo.

That’s why he made his move early, using Fang Li’s life to threaten Fang Yinuo and force him to cripple his own martial arts.

If Fang Yinuo had actually crippled himself, it would have saved Zuo Mingqiu a lot of trouble.

Even if he refused, with the Netherworld Demon Skill and Fang Yinuo’s hands being tied, Zuo Mingqiu’s chances of winning were still shockingly high.

Once he succeeded, he could take over Gathering Island, usurping Fang Yinuo’s place.

Then he could operate under Fang Yinuo’s name.

He would lay low and wait for the next Three Rivers Assembly.

With Fang Yinuo out of the picture, he could openly rely on his own abilities to claim the Three Rivers Order.

From then on, he would command the entire Three Rivers region.

After that, he would have ten years to eliminate dissidents and consolidate his power.

By the time another decade passed, even if he used the Netherworld Demon Skill, it was likely no one would dare to oppose him.

At this thought, Jiang Ran glanced at the Zuo Mingqiu he was holding.

"Where did you capture Fang Li?"

"..."

Zuo Mingqiu hesitated for a moment. Seeing that Jiang Ran was about to reach for him again, he quickly spoke up.

"In... in Sanshui County."

"He was buying medicine at an apothecary. We nabbed him after he came out."

At this, he couldn’t help but glance at Jiang Ran with his one remaining eye.

"Sir, your martial arts are superb. Why would you side with Fang Yinuo?"

"My master’s skills are unparalleled. If you go to Black Water Stronghold... while you might not die, when two powerhouses clash, one is bound to be injured."

"Is it worth it for a single Fang Li?"

"At the end of the day, this is a private matter for our Three Rivers region. Even if you help Fang Yinuo keep the Three Rivers Order, you won’t gain anything from it."

"But if you were to help me, from this day forward, the entire Three Rivers region would follow your lead and obey your every command!"

"Oh?"

Jiang Ran glanced at him and said softly,

"Are you serious?"

"Absolutely."

Zuo Mingqiu said hurriedly,

"I can swear to the heavens! If a single word is false, may lightning strike me down and may I suffer a horrible death!!"

He sounded incredibly solemn, but Jiang Ran found it rather amusing.

For people of this era, swearing an oath was truly a serious matter.

They believed gods watched from just three feet above, and even if they’d never seen one, they held a sense of reverence in their hearts.

But to Jiang Ran, oaths were as meaningless as farts. He spoke softly,

"Do you know why you saw Fang Li at the apothecary?"

"?"

Zuo Mingqiu was taken aback, not understanding why Jiang Ran was asking this.

Then he heard Jiang Ran say impassively,

"Because he was buying medicine for me..."

"If he hadn’t gone, he wouldn’t have fallen into your hands, and you wouldn’t have cut off one of his ears."

Zuo Mingqiu’s face instantly went pale.

Then Jiang Ran’s voice turned chillingly cold.

"Zuo Mingqiu, you listen well."

"Fang Li and I aren’t really what you’d call friends. At best, we’ve known each other for a day."

"But if there’s one thing I hate, it’s getting others into trouble."

"He was buying medicine for me when you captured him."

"So now I must bring him back from your Black Water Stronghold, safe and sound."

"During this, for any harm that comes to Fang Li... I will return it to you twofold."

"You cut off one of his ears, I’ll tear off both of yours."

"If he loses a finger, I’ll chop off two of yours."

"If he loses an arm, I’ll hack off both of yours."

"If he... dies."

"I won’t kill you. I’ll take good care of you. I’ll make sure you’re well-fed and clothed, but you will be steeped in all kinds of agony, day and night!"

"I will make you experience the most extreme suffering this world has to offer, trapped in it forever with no escape!"

After hearing this, Zuo Mingqiu understood there was no chance of being spared today.

He immediately burst into wild laughter.

"You think I’m some kid who scares easily?"

"Life on the water is brutal. When have I, Zuo Mingqiu, ever been afraid of anyone? You think you can threaten me with just a few words?"

"Kid... you’ve completely misjudged me!!"

Jiang Ran watched him silently and gave a slight nod. "Good... hold onto that feeling."

As he spoke, he threw Zuo Mingqiu onto the sampan and pinned him with his foot to keep him from moving.

Then, he took a small box from his robes.

He usually kept it in his pack, but today he happened to have it on him.

He opened the box, scraped off a tiny amount with a small spatula, and dabbed it on the center of Zuo Mingqiu’s brow.

Ruan Yuqing had been listening to them talk for a while. When it suddenly went quiet, she couldn’t resist peeking with one eye.

She saw Jiang Ran applying it very carefully. After he was done, he even blew on it gently...

She couldn’t help but ask,

"What are you doing?"

Jiang Ran didn’t answer, just carefully put the box away.