Wuxia: Starting Off With 60 Years of Inner Strength

Jiang Ran hadn’t said Zuo Mingqiu could die, so naturally, he was still alive.

Listening to the crowd’s chatter, he realized that while Jiang Ran hadn’t beaten him to death, these people just might anger him to death.

Jiang Ran found this amusing:

"Looks like the men of Black Water Stronghold are quite pleased with your current state."

The words had barely left his lips when a whistling sound cut through the air. He looked up to see a man leap forward, his blade flicking out and aimed straight for Jiang Ran’s torso.

"Release the Chieftain!!"

Only one of Jiang Ran’s hands was free. He shot it out, using the Thirteen Mad Demon Claws to catch the man’s blade.

His five fingers were like an iron vise. Not only did they clamp down on the blade, but they made it impossible for the man to land without letting go of his weapon.

Jiang Ran chuckled.

"Commendable courage, but your blade work is trash.

"Is there a bounty on you?"

"??"

The man froze, then heard Ruan Yuqing explain:

"Although they’re known as a Water Stronghold, they have legitimate businesses in river shipping.

"They won’t be on any official wanted lists."

She knew Jiang Ran was an Assassin, a title he proudly claimed.

This was clearly his occupational hazard flaring up, so she quickly offered an explanation.

Jiang Ran paused, his interest instantly waning.

He simply shot out a kick. The man’s blade remained in Jiang Ran’s hand, but the man himself went flying like a sack of rags.

He crashed right into the crowd.

With a great CRASH, he sent a whole section of them toppling.

Tossing the blade aside, Jiang Ran spoke softly,

"Everyone, please stand aside. I came to Black Water Stronghold only to rescue someone, not to cause needless slaughter.

"Hm, no, that’s not quite right. Speaking of which, who here is the Three Waters Demon Lord? Won’t you show yourself?"

When they heard the first part of Jiang Ran’s statement, the crowd erupted in fury.

’Only here to rescue someone?’

’Look at all the bodies he left in his wake!’

’And he calls this *not* causing needless slaughter?’

However, upon hearing the second half of his sentence, the atmosphere instantly shifted.

Some of their faces turned grim, but others looked utterly baffled. Bafflement soon gave way to rage.

A man pushed through the crowd, stepped forward, and roared,

"What kind of bullshit are you spouting?

"The Three Waters Demon Lord has been dead for twenty years! Whatever your business is here at Black Water Stronghold, you have no right to slander us like this!"

"He’s right! The Three Waters Demon Lord is our sworn enemy.

"Never mind that he’s dead—even if he were alive, we’d swarm him and send him to see King Yan ourselves!"

"You brat, you’re spouting utter nonsense!"

Jiang Ran was taken aback by their reactions. ’Looks like some of these people genuinely have no idea what’s going on.’

Ruan Yuqing was also a little surprised. She glanced at Zuo Mingqiu.

"Aren’t you going to explain things to your men?"

"If you’re determined to find fault, you’ll never be short of an excuse!"

Zuo Mingqiu threw his head back, about to use the opportunity to speak, when he felt a grip tighten on the back of his neck. Jiang Ran hauled him forward and raised a finger, ready to flick him on the forehead.

"I’ll tell the truth!!!"

Seeing this, Zuo Mingqiu’s eyes went bloodshot.

Under the threat of Jiang Ran’s "King Yan’s Fury," how could he dare to spout any more nonsense?

He immediately blurted out:

"It was me... I became the disciple of the Three Waters Demon Lord! I captured Fang Li, the son of the Three Rivers Gang Leader, to threaten Fang Yinuo into handing over the Three Rivers Water Token!!!"

He was an articulate man, condensing the entire affair into a single, concise sentence.

Everyone present, aside from Jiang Ran and Ruan Yuqing, was left utterly dumbfounded.

Black Water Stronghold was not a monolith.

Some of them already knew the truth and were in league with Zuo Mingqiu.

But many others were completely in the dark.

But whether they were in on it or not, hearing Zuo Mingqiu confess to such a monumental conspiracy left all of them completely stunned.

Even Fang Li was dumbfounded.

"Why is he being so cooperative?"

"Perhaps he had a change of heart."

"Maybe even bad men have a conscience," Jiang Ran said.

’Can you still be a bad man if you have a conscience?’

Fang Li’s worldview was shaken.

It was only then that some of them noticed that the person Jiang Ran was carrying on his back was none other than Fang Li.

"Gang Leader Fang of the Three Rivers Gang holds the Three Rivers Water Token, making him the Alliance Leader of our Three Rivers region.

"What is his son doing here at Black Water Stronghold?"

"Did our Chieftain really conspire with the Three Waters Demon Lord? Back when the Demon Lord ran rampant, he turned the Three Rivers region into a bloodbath.

"We barely managed to kill him, and we’ve only had twenty years of peace. How could anyone conspire with a monster like that?"

"How did he come back from the dead?"

Amid the chaotic clamor, a steady voice cut through the noise:

"Chieftain, what are you talking about?"

Jiang Ran glanced over. The speaker was a middle-aged man, likely one of Black Water Stronghold’s top commanders.

His expression was grim, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Hasn’t the Three Waters Demon Lord been dead for twenty years?

"When did you take him as your master?

"Is any of this true? If you’re being coerced, just give the word. We brothers will rescue you, even if it costs us our lives."

"I..."

Zuo Mingqiu opened his mouth, hesitating for a moment.

But after another glance at Jiang Ran, he took a deep breath.

"The Three Waters Demon Lord... is still alive.

"Back then... back then, you and Fang Yinuo...

"You ambushed him with poison. In the chaotic battle that followed, he fell into the river, and all of you thought he’d ended up as food for the fish.

"But you didn’t know... that old Demon had the devil’s own luck. He didn’t die. He was saved.

"Unfortunately, his injuries from that battle were so severe that he lost all memory of his past.

"Until recently... very recently... I found him in Rice Village."