Wuxia: Starting Off With 60 Years of Inner Strength

Ruan Yuqing mulled it over for a moment, lowered her arm, and huffed:

"Isn’t that because you’re such a scoundrel?"

’What do you mean, *I’m* a scoundrel?’

Jiang Ran was momentarily speechless, then raised an eyebrow:

"Your mind was certainly running wild back when we were staging the rescue.

"Don’t tell me that after I exposed your true colors, you’ve just decided to give up and let it all hang out?"

"What true colors... You’re talking nonsense again."

Looking a bit flustered, Ruan Yuqing stared out at the choppy river.

And then... it hit her again.

She quickly stuck her head over the side of the sampan and, with a loud RETCH, began to vomit violently.

Jiang Ran burst out laughing at the sight:

"Go ahead, Female Knight Ruan, take your time. Just hang in there. We’re almost there..."

"Can’t you slow down?"

Ruan Yuqing protested.

Her protest was, of course, denied...

As for the other two people on the boat, Zuo Mingqiu was currently contemplating how he was going to die.

Fang Li, on the other hand, adopted an air of deep meditation—eyes on his nose, nose on his mouth, mouth on his heart.

He paid no mind whatsoever to Jiang Ran and Ruan Yuqing’s conversation.

’After all, Young Hero Jiang had just exposed the true colors of the famously pure and noble Gentle Water Sword of the Shuiyue Sword Sect. If I start spreading rumors, I’ll probably be hunted to the ends of the earth by the two of them working together.’

He decided he would take everything he saw and heard tonight to his grave!

The rest of the return journey passed without a word. As they were about to reach the Three Rivers Gang’s territory, they saw a large ship preparing to depart.

Apparently, Fang Yinuo had already handled matters within the Three Rivers Gang and was preparing to head to Black Water Stronghold to help.

However, before the vessel had even left the docks, he spotted Jiang Ran and the others returning.

He immediately rushed down from the ship to welcome them at the pier.

"Young Hero Jiang!"

Fang Yinuo hurried over to greet Jiang Ran, but the moment he saw Fang Li, the rims of his eyes instantly reddened.

"Li’Er..."

he said softly, taking Fang Li from behind Jiang Ran.

"Father... I’m alright."

Fang Li gave a weak smile.

"I’m sorry for making you worry... I was useless."

"As long as you’re back, that’s all that matters."

When Fang Yinuo saw that he was indeed missing an ear, a vicious glint flashed in his eyes.

After having his men help Fang Li, Fang Yinuo dropped to his knees before Jiang Ran.

"Young Hero Jiang, you saved my son’s life. I, Fang Yinuo, can never repay such a great kindness.

"From now on, the Three Rivers Gang will heed your call, Young Hero Jiang. We will obey any and all of your commands!"

"Gang Leader Fang, you exaggerate."

Jiang Ran helped him up from the ground.

"I didn’t save him to get a reward. Fang Li was ambushed while running an errand for me. In other words, this might not have happened to him otherwise. The responsibility is mine, which is why I had to rescue him..."

But Fang Yinuo shook his head:

"Young Hero, you are mistaken. Zuo Mingqiu has long harbored wicked intentions, eyeing our Three Rivers Gang like a hungry tiger. Even if Li’Er hadn’t been buying medicine, he could have been going out for a drink or doing something else... They would have ambushed and captured him eventually. Instead, it is only because you were here today, Young Hero, that my son was spared a fatal disaster. What’s more, you’ve saved the entire Three Rivers Gang."

Jiang Ran thought for a moment. He had to admit, Fang Yinuo had a point.

He nodded.

"Very well... We’ll leave it at that for now. I’ll hand this person over to you as well..."

He casually tossed Zuo Mingqiu aside.

Men from the Three Rivers Gang immediately rushed forward to bind him.

Finally, when Fang Yinuo saw the half-corpse in Ruan Yuqing’s hand, he froze in place.

"It’s really... the Three Waters Demon Lord...

"I never thought I’d see him again in this lifetime."

He sighed, then led Jiang Ran into the Three Rivers Gang’s compound, briefly recounting the events of the past as they walked.

It was a simple story of oppression and rebellion.

The Three Waters Demon Lord’s martial skill was simply too immense—he could melt blood and dissolve bone at will. To increase their odds of victory, Fang Yinuo had found a colorless, odorless poison to mix into his wine.

Once poisoned, the Three Waters Demon Lord’s skills were greatly diminished, which finally gave them an opening.

Fang Yinuo led his men to inflict heavy wounds on him, and he fell into the river.

They had searched on the water, under the water, and all the surrounding areas for three full months, but had never found him.

Only then did Fang Yinuo conclude the man was dead.

Who could have imagined that this man, who had committed so many evils, would actually get to enjoy twenty years of peace?

As he spoke of this, Fang Yinuo gritted his teeth, his tone resentful of the heavens’ injustice.

After a few more pleasantries, Jiang Ran went back to rest.

Ruan Yuqing naturally returned to her own courtyard as well.

The two of them walked the entire way in silence.

When Jiang Ran pushed open his courtyard gate, he saw Li Tianxin sitting on a stone bench, cradling his saber and gazing at the night sky.

"Did you make a move tonight?"

"Obviously."

Jiang Ran was baffled. "Why do you ask?"

"I’m still waiting for the winds to howl and a torrential downpour to begin."

Li Tianxin looked up, his face breaking into a wide smile.

"..."

Jiang Ran rolled his eyes. "You’re really that bored, aren’t you? You actually believe what the storytellers say?"

"I am."

Li Tianxin sighed.

"It was Steward Chen.

"Today, Fang Yinuo threw a banquet for you.

"He forged the Gang Leader’s orders, telling all the Three Rivers Gang disciples to feast at their posts, and he drugged their wine.

"That’s how Zuo Mingqiu was able to waltz right in."

Jiang Ran wasn’t surprised. Before leaving for Black Water Stronghold, he had whispered to Li Tianxin to keep an eye on Steward Chen.

’The timing of Zuo Mingqiu and his men’s arrival was too perfect. It would have been impossible without someone on the inside...’

’And within the entire Three Rivers Gang, Steward Chen’s position was the most conspicuous.’

’Besides, from the moment the banquet began, Steward Chen had been nowhere to be found.’

’How could I not be suspicious?’

He just hadn’t mentioned it outright at the time, only giving Li Tianxin the reminder just before leaving to rescue Fang Li.

"What did Fang Yinuo have to say about it?"

"He didn’t say."

Li Tianxin said,

"He’s locked him up. Seems he has other plans for him."

"Let him. It has nothing to do with us."

Jiang Ran said,

"Internal gang business should naturally be handled behind closed doors.

"Get some rest. We set off at dawn... Now that word about the Jiaowei zither is out, I fear the road ahead will be full of trouble."

"Afraid?"

Li Tianxin shot Jiang Ran a challenging look.

"...I am."

Jiang Ran stretched languidly, and then a ferocious grin spread across his face.

"I’m afraid they’ll come in too small a number."

...

...

PS: Shout-out to a friend’s new book.

Title: *The Empress of Destiny Brings Her Husband Good Fortune, So I Snatched Her Up First*