Chapter 369: Catering to One's Liking (Part 2)

Chapter 369: Chapter 181: Catering to One’s Liking (Part 2)

‘A sound-based technique?’

At this point, he knew full well that the woman before him wasn’t being arrogant. She was fearless because she had the power to back it up!

How could he dare to linger after that? With a flicker of his body, he ignored the opportunity his companion had bought with his life and tried to escape.

“Where do you think you’re going!?”

The young members of the Hundred Treasures Association stepped forward in unison, their longswords flashing out of their sheaths as they aimed for the man’s vital points.

Unexpectedly, however, the assassin’s skill was far superior, and his Body Technique was bizarre in the extreme.

He spun his saber, his body whirling like a top, and with a single tumble, he plunged into the group of young Association members.

A series of muffled grunts followed the path of his blade.

The young men stood no chance, their formation crumbling on contact.

The assassin’s figure blurred. He landed in a crouch and looked back at the woman.

“You live up to your name, Yan Wushuang. But this isn’t over. Vice President Yan, from now on, you’d better sleep with one eye open!”

With that, he turned and prepared to leap away.

But a man and a woman had appeared at some point, blocking his path. He immediately slashed out with his short saber.

“Die!”

The blade, aimed at their throats, came to an abrupt halt as the word left his lips.

It stopped three inches from Jiang Ran’s throat.

Caught between two of Jiang Ran’s fingers.

The assassin’s expression changed. He subconsciously channeled his Inner Strength, using all his might to wrench the saber back, but the weapon might as well have been welded to Jiang Ran’s fingertips. It wouldn’t budge in the slightest.

Even the woman in the pavilion watched this with a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

She had made dealing with the assassin look easy.

But that was largely because she had held the element of surprise.

In truth, the assassin was no weakling. Otherwise, no matter how incompetent the young members of the Hundred Treasures Association were, they wouldn’t have been defeated so instantly.

She just never expected that this skilled assassin’s blade would be caught so casually by Jiang Ran, who now held it so firmly the man couldn’t even pull it back.

“Who did you say was going to die?”

Jiang Ran raised an eyebrow.

When the man attacked others, Jiang Ran hadn’t planned on getting involved.

This was the Hundred Treasures Association’s territory, after all, and it wasn’t his place as an outsider to interfere in their affairs.

But trying to kill him and Tang Huayi just for being in the way… Now, that was a fatal miscalculation.

The moment the assassin struck, Jiang Ran had casually executed the Thirteen Mad Demon Claws of Kun.

Once he had the blade pinched between his fingers, he channeled his Barbaric Dragon Strength.

With Jiang Ran’s current Inner Strength fueling his Barbaric Dragon Strength, the effect was simply overwhelming. The assassin strained with all his might, veins bulging on his forehead as if they might burst, but he couldn’t make the blade move one iota.

Seeing how desperately the man was trying to get his blade back, Jiang Ran sighed and let go.

The man was already pulling back with all his might. When Jiang Ran suddenly released his grip, the assassin’s force met empty air. With a loud THUD, his own hands flew back, driving the hilt of the saber into his chest.

The impact sent him flying backward. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and crashed to the ground.

Before he could even try to stand, several swords shot out with a SWISH and were pressed against his neck.

The assassin froze for a second, but then, without the slightest hesitation, he lunged toward one of the swords at his neck.

A bloody line appeared on his neck.

His body convulsed, and he died on the spot.

“He was so attached to his blade but held his own life so cheaply.”

Tang Huayi tilted her head and glanced over.

“A true bladesman.”

“…Not all bladesmen are like that.”

Jiang Ran felt the need to defend the reputation of bladesmen.

“Oh? Then what are bladesmen like?

“Aren’t they all cold, emotionless types who draw their blades at the slightest disagreement?

“Madmen who care for nothing but their blades and the outcome of a fight?

“Even if they’re poisoned, grievously wounded, and on the brink of death, they’ll still insist on rushing off to face their rivals.

“Then, when they’re finally defeated and drawing their last breath, their opponent is shocked to discover they were poisoned and laments that their own victory was dishonorable.

“Then they declare that their fallen foe was a ‘true bladesman’…”

Tang Huayi rattled on, recounting a story she must have picked up from some dime novel.

Jiang Ran pursed his lips. “Sooner or later, I’m going to sew that mouth of yours shut.”

“Thank you for your assistance, Young Hero Jiang. That scoundrel would have escaped otherwise.”

The young man who had led the group had returned. He approached Jiang Ran and cupped his fists in gratitude.

Jiang Ran waved his hand dismissively.

“I have no right to interfere in the affairs of the Hundred Treasures Association, and I shouldn’t have overstepped.

“However, the man ran right at me and tried to kill me. He clearly didn’t know what was good for him, so I took the liberty of acting.

“Do you know which organization this assassin belongs to? Why was he so reckless?”

“I… I don’t know either.”

The young man gave a bitter smile.

“Since our Vice President arrived at Evergreen Mansion, she has to deal with at least five or six assassination attempts a day.

“At this point, we’ve stopped even trying to trace their origins…

“Young Hero Jiang, and you, miss, please follow me.”

“There’s no need.”

A cool, female voice came from behind him.

He turned to see the woman who had been playing music in the pavilion now standing before him. He immediately bowed low.

“Vice President.”

“Rise.”

Yan Wushuang waved her hand slightly.

“Your men still need more training.”

“Yes.”

The young man nodded, glancing back at his companions with a quiet sigh.

‘Their performance just now was truly pathetic.’

“My apologies for the embarrassing display, Young Hero Jiang.”

Yan Wushuang then turned and cupped her fists toward Jiang Ran.

“I hope you’ll forgive my presumption in inviting you here today, Young Hero Jiang.