Chapter 387: The 7th Day, Part 2

Once Cheng Tianyang had made his decision, Jiang Ran could only stand there and watch him walk further and further away.

Then he saw Cheng Tianyang stop, suddenly pull something from within his robes, and toss it to Jiang Ran.

Jiang Ran caught it casually. It was a snuff bottle.

He paused, surprised. “Chief Cheng, what is this?”

“This is the only item I managed to retrieve from the shipment.”

“If Heterodox Manor is plotting something, this item might help you sort through your thoughts, Young Hero Jiang.”

“This is a large shipment. If it’s left unchecked, I fear a great disaster will follow!”

Having said his piece, Cheng Tianyang bowed deeply, then turned and departed.

Jiang Ran frowned slightly. He looked at the snuff bottle, brought it to his nose, and sniffed. He froze for a moment, then opened the lid and poured the contents into his palm. Jiang Ran’s eyebrow twitched as he looked at the black powder.

“This is…”

…

…

A desolate wind whistled. From a deserted mountain hollow, a violent coughing fit echoed out.

“Young Manor Lord!”

The four from the Evil Sects stood behind him. Hearing the coughs, their expressions changed drastically.

They exchanged a look and fell to their knees with a THUD.

“We… acted on our own. Please punish us, Young Manor Lord.”

The Young Manor Lord looked down at the fresh blood in his palm and let out a soft sigh.

“Twenty years… Twenty years ago, that man stormed into my Heterodox Manor. He was unstoppable, cutting down countless people before brazenly stealing our greatest treasure and walking away…”

“For the past twenty years, my father has relentlessly studied his saber techniques, seeking a way to counter them.”

“But even now, he still hasn’t found a way…”

“Nine Shocking God Sabers… What a truly fearsome technique, the Nine Shocking God Sabers!!”

“COUGH COUGH COUGH!!”

The Young Manor Lord’s face paled, and he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. Yet, a smile touched the corners of his lips.

“But at least I managed to bluff him tonight.”

Bo Yan of the Divine Sect quickly produced a medicinal pill. “Young Manor Lord, please take this.”

“I was wounded by his saber energy. This medicine won’t be enough to heal it completely, but it will take more than this to kill me…”

“The matter of the Jiaowei is of the utmost importance. You cannot afford to be negligent.”

“With this item in our possession, our chances for the great undertaking in Jinyang Prefecture are much higher. As for you all acting on your own today… once this is over, return to Heterodox Manor and receive punishment from my father yourselves.”

“I cannot stay here long, lest… Hmph. You all… proceed according to plan!”

With that, he leaped into the air and vanished in the blink of an eye.

The four from the Evil Sects exchanged a glance, bowed deeply, and then turned to depart, each going their own way.

About an hour after they had gone, a figure slowly approached. It was Cheng Tianyang, his brow deeply furrowed. He stared at the footprints on the ground, and after determining their direction, he gave chase.

…

…

When time passes slowly, a day can feel like a year.

But when it passes quickly, it’s gone in the blink of an eye.

The remaining days of the ninth month flew by as if on a flying shuttle, gone in a flash.

And by now, all of Evergreen Mansion had grown lively.

The eighth of the tenth month was fast approaching. The city swarmed with numerous Jianghu People, putting the Evergreen Mansion Government Office on edge.

Dao Wuming was leaving early and returning late, though no one knew what he was busy with.

Ruan Yuqing ran into many old acquaintances on her occasional outings, and even more people came to Qifeng Manor to pay a visit.

Upon learning that Jiang Ran was there, their eyes glinted as if they had just glimpsed a future of fame and fortune.

However, when they learned that Jiang Ran’s disciple was named Xuanyuan One Slash, they were all aghast. After the initial disbelief, they became utterly dejected.

During this time, people also frequently tried to infiltrate Qifeng Manor by night, hoping to gauge Jiang Ran’s true capabilities.

Unfortunately for them, before the disciples of the Blood Saber Hall could even act, the men of Qifeng Manor had already apprehended them.

Ever since Jiang Ran had helped him inquire about the famous doctor Yan Wushuang, Feng Xianzhi had been deeply grateful. He treated Jiang Ran with the utmost respect. While his deference couldn’t be compared to that of a disciple like Xuanyuan One Slash, he would still obey any of Jiang Ran’s commands without question.

Moreover, he refused to let Jiang Ran be harassed by these Jianghu People while staying at his manor.

As a result, Jiang Ran’s days had been relatively peaceful.

Ordinary Jianghu People were stopped by Qifeng Manor’s guards, more skilled intruders were met by the Blood Saber Hall, and any true master would have to get past Xuanyuan One Slash.

It was worth mentioning that the Qianjun Jin Unbreakable Seven-Star Saber, which Jiang Ran had personally improved, was a true eye-opener for Xuanyuan One Slash.

However, his expression grew complicated when he saw the eighth strike of the technique.

It was a mixture of joy and disappointment.

Jiang Ran knew what the old man was scheming. ‘Ever since I gave him the Qianjun Jin Unbreakable Seven-Star Saber, I knew what he was up to.’

The old man didn’t care about the official title of “disciple.” His first goal was to pass on his legacy so that his life’s work wouldn’t die with him. His second was to find a powerful patron for the Blood Saber Hall. That way, after his passing, the hall wouldn’t be left leaderless and eventually fade from the Jianghu.

That was why he had taken Jiang Ran as his master—to achieve both these goals.

But now that Jiang Ran had created and taught him an eighth strike for the Qianjun Jin Unbreakable Seven-Star Saber, their master-disciple relationship was well and truly cemented.

Even though this didn’t interfere with his schemes, he couldn’t help but feel a touch of disappointment.

Once the disappointment passed, however, he began to earnestly seek Jiang Ran’s instruction in martial arts.

Xuanyuan One Slash was, in fact, a man of simple character. He had no partner or children, having dedicated his entire life to the Blood Saber Hall, which was how he’d elevated it to its position as one of the thirteen major gangs.

All his remaining energy was poured into martial arts and arrays.

Unfortunately, his talent for arrays was limited, a fact for which Scholar Jingtan constantly mocked him.