Wuxia: Starting Off With 60 Years of Inner Strength

”Yang Monarch, real name Dugu Yu. Studied under the Miaofeng Wanderer, inheriting the ultimate skill, the Fiery Sun Divine Skill.

”He and Yin Yue were fellow disciples. They grew up together and developed feelings for each other.

”At the wedding banquet of the Miaofeng Wanderer and Yin Yue, the two of them poisoned and assassinated the Miaofeng Wanderer, obtaining the final levels of the Fiery Sun Divine Skill and the Cold Moon Skill...”

The details recorded on the Scroll were exhaustive.

From childhood to adulthood, and everything they did in the martial world afterward—anything that could be investigated was recorded.

At the start of the Scroll, there was also a portrait.

Director Liu looked back and forth between the portrait and the severed head for a long while before finally nodding.

”It’s definitely him.

”Young Hero Jiang, it’s only been a few days. Don’t tell me your martial arts have improved again?”

”You could say I’ve had a few new insights.”

Jiang Ran smiled faintly.

”As expected of the one our Lord holds in high regard.

”To be honest, when the Lord first wanted to give you the Assassin’s Order, I had my doubts.

”I never expected that in just a few short days, you, Young Hero Jiang, would be able to take down such a master.

”Truly impressive!”

With that, he turned and walked over to the wall.

There were several metal pipes there, leading all the way to the upper level.

He reached out and tapped a rhythm on the pipes, apparently signaling a code to the people above.

A moment later, with a CLICK, another hidden door opened on the opposite side.

The one who entered was a young woman.

She wore a Black mask that hid her features, but her graceful figure was unmistakable.

Carrying a tray, she walked up to Jiang Ran.

”Thank you.”

Jiang Ran glanced at the items on the tray: a full nineteen thousand taels in silver notes.

As he reached out to take them, the system prompts arrived right on cue.

[Bounty Target: Yang Monarch Dugu Yu.]

[Mission Progress: Complete.]

[Reward Acquired: Ten Years of Inner Strength!]

[Bounty Target: Moon Monarch Yin Yue.]

[Mission Progress: Complete.]

[Reward Acquired: Cold Moon Skill (Fifty-three Years)!]

When he saw the first reward, Jiang Ran’s heart sank.

He knew it wasn’t possible to get the target’s martial arts as a reward every single time.

But... Dugu Yu and Yin Yue were different.

Jiang Ran had been practically drooling over their martial arts.

If he could obtain both of their skills and integrate them using his Creation and Rectification Heart Sutra, the sutra itself could directly break through to the ninth level.

And of the two skills, the one that tempted Jiang Ran the most was the Fiery Sun Divine Skill.

When its internal energy circulated, it was like a blazing sun holding up the heavens.

In the end, Dugu Yu only ’dropped’ ten years of Inner Strength.

Yin Yue, on the other hand, had given him the Cold Moon Skill.

’Oh well. Getting one of the two is better than getting neither.’

Had he gone through all that trouble only to receive twenty years of Inner Strength, Jiang Ran would have been truly dissatisfied.

After a moment of contemplation, Jiang Ran opened his system interface again.

He saw that the bottom line had also changed.

[Remaining Lifespan: Two years, ten months, nineteen days.]

That was about five months more than last time.

In other words, the Yang and Moon Monarchs alone had provided Jiang Ran with five months of life.

It wasn’t as much as the last two times, but those had involved more people.

’This time, I’ve gained so much from just two people. As expected, these top-tier masters are much more ’nourishing’.’

Just as he was thinking this, he heard Director Liu speak.

”Young Hero Jiang, allow me to make another introduction.”

”Huh?”

Jiang Ran looked up, a bit confused.

He saw Director Liu gesture toward the young woman standing to the side.

”Her name is Cyan Fox. From now on, she will be responsible for liaising with you.

”She won’t follow you around every moment, but she will often be in the same area as you, so you can find her whenever you need to.

”For example, if a situation like today’s arises again, you won’t have to waste time coming to the Sword Holding Department’s Ministry Office. Instead, you can use a secret message to summon Cyan Fox directly to your side.

”She can run errands for you.

”Furthermore, you can order her to do anything else you might need.

”Have her help you with...”

”For instance?”

”For instance, if you want the case file on someone, she can retrieve it for you at any time. If it’s something she already knows, she can tell you the details directly.”

Director Liu said,

”Now that you’ve been to the Sword Holding Department’s Ministry Office, you should know that everyone who holds an Assassin’s Order has someone like this to assist them.

”Of course, if you are unwilling, Young Hero Jiang, you don’t have to accept.

”This is something we wouldn’t dare to force on you.”

Jiang Ran gave Cyan Fox a thoughtful glance, then smiled faintly.

”This would certainly be much more convenient. It seems there’s no reason to refuse.”

’She won’t be following me around constantly, so I don’t have to worry about being monitored. As for my movements, I wasn’t planning on hiding them anyway. My whereabouts can’t be completely hidden. Even without Cyan Fox, I often have to deal with the local Government Office wherever I go. Having her in the same area would actually make things much more convenient. Especially with the Sword Holding Department’s Ministry Office... right now, they only have branches in prefectural cities, not in ordinary county towns. In situations where I can’t get away myself, her value would be obvious.’

”Alright, then it’s settled.”

Director Liu nodded.

Then Jiang Ran laughed and said:

”But I refuse.”

”Huh?”

Director Liu was stunned.

”I’m not used to having people following me.

”If there’s nothing else, then I will take my leave.”

Jiang Ran cupped his fist to Director Liu and turned to leave the way he came.

Director Liu could only nod. ”Alright. Take care.”

But after taking two steps, Jiang Ran paused and glanced back.

”What exactly is this place?”

”It’s beneath a private residence.”

Director Liu smiled.

”But as for the specific location, I can’t disclose that.”

Jiang Ran nodded, asked no more questions, and walked back the way he came.

Passing through the hidden door he had entered before, he saw the old man was still waiting for him.

Seeing Jiang Ran return, the old man raised his oil lamp and continued to lead the way.