Wuxia: Starting Off With 60 Years of Inner Strength

The man quickly said,

”On the back mountain. They’ve already been buried. I swear I’m not lying!”

Hearing this, Ye Jingshuang finally let out a small sigh of relief.

Ever since that night, she had been constantly on the move, with no time or means to return and lay her parents’ bodies to rest.

Now that Qianliu Manor and their motley crew had occupied Red Maple Manor, her only fear was that they would desecrate her parents’ bodies.

Hearing the man speak with such certainty, it didn’t seem like he was spouting nonsense, so she finally relaxed a little.

At that moment, Junior Martial Uncle Gu glanced at Ye Jingshuang and nodded.

”So you are Ye Jingshuang.

”We also heard about what happened to the Ye family. As fellow followers of the Path of Chivalry, the century-old Ye family was a paragon for us all.

”We could not simply turn a blind eye to this tragedy.

”That is why we came to investigate... It is good that you are safe.”

”Thank you, Junior Martial Uncle Gu.”

Ye Jingshuang quickly bowed to Junior Martial Uncle Gu.

Jiang Ran also glanced at the man.

He noticed the man was like an ancient pine tree—always holding himself taut and standing perfectly straight. Whether speaking or acting, he was utterly unshakeable. ’Interesting,’ Jiang Ran thought.

”Think nothing of it,”

Junior Martial Uncle Gu said softly,

”After all, we haven’t been of much help to you.

”However, while the five great sword sects may not be as close as brothers, our relationship has deepened over the years.

”If there is ever anything you need, the Cyan Pine Sword Sect will not hesitate to help.”

Ye Jingshuang nodded.

”It is not proper to speak with guests at the gate. Everyone, please follow me.”

”Very well.”

Junior Martial Uncle Gu agreed. The disciples of the Cyan Pine Sword Sect then escorted the man from Qianliu Manor, along with the other ruffian who had blocked their path, toward Red Maple Manor.

As they reached the main gate, the commotion outside had already attracted attention from within the manor.

With a CLICK, the main gates opened.

A group of people filed out.

At the front stood a young master in brocade robes. With a face like polished jade, sword-like brows, and star-like eyes, he was quite a handsome man.

He was holding a folding fan, which he opened with a faint smile. He was just about to speak when his eyes fell on Ye Jingshuang. His heart trembled, and he quickly swept his gaze over the others.

He immediately put on a smile, one tinged with a hint of sorrow.

”Qi Kai pays his respects, Young Mistress.

”It is wonderful to see you are unharmed, Young Mistress!

”These past few days, I have lost my appetite and couldn’t sleep a wink... I truly didn’t know what to do.

”Now that I see you are safe and sound, I can finally be at ease.”

Listening to him speak, Jiang Ran almost laughed out loud.

’No wonder,’ he thought. ’How is it that everyone from Qianliu Manor is so two-faced, saying one thing to your face and another behind your back?’

’When they encounter someone weaker, they become even more brazen and act with impunity.’

’After all this, it’s a case of the subordinates just following the master’s example.’

’If Young Master Qi Kai is like this, how could his underlings be any different?’

Ye Jingshuang looked at him, speechless for a moment.

She shook her head slightly.

”I appreciate the Young Master’s concern. Now that I have returned, you and your men may leave.”

Qi Kai nodded repeatedly.

”Of course, of course...”

As he spoke, he gave a light wave of his hand.

”Let’s go.”

However, as those two words fell, a different voice came from behind him:

”Wait!”

Everyone followed the voice and saw a man step out from the crowd. His gaze fell upon Ye Jingshuang, and he shook his head slightly.

”Young Master, I urge you to reconsider...”

”Hm?”

Qi Kai glanced at the man and gave a slight fist-and-palm salute.

”Ah, so it is Hero Luo, Luo Zhenxie, ’The Absolute Judgment’.

”Does Hero Luo have some advice for me?”

Jiang Ran had never heard of this ’Absolute Judgment’ and glanced at Li Tianxin beside him.

Li Tianxin just huffed and pretended not to see.

Jiang Ran wished he could just slap him.

’Such a grown man, and so petty. He’s been sulking for half the day and still isn’t over it?’

In the end, it was Luo Qingyi who proved reliable. She whispered an explanation to Jiang Ran:

”’The Absolute Judgment’ has long had a reputation for chivalry. He’s quite well-known...”

But that was all she knew.

’A man like that would be even less likely to have a bounty on his head.’

Jiang Ran nodded slightly. He then heard Luo Zhenxie speak up:

”I wouldn’t dare... but, Manor Lord Qi, if I may be so bold as to ask, when was the last time you saw Young Mistress Ye?”

”Well, it was about five years ago.”

Qi Kai wasn’t lying.

Ye Jingshuang had spent most of her time at the Liuyun Sword Sect, training in martial arts under her master.

She rarely returned home... and even when she did, she would just stay within the manor.

Who would visit Qianliu Manor for no reason?

Five years ago, someone from Qianliu Manor had come to visit Ye Konggu. Ye Jingshuang happened to be home at the time, which was how they met.

Hearing this, Luo Zhenxie nodded repeatedly.

”That’s my point... Based on her age, Young Mistress Ye would have been fourteen years old five years ago.

”A girl changes dramatically between youth and womanhood. After a full five years, how did you recognize this person as Young Mistress Ye at a single glance, Young Master?

”The destruction of Red Maple Manor was bizarre, and the truth behind it has yet to be uncovered.

”Now, the identity of this young woman before us is questionable. How can we so easily abandon Red Maple Manor? How can we just listen to her words and turn around and leave?

”Is this not utterly absurd?”

”This...”

Qi Kai was taken aback and quickly shook his head.

”How could she be an imposter, Young Mistress Ye?

”Who in this world would dare to impersonate her?

”Hero Luo, you are overthinking things.”

”Young Master, you are mistaken,”

Luo Zhenxie said in a grave voice,

”The matter of the Shattered Gold Saber has already caused a huge stir. This group of people is of unknown origin, and their identities cannot be verified. To simply invite them into the manor is highly inappropriate.

”What if they are here specifically for the Shattered Gold Saber, trying to bluff their way in?

”If that is truly the case, would we not be failing the spirit of Manor Lord Ye in heaven?”

”That makes sense.”

”He’s right.”

”A girl’s appearance changes so much. None of us knows what Young Mistress Ye looks like now.”

The crowd behind Qi Kai immediately broke into a flurry of discussion.

Meanwhile, the corners of Qi Kai’s mouth curled up slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile.

But the smile was a little too obvious, and Jiang Ran saw it clearly.