Wuxia: Starting Off With 60 Years of Inner Strength

”This person’s motives are a mystery, and we can’t be sure they’ve truly left Red Maple Manor... Everyone, be on your guard as you move about.”

”Alright.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Once this matter was settled for the time being, Cheng Tianyang stood up.

”Young Lady Ye, I was previously entrusted by Sword of No Life to deliver the Cracked Gold Saber to Manor Lord Ye.”

”I never expected Red Maple Manor to suffer such a calamity. Now that Manor Lord Ye has passed away, I can only deliver this Cracked Gold Saber to you, Young Lady Ye.”

As he spoke, he took a case from his back.

He had carried the case on his back the entire time, never once letting it leave his person.

He now presented it to Ye Jingshuang with both hands.

Ye Jingshuang hesitated for a moment before accepting it.

”Your dedication to fulfilling your commission, traveling thousands of miles to deliver this item to Red Maple Manor, is truly admirable, Chief Cheng.”

”You’re too kind, Young Lady Ye.”

Cheng Tianyang let out a hearty laugh.

”In the martial world, one’s word must be one’s bond.”

”It’s an ironclad rule that my Celestial Yang Escort Agency has always followed.”

”If you have any need in the future, Young Lady Ye, you can entrust the matter to the Celestial Yang Escort Agency.”

”Whether it’s across thousands of miles of treacherous terrain or over distant oceans.”

”Whatever the commission, the Celestial Yang Escort Agency will never let you down!”

’Jiang Ran suddenly realized just how formidable Cheng Tianyang was. No wonder he was able to make the Celestial Yang Escort Agency the top agency in Golden Cicada.’

’He doesn’t even forget to plug his business at a time like this... He’s really no ordinary man.’

Cheng Tianyang then asked Ye Jingshuang to open the case and inspect the cargo to ensure nothing was amiss.

Ye Jingshuang didn’t refuse. She reached out, undid the cloth wrapping, and then gently pushed open the case’s lid.

A black saber in a scabbard inlaid with gold carvings slowly came into view.

Ye Jingshuang glanced at it but didn’t take the saber out. Instead, she looked toward Jiang Ran.

”Brother Jiang, Divine Weapons are meant for heroes.”

”So, I’m giving this Cracked Gold Saber to you. Please, don’t refuse.”

Jiang Ran blinked.

”To me? I’m hard on my blades... I have to buy a new one every few days. If this saber ends up in my hands, I’m worried I’ll just end up breaking it.”

”That won’t happen.”

Huang Xuan said with a smile:

”What you may not know, Brother Jiang, is that this saber was forged by the renowned master blacksmith, Tie Kaihe. He used a rare meteorite and fused it with gold.”

”It has been passed down for many years, appearing in the martial world every now and then.”

”It has seen countless battles, large and small, yet to this day, the blade itself remains completely unscathed.”

”So, you should accept this kind gesture from Young Lady Ye.”

”Oh?”

Jiang Ran fell silent for a moment, then gave a slight nod. He reached out and took the saber from its case.

He gripped the hilt and slowly drew the blade.

HUMMM!!

As the blade hummed, a flash of golden light shimmered into existence.

Jiang Ran hesitated no longer. He drew the saber from its scabbard and, with a flick of the blade—using no force at all—a CRACK echoed as a nearby chair was instantly split in two.

Its sharpness far surpassed that of any saber Jiang Ran had previously wielded.

Of course, that was also because Jiang Ran had never used a decent blade in his life.

They were all just common blades bought from a smithy.

The expensive ones cost no more than twenty or thirty taels of silver, while the cheap ones went for as little as two.

He had never even seen a blade of the Cracked Gold Saber’s caliber before, let alone used one.

Looking at the blade now, he saw its surface was pitted and uneven, highly irregular. Yet, from within the depths of those pits and divots, a faint golden light seemed to shimmer.

A sense of magnificence shone through its ruined appearance.

And just as Huang Xuan had said, the edge was completely without a single nick or scratch.

”It truly is a fine blade.”

Jiang Ran nodded lightly, then glanced at Ye Jingshuang with a smile.

”In that case, I won’t refuse. Thank you for the treasured blade, Shuang’Er.”

”Brother Jiang, there’s no need for such formalities between us.”

Ye Jingshuang offered a gentle smile.

The others also came forward to congratulate Jiang Ran on acquiring such a fine weapon, a truly happy occasion.

Jiang Ran accepted their congratulations one by one. It was quite some time before the well-wishes subsided.

Ye Jingshuang then invited everyone to choose a room for themselves within Red Maple Manor.

The disciples from the various sects were overseen by their respective leaders, so Ye Jingshuang didn’t need to concern herself with them.

However, Ye Jingshuang was still worried about Shi Miao and wanted to go check on her.

Jiang Ran was surprised to hear this.

”She hasn’t woken up yet?”

The others had all woken up long ago; they were already out sunning themselves in front of Zhiqiu Hall.

’Shi Miao’s martial skill is far superior to theirs, yet she’s the one who can’t wake up. What’s the logic in that?’

After quickly collecting himself, he went with Ye Jingshuang to check on her.

Upon entering the room, they saw Su Wanyi sitting by the bed, sighing softly as she watched over the unconscious Shi Miao.

She looked up when she saw Jiang Ran and Ye Jingshuang arrive and immediately rose to her feet.

”Young Lady Ye, Young Hero Jiang.”

After they exchanged greetings, Jiang Ran turned his attention to Shi Miao.

”Still no sign of waking up?”

”No...”

Su Wanyi shook her head.

Ye Jingshuang glanced at Jiang Ran. Understanding her, he took Shi Miao’s wrist and gently checked her pulse.

He could feel that her internal energy was strong, and there were no signs of injury or illness.

He frowned, perplexed.

Su Wanyi said softly:

”Don’t trouble yourself, Young Hero Jiang. Shi Pingzhang’s martial arts strike directly at the spirit.”

”Shi Miao has a simple nature, and her heart is dedicated to nothing but the sword. She is utterly pure.”

”Perhaps that is why his attack was so effective, clouding her sword-heart and preventing her from waking...”

Jiang Ran nodded slowly. Since she had no physical injuries, what Su Wanyi said was the only possibility.

He let out a soft sigh.

”In that case, all we can do is wait.”

”You’d better wake up soon, Miss Shi, so you can go out killing with me and your Senior Sister Ye.”

As soon as he said it, Shi Miao’s finger twitched.

Everyone in the room saw it and looked at one another, stunned.

Jiang Ran was taken aback as well.

”You react at the mere mention of killing? Are you some kind of murder-maniac?”

”Kill who?”

Shi Miao suddenly opened her mouth, slowly forming two words.

Her eyes then slowly opened, a faint killing intent visible within them.

”Everyone in Qianliu Manor... from top to bottom.”

”They stripped Red Maple Manor bare,” Jiang Ran said, ”and Qi Kai died by my hand. Whether or not Qianliu Manor is willing to let this rest, I doubt they’ll just sit at home waiting to die once the news reaches them.”

”So, we need to head out early. All the better for a bit of killing and arson.”