Wuxia: Starting Off With 60 Years of Inner Strength

Jiang Ran knew they had a point and glanced at Shi Miao.

”What do you think?”

”Fine.”

Shi Miao readily agreed.

”Alright then. After we get back, go find Elder Su and explain the situation. We’ll see if we can uncover what’s really going on.”

Seeing that their discussion was over, Ding Feng finally couldn’t help but ask:

”Is what you’re practicing truly the Righteous Heart Sutra of Creation?

”Don’t tell me you’ve already reached the sixth level?”

Ye Jingshuang glanced at Jiang Ran. Seeing no objection from him, she chuckled softly.

”You’re underestimating Brother Jiang. He has already mastered this divine art to the eighth level!”

”What!?”

Ding Feng’s scalp went numb.

”That’s impossible!

”This... how is that possible?”

His first ”That’s impossible” was firm and decisive, but when he recalled the skills Jiang Ran had displayed, he realized it might actually be true.

For a moment, his eyes went vacant. He felt that his defeat was not unjust.

’I’ve run into a bunch of monsters.’

’Look at these people...’

’One is a monster who has cultivated the Righteous Heart Sutra of Creation to the eighth level.’

’Another is Shi Miao, whose Swordsmanship is so profound, so focused on heart and sword alone, that his skill surpasses my own.’

’Then there’s the prodigy from the Liuyun Sword Sect, who has trained the Liuyun Cloud Swordsmanship to the point where it generates its own clouds and mist.’

’The ”worst” of them is Luo Qingyi.’

’But even he could probably defeat any of Qianliu Manor’s four great masters in a one-on-one fight.’

’Losing to them... it’s really... perfectly normal.’

Before long,

the group had returned to Red Maple Manor.

As soon as they reached the entrance, they saw that Red Maple Manor had new guests.

Ye Jingshuang recognized them at once.

”It’s the Shuiyue Sword Sect!”

”So all five sects have really gathered.”

Jiang Ran smiled, his eyes scanning the surroundings thoughtfully.

Just then, Fu Cheng’en came running out from the manor. Spotting Jiang Ran and his party, he said hurriedly:

”Brother Jiang, Junior Sister Ye, you’re finally back.

”Our comrades from the Shuiyue Sword Sect have arrived. This time, they are led by the Gentle Water Sword, Elder Ruan Yuqing.

”But before they reached Red Maple Manor, they ran into Shi Pingzhang...”

”What?”

Ye Jingshuang was startled.

”How is Elder Ruan and her group?”

”Elder Ruan was gravely injured, and several disciples were killed or wounded.

”However, Shi Pingzhang didn’t have his zither, so Elder Ruan managed to scare him into retreating... But now, she’s been tainted by killing intent and is about to lose control.”

Understanding dawned on Ye Jingshuang, and she glanced at Jiang Ran.

”Let’s go, quickly!”

Jiang Ran didn’t hesitate.

Saving a life is a race against time. Although being tainted by this killing intent wasn’t fatal to the afflicted, if they couldn’t suppress it, others would be the ones to die.

Fu Cheng’en once again led the way, and in a flash, the group arrived at a courtyard.

Disciples from the other four sects were all gathered in the courtyard.

Some were sitting cross-legged in meditation. Others were channeling their Inner Strength into a few members of the Shuiyue Sword Sect to help them maintain a clear state of mind.

Two young women stood guard before a door, their faces anxious as they peered inside.

Huang Xuan, with his sharp eyes, spotted Fu Cheng’en immediately and shouted:

”Brother Jiang! Has Brother Jiang arrived?”

”I’m here.”

Hearing Jiang Ran’s voice, the crowd quickly parted to let him step forward.

Only then did Huang Xuan speak to the two young women at the door.

”Quick, step aside. The one who can save her is here.”

The two young women looked at each other, then finally at Jiang Ran.

”Why... why is it a man?”

Jiang Ran was taken aback. ”What’s wrong with being a man?”

”Our Junior Martial Uncle... has never allowed a man into her private chambers.”

One of the young women glanced at Huang Xuan.

”This... What should we do?”

Huang Xuan was so exasperated he almost laughed.

”Not allowed in her private chambers? Then you can ask your Junior Martial Uncle to come out!

”If not that, then just let the killing intent consume her mind and watch her go on a rampage!

”It’ll be every man for himself, may the best one survive!”

”Of the five great sword sects, the Shuiyue Sword Sect is the most troublesome.”

Ling Buyi’s voice came from the side.

”On a normal day, it might be fine, but this is a matter of life and death! Are you going to keep dithering like this forever?”

Hearing this, the two young women’s eyes grew red-rimmed.

After exchanging a glance, they finally stepped aside and said to Jiang Ran:

”Sir, we’ll have to trouble you. Please, you must save Junior Martial Uncle Ruan.”

”...Of course.”

At this point, Jiang Ran still didn’t quite understand the ways of the Shuiyue Sword Sect.

The people of the martial world were usually unconcerned with trivial formalities. When he first met Ye Jingshuang, he had even applied medicine for her.

The Shuiyue Sword Sect was one of the ’Five Swords,’ yet facing a life-or-death situation, they were still fussing over such trifles?

’It seems... illogical.’

But there was no time to dwell on it. Jiang Ran pushed open the door and stepped inside. He saw Su Wanyi on the bed, her hand pressed against the back of a woman who looked to be in her twenties.

Her features were beautiful but held a sharp, piercing quality.

Her clothes were in disarray, her hair loose, and beads of sweat trickled down her face, over her collarbones, and into her robes—an alluring sight.

Jiang Ran, however, only spared her a single glance before looking away. With a turn of his feet, he was already in front of her.

He extended a finger, about to touch the Righteous Heart Finger technique to the point between Ruan Yuqing’s eyebrows.

But the woman’s eyes suddenly snapped open.

A burst of Gang Qi erupted outwards. Behind her, Su Wanyi grunted as she was thrown back by the blast of Inner Strength.

Immediately after, Ruan Yuqing brought two fingers together and, with a BUZZ, stabbed directly toward the center of Jiang Ran’s brow.

Jiang Ran’s brow furrowed. He had to dispel his Righteous Heart Finger technique. He tilted his head slightly to avoid the sharp edge of the Sword Qi. Just as he was about to grab her wrist, he discovered that her Sword Qi... hadn’t dissipated. Instead, it circled around and wrapped directly toward his neck.

”This Sword Qi can turn?”

Jiang Ran was astonished.

With a turn of his mental incantation, a protective dharma image erupted into existence around him.

The Sword Qi trembled the moment it made contact with the protective dharma image.

Ruan Yuqing’s body swayed. She slapped her hand down, launching herself off the bed. Seemingly realizing that Jiang Ran was not to be trifled with, she made a direct dash for the door.

Jiang Ran flicked his sleeve, and with a CLANG,

the main doors slammed shut, startling the two young women outside.

For a moment, they just stared at each other in bewilderment.

”He closed the door...

”He closed the door!”

”Why did he close the door?”