Wuxia: Starting Off With 60 Years of Inner Strength

The black-clad archer looked at Jiang Ran and cupped his fists.

”Thank you... Thank you, Brother Jiang, for saving my life. I, Digua, can never repay you.”

”...”

’Digua? Seriously?’

Jiang Ran glanced at Tang Huayi. ’What a ridiculous name.’

Still, he waved his hand dismissively.

”It’s nothing. It was no trouble at all.”

”But from now on, you will inevitably be hunted by the Death Building... I’m afraid you will never have a day of peace.”

”Even when my days in the Building were peaceful, my heart never knew a moment of tranquility.”

”Though the storms may rage outside, my heart now feels no alarm.”

Digua chuckled. ”Now that I know where I came from and where I belong, nothing could be better.”

”My dear brother.”

Tang Huayi nodded. ”Do you still remember your martial arts?”

”Martial arts...”

Digua glanced at the longbow he had been clutching tightly in his hand, as if it were his second life.

With a flick of his wrist, the longbow spun in the air with a WHOOSH. He then slammed its end onto the ground with a thunderous THUD, and the cyan flagstones beneath it let out a CRACK.

He subconsciously reached for an arrow, nocked it, and drew the bow. His internal energy gathered, and a faint light seemed to flow at the arrowhead.

When the bow was drawn like a full moon, its power peerless, he suddenly released his grip. The feathered arrow instantly tore through the wind, soaring straight for the heavens as if to pierce a hole straight through the firmament!

”Incredible archery.”

Scholar Jingtan couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

”In the heat of battle, a soldier can draw a greatbow to its fullest and slay an enemy commander from hundreds of paces away.”

”But in the martial world, such a weapon is rarely useful.”

”For one, it lacks versatility. For another, its power is often underwhelming. Unless used en masse, it’s difficult to pose a threat to the top masters of the martial world.”

”I never thought an archer today could unleash an arrow with such power!”

”That seems to be the Cloud-Chasing and Moon-Chasing Archery.”

The Grand Master said softly, ”Legend has it that this archery style was indeed created by a great general. It was originally intended for the battlefield, but later generations refined it for duels in the martial world. It can be used to kill someone from miles away, completely unseen.”

Hearing him say this, no one doubted him.

Although the old man could be ridiculous at times, he was, after all, from the Ink Pavilion.

However, to be able to kill someone from miles away, one would need not only superb archery but, more importantly, extraordinary eyesight.

Jiang Ran, however, was lost in thought.

’From what the black-clad archer said, he really did grow up in the Death Building. That means all his martial arts must have been taught by them. Judging from the people I saw today, their skills are all unique. They may be a motley crew, but they can’t be underestimated. Then there’s the Five Poisons and their Five Poison World-penetrating Scripture... they must have their own extraordinary abilities. After all, the Greed Poison alone was so formidable. Who knows what the other four are capable of? It seems the Death Building’s foundations run deep. They truly cannot be underestimated.’

Just then, Tang Huayi spoke up again.

”Digua, do you have any other memories about the Death Building?”

”This time, they sent masters from the Five Poisons to capture you.”

”Greed, Hatred, Ignorance, Arrogance, and Doubt... Brother Jiang has now slain the Greed Poison, but I don’t know where the Sloth Poison is now.”

’Sloth Poison?’

Jiang Ran glanced at Tang Huayi, thinking, ’This girl went out for a bit and certainly gathered a lot of information.’

The black-clad archer pondered for a long while before shaking his head.

”Sister... I, I really can’t remember...”

”Also, Sister... is my name... really Digua?”

”Yes, your nickname is Digua.”

Tang Huayi said, ”My name is Li Tianxin now, a name my master gave me. Since you’ve returned, you should take my surname, Li... Let’s call you Li...”

She trailed off, looking conflicted. Then she glanced at the feathered arrows in his quiver, and inspiration struck.

”Let’s call you Li Feiyu...”

”Wait, that name isn’t very auspicious.”

Jiang Ran quickly intervened.

”In my opinion, Li Tianyu would be better.”

”Why? I think Feiyu sounds nicer.”

Tang Huayi began to doubt Jiang Ran’s knack for naming.

Jiang Ran pursed his lips.

”I told you, that name is unlucky. If you’re not afraid of taking the blame later, then go ahead and use it.”

Although Tang Huayi didn’t understand why, she still nodded and patted Digua’s shoulder.

”We’ll listen to Brother Jiang. From now on, your name is Li Tianyu.”

”Li Tianxin, Li Tianyu.”

Ruan Yuqing gave Jiang Ran a strange look.

”Is this really okay?”

’He’s an Assassin from the Death Building, after all. We don’t know why he suddenly lost his memory, but to keep him around so carelessly... what if he turns on us in the future?’

Jiang Ran, however, glanced at Tang Huayi and nodded slightly.

”It’s fine...”

’Tang Huayi managed to torture him into amnesia once. I figure she can keep him that way for a lifetime. Worst comes to worst, if he shows any sign of turning, we can just kill him.’

With this in mind, he set out a wine cup, uncorked his wine gourd, poured a cup, and handed it to Li Tianyu.

”Here, Tianyu. You’ve had quite a scare. Drink this to calm your nerves.”

”Thank you, Brother Jiang.”

Li Tianyu, without any suspicion, took it and drank it down.

Tang Huayi glanced at Jiang Ran, who nodded slightly in return.

Only then did Tang Huayi say:

”So, what’s our plan now? We don’t know where that Sloth Poison is. Should we leave, or should we wait?”

”Let’s wait, then.”

Jiang Ran glanced at the sky and said:

”We’ll stay here tonight. Be extra vigilant. If he shows up, we’ll kill him.”

”If he doesn’t... we’ll set off first thing tomorrow morning.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

In any case, Jiang Ran was the leader on this trip. Since he had spoken, the matter was settled.

He then sent Luo Qingyi and Tang Huayi to find rooms for the night.