Wuxia: Starting Off With 60 Years of Inner Strength

Chapter 61: Chapter 61: The Real Purpose

In the main courtyard of the Wan Mansion, along the covered walkway.

The First Master had already lowered the arm that was blocking Li Feiyun. He bowed his head, flipping through the notes in his hand.

Geng Zhaoxing stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Li Feiyun.

Li Feiyun, however, just quietly sized up Jiang Ran and chuckled.

"How did you figure it out?"

Jiang Ran’s brow furrowed slightly before he sighed.

"Chieftain Li, you are no ordinary man.

"You have nearly all of Cangzhou Prefecture in the palm of your hand. You left the Sunset Gang intact as a smokescreen.

"You haven’t taken the Prefecture outright because you fear a backlash from the imperial court and the martial world.

"So... why spare a wealthy patriarch?

"Qingyi said you wanted the Wan family’s money.

"But once Cangzhou Prefecture fell, no matter how rich the Wan family was, they would be completely at your mercy.

"There would be no need to go to such great lengths.

"And the idea that you kidnapped Lady Wan at the teahouse to force Wanjiang to cancel the Heroic Assembly is utterly impossible.

"Setting aside whether that would have even worked...

"It contradicts your own objective.

"You needed to use this very Heroic Assembly as a springboard...

"Therefore, the entire premise behind that scene you orchestrated at the teahouse simply doesn’t hold water."

Li Feiyun nodded thoughtfully.

"Then why would I do that?"

"My guess is... you wanted everyone to think that you were powerless against Shopkeeper Wan.

"You wanted everyone in the martial world to underestimate you. For one, it would ensure this Heroic Assembly proceeded more smoothly.

"For another, it would make it easier for you to pull off your grand substitution.

"After all, who would believe that a chieftain at his wit’s end—resorting to kidnapping a man’s wife just to hinder Shopkeeper Wan—could easily kill Wanjiang and take his place?"

"A grand substitution..."

Li Feiyun lowered his head slightly.

"Wanjiang is merely a wealthy patriarch. I am the renowned Chieftain of Feiyun Stronghold. Why would I need to stoop so low?"

"Let’s not get into whether you’re stooping or not."

Jiang Ran waved a dismissive hand, choosing not to comment on Li Feiyun’s self-aggrandizing statement. He simply continued,

"When I captured Gu Mosheng, I was actually quite surprised.

"After years of lying dormant, you have your claws in nearly every part of Cangzhou Prefecture. Your ability to do so, Chieftain, was truly astonishing.

"It also made me more certain that you orchestrated the entire incident at the teahouse.

"But by the same token, your recklessness in daring to make a move on Cangzhou Prefecture also took me by surprise.

"At the time, however, I just assumed you dared to risk it all because you had a powerful backer, some other support to rely on.

"But after witnessing today’s Heroic Assembly, I’ve realized things are not that simple."

As Jiang Ran said this, his expression grew complicated.

"Do tell."

Li Feiyun was no longer in a hurry to leave. He crossed his arms, watching Jiang Ran with great interest.

Jiang Ran let out a soft breath.

"The night before last, I met with Cheng Jimo.

"I don’t know him well; we’ve only met a few times.

"Even so, I could tell something was weighing on his mind... Unfortunately, I assumed at the time that he was worried because he’d uncovered something else about Feiyun Stronghold and wanted to report back to Shopkeeper Wan as quickly as possible.

"Once I confirmed he had returned to the Wan Mansion, I paid it no further mind.

"I never expected that today, in a room within the Wan Mansion, I would find a Flying Feather Needle."

"The man was a menace..."

Li Feiyun nodded.

"He should have died on the streets of Cangzhou Prefecture. A pity..."

"So it was my fault, then?"

Jiang Ran raised an eyebrow.

"It doesn’t matter. It’s a minor detail, and besides, the man is dead now.

"But what’s your point in bringing all this up?"

"It means... the danger Cheng Jimo was in didn’t come from Feiyun Stronghold. It came from the Wan family.

"Or at least, the danger was located within the Wan Mansion."

Jiang Ran sighed.

"He once told me that although Shopkeeper Wan was a merchant, he was a man of great vision and profound wisdom, filled with a chivalrous spirit—not just some ordinary wealthy patriarch.

"I didn’t really pay it much mind at the time.

"But today, the moment I saw that Flying Feather Needle, I started to think that Shopkeeper Wan was one of your men.

"I thought Cheng Jimo had stumbled onto the truth, and so you had him silenced."

"That’s a perfectly logical explanation."

Li Feiyun said with a smile, "If he were my man, that would explain how I could disguise myself as him and still command the entire Wan family.

"After all, when you’re impersonating someone, you might fool strangers, but you can’t fool the people closest to him.

"With Wanjiang’s personal instruction, it would all make sense."

"That’s not so difficult. Don’t forget, Geng Zhaoxing was Shopkeeper Wan’s personal guard for many years.

"With his help, you could easily avoid slipping up.

"And taking a huge step back, even if Shopkeeper Wan really was your man... why would he go to such lengths for you?

"Chieftain Li, you rather overestimate yourself."

Jiang Ran gave a dry laugh, but there was no trace of mirth in his eyes.

"But I didn’t think of that at the time.

"Even when our eyes met and I saw your reaction, I merely assumed it was Shopkeeper Wan being exceptionally composed and hiding his true depth."

"Then how did you realize something was wrong?"

Li Feiyun was genuinely curious now.

"Because... from start to finish, you never made a move."

Jiang Ran said softly,

"Someone who wants to take Cangzhou Prefecture.

"A man of boundless ambition, the mastermind who orchestrated today’s entire affair.

"How could such a person just sit back and watch me kill his lieutenants one by one, remaining calmly on his high seat?

"There had to be a reason for your inaction.

"As events unfolded today, I kept wondering what that reason could be.

"It wasn’t until you staged that little play—where ’Li Feiyun’ tried and failed to assassinate ’Shopkeeper Wan’ amidst the chaos before fleeing over the wall.

"Only then did I understand... You want yourself, from this moment forward, to be Shopkeeper Wan, and no longer Li Feiyun!

"Li Feiyun would certainly have to intervene to save his own men as they were being killed.

"But why would Shopkeeper Wan lift a finger to save a bunch of bandits?"

"That makes sense."

Li Feiyun nodded lightly. "Go on. Why would I do that?"

Jiang Ran smiled, unbothered by Li Feiyun’s quizzical tone.

"Before the Prefectural Magistrate arrived, I was also wondering why.

"But when he got here, I understood.

"He arrived far too quickly... The resistance I expected never materialized, and your backer never made a move.

"Everything went much more smoothly than anticipated, which is why he was able to get here so fast."

Li Feiyun looked down, studying his own fingers.

"And what does that have to do with my inaction?"

"It does. It reminded me of something."

Jiang Ran looked at Li Feiyun.

"Chieftain Li, you’re wary of your backer, aren’t you?

"That’s why you’re pulling this substitution—to secure an escape route for yourself.

"You were never really after Cangzhou Prefecture.

"What you really want is... to shed your skin like a golden cicada!

"That’s why you dragged everyone into this play, even sacrificing the lives of your own lieutenants.

"All to escape the clutches of the person pulling your strings."