Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Farewell
Jiang Ran was stunned for a moment. ’How did this suddenly turn into a love story?’
However, the martial world was full of such tales of love, hate, and vengeance.
And when the righteous and evil paths were involved, the stories instantly became much more complex.
"Unexpected, isn’t it? The Demon Sect has women like that, too."
Li Tianxin sneered.
Jiang Ran pursed his lips.
"It’s not that surprising. You said it yourself, didn’t you?"
"The people of the Demon Sect revere that... what was it? The Great Freedom of the Celestial Demon."
"Everything starts from the heart. It’s not strange that they’re capable of such things..."
"Oh?"
Li Tianxin glanced at Jiang Ran.
"Then do you think the Demon Sect is ultimately good or evil?"
Jiang Ran was taken aback.
"Why the sudden question?"
"..."
Li Tianxin pondered for a moment.
"I can’t tell you about my past, but in my heart, I’ve always been somewhat lost."
"Normally, I have no one to talk to about these sorts of things."
"The conversation just happened to lead here, so I’ll just ask you... Although you’re a ruthless man, the fact that you could say what you just did has made me see you in a new light."
"So let me hear your foolish opi—"
Jiang Ran took a small bottle from his robes.
"The antidote."
"...your profound insights!!"
Li Tianxin declared with conviction.
"Alright. Seeing how sincere you are, I’ll share my brilliant insights."
Jiang Ran smiled.
"Actually, in my opinion, the Demon Sect... probably can’t be judged by simple concepts of good and evil."
"Judging purely by good and evil is always biased."
"How can anything in this world be purely black and white?"
"Some people may slaughter countless strangers, yet treasure their own families."
"To his family, he is naturally good. But to his victims, he is wicked beyond measure, his sins unforgivable."
"This point, I think, is beyond doubt."
"But the Demon Sect is even more complex than that..."
"This ’Great Freedom of the Celestial Demon’ they seek is complete, untethered freedom."
"If their hearts hold kindness, they will be devoted to good deeds. If their hearts harbor malice, they will commit evil for all eternity."
"Good and evil exist in the same place. How can you distinguish whether the Demon Sect is good or bad?"
"...That’s true."
Li Tianxin let out a soft sigh.
"But this line of thinking doesn’t ultimately solve the problem..."
"Remnants of the Demon Sect still exist in the world. They were behind the Qinghe Gang incident, and they were the ones who killed the members of the Celestial Palace... whom Li Feiyun was relying on in that village."
"If we run into them in the future, what should we do?"
Jiang Ran was silent for a moment, then finally spoke in a cold voice:
"Most likely, we kill them."
"...Why?"
Li Tianxin asked.
"Because with an existence like the Demon Sect... the potential for evil is too great."
Jiang Ran said softly:
"The human heart is too treacherous. No one can guarantee that they’ll never have malicious thoughts. Even you and I—can you say we don’t have a single shred of malice in our hearts?"
"I don’t... but you definitely do!"
Li Tianxin was absolutely certain.
"..."
Jiang Ran felt like the conversation had hit a dead end, but he continued anyway:
"They do good today because their hearts tell them to. They do evil tomorrow for the exact same reason."
"How they choose to act is their own business, of course."
"But what have the common people done to deserve this?"
"Why should they have to risk their lives for someone else’s freedom?"
"Of course, I’m just saying. If the Demon Sect members are too powerful, I’ll definitely turn and run."
Li Tianxin looked at Jiang Ran, and a new light seemed to flicker in his eyes.
He finally closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they were clear and bright.
Jiang Ran then asked with a smile:
"You seem to know a lot about the Demon Sect... Does your past have something to do with them?"
"It does, but I can’t tell you."
"Fine."
Jiang Ran waved his hand.
"Our business here is finished. We can go our separate ways."
"The antidote."
Li Tianxin looked at him coldly. "You’re not thinking of going back on your word, are you?"
"You weren’t even poisoned. What antidote do you need?"
Jiang Ran grinned.
"I tell you you’re poisoned and you just believe me... How can you be so naive?"
"You tricked me?"
Li Tianxin’s eyes went wide.
"No."
Jiang Ran said:
"That night, the first cup of tea you drank was indeed poisoned."
"But the second cup was indeed the antidote."
"Liar!"
Li Tianxin glared at him, then suddenly stepped forward and stomped hard on Jiang Ran’s foot.
Jiang Ran froze. If Li Tianxin had actually attacked him, he could have dodged or blocked.
But who would have thought a grown man would be so childish as to stomp on someone’s foot?
’Truly ridiculous...’
After that one stomp, Li Tianxin suddenly felt a wave of satisfaction. With a single leap, he was on the roof. He called down to Jiang Ran:
"You big liar! Our paths will cross again."
Jiang Ran scoffed, shook his head, and cupped his fist.
"Take care."
Li Tianxin said no more. When he turned away, his usual cold expression had returned. With a light tap of his toes on the roof, he flew off into the distance.
This angered a stall owner under the eaves, who began to curse under his breath.
Jiang Ran watched his retreating figure, scratched his head, and said softly:
"Aren’t you coming out?"
A figure appeared from the side. It was Qingyi.
After a single glance at Jiang Ran, Qingyi dropped to his knees with a THUD.
"Luo Qingyi thanks you, Young Master."
"Get up."
Jiang Ran said:
"I didn’t kill Li Feiyun so you could thank me."
"I know."
Luo Qingyi smiled.
"But you killed Li Feiyun with your own hands. No matter what, you’ve avenged me."
"You deserve this bow."
"What are your plans for the future?"
Jiang Ran continued walking toward the inn.
Luo Qingyi followed behind him.
"I don’t know. The martial world is vast, yet it feels as if there’s no place for me to even stand."
Jiang Ran pondered for a moment, then took a small bottle from his robes and tossed it to him.
Luo Qingyi caught it and looked at Jiang Ran.
"The antidote for the Four Seasons Pill."
Jiang Ran said, "I had you take the Four Seasons Pill to deal with Feiyun Stronghold. It’s not needed anymore."
"...Thank you."
Luo Qingyi looked at the bottle in his hand and smiled.
"I thought you were lying about the Four Seasons Pill, too."
"A mix of truth and lies makes it hard for people to tell what’s real. How could everything be a lie..."
Jiang Ran waved his hand at him.
"The pills in here will completely neutralize the poison from the Four Seasons Pill."
"Let’s part ways here."
"Take care, Young Master."
"You too."
Jiang Ran smiled and turned to leave.
Luo Qingyi stood his ground, watching him disappear into the distance.
...
...
The inn was a bit quiet at this hour.
Jiang Ran stepped over the threshold and saw only one person sitting in the main hall, a piece of meat clutched in one hand, forgotten.
His other hand was writing furiously, his expression focused.
As if sensing Jiang Ran’s gaze, the man turned his head. His salt-and-pepper beard was not stained with grease, but with ink.
Upon seeing Jiang Ran, his eyes immediately lit up.
"Young Hero Jiang!"
"Great Master?"
Jiang Ran’s eyebrow twitched. He had wanted to find the man back at the Wan family’s residence, but he had already left.
’I never thought he’d be here at the inn, waiting for me...’
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