Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Mission Completed
"You’re too kind, First Master."
Jiang Ran gave a faint smile, but a hint of doubt lingered in his heart.
’The old drunkard... where did he get the Nine Shocking God Sabers?’
’Claiming he created it himself... that was clearly bullshit.’
’But if he already possessed such an incredible skill in his youth, how could he have ended up in this state in his old age?’
Jiang Ran suddenly felt that his memory of the old drunkard was starting to blur.
It was as if he was transforming into someone else, someone Jiang Ran found a little unfamiliar...
The First Master didn’t stay with Jiang Ran for long. It seemed he had come only to clear up Jiang Ran’s confusion.
After saying his piece, he took his leave, stating that he had reaped a great harvest today and needed to return home to quietly reflect, burn some incense, bathe, and then compile it all into a volume.
Jiang Ran was actually a little eager to see how the First Master would tell the story of this day’s events.
After seeing the First Master off, Jiang Ran returned to his room.
He checked his system. He had accepted quite a few missions this time.
He had taken on the bounties for every leader of Feiyun Stronghold under Li Feiyun.
Now, a full seven rows of missions were just waiting to be turned in tomorrow.
’I wonder how much lifespan I’ll get this time.’
Jiang Ran let out a long breath, glanced at his remaining lifespan, and sat cross-legged on his bed.
The First Master had said he’d reaped a great harvest today.
Jiang Ran felt his own harvest wasn’t bad either.
At the very least, he had learned the origin of the Creation and True Heart Sutra from Dao Wuming.
And from the First Master, he had learned the origin of his nine saber strikes.
Unfortunately, he still had no news of the old drunkard.
Jiang Ran decided that if there was still no news by tomorrow, his only option was to venture out into the world and search far and wide for him.
He couldn’t just let the old drunkard stay lost for good.
The night passed without incident. The next morning, after tidying himself up, Jiang Ran went to the Government Office.
The Government Office was bustling with activity today.
The scale of yesterday’s events had been enormous, but for the common folk, it had passed by without them even noticing, everything happening in silence.
But for the government constables, this sudden influx of matters was jarring, and they were struggling to adapt.
The entire Government Office was like a tightly wound clock, with everyone rushing about their tasks in a flurry.
The few government constables who recognized Jiang Ran weren’t around, so he used his Assassin’s Order as his credentials and entered the Government Office directly.
He was just about to ask someone to find Steward Liu.
When he saw Steward Liu himself rushing over. Jiang Ran grinned and cupped his fist to greet him, only to watch the man pass right by him, head down, in a hurry.
Jiang Ran quickly turned around.
"Steward Liu!"
Steward Liu stopped in his tracks as if by reflex and looked back, his eyes somewhat dazed.
The dark circles under his eyes could rival Dao Wuming’s.
Their eyes met, and only then did Steward Liu clearly see who had called him. He slapped his thigh.
"His Lordship has been waiting for you for a long time! I... never mind. You know the way, just go on your own. I still have urgent business to attend to, so I’ll be on my way."
After saying this, he turned and left.
After a moment of stunned silence, Jiang Ran made his way toward the small courtyard where Guo Chong lived.
The normally quiet little courtyard wasn’t so quiet at the moment.
Government constables were constantly coming and going. Just as he stepped through the courtyard gate, he heard Guo Chong shouting angrily and slamming his hand on a table with a loud BANG.
A few dejected-looking government constables walked out and were startled to see Jiang Ran.
"How did you get in here?"
Just as Jiang Ran was about to explain, Guo Chong’s furious voice bellowed:
"Why do you care how he got in?
"You lot can’t even tell a few real bandits from fakes! If he threw a sack over his head, you’d probably think he was a bag of cabbage.
"Still asking questions? Scram! If you don’t get lost right now, watch as I punish you for your insolence!!"
Hearing this, the two government constables grumbled in misery and quickly made themselves scarce.
Jiang Ran cupped his fist, but before he could speak, Guo Chong shouted loudly:
"Get in here!"
So, Jiang Ran simply walked right in.
He saw that the room, usually filled with the aroma of various meals, was now permeated with the smell of ink and paper.
Guo Chong was wearing his official robes, which were stretched so taut they looked misshapen. It felt like if he flexed even slightly, the clothes would burst apart.
His official’s hat was on straight, but Jiang Ran got the feeling that Guo Chong kept wanting to reach up and pull it off, only to restrain himself at the last moment each time.
He was clutching a calligraphy brush, scribbling across his desk, with various papers scattered all over the floor.
When he saw Jiang Ran, he shot him a fierce glare.
"What poison did you give them?"
"Autumn’s After-Dew."
"Autumn’s After-Dew? What kind of stupid name is that... It doesn’t even roll off the tongue.
"Quite the poetic name."
When Jiang Ran heard the word "poetic," his expression stiffened. He shook his head and said:
"It’s called feigning elegance.
"To put it simply, it’s like a grasshopper after autumn... it doesn’t have many days left to hop around."
"...You really are a genius at naming things!!"
Guo Chong gave him a thumbs-up.
Jiang Ran grinned.
"Where’s the silver?"
"How can you be so brazen about it?"
"The arrest warrant was issued by Your Lordship. Since I killed them, there’s nothing shameful about coming to collect the silver. Why shouldn’t I be brazen about it?"
"That does make sense!"
Guo Chong burst out laughing.
"I like your straightforwardness. Not like those other people. They’re just collecting a bounty, which is perfectly justified, but every single one of them acts like a thief.
"Anyone who didn’t know better would think they were the ones with a bounty on their heads."
After speaking, he reached under the table, pulled out a box, and tossed it to Jiang Ran.
Jiang Ran reached out to catch it, only to feel a powerful force contained within it, trying to push him backward.
He immediately smiled, tapped one foot on the ground, and spun his palm. The box instantly spiraled up into the air.
Reaching out again, he caught the box as it fell perfectly into his hand.
He hadn’t taken a single step back.
He looked up at Guo Chong.
"Lord Guo, you’re too petty."
"Who was it that tried to hit me with such a huge chest when we first met?"
Guo Chong shot him a glare.
"I’m just returning the favor with this little box, and you have the nerve to complain?
"Aren’t you afraid I’ll punish you for your insolence?
"Li Feiyun’s bounty was five thousand taels of silver, Zuo Kuangge’s was three thousand taels, and the rest added up to five thousand five hundred taels.
"Inside here are silver notes totaling thirteen thousand five hundred taels.
"Check it yourself."
There was no need to look. Although Guo Chong’s methods were a bit peculiar, he wasn’t the type to cheat someone in a matter like this.
More importantly, a large number of notifications had already popped up in front of Jiang Ran.
At the top was a whole row of [Mission Complete].
Below that was a whole row of [Reward Gained].
They were so densely packed it made his head spin.
He waved his hand, ignoring the rest, and first opened his mission panel, his eyes scanning for the line he cared about most.
[Remaining Lifespan: One year, ten months, and seven days!]
Jiang Ran was overjoyed. ’I have nearly two more years to live!’
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