Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Reunion
That night.
Jiang Ran changed into a set of night gear and examined the portrait in his hand by candlelight.
Mingyue had been too modest.
Her painting skills were far beyond "some knowledge"; she had rendered Liu Wenshan’s features with lifelike detail.
But the most important function of the portrait was to give Jiang Ran something to compare against, lest he bring back a complete stranger.
Pushing open the window, Jiang Ran leaped onto the roof.
He had barely taken two steps when he saw a bladesman dressed all in black, standing there with a saber cradled in his arms.
The moonlight was cold that night, but not as cold as the look in his eyes.
’He really looks the part...’
Jiang Ran couldn’t help but feel this way whenever he looked at Li Tianxin.
His aura was frigid; one glance told you he was a proud, solitary bladesman.
That aura alone would make one wonder if he was the greatest bladesman in the world. Who would have guessed that every time he showed up, it was in such a pathetic state?
"Just my looks?"
Li Tianxin sounded unconvinced by the comment.
"It’s not important."
Jiang Ran smiled. "You’re going too?"
"When it comes to upholding justice, how could I let you hog all the glory?"
Li Tianxin shot Jiang Ran a sideways glance.
"Besides, how old is that girl? You’re bestowing such a great favor on her. If you end up attracting her affection, I’m afraid it’ll be difficult to get rid of her later."
"With me there to share the burden, I can save you a lot of trouble."
"It’s none of your damn business..."
Jiang Ran couldn’t stop himself from rolling his eyes.
"I try to be helpful, and this is the thanks I get."
Li Tianxin snorted. "If you don’t need my help, I’ll just go back."
"Be my guest."
"See? You really do have designs on that girl."
"Are you an animal? She’s just a child!"
"She’s of marriageable age. It’s time she was thinking about it."
"..."
’This isn’t a generation gap, it’s a chasm!’
Jiang Ran couldn’t be bothered to argue with him anymore. "Come if you’re coming, or go back to sleep if you’re not. I’m leaving."
With a light tap of his feet, he was already soaring away.
Li Tianxin watched Jiang Ran’s departing figure, his brow furrowed slightly. He gave a soft snort and, without further hesitation, followed after him.
Fierce Tiger Mountain was just over twenty li from their location. You could say that as soon as you left Benma County, its silhouette was visible in the distance.
Faintly, it looked like a true fierce tiger, roaring up at the heavens.
With Jiang Ran and Li Tianxin’s speed, such a distance was nothing. It didn’t take them long to arrive.
Once they entered the mountains, finding Tiger Leaping Gorge proved to be a bit difficult.
Although Mingyue had explained the path as clearly as possible, there were too few landmarks in the mountains, and it was easy to lose your way if you weren’t careful.
After wandering in circles for nearly an hour, they finally arrived before a mountain gorge.
There were no fierce tigers in this gorge; its name, Tiger Leaping, was an echo of the mountain’s name.
As they neared the place, Jiang Ran and Li Tianxin slowed their pace. There were already signs of human activity in the surroundings.
Further ahead, they could faintly see the glow of a fire.
But along with the firelight came the sharp sound of something cutting through the air.
"Someone’s fighting?"
Jiang Ran and Li Tianxin exchanged a look and moved forward even more carefully. A little farther on, the scene suddenly opened up before them.
There, in the middle of the gorge, two figures were locked in a tangled struggle.
Their Inner Strength surged, sending surrounding grass and trees flying and water splashing everywhere.
Suddenly, the two combatants simultaneously shot out their palms. The four palms met with a tremendous BOOM.
The two figures retreated at the same time. One, a man in black with an iron mask on his face, landed gracefully on a large boulder.
The other, a sinister-looking little old man who appeared to be in his fifties, landed by the side of the stream.
Their gazes met, and the little old man let out a strange laugh.
"The Jade-Faced Qilin of years past always fought honorably and openly."
"But after all these years, you’ve started resorting to such sneaky tricks?"
"Where in this world is there any Jade-Faced Qilin?"
The man in the iron mask spoke, his voice calm and unruffled.
"From the day you ripped this face from my head, the only one left in this world is Ghost Thirteen."
’Ghost Thirteen?’
Jiang Ran’s brow furrowed. The short man in black who used to be at Dao Zhen’s side was called Ghost Seven by Dao Zhen.
’Is this one before me Ghost Thirteen?’
’Is he from the Heartless Ghost Mansion?’
’In that case, I’m afraid this little old man must also be connected to Dao Zhen and his people.’
As these thoughts raced through his mind, the little old man’s smug laughter rang out.
"That’s right, that’s right! Now that you mention it, this old man remembers."
"It was one of the proudest moments of my life... You used your handsome face to seduce women everywhere."
"I stepped in to help you avoid racking up any more romantic debts."
"Alas, it seems you’re the type to bite the hand that helps you, unable to recognize a kind heart. I saved you from a romantic calamity, and now your tone is full of resentment. What logic is there in that?"
"Nonsense! I have always conducted myself with integrity! How could I allow you to slander me like this? You... are truly courting death!!"
Beneath his iron mask, Ghost Thirteen’s eyes instantly filled with a sharp, cold light.
His figure swirled and shot through the air. He sent two palms flying, and in an instant, a sky full of palm-shadows enveloped the little old man from every direction.
The little old man was completely unafraid. He chuckled and pounced forward, his hands moving like they were weaving through flowers. His finger and palm strikes were incomparably sharp, and as they clashed once more, the entire area shook.
Li Tianxin’s gaze swept over the two fighters. He said in a low voice:
"The one with the iron mask is the Jade-Faced Qilin?"
"You know of him?"
Jiang Ran glanced at him.
"You don’t?"
Li Tianxin was astonished at Jiang Ran’s ignorance.
"Ten years ago, this man was famous for a time. He was handsome, highly skilled in martial arts, and known for being honorable and upright, with a chivalrous heart."
"Because of that, he captured the hearts of countless women."
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