Chapter 88: Chapter 86: Jiaowei Qin
"It’s been a few days, Miss Ye. You’re looking well."
Ye Jingshuang instinctively approached him.
"Sir, what are you doing here?"
"I’m here to save someone."
Jiang Ran glanced at Liu Wenshan on the ground.
"I’m currently staying in Benma County, investigating a case.
"I happened to meet a young girl on the street, selling herself, but she wasn’t asking for Silver Coins..."
This wasn’t the time or place for a long story, so Jiang Ran just gave her a brief summary of what happened.
Luckily, it wasn’t a complicated story and could be explained in just a few words.
Ye Jingshuang’s eyes widened in understanding. She quickly asked:
"Where is she now?"
"I left her at an inn."
At this, Jiang Ran glanced at the duo in red and black.
"The one in red is seriously injured. The one in black is still okay. I plan to take Liu Wenshan back to Benma County. What do you think?"
"I’ll follow your lead, Sir."
Ye Jingshuang smiled.
"Alright."
Jiang Ran smiled. "I went to the Tong Mansion looking for you earlier. The steward there said you’d left with Hero Tong for the Red Maple Ye family. I didn’t think we’d see each other again so soon, but I never expected... we’d meet here.
"How did you know that Liu Wenshan and his group were in trouble?"
"It’s a long story. If you’d like to know, Sir, I can tell you all about it when we have more time."
Jiang Ran nodded, then glanced at the man on the ground who was barely breathing. He asked Ye Jingshuang:
"Do you recognize this man?"
Ye Jingshuang considered it for a moment, then shook her head. "It’s hard to say from his appearance and martial arts alone."
Jiang Ran nodded, walked over to the man, and slapped his face a couple of times.
"What’s your name? Any titles? Are you on a wanted list?"
This was precisely why Jiang Ran had spared him at the critical moment instead of delivering a killing blow.
The man lying on the ground had been resigned to quietly awaiting death, so Jiang Ran’s slaps nearly stunned him senseless.
Even on the brink of death, he couldn’t help but stare at Jiang Ran with a bizarre expression.
"Talk."
Jiang Ran’s brow furrowed.
The man glared at Jiang Ran, gritting his teeth. He finally gave a series of sharp nods, then his eyes rolled back in his head, and he stopped breathing. He was dead.
"..."
Jiang Ran and Ye Jingshuang both fell silent.
Ye Jingshuang felt a sense of déja vu.
’It seemed Zhang Dongxuan had been angered to death by Jiang Ran in much the same way.’
’His talent in this area was unexpectedly astonishing.’
Jiang Ran, on the other hand, frowned. He checked carefully to make sure the man wasn’t playing dead, then grabbed him by the collar and hauled him up.
"His martial arts were strong, so he can’t be a nobody. And he was in league with this group, so who knows what his status was.
"Can’t let him go to waste... Even if he’s dead, it won’t stop me from trading him in for cash."
Ye Jingshuang paused for a moment.
"Sir... are you still short on money?"
"Not at all."
Aside from his very first outing, Jiang Ran had never been short of money.
With a fortune of ten thousand taels to his name, he was practically a walking treasury.
"Then..."
Ye Jingshuang didn’t understand. ’If he doesn’t need the money, why is he so fixated on it?’
"It’s called... staying true to my roots."
"Your roots?"
Ye Jingshuang blinked. ’Jiang Ran’s roots seemed a little strange.’
"Jingshuang..."
The voice of the red-clothed youth called out.
The voice snapped Ye Jingshuang out of her thoughts, and she instinctively glanced at Jiang Ran.
Jiang Ran blinked.
"Aren’t you going to check on your Brother Tong?"
"Oh..."
It was as if she’d just remembered. Ye Jingshuang finally walked over to the red-clothed youth.
Jiang Ran smiled and walked to Liu Wenshan’s side.
He checked Liu Wenshan’s pulse and nodded slightly. Then, he took out a small porcelain bottle, opened it, and placed a medicinal pill in the man’s mouth.
Liu Wenshan’s injuries were severe but not fatal. This one pill would be enough to keep him alive until they got back to Benma County.
Once there, he could find an apothecary and buy some herbs to treat him, and he should be fine.
’Thinking of this, though, made Jiang Ran realize his own supplies were running low.’
’When you traveled the martial world, you could forget other things, but poisons, knockout drops, and Sedatives were essential to have on hand.’
’They had far too many uses...’
"Sir."
Ye Jingshuang’s voice called out to him.
Jiang Ran turned to see she had gotten to her feet.
"Brother Tong is seriously injured. Sir, do you have any more medicine for wounds?"
"I do."
Jiang Ran nodded, took one out, and handed it to Ye Jingshuang.
Just as Ye Jingshuang was about to put it in the red-clothed youth’s mouth, he let out a faint grunt.
"No... I don’t want his medicine...
"Jingshuang, this man... his identity is unknown. He’s being secretive. You... you can’t just trust him."
A small smile played on Jiang Ran’s lips. He glanced at the red-clothed youth and was about to speak.
But Ye Jingshuang had already blurted out:
"Brother Tong, what are you talking about?
"If it weren’t for this gentleman’s help just now, the three of us would likely be dead.
"It’s one thing not to think of repaying someone for saving your life, but how can you judge a gentleman by your own petty standards?"
"Jingshuang... you?"
The red-clothed youth was stunned. He hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from Ye Jingshuang.
Even Jiang Ran couldn’t help but glance at her. He smiled and said:
"Now, now, Miss Ye, don’t be upset. I imagine this... gentleman is merely being cautious."
"Even if he’s being cautious... he shouldn’t speak that way."
Ye Jingshuang was clearly upset, but she took a deep breath.
"Brother Tong, to be honest, this gentleman has saved my life. He’s rescued me time and again.
"I already feel I have no way to repay him, which weighs heavily on my heart.
"I simply can’t bear to hear anyone speak ill of him... especially with such baseless accusations."
After saying this, she handed the pill to the black-clothed youth.
"This gentleman’s medical skills are extraordinary, so this pill will certainly have a powerful effect. It’s safe here for now, so I’ll leave my brother in your care.
"Uncle Tong is right outside the cave. The gentleman and I will head out first."
Saying this, she glanced at Jiang Ran.
When she saw him give a slight nod, she went to Liu Wenshan, helped him up, and began to lead him out of the cave.
Jiang Ran watched Ye Jingshuang’s retreating back, then his gaze fell on the red-clothed youth. He cupped his fists and said:
"Well then, I’ll be on my way. You two should come out soon."
"You!"
The red-clothed youth’s face darkened, but his injuries were too severe for him to move. All he could do was watch helplessly as Jiang Ran dragged the corpse along behind Ye Jingshuang.
As they walked through the cave, Jiang Ran kept sneaking glances at Ye Jingshuang.
His stare was making her skin crawl. She sighed in resignation.
"Is there something you want to say, Sir?"
"Thank you for sticking up for me back there."
Jiang Ran smiled, not beating around the bush.
Ye Jingshuang fell silent for a moment before sighing.
"You’re too kind, Sir... That Brother Tong, I don’t think he’s a bad person.
"When we first met, he was perfectly normal. But recently, for some reason, he’s been fussing over me constantly, and it’s starting to get on my nerves.
"Sigh. Uncle Tong went through so much trouble for me, remembering our families are old friends. I really shouldn’t have treated Brother Tong that way.
"It’s just... I don’t know why, but I just couldn’t contain my anger a moment ago..."
Jiang Ran looked thoughtful.
"So your interactions were normal at first... and then they suddenly became abnormal?"
"Hm?"
Ye Jingshuang glanced at Jiang Ran.
Then she heard Jiang Ran ask in a low voice:
"That group captured Liu Wenshan for a specific item.
"Do you know what it is?"
Ye Jingshuang nodded.
"I do."
"What is it?"
Jiang Ran’s eyes immediately lit up.
"The Jiaowei Zither!"
Ye Jingshuang said seriously.
Hearing this, Jiang Ran’s expression turned grave.
"What’s that?"
"..."
Ye Jingshuang slapped her forehead. ’What a blunder,’ she thought.
’It had only been a few days, but she’d already forgotten how clueless Jiang Ran could be.’
By now, the two of them had reached the mouth of the cave. Outside, the three men were still fighting.
Looking out, they could see that Ghost Thirteen was gradually losing ground.
Tong Wanli and the little old man, however, were full of energy, seeming to grow more spirited the longer they fought.
Jiang Ran watched the heated battle, a thoughtful look on his face.
Just then, Tong Wanli and the little old man suddenly attacked in unison, striking directly at Ghost Thirteen.
The three of them had been fighting in a chaotic melee, sometimes two teaming up against one, then turning on each other. This pattern had repeated several times.
This time, however, was different. Ghost Thirteen tried to change his palm technique, but before he could even strike, the force of the other two’s attack pressed in on him, making it impossible to even extend his hands.
In an instant, alarm bells screamed in his mind. He felt every inch of his body being enveloped by the two men’s storm of fists and palms.
’This is certain death!!’
The realization flashed through his mind, but at that same moment, a blade of saber energy suddenly materialized in the air above.
The massive blade of energy fell from the sky with a roar, and a crackling saber aura swept out in all directions.
"The Great Transformation Divine Saber!?"
Tong Wanli and the little old man cried out in shock at the same time!
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