Chapter 199 - 124: A Monstrous Lie?
He then looked at Li Tianxin.
He found the man to be in an exceptionally good mood today. Though Li Tianxin was still forcing a cold expression, the faintly upturned corners of his mouth betrayed his delight.
"Alright, call me if you need anything. I’m going back to sleep."
Li Tianxin stretched, then left and headed for one of the side rooms.
Zhang Zhihua gave Jiang Ran a slight bow, intending to follow Li Tianxin. But after just two steps, she faltered to a halt. She stood in the courtyard, utterly forlorn, her back conveying a desolate loneliness, like a child abandoned by the world.
Ye Jingshuang and Jiang Ran exchanged a look, both seeing the confusion in the other’s eyes.
Ye Jingshuang whispered,
"This whole thing is strange... And why isn’t she blaming you?
"But what does this have to do with you?"
Jiang Ran fell silent for a moment.
"Once things here are settled, I’ll go ask Li Tianxin."
"I have a strange feeling that kid somehow managed to screw me over."
"Good idea."
Ye Jingshuang nodded.
"In that case, I’ll go ask Zhang Zhihua and see if Li Tianxin told her something..."
"Okay. Thank you for doing that."
Jiang Ran’s brow was furrowed in thought.
He tried to put himself in Li Tianxin’s shoes. ’What could he have possibly said to Zhang Zhihua to leave her so devastated?’
As he pondered the possibilities, Jiang Ran’s expression grew strange, then slowly darkened.
After a moment, he gritted his teeth.
’He... he couldn’t have, right?
’He wouldn’t tell such a monstrous lie just to reject a girl!
’You’d better not have done what I’m thinking, Tianxin. If you did, I swear I won’t let this go!’
Meanwhile, in his room, Li Tianxin sat before a bronze mirror. He reached up, touched his own cheek, and let out a soft sigh.
But before the sigh could fully escape, it turned into a massive sneeze.
It was so forceful it made his head ring.
He glanced around, bewildered, before shaking his head. Flopping onto the bed, he buried his face in a pillow and kicked his legs furiously, finally venting some of his pent-up emotion.
...
...
As the sunset dyed half the sky in crimson, Zhiqiu Hall was once again filled with distinguished guests.
This time, Jiang Ran didn’t stand on ceremony and took the host’s seat directly.
Ye Jingshuang sat beside him.
Li Tianxin, Zhang Zhihua, and Luo Qingyi were not present in the hall.
The only ones seated before him were Huang Xuan of the Liuyun Sword Sect, Ling Buyi of the Yun Mountain Sword Sect, Gu Huai’kong of the Cyan Pine Sword Sect, Su Wanyi of the Danyang Sword Sect, and Ruan Yuqing of the Shuiyue Sword Sect.
Also present was the chief of the Celestial Yang Escort Agency, Cheng Tianyang.
As they all sat in attendance, their gazes kept drifting unintentionally between Jiang Ran and Ruan Yuqing.
Ultimately, however, their eyes lingered most on Ruan Yuqing’s face.
But they would snatch their gazes away instantly. Some stared up at the crossbeams, as if expecting to find a cat burglar hiding there.
Others looked down at their feet, as if their shoes had developed a massive hole that they couldn’t possibly see the bottom of.
Others tilted their heads, staring intently at the tea on the table.
It was as if each person had found something fascinating to look at, yet all of them were struggling to suppress the smiles tugging at their lips.
Su Wanyi, for her part, shot Jiang Ran a peculiar glance.
Her eyes inevitably landed on Ruan Yuqing’s nose.
It was red and swollen, lending a comical air to her otherwise elegant and pretty face.
Combined with the indignant fury simmering in her cold eyes, the comical effect skyrocketed.
Ruan Yuqing took in the entire scene, then slammed her hand on the table and glared at Jiang Ran.
"You summoned us here. What is so important?"
Jiang Ran smiled.
"Would you all be interested in capturing Shi Pingzhang?"
At these words, everyone, regardless of what they had been staring at, couldn’t help but turn to look at Jiang Ran.
Huang Xuan was the first to speak.
"Brother Jiang, do you know his whereabouts?"
Jiang Ran shook his head.
"Then why would you say that?"
Ruan Yuqing’s brow furrowed slightly.
Jiang Ran chuckled.
"I may not know where he is, but I know where he’s going..."
The group exchanged uncertain glances, and Huang Xuan rose to his feet.
"Where is he going? Brother Jiang, stop keeping us in suspense!"
Jiang Ran nodded slightly.
"His Mujin Zither is broken, yet he hasn’t had it repaired.
"He will undoubtedly use this opportunity to find himself a new one.
"And from what I know, there is just such a fine zither near Red Maple Manor..."
Ye Jingshuang’s expression darkened.
"Brother Jiang, are you talking about the Jiaowei?"
"Precisely."
Jiang Ran gave a slight nod.
"The Jiaowei Zither?"
"Why would the Jiaowei Zither be near Red Maple Manor?"
"How would he know where the Jiaowei Zither is hidden?"
A flurry of questions erupted from the group.
Ye Jingshuang sighed and proceeded to explain the history between the Jiaowei Zither and the Ye family.
Only then did the others understand the true reason for the Ye family’s destruction, and they all felt a wave of disquiet.
Gu Huai’kong’s expression shifted slightly.
"The Jiaowei Zither is one of the Twelve Celestial Artificers. It possesses unfathomable power. If he truly gets his hands on it..."
"Even if he gets it, it’s nothing to be afraid of."
Ling Buyi sneered.
"Ever since the Jiaowei came into existence, countless people have died because of it.
"Even if he obtains the zither, would he dare use it?"
"We can’t take that chance."
Ruan Yuqing glanced at Jiang Ran.
"Since you claim to know where he’s going, you must know the location of the Jiaowei Zither.
"We must act first and secure the zither before he can get it and bring ruin upon the world!"
"But doing so will inevitably draw Shi Pingzhang out...
"We don’t know if he can use the Jiaowei, but I’m afraid no one among us can wield it."
Jiang Ran said,
"Once he appears, are you all prepared to fight him to the death?"
"I’ve been prepared for that since the moment I left my mountain."
Ruan Yuqing said gravely,
"A monster like him is a blight that anyone has a right to exterminate. I would not hesitate to risk my life to do so!"
"Precisely!"
Ling Buyi stood up.
"We who practice the martial arts strive to uphold justice. How can we fear his power and simply let him do as he pleases?"
"Most of what you say is hot air, but I couldn’t agree more with that sentiment."
Huang Xuan glanced at Jiang Ran. "Rest assured, Brother Jiang. There are no cowards among us."
"Good."
Jiang Ran nodded.
"In that case... please, listen to my plan."