Chapter 206 - 127: Wielding the Sword
The voice was ethereal, seeming to come from a great distance, yet also as if it were right beside them.
Jiang Ran lifted his head and looked toward the end of the street.
The crowd immediately followed his gaze. A sedan chair, swaying gently, gradually came into view.
The sedan chair was not particularly ornate, but it was exquisitely crafted.
Four seemingly unremarkable men carried the chair, each with a blank expression on his face.
But when one’s gaze fell to their feet, it was clear that none of the four were touching the ground. They hovered two or three inches in the air, treading on empty space as they advanced.
Upon seeing this, the faces of the members from the Five Great Sword Sects changed drastically.
They found the sight utterly horrifying.
’What kind of person in this world could master a Lightweight Technique to such a degree?’
’And for four of them to appear at once?’
’Why would experts like these be reduced to carrying a sedan chair?’
’Furthermore, for such experts to be carrying their sedan chair, what kind of status must the person inside have? How unfathomably powerful must they be?’
As these thoughts raced through their minds, Jiang Ran raised a slight eyebrow.
"Is this meeting a coincidence, or... have you been following us all the way from Cangzhou Prefecture?"
"Young Hero Jiang, you misunderstand."
The voice from the sedan chair was gentle, so gentle it sounded as if the speaker had no temper at all.
"My journey here was also prompted by the events at Red Maple Manor.
"I was simply a step too late... and didn’t have the chance to meet you, Young Hero Jiang.
"Later, when I wished to see you, I learned that Shi Pingzhang was also here.
"I figured he would be no match for you, so I went to retrieve something.
"After that, I rushed over as fast as I could and finally made it."
Jiang Ran frowned slightly. He felt the person’s explanation was all over the place. ’What does you going to retrieve something have to do with me?’
He did not take the bait and ask what had been retrieved.
"Why did you tell me to stop just now?
"What is your connection to this man?"
"I have heard his name in the past and learned a bit about him, but this is the first time I’ve seen him in the flesh."
The person in the sedan chair said with a laugh:
"However, this man is of great use to me.
"I did not wish for Young Master Jiang to take his head because I would like to ask you, Young Hero Jiang, to hand him over to me."
"Absurd."
Jiang Ran shook his head.
"This man is harder to catch than a pig for the New Year’s feast. Now that I’ve finally got him, why should I just hand him over to you?"
At these words, Shi Pingzhang and Ruan Yuqing both glared daggers at Jiang Ran.
Those who witnessed this were a little confused.
It was only natural for Shi Pingzhang to glare at Jiang Ran for insulting him by calling him a pig.
But why was Ruan Yuqing looking at him with the same animosity as Shi Pingzhang?
The person in the sedan chair was speechless for a moment. After a while, they finally spoke, a hint of laughter in their voice:
"Young Hero Jiang, you truly are interesting...
"But didn’t you capture this man to hand him over to the Government Office?
"To be honest, if you turn him over to the Government Office, you’ll only get a reward of thirty thousand taels of silver with that Assassin’s Order in your hand.
"But if you hand him over to me, I can give you fifty thousand taels."
"You think I’m short on cash?"
Jiang Ran’s expression was strange.
"Ah?"
The person in the sedan chair was taken aback.
"You’re not?"
"I’m not!"
Jiang Ran said, his tone decisive.
"Oh..."
The person in the sedan chair chuckled, their tone growing even gentler.
"So Young Hero Jiang captures criminals out of a pure sense of public duty. How admirable."
Jiang Ran frowned slightly, unable to tell if the person’s words were genuine or meant as sarcasm.
Then, the sedan chair’s curtain stirred slightly, and the person inside spoke:
"Young Hero Jiang, catch."
As soon as the words fell, there was a low BUZZ. Something shot toward Jiang Ran like a bolt of lightning.
"Look out!"
everyone shouted.
Jiang Ran spun the Goldshatter Saber in his hand. With a sharp CLAP, the object stuck fast to the saber’s scabbard.
With a flick of his wrist, Jiang Ran twirled the Goldshatter Saber in a circle, dissipating the force carried by the object.
He held the saber horizontally before him and looked down. Resting on the scabbard was, surprisingly, a token.
One side was facing up, and on it were inscribed the two words "Sword Holding."
He couldn’t help but be startled.
"You’re from the Sword Holding Department?"
"Precisely."
The person in the sedan chair chuckled.
"So, Young Hero Jiang, whether you hand this man over to me or to the Government Office, it’s all the same.
"Handing him to me is simply faster.
"It saves you from dragging this out and being burdened. What do you think, Young Hero Jiang?"
Jiang Ran’s brow furrowed, and he suddenly flicked his wrist.
The token marked with the words "Sword Holding" instantly cut through the air, shooting straight for the sedan chair.
The two chair bearers in front suddenly looked up and each threw out a palm strike.
An invisible force surged forth. With a low HUM, it seemed to form a wall of Gang Qi.
The token Jiang Ran had thrown was instantly stopped in mid-air. It trembled nonstop, buzzing furiously.
The two bearers exchanged a glance, a look of astonishment finally appearing on their previously emotionless faces.
They felt an endless force emanating from the token.
It was as if they hadn’t stopped an inanimate object, but rather an expert who could channel their Inner Strength and attack continuously.
"The Scripture of Creation and Righteous Heart, which seizes the fortune of heaven and earth, is truly extraordinary."
The person in the sedan chair let out a soft laugh.
"You two, stand down."
The two bearers hesitated for a moment, then lowered their palms.
The invisible wall of qi vanished, and the token shot into the sedan chair with a SWOOSH.
But it was like a clay ox sinking into the sea—it vanished without a ripple.
Then, the person in the sedan chair was heard laughing:
"Young Hero Jiang, do you have any further doubts?"
Jiang Ran glanced back at the members of the Five Great Sword Sects and smiled.
"If you are truly from the Sword Holding Department, then naturally, I have nothing more to say."