Chapter 177 - 117: In Front of the Gate (2)
Huang Xuan cupped his fist toward Jiang Ran:
"Brother Jiang, you’re truly formidable. It would have been pointless to kill that bunch, but leaving them be would have also been a hassle.
"Using a small trick to send them away was the perfect solution."
"Hmph. Liar."
Li Tianxin sneered, somewhat disappointed.
Zhang Zhihua, however, heaved a huge sigh of relief.
’Just now, when Li Tianxin wanted to ask Jiang Ran for the Sun-facing Pill, she was absolutely planning to take it herself!’
"Alright."
Jiang Ran clapped his hands:
"It’s time for us to head to Red Maple Manor.
"We can’t keep them waiting for too long..."
As he spoke, he was the first to stand, extending a hand to Ye Jingshuang.
Ye Jingshuang took his hand, letting him help her up.
"That’s right. As the host, I should at least meet my guests."
"Junior Sister Ye, don’t you worry. No matter how serious things get, the Sect will have your back."
Huang Xuan clapped his hands.
"Prepare to set out."
Without another word, the group quickly gathered their things and set off for Red Maple Mountain.
Their party was even larger now.
The members of the Liuyun Sword Sect weren’t riding horses either. They always used their Lightweight Technique to travel.
Seeing this, Jiang Ran’s group decided to abandon their horses as well.
They traveled alongside them on foot.
Fortunately, they were not far from Red Maple Manor, as they were already at the foot of Red Maple Mountain.
Ye Jingshuang, familiar with the route, led the way. Before long, they could faintly glimpse a corner of Red Maple Manor through the gaps in the treetops.
By now, Ye Jingshuang’s breathing had grown a little ragged.
Jiang Ran sensed her turmoil and gently patted her shoulder.
Just then, a whistling sound suddenly echoed from the woods. Two hidden weapons shot through the air, striking the mountain path right in front of the group.
Immediately after, several figures leaped out, blocking the road.
"This road is closed!"
One of them said coldly, "You’d best hurry back down the mountain and go home."
Another was much harsher. "Qianliu Manor is conducting business here! All you meddlers, why haven’t you scrammed yet?"
Ye Jingshuang nearly laughed in anger. She was about to step forward and ask why a bunch of strangers were blocking her from returning to her own home when she heard laughter coming from another direction.
"Qianliu Manor? And what are they supposed to be?"
The man from Qianliu Manor flew into a rage.
"Insolence!
"Who dares to spout such nonsense?"
He had barely finished speaking when a BUZZ rang out.
A streak of light suddenly flew from the woods, its cold, sharp radiance seeming to pierce through the very daylight.
Before the man from Qianliu Manor could even react, a trickle of blood began to flow down his cheek.
In that instant, the terror in his heart was beyond words.
How many people can remain calm when they are a hair’s breadth from death?
At the same time, a series of whooshing sounds rang out.
By the time the man from Qianliu Manor looked up, three or four longswords were already pressed against his neck.
He was completely surrounded by a large group of people.
He froze completely. His limbs trembled and his face went pale as he stared at the group, realizing they were all wearing identical clothing.
They all wore cyan robes, with a vigorous, ancient pine embroidered on the cuffs!
"The Cyan Pine Sword Sect!?"
The man was surprisingly knowledgeable, recognizing the group’s origins from their clothes alone.
However, his words thoroughly annoyed Huang Xuan.
’He recognized the Cyan Pine Sword Sect, but not our Liuyun Sword Sect?’
’Who does he think he’s looking down on?’
’This Qianliu Manor is truly ridiculous!’
Just then, a cold voice spoke:
"Shouldn’t Red Maple Mountain, and Red Maple Manor, belong to the Ye family?
"Since when was it Qianliu Manor’s place to throw its weight around here?"
The speaker was a middle-aged man of about forty.
He had a fair, clean-shaven face and wore a feathered crown. His long cyan robe was immaculate, without a single wrinkle.
Upon seeing this man, Huang Xuan’s brow furrowed slightly as he lightly cupped his fist.
"Greetings, Junior Martial Uncle Gu."
"Hm?"
Junior Martial Uncle Gu glanced at him.
"Huang Xuan?
"Ah, yes. The eldest young lady of Red Maple’s Ye family, Ye Jingshuang, is a disciple of your Liuyun Sword Sect. It’s only logical that you would be here."
When the man from Qianliu Manor heard the three words "Liuyun Sword Sect," his vision went dark.
Now that he looked closely, how could he possibly fail to recognize them?
’Have I seen a ghost?’
’First the Cyan Pine Sword Sect, and now the Liuyun Sword Sect.’
’Don’t tell me the other members of the Five Great Sword Sects are all coming too?’
’Is the Five-Sect Sword Alliance meeting at Red Maple Manor this time?’
But this was no time to be pondering such things.
He was at their mercy and had to think of a way to save himself. He immediately spoke up:
"Exalted masters, this is all a misunderstanding.
"We are by no means here to act aggressively.
"My Qianliu Manor has always followed Red Maple Manor’s lead.
"We never expected that Red Maple Manor would suddenly meet with disaster. The entire century-old Ye family... massacred. Our Manor Lord was heartbroken when he heard the news, wishing it had been him instead.
"But then he realized he had to stay alive to be of use, for the Ye family’s great grudge has not yet been avenged.
"That is why he sent men to the Ye estate—to tidy up and give Manor Lord Ye a proper burial.
"We are blocking the road now because we don’t want passersby to rush in blindly and disturb Manor Lord Ye’s eternal rest.
"I implore you all to understand!"
When he finished, Ye Jingshuang could no longer hold back and spoke:
"Where are my parents’ bodies?"
"Parents?"
Hearing this, the man froze for a moment before his face paled.
"You... you’re..."
He stared at Ye Jingshuang, and after a long moment, his pupils suddenly constricted.
"Eldest Young Lady Ye? You’re not dead!?"
"I asked you, where are my parents’ bodies?"
Ye Jingshuang’s expression was grim.