Chapter 147 - 107: The List (Part 2)
"And considering their original plan to make you both a son-in-law and her master, it seemed they wanted you to spend more time with them.
"They wanted you to stay with the Tang family so Tang Shiqing could develop feelings for you over time.
"Before things truly soured between you, that was a very real possibility.
"After all, you’re a vigorous young man, and Tang Shiqing is breathtakingly beautiful.
"Spending so much time together, in such close proximity, feelings would inevitably develop.
"Besides, it’s not like they were trying to drain your Yang to supplement their Yin. Otherwise, there would have been no need for such a roundabout scheme.
"So why were they suddenly in such a rush that night?"
At this, she paused and glanced at Jiang Ran.
"And... are you sure that you two really... really..."
She couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence and bit her lip lightly.
"It’s just... you know what I’m trying to say."
"I don’t."
Seeing her blush, Jiang Ran couldn’t resist teasing her. "What are you trying to say?"
Ye Jingshuang’s face burned with embarrassment. ’Jiang Ran is usually so clever,’ she thought. ’How can he suddenly be so dense?’
Raising an eyebrow, she saw the playful look in Jiang Ran’s eyes and realized just how mischievous he was being.
She couldn’t help but pinch his arm.
"You... Brother Jiang, if you’re going to be like this, I’m not going to talk to you anymore."
Jiang Ran gave a helpless smile, feeling that his joke had indeed gone a little too far.
’She’s a young woman, forcing herself to talk about serious matters despite her embarrassment. How could I tease her like that?’
He immediately cleared his throat and said,
"Actually, I don’t know either.
"At the time, it felt like something had happened.
"But thinking back on it now, maybe nothing happened that night at all..."
"If it’s the former, that’s easy to explain."
Ye Jingshuang seemed to relax a bit now.
"She was just after your body.
"But if it’s the latter, then it’s even harder to explain.
"And even if it is the former... Brother Jiang, why do you think she’d be after the body of a man she’d never met?"
"Well..."
Jiang Ran touched his face.
He had to admit, his face was quite handsome.
He had good looks, but it wasn’t as if he were the most handsome man on earth. That would be an exaggeration.
Tang Shiqing’s beauty, however, was truly indescribable.
What kind of man couldn’t a woman like that have?
Why would she go to such great lengths for him?
Finally, he nodded gently.
"So, you think nothing actually happened between us that night?"
"No, I think something definitely happened, just maybe not *that* kind of thing."
Ye Jingshuang said, "But as for the specifics... I’m afraid we won’t know until we find Tang Shiqing, or someone from the Tang family."
Jiang Ran was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"If that’s the case, then let’s find them.
"I’m planning to make a trip to Jinyang Prefecture. Do you want to come with me?"
"Jinyang Prefecture?"
Ye Jingshuang nodded. "Of course. I’ve already said that from now on, wherever you go, I’ll follow and take care of you. Naturally, I’m going with you."
"Mm. But before that, let’s go back to your home first.
"We also need to get your uncle and cousin settled."
Jiang Ran thought this over as he stood up.
"Once I’ve dealt with the heads I brought back from the Valley of Rebirth, we’ll set off."
"Okay."
Ye Jingshuang nodded, but when she looked in the direction of the Ye family home, a hint of sorrow filled her eyes.
Without another word, the two of them headed back the way they came.
Upon entering Benma County and arriving at the inn’s entrance, they saw a flatbed cart parked out front.
It was covered with a cloth, but bloodstains could be seen seeping through. A crowd of commoners stood to the side, pointing at the cart.
They were clearly extremely curious about what was inside.
But no one dared to go near it, because a group of tough-looking thugs were surrounding it, stopping anyone who tried to approach.
Jiang Ran’s expression darkened, and he glanced toward the inn.
Just then, a figure rushed out of the main hall.
"Hero Jiang, you’re back?"
The speaker was Master Ma. He trotted over, his thick beard flying in the wind.
When he reached Jiang Ran, he bowed repeatedly.
At the same time, he couldn’t help but glance at Ye Jingshuang.
So Jiang Ran introduced him to Ye Jingshuang.
"This is Master Ma.
"I hear that in Benma County, you might not know the County Magistrate’s name, but you have to know Master Ma."
Understanding dawned on Ye Jingshuang’s face, and she immediately clasped her fist in a salute.
"Greetings, Master Ma."
Master Ma quickly waved his hands.
"Don’t, don’t, you flatter this humble one too much.
"Just call me Little Ma, or Old Ma is fine too."
Ye Jingshuang gave Jiang Ran a strange look. These local kingpins were usually the hardest to deal with.
Not only did they have some ability of their own, but more importantly, they often had intricate connections with the local community.
She had no idea how Jiang Ran had managed to make this man so obedient.
Master Ma continued,
"Hero Li and the others are back too. They were supposed to stay at my place, but then that sickly fellow... no, I mean, that senior wanted to rest at the inn, so we brought them here.
"Speaking of which, it seems this time the opponent was quite formidable.
"When Hero Li came back, he was a complete mess, covered in mud."
’That was probably because the road was slippery from the rain and he fell while pushing the cart, wasn’t it?’
Jiang Ran smiled. "This time’s opponent was indeed not weak. Don’t worry, this matter has nothing more to do with you."
As he spoke, he took a small porcelain vial from his robes and tossed it to Master Ma.
"The contents inside... you and your brothers should each take one pill.
"Don’t get greedy, or not even I will be able to save you."
Hearing this, Master Ma immediately clutched the vial in his hand as if it were his lifeline.