Chapter 102 - 92: The Act, Part 2
A low, hoarse growl escaped his throat. He pinned Ye Jingshuang’s hands above her head, then buried his face in her neck, nuzzling blindly.
"Pfft..."
Ye Jingshuang couldn’t hold it in and let out a chuckle before quickly whispering:
"That tickles..."
Jiang Ran felt like he was losing the thread of his own emotions.
’That old man sure has patience,’ he cursed silently. ’Even with things at this stage, he still hasn’t come in. Just how long do I have to keep up this act?’
The thought had barely formed when he heard Tong Wanli shout from outside:
"What’s going on? Jingshuang, is that you in there?"
Jiang Ran clicked his tongue in wonder. The man’s voice, attitude, and tone—it was all a masterful performance.
’Now that’s a veteran actor...’
Jiang Ran thought with admiration, while Ye Jingshuang quickly cried out:
"Uncle Tong... Help!!!"
Her cry was bloodcurdling. Tong Wanli hesitated no longer, kicking the door open with a single, flying kick.
The moment he saw the scene on the bed, his eyes flew wide with fury.
"Jiang Ran... you, what are you doing!!"
As he spoke, he rushed forward, grabbing Jiang Ran’s shoulder to haul him back.
Jiang Ran never forgot the role he was playing. He had been drugged and had been drinking, but he hadn’t lost his martial arts.
He instantly circulated the Fortune and Upright Heart Sutra. With a shake of his shoulder, his Inner Strength surged like boiling water, flicking Tong Wanli’s hand away. He spun around and thrust out a palm.
"Get lost!!"
Caught off guard, Tong Wanli staggered back two steps. Seeing Jiang Ran’s palm strike coming at him, he flew into a rage.
"Bastard!!"
He unleashed his Myriad Transformations Sky Net Palm, striking down at Jiang Ran’s own palm.
A loud BANG echoed.
The force of their palms erupted in all directions. The teapot and cups on the table were the first to shatter, and a fierce wind whipped through the bed curtains and window drapes, making them rustle loudly.
Tong Wanli, however, was thrown backward, stumbling several more steps.
He didn’t regain his footing until he slammed into the doorframe.
He looked down at his own palm, his face a mask of disbelief.
Of course, he hadn’t used his full strength in that last exchange. But Jiang Ran’s casual strike had not only been without full power, it had lacked any semblance of a formal technique.
’How could someone so young possess such profound Inner Strength?’
At this thought, he knew he couldn’t afford to be careless.
He had drugged Jiang Ran to make him leave this place.
Ye Jingshuang was his intended daughter-in-law. How could he let some upstart of unknown origin like Jiang Ran swoop in and steal her away?
But he was an old hand in the martial world; he knew it wouldn’t be easy to get rid of Jiang Ran through ordinary means.
Besides, if he showed any hostility, Jiang Ran would surely be on his guard.
That was why, from the very beginning, he had constantly tried to get closer to Jiang Ran.
The final plan was to use a round of drinks to ’expose’ Jiang Ran’s ’true colors’—a scheme he had perfected over the years, one he could execute with masterful ease.
But he hadn’t expected this awkward twist at the crucial moment: it seemed he couldn’t actually beat him...
If he really couldn’t win, and had to stand by and watch Jiang Ran and Ye Jingshuang’s situation become irreversible, he’d feel like ramming his head into a wall right here in this inn.
As things stood, there was only one thing to do. With a flick of his wrist, a pinch of powder appeared in his palm—it was the antidote to the drug he had used.
He just had to bring Jiang Ran back to his senses. Once Jiang Ran realized the terrible mistake he had made, he would surely leave on his own accord.
With this in mind, he lunged forward, not trying to pull Jiang Ran away, but only to make him inhale the powder.
To be discreet, he even channeled his energy into his sleeves, stirring up dust to conceal the powder mixed within it.
Jiang Ran caught a glimpse of this from the corner of his eye and felt a wave of disgust.
’How long has it been since this guy washed his clothes?’
Still, he turned to meet the attack, countering with two palms of his own that met Tong Wanli’s.
Tong Wanli let out a muffled grunt and stumbled back several steps, only stopping when he crashed into the wall. A trickle of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.
At the same time, Ye Jingshuang quickly pulled the blanket over herself.
Meanwhile, Jiang Ran shook his head repeatedly, and a hint of clarity seemed to return to his eyes.
He looked at Tong Wanli leaning against the wall, then at Ye Jingshuang huddled on the bed, her face a mixture of terror and resentment.
He sighed internally. ’This girl’s acting has really improved.’
He then asked through gritted teeth:
"Senior Tong... you, what’s going on here?"
"What’s going on?"
Tong Wanli glared at Jiang Ran, his eyes wide with rage.
"My niece Jingshuang thought you were a benefactor she could trust! I never imagined you would take advantage of being drunk to do something so beastly to her!
"You... are you even human?"
"What?"
Jiang Ran turned to look at Ye Jingshuang.
Their eyes met. Ye Jingshuang quickly averted her gaze and clutched the blanket tighter.
Jiang Ran sighed to himself. ’Her performance is still a bit subpar. You’re supposed to be a martial world heroine... At a time like this, even if you’re scared, you should be more resentful. You need to show some of that fighting spirit. Drawing your sword to kill at the slightest disagreement, now that would be more like it. You’re not some ordinary girl from a common family... What’s with the cowering?’
Despite his internal critique, not a hint of it showed on Jiang Ran’s face, only utter disbelief.
"I... I... after I was drunk... could it really be true?"
"Could it possibly be fake?"
Tong Wanli glared at Jiang Ran.
"Your martial arts are superior; we are no match for you. But if you think you can humiliate my niece, then even if it costs me my life, I, this old man, will fight you to the death!"
"This... This junior wouldn’t dare."
Jiang Ran said hurriedly.
"It was me... I let the wine get the better of me. Miss Ye, I... I have wronged you."
"It’s—"
Ye Jingshuang almost blurted out the two words, "It’s okay." Realizing her mistake just as the words were on the tip of her tongue, she forced them into a new sentence: