Chapter 135 - 103: Slaying Yang
But if that was the case, how had he been injured?
Jiang Ran watched for a moment, a thoughtful look on his face.
’Can he not move while using the Great Brahman Vajra Skill?’
Jiang Ran hadn’t seen the initial exchange, but from the current situation, it was clear that the sturdy man hadn’t moved a single step since the fight began.
The phantom Buddha Vajra surrounding him was motionless, and so was he.
This was a far cry from the fierce punch he had thrown when dealing with Lady Jin San and Lady Wu earlier...
Dugu Yu and Lady Moon Conceal, meanwhile, were circling the sturdy man, trying to wear down his Great Brahman Vajra Skill with their cultivated yin and yang energy.
A thoughtful look crossed Jiang Ran’s face as he gave a light wave of his hand.
"Kill him."
Upon hearing this, Ye Jingshuang and Li Tianxin no longer hesitated. They shot into the air, heading straight for the waxy-faced man.
Shi Miao and Gui Shisan stopped talking and brought their own skills to bear.
The waxy-faced man’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes burned with fury.
First, Jiang Ran’s attitude—not even sparing him a glance—was truly infuriating.
Second, they had clearly come with superior numbers, so how had they ended up being the ones surrounded?
He immediately prepared to receive the attack while shouting loudly,
"Something’s wrong! We’ve all been tricked!"
This wasn’t just for the sturdy man’s ears; it was also meant for Dugu Yu and Lady Moon Conceal.
After all, those two old masters were the most skilled martial artists present.
If their goals didn’t conflict, they were the ones who could resolve the current crisis.
And his words did indeed cause Dugu Yu and Yin Yue’s assault to slow.
They turned to look at Jiang Ran, who was walking toward them.
They saw he was dressed in gaudy, colorful clothes, just like Dao Wuming had been that day.
But this man had a wine gourd hanging from his waist and one hand resting on the hilt of his saber. He approached slowly, a smile playing on his lips.
"Please, don’t stop on my account. The fight is just getting exciting. Just pretend I’m a passerby."
Dugu Yu pulled Yin Yue back in a flash, creating some distance.
They exchanged a look, and Dugu Yu said to Yin Yue,
"This kid... there’s something strange about him... he seems familiar?"
"I feel it too."
Yin Yue frowned slightly.
"Have we seen him somewhere before?"
"Impossible."
Dugu Yu shook his head.
"You and I were in seclusion for many years. Since we’ve reemerged, when would we have ever seen a young man like this?"
"We couldn’t possibly have met him twenty years ago, could we?"
"Not everyone in the martial world cultivates an art that makes them ageless."
"Why waste time thinking about it? We’ll know if we just ask."
Yin Yue immediately spoke up.
"Kid, what’s your name, and whose disciple are you? State your identity, lest you get yourself killed by mistake."
"My name is Jiang Ran."
Jiang Ran smiled.
"I’m an Assassin."
"Greetings, Seniors. This junior has a bold question for you both."
"Tell me... have either of you ever had a bounty on your heads?"
Dugu Yu froze for a second, then burst out laughing.
"He actually wants to trade our heads for bounty money?"
"He’s simply courting death."
Yin Yue also shook her head repeatedly.
When the sturdy man heard Jiang Ran speak, his gaze shifted over as well.
"An Assassin?"
"Qing Country doesn’t have such things, but I’ve run into plenty since coming to the Golden Cicada Dynasty."
"But I’ve sent every one of them to meet my Buddha. I imagine they’re all living peacefully in the Western Paradise now."
"Come on, then. I have a bounty on my head. Let’s see what you’ve got."
Jiang Ran paused, then grinned.
"May I ask your name? And how much is the bounty?"
"I am the ’Immovable Vajra,’ Baojing! Your Golden Cicada Dynasty has placed a bounty of five thousand silver taels on my head!"
"If you have the skill, come and take it."
Baojing’s voice boomed, making it clear he didn’t see Jiang Ran as a threat at all.
"I see."
Jiang Ran nodded. Seeing a screen actually pop up before his eyes, he smiled and accepted the mission.
The next moment, he took a step, his body dissolving into a series of afterimages. In a single stride, he was in front of Baojing.
Baojing’s expression changed slightly.
"The Celestial Nine Steps. Did Ye Jingshuang teach you that?"
Before he could finish his sentence, the saber in Jiang Ran’s hand was already unsheathed.
The blade angled down in a light slash.
There was no brilliant flash to this strike, not a single shimmer of light.
It looked like a simple, ordinary swing of the blade.
And yet, this unremarkable slash made Dugu Yu and Yin Yue’s faces change drastically.
Although Baojing was facing Jiang Ran, he was also keeping a close eye on Dugu Yu and Yin Yue; after all, they were the great enemies in his mind.
Seeing their reaction, he felt a bit strange, but he paid Jiang Ran’s strike no mind. He secretly activated his Great Brahman Vajra Skill and sneered inwardly.
’A petty trick. To think it could scare that old hag and old thief like this...’
The next instant, a sound like tearing silk echoed.
The phantom Buddha Vajra that enveloped him shattered the very moment the blade descended.
It was as if Jiang Ran hadn’t struck his divine protective skill, but a piece of paper or a swatch of cloth—it was effortless, without the slightest strain.
"This..."
Baojing was horrified. Ever since he had mastered the Great Brahman Vajra Skill...
He had met powerful opponents before.
And it wasn’t as if no one could break his Great Brahman Vajra Skill; years ago, the master of the Heartless Ghost Mansion had torn the technique to shreds.
But... but he had never in his life seen anyone do it as easily as Jiang Ran.
In that moment of shock, the blade was already slashing toward his neck.
No longer able to just stand there and take the hit, he retreated abruptly.