Chapter 170 - 15: The 5 Major Sword Sects
Of course, it was a good thing that the night had passed peacefully.
But whenever he recalled Old Wang’s breathing rhythm, he couldn’t help but feel a little astonished.
He most likely possessed Inner Energy, but it seemed he didn’t know how to use it.
This reminded Jiang Ran of his former self.
’But... how likely is it that his situation is a repeat of mine?’
The only other possibility was that Old Wang was deliberately hiding his skills.
If that was truly the case, then there was no need to expose him.
If a master went into hiding under a false name, concealing himself in an inn as a mere waiter,
then there had to be some compelling reason.
Exposing him might turn him into an enemy.
There was no reason to create unnecessary trouble.
Jiang Ran temporarily pushed the matter of the inn to the back of his mind.
He then realized his party seemed to be getting larger and larger.
Originally, it was just him and Ye Jingshuang, with Li Tianxin at most.
But then, Zhang Zhihua had caught up to them on her own, and they had run into Luo Qingyi on the road.
Finally, they had even captured Mo Tingzhi.
A party of two had instantly become a party of six.
’There were men and women, and even a prisoner... How did the composition of our group get so complicated all of a sudden?’
Looking up, he saw Zhang Zhihua riding close to Ye Jingshuang, speaking with her in a low voice.
Luo Qingyi was also on horseback, with Mo Tingzhi laid out horizontally in front of her, her eyes scanning the surroundings as they traveled.
Li Tianxin, on the other hand, seemed to care for no one, maintaining a cold and aloof appearance. Even his horse looked like it was turning its nose up at the world.
But Jiang Ran soon discovered that Li Tianxin seemed quite placid when looking at everyone else.
He was polite when he occasionally spoke to Ye Jingshuang, and he could even treat Zhang Zhihua calmly.
It was only when facing Jiang Ran that he was full of scorn and disapproval.
Jiang Ran had originally thought Zhang Zhihua was the one who had provoked him. Now, for some inexplicable reason, it seemed he himself was the one who had offended him.
But last night, he and Ye Jingshuang had been sleeping soundly in the room.
How could that have possibly provoked him?
"He’s definitely got some serious issues."
Jiang Ran offered what he felt was a rather fair assessment.
The muddy road after the rain was difficult to travel on; the horses’ hooves occasionally slipped, splaying their legs.
Naturally, the group had no choice but to slow their pace.
Jiang Ran’s ears twitched. He shook his head slightly and turned to ask Ye Jingshuang:
"Shuang’Er, what powers are there near Red Maple Manor?"
Ye Jingshuang glanced back thoughtfully and shook her head.
"Qianliu Manor is one. There are also a few smaller sects and families."
"But none of them compare to Qianliu Manor. They’ll likely just be there to cheer from the sidelines."
"Aside from them, there’s also one of the Five Great Sword Sects... the Yun Mountain Sword Sect!"
"The Five Great Sword Sects."
Jiang Ran smiled.
"I keep hearing you all talk about these Five Great Sword Sects. So far, I know of your Liuyun Sword Sect, the Danyang Sword Sect, and now you’ve added the Yun Mountain Sword Sect."
"But I don’t know the names of the other two."
"The remaining two are the Cyan Pine Sword Sect and the Shuiyue Sword Sect."
"However, both the Cyan Pine Sword Sect and the Shuiyue Sword Sect are far from here. They won’t be able to make it in time."
"The Liuyun Sword Sect is on Liuyun Mountain, hundreds of li away, so we couldn’t reach them in just a few days either."
As she said this, Ye Jingshuang let out a soft sigh.
"Actually, back then, my father wanted me to join the Yun Mountain Sword Sect."
"With that connection, we could have looked out for and helped each other."
"Unfortunately, Sect Leader Gu Yun had other arrangements, so the matter had to be dropped."
"I see."
Jiang Ran nodded. "In that case, it seems they personally rejected a piece of uncarved jade like you."
"Brother Jiang, you’re joking again."
Ye Jingshuang shot Jiang Ran a look.
"What kind of uncarved jade am I?"
"Don’t sell yourself short."
Jiang Ran said, "I’m well aware of your martial skill. Both your Swordsmanship and Inner Strength are quite accomplished. To have achieved such a level at your age is something to be proud of."
This wasn’t just empty flattery.
When he had first traveled with Ye Jingshuang, her martial arts had seemed unremarkable.
But at the time, she had been severely injured.
The battle at the Valley of Rebirth was the first time she had truly displayed her real strength.
She was able to fight on par with Tong Wanli.
That level of skill was surely above that of Li Tianxin and Luo Qingyi.
Ye Jingshuang glanced at Jiang Ran in silence.
"Brother Jiang... you sound like an old man when you talk like that."
"Aren’t you about the same age as me?"
"Well..."
Jiang Ran was momentarily speechless. He couldn’t very well tell her he was a "cheater" who couldn’t be judged by normal standards, could he?
Anyone who compared themselves to him was just asking for frustration.
Jiang Ran had never felt that he was stronger than these young prodigies of the martial world.
After all, if they were all placed on the same starting line, he wasn’t necessarily better than them in any real way.
But that was a difficult thing to explain.
Ye Jingshuang didn’t dwell on it and continued,
"The Yun Mountain Sword Sect has a long history and a profound heritage."
"Within the mountain, there are four peaks: Gu Yun Peak, Hanhai Peak, Grand Thousand Peak, and Hundred Wood Peak."
"The four peaks stand side by side, each leading a branch with its own unique heritage."
"Gu Yun Peak is the main peak. Every Sect Leader of the Yun Mountain Sword Sect comes from this peak, and upon succession, they are known as Master Gu Yun."
"The Swordsmanship of these four peaks each has its own merits."
"Even for the Five-Sect Sword Meet, they only send representatives from one of the peaks..."
Here, she paused, then spoke again, anticipating his next question.
"As for the Five-Sect Sword Meet, it is held once every five years."
"It seems it originally started because disciples from the five sects happened to meet in the martial world. As swordsmen, none would submit to the others, so they sat down to discuss the sword."
"As a result, their respective Swordsmanship greatly improved."