Chapter 289 154: The 9th Layer (Part 3)

Strictly speaking, it was as if the concept of infinite control was acting upon his Dantian.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, a knock came from the door.

"It's almost noon. Are we leaving today or not?"

Tang Huayi's voice came from outside the door.

"Is it almost noon already?"

Jiang Ran glanced at the sky outside. "We'll leave after lunch."

"Fine. By the way, what are you doing in your room all by yourself?"

Tang Huayi agreed, but she didn't leave. "You're not up to something shady, are you?"

"Do you want to do this shady thing with me, then?"

Jiang Ran glanced toward the door with a half-smile.

Tang Huayi was taken aback for a moment, then sighed.

"You're getting more and more shameless. You weren't like this when we first met."

"That's why you all bullied me back then."

"...We did not bully you."

Tang Huayi pouted, deciding not to continue her verbal spar with Jiang Ran. She turned and stomped down the stairs, found the inn's waiter, and ordered a table full of fine food and wine.

When Jiang Ran came downstairs, he noticed a few new faces in the inn.

People were always coming and going in the inn, so a few unfamiliar faces were perfectly normal.

The problem was, these were all Jianghu People.

They carried weapons and had murderous looks on their faces. The moment Jiang Ran appeared, they stared at the Jiaowei on his back like hungry wolves eyeing a little white rabbit, their gazes fixed.

Jiang Ran smiled in amusement, paying them no mind whatsoever.

The group didn't make a move immediately. Instead, they each lowered their heads to eat and drink, 'disguising' themselves as if nothing was amiss.

Jiang Ran sat down and glanced at Tang Huayi.

Tang Huayi pouted, picked up a large pork knuckle, and took a vicious bite.

Ruan Yuqing said softly:

"Something's not right. We need to be careful."

Luo Qingyi's brow was tightly furrowed as she scanned their surroundings with a cold, sharp expression.

Jiang Ran smiled.

"Relax. Let's eat first. We need to get back on the road after we're done."

Hearing this, Luo Qingyi's expression finally softened. She nodded, picked up her bowl, and began to wolf down her food.

By the time they finished their meal, nothing had happened, though a few more people had entered the inn.

Jiang Ran had also carefully sized up the group and found that not a single one was a wanted criminal.

He figured they were just a bunch of nobodies who had heard the news and wanted to snatch the Jiaowei.

Audacious and reckless, with no regard for their own lives.

He sighed and signaled for everyone to set off again.

However, he didn't let his guard down. After all, just because they were nobodies didn't mean their martial arts skills were weak.

In the Jianghu, there were always people with hidden talents, just waiting for a chance to make a name for themselves.

If he wasn't careful and ran into one, it would be a classic case of a mighty ship capsizing in a gutter.

They left the town and continued west. After about two hours, the path grew more and more remote.

Jiang Ran was the first to stop, speaking softly:

"Everyone, you can come out now. You've been following us all the way from the county seat... Aren't you tired?"

Ruan Yuqing, Luo Qingyi, and Tang Huayi each turned to look around.

The old scholar, however, slipped away as quick as could be. With a SWISH, he leaped into a tree, holding a pen and paper, ready to take notes.

Just then, a group of people burst out from the shadows. One of them shouted:

"Enough talk! We know who you are. Hand over the Jiaowei, and we'll spare your life!!"

"You've got a lot of nerve."

Jiang Ran smiled and patted the Jiaowei on his back.

"The Jiaowei is right here. If you're bold enough and not afraid to die, come and get it!"

"There are only four of them. Two of us for each one. Let's make this quick."

"There's an old man, too."

"He already ran off. Don't worry about him."

Once their plan was settled, the group roared, "Kill!" and charged forward.

Jiang Ran shook his head gently. With a single thought, Cold Moon Nails materialized silently in the air.

Just as he was about to unleash them... a figure descended from the sky.

A thunderous punch slammed into the ground, its power staggering. The earth let out a muffled BOOM as Gang Qi spread out in a fan shape. The blast of Qi Strength sent all those who had charged forward to seize the Jiaowei flying backward.

"Who is that?"

The men cried out in alarm and looked up to see a figure rising to his full height.

He didn't spare them a glance, instead turning to Jiang Ran's group, bowing, and clasping his fist.

"Have seen."

An ordinary person would have had a hard time understanding what the man said.

But Jiang Ran understood and smiled at once.

"Hero Man, we meet again."

"Mm."

Man Shengming nodded, looked at the Jiaowei, then at the group of men scrambling to their feet. In a rather simple and honest tone, he said:

"Unworthy."

"Unworthy of what?"

Tang Huayi couldn't help but ask, her curiosity piqued.

"Are you saying they're unworthy of the Jiaowei? Or that they're unworthy of fighting this big swindler?"

The latter, of course, referred to Jiang Ran.

Jiang Ran's brow twitched. He felt his reputation was being unfairly tarnished. 'How did I become a big swindler?'

'Looks like I'll have to teach Tang Huayi a proper lesson later and make her realize she's not in the Tang family manor in Cangzhou Prefecture anymore.'

Man Shengming said in a deep voice:

"Both."

"How outrageous!"

The men who had been sent flying helped each other up. They exchanged glances, and one of them spoke:

"Who are you? State your name!"

"Man Shengming."

When Man Shengming said his own name, not only did he manage to say it completely, but his expression was cold and his bearing, extraordinary.

As soon as those two words reached the men's ears, one of them paled.

"Man Shengming, the Man of Few Words!?"

"What's he doing here?"

"Is he here for the Jiaowei too? Then what's left for us?"

"How about we let him and this Jiang Ran fight it out, then we can swoop in and reap the rewards?"

The group started scheming again.

Jiang Ran was almost amused by them. 'This group is actually quite interesting.'

'Weak martial arts, wild ambitions, and completely delusional.'

'And they secretly conspire out loud, right in front of their opponents...'

'Where on earth did this bunch of clowns come from?'

Jiang Ran looked at Man Shengming.

"How about it? Should we really give them what they want and fight until we're both defeated? So they can swoop in and reap the rewards?"

Man Shengming stared blankly.

"Really?"

"Of course not."

Jiang Ran was speechless. 'Can this guy not tell when someone is joking?'

Hearing this, Man Shengming finally nodded, then turned to the group.

"Scram."

"Why should we?"

Someone immediately retorted, unconvinced.

Man Shengming's face darkened. His figure blurred as he moved into the crowd, raised his right fist, and threw a punch.

The man who had spoken also threw a punch to meet it.

The two fists met, and a figure was sent flying with a BOOM, spewing blood before crashing heavily to the ground.

It was Man Shengming!