Chapter 295 - 156: Divine Sword, Recluse, Gang (3)

Seeing that the two were about to fight again, Tang Huayi shot Ruan Yuqing a look.

Ruan Yuqing’s mouth fell open. She had also figured it out—it seemed the two of them had really gotten into this state over a woman.

And now, the reason they had re-emerged into the martial world was also for that same woman.

Still, for Gu Xizhi to harbor such feelings at his age was quite the marvel.

Jiang Ran shook his head, feeling a little bored. He casually uncorked his wine gourd and took a swig. Smacking his lips, he felt that the world contained within this gourd was the true joy of life.

He leaned against a tree trunk, but then his brow furrowed.

"It’s certainly lively tonight."

But other than Luo Qingyi and the Grand Master, neither Tang Huayi nor Ruan Yuqing, who were engrossed in the gossip, noticed his words.

In the end, Gu Xizhi and Scholar Jingtan didn’t resume their fight.

They had already been fighting for three days and three nights prior to this.

Now, neither moved, as both were recovering their energy. If they were to clash again as they had before, they would suffer serious, deep-seated injuries.

At this point, the core of their conflict was mainly a war of words.

And just as the two men were bickering endlessly, Tang Huayi and Ruan Yuqing were enjoying the drama, Luo Qingyi was dozing off, the Grand Master was writing furiously, Man Shengming lay unconscious, and Jiang Ran was pleasantly buzzed...

A series of whistling sounds suddenly cut through the air.

They came from all directions, and in the blink of an eye, had surrounded Jiang Ran and his group.

Luo Qingyi jolted upright, his sleepy eyes scanning his surroundings.

But once he got a clear look at the newcomers, he sobered up considerably.

This group was uniformly dressed in red, with sabers at their waists.

Regardless of gender, their eyes were filled with a chilling coldness.

"Who are you?"

Luo Qingyi’s brow furrowed as he stood up.

Gu Xizhi tilted his head, a little surprised.

"Isn’t this the Blood Saber Hall?

"You young folks... of all the people to provoke, how did you end up tangling with them?"

Scholar Jingtan sneered.

"The Blood Saber Hall... Xuanyuan One Slash?"

Tang Huayi and Ruan Yuqing also snapped back to reality and looked around.

"The Blood Saber Hall is one of the Thirteen Gangs, part of the One Sect, Two Assemblies, Five Sword Factions, Seven Sects, and Thirteen Gangs."

Tang Huayi glanced at Jiang Ran.

"They’ve come with ill intent tonight. I’m afraid this won’t end well.

"What are you going to do?"

Jiang Ran smiled faintly. Before he could speak, a voice slowly drifted over.

"A bloody battle to shake the world, bringing glory to the Saber’s Gate!

"The Blood Saber Hall is on official business! The uninvolved should leave at once, lest you come to harm!"

"A bloody battle to shake the world, bringing glory to the Saber’s Gate!"

"A bloody battle to shake the world, bringing glory to the Saber’s Gate!"

The Blood Saber Hall disciples surrounding Jiang Ran and the others immediately echoed the chant.

Jiang Ran pursed his lips.

"They’re grown adults. Why are they still in their edgy teen phase?

"Don’t they feel embarrassed at all?"

"What’s an ’edgy teen phase’?"

True to form, Tang Huayi asked about what she didn’t understand.

"It’s... well, never mind. It’s not important."

Jiang Ran waved a hand, not bothering to explain it to her.

Just then, several figures shot through the air like streaks of blood, arriving in a flash.

The leader was a man in his thirties, one hand held behind his back, his face cold and stern.

A man and a woman followed behind him.

Their expressions were identical to his.

Seeing these three, the Blood Saber Hall disciples who had appeared earlier all dropped to one knee.

"Greetings, Deputy Hall Master!!"

Ruan Yuqing whispered in Jiang Ran’s ear:

"The Deputy Hall Master is Chen Zixuan, a disciple of Xuanyuan One Slash.

"It’s said he has grasped the essence of Xuanyuan One Slash’s saber techniques, and there are even whispers that the student has surpassed the master."

Jiang Ran nodded, showing he understood.

At that moment, the woman behind Chen Zixuan suddenly looked at Gu Xizhi and Scholar Jingtan, her brow furrowed.

"The Blood Saber Hall is at work. Are you meddlers not going to step aside?

"Are you waiting to die?"

Gu Xizhi glanced at her and shook his head.

"Young people these days have no respect for their elders."

"You’d have to be worthy of it."

Scholar Jingtan pursed his lips.

Gu Xizhi rolled his eyes.

"Fine, you’re worthy, you’re worthy, happy now? Maybe I should find you a sow to pair up with!"

"Crude! Filthy! I can’t bear to listen to this!"

Scholar Jingtan was furious.

"You two!"

The woman from the Blood Saber Hall grew angry seeing this.

She was about to say something more but was stopped by Chen Zixuan.

"Pay them no mind. Business comes first."

He scanned the surroundings, his gaze finally landing on Jiang Ran with a faint smile.

"Young man, you must be Jiang Ran, correct?"

Jiang Ran nodded.

"I am."

"Good."

Chen Zixuan smiled. "No need to be afraid. We didn’t come here tonight to start a big fight. We just want to borrow something from you. If you’re willing, we’ll turn around and leave immediately. From now on, the Blood Saber Hall will consider you a friend. If you ever need anything, just say the word, and we will go through fire and water for you."

"And if I’m not willing?"

Jiang Ran smiled. "Are you going to swarm me and take it by force?"

Chen Zixuan paused for a moment, then sighed and said:

"Ever since the Blood Saber Hall joined the ranks of the One Sect, Two Assemblies, Five Sword Factions, Seven Sects, and Thirteen Gangs seven years ago, very few in the martial world have dared to say ’no’ to us.

"Do you know why that is?"

"I’d love to hear the details."

Jiang Ran smiled.

"Because dead men tell no tales."

Chen Zixuan said flatly, "I advise you to hand over the Jiaowei Zither. It is a precious item, not something you are worthy of possessing. If you continue to covet it, you will surely lose your life."

"The Jiaowei Zither?"

"The Tea and Zither Appreciation Gathering?"

After Chen Zixuan spoke, the ones with the biggest reactions weren’t Jiang Ran, but Gu Xizhi and Scholar Jingtan.

The two exchanged a look, and in a flash, they had dashed through the crowd.

They arrived directly across from Jiang Ran, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Chen Zixuan.

Gu Xizhi was the first to speak:

"So the Jiaowei Zither was with you all along."

"Young man, might I discuss something with you?"

Scholar Jingtan said:

"Name your price. I only need you to lend me this Jiaowei for a few days. I will be sure to return it when I’m finished!"