Chapter 429 Vicious (Part 2)

They grew more and more proficient, their movements fluid and natural.

After about an hour, the three of them finally stopped sparring.

By now, the eastern sky was beginning to brighten. Jiang Ran and the others washed up in the small courtyard.

They were about to discuss the match they just had when they heard someone calling from outside the gate.

It was a servant from Qifeng Manor, who had come to report that the “Great Master” wished to take his leave.

It had been quite some time since they first met this “Great Master.”

Following Jiang Ran all this way, he had indeed gathered a great deal of material.

First, there was the trip to the Ghost King Palace, followed by Death Town and Qiuci Posthouse. He had been present for all of it and had even watched the entire zither and tea appreciation gathering from start to finish.

This had been his original goal, after all.

In fact, after the gathering ended, the “Great Master” hadn’t participated in the “side quest” of searching for Man Shengming.

Instead, he had been diligently organizing his findings at Qifeng Manor, perfecting his *Golden Cicada Heroic Legend*.

Of course, it might also be called the *Golden Cicada Shocking God Record*.

After seven straight days, he had presumably sorted everything out.

So, when Jiang Ran saw the “Great Master,” the old man in sackcloth was grinning from ear to ear.

He cupped his fists repeatedly at Jiang Ran.

“Young Hero Jiang, we’ll meet again, we’ll meet again!”

“You all just wait for this old man’s *Golden Cicada Shocking God Record*. When it’s done, I’ll give each of you a copy!”

“…”

Jiang Ran thought to himself, ‘How embarrassing would it be to read that thing?’

He could only offer his polite refusal…

Ruan Yuqing and Tang Huayi, on the other hand, were very interested.

They nodded repeatedly to express their thanks.

Feng Xianzhi and Madam Feng of Qifeng Manor also wanted to exchange a few more pleasantries with the old man.

But the “Great Master” was a man of action. He had only waited here to see Jiang Ran one last time.

Now that he had, he departed without a word of farewell to anyone else, striding away.

In just a moment, he was gone without a trace.

“The ‘Great Master’ is certainly a free spirit.”

Ruan Yuqing smiled faintly as she watched his retreating figure.

“The people of the Ink Pavilion travel the world just to collect stories about the Jianghu People and their affairs…”

“Sometimes, when I think about it, it’s quite an enviable life.”

Jiang Ran glanced at Ruan Yuqing, his thoughts drifting off to some unknown place.

He turned to look at the seated Scholar Jingtan, pondered for a moment, and then spoke softly.

“Scholar, may I have a word with you in private?”

“Yes…”

Scholar Jingtan, looking distracted and dejected, stood up and followed Jiang Ran out of Qifeng Manor’s main hall.

The two of them found a secluded spot.

After a moment of contemplation, Jiang Ran began to speak.

“As you know, Scholar, the Jiaowei zither is currently missing.”

“Regarding the matter I promised you before…”

“Sigh…”

Scholar Jingtan let out a long sigh.

For the past seven days, he had been the one most concerned with Man Shengming’s whereabouts.

He had been searching for him on the Three Immortals Mountain almost without rest.

If Gu Xizhi hadn’t been so grievously injured, with his bones and muscles suffering immense trauma, he would have been on the Three Immortals Mountain as well. He couldn’t even get out of bed.

Now, hearing Jiang Ran bring it up, he couldn’t help but shake his head.

“This matter was not something you wished for, Young Hero Jiang.”

“You are not to blame…”

Jiang Ran was speechless. ‘I wasn’t blaming myself…’

He spoke softly.

“I heard from you before, Elder, that you and Elder Gu have an old friend who doesn’t have much time left.”

“And she wishes to see the Jiaowei before she passes, to fulfill a final wish?”

“That is correct.”

Scholar Jingtan nodded.

“We both knew her very well.”

“After we parted ways all those years ago, we knew we would never see each other again in this lifetime.”

“She would never have sent us a message unless she had no other choice…”

“But to think that after so many years, we are still so useless.”

“We can’t even fulfill her final wish. Looking back, it makes sense that she didn’t choose either of us.”

“…”

Jiang Ran’s expression turned a little strange upon hearing this, but he forced himself to speak.

“Elder, at this point, I’m afraid the Jiaowei is unattainable.”

“However… this junior has a roundabout solution. I wonder what you think of it, Elder?”

“Ah?”

Scholar Jingtan was taken aback. “What solution?”

Jiang Ran explained softly.

“Some time ago, Yan Wushuang, the Vice President of the Hundred Treasures Association, invited me to be his guest.”

“He had prepared three treasures, hoping to trade them for my Jiaowei zither…”

He briefly recounted the past event, then continued.

“The things he makes are indistinguishable from the real thing. I fear I’ll have a hard time getting the real Jiaowei, but a fake one might not be out of the question.”

Scholar Jingtan stared blankly for a moment, then his eyes lit up, and he couldn’t help but ask.

“Can he really make it look exactly the same?”

“Completely identical.”

Jiang Ran said quietly, “If there’s even the slightest difference, we’ll just beat him to death!”

Scholar Jingtan nodded.

“Beating him to death isn’t enough. We’ll have to use some methods to make him wish for death but be unable to find it.”

“This is a good idea… Jin Qiu doesn’t have long. Before she dies, all she wants is to see the Jiaowei.”

“Since we can’t find the real one, a fake one will be enough to bring her comfort.”

“It will allow her to pass on in peace.”

“But don’t tell that man surnamed Gu about this. The man is hopelessly stupid, the number one fool and mediocrity under heaven.”

“If he finds out, he will certainly never agree.”

Jiang Ran found this amusing. ‘These two have been rivals their whole lives. They never miss a chance to bad-mouth each other.’

However, Jiang Ran agreed with what Scholar Jingtan said.

Gu Xizhi was too much of a stickler for rules, his benevolence bordering on the extreme.

If they told him about this, he most likely really wouldn’t agree.