Chapter 451 - 208: Rendezvous

They hadn’t rested the entire way. They rode until dusk, finally reaching the vicinity of the teahouse where the group had separated the day before.

From a distance, they saw the carriage parked by the roadside. Tang Huayi, looking thoroughly bored, tossed a leaf into the air. The taut sound of a bowstring followed, and an arrow pinned the leaf to a nearby tree.

The tree was already riddled with holes, having been shot countless times.

Hearing the sound of hooves, Tang Huayi glanced up nonchalantly, but her eyes immediately lit up.

"You’re finally back!"

Then she noticed Hua Yuerong trailing behind Jiang Ran.

She raised an eyebrow and pouted, her expression screaming, ’Just as I expected...’

"Big Brother!"

Li Tianyu, who had been practicing his archery in the tree, had also seen Jiang Ran and Hua Yuerong. He leaped down from the branches.

The two swift horses arrived before them.

Jiang Ran pulled on the reins. "Whoa!"

The galloping horse halted abruptly, spinning twice in place before steadying itself. Only then did Jiang Ran leap off its back.

He first glanced at Li Tianyu, nodding with a smile, then turned his gaze to Tang Huayi.

"Looks like you two were having fun."

"Not as much fun as you two, I’m sure."

Tang Huayi shot Jiang Ran a look. "What took you so long? Is this the young lady from yesterday?"

"Yes."

Jiang Ran introduced Hua Yuerong to them.

Hua Yuerong dismounted as well and greeted the two.

Tang Huayi crossed her arms with a look of feigned arrogance, while Li Tianyu earnestly returned the greeting.

Jiang Ran asked casually,

"Where’s Scholar Jingtan?"

"In the carriage, playing chess with Hero Gu."

Tang Huayi said, "Good thing you left us next to this teahouse. At least there was a place to eat. Otherwise, we probably would have starved to death."

"Don’t be dramatic. A three-year drought couldn’t starve you."

Jiang Ran shook his head.

Just then, the carriage curtain rustled, and Scholar Jingtan poked his head out.

"Young Hero Jiang returns from rescuing the damsel?"

"You jest, Scholar."

Jiang Ran smiled. "More importantly, I couldn’t let the silver that was practically in my hands get away."

"Ah, I see."

Scholar Jingtan chuckled, then looked at Hua Yuerong. "I heard you all mention that the young lady’s surname is Hua. Could you be from the Hua family of Dong County Prefecture?"

"This junior is indeed from the Hua family."

Hua Yuerong greeted Scholar Jingtan again. "Senior, do you perhaps know my family’s elders?"

"Yes, I met Hua Shaoyun once, many years ago. If I recall correctly, it must have been about twenty years now."

"So, Senior is an acquaintance of the Patriarch."

Hua Yuerong immediately bowed solemnly. "This junior was rude before."

"Not at all, not at all."

Scholar Jingtan smiled. "It was but a single meeting. We have no real connection."

At this, he glanced at Jiang Ran.

"Does this mean we’re now making a trip to the Hua family?"

"I promised Miss Hua I would see her home."

"Very well. I haven’t had Huayue Manor’s Xiaoyi Aged Wine in a long time. I’m afraid I’ll have to ask for a few cups on this visit."

Scholar Jingtan smiled and nodded.

"In that case, let’s set off.

"It’s getting late, but if we hurry, we should be able to enter the city before nightfall."

After Jiang Ran finished speaking, everyone nodded in agreement.

Because Hua Yuerong had been afflicted by some technique and couldn’t use her Inner Energy, Jiang Ran had her ride in the carriage.

Li Tianyu and Scholar Jingtan drove the carriage.

He and Tang Huayi each took a horse and rode ahead to lead the way.

After riding a short distance, Tang Huayi sidled up to him.

"So, where did you two spend the night?"

"..."

Jiang Ran shot her a sidelong glance. "If you don’t cut it out, you should go get your brain washed. It seems to be full of filth."

"I haven’t even said anything yet."

"You don’t have to. I know what crap you’re thinking the second you open your mouth. Did you really need to ask?"

"That’s disgusting!"

Tang Huayi shot Jiang Ran a disdainful look.

But then she heard Jiang Ran say:

"However, I did run into something on this trip...

"Have you ever heard of the *Star Shifting and Constellation Changing Heavenly Killing Demon Skill*?"

"You... you encountered the Killing Life Dao?"

Tang Huayi’s expression changed instantly, but she quickly let out a breath. "Never mind, never mind. It would be dangerous for anyone else, but if it’s you, then there’s nothing to fear."

"The Killing Life Dao?"

Jiang Ran raised an eyebrow. "What’s that?"

"It’s a bit complicated to explain. I need to organize my thoughts before I can tell you the details."

Tang Huayi thought for a moment before saying to Jiang Ran, "Why don’t you tell me how you ran into them first."

Jiang Ran glanced at her, then slowly began to recount the events of the previous night.

He also told her about the "friend from the Setting Sun" written in the letter.

Tang Huayi’s face turned ashen as she listened.

"Another one of those scoundrels causing trouble with the *Eighteen Celestial Demon Records*...

"Back in Cangzhou Prefecture, it was because Fan Yumou, the Gang Leader of the Qinghe Gang, used a Demon Sect cultivation technique to kill and harm people that we had to take it back.

"I never thought we’d find traces of the Killing Life Dao here in Dong County Prefecture.

"If we hadn’t found out about this, we could have just let it be.

"But now that we know, we can’t possibly ignore it. We have to reclaim this *Star Shifting and Constellation Changing Heavenly Killing Demon Skill*!"

"Easier said than done."

Jiang Ran raised an eyebrow. "The Setting Sun Sect is mysterious and unpredictable. Finding their Sect Leader won’t be so easy."

"I have a feeling you’ll find a way."

Tang Huayi looked at Jiang Ran.

Jiang Ran was taken aback. "Why would I find a way?"

"I don’t know, it’s just a feeling. Don’t underestimate the intuition of a little demoness from the Demon Sect!"

’So she finally admits she’s a little demoness...’

Jiang Ran didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He glanced back at the carriage and said thoughtfully,

"First, tell me about the Killing Life Dao."