Wuxia: Starting Off With 60 Years of Inner Strength

The sound of footsteps outside came abruptly.

Jiang Ran and Dao Wuming stopped what they were about to say.

Then, a voice called out:

"Travelers passing through, hoping to find lodging for the night. Might the master of the house have room?"

Jiang Ran’s brow furrowed slightly.

’What in the world is going on today? Why does every voice I hear sound familiar?’

Tang Huayi said thoughtfully:

"It sounds familiar to me, too..."

Ruan Yuqing glanced at the two of them.

"Why does that voice sound like Cheng Tianyang, the head of the Celestial Yang Escort Agency?"

At her words, both Jiang Ran and Tang Huayi were taken aback.

At the same time, the hunched old man had already strode forward and pushed open the posthouse’s main gate.

"And which officials are you?"

There was already a group inside whose identities had yet to be verified, and now another group had arrived in the courtyard.

This made the hunched old man’s attitude noticeably more irritable.

Jiang Ran gave the old man a strange look, his gaze passing over him to the group of people standing outside the gate.

This new group was clearly stunned by the hunched old man’s question.

The man in the lead stood with his hands clasped in a fist-and-palm salute amidst the freshly falling raindrops, a look of confusion in his eyes.

It was none other than Cheng Tianyang, whom he had met once at Red Maple Manor.

After the matter with Shi Pingzhang at Red Maple Manor was concluded, Jiang Ran had entrusted him with delivering the dowries Liu Wenshan and Ye Kong’gu had prepared for their daughters to Cangzhou Prefecture.

They hadn’t seen each other since that parting, until now.

This time, however, Cheng Tianyang was not alone.

He had six carriages with him.

Each carriage carried three or four large chests, which were sealed with paper strips, looking to be tightly secured.

Beside the carriages were all manner of escorts, guards, and assistants from the Celestial Yang Escort Agency.

They were currently shielding their eyes with their hands, peering into the building.

Cheng Tianyang, unaware of the situation or any of its details, was just about to speak.

When he heard a familiar voice from inside:

"Well, if it isn’t Lord Cheng. It’s been a while. Where are you headed on business this time?"

Cheng Tianyang froze. He looked up to see Jiang Ran approaching slowly, one hand resting on his saber.

As their eyes met, Jiang Ran gave him a meaningful look.

As the head of an Escort Agency, Cheng Tianyang was a seasoned veteran of the martial world, his experience far beyond that of an ordinary person.

Hearing Jiang Ran’s words, he immediately grew thoughtful. Though he didn’t know the specifics, he understood that Jiang Ran wanted him to play along. He smiled and said:

"Isn’t this Brother Jiang? Truly, we meet in the most unexpected places."

"To be honest... I’m on my way to Evergreen Mansion, escorting a shipment of... military supplies."

"I never expected to run into you here, Brother Jiang."

It was a surprise, but then again, not entirely.

The news of Jiang Ran holding a tea and zither appreciation gathering at Sunset Plateau had long been circulating throughout the martial world.

The Celestial Yang Escort Agency wasn’t interested in such matters.

However, when someone commissioned them to escort a cargo to Evergreen Mansion, they naturally couldn’t refuse the job.

Still, he hadn’t expected to meet Jiang Ran and his group here at the Qiuci Posthouse.

When the hunched old man heard their exchange, he was stunned.

"What? Is Evergreen Mansion going to war?"

"Has the Li Country invaded? Or is the Qing Country up to its old tricks? Oh, dear, the War of the Five Nations only ended a few years ago. How can there be another war already?"

As he spoke, he wrung his hands forcefully, pacing around the room in apparent agitation.

But in the end, he just sighed.

"First, store your things properly. You can’t be careless with military equipment."

"Come in, come in. We’ll talk inside."

Cheng Tianyang shot Jiang Ran a questioning look.

Jiang Ran gave a slight nod.

Only then did Cheng Tianyang wave his hand, and the men behind him began to unload their things.

Unloading the carriages, unsaddling the horses, and tying them up—the whole process was quite a hassle.

Once they were all settled, the hunched old man seemed to have forgotten that Dao Wuming and the others still hadn’t had their identities verified.

The old man then asked Cheng Tianyang’s group what they wanted to eat, saying he could whip something up in the back kitchen.

Cheng Tianyang, even more cautious than Jiang Ran, stated directly that they had brought their own dry rations and water and would just have a simple bite.

The old man didn’t press the matter and simply nodded.

"There are some chickens and ducks in the backyard, and some wine in the cellar."

"If you’d like, you can go prepare them yourselves."

"Lock your doors and windows when you sleep tonight."

"This area... I don’t know when it started, but it hasn’t been peaceful..."

"So, whatever you do, don’t go wandering around after dark."

"You might run into something... unclean."

He already had a sinister appearance, and with these words, he truly frightened the more timid people present.

Of course, the most gutless of them all was Tang Huayi.

She swallowed hard, struggling to keep the ’Li Tianxin’ mask from slipping, and said with feigned arrogance:

"Don’t spout such nonsense, old man. There are no such things as ghosts and monsters in this world."

Li Tianyu nodded repeatedly.

"Brother is right! Not only do they not exist, but even if they did, Brother’s saber skills are not to be trifled with! He would slay gods and exorcise demons, and show them the blade of righteousness in the mortal realm!"

Tang Huayi shot Li Tianyu a glare.

’The next time we’re alone, I’m going to stab you,’ she thought.

Jiang Ran chuckled at this. Seeing the old man was about to speak again, he cut in with a smile:

"You should get some rest, elder. We understand your instructions and won’t wander around tonight."

"We’ll be on our way first thing in the morning."

"Good."

The old man nodded.

"Then eat early, and after you’re done, get some rest... Ai, I’m getting old. Sleepy at nightfall, up at the rooster’s crow. I can’t keep up with this business anymore."