"Many thanks, Senior Brother."
Taking the spiked dart from Jiang Beiran, Liu Zijin still felt lingering fear. Had her senior brother not blocked it for her, that dart would have pierced straight through her chest. Beside them, Gu Qingyue, who had witnessed Jiang Beiran suddenly appear and intercept the ambush, quickly cupped his hands in respect.
"What impressive skills! May I ask for your esteemed name, brother?"
Jiang Beiran returned the gesture and replied, "No need for formalities. My surname is Wang, given name Laowu."
"So it's Brother Laowu. I am Gu Qingyue of the Azure Cloud Sect. This time, we were entangled by bandits, and thanks to—" "Pleasantries can wait until later. Your companion is injured."
Jiang Beiran glanced at the girl whose chest was stained with blood. While observing the battle between the two groups earlier, Jiang Beiran had noticed that this girl had taken a sword strike meant for Gu Qingyue. Even wounded, she remained steadfast in shielding him.
If there wasn’t something between them, Jiang Beiran wouldn’t believe it. Seeing Jiang Beiran’s gaze, the girl waved her hand dismissively.
"Just a superficial wound. It’s nothing serious."
"Young lady, are you also a disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect?"
Jiang Beiran asked with a smile.
"Yes, I am Tang Tingshuang of the Azure Cloud Sect. Greetings, benefactor."
"No need for such titles. I merely lent a hand—hardly worthy of being called a benefactor."
As if suddenly remembering something, Jiang Beiran added, "I’ve long heard that the Azure Cloud Sect’s Surging Waves Heart Technique excels in healing wounds. Might this humble brother have the honor of witnessing it?" Tang Tingshuang froze momentarily before quickly recovering.
"My skills are lacking, and I haven’t mastered the Surging Waves Heart Technique fully. I’d rather not embarrass myself by demonstrating it."
"Ah~" Jiang Beiran suddenly slapped his forehead and chuckled.
"Look at my memory! The Surging Waves Heart Technique isn’t an Azure Cloud Sect secret art—it belongs to the Radiant Heaven Sect."
The atmosphere instantly turned icy. The junior sisters who had been about to offer healing pills all took a step back, positioning themselves behind Jiang Beiran. By now, they all understood.
No one would mistake their own sect’s signature techniques. Tang Tingshuang was utterly dumbfounded. Who would’ve thought this seemingly harmless benefactor, who had just saved them, would immediately set a trap for her?
Seeing the wary looks from their rescuers, Gu Qingyue hastily clasped his hands.
"A misunderstanding, truly a misunderstanding! The six of us aren’t actually Azure Cloud Sect disciples. It’s just that when traveling outside, sometimes..."
"Ah, no need to explain."
Jiang Beiran waved his hand.
"I understand perfectly. I was merely giving my junior sisters a lesson—don’t assume that just because you’ve saved someone, they’ll reveal everything to you without reservation."
Though Jiang Beiran spoke lightly, Gu Qingyue felt as if he had been slapped hard across the face. True, many cultivators concealed their true identities while traveling. But hiding it from someone who had just saved you was rather discourteous.
"I... I..."
Gu Qingyue’s face flushed red as he stammered, unable to finish his sentence. Jiang Beiran, however, remained unbothered. He cupped his hands toward Gu Qingyue and said, "Brother Gu, there’s no need for this.
We’re merely strangers who crossed paths. Since you’re unharmed, we’ll take our leave now.
Farewell."
With that, Jiang Beiran turned to leave with his five junior sisters.
"Brother Wang, wait!"
Gu Qingyue suddenly called out loudly.
"Brother Gu, is there something else?"
Jiang Beiran turned back.
"My real name is Li Fucheng. I am the son of the Bloodflame Sect’s leader... no, the Bloodflame Sect’s Young Master."
‘Good heavens! A demonic sect member!? And the sect leader’s son!? This is hitting the jackpot!’
Jiang Beiran was stunned. He had heard of the Bloodflame Sect from his master—a notorious demonic sect in the Huainan region, infamous for their "Bloodflame Ghost Blade," which struck fear into the hearts of locals.
However, the Mysterious Dragon Continent was vast, and without something like the internet to transmit information instantly, Jiang Beiran only knew bits and pieces about the distant Bloodflame Sect and had no chance to learn more. Hearing Li Fucheng reveal his true identity, his companions immediately panicked.
"Young Master!"
"It’s fine!"
Li Fucheng waved them off.
"Brother Wang is right. They saved our lives, yet we deceived them. That’s no way for warriors to act."
"But..."
Tang Tingshuang still wanted to object, but seeing Li Fucheng’s resolute expression, she ultimately held her tongue. While Li Fucheng’s side was in turmoil, Jiang Beiran’s five junior sisters were utterly bewildered.
"Senior Brother, what’s the Bloodflame Sect?"
The three Yu sisters asked in unison, never shy about seeking answers.
"I’ve only heard the name in passing. It’s likely a demonic sect from the Huainan region."
"Demonic sect!?"
All five junior sisters gasped in shock. This was their first time encountering members of a demonic sect face-to-face. After recovering from their surprise, the Yu sisters continued whispering questions.
"Don’t they say demonic sect members have three eyes?"
"And sharp fangs!"
"And tongues this long~" Watching Yu Guimiao stretch her arms wide to demonstrate, Jiang Beiran couldn’t help but chuckle.
"Those are just folk tales. Demonic sect members are people too—they don’t have three heads and six arms."
Once the murmurs on both sides died down, Li Fucheng stepped forward and clasped his hands toward Jiang Beiran again.
"Brother Wang, I hope you can now understand why I couldn’t reveal my identity earlier."
"Of course, I completely understand. But may I ask why Brother Li has traveled incognito to the Northern River Region? Of course, if it’s inconvenient to say, consider the question unasked."
"Ah..."
Li Fucheng sighed deeply.
"To be honest, Brother Wang, I have my share of hardships."
Seemingly starved for someone to confide in, Li Fucheng’s sigh opened the floodgates.
"As the son of the Bloodflame Sect’s leader, the entire sect placed high expectations on me. But when I reached the age to begin learning the sect’s heart techniques, I was tested and found to have a Withering Yang Constitution. Not only could I not cultivate the sect’s supreme scripture, even ordinary martial techniques took me several times longer to master than others."
"Gradually, my father grew more and more disappointed in me. My two elder brothers began distancing themselves, and my younger brothers openly mocked me as a cripple in front of the sect members. I... sigh..."
At this point, Li Fucheng let out another long sigh, his face etched with bitterness. Tang Tingshuang stepped forward and took his hand.
"No, Young Master. In Shuang’er’s eyes, you are the most remarkable. We’ll surely find a technique suited for you on this journey."
By now, Jiang Beiran was struggling to keep his jaw from dropping. Born into a prominent family, only to discover he was a natural-born cripple. A father’s disappointment, elder brothers’ disdain, younger brothers’ mockery—yet accompanied by a woman willing to take a sword for him, standing by his side through thick and thin.
‘This is the textbook protagonist template!’
PS: Short and weak.
(I’ll do it myself!)
(End of Chapter)