Chapter 377: A Little Face

Chapter 377: Chapter 184: A Little Face

“A thief?”

Cheng Tianyang was taken aback. Before he could say anything, the young man was already hopping mad:

“Who are you calling a thief?

“I’m a gentleman thief! As in, there’s honor among thieves!”

“Well, I’ll be…”

Cheng Tianyang stared blankly for a moment, glancing at the young man in surprise before turning to Jiang Ran.

“Young Hero Jiang, there might be a misunderstanding here.

“If he hadn’t saved me, I’m afraid I never would have had the chance to see you.

“If he has offended you in any way, please, Young Hero Jiang, I ask you to be lenient. For my sake, please let him off.”

“He hasn’t offended me in any way…”

Jiang Ran said with a smile, “But the Hundred Treasures Association outside despises him down to the bone. Isn’t that right, Ximen Feng?”

“You… How did you know?”

The young man froze, then realization dawned:

“So you’re Jiang Ran?

“Ah! When this old man said your surname was Jiang, I should have realized.”

“Brother Ximen, your sleight of hand is truly impressive. It was quite an eye-opener for me.

“Mm, and now that Chief Yan has come to Qifeng Manor, it’s obviously to find you… It seems you really did fall into her trap.”

“Hmph. That woman, Yan Wushuang, seems loyal and sincere, but she’s actually treacherous and ruthless. This Young Master was just careless this time and got played by her. Once my injuries heal, just watch! I’ll empty out the entire Hundred Treasures Association and let them weep over their vacant Treasure Vault!”

Ximen Feng said, grinding his teeth:

“Let me go! Even if you won’t help a fellow man of the martial world in distress, you shouldn’t kick a man when he’s down, right?

“Besides, I stole their things, so what’s it to you? They wanted to use those items to trade for your Jiaowei qin.

“You’re not actually planning to trade with them, are you?”

“Whether I trade with them or not is my business, not yours. You needn’t trouble yourself over it, Brother Ximen.”

Jiang Ran glanced at Cheng Tianyang, then said after a moment of silence:

“However, since you saved Chief Cheng… although I don’t know the specifics of what happened…

“This time, I suppose I can help you out…”

As he spoke, he grabbed Ximen Feng by the scruff of his neck with one hand, supported Cheng Tianyang with the other, and led them both into the room.

Still not quite trusting Ximen Feng, Jiang Ran took something else out of his pack.

Both Ximen Feng and Cheng Tianyang were dumbstruck… because what Jiang Ran pulled out was a chain!

Who traveled with a chain in their pack?

“This is…?”

Cheng Tianyang couldn’t help but glance at Jiang Ran.

Jiang Ran smiled.

“Back in Benma County, I encountered a master who was in chains.

“This is the very chain that bound him. I saw its material was extraordinary—impervious to any blade—so I kept it.

“I was originally thinking I’d find a skilled blacksmith in the future to see if it could be melted down and forged into a fine saber.

“But then Chief Cheng brought me the Gold-Shattering Saber, so the chain became temporarily useless…”

As he spoke, he wrapped the chain around Ximen Feng several times, then said:

“But it seems it’s not completely useless after all.”

“How outrageous!”

Ximen Feng was furious. “I’ve roamed the martial world my whole life and never been brought so low! You… let me go! If you’ve got the skill, then capture me fair and square! What kind of hero ambushes someone?”

“What hero are you talking about?”

Before Jiang Ran could speak, a voice came from outside the door.

The three of them looked up to see Tang Huayi entering.

She was also startled to see Cheng Tianyang.

“Chief Cheng, you’re all right?”

“Thank you for your concern, Young Hero Li. I’m still alive… It’s just that what happened here… well, it’s a long story.”

Cheng Tianyang sighed, his expression grim.

Jiang Ran, however, said:

“This isn’t the time to go into details. I’ll go out and deal with Yan Wushuang first.

“Mm, to save Chief Cheng the trouble, you should just rest for a bit.”

After he finished speaking, he flicked his finger and struck one of Cheng Tianyang’s sleeping acupoints. Cheng Tianyang’s head lolled to the side, and he immediately slumped onto the bed.

Ximen Feng’s eyes went wide.

“And he called you a good person!?”

“He is a good person. That’s why I can’t give you any chances. Otherwise, you’d ask him to untie you later. Since you saved his life, wouldn’t he be in a tough spot if he refused?”

Jiang Ran chuckled. “There, now that’s settled. Saves you the trouble of thinking about it.”

At this, he glanced at Tang Huayi.

“Watch him. Don’t let him escape.”

“Don’t worry.”

Tang Huayi nodded. “With me here, even if he escapes, he’ll be brought right back.”

“…Don’t mess around.”

Jiang Ran gave her a subtle reminder. “One Li Tianyu is enough.”

“I know.”

Tang Huayi rolled her eyes. “You’re so naggy.”

Jiang Ran fell silent for a moment, tapped Tang Huayi twice with his hand, and then headed outside.

He had already been delayed in the courtyard for a while. He figured the people from the Hundred Treasures Association would be coming in soon, so there was no time to waste. Jiang Ran used his Lightweight Technique and headed for the main gate.

There, outside the main gate of Qifeng Manor, Feng Xianzhi and Lady Feng had already emerged.

They were speaking with Yan Wushuang.

Jiang Ran listened for a moment. So far, both sides were still being polite.

However, Yan Wushuang wanted to enter Qifeng Manor to conduct a search, and Feng Xianzhi was unwilling.

After all, with such a large group of people swarming in, who knew what they might do inside the manor?

Although Qifeng Manor was not as wealthy or powerful as the Hundred Treasures Association, they were not ones to be bullied.

And so, they had reached a stalemate.

Yan Wushuang’s expression gradually turned ugly.

“Manor Lord Feng, why do you insist on obstructing me? I have treated you with courtesy. Do you truly believe Qifeng Manor has the right to refuse the Hundred Treasures Association?”