Chapter 444 - 206: Saving People (2)

In a flash, the body was split in two.

With casual ease, Jiang Ran had killed two men in the span of a single breath.

Only then did the first syllable from the man who had started to speak finally leave his lips.

His eyes immediately widened in disbelief.

’They were clearly around the same age. How could this man’s saber techniques and martial arts be so much more advanced than theirs?’

His strikes were vicious, every slash fatal.

He either cleaved men in two or lopped off their heads as if reaping grass.

And what was that round thing hanging from his waist...? ’It couldn’t be a human head, could it?’

’Does this man have a penchant for collecting heads?’

While he was still reeling in shock and suspicion, the men in black who had been besieging them were all summarily dispatched.

With a flick of his wrist, Jiang Ran sheathed his saber. He glanced back at the young people, his eyes showing a trace of displeasure.

’He had just told them he was here to help.’

’And he meant it... but that didn’t mean they should just stand there and do nothing, did it?’

’Why were they all just standing around watching the show like a bunch of spectators?’

The young people finally snapped out of their daze.

They hurried forward.

"Thank you for saving our lives."

"May we ask your name?"

"That saber... it looks... somehow familiar..."

They spoke one after another, not giving Jiang Ran a chance to get a word in.

Suddenly, one of the young men exclaimed:

"Oh! I remember now! That’s the Gold-Shattering Saber!

"I heard the Gold-Shattering Saber had resurfaced in the martial world! The Sword of No Life entrusted Cheng Tianyang of the Celestial Yang Escort Agency to deliver it to Master Ye Konggu of Red Maple Manor.

"But then, Red Maple Manor was tragically attacked, and overnight, only the two young ladies of the Ye family remained.

"And in the end, the eldest daughter of the Ye family, Ye Jingshuang, gifted the saber to her savior—the Shocking God Saber, Jiang Ran!

"Could it be... are you Jiang Ran?"

The young man was about twenty, his white clothes stained with blood and his face a little pale. But his eyes shone with a brilliant light, filled with excitement.

He spoke with incredible speed, yet his words were clear—a rapid-fire barrage that gave no one a chance to react.

Jiang Ran looked at him and thought that he’d make an excellent comedian.

Hearing this, the others came to a sudden realization.

"So you’re the Shocking God Saber, Jiang Ran!"

"No wonder!"

"This is Hero Jiang we’re talking about! He single-handedly killed the young master of Heterodox Manor, fought two-on-one and killed Hall Master Gu Renlong of Thunderbolt Hall, and beat Jiang Han of the Flower and Rain Alliance so badly he was crying for his mommy and daddy!"

...

A headache suddenly started to form for Jiang Ran.

’Is this really the time for idle chatter?’

He couldn’t help but retort,

"He didn’t cry for his mommy and daddy... But now is not the time for this.

"I was just passing by and saw these men in black killing and setting fires. I couldn’t just stand by, so I came to help.

"If you’re all unharmed, you should focus on rescuing others."

"Yes, yes, yes!!!"

Hearing this, the saber-wielding young man nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Rescue people! And we have to put out the fires!!

"This is my family’s ancestral home!"

"Let’s go, let’s go! We’ll go together."

"I wonder how Patriarch Hu and Madam Hu are..."

The same young men who had been happily chatting as if they had all the time in the world were now about to run off like headless chickens.

’Jiang Ran suddenly had a thought: how could these twenty-somethings all be so unreliable!’

’Even if they couldn’t be as calm and composed as Ruan Yuqing, they should at least be able to grasp the situation like Tang Huayi.’

He barked out an order:

"Stop!"

The young men skidded to a halt, turning in unison to look at Jiang Ran.

"Hero Jiang, what are your instructions?"

They spoke in unison, their eyes holding the exact same look of pure, innocent stupidity.

Jiang Ran took a deep breath and spoke in a low, serious voice.

"There are a lot of them. You can’t act rashly.

"However, the fact that they resorted to poisoning you means they’re wary of Wanshui Manor’s full strength.

"I’ve already rescued a group of your manor’s guard Martial Artists. You can lead them through the courtyards to save others.

"Remember, your opponents have scattered into smaller groups. You must use your consolidated force to attack their scattered units. This is how you’ll use your strength against their weakness.

"Therefore, don’t get greedy and rush ahead, and don’t try to be a lone hero.

"Otherwise, you will lose your lives.

"As you rescue more people, your forces will grow, and you’ll be able to retake the initiative.

"Finally... I want you to gather in front of the manor’s main hall.

"If you can lure the men in black there, all the better. We can wipe them out in one fell swoop.

"Do you understand what I’ve said?"

If anyone else had spoken to them like that, their pride would have made them utterly defiant.

But facing Jiang Ran, they couldn’t utter a single word of protest.

They all nodded their heads like chickens pecking at grain.

"Got it!"

"We’ll follow Hero Jiang’s orders!"

"But how do we lure them?"

"Pretend we’re outmatched?"

"You don’t need to pretend."

"Says you! You’re the one who’s outmatched!"

The group started bickering again.

Jiang Ran felt a massive headache coming on. He snapped irritably:

"Figure it out yourselves! Just remember to come back alive and don’t get yourselves killed through sheer stupidity. I’m going to check on the masters of the manor. The rest is up to you—adapt as the situation demands."

"Yes!"

The group immediately stopped arguing. They led the men Jiang Ran had rescued and continued their sweep of the manor.

Jiang Ran watched them go, and for some reason, he felt a pang of envy.

’To be so blissfully foolish, to be able to fully enjoy the wonders of youth... that was a luxury most likely afforded by the protection of one’s family and elders.’