"Li Feiyun really thinks that?"

Jiang Ran’s expression was a little odd.

Qingyi sensed the strangeness in Jiang Ran’s tone and couldn’t help but ask,

"Is there a problem with thinking that way?"

Jiang Ran mulled it over for a moment, then smiled.

"Not really. Did you send me that message by dart tonight just to tell me this?

"But this does make me a bit curious.

"Are you tipping me off so I can go to Shopkeeper Wan, turn their own plan against them, and take down this Li Feiyun?

"Or do you simply not want me to die, lest your Four Seasons Pill become incurable?"

"Of course it’s the latter..."

Qingyi said,

"The message I sent by dart tonight was just to tell you not to go to the Heroic Assembly.

"I’m not an ambitious man. I just want to live a good life.

"Li Feiyun’s martial arts are sinister and treacherous. He’s no ordinary mountain bandit... Young Master, listen to me, the Heroic Assembly is a place of trouble.

"A wise man doesn’t stand under a crumbling wall. Why wade into these muddy waters?"

Jiang Ran nodded.

"I have my own plans... But it’s good that you took the initiative to find me this time. Come find me again before the beginning of autumn, and I’ll give you an Antitoxic Pill."

"Thank you, Young Master."

Qingyi quickly clasped his fist in salute.

Jiang Ran glanced at him and, for some reason, was suddenly reminded of the black-clad man who was always grunting at him.

He couldn’t help but ask,

"Has anything unusual happened at Feiyun Stronghold in the last day or two?"

"No."

Qingyi answered subconsciously, but after speaking, he frowned.

"That’s not right... We did capture someone today.

"He’s quite an interesting fellow. Seems to be an Assassin, carrying a lot of wanted posters.

"He came to the stronghold gate, knocked, and said he wanted to take the Chieftain’s head in exchange for the bounty...

"He has some skill, his saber techniques are good.

"Unfortunately, he was all alone. He was no match for us and was easily captured."

"..."

Jiang Ran was stunned for a moment.

"You’re saying this person just openly ran straight to Feiyun Stronghold?"

Seeing Qingyi nod, Jiang Ran was truly shocked.

’What kind of reckless fool is he? Completely brainless?’

’But on second thought, the man really is a bit of a blockhead, and probably has a screw loose.’

’It’s not surprising he’d do something like this.’

Qingyi then asked,

"Young Master, do you know this person? Should I rescue him on the sly?"

"He’s not dead yet?"

Jiang Ran was surprised again. An Assassin fell into the hands of Feiyun Stronghold and was still alive?

Qingyi nodded.

"The Chieftain is usually ruthless, but this man’s appearance was so bizarre that he couldn’t just kill him easily.

"He wants to find out what’s going on with him... He’s been beaten in the dungeon for a full day, but so far, he hasn’t said anything useful.

"He just keeps cursing up a storm. His mouth is incredibly foul."

Jiang Ran nodded.

"Alright, I understand. Don’t worry about him."

He wasn’t some righteous hero who went around saving strangers. It really wasn’t worth the trouble.

For him, there were currently two and a half important matters.

First, find out the whereabouts of the old drunkard.

Second, find a way to secure his life.

The half-matter was about the Tang family... This issue had taken root in his heart. Even if he acted like he didn’t care, he couldn’t truly set it aside.

As for running to Feiyun Stronghold to save some brainless fool...

What did that have to do with him?

"Don’t worry about him..."

Qingyi gave Jiang Ran a surprised look, then nodded.

"Alright, I understand. Does the Young Master have any other instructions?"

Jiang Ran shook his head.

"No, you..."

He was about to tell him to leave, but the words died in his throat as his brows shot up.

He grabbed Qingyi’s shoulder.

Qingyi was startled and tried to dodge, but he hadn’t expected that while Jiang Ran’s grasp had no profound technique to it, it was incredibly fast.

After Jiang Ran clamped down on his shoulder, he saw Jiang Ran tap his feet, leap into the air, and land on a tree.

Qingyi didn’t understand what was happening and was about to ask.

Then he saw a group of people approaching from a distance and immediately fell silent.

In the blink of an eye, the group was upon them.

They weren’t riding horses; they were all traveling using their Lightweight Technique.

Each was dressed in black, their black hoods obscuring their faces, making them impossible to identify.

They swept past the tree beneath Jiang Ran and Qingyi’s feet and were gone in a flash.

"Who are these people?"

Jiang Ran only spoke softly after they had left.

Qingyi shook his head.

"I don’t know who they are... but they’re heading toward Feiyun Stronghold."

Jiang Ran paused, and after a moment of thought, he said,

"Follow them."

The situation in Cangzhou Prefecture was unstable; the air was thick with paranoia and treacherous currents.

At a time like this, who knew what faction these people belonged to, acting so furtively, clad in black with their faces covered?

The Qinghe Gang died mysteriously. Could Feiyun Stronghold be next?

’A bunch of mountain bandits dying is no big deal,’ he thought, ’but the problem is, if they die at someone else’s hands, what about my Life-extending Pills?’

This was a point Jiang Ran simply couldn’t afford not to consider.

He and Qingyi immediately began to tail the group.

And Qingyi wasn’t wrong. The group’s destination was indeed Feiyun Stronghold.

Feiyun Mountain, Feiyun Stronghold, Li Feiyun.

Jiang Ran had a feeling that perhaps it was precisely because the mountain was called Feiyun Mountain that Li Feiyun had decided to become a bandit here.

Looking from a distance, a massive stronghold was nestled in a treacherous part of the mountains.

Its back was to a bottomless cliff, and it faced a perilous mountain path.

It was truly an easily defensible and difficult-to-assault location.

No wonder this man had been able to rule this mountain for so many years.

When the group in black arrived before Feiyun Stronghold, they didn’t conceal their presence and were immediately spotted by the stronghold’s hidden sentries.

They didn’t make a move. After exchanging a few quiet words, they were actually led into the stronghold by its men.

Jiang Ran and Qingyi exchanged a look. Qingyi said softly,

"Young Master, follow me."

"To do what?"

Jiang Ran was puzzled.

"I’ll take you inside..."

Qingyi said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Jiang Ran gave him a strange look.

"When did I ever say I wanted to go in?"

"..."

Qingyi blinked. "Aren’t you curious?"

"Curiosity kills the cat."

Jiang Ran smiled faintly.

He raised his eyes to look at Feiyun Stronghold in the distance...

He had come here because he was worried this group in black was planning to deal with Feiyun Stronghold.

If that were the case, Jiang Ran figured he might as well make a move himself. He’d grab as many Life-extending Pills as he could.

But now it seemed they weren’t here to cause trouble. They likely had some sort of agreement with Li Feiyun.

Since that was the case, he couldn’t go in.

Not to mention, Feiyun Stronghold was deep and unpredictable; who knew how much he could accomplish by barging in alone.

Even if he killed Li Feiyun, if the other few Life-extending Pills ran away, that would still be a huge loss.

Rather than do that, it was better to wait here and see just who these people sneaking into Feiyun Stronghold were.

...

...

PS: Another Chapter in two minutes~