Chapter 82: The Ancient Jiang Clan
“Why would a group of powerful individuals come to a small town looking for someone with the surname Jiang?” Ye Fan’s heart could not calm down. He was afraid it involved Old Man Jiang and Little Tingting.
Clear Wind Town had never seen so many strange beasts before. Over a dozen mounts, their scales glinting and divine radiance swirling, filled the people on the street with immense fear, causing them to quickly dodge backward.
A middle-aged knight, around thirty years old, sat atop a strange beast covered in azure scales. He tried to show a gentle expression and said, “Don’t be afraid. We mean no harm. We’re just asking if there are any people with the surname Jiang in this town.”
Although he tried to appear peaceful, these people were clearly battle-hardened knights who had experienced the trials of blade and blood. Naturally, they exuded a killing aura that made ordinary people tremble with fear upon sensing it.
An old farmer pointed toward West Street, his lips trembling and his speech unclear. “That street… the largest courtyard… is there.”
“Thank you.” These people guided their savage beasts slowly toward the west street of the town.
Not far away, Ye Fan felt a wave of relief. So there were other families with the surname Jiang in this town. He quickly rushed toward East Street and soon returned to the small restaurant.
“Old Man Jiang…”
“Child, what happened?” The old man came out of the kitchen.
Little Tingting had washed a plate of bright red wild fruits and obediently brought them over. Her big, dark eyes blinked with curiosity as she asked, “Big Brother, what’s wrong?”
“It’s like this…”
Ye Fan recounted what he had just seen and heard to Old Man Jiang, then asked, “Elder, have you ever crossed paths with these people?”
Old Man Jiang shook his head. “I’ve lived over seventy years and have hardly ever left this town. I couldn’t possibly know people like that.”
“So many strange beasts? I want to see what they look like…” Little Tingting’s sparkling big eyes lit up with many little stars. She ran out of the small restaurant and curiously looked toward the end of the street.
Seeing that Little Tingting was not nearby, Ye Fan lowered his voice and asked, “Could it be related to Tingting’s parents?”
“It shouldn’t be.” A trace of sadness flashed in the old man’s eyes. “They were always cultivating in the Misty Grotto-Heaven and never traveled far. The friends they knew were all fellow disciples.”
“So many strange beasts! Their feet aren’t even touching the ground…” Little Tingting stood at the entrance of the small restaurant, her rosy little face showing both excitement and surprise. She shouted, “Grandpa, come out and look! They’re charging toward us!”
Ye Fan and the old man quickly came out. They saw over a dozen riders rushing over rapidly. There was no dust flying; all the strange beasts were hovering three inches above the ground, treading on air.
“They look so fierce.” Little Tingting was a bit scared. Except for the three people in the center, all the knights naturally exuded a powerful killing aura, and an innate battle intent filled the air.
Ye Fan quickly grabbed Little Tingting’s hand and then steadied Old Man Jiang. Ordinary people could hardly withstand such pressure; prolonged exposure would make anyone tremble with fear.
The dozen or so savage beasts stopped in front of the small restaurant. They shook their heads and wagged their tails, their scales glinting and radiating various lights. They were extremely spirited, but the divine radiance could not conceal the bloodthirsty aura on them. Clearly, they had all experienced bloody battles and were not pampered pets raised in a greenhouse.
“Excuse me, is this the Jiang residence?” The young man in the center, who looked very refined and handsome, spoke. He was dressed in white as pure as snow, his eyes like water, occasionally flickering with a hint of divine radiance. Seated atop a golden divine beast, he exuded an otherworldly aura, completely different from the knights with their murderous intent.
Old Man Jiang’s wrinkled face was full of confusion. “Yes, it is. May I ask what business you have?”
The old man was over seventy, his face etched with the frost of time, covered in wrinkles, and his old eyes were somewhat cloudy.
Seeing him so aged and frail, the sixteen or seventeen-year-old youth seated on a five-colored strange beast immediately frowned. “This is just an ordinary old country man whose life is nearly over. He can’t be the person we’re looking for.”
The young man on the golden divine beast glanced at him. The youth on the five-colored beast seemed to have some restraint, stopped talking, and said nothing more.
“Elder, have you always lived in Clear Wind Town?”
“Yes, I’ve hardly ever traveled far.” The old man answered truthfully.
“Did your ancestors live here, or did you move to this town later?” The young man on the golden divine beast continued asking.
“My father moved here. I was born in this town. You… what is this about?” Old Man Jiang looked completely puzzled.
Hearing this, the young man on the golden divine beast immediately jumped down. His white clothes fluttered in the wind, and even his boots were spotless. He looked handsome and extraordinary, truly a rare beauty—calling him jade-like and elegant would not be an exaggeration.
“Elder, I would like to ask you some questions. I hope you can answer them.”
“I wouldn’t dare. If I know, I will certainly answer.” Old Man Jiang was just an ordinary old man, and he held these cultivators riding strange beasts in awe.
Little Tingting was a bit nervous, gripping Ye Fan’s hand tightly and pressing close between him and the old man, both scared and curious as she looked at the savage beasts and the knights.
“Please forgive me first. I want to ask, is your father still alive?” The white-clothed man asked with slight tension.
Old Man Jiang hesitated, then replied, “He passed away over fifty years ago.”
“What?!” The white-clothed man was stunned. A look of surprise appeared on his jade-like face, and then he sighed.
“I told you, he’s just an ordinary old man…” The youth on the five-colored beast showed impatience, as if he wanted to leave quickly.
“Shut up!” The white-clothed man turned and glared at him, then turned back and continued, “Elder, please forgive me. Was your father named Jiang Zhe?”
“You… how do you know?” Old Man Jiang showed a look of shock.
The girl seated on a divine deer shimmering with silver radiance showed a surprised expression. “It seems we really found him.” She had a slender figure, skin as white as jade, a beautiful face, and a hint of pride between her brows, giving off an unapproachable air.
The youth on the five-colored beast frowned. “How could such an ordinary old country man have the blood of our Jiang family flowing in him? If he were truly a descendant of Great-Grandfather Jiang Zhe, how could he not know the methods of cultivation? It must be a coincidence of names…”
“Elder, could you tell me in detail?” The white-clothed man’s attitude remained very gentle. He stepped forward to support Old Man Jiang and asked, “Can we go inside to talk?”
All the knights stayed outside. The white-clothed man helped Old Man Jiang back into the small restaurant. The arrogant youth and the very beautiful girl also followed.
Seeing that the other party meant no harm, Ye Fan pulled Little Tingting to sit aside and said nothing.
“Did Great-Grandfather Jiang Zhe have a few red moles on his left arm?”
“Yes, five of them. How do you know even that?” Old Man Jiang showed a surprised expression.
“So Great-Grandfather Jiang Zhe really did live in seclusion in the Yan region. I never thought he would have passed away over fifty years ago…” The white-clothed man sighed softly. “Elder, perhaps I should call you Uncle.”
“No, no!” Old Man Jiang saw the man bow to him and quickly pulled him up.
“You two, come and pay your respects!” The white-clothed man turned to the two behind him.
“Greetings, Uncle.” The sixteen or seventeen-year-old beautiful girl bowed gracefully, glancing at Ye Fan and Little Tingting at the same time.
The youth was somewhat reluctant and muttered, “Greetings, Uncle.” He performed a hasty bow, very perfunctory.
“This is…” Old Man Jiang was full of confusion, not understanding why they were doing this.
“Big Brother, Big Sister, do you know my grandpa?” Little Tingting was also puzzled. Her long eyelashes fluttered constantly, and her intelligent big eyes were full of confusion.
Seeing her so innocent and cute, the white-clothed man affectionately patted her head. “We come from the same family.”
“What family?” Little Tingting blinked her big eyes curiously.
“An ancient aristocratic family passed down from the Primordial Era—the Jiang Clan. You will slowly understand how extraordinary our family is in the Eastern Wasteland.”
Ye Fan’s heart shook. An ancient aristocratic family was absolutely on par with a Holy Land, an transcendent existence with an unassailable status in the Eastern Wasteland.
As far as Ye Fan knew, the surname Jiang, like the surname Ji, was one of the oldest surnames in China. Historical records stated that the surname Jiang was descended from the Flame Emperor, named after his birthplace: “Shennong lived by the Jiang River, so he took it as his surname.”
Ye Fan was astonished. He never imagined that on the other side of the starry sky, the surname Jiang would still be so transcendent. It was completely unexpected.
“Great-Grandfather Jiang Zhe was exceptionally talented in his youth. By the time he was twenty, he had already made a name for himself. Later, he shook the entire Eastern Wasteland. With a single stomp, he could stir the winds and clouds from all directions. He was a dominant figure… I never thought…” The white-clothed man seemed very emotional. He could see that the old man’s life was not good. He never imagined that the bloodline of a generation of powerful experts would fall to such a state.
The girl beside him was also puzzled and asked, “Did Great-Grandfather Jiang Zhe never teach you the methods of cultivation back then?”
“What cultivation…” Old Man Jiang was confused by their words and muttered to himself, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Many things happened back then, hard to explain in a short time. Elder, are you willing to come with us?” After the white-clothed man spoke to the old man, he looked at Ye Fan and Little Tingting.
“I don’t have the surname Jiang. Tingting is Old Man Jiang’s only granddaughter,” Ye Fan quickly explained.
“The main branch of the family owes Great-Grandfather Jiang Zhe a great debt. But the dusty past has finally come to light. I want to take you and Tingting back to the Jiang Clan.”
The old man was a bit dazed. Although he hadn’t fully understood everything, he had grasped the gist of it, and he found it hard to accept.
The girl beside him, seeing that Little Tingting was very cute, smiled at her and said, “Tingting, do you have any wishes? Big Sister can fulfill them for you right now.”
“Nothing special. I just want to stay with Grandpa and Big Brother forever.”
“Any other wishes?”
Little Tingting tilted her head, thought seriously, and said in a very childish voice, “To have enough to eat every day, and for no one to bully me and Grandpa.”
Hearing these words, the girl was momentarily stunned.
A ripple appeared on the white-clothed man’s face. He asked in a deep voice, “Have you been bullied usually?”
“Yes, before Big Brother came, bad people came every day to bully us.” Little Tingting’s innocent words made everyone’s expressions change.
“Elder, I forgot to ask. Where are Tingting’s parents?”
Old Man Jiang showed a sad expression. “I had a son late in life, but in the end, the white-haired had to see off the black-haired…”
“How could this be?!” The girl’s eyes widened.
“I don’t know if they were killed by someone or if it was really an accident…”
Hearing this, Little Tingting’s big eyes immediately turned red.
“Tell us in detail!” At that moment, two flashes of divine light flickered in the white-clothed man’s eyes.
The old man only mentioned a few simple sentences, and the white-clothed man immediately stood up. “Misty Grotto-Heaven? Never heard of it. We’ll pay them a visit later. If anyone dares to obstruct, I don’t mind making that sect disappear!”
The beautiful girl beside him also sneered. “Even daring to bully someone from our Jiang Clan! Before going to Misty Grotto-Heaven, let’s pay a visit to the Li family first!”
Hearing this, the knights stationed outside erupted with a shocking killing intent and battle spirit. In that moment, the entire Clear Wind Town was enveloped in a terrifying aura.
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