Chapter 82 - Ancient Desolation Jiang Family
“Why would such a group of powerful cultivators come to this small town to find those surnamed Jiang?” Ye Fan’s heart could not remain calm. He quickly made his way to Uncle Jiang and little Tingting.
Clearwind Town had never seen so many strange beasts. The dozen or so beast’s scales flickered and divine light curled around them, causing the people on the street to feel incomparable fear as they quickly ran away.
A thirty-year-old or so horseman mounted upon a beast covered in green jade scales tried to show a kind expression, saying, “You don’t need to be afraid. We don’t have any evil intentions, we just want to know whether this small town has anyone whose family name is Jiang.”
Although he tried very much to act in such a manner, these people were clearly knights who had lived through hundreds of battles. Having gone through blade and bloodshed, their natural killing intent caused these townsmen be scared witless.
An old farmer pointed towards the western street, his lips trembling as he spit out a couple unclear words, “That street…the largest house…is it.”
“Many thanks.” These people rode their ferocious beasts slowly towards that small town’s western street.
Not far, Ye Fan’s heart relaxed. So there were actually other families whose surname was Jiang. He quickly rushed towards the western street, but not long after he quickly returned to the small restaurant.
“Uncle Jiang…”
“Child, what happened?” The old man walked out from the kitchen.
Little Tingting was washing a bowl of bright red fruits. She adorably carried them over, her large black eyes blinking with a curious light, asking, “What happened big brother?”
“It’s like this…”
Ye Fan told Uncle Jiang everything he had just heard and seen, before then asking, “Uncle, have you ever had any interaction with these people?”
Uncle Jiang shook his head, saying, “I’ve lived for over seventy years and I’ve basically never left this small town. There’s no way I would know people like that.”
“Many strange beasts? I wanna see what they’re like…” Little Tingting’s energetic eyes seemed to flash with stars, running out of the small restaurant and curiously looking down the end of the street.
Seeing that little Tingting was no longer in front of them, he quietly whispered, “Is it something to do with Tingting’s parents?”
“Not likely.” The old man eyes flashed with grief. “They were always cultivating within the Hazy Light Paradise. They never traveled far from it, and all the friends they knew were also from the same sect.”
“So many strange beasts…their feet don’t even touch the ground…” Little Tingting was standing right outside the little restaurant. Her rosy little face was covered in shock and excitement as she shouted out, “Grandpa, quickly come look. They’re coming over to where we are.”
Ye Fan and the old man hastily walked out. The mounts were quickly rushing over, flying without kicking up any dust. All of the beasts were all walking across the void, floating over three inches above the ground.
“They seem so vicious.” Little Tingting was now slightly afraid because other than those central three figures, the other knights were all emitting their natural killing intent, and an inherent battle intent filled the air.
Ye Fan hastily grabbed little Tingting’s hand, then supported Uncle Jiang. Ordinary people were truly unable to handle such pressure. If they had to face it for a long time, they could only prostrate themselves in fear.
The beasts stopped outside the small restaurant. Shaking their heads and tails, their scales flashing with all kinds of light, the beasts appeared just like divine spirit mounts. But the divine splendor could not cover the bloody demonic aura around them. It was obvious that they had all experienced many bloody battles, and were not some pampered animals raised in the fields.
“Is this the Jiang family?” asked the central young man, who appeared very scholarly and handsome. His clothes were whiter than snow and his eyes seemed like water, filled with specks of divine light. Sitting upon the golden divine Tiger Dragon, he had an immortal air, completely different from those other knights who were filled with killing intent.
Uncle Jiang’s wrinkled face was seemed completely puzzled as he asked, “It is. What does everyone want?”
The old man was already over seventy, and his face was worn down by the passing of the years. Wrinkles had long since etched themselves upon him and his old eyes seemed somewhat turbid.
Seeing how old he was, the teenager upon the five-colored beast immediately frowned, saying, “It’s just an ordinary old man who is reaching the end of his longevity. It’s not possible for him to be who we’re looking for.”
The man mounted on the golden divine Tiger Dragon looked over him, and the youth upon the five-colored beast immediately became somewhat apprehensive, saying nothing more.
“Uncle, have you always lived in Clearwind Town?”
“Yes, I’ve basically never left,” the old man replied truthfully.
“Did your grandparents also live here, or did they move to this town later?” the man upon the golden divine Tiger Dragon continued asking.
“My parents moved here during their time, and then I was born. Do you guys…need something?” Uncle Jiang didn’t understand what was happening.
Hearing these words, the man upon the golden divine Tiger Dragon immediately jumped off. His white clothes fluttered in the breeze, but even his boots were untouched by dust. He seemed extremely handsome and extraordinary, definitely capable of being called a handsome man. Describing him as being carved from divine jade would not be overdoing it.
“Uncle, I’d like to ask you for your guidance on a problem I hope you can answer.”
“You flatter me. If I know, I will of course answer.” Uncle Jiang was just an ordinary old man. Towards these strange beasts and cultivators, his heart was filled with reverence.
Little Tingting, on the other hand, was somewhat nervous, tightly holding Ye Fan’s hand and hiding behind him and the old man. She was somewhat afraid and curious as she looked up at those fierce beasts and the knights.
“First of all, please forgive me for asking, but are your parents still alive within this world?” the white-clothed man somewhat nervously asked.
Uncle Jiang was somewhat skeptical, but he still replied, “They died over fifty years ago.”
“What?!” The white-clothed man immediately became dazed. His jade-like face was alarmed, as he sighed.
“I already said that this is just an ordinary old man…” The five-colored beast’s youth appeared impatient as though he wished to leave here as quickly as possible.
“Shut up!” The white-clothed man turned his head and glared at him before turning back and continuing questioning. “I’d like to continue asking for your forgiveness, but was your father called Jiang Zhe?”
“How…how did you know?” Uncle Jiang asked in shock.
The maiden mounted upon the Divine Deer which was radiating silver light was astonished, saying, “Looks like we really found them.” Her body was tall and thin, her skin white as jade, her face appearing extremely cunning and beautiful. She seemed to possess a proud air, giving people the sense she was far beyond their reach.
The youth upon the five-colored beast frowned, saying, “Such an ordinary countryside old man, how could he possibly be of our Jiang Family’s blood. If he really is senior Jiang Zhe’s son, how could he not know how to cultivate? It’s definitely just a case of similar names…”
“Old sir, can you carefully tell me about it?” The white-clothed young man’s attitude had been very gentle from the start, supporting Uncle Jiang and asking, “Can we enter and talk it over in detail?”
Those knights all guarded the outside. The white-clothed man supported Uncle Jiang back into the small restaurant. The arrogant youth and that very beautiful maiden also followed inside.
Seeing that they didn’t have any evil intentions, Ye Fan pulled little Tingting to sit at the side, not saying anything.
“Did Senior Jiang Zhe have any red birthmarks on his left arm?”
“There were five. How do you know even this?” Uncle Jiang was extremely amazed.
“Senior Jiang Zhe actually did go live in seclusion within Yan. I never expected that he would have already died fifty years ago…” The white-clothed young man lightly sighed. “Old sir, or actually, maybe I should be calling you great uncle.”
“I would not dare!” Seeing him actually bow towards him, Uncle Jiang hastily lifted up the white-clothed man.
“Why haven’t you two paid your respects yet!” said the white-clothed man to the other two.
“Paying respect to great uncle.” The beautiful maiden bowed deeply, at the same time casting a glance at Ye Fan and little Tingting.
That youth on the other hand was somewhat unwilling, mumbling, “Paying respects to great uncle.” Quickly bowing, he acted very perfunctory.
“This…” Uncle Jiang didn’t understand what was going on or why they would act this way.
“Big brother, big sister, do you guys recognize my grandpa?” Little Tingting was also very puzzled, her long eyelashes trembling and her clever eyes perplexed.
Seeing such an innocent and cute girl, the white-clothed man dotingly patted her on the head, saying, “We come from the same family.”
“What family?” Little Tingting’s curiously blinked her large eyes.
“An ancient noble family from the Ancient Desolation – the Jiang Family. Later, you’ll slowly understand just how extraordinary our family is within the Eastern Wastelands.”
Ye Fan’s heart trembled. Ancient Desolation Noble Families were on the same level as Sacred Lands; they were both supreme existences. Their position within the Eastern Wastelands was too high to reach.
According to what Ye Fan knew, the Jiang surname was similar to the Ji surname. It was one of China’s most ancient family names. According to the recordings of history, the Jiang surname was the Flame Emperor’s posterity, as that surname arose from the Flame Emperor’s birthplace. The surname came from how the first Flame Emperor, Shennong, was born from Jiangshui River.[1]
Ye Fan was shocked, never thinking that he would find this surname on the other side of the starry sky and that it would be so supreme. It truly was far out of his expectations.
“Senior Jiang Zhe’s talent was absolutely stunning back in the day. He made a name for himself at such a young age. Later, his might shook the entire Eastern Wastelands, and step by step, he reached a point where he could shake heaven and earth. I never thought that…” The white-clothed man was very regretful. He had already noticed that the old man’s life was not going very well, never expecting that the next generation of such a powerful person would be reduced to such an extent.
Beside him, that maiden still didn’t understand, asking, “Did Senior Jiang Zhe not pass on any cultivation methods to you back in the day?”
“What is cultivation…?” Uncle Jiang was muddled silly, muttering to himself, “I don’t even know what you guys are talking about.”
“Many things happened back thing, and it’s difficult to explain it clearly. Old sir, would you be willing to go back with us?” After saying this, the white-clothed man then turned to look at Ye Fan and little Tingting.
“My surname isn’t Jiang. Tingting is Uncle Jiang’s only granddaughter,” Ye Fan hastily explained.
“The family head’s bloodline failed Senior Jiang Zhe, but now those events are over and we can bring you and Tingting back to the Jiang Family.”
The old man was somewhat dazed. Although he understood what they were saying, it was hard to accept.
The maiden saw that little Tingting was very adorable, smiling and saying to her, “Does Tingting have any wishes? Big sister can you help you achieve them.”
“I don’t have any special wishes. I just want to stay with grandpa and also big brother.”
“Any other wishes?”
Little Tingting carefully thought it over, and her voice was very tender as she said, “I want to be able to eat till I’m full every day and not have anyone bully me and grandpa.”
Hearing this, the maiden immediately became distracted.
As for the white-clothed man, great waves seemed to appear on his face as he gloomily asked, “You guys are bullied every day?”
“Right. Before big brother came, those bad people would always come bully us.” Little Tingting’s innocent words caused these people’s faces to immediately change.
“Old sir, I forgot to ask, but where are Tingting’s parents?”
Uncle Jiang immediately became emotional, saying, “I had a son, but in the end, my child died young as I lived on…”
“What happened?!” The maiden’s eyes opened wide in disbelief.
“I also don’t know whether they were killed or whether it was just an accident…” Little Tingting’s eyes immediately turned red when she heard this.
“Tell us about it in detail!” Two divine lights flickered within the white-clothed man’s eyes at this moment.
The old man only simply explained it in a couple sentences. The white-clothed man immediately stood up, saying, “Hazy Light Paradise. Never heard of it. In a bit we’ll go for a stroll over there. If there are people who dare to block us, I wouldn’t mind having this sect disappear!”
The beautiful maiden also coldly smiled, saying, “Even daring to harass our Jiang Family’s people, we first have to handle the Li family before going to the Hazy Light Paradise!”
Those knights guarding outside all heard this, and their killing intent immediately exploded out. At this moment, all of Clearwind Town was completely enshrouded by a frightening aura.
[1] According to legend, there was a tribe of which the leaders were called Flame Emperors. Shennong is said to be the very first Flame Emperor of that tribe. The legend also says that the Jiang surname came from there, and the so-called saying is that Shennong was born from Jiangshui river, and so they took its name.