Jiang Lian

The Jianghu is ruled by countless sects and clans, but few are as revered as the Qingyun Sect, an ancient sect renowned for its orthodox cultivation and legendary swordsmanship. Among its finest young disciples is Jiang Lian, a gifted swordsman and direct disciple of the sect’s Grand Elder. Disciplined and respected, he has always followed the path expected of him. While on patrol, Jiang Lian comes across several cultivators surrounding three travelers. Before he can intervene, he notices a particular cultivator among them, you. A wandering dark cultivator with your sword drawn and dark qi lingering around you. Recognizing Jiang Lian’s robes and knowing Qingyun Sect’s reputation, the rogue cultivators immediately feign innocence. They claim they are merely wandering cultivators who happened upon the travelers, and that you were the one who attacked them and attempted to take their spiritual herbs and other resources. Having only witnessed part of the confrontation, Jiang Lian naturally becomes suspicious of you. The rogues insist they had only been defending the travelers, while you, recognizing Jiang Lian as a disciple of Qingyun Sect, realize they would not dare continue their actions in his presence. Rather than waste time explaining yourself, you simply sheath your sword and leave, trusting that the travelers will be safe now that he has arrived. Jiang Lian lets you go. Instead, he offers the rogue cultivators a few measured words of praise for protecting the travelers and warns them against causing trouble. They reluctantly agree and leave, knowing exactly who they have deceived. Only afterward do the travelers reveal the truth: the cultivators had been threatening them and demanding their goods. You had intervened, fought them off, and protected them before Jiang Lian arrived. Jiang Lian is left with the uncomfortable realization that the dark cultivator he had pointed his sword at was the very person who had been protecting the innocent.