Seven days later, by the bamboo forest.

Hearing Wind rising, leaves flitting.

Lu Ran cradled his twin swords, seated in the midst of the bamboo path.

Around him, some tens of meters away, three battle groups were in action.

Deng Yutang's cries of war were fierce and aggressive, befitting the name of a Red Scarf Believer.

Chang Ying, shouting continuously with her giant axe, did not fall behind; though merely a habitual gambler, she lived the aspect of West Desolation.

Tian Tian was considerably quieter, wielding her three-foot long sword and striving to dodge and weave through the siege of three bamboo demons.

Her battle group was the one Lu Ran paid most attention to and offered the most guidance.

"Too deep!"

Though his eyes were covered by a red scarf, Lu Ran precisely pinpointed Tian Tian's mistake.

While mentoring his trainees, he was, of course, also striving to improve himself.

Lu Ran even attempted to gather all the information from the three battle groups at once!

"Don't plant your steps too firmly in offense, always think of how to retreat safely."

"Keep back a third of your force in each strike—your retreat is what you make it."

Lu Ran continued to speak, then slightly bowed his head again, his ear tilted to listen.

These concepts had been instilled in him since childhood.

Since Lu Ran had mastered Evil Sense and Evil Sensitivity, his fighting capabilities had been maximized.

Ironically, the person who taught him these concepts...

was dead.

Dead by the banks of Wu Lie River, atop that dilapidated rooftop.

"I'm not talking about you two," Lu Ran spoke again, "you two should be rash when it's called for."

"Of course not! Brother Ran is absolutely right!" Far away, Chang Ying's laughter could be heard.

It was hard to imagine she was engaged in close combat with three bamboo demons.

Truly a scene of jovial slaughter...

Her battle axe had been replaced by a bamboo stick, as if she feared accidentally shattering her sparring partners.

Lu Ran shook his head: "My style doesn't suit you...hm?"

Smelling...

Suddenly, Lu Ran twitched his nose; amidst the scent of bamboo, he caught the spicy aroma of meat.

Someone was behind him.

This was not unusual, as the place was close to Bamboo Village, and it was common for trainees to pass by here.

Lu Ran sidestepped, yielding the path through the bamboo.

Unexpectedly, the spiced meat aroma stopped right beside him, followed by a young man's voice:

"Brother, you smell so good."

"Huh?" Lu Ran was a bit dazed.

"Ah, no!" The young man quickly shook his head, "What I mean is, you are very strong!"

Lu Ran: "..."

The young man's voice was resonant and unique, "I heard you mentoring them?"

Lu Ran didn't respond but turned to face the young man, "You do smell quite nice."

"Duck, spicy and salty," the young man lifted a bamboo basket he carried, "Wanna try?"

"Gulp." Lu Ran's throat bobbed.

It had been a whole seven days living in this Bamboo Village, surviving on bland meals, which truly left one craving more taste.

He wondered what the military of this Demon Cave was thinking.

Most trainees were young; not feeding them well—how could they get enough nutrition?

Lu Ran was almost sick of eating bamboo shoots...

The young man opened the lid of the bamboo basket, taking out a duck wing and passing it over, "Don't mind."

Lu Ran hesitated for a moment before asking, "How much?"

The young man laughed, "Misunderstanding, brother, I'm not selling these."

Lu Ran: "..."

"What's up?" Chang Ying easily defeated three Initial Stage Mist Realm bamboo demons.

It was truly, a punch per child.

She turned and saw a young man in his early twenties standing beside Lu Ran.

His posture was upright, his eyes bright, exuding a courageous aura.

However, such a majestic appearance didn't hold Chang Ying's gaze for long.

Because she saw the duck wing!

"Yay, tasty!" Chang Ying's eyes lit up, and she walked briskly over.

"Sorry, I brought this for my sister," the young man apologized with a smile.

"Ah..." as if struck by lightning, Chang Ying hadn't yet left the bamboo forest, already frozen in place.

Her skin was naturally dark, and now, it looked as if turned to stone.

"Did you just say this was for me?" Lu Ran opened his palm.

"For you to taste," the young man handed over the duck wing.

"Ran darling!" Chang Ying suddenly revived, sounding pitiful, "Keep the leftover bones for me, let me enjoy the flavor, okay?"

"One half each, keep the wing tip for me," Lu Ran shook his hand.

"Hah, Ran darling is the best!" Chang Ying was overjoyed, striding forward, startling the young man into stepping back.

My God!

What in the world was rolling over to him, a big black bear?

The young man stared at Chang Ying for several seconds, then turned back to Lu Ran and remembered his purpose.

Glancing at the red scarf covering Lu Ran's eyes, he asked,

"Brother, are you a North Wind Believer? Can you hear the wind?"

Lu Ran shook his head: "No, I am not a North Wind Believer.

I am a swordsman."

"Damn!" the young man gasped slightly, "Awesome! That's the best answer I've ever heard!"

Lu Ran slightly lifted his head, gesturing to the battle group directly in front of the east.

The young man turned his eyes and naturally saw the valiant Red Scarf Believer: "What happened to him?"

Lu Ran shrugged, "His sister told me."

The young man nodded, full of admiration: "His sister is awesome!

That's the best answer I've ever heard!"

Lu Ran: "..."

The young man sighed, "My sister has also gone blind.

Sigh...

She does not have your sort of lofty thoughts or good mentality."

Lu Ran opened his mouth, but amidst the young man's sighs, he didn't explain, instead asking, "Divine Technique can't cure it?"

The young man shook his head, "Tried everything, sigh...anyway, shall we spar a bit?"

"Spar?" Lu Ran realized why the young man had approached to start a conversation.

The young man nodded affirmatively, "You must be very strong! By the way, what Believer are you?"

Lu Ran answered, "I am just Stream Realm Fourth Rank."

Whenever strangers suggest "sparring," they are generally above River Realm.

Da Xia had an unwritten rule:

To avoid unnecessary casualties, a benign sparring fight required that both sides possess "Water Flow Armor."

The fight would be deemed over once someone's armor shattered.

"You a Stream Realm? Are you a high school student?" the young man stared, dumbfounded.

"Yes." Lu Ran nodded lightly.

"This…" the young man looked at Chang Ying again, as she ate the duck wing.

Considering Chang Ying's demeanor and size, one might think she was 21 or 22.

"Keep me some." Lu Ran suddenly spoke.

"Oh." Chang Ying took out the wing tip, reluctantly, but still touched it to Lu Ran's lips.

"What Believer are you?" Lu Ran nibbled on the tip, murmurously speaking and taking a breath of cool air, "Sister can eat quite spicy."

"Loves spicy," the young man responded, "I am an East Thunder Believer."

"East Thunder?!" Lu Ran felt a stir in his heart.

Second-class God·East Ting!

Commonly known amongst the folk as East Thunder Spear, one of the Four Directions Martial Heroes.

The statue of Divine·East Thunder could be described in two words—Lv Bu!

Yes, when Lu Ran first saw East Thunder Spear's stone sculpture in a book, those were the two words that popped into his head.

Equally majestic, also wielding a square sky halberd.

What is called a hair crown, which is called a Tang Ni armor...

Aside from not having the Red Hare Horse, Divine·East Thunder lost nothing!

Compared to the Lord of Wen, Divine·East Thunder also had a body wrapped in purple electricity, his tiger-eyes flashing with purple lightning; it was extremely intimidating!

Lu Ran resided in the small Rain Alley City, where the quality of students was also low.

On God Worshipping Day, Lu Ran had not been fortunate enough to witness this awe-inspiring God of War.

"That's too bad," the young man said, visibly disappointed, shaking his head.

The young man was obviously itching for a challenge, seeing a strong individual like Lu Ran and very keen to learn something.

"Still, we could fight," Lu Ran suddenly said.

"Oh?" The young man perked up instantly.

Lu Ran shrugged, "Let's use bamboo sticks as weapons, and stop when a hit is scored?"

"Master." Tian Tian approached, first calling out, then looking curiously at the strange young man.

Seven days ago, Tian Tian had timidly called out "Master" for the first time; by now, she did so smoothly and naturally.

"There's progress." Lu Ran extended his hand, patting Tian Tian's head.

"Mhmm." Tian Tian smiled sweetly, her beautiful eyes curving into crescent moons.

The intense seven days of training had naturally borne some fruits.

Tian Tian's call of "Master" wasn't in vain; Lu Ran had truly imparted all he knew.

He had practiced martial arts since childhood and naturally had some tricks up his sleeve.

Don't think that Lu Ran's fighting capabilities depended solely on Evil Techniques.

It's undeniable that Evil Sense and Evil Sensitivity were what drastically boosted Lu Ran's capabilities.

But the solid foundation laid by his father was the root of Lu Ran's growth and rise as a martial artist.

It was just a pity Tian Tian didn't use a sword.

Otherwise, Lu Ran could have taught her much more.

That said, as a Sword Lotus believer, Tian Tian's position within the team was central, generally engaging in long-range casting, so the expectations for her needed some adjustment.

"That settles it, brother!" the young man spoke up, "You still use a sword, just shatter my Water Flow Armor.

I'll switch to a bamboo stick, and we'll stop at a touch!"

Lu Ran: "Let's both use bamboo sticks, swords and swords are blind, and my habits are hard to change."

The young man: "What habits?"

"Of course, the habit of killing enemies!" Deng Yutang also approached, "Brother Lu's blade never strays far from the vitals!

East Thunder Believer, I advise you to be careful."

"Good!" The young man grew increasingly excited, his battle spirit soaring, "Then let's begin!"

Lu Ran: "How do we determine the victor?"

The young man paused, looking at Lu Ran, "You still think you can win? I am River Realm Second Rank!"

Lu Ran, however, smiled: "River Realm? They say kill, I just kill."

Young man: ?????

Lu Ran quickly clarified: "I mean the Evil Demon."

The young man stared blankly at Lu Ran.

Was this blind youth...

Really so fierce?

Had it been some other Stream Realm nobody talking so big, the young man might have scoffed, perhaps even scoffed a few more.

But facing Lu Ran, the young man could clearly feel that inward radiance of confidence.

The so-called aura of a strong person, just like this!

"Alright, alright, alright!" The young man nodded repeatedly, "If you lose, just grant me one request."

Upon hearing this, Lu Ran slightly furrowed his brows.

The young man quickly said, "It's a small request, you don't even have to agree, it doesn't matter."

Lu Ran then nodded, "If you lose, then give us four more duck wings."

Upon hearing this, Chang Ying, who was still sucking on bones, immediately lit up!

"Four?" The young man looked at the bamboo basket in his hand.

If he were eating them himself, why not give them all away?

But his sister was still waiting in the little bamboo house...

"Yeah, look at this big glutton here," Lu Ran gestured towards Chang Ying beside him, "She's almost chewed the bones to bits."

"I'll go chop the bamboo sticks!" Chang Ying, delighted, hurried to prepare weapons for both sides.

Soon, two one-meter-long thin bamboo sticks, and one two-meter-thick bamboo stick, were delivered to their hands.

"Tian Tian, guard the basket," Lu Ran instructed.

"Okay," Tian Tian came beside the bamboo basket and squatted down.

The young man's eyes sharpened, gradually entering combat mode: "Brother Lu is very confident, already guarding the spoils?"

Lu Ran shook his head lightly, "I'm afraid while we fight, this big glutton might steal the duck wings."

Chang Ying: "..."

The young man was not bothered by Lu Ran's reply. He seemed transformed, edges sharp, and his presence impressive!

Before combat, as was his habit, he stated his name with his weapon: "Justice, Hao Tian!"

"What?" Lu Ran wasn't quite sure he had heard right.

The young man pondered for a moment, tightened his grip on his long stick, and declared,

"Qiantang River, Hao Tian!"

Lu Ran suddenly understood, his legs slightly bent, using the stick as if it were his sword, held it across his front:

"Wu Lie River, Lu Ran."

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