"Bro, you smell so good~"

Lu Ran: "..."

What kind of remark was that!

Cradled in his arms, Qiao Yuanxi lifted her head, her eyes curving into two crescents as she smiled:

"It smells like Sister Ruyi."

With that one sentence, she managed to make Lu Ran's face turn red.

"Off, off, off." Lu Ran pushed Qiao Yuanxi away promptly.

Was that the fragrance of your Sister Ruyi?

That was the aura of Luoxian Mountain, the fresh scent of the forest flowers and grass, alright?

Shouldn't say it, but it indeed smelled good.

"Why didn't Sister Ruyi come back?" Qiao Yuanxi asked with curiosity.

"You text her every day, and you're asking me?" Lu Ran huffed.

Guan Yiren: "Yuanxi!"

"Got it, got it!" Qiao Yuanxi grabbed Lu Ran's wrist, pulling him to take a seat.

No sooner had they sat down than Little Yuanxi started up again, her mouth rattling off like a machine gun:

"Bro, you've got to try the fish pot from Wang Ling's house, it's so tasty!

And this purple perilla chicken stir-fry...nah, let's start with the roast duck instead!

I'll wrap one for you~"

As she spoke, Qiao Yuanxi picked up a thin lotus leaf pancake.

Lu Ran's gaze softened significantly as he watched his little sister, suddenly feeling like she had grown up.

So caring now.

Before, she'd only ever fed me pieces of soggy lettuce and greasy crumbs from burgers...

Suddenly, the room plunged into silence.

Lu Ran realized what was happening and swept his gaze over everyone: "Come on, eat, don't act like I'm the host.

Quick, quick, quick, don't be shy."

"Ha Ha!" Niu Zhengzheng laughed heartily, picking up his chopsticks and heading straight for the beef.

Guan Yiren also picked up her chopsticks, symbolically grabbing a slice of winter bamboo shoot.

Meanwhile, Qiao Yuanxi placed cucumber strips on the pancake, spread sweet bean paste, finally wrapping the duck meat, and held it out towards Lu Ran's mouth:

"Here, ah~~~"

Qiao Yuanxi paused mid-sentence with a strange expression, "Bro, you've gotten so skilled?"

Lu Ran looked puzzled: "What do you mean?"

Qiao Yuanxi: "You can eat through the mask?"

Lu Ran: "..."

He immediately removed his hat and mask.

For a moment, the room grew quiet again.

Qiao Yuanxi, holding the lotus leaf roll, was frozen in action, staring blankly at Lu Ran.

After a moment of silence, Lu Ran put his hat back on, pulling the brim a little lower.

After advancing to the Jiang Realm, each individual's demeanor was different.

Chen Jingjing, seated beside him, undoubtedly belonged to the category of fairy-like elegance.

But compared to Lu Ran, who had just emerged from Luoxian Mountain...

She indeed paled in comparison.

This was even after Lu Ran had reined in his own brilliance!

Lu Ran had reasons for not letting Jiang Ruyi leave the mountain.

"Delicious." Lu Ran leaned forward, took a bite of the lotus leaf roll, and mumbled with his mouth full.

"Let's eat." Chen Jingjing's gaze shifted away from Lu Ran's side profile to stabilize her emotions, "Lu Ran's train is at one in the afternoon."

"Ah!" Qiao Yuanxi's eyes blinked rapidly as she looked at Lu Ran.

She suddenly reached out and stuffed the remaining half of the lotus leaf roll directly into Lu Ran's mouth.

Lu Ran: "Mmm."

"It's fine, Sister Jingjing, we're not afraid of being late," Qiao Yuanxi said with a smile, "we'll just cancel the train ticket, drive, and go with brother."

Lu Ran: "Hmm?"

In fact, he had already realized that the meeting wasn't just for old time's sake.

Hadn't Guan Yiren just said there was something to discuss?

Qiao Yuanxi, supporting her cheek with one hand, tilted her head to look at Lu Ran's fair and handsome face under the brim of his cap:

"Bro, this fifteenth, we want to go with you to protect Rain Alley, okay?"

Lu Ran, unceremoniously, pushed her face away.

I just said you've grown up,

but have you grown into a hooligan?

He lifted his eyes toward Guan Yiren: "School assignment?"

Guan Yiren silently lowered her head to nibble on the bamboo shoot, not even looking at Lu Ran.

Wang Ling suddenly spoke: "Heavenly Pride, it was me who wanted to go. My teammates are accompanying me."

Lu Ran picked up a pancake and started rolling the roast duck: "What's the point of going to that little place?"

Even as he said this, he had his suspicions.

Was this person using Little Yuanxi's relationship to find him because he wanted to get on "Heavenly Pride"?

To gain fame as a photographer?

The influence of "Heavenly Pride" was enough to give anyone a boost.

For these growing, developing college students, the benefits that "Heavenly Pride" could bring were undoubtedly huge.

For instance, enhancing personal influence in school, society, being valued by Beijing University, being regarded by sects, and so on.

All of it could be a stepping stone for personal development and takeoff.

Wang Ling glanced at Guan Yiren, and seeing her nod slightly, he began to speak:

"There may be trouble in Rain Alley City this fifteenth."

Lu Ran paused while rolling the duck meat, then resumed as if nothing happened: "The night of the fifteenth in Rain Alley City, it's rarely peaceful."

Guan Yiren suddenly said: "Get to the point."

Wang Ling pondered for a moment, then spoke: "Heavenly Pride, an elder from my family has been asked to stay in Rain Alley City."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jingjing's expression grew grave.

Lu Ran also frowned.

Damn!

Is Rain Alley really cursed?

The fifteenth is coming, and Rain Alley City even needs outside powers to take up positions?

Lu Ran still remembered back in September, the fifteenth last year, when he saw Martial Artist believers flying through the sky unintentionally.

And that night, a Demon Lord descended upon the city.

Moreover, it was the Sea Realm Demon Lord·Yin Flower!

Wang Ling continued: "This uncle of mine is a Gun Corpse Believer, just like you, he's from the Jiang Realm."

Hearing this, Lu Ran felt a sense of relief.

It seemed it wasn't as bad as a Demon Lord coming from the Sea Realm?

"Here." Lu Ran wrapped the lotus leaf pancake and offered it to Qiao Yuanxi's mouth.

"It was really for me after all!"

Qiao Yuanxi was thrilled, biting into it with an "awoo."

Her cheeks puffed out adorably.

You could even pass for a pufferfish without being angry~

Wang Ling: "Heavenly Pride, as you know, the powers assigned to each town by the Human Clan are targeted."

Lu Ran finally turned to look at Wang Ling: "Do you mean the Evil Spear Emperor is coming?"

When Evil Demon·Yin Flower attacked last time, why was the Human Clan Great Power stationed in Rain Alley a Martial Artist believer?

Because the Martial Artist sect had been longstanding enemies with the Yin Flower Clan!

Why the Human Clan had been prepared in advance, the source of the information, or the result of calculation, divination or other methods, that was a different matter.

Similarly,

The Gun Corpse sect and the Evil Demon·Evil Spear Emperor Clan were also mortal enemies.

Hence, Wang Ling's reference of "targeted deployment."

Human Clan believers can receive rewards from their gods when they slay their greatest adversaries!

The more enemies you kill, the more you win your god's favor.

Not to mention the huge blessings like "Divine Blessing."

Even just the chance for Wang Ling to present his merits and exchange a word with the god, to leave an impression on Elder Gun Corpse, would be wonderful.

"Wang Ling." Guan Yiren reminded him softly.

At this moment, Wang Ling, questioned by Lu Ran, his face stiffened.

To put it accurately, it was Lu Ran's gaze...

Lu Ran smiled apologetically and pushed down his cap's brim a bit more.

"Sixty to seventy percent," said Wang Ling quickly, becoming serious.

"Sixty to seventy percent," Lu Ran repeated with a heavy sigh.

The sworn enemy of a First-class God wasn't to be taken lightly.

The strength of the Evil Demon·Evil Spear Emperor was beyond doubt.

Once again, Lu Ran's old problem emerged; he didn't want Qiao Yuanxi to face danger.

Like the time they went to Night Charm Demon Cave for training, Lu Ran really wanted Little Yuanxi to go back.

Lu Ran spoke: "Rain Alley is small, and its various facilities and believer support aren't complete, can't compare with Beijing.

Surveillance, medical treatment, logistic support, and everything...

In short, if you are going there for a mission, you'll need to adapt well."

Guan Yiren spoke gently, a rare long sentence: "Our team has decided to guard Rain Alley City this fifteenth.

Since you've always been stationed in Rain Alley, we wanted to let you know."

Beside the girl, Niu Zhengzheng, who was devouring his food, suddenly paused: "What? Why are you kicking me?"

Guan Yiren: "..."

Niu Zhengzheng wasn't too slow on the uptake and immediately understood: "Ran Bro, Wang Ling is our teammate!

He stumbled upon this piece of information and insisted on seizing the opportunity. Our team has got to back him up."

Qiao Yuanxi nodded in agreement.

She believed that if the roles were reversed and it was her instead, her three teammates would go to every length as well.

Lu Ran looked at his sister; though he felt helpless, he couldn't really object:

"Fine, I'll accompany you guys."

"Ha ha! There we have it!" Niu Zhengzheng laughed loudly, his voice resembling a cracked gong, "With us together, aren't we invincible?"

Guan Yiren facepalmed.

Qiao Yuanxi said, "By the way, bro, being a Jiang Realm Great Power, you must have other tasks, right?"

Lu Ran shrugged: "I'm participating in 'Heavenly Pride'. I can't stay on the top floor of Wu Lie Building all the time.

Besides, if you return to Rain Alley, shouldn't I be with you every step of the way?"

"Hee hee~" Qiao Yuanxi flashed a happy smile, "You're the best to me, brother!"

Lu Ran scoffed.

The best again?

Wasn't I just foolish and cold-blooded?

"Let's get one thing straight," Lu Ran's gaze swept across everyone, "accompanying me on a mission means you'll be on 'Heavenly Pride'.

Every one of your moves will be exposed, watched frame by frame by the audience.

'Heavenly Pride' can amplify your strengths, but it can also magnify your weaknesses tenfold."

Wang Ling immediately said: "Don't worry, Heavenly Pride. We understand!

We are loyal fans of 'Heavenly Pride' and have indeed been studying your combat skills."

Niu Zhengzheng grinned, utterly unconcerned: "To be on a mission with Ran Bro again, haha!"

Wang Ling looked at his teammates, who one by one picked up their glasses: "Having Heavenly Pride lead our team in dealing with this special event ensures our safety.

We can't thank you enough now, but in the future, we will."

Lu Ran also picked up his glass: "You're too kind. You are Little Yuanxi's comrades-in-arms, naturally, you are mine.

Having a strong team to guard Rain Alley City is something I should be thankful for."

Wang Ling, facing the beyond-ordinary and humbly cordial Da Xia No.1 Heavenly Pride, couldn't help but feel deeply moved.

Setting aside all other factors, this was a Jiang Realm Great Power, engaging in a friendly exchange with him.

In that moment, Wang Ling's respect was clearly etched upon his face.

He substituted tea for wine, filled his cup, and felt extremely fortunate.

It wasn't in vain that his family had made so much effort to connect him with this team.

Guan Yiren, Niu Zhengzheng, Qiao Yuanxi...

The backgrounds of these three individuals, each more terrifying than the next.

Only Qiao Yuanxi didn't belong to the "big clan" category, with her family comprising just three people.

Yet the other two,

One being the Jinghong Peak Master of the Sword One sect.

The other, the awe-inspiring First Heavenly Pride of Da Xia!

What teammates those were, just try managing them!

As long as he didn't screw up, would those rotten garlic heads have a chance at the future family head position?

...

It's the start of the month, fellow brothers, I'm asking for your monthly ticket support!

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