At nightfall, Immortal Scenic Garden, Qiao Mansion.

The room was pitch black, with no lights on.

After his bath, Lu Ran, wearing pajamas and with a towel still draped over his head, sat blankly on the sofa.

Atop Jinghong Peak, his mother's words still echoed in his ears:

"Do not lose yourself."

This was a piece of advice.

She also indirectly informed Lu Ran that this world was different from what he perceived.

From Qiao Wanjun's perspective, her words might have caused a great stir in Lu Ran's heart.

However, in reality, Lu Ran was already prepared.

After all, Lord Immortal Goat had explicitly told Lu Ran about the huge risks involved in challenging the Divine Ruins and venturing into another realm.

And that going there would let Lu Ran realize the true nature of the world.

Qiao Wanjun clearly did not realize that Divine·Immortal Goat was different from other deities.

From the moment Lu Ran began to worship God, Lord Immortal Goat had often instilled certain ideas in him.

For example:

Deities?

Heh, just a bunch of stones.

Or:

Everything about Human Clan believers does not belong to them.

People's lives, their thoughts and beliefs, even their souls after death, all serve the deities.

These utterly rebellious views and transformative perceptions had always influenced Lu Ran.

Even the deities fervently worshiped by the people were regarded by Lu Ran with a different attitude...

Was there anything else Lu Ran could not accept?

From the beginning, Lu Ran was never a conventional believer!

But indeed,

there was one thing that hugely shocked Lu Ran!

It was when Qiao Wanjun uttered the words "Do not lose yourself" and her action right then!

She gently hugged Lu Ran, brought her lips close to his ear, and spoke those words.

Each and every word, resonating in his ears.

At that moment, Lu Ran was dazed!

Um... well, even now, Lu Ran still sat blankly on the sofa, dazed.

Lu Ran held immense respect for his mother.

He didn't need her to be stern; even if she advised him with a smile, Lu Ran would listen earnestly.

Lu Ran had never imagined!

She would lean into his ear and feed him those words, one by one.

Just... like casting a spell.

To this moment, the phrase "Do not lose yourself" still echoed in Lu Ran's mind!

"Brother?"

"Ah, damn!" Lu Ran was startled, quickly moving to the side.

He turned his head, only to see Qiao Yuansi standing in front of the sofa, curiously watching him.

The lights in the house were already on, though Lu Ran did not know when they had been turned on.

"What's wrong?" Qiao Yuansi looked worried, "I've been calling you for a while, and you didn't respond."

"Ah... ah." Lu Ran raised his hand, wiping his head with the towel.

Watching her brother's preoccupied look, Qiao Yuansi grew even more anxious.

She couldn't just play around; she sat down next to Lu Ran, hugged his arm, and whispered:

"Bro, did you experience a breakup?"

Lu Ran: "..."

Qiao Yuansi's eyes widened: "Does Sister Ruyi not want us anymore?"

Lu Ran rolled his eyes.

Qiao Yuansi panicked: "Did you guys fight?

Did she fall for someone else?

Did... did you cheat?"

Lu Ran: ??

What's all this mess!

He turned his head to look at Qiao Yuansi and pushed her away: "It has nothing to do with Ruyi."

"Then what's wrong?" Qiao Yuansi was genuinely worried.

"I..." Lu Ran opened his mouth.

How should I say this?

Can I say that Mom 'cast a spell' on me with her devilish voice?

That wouldn't be appropriate!

Sigh...

Truly, a world-shattering figure among humans!

A simple phrase, and it still dominates my mind.

In the future, who knows how long it will persist... wait!

Did she anticipate I would encounter trouble in the future and left a phrase in my mind beforehand?

That's possible!

It sounds like something she would do.

Due to Qiao Wanjun's cold nature, the love she showed her children had always been tepid.

In the three years Lu Ran had lived here, some things she did and some words she spoke often took a long while before Lu Ran realized their significance.

Perhaps some care had still gone unnoticed by Lu Ran.

Moreover, the hug today was one of the reasons for his daze.

The last hug dates back to when Lu Ran was under five years old.

In any case, the scene today at Jinghong Peak had thoroughly made its mark in Lu Ran's heart.

"Why are you zoning out again?" Qiao Yuansi held Lu Ran's arm, swaying it back and forth, "Bro, don't scare me!"

"If it doesn't work out, just break up, I'll find you another one!"

"You are Da Xia's number one Heavenly Pride, still lack a girlfriend?"

"What do you think about Sister Yiren?"

"Bro~~~"

Lu Ran was numbed.

He turned his head to look at Qiao Yuansi, helplessly saying: "Is there anything else in your head besides dating?"

Qiao Yuansi looked doubtful: "Really not a breakup?"

Lu Ran exasperatedly said: "Why must it be a breakup?"

Qiao Yuansi muttered: "Wang Ling looked just like you when he had a breakup!

All distraught and disheveled like a drowned... cough, so what is it then?"

Lu Ran: "I went to see Mom."

Qiao Yuansi suddenly changed color, grabbing Lu Ran's wrist, anxiously saying: "What happened to Mom?"

Lu Ran: "She's fine, she's at Jinghong Peak in cultivation retreat, I visited her.

She taught me a lesson on life, ideals and such, I'm just coming to terms with it."

Qiao Yuansi breathed a sigh of relief, then her eyebrows shot up: "You went to see Mom?"

"Yes."

"You went secretly without me, to see Mom?"

"What kind of accusation is that! I... ah! Ah?"

Qiao Yuansi grabbed a pillow from the sofa, cheeks puffing up in anger: "Stinky brother, why didn't you take me with you, huh?"

"You're so rebellious!" Lu Ran also grabbed a pillow.

"Ah! How dare you retaliate? You... Brother! Brother~ I was wrong!"

"Who's the stinky brother?"

"Bro~ good brother! Uh~ bullying, boo hoo~~~"

"Speak up! Open the mic! Come on!" At this moment, Si Xianxian's soul took over.

"I am I am! I'm the stinky sister..."

Lu Ran threw aside the pillow, freeing Qiao Yuansi's restrained hands.

Qiao Yuansi quickly ran away, pointing at Lu Ran, too agitated to speak.

Finally, she angrily stomped her foot and stormed off, huffing.

Watching the adorable little pufferfish, Lu Ran suddenly said, "Shall we go for burgers in a bit?"

Qiao Yuansi unconsciously paused.

Lu Ran stayed in Beijing for a few days, then joined Qiao Yuansi and her squad, heading to Rain Alley City.

He participated in "Heavenly Pride" every even-numbered month.

Therefore, this November 15, Lu Ran and others were not wearing cameras.

This time, Lu Ran and the Beijing team continued to be stationed in the plaza area.

The good news was, that night in Rain Alley City, there were no special events.

The bad news, even without special events, the frequency of Evil Demon invasions had increased significantly.

This world,

was becoming increasingly troubled.

Until the 16th of the lunar month, as the sky lightened with the dawn, Lu Ran gazed at the devastated Rain Alley City, feeling very heavy-hearted.

Rain Alley,

I'm about to leave.

What will you do?

"Sigh..." Lu Ran thought, deeply sighing.

"Lu Ran."

"Hm?" Lu Ran turned to look at Guan Yiren.

After a night of battle, she still looked as pristine as freshly fallen snow.

Compared to last month, this proud Sword One disciple had finally regained her usual grace.

Guan Yiren hesitated to speak.

Lu Ran instinctively lowered his cap brim and pulled up his mask: "Speak."

After a moment of hesitation, Guan Yiren finally spoke: "Your state seems off, have you noticed?"

"Yes, Ran bro." Wang Ling, who was nearby, immediately chimed in, "Are you having some troubles?"

Guan Yiren obviously made a big effort to boldly point out the issue with Da Xia's number one Heavenly Pride:

"During breaks in the battle, you occasionally seem distracted."

Lu Ran did not explain, humbly nodding: "Thanks for the heads up, I'll be more attentive going forward."

Qiao Yuansi pouted: "My brother got a lecture from my mom!

What you're seeing now is already him being better!

On the night of the tenth, he was like a lost soul.

I even thought he had a breakup!"

Niu Zhengzheng ran over, his loud voice booming: "What's going on? My Ran bro broke up?"

Lu Ran: "..."

"Smack!"

Niu Zhengzheng's face lit up, slapping his hands together: "Haha! Isn't this an opportunity!"

Lu Ran: ?

Wang Ling quickly punched Niu Zhengzheng: "Ran bro didn't break up, don't spout nonsense!"

Niu Zhengzheng paused, then chuckled sheepishly: "Heh heh~"

Lu Ran's smile was peculiar, looking at Niu Zhengzheng: "How are things with you? I've been meaning to ask, did that girl contact you?"

Since it was already day and the battle had ended long ago, Lu Ran opened up as well.

Niu Zhengzheng grinned: "We added each other last month, and the talk has been good.

Our two squads even agreed to train together this month!"

This was something Lu Ran had learned from Qiao Yuansi.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have brought it up.

In reality, Lu Ran also knew about the two sides exchanging WeChat contacts.

On the eighteenth of last month, after he pushed Chang Ying's business card, Chang Ying kept sending messages.

First were emojis drooling,

then "hissing" and "my type, my type," etc.

Clearly, the female savage was quite satisfied.

A little interlude:

Lu Ran had a lot to tell Chang Ying, but she suddenly stopped responding, making Lu Ran wait for quite a while, pushing him to ask what she was doing.

Chang Ying replied: "Hehe~ I just went to grab some chopsticks."

Which made Lu Ran smile widely.

"Hehe." Niu Zhengzheng seemed to recall something, again smiling broadly, "When I first saw her photo, I was totally shocked!

Such a beautiful and wild dark beauty, really rare ah haha!"

Lu Ran also laughed: "Chang Ying has a good personality, very straightforward, though her talent is a bit lacking..."

"What's that to fear!" Niu Zhengzheng thumped his chest, "I'll protect her!"

Lu Ran was somewhat surprised.

He thought of praising Chang Ying a bit more, saying some nice things to lessen the gap in talent between them.

After all, in Lu Ran's eyes, Chang Ying wouldn't follow Divine·Spiritual Sign forever.

Eventually, she would join the Ran Sect, and Lu Ran would arrange for Divine Blessing.

Unexpectedly, Niu Zhengzheng had already declared his stand?

"Yo~" Qiao Yuansi smiled at Niu Zhengzheng, "Niu head is so manly~!"

Niu Zhengzheng's dark face flushed, scratching his head.

Qiao Yuansi, full of gossip, prodded: "Tell me, what do you guys usually talk about?"

Niu Zhengzheng's face turned even redder: "Ran, Ran bro."

Lu Ran: "Ah?"

"Pfft~Hahaha!"

Qiao Yuansi laughed uncontrollably: "You and Sister Yingying are dating, and you talk about my brother?"

Niu Zhengzheng grinned: "Yingying really admires Ran bro."

Lu Ran helplessly said: "But you can't just talk about me."

Niu Zhengzheng with a righteous air: "But the thing is, I admire you too!

Yingying and I really have a lot in common!"

"Pfft~" Guan Yiren, who had been standing silently, finally couldn't help laughing out loud.

Lu Ran was dumbfounded.

No!

You two—while talking—have ended up dating me...

...

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