"Miss Hu."

The sudden voice interrupted the thoughts of the short-haired girl.

Hu Jiaojiao still leaned against the big tree, turning her head to look and saw Deng Yutang.

But in the next moment, her gaze fell on the young man beside Deng Yutang.

Hu Jiaojiao's heart began to beat even more fiercely!

Of course, she knew whom Deng Yutang had gone to the airport to pick up.

So, this is Lu Ran, right?

Well concealed.

"Creak, creak..."

Without saying a word, Lu Ran began to walk.

His boots stepping on the snow made a unique sound.

Hu Jiaojiao licked her lower lip, her lively eyes fixating on Lu Ran's departing figure.

Da Xia's number one Heavenly Pride, huh!

Tsk tsk, a legendary character indeed.

As she watched, Hu Jiaojiao suddenly lifted her hand slightly and hooked her two fingers.

Deng Yutang: "..."

There's a saying: "Birds of a feather flock together."

The temperament of her sister's best friend, Deng Yutang could probably guess a bit.

He glanced at his girlfriend Bai Manni, hesitated a moment, but still chose to lean in closer.

Hu Jiaojiao, lowering her voice, said, "There won't be any trouble, right? Your sister's current state is..."

Her words abruptly stopped, her expression one of utter astonishment.

No!

Was this guy here to offer comfort or to provoke?

Hu Jiaojiao casually pushed Deng Yutang away, using the force to stand straight up.

In her line of sight, Lu Ran had already walked up to Deng Yuxiang, hands in pockets, looking down at her.

Like a high and mighty deity, gazing down at the silent trapped beast.

Remaining in that pose, motionless.

"Hisss..." Hu Jiaojiao inhaled sharply.

That daring, huh?

Yes! You are Da Xia's number one Heavenly Pride!

But Deng Yuxiang is no pushover either.

She is a Jiang Realm·Third Rank powerhouse of the Human Clan.

More importantly, Deng Yuxiang is exceptionally irritable at the moment and still holds the Divine Weapon in her hand.

With her temperament, if she were to strike you with it...

You wouldn't even have time to cry!

"Go away."

The cold words spilled from the woman's cold, thin lips.

Consequently, even the temperature of the Snow Forest seemed to drop a bit.

Hu Jiaojiao shivered.

Others might not have heard it, but as a disciple of the North Wind, Hu Jiaojiao possessed an exceptionally keen sense of hearing.

A single "Go away,"

might have been the greatest act of mercy Deng Yuxiang could muster for the visitor.

If the newcomer insisted on staying or dared to talk nonsense, Hu Jiaojiao was certain that his fate would be very, very dire.

"Sister."

The same simple word, sounding exceptionally tender.

As if it could melt this icy and snowy world.

Hu Jiaojiao nearly answered!

Sometimes, having too keen ears wasn't necessarily a good thing.

That was just too warm!

Thinking back to how the young man is Da Xia's acclaimed number one Heavenly Pride, no girl could withstand that.

Indeed, the woman soaked by frosty snow couldn't resist it either.

Deng Yuxiang slowly lifted her head to look.

Lu Ran removed his sunglasses and pulled down his knitted scarf a bit, revealing the lower half of his face.

Deng Yuxiang stared blankly at Lu Ran.

As if time itself had ceased.

Hu Jiaojiao held her breath.

Previously, when Deng Yutang tried to offer comfort, Deng Yuxiang had been unhesitatingly dismissive.

The powerful aura of a Jiang Realm Great Power had crushed Deng Yutang to the point where he had no choice but to step back.

"Whew~"

The cold wind blew, and the frost and snow struck the face.

Deng Yuxiang came back to her senses, slowly lowering her gaze, "You've come."

There was no oppressive dominance, no continued drop in temperature.

All that was left was a low statement.

Hu Jiaojiao: !!!

Deng Yutang: "..."

Bai Manni hugged Deng Yutang's arm, silently comforting her boyfriend.

Lu Ran chuckled, "The battle hasn't even started yet, and you're ready to self-sabotage, freezing yourself solid?"

Deng Yuxiang continued her mechanical movements, her long fingers gently wiping over the cold blade.

Lu Ran stepped closer, half-kneeling beside her.

He tilted his head slightly, looking at the rigid face so close to him, pressing further, "Is that it?"

Deng Yuxiang's action of wiping the blade halted.

Not far away, Hu Jiaojiao exploded inside!

Some could become acclaimed throughout Da Xia and admired by countless people.

And also could kneel on one knee, whispering softly into the ear of a particular person.

Hu Jiaojiao gazed at Lu Ran's figure and screamed inside her heart:

"I want one too! I want a brother just like that, wuwuwu~~~"

"I just want some peace," Deng Yuxiang said quietly.

Lu Ran: "You can lie to me, but don't deceive yourself."

Deng Yuxiang's expression grew unpleasant, her gaze as sharp as a knife, directly piercing into Lu Ran's eyes.

Their gazes intertwined, but her cutting gaze seemed to vanish into the serene and deep night sky full of stars, leaving no trace or news.

Lu Ran was undaunted, extending his hand to grasp a corner of her shirt collar and gently shook it:

"From the moment I saw you, you've been mired in quicksand, seemingly without any intention to save yourself."

On the third day of the New Year, the cold in the North Country could freeze people to death.

This isn't an exaggeration; every winter, there are reports of people freezing to death in the North Country.

And there Deng Yuxiang sat in the Snow Forest, in just a thin ladies' shirt.

Her clothes were already frozen stiff.

Judging from how thoroughly she was drenched in frost and snow, she must have been sitting there for a long time.

You tell me you just want some peace?

No, you want to be chilled to the bone.

"In my memory, Deng Yuxiang is proud and dazzling, like a camellia."

As he spoke, Lu Ran stood up, taking off his down jacket.

"Win or lose, life or death, those come later."

He draped the white, thick down jacket over her, wrapping it tightly.

"On your path towards your goals, you're always unstoppable."

Deng Yuxiang remained motionless, her body ice-cold, feeling a warmth she hadn't felt in a long time.

She silently looked at the young man close to her.

In her daze, she saw the face of the boy from the past on that face.

Youthful, stubborn.

And that concealed care in the depths of his heart, due to inadequate strength and a lack of voice.

In another daze, that face changed, everything changed.

Valorous, composed.

A confidence built from powerful strength and distinguished status.

Unabashed tender eyes, brazen caring actions.

"I thought you'd be proudly preparing for battle, even impatient to take the stage."

"To settle the score with all the demons and ghosts that block your way."

Lu Ran removed his knitted scarf while looking down at her, "But Beifeng City has turned you into this."

Deng Yuxiang pursed her lips and finally spoke in a low voice, "Talk too much."

Lu Ran hummed, kneeling down again, wrapping the knitted scarf around her neck.

As he did so, he said, "Giving up?"

Deng Yuxiang didn't respond, just cast a cold glance at Lu Ran.

Lu Ran nodded, "As long as you haven't given up, that's good."

He reached out, grasped the handle of the Night-slaying Great Saber, and gently pushed it upward.

Not far away, Hu Jiaojiao tensed up.

Lu Ran's series of actions had already dumbfounded her.

This was Deng Yuxiang!

In the vast Beifeng City, there were few who dared to annoy her.

When had she ever been lectured like this?

What stunned Hu Jiaojiao even more was that the proud and formidable Deng Yuxiang just sat obediently and took the scolding.

Throughout it all, she only uttered one line of retort.

And that "Talk too much" wasn't really a defense, just stubbornness.

And now, as Lu Ran reached for the Night-slaying Great Saber, Hu Jiaojiao completely lost her composure.

That was a fearsome weapon!

Quiet, yet exceptionally domineering.

Even the slightest reaction from it could be murderous, more threatening than Deng Yuxiang by threefold.

Hu Jiaojiao prepared herself mentally, but what dumbfounded her was...

The Night-slaying Great Saber simply allowed Lu Ran to hold it and then floated upward as he suggested.

She gaped, her mind numbed.

Even if it were any other Divine Weapon, how could it be so obedient, listening to the words of an outsider?

Wait!

An outsider?

Hu Jiaojiao incredulously turned her head towards Deng Yutang, "Aren't you Yuxiang's brother, and Lu Tianjiao also calls her sister, he..."

Deng Yutang whispered, "I'm related by blood."

Hu Jiaojiao had an epiphany, finding a reasonable explanation, "Oh, so Lu Ran is related by... huh? You're related by blood?"

Deng Yutang: "..."

Silence,

silence was tonight's Beifeng City.

Lu Ran: "Now that you haven't given up, let's not delay any further."

He looked at the ice-cold, stiff face in front of him, continuing, "Shall we find a tea house to warm up and have a chat?

Or would you prefer to go back to your place, take a hot bath, and get a proper rest and prepare for the battle?"

Deng Yuxiang lowered her head, hiding the lower half of her face into the knitted scarf.

Lu Ran watched the nearly withered camellia in front of him, waiting in silence.

After a long while, he grasped Deng Yuxiang's wrist, wrapped it around his shoulder, and helped her rise:

"Let's go. You haven't eaten or drunk anything since your advancement to the Jiang Realm, have you?"

Deng Yuxiang, who had been sitting in the Snow Forest all along, finally agreed.

Or rather, she was forcibly helped up.

Hu Jiaojiao tried to digest everything, sighing with emotion.

Given Deng Yuxiang's ongoing sullen state, tomorrow's battle seemed a certain defeat.

Now, there was a variable.

Could there be a chance?

After pondering for a moment, Hu Jiaojiao shook her head inwardly, sighing again.

Impossible.

The gap was too big.

"Mr. Deng." Lu Ran helped Deng Yuxiang up, "Shall we find a private room at the Northern Tea House?"

"Sure thing, I'll go make the arrangements!" Deng Yutang immediately responded.

Hu Jiaojiao pulled out her phone, "At this time, on this day, the tea house can't possibly have a private room. Let me handle it."

Lu Ran smiled and nodded, "Thank you, may I ask your surname?"

Hu Jiaojiao looked at Lu Ran, after several seconds of silence, she said, "No need for formalities, Hu.

The overbearing Hu."

Lu Ran: "Much appreciated, Miss Hu."

Hu Jiaojiao made a call, pretending to be nonchalant as she glanced beside her, "No problem, Lu Tianjiao.

I was classmates and best friends with your sister, you can call me elder sister too."

Deng Yutang: "..."

Bai Manni: "..."

Lu Tianjiao is very polite, and yet you're not cautious at all, hm?

Deng Yuxiang suddenly spoke up, "I can walk by myself."

Lu Ran turned to look at her side profile, "Your mouth is harder than your frozen-solid body."

Deng Yuxiang also turned to look, quietly saying, "Your wings have grown harder too."

...

Three updates today.

Asking for some monthly tickets.

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