Regarding the return journey, Jiang Ruyi had made plans and led the team at a leisurely pace.

By the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, in the afternoon, they finally walked out of the Demon Cave.

Lu Ran felt wonderful!

When he had left, the Soul-splitting Demon Evil Sculpture in his sculpture garden had not yet been activated.

Now as they departed, his Soul-splitting Demon Sculpture had been cultivated to Stream Realm·Fifth Rank!

Thinking back, Lu Ran had actually thought that the Evil Sculpture could break through to the River Realm.

Who knows whether Lord Immortal Goat might have skimmed a little off the top...

In any case, everyone had stayed in the Demon Cave for only 20 days and had achieved such results!

They really needed to thank that ferocious Sword Cultivator—Captain Guan.

When they walked out of the Demon Cave, the Magic Crystals they had collected numbered in the thousands.

Among them were over seven hundred Fog Grade Magic Crystals, nearly five hundred Stream Grade Magic Crystals, and more than thirty River Grade Magic Crystals!

The way they had fought down the path, it was a sin reaching to the heavens...

Of course, they were fighting the cruel and brutal Evil Demons, so they didn't feel much guilt.

"Ah~ Out of jail!"

Qiao Yuansi was the first to walk out of the military building, standing at the gate and stretching fiercely.

Behind her, in the hall, Deng Yutang and others were calculating the Magic Crystal earnings with the military.

Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi were talking to Instructor Cai Yunfei.

"Thank you, Instructor, for taking care of us along the way." Jiang Ruyi said softly, her face full of gratitude.

"Thank you, Instructor Cai!" Lu Ran chimed in with a smile.

"When you come next time, eh, don't look for me again." Cai Yunfei chuckled at Lu Ran, "Meeting you all was just my bad luck."

Lu Ran nodded repeatedly, "Okay, okay, next time I'll definitely find you again."

Cai Yunfei's eyes widened, "Eh?"

Brother, can't you understand human speech!

Cai Yunfei was just jokingly teasing them a moment ago, now turned and walked away.

Lu Ran watched Cai Yunfei's retreating figure, "After I advance to the River Realm, I will definitely come again. I want to see what is beyond the forest!

Take care, Instructor Cai, wait for me!"

"Get lost!" Cai Yunfei said irritably, not even turning his head, just waving his hand.

In the hall, even the serious soldiers couldn't help but reveal smiles.

They thought these students were bound to be a handful, and Cai Yunfei must have had a hard time escorting them.

This assumption wasn't quite right.

After all, Cai Yunfei had never lifted a finger; he hadn't put in the effort, just the worry...

Lu Ran smiled and turned to look at Jiang Ruyi.

The girl, however, ignored Lu Ran and strode out.

Lu Ran quickly followed up, "It's been so many days, are you still angry?"

Jiang Ruyi continued to ignore Lu Ran.

Lu Ran teased, "Are you keeping a little notebook for me?"

Jiang Ruyi finally stopped, her beautiful eyes looking at Lu Ran, "Didn't you say that we'd talk about it when we got back?

There are too many people here, I'm holding back."

"Uh." Lu Ran scratched his head, watching as Jiang Ruyi took long strides and walked out the door.

Outside the building, Qiao Yuansi naturally took Jiang Ruyi's arm, chatting and smiling.

From time to time, Qiao Yuansi would turn her head towards Lu Ran.

Lu Ran hesitated whether to activate the Evil Technique·Evil Sense to eavesdrop on their whispered conversation, when suddenly a figure appeared beside him.

"What's up, Captain Guan?" Lu Ran looked at Guan Yiren.

"Not bad." Guan Yiren, expressionless, faintly praised him before continuing outside.

Lu Ran: "..."

Was she always this cold?

Lu Ran once again felt lucky that Jiang Ruyi hadn't joined the Sword One Sect.

Using Instructor Cai's words: Could you have endured it~

Moments later, Lu Ran followed Deng Yutang and others out of the central building.

This time it was Tian Tian reporting; she learned from Deng Yutang's previous experience and kept it short:

"After deducting food and lodging fees, the summer homework for both teams, and the ten Stream Grade Magic Crystals we each kept.

In hand, we have a total of 28,500 yuan, with our seven people, each can get over four thousand."

Both teams' homework was the same, each had to hand in 300 Fog Grade Magic Crystals and 50 Stream Grade Magic Crystals.

Fortunately, the officials allowed both teams to combine their homework and didn't require them to submit more Magic Crystals because they had "strength in numbers."

Jiang Ruyi nodded slightly, "On the way, add each other's contact info and transfer the money."

"Okay." Tian Tian obediently nodded, "That soldier uncle said there's a bus every hour over there."

"Let's go."

"Oh, Bro!" Qiao Yuansi approached Lu Ran, "Your city just went through a special event.

On the fifteenth of this month, you don't have to participate in the defense mission, do you?"

"Yeah, I'm on a holiday."

Qiao Yuansi's face lit up with anticipation, "Then do you want to come home with me?"

Lu Ran was moved, "To fight alongside you on the fifteenth?"

He, of course, wanted to protect his sister, even if it meant just sharing a bit of her stress, it would be great.

"Can I, Ran Bro?" Niu Zhengzheng also showed interest.

Qiao Yuansi pouted, "Silly Niu, you wish.

How could the school and the Divine People Bureau let us simply add an outside helper?"

Qiao Yuansi's team was strong, ranked near the top in school, and was in contention for the top spot.

Many eyes were watching them; they couldn't allow them to cheat.

"Yeah, true." Niu Zhengzheng laughed naively, "It would be great if Ran Bro could join the team."

"Hehe~" Qiao Yuansi's eyes were full of pride as she hugged Lu Ran's arm, "If my brother were there, why would we even need to guard the shelter?

The four of us, couldn't we just go patrolling?"

Niu Zhengzheng's eyes shone, filled with fantasy, "Patrolling..."

"Patrolling is too dangerous, too intense," Lu Ran stated. "Forget about fighting enemies, just running around to provide support could kill you.

Before you reach River Realm, don't try it lightly."

Niu Zhengzheng was stunned for a moment, taking a while to respond, puzzled: "Ran Bro, have you patrolled before?"

"Hehe~" Qiao Yuansi was even more proud and lifted her chin slightly, "Not only has my brother patrolled before.

He was also patrolling on the fifteenth of last July!"

Niu Zhengzheng's eyes widened, "Ah??"

Even Guan Yiren secretly felt shocked.

The fifteenth of the seventh lunar month... patrolling?

Niu Zhengzheng was entirely taken aback, "You should've said so earlier, Ran Bro!

Comparing myself with someone who patrolled on the fifteenth of July... what was I thinking?"

Lu Ran waved his hand, "Our Rain Alley City is just a small place, it's not as dangerous as you think, incomparable to Beijing."

"Sis, why don't you come back to Beijing with me?" Qiao Yuansi took the opportunity to invite again.

Lu Ran thought it over and still shook his head, "There are Divine Sculptures of Lord Jian Yi and Lantern Lord in your place, I shouldn't impose.

Besides, I also need to go home and pray in front of the Divine Sculpture of Lord Immortal Goat."

As a believer, his words were impeccable.

But coming from Lu Ran... well, it sounded a bit insincere.

You could say he practiced in front of the shrine every day, but devout prayer?

Heh!

Lord Immortal Goat was not mistaken.

In certain actions, Lu Ran indeed revealed a hint of "disrespect for the divine."

And these kinds of behaviors must be the workings of his subconscious.

Because, in terms of personal belief, Lu Ran considered himself a devout believer, holding Lord Immortal Goat in the highest regard.

He also firmly believed that the Divine·Immortal Goat would definitely receive his own power of faith.

This "personal belief" vs. "personal subconscious" conflict was undoubtedly quite contradictory.

It was unclear what had happened to Lu Ran to cause this peculiar phenomenon.

What's more intriguing was:

Ever since Lu Ran had brought the Divine Shrine Divine Sculpture home, no matter how Lu Ran behaved, Divine·Immortal Goat never reprimanded him.

It hadn't even reminded him!

It wasn't until the fifteenth of last month, when Lu Ran saw the statues of the divine family in the sculpture garden, that Immortal Goat slightly mentioned it.

And at that time, Lu Ran still thought that Lord Immortal Goat was spouting nonsense.

He only considered offerings and incense as mundane rituals, representing nothing.

Now, facing Qiao Yuansi's invitation, Lu Ran's excuse was naturally false.

He wasn't going back to pray.

Instead, he wanted to train vigorously, advance earlier, and add glory to the Immortal Goat faction.

Of course, if this homecoming allowed him the fortune to talk with Lord Immortal Goat and explore how to change the form of the Evil Technique·Soul-splitting Demon Horn, that would be even better...

"It seems Mom anticipated this early." Qiao Yuansi pouted, "Here, take the Cold Night Sword back with you."

Lu Ran: "..."

Qiao Yuansi's face changed rapidly; suddenly, she giggled and leaned close to Lu Ran's ear:

"Sister Ruyi is so beautiful! So strong and yet so gentle and caring."

Lu Ran slightly tilted his head, his expression strange.

Everyone had been in the Demon Cave for 20 days and fought side-by-side for so long, of course, they learned quite a bit about each other.

And since Jiang Ruyi and Qiao Yuansi had been eating and living together, they naturally developed a certain bond.

Qiao Yuansi whispered softly, "I really like Sister Ruyi~

Do you want to help me marry her?"

Lu Ran: ???

You like her, and I should marry her for you?

Is that even human speech?

Qiao Yuansi wondered, "Why aren't you talking?"

Lu Ran said irritably, "So she marries in to pamper you and spoil you every day, right?"

Qiao Yuansi's eyes curved into a smile, "Yes, yes!"

Lu Ran: "Then what am I, am I out of the picture then?"

Qiao Yuansi naturally stated, "How could that be, you have to pamper me together with her!"

Lu Ran: "..."

No problem at all!

It seems I was too hasty.

"Get on the bus." Ahead, Jiang Ruyi called out, "Yuansi, set up a group chat later so Tian Tian can distribute the money."

"Okay~" Qiao Yuansi's face was joyful.

Lu Ran suddenly blurted out, "Buy fewer burgers, I'll tell Mom how much you earned."

"Ah..." The smile on Qiao Yuansi's face instantly vanished.

Lu Ran felt relaxed and quickly boarded the coach.

Watching the pouting young girl, Jiang Ruyi couldn't help but show a slight smile.

Qiao Yuansi protested, "Sister Ruyi, look at him!"

Jiang Ruyi softly said, "The money earned is accounted for, but you can ask your brother separately."

"Ah?" Qiao Yuansi's eyes brightened, "Right!"

Qiao Yuansi's heart stirred, and she quickly climbed onto the bus.

Jiang Ruyi was about to board the bus, but saw Qiao Yuansi stop ahead and turn to look back.

"What?" Jiang Ruyi looked puzzled.

In a hushed tone, Qiao Yuansi asked, "Sister Ruyi, do you like the Black Ice Sword I use?"

Jiang Ruyi hesitated.

Perhaps the siblings were unaware that twenty days ago, the conversation they had at the back of the van was overheard by Jiang Ruyi.

Qiao Yuansi, in a conspiratorial tone, whispered, "Sis, trust me, ask my brother for it!"

Jiang Ruyi: "..."

Qiao Yuansi: "Just consider it a loan!

We're in the same team, the higher our combat power, the greater our chances of survival!"

Jiang Ruyi struggled to manage her expression, "Get on the bus."

"Oh." Qiao Yuansi, repeatedly urged, reluctantly turned and boarded the bus.

What she didn't realize was that behind her, a blush had crept onto Jiang Ruyi's cheeks.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.