Chapter 17: A Big Sister

“Sss!”

A few minutes later, the door suddenly opened.

Deng Yu stepped forward first, boarding the vehicle, only to be hit by a wave of bloodstained stench.

The students on the bus were mostly hardened types.

Because only if you’ve gone far enough into the Demon Den will your return take longer, earning you a seat on this final bus.

“Congratulations!”

“Class Leader Jiang, mighty!”

“Class Leader Wu, you’ve finally taken first place, haha!”

Hearing wave after wave of congratulations, Wu Shanshan was exhausted but smiled sweetly.

She replied while walking backward, spotting a familiar face in the second-to-last row.

“Congratulations,” Ma Tianchuan nodded with a smile, showing surprising grace.

“Don’t fool me!” Wu Shanshan strained to suppress her grin, but it refused to hide, “I can’t stand guys like you, model students!”

Every time after the exam, you say you bombed it.

Yet when results come out, when has anyone ever beaten you?

Ma Tianchuan shook his head, glancing toward Jiang Ruyi behind him: “This time, it’s not true.”

Jiang Ruyi gave a slight nod, a quiet greeting.

They recognized each other, but weren’t close.

Ma Tianchuan turned slightly, watching the four seated in the back row, Shitandao : “So, Class Leader Jiang’s crowd control and Class Leader Wu’s output must’ve made for terrifying dog-slaying efficiency?”

At this, Jiang Ruyi instinctively glanced toward Lu Ran, seated by the window.

Ma Tianchuan adjusted his rimless glasses, reading the girl’s body language.

“Heh heh, not bad, not bad~” Wu Shanshan beamed, her face lit up.

As a perennial second or third, finally reaching the top, the young girl couldn’t contain her joy.

Ma Tianchuan looked at Lu Ran: “Lu, your bloodstains are thick—did you slaughter your way through Dog Village?”

Lu Ran didn’t even want to speak, only gave a slight nod, barely moving.

He wasn’t showing off—he was truly drained.

At this moment, Lu Ran fully understood the cost of overusing his powers and exhausting his body.

He couldn’t be so reckless again.

He was only seventeen—his happy life hadn’t even begun; how could he be this weak?

“He’s exhausted, don’t mind him,” Jiang Ruyi said softly, explaining for Lu Ran.

The last four to board were naturally the center of attention.

Many students had seen Jiang Ruyi sitting with Lu Ran, speaking for him, defending him.

Instantly, the bus erupted in teasing shouts:

“Ooooh~~~”

“So Lu Ran’s just tired, huh~”

“Jiang Meiren speaks so gently—so nice, I want to hear more.”

“Drive! Drive now, please, please, please!” A shout cut through sharply, even silencing the hardened students.

Lu Ran was startled—he had no idea what the chubby kid in front was screaming about.

Deng Yu turned to his classmate: “Qian Hao, what’s wrong?”

“Drive!” Qian Hao trembled, head down, voice filled with despair, “Drive drive drive drive...”

Qian, stop chanting!

Lu Ran felt his skull buzzing.

Lu Ran slumped forward, forehead pressed against Qian Hao’s seatback, weakly moaning: “Dadamei~”

Jiang Ruyi: ???

Qian Hao: “...”

I told the driver to drive, not you to drive, you idiot!

You’re actually eager to help?

Ma Tianchuan, watching Lu Ran like a pile of mud, suggested: “Once Lu’s recovered, let’s spar?”

“You might not beat my brother Lu,” Deng Yu responded quickly, sounding proud.

Ma Tianchuan only smiled, saying nothing.

“Really? Top student?” Wu Shanshan adored any chance to knock the number one down.

She continued cheerfully: “Ran Bao is Fog Realm, Stage Two.”

“Oh?” Not only Ma Tianchuan was startled—surrounding students also looked shocked.

They’d only become believers for a few days—already Fog Realm, Stage Two?

Is this the true value of attracting the Demon Clan’s Yan Zhi people?

No wonder this team slaughtered so many vicious dogs!

We thought it was Jiang and Wu’s brilliance—but turns out there’s a giant Buddha hiding in the team?!

“Hum~”

The bus finally started, slowly pulling out of the military base through steady drizzle.

Since everyone came from school, the bus would take the students back.

Outside the No. 1 Middle School gate, many parents waited, praying their children would return safely.

For any family, their child becoming a believer and entering the Demon Den for the first time was a monumental event.

Unsurprisingly, Lu Ran’s three teammates all had family waiting.

Only he, alone, carried his sword, dragging his weary body toward home.

He had money for a taxi—but he didn’t know if any driver would dare pick him up, covered in blood.

“Brother Lu?” A voice called out suddenly.

“Hmm?” Lu Ran turned to see Deng Yu pushing through the crowd.

The team had scattered while searching for their families.

Lu Ran thought it was fine—no awkward goodbyes, no embarrassment—but he hadn’t expected this guy to find him again.

“Where do you live? I’ll drive you home,” Deng Yu waved.

Lu Ran didn’t hesitate—he walked straight toward Deng Yu, muttering things like “That’s no good,” “Too much trouble.”

Deng Yu was stunned.

Soon, the two reached a black coupe.

The color was understated, but the brand was anything but.

“Damn.”

Lu Ran grinned—Wu Shanshan had actually guessed right!

Deng Yu didn’t just carry a Porsche—he drove one too?

“Click.”

The driver’s door suddenly opened, and out stepped a tall, elegant woman.

Lu Ran was slightly surprised—he’d assumed it was the driver picking up Young Master Deng, but this girl’s aura—

She was tall, radiant, stunning.

Her lips wore clear lip gloss, red ruby studs glinted at her earlobes, amplifying her sensuality and allure.

“You’re Lu Ran?”

“Sister, hello,” Lu Ran greeted politely.

But his face was smeared with blood, soaked by rain, looking filthy.

The young woman didn’t mind at all, smiling at his bloodstained uniform: “Get in.”

She spoke casually, then returned to the driver’s seat.

“Give me the sword—I’ll put it in the trunk,” Deng Yu said, taking Lu Ran’s Radiant Blade and circling to the rear.

Lu Ran stood frozen, murmuring things like “That’s no good,” “No need, no need.”

“I’ll do it myself—” Lu Ran fell silent.

Because Deng Yu had already stowed the blade and returned to the car side, staring at Lu Ran with utter disbelief.

Then move already!!

“Click.”

The front passenger door opened from inside, the woman’s voice calling: “Get in.”

“Oh.” Lu Ran bowed his head and slipped into the coupe.

Far away, Jiang Ruyi stood before a sedan, watching Lu Ran enter the woman’s luxury car before she closed her umbrella and got into the passenger seat.

“What are you looking at?” the middle-aged woman asked curiously.

“My teammate—I’ve been searching for him, wanted to give him a ride home,” Jiang Ruyi shook water off her umbrella and shut the door.

“Where?”

“No need—he’s already being taken,” Jiang Ruyi whispered. “Let’s go.”

The middle-aged woman looked at her daughter’s bowed head and smiled: “Is this teammate a boy or a girl?”

“Oh no, Mom, it’s not what you think!” Jiang Ruyi blushed slightly and pouted, “I was afraid he’d be left alone and feel disappointed.”

“Hehe.”

Meanwhile, inside the black sedan.

“Sister is also a believer, aren’t you? You look so fierce!”

“Sister is so young—are you still in college? Is it summer vacation now?”

“Your brow and forehead look just like Deng Yu’s,” Lu Ran observed the young woman’s profile, studying her closely.

“I’m his biological sister, Deng Yuxiang,” the woman smiled warmly and finally spoke. “Also, I’ve already started working.”

This kid’s got quite the smooth tongue.

“Rain Alley?” Lu Ran was startled.

How deeply must the Deng couple love their hometown to name their daughter after a city?

He turned his head, gazing out the window at Rain Alley City, and murmured softly, “Nice name.”

Lu Ran liked Rain Alley too.

He also liked the Wuli River that flowed through the heart of the city.

Every time Lu Ran practiced his sword on the abandoned building where his father died, he could see the Wuli River rolling far off in the distance.

In the backseat, Deng Yutang was dumbfounded.

What? Didn’t you just say you were too tired to even talk?

How did you two start chatting like this?

If this got out, how would Ma Tianchuan feel?

“Hehe,” Deng Yuxiang glanced at Lu Ran. “Your name is legendary to me.”

Lu Ran: “Huh?”

Deng Yuxiang kept one hand on the steering wheel. “Rain Alley City is so small, yet your commotions are so loud.”

“Oh,” Lu Ran understood at once—he knew she meant the day of the Divine Worship.

Over the past few days, many departments in Rain Alley City had come to visit Lu Ran, bringing their warmth.

Some officials even insisted on seeing the divine statue of Xiang Xianyang in Lu Ran’s home before they’d feel comfortable leaving, which annoyed Lu Ran greatly.

“Your talent is rare in this world—don’t waste Heaven’s favor,” Deng Yuxiang said softly.

“Lu Brother hasn’t wasted it,” Deng Yutang suddenly spoke up. “In this exam, he went berserk—we’re definitely the top team in the entire school.”

Deng Yuxiang raised an eyebrow slightly; she knew her brother wouldn’t dare lie to her.

She glanced again at Lu Ran, drenched in blood, and nodded gently. “I can see that.”

Lu Ran said sheepishly, “Sister, you’ll need to wash the car.”

“It’s fine,” Deng Yuxiang didn’t mind, but she wrinkled her nose in confusion. “The smell of blood on you two is normal.”

“But why is there also a smell of urine?”

Lu Ran: “...”

Deng Yutang: “...”

(End of Chapter)