Chapter 184

Mother has left alone.

She did not make things difficult for her son, nor did she ask Lu Ran to provide too many explanations.

In fact, Lu Ran did not know how to explain it either.

He had always believed that before the arrival of Lord Xiang Xianyang, he was a god-fearing person.

Yes, the timeline must be clearly defined!

Lord Xiang Xianyang holds the God Clan in great disdain; since descending, he has continuously instilled in Lu Ran the idea that "gods are all just stones."

Such things naturally caused Lu Ran's attitude toward the gods to shift.

But before Lord Xiang Xianyang descended?

Lu Ran truly believed that he was god-fearing.

He thought this way and acted this way, having followed his father to worship the god Yu Fu since he was small.

However, the scene that occurred on the God-Worship Platform on the first day of the sixth lunar month was the naked reality!

It left no room for Lu Ran to quibble.

Lord Xiang Xianyang had also once sneered, speaking bluntly to Lu Ran:

"When have you ever believed in gods?"

This could not help but plunge Lu Ran into deep self-doubt.

Was his own perception seemingly at odds with the thoughts hidden deep within his heart? Or was it contrary to the thinking in his subconscious?

This state of "unawareness" had also been troubling Lu Ran.

It was simply inexplicable!

It was as if another soul lived inside his body.

And as the Xiang Xianyang believers revealed their true faces and displayed a god-demon sculpture garden, Lu Ran also stepped onto a path of "overturning the firmament."

Lu Ran's true goal, of course, was to slaughter all the evil demons and control the evil sculptures.

Yet, there were still god sculptures standing tall within the park, and he was inevitably dragged into another vortex.

At this point, whether Lu Ran feared or believed in gods seemed to no longer be important... No!

It is important!

At least for Lu Ran, it is very important.

He must figure out exactly what caused this special, contradictory situation of his.

As for how to solve the problem, Lu Ran did not yet have a good line of thought.

Perhaps, after his strength became sufficiently powerful, he should make a trip to Yumen Pass and ask the god Yu Fu in person!

Without a doubt, Lu Ran grew up in front of Yu Fu's shrine.

Day and night, month after month, year after year.

In the long passage of time, if something truly happened, perhaps Yu Fu would know.

After all, Lu Ran worshipped alongside his father.

Even Jiang Ruyi, who had just entered the sect, was noticed by the god, so there was no reason why his late father, who had given his all for the Yu Fu faction, would not have been noticed.

In fact, the word "ask" was too peaceful.

One day, when Lu Ran personally visited and faced the god Yu Fu...

He would definitely be going to question him!

Between the man and the god, there were indeed many things to be said.

But if an accident occurred and the situation was not at all as Lu Ran imagined;

If the high and mighty god had never paid attention to or cared about the lowly human father and son...

Then that would be interesting!

Humans are all complex animals.

Among the gods filling the sky, Lu Ran's emotions toward Yu Fu were undoubtedly the most complex and special!

The concepts instilled in Lu Ran since childhood, and his father's more than ten years of verbal instruction and subtle influence, could not be changed overnight.

Therefore, it was on the God-Worship Platform that Lu Ran longed for the god Yu Fu to appear, longing to carry on his father's legacy.

But if, on the day Lu Ran stepped into Yumen Pass, the answer he received was the latter...

Then that tiny trace of special emotion remaining in Lu Ran's heart would truly be gone completely.

At that time, the youth whose life was once as cheap as grass would definitely let the god know:

Whose son he was.

What his own name was.

On New Year's Eve, the family of three laughed and chatted, spending a rare and wonderful time together.

Mother was truly very busy; early on the morning of the first day of the lunar new year, she took little Yuanyuan out to attend the grand festival in Jian Tian Que City.

Even though little Yuanyuan invited him repeatedly, Lu Ran still refused to go along; he stayed home alone, concentrating on his cultivation.

On the third day, Qiao Yuanyuan returned, excitedly telling Lu Ran about what she had seen and heard over the past few days.

Lu Ran listened with a smile, able to feel the festive atmosphere in Jian Tian Que City.

Mother did not return; she had gone to Jinghong Peak again.

Little Yuanyuan relayed Mother's words, saying that on the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, Jinghong Peak would welcome the avatar of the god.

Hearing this, Lu Ran was quite surprised.

After all, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, when he climbed Jinghong Peak, the building complex there was still only half-finished.

It had only been half a month, and it was already going to be completed?

It seemed the Jian Yi disciples were picking stones very quickly...

The pity was that on the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, the city was already under lockdown, and people could not go to watch the ceremony.

The siblings could only stay at home, waiting for Mother to return.

Both Lu Ran and Qiao Yuanyuan knew clearly in their hearts how much Mother had sacrificed.

After all, with the completion of Jinghong Peak, she should have stayed on the mountain to defend against the demon invasion together with her fellow disciples.

But she had to return home on this night of the fifteenth to accompany her children.

He did not know if this would have any impact on Mother's career.

The fifteenth arrived quickly.

At dusk, Qiao Wanjun arrived as scheduled.

"Click~"

Hearing the sound of the door opening, little Yuanyuan immediately jumped up from the sofa: "Mom!"

The young girl called out happily, hurrying to welcome Mother, however...

Qiao Yuanyuan's smiling face stiffened, and her figure froze at the doorway.

She looked up at Qiao Wanjun, only to see Mother expressionless, her eyes cold.

Was she seemingly unhappy?

As a Jian Yi believer, such a demeanor was perfectly normal when facing outsiders.

But when facing her children, she would more or less be a bit softer.

Qiao Yuanyuan knew Mom very well and immediately sensed that Mother's state was somewhat abnormal.

"Mm." Qiao Wanjun responded softly, turning back to close the door.

Qiao Yuanyuan came back to her senses, not daring to speak; she obediently squatted down to change Mother's shoes.

"What's wrong, Mom?" Lu Ran walked over, asking curiously.

Seeing Lu Ran, Qiao Wanjun's face finally softened a little.

Precisely because she relaxed, Lu Ran faintly sensed that she seemed to be somewhat troubled.

Qiao Yuanyuan said cautiously: "Mom, lift your foot."

As the little birthday girl, today little Yuanyuan should have had some privileges.

As a result, facing Mother's state, little Yuanyuan was even more well-behaved than usual.

"Is the cake ready?" Qiao Wanjun asked casually.

"It's in the fridge." Lu Ran thought for a moment, then asked, "What happened?

Did the matter of Lord Jian Yi enlightening the Lingshan go smoothly?"

Qiao Wanjun walked into the house in silence and went to the master bedroom.

The siblings looked at each other, neither daring to speak.

Qiao Wanjun was not only a parent but also a powerhouse with unfathomable strength.

If her mood was poor, the pressure she invisibly brought to the surrounding living beings was quite terrifying.

Lu Ran watched Mother walk into the room; he thought and thought, then whispered: "Let's eat later.

Come on, let me play a few rounds of Monopoly with you first?"

Qiao Yuanyuan looked toward the master bedroom with some worry and whispered: "Brother, these two days, we haven't seen any news about the completion of Lingshan, have we?"

Lu Ran nodded silently; that was why he had asked that question earlier.

It was just that Lu Ran did not know if the authorities were not reporting it or if something had gone wrong with Lingshan.

It was not until 7:30 in the evening that Qiao Wanjun finally walked out of the bedroom.

She had changed into a house dress, the cold aura on her body had faded, and she was much gentler.

She looked at the siblings playing Monopoly by the sofa and said softly: "Hungry?"

Seeing Mother's demeanor, Qiao Yuanyuan immediately got carried away and pouted:

"Hungry!"

Qiao Wanjun nodded with a smile: "Let's go, let's celebrate your birthday."

"Woohoo~!" Qiao Yuanyuan jumped up and headed straight for the dining room.

"What exactly happened, Mom?" Lu Ran quickly tidied up the Monopoly game, afraid that they would continue the game later.

After all, there weren't many of his own properties left.

"Let's eat." Qiao Wanjun said casually, walking toward the dining room.

Lu Ran opened his mouth, but in the end, he could only respond: "Oh."

"Mom, Brother, hurry up!" Little Yuanyuan's urging voice came from the dining room.

Seeing little Yuanyuan's expectant look, Lu Ran took two quick steps and turned off the dining room lights.

As Mother sat down, Lu Ran took the cake he had ordered long ago out of the fridge.

"17 years old?" Lu Ran cast aside his messy thoughts, focusing on celebrating little Yuanyuan's birthday, continuously sticking candles into the cake.

"Stick one more candle!" Qiao Yuanyuan said with a giggle, "You're 18!"

Lu Ran's birthday was a few days ago.

However, according to the family's custom, every year, the siblings celebrated their birthdays together on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Because on this dangerous night, Mother would return.

"No, no." Lu Ran still stuck 17 candles, "I'll just consider myself seventeen."

"How can that be!" Qiao Yuanyuan looked at her brother with a hint of mischief, "If you're a year off, you can't get a marriage certificate~"

Lu Ran: "..."

A faint smile also appeared on Qiao Wanjun's face as she looked at Lu Ran: "How are you and that girl doing?"

"Hurry up and make a wish and blow out the candles, the wax will drip into the cake in a moment!" Lu Ran frantically changed the subject while lighting the candles.

Qiao Wanjun's mood had indeed improved quite a bit.

She rested her elbows on the table, propped her chin with the back of her hand, and watched Lu Ran, who was flustered, with a smile.

"Let's make a wish together!" Qiao Yuanyuan pulled Lu Ran to sit down, "Come on, come on!

10 seconds, okay? We'll blow out the candles together, no cheating."

As she spoke, she had already put her hands together and closed her eyes to make a wish.

The birthday song was naturally skipped; neither of the siblings had the guts to let Mom provide the background music on the side...

Lu Ran also put his hands together and closed his eyes.

That action was actually much smoother than when he worshipped gods.

A hint of tenderness flashed deep in Qiao Wanjun's eyes.

Under the candlelight, her son's face was still somewhat youthful, but indeed much more heroic than last year.

Her daughter was still as cute and charming as ever.

If she could be a bit more well-behaved, that would be even better...

Ten seconds, neither long nor short.

Qiao Wanjun watched the two quietly, a trace of memories rising in her eyes.

Lu Ran and Qiao Yuanyuan opened their eyes at the same time.

The two had a tacit understanding and blew out the candles together.

"Hoo~"

"Hoo," the candlelight flickered and quietly went out.

Everything was so warm.

"Hiss!!"

Before Qiao Yuanyuan could celebrate, she suddenly heard a low roar.

The three turned their heads abruptly, only to see a pitch-black figure quietly appear outside the dining room window not far away.

Black clothes, black veil, standing in mid-air.

Demon Clan · Night Charm?

Lu Ran's expression was strange as he patted little Yuanyuan's shoulder: "What wish did you make?"

"It wasn't me, it wasn't me!" Qiao Yuanyuan shook her head repeatedly, her head moving like a rattle-drum.

Suddenly, Qiao Yuanyuan looked at Lu Ran.

Her expression was suspicious as she stared straight into Lu Ran's eyes: "The villain complaining first, was it you?"

Lu Ran: "..."

(End of chapter)