Chapter 185

"Hehe~" Qiao Wanjun couldn't help but laugh.

Looking at her calm and composed children, she couldn't help but feel moved in her heart.

If it were the fifteenth day of the first lunar month last year, encountering such a situation, the two would definitely have been pale-faced and terrified in their hearts.

How could they be joking and teasing like this now?

Sure enough, they have all grown up...

Qiao Wanjun waved her hand, and a sword shadow flashed by.

In an instant, the sword shadow transformed into a phantom figure, standing in front of the dining room window.

Divine Technique · Sword Dance Clear Shadow!

The moment that figure appeared, one hand was already pressed against the window, and a flying sword flashed past outside the window, separated by the glass.

"Click!"

That was the sound of the Night Charm's clothing shattering.

"Sss!"

That was the sound of a blade piercing flesh, the flying sword penetrating the Night Charm's skull.

Smooth and flowing, crisp and clean!

This casual wave of Qiao Wanjun's hand froze Lu Ran in his chair, his expression even stiffening.

He hadn't seen it clearly!

One had to know, Lu Ran had been keeping his Evil Technique · Evil Perception active the whole time.

Under such circumstances, Lu Ran had actually failed to keep up with Qiao Wanjun's speed at all!

The Lu Ran of the past, as an ordinary person, only felt that Mother was very strong; he only had a very vague concept in his mind.

But now, Lu Ran, who had already stepped into the Jiang Jing, had an even more vague understanding of Qiao Wanjun's strength.

This...?

Qiao Yuanyuan leaned to the side and hugged Qiao Wanjun's arm: "Sure enough, it's safest by Mom's side!"

"Cut the cake." Qiao Wanjun said softly.

Just like every fifteenth day of the first lunar month before, she just did the same thing.

But this time, the reactions of her children were completely different.

Little Yuanyuan still didn't have much of a feeling, only thinking that Mom eliminating a demon with a wave of her hand was a very common occurrence.

But Lu Ran...

"What's wrong?" Qiao Wanjun looked at Lu Ran gently.

"Ah, no, nothing." Lu Ran immediately came back to his senses and stood up, "I'll go turn on the lights."

A hint of a smile appeared on Qiao Wanjun's face as she watched Lu Ran's back.

Even though both children were already at the first stage of the Jiang Jing, it was obvious that the son was far, far stronger than the daughter.

"Hum!"

Lu Ran's hand landed on the light switch, his movement freezing once again.

His brain buzzed abruptly!

This is...?

Lu Ran's heart stirred, had the sculpture... leveled up?

He was both surprised and happy, immediately probing his spiritual world.

Sure enough!

Inside the God-Demon Sculpture Garden, that Night Charm Yemo Yemo Xiesu was trembling crazily.

Mother, I praise you!

Having killed for so long in the demon den earlier, the Night Charm Yemo Yemo Xiesu hadn't had any reaction.

Who would have thought that Mother's single move would directly send the Night Charm Yemo Yemo Xiesu into the River Estuary Realm?

"Ranran?" Qiao Wanjun's gentle call came from the dining room.

"Ah!" Lu Ran immediately turned on the dining room lights.

Lu Ran suppressed his excitement, not daring to pay attention to the Night Charm Yemo Yemo Xiesu anymore, and quickly returned to the dining room.

Qiao Wanjun looked at her son's abnormal state but misinterpreted the meaning.

She said softly: "No need to be discouraged, your strength is still shallow, it will get better in the future."

Since returning to the capital, this was the second time Qiao Wanjun had said the four words "no need to be discouraged."

The last time was on Jinghong Peak, when she held the Xiaguang Blade and forcibly wielded it.

"Mm." Lu Ran didn't explain much, just nodded repeatedly.

Qiao Yuanyuan teased with a giggle: "Brother, I know you're fast, you go 'whoosh' when you fight~

But aren't you a bit overestimating your capabilities?"

Lu Ran: "..."

Qiao Yuanyuan wiped some cream from the cake with a finger, smeared it on Lu Ran's cheek, and laughed:

"Merely Jiang Jing, and you want to see Mom's movements clearly?"

Actually, little Yuanyuan was the one who most hoped to see Mother's movements clearly.

Because since she was small, little Yuanyuan hadn't been beaten less...

Lu Ran laughed: "Why, should I be like you, just giving up directly?"

"Hey, don't look for trouble for yourself, it's useless." Qiao Yuanyuan snorted, lifting her little face, "Do you remember New Year's Eve that year?

When Mom spanked me, I didn't even dodge~"

Lu Ran's expression was strange: "You're even proud of that?"

Qiao Wanjun suddenly reached out.

"Eh?" Qiao Yuanyuan was startled and hurriedly covered her head.

Qiao Wanjun just pulled out a tissue and waved it toward Lu Ran.

Qiao Yuanyuan: "..."

"Haha!" Lu Ran laughed as he took the tissue and wiped the cream off his cheek.

"Hey~ Mom!" Qiao Yuanyuan stomped her feet, complaining, "Am I really your biological daughter?"

Qiao Wanjun: "If you were half as obedient as your brother, you wouldn't get beaten so much."

Qiao Yuanyuan pouted, watching Lu Ran just finish wiping his cheek clean, she couldn't control that sinful little hand again.

Immediately, her cream-covered fingertip smeared across Lu Ran's cheek once more.

Lu Ran: "..."

"Heehee~" Seeing Lu Ran's speechless look, little Yuanyuan was happy again.

But just as she laughed out loud, she realized something; she hurriedly restrained her smile and cautiously peeked at Mother.

Obviously, there was a reason why some people always got beaten.

However, on this special day, Qiao Wanjun was quite tolerant toward her daughter.

Seeing that Mom didn't say anything, Qiao Yuanyuan became cheerful again.

"Rumble!"

A violent explosion suddenly came from outside the window.

Lu Ran subconsciously turned his eyes to look, then turned his attention back to the birthday banquet.

The family of three chatted and laughed, spending this warm fifteenth day of the first lunar month as they did in previous years.

Roaring sounds rose all over the city, with bursts of hissing.

Under this special background sound, the house with bright lights appeared even warmer.

This unique memory, Lu Ran would never forget for the rest of his life.

Even though he was already a Jiang Jing believer at this moment, possessing a certain ability to protect himself.

But Lu Ran still craved this feeling of warmth and peace of mind.

Little Yuanyuan was the same.

She seemed to have accidentally blurted out her birthday wish.

That was in the middle of the night; the family of three had long finished their meal and had been keeping vigil in the living room for a long time.

Lu Ran and Qiao Yuanyuan were sitting on the floor by the coffee table, playing Monopoly.

Qiao Wanjun was sitting quietly on the sofa, watching the news on TV, her gaze occasionally sweeping over the two children playing at her knees.

As another game ended, little Yuanyuan was so tired from winning that she fell asleep.

She climbed onto the sofa and snuggled into Mom's arms.

Little Yuanyuan fell asleep quickly and very sweetly.

The young girl mumbled in her sleep, her voice small and light, saying something about wanting Mom and Brother to stay by her side forever.

Qiao Wanjun held her daughter, gently patting her back.

At this moment, Qiao Wanjun was finally no longer the cold and powerful Jian Yi disciple, but just a gentle and loving mother.

Lu Ran watched his sister sleeping soundly in Mother's arms; for a long time, he lowered his head silently, playing with the dice in his hand.

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the warmer it was, the harder parting became.

On the nineteenth day of the first lunar month, Lu Ran boarded the train back to his hometown under Qiao Yuanyuan's reluctant farewell.

School would start in 5 days; this was the reason Lu Ran gave.

Even though little Yuanyuan was a thousand times unwilling, Lu Ran had to go to class after all, and little Yuanyuan would also start school soon, and would also have to train and grow with her squad.

Only an hour's train ride.

From heaven to hell.

From the bustling metropolis to the cold and dilapidated Rain Lane City.

When Lu Ran stepped out of the station exit, he couldn't help but take a deep breath.

That's right, the taste of home.

"Young man, where to?" A taxi drove up in front of Lu Ran, and the driver asked enthusiastically.

"River West, Rain Lane Home."

"Starting fare, let's go!"

"Let's go."

If Rain Lane City had any advantages at all, it was that the starting fare was basically enough to get anywhere, and the roads were never congested.

Soon, Lu Ran returned to the old house he had been away from for a long time.

The moment he opened the door, a small figure was squatting at the doorway, looking up at the newcomer curiously.

"Did you miss me?" Lu Ran squatted down, smiling and reaching out his palm.

"Meow~" The little Li Hua cat leaped lightly, dodging someone's hand.

"Baa." Lu Ran still smiled, wearing a face that was becoming increasingly heroic, but his mouth spat out a demonic whisper.

"Meow~" The little Li Hua cat cried out, hurriedly running back.

The little guy, who still wanted to cause trouble, was scooped up into Lu Ran's arms, and he walked into the house with big strides.

The house was slightly messy, but still passable.

His gaze swept over the feeding corner in the living room; the little Li Hua cat shouldn't have been hungry.

From now on, it would be even less likely to be hungry.

Lu Ran held the cat, bowed before the small shrine, and then headed straight for the bathroom.

After washing both himself and the cat until they were fresh and clean, Lu Ran wrapped the little Li Hua cat in a large bath towel and returned to the shrine.

"Lord Xiang Xianyang, on the fifteenth, the Night Charm Yemo Yemo Xiesu already ascended to the River Estuary Realm."

"Mm." After a month, Lu Ran heard Lord Xiang Xianyang's voice transmission again.

Previously, while living in the capital at Mother's house, Lu Ran had also tried to contact Lord Xiang Xianyang in his bedroom.

But it had never appeared.

Lu Ran continued: "Am I now able to create demons?"

"Follow me." As the voice transmission fell, Lu Ran only felt his head go blank.

His consciousness was dragged into the spiritual world, arriving inside the Demon Sculpture Garden.

In front of Lu Ran was a layer of stone-like, black veil.

He was actually standing in the palm of the Night Charm!

"It's really huge." Lu Ran looked downward.

As early as a few days ago, when Lu Ran probed the sculpture garden, he had sensed this problem.

When the Yemo Yemo Xiesu was in the Mist Realm, Stream Realm, and Jiang Jing, every upgrade felt like child's play.

But the Yemo Yemo Xiesu that had upgraded to the River Estuary Realm had undergone a qualitative change!

Its scale was quite magnificent, and because mist was drifting between heaven and earth, Lu Ran couldn't even see the upper half of the Night Charm, let alone see the ground.

"Creating demons is not the goal; the goal is to control them." A low voice came from behind.

Lu Ran turned his head to look and saw the black sheep head with black fire flickering.

That pair of dead sheep eyes was still as horrifying as ever, appearing lifeless.

Black Fire Sheep Head: "You shall connect with the Night Charm stone sculpture and learn the method of creation."

"Hoo~"

Thick lines of mist radiated from the stone veil, falling toward the palm of the stone sculpture, enveloping the tiny human within.

Lu Ran closed his eyes tightly, feeling everything carefully.

I don't know how much time passed, but the Black Fire Sheep Head suddenly spoke: "Tell me, how should you create a demon."

Lu Ran said in a deep voice: "Cast its body with divine power, and shape its soul with the Qi of origin."

The Black Fire Sheep Head's voice was hoarse: "Why does this minion obey your orders?"

Lu Ran frowned slightly: "Its soul originates from 'Qi', originates from the Yemo Yemo Xiesu in my spiritual world.

The demon minion belongs to the Yemo Yemo Xiesu, so naturally, it belongs to me.

But this is not enough..."

Lu Ran thought carefully: "When shaping the demon's soul, I need to inject the concept of obedience into it, emphasizing the distinction between master and servant."

Black Fire Sheep Head: "The child is teachable.

Come, create your first demon servant in front of the shrine; I will protect you."

"Yes!" Inside the small bedroom, Lu Ran opened his eyes abruptly.

"Meow~" The large bath towel in his arms squirmed, and the little Li Hua cat poked its head out.

Lu Ran lowered his head slightly, gently pressing his forehead against the little Li Hua cat's head:

"Be good, I'll create a big sister for you to take care of you from now on."

"Hoo~"

Wisps of mist permeated from Lu Ran's palm...

Asking for some monthly tickets.

(End of chapter)