Chapter 236: Beauty Like Jiang Ruyi

On the small bed in the bedroom, something seemed to be wriggling inside a rolled-up white bath towel.

After a good while, a furry little head finally poked out.

"Meow?" Little Li Hua blinked its eyes, appearing somewhat puzzled.

There stood Lu Ran, motionless before the spirit shrine.

That itself was nothing unusual; the key point was, why was there a red cloth covering his head?

Lady Lady Yanzhi Xie Fa · Red Veil!

Little Li Hua naturally understood nothing of Chinese-style horror, but had this been a human, seeing such a bizarre scene would surely have made their heart fill with unease.

Which family's seventeen or eighteen-year-old lad stands motionless in a room wearing a bride's veil?

Has he been possessed by an evil spirit?

Suddenly, the red veil moved!

It lifted a corner on its own without any wind, revealing Lu Ran's face beneath.

"Tsk tsk~" Lu Ran clicked his tongue in wonder, controlling the red veil as it slowly floated upward.

It feels somewhat obeying one's every whim?

With a thought from Lu Ran, the red veil automatically rolled up, folding into a red strip of cloth, which then covered Lu Ran's eyes.

His right hand hung naturally at his side, fingers gently swaying.

Strangely, behind Lu Ran's head, the two ends of the red cloth strip automatically tangled together, slowly tying themselves into a butterfly knot.

It was as if an invisible figure stood behind Lu Ran, helping him tie the red cloth.

"Perfect!"

Lu Ran nodded repeatedly, his mood growing better and better.

In the future, when covering eyes or faces and the like, could this red veil be used?

Hmm... better not be too unrestrained.

The Xie Fa · Red Veil indeed possesses certain defensive attributes, but in essence, it is an offensive technique.

In other words, this piece of red cloth is not that sturdy, at least not as solid as proper defensive techniques like the Night Phantom Robe or the Red Wedding Dress.

If this red veil were to accidentally shatter during a trial expedition, Lu Ran would have no way to explain it to others.

Mentioning the Red Wedding Dress, Lu Ran's heart couldn't help but stir greatly!

"Whoosh~"

A surge of energy churned, and a large red ceremonial cape draped over Lu Ran's body.

Red served as the base, embroidered upon it were clouds and phoenixes.

Antique and rhyming, it could be described as exceptionally magnificent!

"Meow~" Little Li Hua blinked its eyes.

Its master's ability to "change outfits with one click" left the little fellow completely stunned.

"You are right!" Lu Ran raised both hands, looking at the sleeves embroidered with exquisite cloud patterns, "Wonderful! Simply wonderful~"

"Meow?" Little Li Hua was even more confused.

You can actually speak?

Lu Ran flicked his robe hem, a gentle breeze brushing past, as he strode toward the living room.

Little Li Hua very much wanted to chase after and take a look.

Alas, only its small head protruded outside the rolled towel; its tiny body was wrapped inside the towel, unable to crawl out.

Lu Ran, meanwhile, arrived before the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the person in the mirror.

It must be said that the Xie Fa of the Night Phantom Clan and the Lady Lady Yanzhi Clan were both quite friendly toward Lu Ran.

Whether it was the Night Phantom Robe or the Red Wedding Dress, although nominally women's clothing, Lu Ran wore them without the slightest sense of incongruity.

The Xie Fa · Night Phantom Robe was a night-suit, originally unisex, and with the conical hat and black gauze providing cover, wearing it posed no pressure whatsoever.

As for this large red ceremonial cape before him, although not unisex, it was universally killing for both men and women!

"Good heavens~" Lu Ran filled with praise, gazing at the person in the mirror.

He had never felt himself to be so full of presence and radiating spirit!

However, it felt as if something was missing?

Ah, yes, the phoenix crown!

Hmm... it doesn't matter, it can be covered.

Lu Ran raised one hand, a surge of energy churning in his palm; as his hand swept over his head, a red veil draped over it.

Lu Ran raised one hand; energy churned in his palm. As his hand swept over his head, a red veil draped over it.

If we put on this outfit, sit at the doorstep in the dead of night...

We could randomly scare a passerby to death!

"The eighteenth day of the first month, an auspicious day, lifting the sorghum~"

In high spirits, Lu Ran hummed a little tune as he removed the red veil.

The next moment, energy surged at his fingertips.

Lady Lady Yanzhi Xie Fa · Paper Hand!

This technique allows the fingertips of the Lady Lady Yanzhi people to become exceptionally sharp, capable of cutting and tearing apart targets.

During combat, the Lady Lady Yanzhi Clan did not utilize this technique very frequently.

However, when the Lady Lady Yanzhi people captured humans and proceeded to torture them, the usage rate of this technique was extremely high!

The Lady Lady Yanzhi people would always use these sharp "paper hands" to cruelly tear apart human bodies, slice off human limbs, and shave people into human sticks one by one.

The Lady Lady Yanzhi Men always used these sharp "paper hands" to cruelly tear apart human bodies and sever human limbs, shaving people into human sticks one by one.

Speaking of which, the evil arts of this world were naturally named by the human race.

Lu Ran felt that the name of this technique was not quite accurate; would it not be more fitting to call it "Paper Armor" or "Paper Tip"?

"Hiss!"

Lu Ran pinched a corner of the red veil, holding it before his eyes, and traced his fingertip across its surface.

The red veil was instantly sliced open, and the lower half drifted down toward the ground.

"Lift the red attire, one inch, one regret, hastily cut~"

Lu Ran hummed softly in a low voice, watching the red veil quietly shatter into mist.

As expected, since it is not a defensive technique, it simply will not work.

Or perhaps one should consider it from another angle: is the Evil Art·Paper Hand simply too sharp?

Lu Ran looked at his own fingers.

He did not have the habit of growing long fingernails.

Including the energy surging at his fingertips, which was not shaped like nails but merely covered them.

Yet this technique was just so miraculous, just so sharp!

Lu Ran observed it for quite a while before finally dismissing the Paper Hand.

"Whoosh~"

He lifted his sleeve again, and the cuff suddenly expanded slightly.

Lady Lady Yanzhi Evil Art·Lady Lady Yanzhi Sleeve!

As everyone knows, all Divine Arts and Evil Arts in the world, regardless of the form they take, are essentially composed of energy.

This Lady Lady Yanzhi Sleeve is capable of drawing Divine Arts or Evil Arts into the sleeve and converting them into energy.

It counts as another form of defensive technique.

Then the question arises: since a considerable portion of evil demons are also composed of energy, can they be absorbed by the Lady Lady Yanzhi Sleeve?

The answer is... no!

Unlike techniques, evil demons are living beings with souls and cannot be converted into energy.

"I await the day when you can embrace all rivers." Lu Ran rolled up his sleeves, full of anticipation.

The potential of the Evil Art·Lady Lady Yanzhi Sleeve is immense!

Lu Ran had heard that those Lady Lady Yanzhi People whose strength had reached the pinnacle, when wielding the Lady Lady Yanzhi Sleeve, could not only revert worldly techniques to their original form and turn them into energy, but even directly digest and absorb them!

Four big words: Ridiculously strong!

It was just that Lu Ran's Lady Lady Yanzhi Sleeve was only at the River Realm stage and could not yet achieve such profound and exquisite applications.

"Meow! Meow meow meow! Meow!"

Inside the room, Little Li Hua suddenly began cursing and yowling in a chaotic uproar.

Lu Ran came to his senses and only then remembered that he had rolled the kitty into a bundle and left it on the bed the whole time.

He immediately dismissed all his evil arts and hurriedly walked back to the small bedroom.

Interestingly, the moment Little Li Hua, who had been shouting loudly just before, saw Lu Ran, its voice became pleasant again.

It suddenly started whimpering with "ying ying ying" sounds.

Was it... acting cute now?

Lu Ran plopped down onto the bed and unwrapped the large bath towel.

Little Li Hua shot out with a "whoosh," without even looking back.

Lu Ran, meanwhile, simply bleated "mie" as he went out, clean and crisp.

Poor little Li Hua~

Thus, it was played with in the palm of a certain sinister little lamb.

"Meow~" The tabby cat immediately turned its head and trotted back happily.

"Say no more, Sister Cat, time to attend me in bed!"

Lu Ran held the freshly washed, fragrant little creature in his arms, using it as a body pillow.

He toppled onto the bed, letting Little Li Hua lick his face, and let out a deep sigh of relief.

He had employed and roughly understood each of the Lady Lady Yanzhi People's evil arts one by one.

Paper Hand, Red Veil, Red Wedding Dress, Lady Lady Yanzhi Sleeve.

Actually, there was one evil art Lu Ran had not yet tested, namely the River Realm·First Stage compatible evil art—Paper Substitute.

This technique had no effect on Lu Ran.

The underlying logic of all substitute-type techniques is to use energy to exchange for injury.

The problem was that Lu Ran was not a being conjured from energy; he was a human of flesh and blood.

If Lu Ran were slashed by a blade and then activated the Paper Substitute, his original body would still bear the wound.

However, regarding Lu Ran, this technique could not be considered a useless skill.

Lu Ran could strike first!

He could choose to leave a substitute in place before being injured, using it to confuse the enemy and draw their fire.

"Mm, right."

While his mind wandered with random thoughts, Lu Ran stroked the Little Li Hua in his arms and gradually fell asleep.

This sleep lasted through darkness and day.

When Lu Ran opened his eyes again, night had already fallen.

In truth, he had been awakened by the aroma of food.

Lu Ran sat up in a daze, reacted for quite a while, and suddenly felt a chill run down his spine!

Someone broke into the house?

In the silent, pitch-black small bedroom, the little Li Hua in his arms had vanished!

Do not blame Lu Ran for such a reaction.

Just a few days ago, he was still slaying demons and monsters in Rouge Village; all sorts of Chinese horror elements were still imprinted in his mind.

Moreover, during the day, he had just tested a series of Lady Lady Yanzhi Xie Fa.

Now at night, a bride comes knocking at the door?

And even cooks a meal for me?

Lu Ran quickly got up and walked toward the door.

Groggy from sleep, it was not until he opened the bedroom door that he came to his senses.

Wait! This smells like beef and wolfberry soup?

Lu Ran: "."

Looking at the brightly lit living room, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

If it truly were a Lady Lady Yanzhi Figure at the door, it surely would not have turned on the lights.

Besides, there is a spirit shrine and statues in the house; how could evil spirits possibly enter?

"Slap." Lu Ran slapped his own forehead, silently cursing himself for being so addled by sleep.

He arrived before the kitchen and indeed saw a tall figure.

She wore her long hair loose over her shoulders, dressed in jeans and a light-colored shirt.

Ordinary clothing could hardly conceal her youthful beauty; those jeans only accentuated her slender, willowy figure.

In one hand she held a ladle, slowly stirring the soup in the clay pot, while her other arm must be cradling little Li Hua.

For a cat's tail was poking out from her side, swaying back and forth.

Such a heartwarming scene gradually captivated Lu Ran.

"Hmm?" Jiangjiang Ruyi sensed something, turned her head to look at the person outside the door, "Awake?"

"Ah." Lu Ran stepped forward, leaning his shoulder against the doorframe, "How did you get in?"

Jiangjiang Ruyi smiled gently, a hint of mischief in her eyes: "Guess?"

Lu Ran thought for a moment and concluded it must be the Divine Art · Master Yu Fu Great Formation.

When Jiangjiang Ruyi activated this art, the white jade tablets circling her body could naturally bypass the security door and appear directly inside the home.

Then using a white jade tablet to press down the door handle was simply too easy.

Hmm... it seems the Yufuyi Sect is just like the Qiumoyi Sect.

Both are highly proficient in picking locks and prying windows open~

Lu Ran: "I thought you wouldn't come until tomorrow—wait, didn't you say I was dreaming?"

Jiangjiang Ruyi gave Lu Ran a light, sidelong glance: "You haven't eaten all day, have you?"

Lu Ran smiled: "Truly beautiful inside and out."

"Shoo." Jiangjiang Ruyi lightly clicked her tongue at Lu Ran, "Go wash your hands."

Lu Ran, however, did not move.

He had just bathed before bed; he was perfectly clean.

"Meow~ Meow!" In the girl's arms, little Li Hua struggled incessantly, wishing nothing more than to dive headfirst into the clay pot.

Jiangjiang Ruyi held the mischievous little creature with one arm, turned around, and continued tending to the steaming clay pot.

Lu Ran watched this heartwarming scene, gazing at that beautiful figure.

Slowly, he stepped forward.

Jiangjiang Ruyi naturally noticed the approaching footsteps; her tone chiding: "I told you to go—"

Jiangjiang Ruyi's body stiffened, her words cutting off abruptly.

Because Lu Ran had embraced her from behind.

He gently inhaled the fragrance of her hair; that faint scent of jasmine temporarily masked the aroma of the food, giving Lu Ran an overwhelming sense of peace.

Jiangjiang Ruyi's pretty face flushed crimson; lowering her eyelids, she whispered: "Eat... it's time to eat."

Lu Ran, however, turned her around so they faced each other.

This time, he did not intend to sneak attack.

He wanted to do it openly and honorably!

Jiangjiang Ruyi's cheeks were as red as a tempting, juicy peach; she flusteredly averted her gaze, looking to the side.

"Meow?" In Jiangjiang Meiren's arms, little Li Hua tilted its head up, curiously observing its master.

They saw him extend both hands, cupping her ruddy cheeks.

"Meow~" Little Li Hua suddenly extended a cat paw, pressing it against Lu Ran's cheek to block his next move.

Lu Ran: "."

You little thing,

you really are delaying matters!

Begging for some monthly tickets.

(End of Chapter)