Chapter 26: The First Is Your Lie

Unsurprisingly, Tian Tian’s weapon was a sword.

After practicing several formations and clarifying their positions, they went to spar with other teams.

Tian Tian’s performance was quite impressive!

Through match after match, she diligently guarded Jiang Meiren’s side, using petals to shield her goddess from wind and rain.

Deng Yutang had once been the team’s sole defensive anchor; once breached, Lu Ran had to rush in to contain the damage.

Now, with the Sword Lotus devotees, Deng Yutang’s pressure dropped sharply, and Lu Ran could roam freely.

Jiang Ruyi had gone completely berserk!

With a relatively stable output environment, her Thunder Bind talismans fluttered everywhere, crackling across the entire training ground.

After several rounds of combat, the electric sparks dancing at her fingertips left onlookers trembling with awe.

Let’s be honest—this roster change by the school had real strategy to it.

By the time morning classes ended, Tian Tian bowed deeply to them all, her face filled with gratitude, before hurrying off.

That morning, she received abundant care; her teammates spared no praise.

Even when she made mistakes, Jiang Ruyi never scolded her.

For Tian Tian, who had been shunned and excluded, this team environment was beyond anything she’d dared to dream of.

“This teammate’s good—just lacks confidence,” Deng Yutang said, pulling off his sweat-drenched red headband and shaking his hair.

This motion had become his standard post-battle ritual.

It felt just like a "settlement animation."

“Mm.” Jiang Ruyi watched Tian Tian’s retreating figure and sighed softly.

“What do you think?” Lu Ran sat on the concrete ground, gazing at Jiang Meiren’s tall back.

“She’s good. Well-behaved,” Jiang Ruyi murmured. “Perfect for our team.”

“Agreed,” Lu Ran nodded in approval.

That morning, when he’d heard Wu Shanshan had left, he’d thought: Fine, bye-bye—next one’ll be even better!

And lo and behold—a truly obedient girl had shown up.

She’d do anything asked of her, obeying Jiang Ruyi without question.

Even when speaking with Jiang Ruyi, Tian Tian would unconsciously lower her head, bowing in humble deference.

Hmm… maybe she’s too obedient?

“We can help her build confidence,” Jiang Ruyi mused. “Once the Sword in the Lotus is drawn, our team will see a qualitative leap.”

Before she finished speaking, Jiang Ruyi suddenly trembled slightly.

Waves of divine power surged forth, leaving Lu and Deng both astonished and delighted.

Is the monitor about to advance?

Lu Ran had advanced on the fifth, and today was the seventh—clearly, Jiang Meiren’s talent was also exceptional.

Moments later, Lu Ran turned to Deng Yutang and raised an eyebrow.

Just that small gesture made Deng Yutang’s face flush red.

“Hmph,” Deng Yutang turned his head away, stubbornly defiant. “I’m about to advance too—what’s the rush?”

Lu Ran chuckled.

Only the one who’s rushing knows.

Deng Yutang walked off without hesitation: “I’m going home for lunch.”

Lu Ran called after him: “Don’t forget to show up at 1:30 p.m.—there are more students to trial.”

Deng Yutang didn’t turn back, only waved his hand casually.

“Mm~”

Beside him, Jiang Meiren suddenly let out a soft nasal sound, as if deeply satisfied.

Lu Ran: “Mm… that’s pretty nice too.”

He knew exactly how satisfying advancement felt—he savored the memory.

So exhilarating!

“Don’t tell anyone,” Jiang Ruyi whispered suddenly.

“Huh?” Lu Ran frowned, looking at Jiang Meiren, shrouded in divine mist.

Why hide an advancement?

“Never mind,” Jiang Ruyi blushed, realizing she’d overthought it.

Mostly, that nasal sound had made her feel embarrassed.

Slightly awkward, she absentmindedly brushed the surrounding mist, drawing out strands of vapor—ethereal and dreamlike.

This mist was truly misty.

“You want to hide your strength?” Lu Ran found it bizarre, yet oddly amusing.

In front of Tian Tian, Jiang Meiren was a gentle older sister.

But before him, she reverted to the girl who often blushed.

Kinda interesting, huh?

“How about you? When will you advance to Mist Realm Stage Three?” Jiang Ruyi walked toward the arena’s edge.

“You’re so beautiful,” Lu Ran smirked, following her.

“Talk properly,” Jiang Ruyi said, slightly annoyed.

“I mean—you’re dreaming!”

Jiang Ruyi: “.”

“I just advanced two days ago… hey, don’t kick, put your leg down, be ladylike.”

At noon, Lu Ran rushed home excitedly to report the good news: he’d topped both lists.

But the Immortal Sheep Lord did not send a voice message.

The Sheep Boss was not only domineering—he was also coldly aloof.

Lu Ran didn’t press it; he simply activated his cultivation mode right before the altar.

He longed to advance to Mist Realm Stage Three as soon as possible—only then could he learn the new divine art: Immortal Hoof.

This divine art would greatly enhance his speed, making it easier for him to maneuver and strike down enemies.

Though, the Immortal Sheep Lord had originally created Immortal Hoof to help his followers avoid conflict and stay far from battlefields…

But it didn’t matter.

Once the divine art fell into Lu Ran’s hands, how it was used was entirely up to him.

After all, Lu Ran was the kind of guy who could beg for mercy while swinging a chair at someone’s head.

On the seventh and eighth, Lu Ran’s team trialed all four candidates.

The next three candidates each had unique strengths, yet the trio all felt something was missing.

By the evening of the eighth, the trio reached a consensus and submitted “Tian Tian”’s name to their homeroom teacher.

Thus, Team 98 was fully rebuilt!

The four refused to slack off, training relentlessly every day, waiting only for the final exam on the fifteenth of the lunar month.

Days passed swiftly, and soon it was the thirteenth of the lunar month.

The four, preparing anxiously, encountered an old acquaintance on the training ground—Wu Shanshan!

“Isn’t that Wu Shanshan?” Deng Yutang, drenched in sweat, held his wooden spear and stared beyond the chain-link fence.

Everyone turned; Lu Ran raised an eyebrow: “Looks like she’s coming for us?”

Jiang Ruyi frowned slightly, watching Wu Shanshan and her new teammates.

Tian Tian seemed nervous; she stepped sideways, her petite frame hiding behind Jiang Meiren.

Because Wu Shanshan’s new teammates were precisely Tian Tian’s former teammates!

After the Evil Dog Village assessment, many teams had restructured, mostly settling on new rosters before the eighth.

In recent days, everyone had learned which team Wu Shanshan had joined.

It was the school’s second-place team—Ma Tianchuan’s squad!

“Monitor Jiang, long time no see,” Ma Tianchuan led his team into the arena.

“Hi~” Wu Shanshan walked beside Ma Tianchuan, smiling and waving at her former teammates.

Behind her stood two more teammates—a man and a woman, both from Class 7.

Deng Yutang snorted: “Monitor Wu, found your own team?”

Earlier, after hearing Jiang Ruyi’s account of Wu Shanshan’s departure, he’d held her in higher regard.

A soldier wanting to become a general was perfectly natural.

But when he learned Wu Shanshan had joined Ma Tianchuan’s team, Deng Yutang felt like someone had slapped him across the face.

You couldn’t lead under Jiang Ruyi, so you just went to Ma Tianchuan instead?

Is this a joke?!

“Mm. And you? How’s your new team?” Wu Shanshan’s smile didn’t fade; she seemed unfazed by Deng Yutang’s tone.

“Good,” Deng Yutang replied without hesitation, giving strong approval to his new teammates.

“Tian Tian, you’re really lucky!”

Another female teammate laughed, glancing at silent Tian Tian: “You left our team and joined the number one squad!”

Tian Tian gave no response to her former teammate Wang Xinyao’s words—she remained firmly behind Jiang Ruyi.

Even, one of her small hands quietly tugged at Jiang Ruyi’s sleeve.

Wang Xinyao saw this and couldn’t help but smile slightly.

Deng Yutang, visibly displeased by her condescending tone, said: “So you’re saying Tian Tian should thank you for kicking her out?”

Wang Xinyao’s expression darkened: “How can you speak so rudely?”

Lu Ran suddenly spoke, grinning: “Our Young Master Deng likes to tell a few small truths~”

After being praised by Lu Ran, Deng Yutang straightened his posture, proud: “Yes, I love telling the truth!”

Wang Xinyao instantly grew furious: “You—”

Zheng Cheng, the male team member beside her, was also dissatisfied: "Team adjustments are completely normal!"

We’re all here for better growth—what’s right or wrong about it?”

“Enough, enough,” Ma Tianchuan spoke up. “Don’t get so worked up.”

As soon as the captain spoke, Wang Xinyao and Zheng Cheng fell silent.

Ma Tianchuan stated his purpose: “These past few days, I’ve been watching Jiang’s squad spar with other teams—I’m getting restless.”

Before the big exam, why don’t our two squads have a little sparring match?”

“Afraid of you?” Deng Yutang blurted out immediately.

The others turned to Jiang Ruyi, knowing who led Team 98.

To everyone’s surprise, Jiang Ruyi turned slightly and looked down at the silent Tian Tian: “Do you want to spar?”

Tian Tian’s eyes widened slightly, stunned and at a loss.

She had always been the obedient one.

At home, she listened to her parents. At school, she listened to her teachers.

In this squad, she listened to Captain Jiang Ruyi.

Since childhood, her own wishes had never mattered, and she had long grown accustomed to silence and compliance.

Tian Tian truly hadn’t expected Jiang Ruyi to ask for her opinion.

“I—I,” Tian Tian stammered softly, “I’ll follow you.”

Wu Shanshan beside them urged: “What’s there to hesitate about?”

Wang Xinyao turned to Lu Ran, her gaze sharp with scrutiny:

“We’ve heard you have a unique understanding of Divine Methods—we’re all curious!”

Show us a little something later, let us feel it?”

“You might not be able to handle it,” Lu Ran smiled. “My Divine Method is designed specifically to kill demons and evil beasts.”

Once unleashed, it must draw blood.”

Wang Xinyao’s anger hadn’t faded; her expression turned hostile: “Are you threatening me?”

To everyone’s shock, Lu Ran actually nodded!

Worse still, he uttered a sentence that left them all speechless: “Do you want to die?”

Instantly, the atmosphere in the room dropped to freezing point!

Wang Xinyao was slightly startled.

This little lamb truly differed from other weak, timid followers of the Divine Lamb.

He was genuinely fierce!

“Just joking,” Lu Ran suddenly laughed, waving his hand. “I like to tell a few small lies~”

Everyone: ???

Wang Xinyao: “.”

Though still angry, Wang Xinyao said nothing more.

After all, Lu Ran’s scores spoke for themselves—he was unquestionably the top student of the entire grade, nearly a perfect scorer!

He had slain at least dozens of demonic beasts and evil hounds.

Jiang Ruyi looked at the meek Tian Tian and said gently: “What do you really think?”

“I—”

“It’s fine, speak,” Jiang Ruyi’s slender hand brushed beside Tian Tian’s ear, tucking a strand of hair behind it.

Tian Tian finally gathered courage and whispered: “Let’s… let’s not fight.

We’re joining the city defense operation the day after tomorrow—don’t, don’t get injured now.”

“Mm.” Jiang Ruyi turned to Ma Tianchuan. “Forget it. The final exam is the day after tomorrow—no need to stir up trouble.”

Ma Tianchuan hesitated a moment, then nodded: “Alright. We’ll challenge you after the city defense mission.”

He could see everyone was tense.

Forcing a sparring match under such tension was unwise—after all, the Fifteenth Night mission was the priority.

Pity. I was hoping for a truly satisfying fight.

“Let’s go,” Ma Tianchuan turned and walked away, smiling. “Lu Ran, don’t let me overtake you this exam!”

“Last time was just luck,” Lu Ran replied humbly. “This time, you’re definitely first.”

Ma Tianchuan chuckled: “Sugar-coated artillery?”

Lu Ran shrugged: “I like to tell a few small lies~”

Ma Tianchuan: “.”

Everyone: “.”

“Hmph,” Deng Yutang watched them leave. “Sparring? They just came to pick a fight.”

“From now on, do it like today,” Jiang Ruyi ruffled Tian Tian’s hair. “Speak up if you have thoughts—don’t always suppress yourself.”

We’re a team—we’ll face many challenges together in the future.”

“Mm-hmm,” Tian Tian murmured, her small hands twisting together, head bowed even lower.

She looked like a well-behaved little bride?

On this path, Lu Ran and Tian Tian actually had something in common.

After all, when Lu Ran faced the domineering Divine Lamb Boss, he too had to shut up when told to shut up, sleep when told to sleep~

Jiang Ruyi turned to Deng Yutang and teased: “Didn’t get to fight—felt cheated, didn’t you?”

“City defense matters more,” Deng Yutang clearly understood priorities. “For this exam, we just keep pushing Ma Tianchuan down.”

Wu Shanshan had left, but she’d said one thing right.

Every time Deng Yutang mentioned “Ma Tianchuan,” it sounded like he was cursing.

“What do you say, Brother Lu?” Deng Yutang turned to Lu Ran. “Give them another lesson?”

“Survive first, then talk about scores,” Jiang Ruyi corrected their squad’s mindset, fearing Lu Ran might get carried away and join Deng Yutang’s nonsense.

“Mm-hmm, Miss Jiang is right!” Lu Ran nodded decisively.

Hearing Lu Ran’s response, Jiang Ruyi relaxed slightly and said softly: “That’s enough for today. Go home and train hard. Oh—”

She turned to Lu Ran again: “You said yesterday you’re about to break through to Mist Realm, Third Stage.”

Lu Ran sensed carefully and confirmed: “It’ll happen in the next couple days.”

Tian Tian secretly lifted her head, gazing at Lu Ran with full admiration.

Is he about to break through again?

So impressive…

Jiang Ruyi noticed the girl's sneaky behavior and couldn't help but gently tap her head teasingly:

“The day after tomorrow, you’ll have to protect us well.”

“Mm-hmm,” Tian Tian quickly lowered her head, no longer daring to sneak glances.

(End of Chapter)