Chapter 274: The Final Target

For Lu Ran, the week or so that followed passed truly quickly.

He even had the illusion that the flow of time had sped up.

After thinking it over, Lu Ran arrived at an answer: perhaps it was because he was too happy, too joyful.

The logic was simple and easy to understand:

The forty-five minutes of class felt like pure torment and suffering.

But if one was scrolling through their phone or playing games, a whole night would pass in the blink of an eye.

During this period, Lu Ran and Jiangjiang Ruyi cultivated together, ate together, and went to the rooftop of the Wu Lie Riverside Community to practice martial arts.

Under Master Lu's special training, Jiangjiang Ruyi's close-combat survival abilities had improved significantly.

Beauty Jiang was already a top student, so her martial arts level was naturally not poor.

Added to that were the master's guidance and her own inherent defensive technique, the Eight Golden Jade Talismans.

Even for Lu Ran to break through her defense required considerable effort.

Alas, happy times are always brief.

The fifteenth day of the fifth lunar month had arrived after all.

In the dimness of early morning, within the master bedroom, Lu Ran slowly opened his eyes.

He turned his head slightly and saw Jiangjiang Ruyi sleeping soundly beside him.

She slept deeply, one hand resting on Lu Ran's arm, holding it gently.

Sunlight filtered through the beautiful patterns on the curtains, sprinkling across her face and leaving patches of light and shadow.

Lu Ran carefully reached out and gently pried her slender, jade-like fingers off his arm.

After considerable effort, Lu Ran finally got up and quietly slipped out of the room.

"Phew."

Standing outside the door, Lu Ran let out a long sigh of relief and then viciously stretched his body.

He first went to the small bedroom to bow respectfully before my lord, then headed straight for the bathroom.

After bathing, Lu Ran checked the time and walked toward the kitchen.

It was undeniable that Jiangjiang Ruyi's arrival had brought about some changes in him.

Having always lived alone, Lu Ran had never lit a fire in his kitchen, and his meals were always makeshift affairs.

But recently, he had started learning how to cook.

Well... half of it he had secretly learned from Jiangjiang Ruyi, and the other half from his phone.

Come to think of it, frying a sunny-side-up egg or boiling plain rice porridge wasn't particularly difficult.

The only challenge was stir-frying, which required checking the specific steps on his phone.

"Pray heaven and earth spare a pair of lovers, may what we fear never come to pass..."

Humming softly under his breath, Lu Ran sliced the pork into thin pieces, one after another.

Regarding knife skills, Lu Ran was very confident.

In no time, Lu Ran looked satisfactorily at his handiwork, then took the shiitake mushrooms nearby and sliced each one in half:

"Pray the heavens act as a good person for ten minutes, grant me her kiss, as if showing mercy to a sinner... Hmm?"

Lu Ran suddenly closed his eyes and tilted his head slightly, as if he had heard something.

A moment later, a tall figure appeared at the kitchen doorway.

Jiangjiang Ruyi stood silently, watching Lu Ran busy at the counter.

Sunlight streamed through the window onto him, coating his white T-shirt with a faint glow.

"Finally awake?" Lu Ran said without turning around.

Jiangjiang Ruyi couldn't help but smile, leaning her body and resting her shoulder against the doorframe: "You hold grudges well."

"Just kidding." Lu Ran chuckled, turning to look at her. "Go wash up. Since you're awake, I'll start stir-frying."

Lu Ran noticed, however, that Jiangjiang Ruyi looked sleepy-eyed, as if she hadn't fully woken up yet.

"We agreed yesterday that I would make breakfast," Jiangjiang Ruyi said discontentedly, stepping inside.

"Whoever wakes up first makes it," Lu Ran said indifferently.

Jiangjiang Ruyi came up behind Lu Ran, leaned forward, and rested her cheek on his shoulder:

"Your cooking doesn't taste good."

Lu Ran:???

Was that even human speech?

"Hehe~" Jiangjiang Ruyi couldn't help but let out a soft laugh and closed her eyes.

Lu Ran snorted: "Watch your words; I'm holding a knife in my hand."

But Jiangjiang Ruyi made no sound.

Lu Ran shrugged his shoulder, nudging someone: "Hey, wake up! Or do you want to go back and sleep a while longer?"

Jiangjiang Ruyi suddenly said: "After the exams, I won't be coming over anymore."

"What, do you dislike my cooking that much?"

Jiangjiang Ruyi gently rubbed her cheek against Lu Ran's shoulder: "With the city under lockdown, it's not good for me to keep traveling back and forth.

Tomorrow morning, I'll come back with you one more time to take Little Li Hua home."

"Tomorrow morning, I'll come back with you to take Little Li Hua home."

Ordinary people indeed needed to stay cooped up at home, not daring to step outside.

But for Lu and Jiang, this rule was practically nonexistent.

But for Lu and Jiang, this rule was as good as nonexistent.

Lu Ran fell silent for a long while before asking, "On the nineteenth, you're not coming to see me off either?"

"Meow~" Unknowing when it had arrived, Little Li Hua had crept up to its mistress's feet, rubbing its furry little head against her ankle.

"You're awake too." Jiangjiang Ruyi did not respond to Lu Ran; instead, she lowered her head to look at the little creature by her feet.

"Meow~" Little Li Hua whimpered softly.

Jiangjiang Ruyi bent down, reached out, picked up Little Li Hua, turned, and walked out of the kitchen.

Lu Ran turned his head, watching Jiangjiang Ruyi's departing figure.

He could indeed feel that, over these past few days, Jiangjiang Ruyi's emotions had grown increasingly complex.

Perhaps she was afraid of being reluctant to part, afraid of holding him back?

Lu Ran shook his head with a smile, turned to face the oil wok, and tossed in the slices of meat.

"Sizzle~~~"

How could it possibly not taste good?

Before any dish leaves the wok, I always sneak a few tastes~

At seven-thirty, fully armed, the pair of Lu and Jiang walked out of their home.

Today, Rain Alley City was exceptionally clear, bathed in bright sunshine.

Perhaps tonight they would see the full moon.

Familiar with the route, the two took a light carriage through desolate areas, hastening all the way to the school campus.

At the main gate of the campus, no large ranking board had been posted for a very long time.

On the fifteenth of last month, Rain Alley City experienced the descent of a Demon Lord again, so naturally, no rankings were needed.

Every student who had survived received full marks.

If not for today's special circumstances being the day of the major examination, many students would likely have been kept locked inside their homes overnight.

The moment Lu and Jiang entered the campus, they immediately became the focus of attention.

Whether teachers, students, or Moon-Watchers, everyone fixed their gaze upon these two heaven-defying geniuses.

"Wow, Dog Ran!"

"Brother, you're truly brave! Do you think you're just typing at home? Keep your voice down; what if he hears you?"

"Oh my god! Jiangjiang Meiren is so beautiful!"

"Go rob her, friend, I support you! Go challenge Ran Future to a magnificent, earth-shaking duel!"

"Exactly! Take down Lu Ran, and you'll be third on the Great Summer Ranking!"

Amidst waves of discussion, Lu and Jiang kept their heads low and hurried to their usual spot.

It was precisely the place where, a year ago, Lu Ran had been punished by standing and forced to run a stall.

The trio of Deng Deng Tianchang immediately came forward to greet them.

"Sister Jiang Ruyi!" Tian Tian trotted forward and threw her arms around Jiangjiang Ruyi's arm.

"Congratulations on advancing to River Realm, Stage Two." Jiangjiang Ruyi smiled and patted Tian Tian's little head.

A week ago, when the team had enjoyed some cold drinks together, Tian Tian had still been at River Realm, Stage One.

According to Tian Tian, after the group dispersed and she had just returned home, she immediately entered advancement mode.

Lu Ran extended his fist, bumping it against the fists of Deng Yutang and Chang Ying one by one: "How about you two? Did you advance?"

Deng Yutang's smile instantly stiffened, and he said awkwardly, "Soon, soon."

It had been nearly three and a half months since Deng Yutang advanced to River Realm, Stage One; the time was indeed a bit long.

Chang Ying smiled so broadly she couldn't close her mouth, making a V-sign at Lu Ran.

"Oh?" Lu Ran's eyes lit up.

Back then, Chang Ying had been stuck at Stream Realm, Stage Five, advancing to the River Realm a few days later than Deng Yutang.

Now, as a latecomer, she had overtaken him and advanced first?

Between a Fourth-Rank God Believer and a Fifth-Rank God Believer, there was indeed a gap in talent.

Chang Ying leaned forward slightly, covered her mouth with one hand, and lowered her voice: "I followed your instructions and worshipped frantically at home!

Begging by day, begging by night, going all out with fruits, incense, and candles."

Lu Ran: "."

Is that really how I taught you?

Hmm... well, it's about the same.

"Baby Ran." Chang Ying's face filled with curiosity, she suddenly said, "Have you become more handsome?"

Lu Ran: "Huh?"

Chang Ying nodded very seriously, scrutinizing Lu Ran carefully: "So sunny.

That gloomy, cold vibe is completely gone."

Lu Ran laughed helplessly and said, "Wait until tonight; after I kill a few evil spirits, I'll be back to normal."

Off to the side, Jiangjiang Ruyi secretly glanced at Lu Ran.

Indeed, Lu Ran's pupils had always been exceedingly cold and forest-like.

But recently, his eyes held only gentleness; where was there even a hint of murderous intent?

"Everyone, assemble!!"

A male teacher's voice came from the podium.

The playground was in chaos; it took a full several dozen seconds before the students finally formed their lines.

"Today is the day of your college entrance examination!" the male teacher said, pacing back and forth on the podium with a microphone in hand, "It is also the final hundred-point comprehensive exam!"

Lu Ran had no mind to listen to this; he looked around and spotted his homeroom teacher standing at the back.

Noticing Lu Ran's eye signal, Li Li Yanzhu immediately walked over.

Lu Ran whispered, "Teacher, I need to take leave; I cannot participate in the June First mission organized by the school."

"As soon as the exams are over, I must depart."

Li Li Yanzhu was quite puzzled: "What's wrong?"

If anyone else had asked for leave, Li Li Yanzhu would have assumed they were chickening out, overcome by fear.

But Lu Ran?

He dared to confront Jiang Jing·Vicious Dog head-on; how could he possibly be afraid?

Lu Ran explained, "I must go on a pilgrimage."

"My lord the deity has sent a telepathic message, commanding me to listen to teachings at the foot of the divine statue."

"I see, this is a great blessing." Li Li Yanzhu nodded immediately: "Of course you must go!"

"I will speak to the school administration on your behalf; with such a legitimate reason, the school will not deduct any believer points from you."

"Thank you, Teacher." Lu Ran smiled.

Li Li Yanzhu smiled as well, patted Lu Ran on the shoulder, and was about to offer some parting advice when a voice suddenly rang out from the main stage:

"Before proceeding to the next item, I wish to specially commend one student!"

"Gao San, Class 4, believer of Xiang Xiang Xianyang, Lu Ran!"

Lu Ran: "."

Here we go again?

Are you really this persistent, damn it?

Today is the college entrance exam day, and you still want to use me as a target?

The male teacher announced loudly, "As everyone knows, student Lu Ran is a summer prodigy, ranking third on the Heaven List!"

"Just last month on the fifteenth, student Lu Ran assisted the Moon-Watching People forces in slaying a Demon Lord who had descended into the mortal world!"

Lu Ran naturally sensed countless gazes locking onto him.

He kept his head lowered, feigning modesty.

However, with such a brilliant combat record as Lu Ran's, no amount of low profile would be of any use.

Holding a sheet of data, the male teacher stated, "Student Lu Ran voluntarily volunteered to brave fire and water for the sake of the common people of Yu Lane."

"He displayed the bearing of a great general and established remarkable military merits."

"To commend Lu Ran's outstanding contributions to this city, the Divine Citizen Bureau specially rewards Lu Ran with 30 believer points."

Hearing this, Lu Ran was somewhat stunned.

During the night of the All Qiansiying Clan·Ghosts Walking at Night, he had already discussed this matter with Captain Sun Sun Zhengfang.

But Uncle Sun had explicitly stated that since Lu Ran was participating in 'The Prodigy,' he could not earn points from both sources.

Yet this time...

Was it because his military achievements were too prominent, his contributions too immense?

Putting down the data sheet, the male teacher continued, "Our school also rewards student Lu Ran with 20 believer points."

"Thank you for bringing glory to your alma mater and safeguarding our hometown."

"Awesome!!"

"No complaints, he deserves it! God Ran is amazing!!"

"Clap, clap, clap!" Cheers erupted from all sides, applause thundering like rolling drums.

Initially, when Lu Ran was set up as a target, the students harbored all sorts of thoughts; now, in people's hearts, there was nothing but admiration and submission!

Jiangjiang Ruyi, her eyes gentle with a smile, looked at Lu Ran, who remained silent with his head bowed.

Indeed, everyone living in Yu Lane ought to be grateful to you; no amount of applause and praise you receive would be excessive.

This is what you deserve.

It took quite a while before the playground finally quieted down.

The male teacher continued, "Including these points, student Lu Ran's score has now reached 639.6 points."

"Hiss—"

"Holy crap!" Sounds of sharp intakes of breath came one after another.

Keep in mind, the final hundred-point system end-of-term exam hasn't even begun yet!

Lu Ran's college entrance exam score...

Isn't this heading straight for 700 points?

(End of Chapter)