Chapter 299: You Asked for It!

"Who is it? So bold! Daring to confront Zhao Zhao Zhenren right in front of so many people?"

"Probably ill-informed; they still think Senior Brother Zhao is only at the fifth stage of the River Realm and want to show off in front of Goddess Jiang?"

"Haha, now we're in for a show! How could a River Realm expert suffer such humiliation?"

"Simply courting death. Eh? Wait! The person speaking seems... seems to be..."

"Holy crap? Isn't that Lu Ran?"

"It's Lu Ran!! Wow! It really is him; finally seeing the real person!"

"I knew it; who else would dare to talk back to a River Realm expert? It turns out to be the prodigy Lu!"

Following Jiangjiang Ruyi's line of sight, many people looked toward Lu Ran's direction.

The students surrounding Lu Ran naturally did not wish to invite trouble upon themselves, nor was anyone willing to bear the wrath of a River Realm expert.

At the same time, the students were genuinely curious to know who was so brave, willing to risk their life just to win the favor of a beauty.

Thus, as Jiangjiang Ruyi looked over, the crowd in this area parted to both sides.

At this point, the young man dressed in a set of black clothes, wearing a hat and a face mask, revealed his figure.

One look, and it was astonishing!

Who had they seen?

The unparalleled national top scholar, the illustrious Great Xia prodigy—Lu Ran!

In an instant, the entire venue exploded!

Lu Ran's popularity was far greater than Jiangjiang Ruyi's.

"It really is Lu Ran, Lu Ran ahhh!!"

"Ran-dog... no, Future Ran is here!"

"Lu Ran! Lu Ran! Lu Ran!"

For a moment, cheers erupted from all sides, waves of sound following one after another.

Lu Ran paid no heed to any of this, merely gazing quietly at Jiangjiang Ruyi.

His heart felt terribly unsettled.

Because the bright smile Jiangjiang Ruyi had worn upon their reunion was gradually changing its flavor.

She pressed her lips together, still smiling, yet her eyes carried an inexplicable sense of grievance.

Grievance?

Lu Ran was about to explode!

Having just returned from Lady Luo Sister Xian's Mountain, his heart had been so calm and serene.

Now, this look in Jiangjiang Ruyi's eyes nearly caused Lu Ran to undergo a complete transformation and become a devotee of Divine Lie Tian!

Since entering high school, the two had been together almost every day.

Lu Ran was not exactly a warm-hearted guy.

He had made Jiangjiang Ruyi feel shy, made her angry, and even made her blame him unhappily.

But never, not once, had he made her feel aggrieved!

"Come here." Lu Ran stepped forward and beckoned to Jiangjiang Ruyi.

Whether driven by longing or by grievance.

Jiangjiang Ruyi, who usually had very thin skin, stepped toward Lu Ran under the gaze of everyone present.

And her stepping feet gradually turned into a flying dash.

Master Yu Fu's formation appeared and then vanished; the beauty Jiang Ruyi, clad in a white long skirt, like a young swallow returning to its nest, threw herself into Lu Ran's embrace.

Long hair fluttered, long skirt danced lightly.

Gusts of wind blew, carrying the dancing skirt hem to wrap around his body.

"Wow!!"

"This is just too damn youthful, isn't it?"

"Oh~~~"

"The referee teacher was just glaring with a black face, telling irrelevant personnel to leave immediately, but now he's smiling too; truly no bottom line."

"It was worth changing my volunteer application to come to Wu Lie River University! Witnessing this scene with my own eyes makes it all worthwhile, haha!"

"I'm always like this, standing in the crowd, witnessing other people's happiness again and again..."

"Don't be so humble, brother; how about we get together instead?"

On the other side of the venue, the smile on Zhao Zhao Zhenren's face completely froze.

The vast Zhijiang,

represented not only strength and realm.

It also represented that person's identity and status!

As a human expert, one naturally possessed their own dignity.

Whether it was Lu Ran's disrespectful words just now, or the mocking, teasing glances from the surrounding crowd...

All caused Zhao Zhao Zhenren to lose all face!

Just earlier, when he blocked Jiangjiang Ruyi, he took one step forward, and she would take one step back.

That cold gaze truly pierced the heart.

Yet now, the moment Lu Ran appeared over there, her gaze instantly softened, and a bright smile appeared on her face.

Lu Ran merely beckoned, and she hurried forward, throwing herself into his arms.

Without the slightest hesitation, without the slightest concern, as if declaring her belonging.

Jiangjiang Ruyi was undoubtedly loyal.

Even though the onlookers harbored all sorts of thoughts—envy, bitterness, or sorrow—

regardless, this particular trait of Jiangjiang Ruyi made people wildly add points to her score!

"Have you been wronged?" Lu Ran asked softly, holding the warm, fragrant soft jade in his arms.

Jiangjiang Ruyi pressed her lips together, burying her face in Lu Ran's neck without saying a word.

She had originally thought that a wonderful university life awaited her.

But everything had exceeded her expectations.

Two issues of "Lu Lu Tianjiao" had made her the most shining person on campus, allowing her to step through the school gates with a halo around her.

On merely the first day of school, so many, many people had swarmed forward.

Jiangjiang Ruyi was undoubtedly gentle and kind, politely refusing them time and again.

Yet this politeness failed to dispel those people; instead, it plunged her into an even deeper quagmire.

The confessions of young students were bold and direct.

Those gazes of covetousness filled Jiangjiang Ruyi with immense disgust.

Jiangjiang Ruyi indeed possessed the substance of a Lu Lu Tianjiao, but she was also a girl from a small town.

When she stepped out of that small world, it seemed as though everything had changed.

This world, full of suffering, had spawned many mad people.

It was as if they could not see that her heart belonged to another, as if they had never seen the various affections she displayed toward Lu Ran in "Lu Lu Tianjiao."

Whether they were people with ulterior motives or fanatical fans, all of them troubled and distressed Jiangjiang Ruyi.

Had she not possessed great strength, and had Deng Deng Tianchang not helped her, she might have been trapped right there after the opening ceremony.

During the day, she was watched and followed, even directly stopped by those lacking manners.

At night, her dormitory door was knocked upon again and again, piled high with flowers and gifts.

With no other choice, she tucked away her gentle nature and put on an icy face.

She strove to regain the state she had while cultivating within Jade Gate Pass, learning from her senior brothers and sisters to become a cold and stern believer of Master Yu Fu.

Indifferent and severe, unapproachable and lofty.

All these changes took less than a single day.

Back in high school, it had not been like this.

Perhaps there were too few students from small places, their overall strength inadequate, causing them to shy away from her.

And although Wu Lie River University was not the most top-tier institution in Great Xia, it was undoubtedly a first-rate academy.

Among the students who managed to enroll here, there was naturally no shortage of those with great strength, pride, and confidence.

The environment had changed.

The people who used to stay by her side had also departed.

Why had she replied to Lu Ran's message only in the early hours of the morning?

Because Jiangjiang Ruyi had edited it for a long time; she had so very many words she wanted to say to Lu Ran.

In the end, all those overflowing words were condensed into the two characters "Congratulations" and sent out.

She did not wish for the various harassments she suffered to distract Lu Ran or prevent him from cultivating in peace.

"Jiang Ruyi?" Lu Ran gently patted her back, whispering.

"Mm." Jiangjiang Ruyi responded softly, rubbing her cheek against Lu Ran's shoulder like a little kitten, inhaling his scent.

Even though countless gazes still fell upon her,

at this moment, within Lu Ran's embrace, Jiangjiang Ruyi felt immensely at ease.

"Shipping it, shipping it! We've finally seen real sugar!"

"Isn't this f*cking better than 'Lu Lu Tianjiao'?"

"Of course! In 'Lu Lu Tianjiao,' they could at most hold hands, and they still had to carry out city-defense missions; where would they find the leisure time for this?"

"Tsk, tsk, Senior Zhao's face has turned black; why hasn't he left yet?"

"He probably finds it hard to leave with so many people watching; a great expert of Jiang Jing was publicly made to lose face."

At this moment, Zhao Zhao Zhenren indeed found himself in a dilemma, like riding a tiger with no way to dismount.

As a first-grade believer under the Divine Gate, Zhao Zhao Zhenren was undoubtedly a person of extraordinary talent, an incomparably proud martial artist.

During the summer break of his sophomore year, he had even transformed himself, returning to campus under the identity of "Vast Flowing River."

Lu Ran's remark, "Do you not understand human language?" was quite impolite!

More critically, there were far, far too many onlookers.

The students' whispers were no different than fanning the flames.

"Lu Lu Tianjiao," Zhao Zhao Zhenren said, a smile returning to his face as he displayed the demeanor of a master, "I merely wished to escort my junior sister back and help resolve her troubles.

Surely you need not respond with such malicious words?"

Jiangjiang Ruyi whispered, "Let's go; ignore him."

She could rely on her own strength and her fairy-like beauty that made others feel ashamed to drive some people away.

But there were also some people she truly had no way to deal with; she had already prepared to request help from the school.

"Malicious words?" Lu Ran raised his eyelids and looked toward Zhao Zhao Zhenren.

Zhao Zhao Zhenren's smile did not fade: "My junior sister is too popular; she is always being stopped by people.

Out of good intentions, I wanted to help her, letting her have some peace on her way back. Is there a problem with that?"

Lu Ran snorted: "What I see is that everyone else made way; only you stopped her.

I told you several times that we don't need your escort.

Relying on a bit of strength to pester her relentlessly, is that it?"

Zhao Zhao Zhenren's expression shifted slightly, but he maintained his smile: "You aren't at the school; you don't understand the situation she faces."

"Hah?" Lu Ran laughed outright. "At least she's a River Realm expert, a great power in people's mouths; is she being this hypocritical?"

"So you're blaming me for not being by her side?"

Jiangjiang Ruyi gently tugged Lu Ran's hem, advising in a soft voice: "Lu Ran, let's go back."

Zhao Zhao Zhenren's smile gradually vanished; he had intended for both sides to exchange a few words, calm the incident down, and let the matter pass.

Yet this Lu Ran truly wouldn't give him an inch of face?

To be honest, it was only because Lu Ran was a Great Xia prodigy, and Zhao Zhao Zhenren had witnessed all his various performances in "Prodigy," that he tolerated this.

If this were any other River Realm student daring to shout such threats at a River Realm great power...

Zhao Zhao Zhenren would have stopped being polite long ago!

He looked at Lu Ran, who refused to yield a single step, and said in a heavy voice:

"As a prodigy representing Great Xia's face, you must still distinguish right from wrong and treat people with more courtesy."

Lu Ran drew the blade from his back, pointing it remotely at the other man; his deep, tranquil eyes grew increasingly cold and killing intent surged:

"Stop fucking labeling me!"

"You hound my girlfriend relentlessly, yet you expect me to treat you with courtesy?"

Lu Ran's action of drawing his blade and pointing it remotely undoubtedly escalated the incident.

A River Realm expert provoking a River Realm expert.

Whether considering the identity and status of River Realm experts within the human race throughout history, or Zhao Zhao Zhenren's own reputation, this matter could not possibly end well.

Zhao Zhao Zhenren's face sank: "Prodigy Lu, it would be better not to act impulsively."

"Here, there are no two River Realm great powers to back you up."

Lu Ran's most brilliant achievement was undoubtedly slaughtering the River Realm expert, Evil Dog.

But it cannot be denied that when he slew the Demon Lord, Captain Ge and Elder Liu were backing him; it was not Lu Ran's sole accomplishment.

"Heh." Lu Ran grinned, suddenly turning his head to look toward the front-left.

The students watching from that side all wore stunned expressions, baffled.

Lu Ran looked at one male student: "You're right; this is truly too youthful!"

Lu Ran spent his days facing evil spirits with sword and blade; now arriving at a university campus, he indeed felt a different atmosphere.

Male student: "..."

Just now, when Jiangjiang Ruyi threw herself into Lu Ran's embrace, this student had indeed blurted out that sentence.

The problem was, at such a distance, with so many people chattering, how could you hear what I said?

"Lu wu—" Jiangjiang Ruyi's words were suddenly blocked.

Lu Ran pulled down his mask and gently pressed his lips against her delicate, rosy ones.

Jiangjiang Ruyi's face instantly turned red; overwhelmed with shyness, she could no longer utter a single word.

Even after Lu Ran pushed her behind him, Jiangjiang Ruyi remained dizzy, her slender hand clutching the side of her skirt tightly.

"Is... is this something we can watch for free?"

"Hahahaha! No problem; this is truly too damn youthful!"

"God Ran, I want a kiss too..."

Amidst waves of jeering, Lu Ran pulled up his mask, his gaze locking onto Zhao Zhao Zhenren's gloomy face:

"Come on, Senior; let me test you! Let's see if you truly have the ability to safely escort my girlfriend back to her dorm."

Zhao Zhao Zhenren's eyes turned dark; he strode into the arena: "Then I shall spar briefly with Prodigy Lu!"

Remember,

this is your own doing!

Thanks to the patrons Dai Dai Tianming, Book Friend 20220604085904165, and Starry Sky's Emperor Yao for their donations! Thanks for the support! You patrons are generous!

Heart fingers~

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(End of Chapter)