Chapter 303: The One Who Returns Home on a Windy, Rainy Night

Night fell, and a light rain pattered down.

The train arrived at the station, in the old city's rainy alley.

Lu Ran silently gazed out the window, looking at his hometown with its sparse lights.

The young girl, Jiang Ruyi, nestled against his side, her profile resting on his shoulder.

In her sleep, she was serene and beautiful; her slender hand interlaced its fingers with Lu Ran's palm, as if fearing he might leave.

On her wrist she wore an exquisite fine gold bracelet, upon which tiny red beans were inlaid, emitting a lustrous glow.

She slept very deeply; it seemed she hadn't slept well these past two days.

Now with Lu Ran beside her, even aboard the train, she slept sweetly.

"Jiang Ruyi, Jiang Ruyi?" Lu Ran called softly.

"Mm?" Jiangjiang Ruyi opened her sleepy eyes, lifted her head slightly, and met a pair of gentle pupils.

After the battle, Lu Ran's eyes had returned to their original state.

They held the night stars from the Milky Bay, blended with the falling flowers and sunset clouds of Lady Luo Sister Xian's Mountain.

Mysterious and profound, quiet and peaceful.

The pilgrimage had brought some changes to Lu Ran; the title "Immortal Lu" was no mere empty words.

Whether tempering the body and washing the marrow, or cleansing the heart to cultivate.

In that land south of the colorful clouds, everything concerning Xiang Xiang Xianyang possessed an indescribable magic that deeply influenced Lu Ran.

Jiangjiang Ruyi, having just woken, encountered such beautiful eyes and couldn't help but stare, entranced.

"Jiang Ruyi?" Lu Ran blinked.

"Mm." Jiangjiang Ruyi's cheeks flushed, and she averted her gaze.

Having just awakened, her voice was soft and sticky, possessing a unique charm.

The evil fire in Lu Ran's heart surged up with a "whoosh."

The tranquility in his eyes vanished completely!

At eighteen, one is at the age of vigorous vitality.

Having not seen his girlfriend for over two months, and now returning home together, could this matter end peacefully?

Hmm. Who knows.

"Are you going back to your uncle and aunt's place, or coming home with me?" Lu Ran asked.

"I'll go to my parents' home first and explain the situation to them," Jiangjiang Ruyi said softly. "Tomorrow morning, I'll come find you."

Lu Ran: "..."

It seemed this matter would indeed end peacefully today.

"Oh, then I'll walk you back," Lu Ran said, his tone unable to conceal his disappointment.

Jiangjiang Ruyi was a very sensible girl.

She had always been so since childhood; making such a choice was perfectly understandable.

Jiangjiang Ruyi, being perceptive, clearly noticed something; she gently squeezed Lu Ran's hand, as if comforting him.

The train slowly came to a halt, and the two quickly disembarked.

At the small station in the rainy alley, few passengers got off; the world returned to the familiar state Jiangjiang Ruyi knew.

Desolate and silent.

In the chilly autumn rain, the two jogged all the way and hailed a taxi.

By the time Lu Ran arrived home, it was nearly eight o'clock.

The house was as desolate as the streets outside; since Lu Ran's departure, Little Li Hua had been boarded at the Jiang family's home.

Lu Ran couldn't even be bothered to turn on the lights; he hurried to the bathroom, stripped off his soaking wet clothes, and turned on the shower.

But just as he began bathing, a voice sounded in his mind.

"Hmm?" Lu Ran paused, testing, "Xia Guang?"

"I am Zhan Ye."

Lu Ran felt slightly awkward and argued, "Your voice is exactly the same as Xia Guang's..."

The Zhan Ye Dao remained silent, ignoring Lu Ran.

"What's wrong, Zhan Ye?" Lu Ran pressed.

"Click~"

Unexpectedly, the bathroom door opened, and the Zhan Ye Dao flew in on its own.

The naked Lu Ran was startled!

Looking at the sharp divine weapon, he hastily covered his vital areas with one hand:

"Wait, I just mistook one blade for another; is there any need to be this angry?"

Zhan Ye: "My spot has been taken."

"Huh?" Lu Ran was bewildered.

Ever since Jiangjiang Ruyi moved in, both the Xia Guang Dao and the Zhan Ye Dao had been moved to hang on the wall of the small bedroom.

There was a special wooden frame on the wall for holding blades; the two divine weapons were placed one above the other, parallel to the ground.

The Zhan Ye Dao hung motionless in the bathroom.

"Wait a moment." Lu Ran extended one hand forward, energy surging in his palm.

Immediately, an exquisite bronze mirror floated before his palm.

With a thought from Lu Ran, the scene in the mirror flashed, reflecting the image of the Xia Guang Dao.

Lu Ran thought again, and the view pulled back slightly, revealing a Tang horizontal blade lying across the blade rack beneath the Xia Guang Dao.

"Tian Chen Dao." Lu Ran suddenly understood, then turned his gaze to Zhan Ye Dao. "You're at least a divine weapon; could you really be bullied by a Fan Pin?"

Zhan Ye Dao: "It must have been placed there by the female master."

Lu Ran: "."

Good!

Hierarchy is observed; truly my fine divine weapon!

Since the female master placed it there, you indeed cannot kick it out.

Lu Ran immediately walked out; although no one was home, the moment he stepped out of the bathroom, a large crimson cloud-embroidered robe draped over his body.

Clearly formal attire meant for a wedding, yet it had been used as a bathrobe.

Mm... the main point was simply to fear nothing.

Lu Ran went to the small bedroom, walked over to the computer desk, and reached out to take down Tian Chen Dao.

"So heavy?"

Lu Ran muttered softly, weighing it up and down.

Tian Chen Steel, judging by its appearance, was no different from ordinary steel.

But this material hailed from the Demon Cave and was a first-class weapon material of Great Xia!

Its scarcity of production and exorbitant price were breathtaking.

"Hoo~"

Lu Ran spun the blade in a flourish, held it horizontally before his eyes, and examined it closely.

This blade imitated the Tang horizontal sword style; the blade was slender, about two fingers wide, the blade length approximately 80cm, and the hilt about 30cm long.

On both sides of the blade ran a narrow, elongated fuller, located just below the spine and parallel to it.

"Mm." Lu Ran licked his lips, extended a finger, and slowly stroked along the blade.

Not only was this blade Heavy to Handle, but its texture was also superb.

No wonder it was the Tian Chen weapon everyone dreamed of; truly excellent, wasn't it?

"Buzz!"

Following the sound of vibration, Lu Ran looked up.

Below, Zhan Ye Dao on its rack had returned to its position, silent and unseen.

Above, Xia Guang Dao on its rack had trembled slightly.

"What's wrong?" Lu Ran asked, somewhat puzzled.

However, neither of the two divine weapons paid Lu Ran any heed.

Lu Ran pondered for a moment, then realized something, his face becoming extremely awkward.

What exactly had he just done?

Standing right before two divine weapons, openly and carefully admiring and gently stroking another blade in front of them...

That was a bit inhuman!

Lu Ran hastily tossed Tian Chen Dao onto the small bed, grabbed a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, and rushed to the bathroom to shower.

Ten-plus minutes later, Lu Ran returned to the small bedroom, feeling refreshed.

Looking at the "mistress" on the bed, Lu Ran paused in his movements.

He glanced at Xia Guang Dao and Zhan Ye Dao, then carefully picked up Tian Chen Dao and placed it leaning against the computer desk.

Lu Ran could not take it away.

Desensitization had to begin now.

After all, Lu Ran harbored ample ambition, wishing to cultivate Tian Chen Dao into a divine weapon.

He had even fantasized about activating his Lao Tian Mo Yemo Yemo Xiesu, spreading eight Lao Tian Hands, each gripping a divine weapon...

Therefore, Tian Chen Dao would eventually have to come into contact with Xia Guang Dao and Zhan Ye Dao.

Lu Ran secretly observed the two divine weapons; only after discovering they showed no reaction did he breathe a sigh of relief.

Being a master was truly a humble affair~

Lu Ran quickly approached the small shrine, pressed his palms together, and bowed respectfully:

"My lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang, your disciple has returned; thank you for intervening to save me this afternoon!"

A deep voice echoed in his mind:

"A mere Jiang Jing palm strike isn't even worthy of scratching an itch."

Lu Ran:???

He had already prepared himself to be scolded.

Previously, My lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang had emphasized that one should not lightly employ Shi Zhan Shen Fa: Body of the Scapegoat.

To invite My lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang to possess him, the deity would have to expend source qi.

Lu Ran had his own clear purpose; for Jiangjiang Ruyi's sake, he was willing to accept punishment.

Yet now that he had done so, My lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang not only held no blame but seemed somewhat comforting?

This?

Was My lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang saying this out of concern that his disciple might bear too heavy a psychological burden?

It really... I'm crying to death...

Lu Ran steadied his mind: "To you, it counts for nothing.

To your disciple, it would have been an end of shattered bones and crushed flesh; thank you, My lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang, for intervening to save me!"

Xiang Xiang Xianyang's jade carving: "You made your decision, and I made mine.

If you and I deem it worthwhile, then it is worthwhile."

Lu Ran's emotions churned; he spoke in a low voice: "This disciple will strive to fathom the method of combining the Evil Art·Paper Effigy with the Scapegoat Body."

"In the future—"

The Xiang Xiang Xianyang jade carving interrupted: "Since your bitter training within the Demon Cave has borne no fruit, there is no need to rush at this moment."

"Wait until both techniques advance to Jiang Pin; only then will fusion become easier."

Previously, while tempering himself within the Silver Hewan, Lu Ran had indeed trained bitterly, yet alas, he had failed to find the point of fusion between the two techniques.

Perhaps, once the techniques advanced to Jiang Pin and his mastery grew more proficient, everything would resolve itself effortlessly.

Xiang Xiang Xianyang said: "Now, the Top Priority is to comprehend growth, to ascend to the River Realm."

"Yes!" Lu Ran nodded heavily.

His return to Rain Alley was precisely for the sake of advancing to the River Realm.

He just did not know how long he would have to cultivate bitterly by the Wu Lie River before obtaining the method of advancement.

He hoped it would not take a year or half.

Hmm... surely it wouldn't, right?

My Lord Xiang ceased transmitting voices; Lu Ran bowed, then walked out of the room.

He had intended to clean the house, having been away for over two months, but when he switched on the light and looked around, he discovered that every corner of the house was clean and tidy.

Could it be that Jiangjiang Ruyi came here to clean once yesterday, before school started?

Lu Ran observed silently for a moment, then could not help but shake his head with a smile.

He returned to the small bedroom and sat cross-legged before the shrine.

Now that he had reached the fifth stage of the River Realm, his physical body was fully prepared; indeed, there was no necessity to cultivate divine power.

Yet this was a good habit.

Moreover, his prayers could transform into power of faith for My Lord Xiang to absorb.

Speaking of which, Lu Ran's methods of supplying the deity were not limited to prayer alone.

Whenever he slaughtered evil spirits and captured souls to cultivate Yemo Yemo Xiesu, My Lord Xiang would always steal a bite.

Among those myriad lost souls naturally resided qi of origin; My Lord Xiang had never treated itself poorly.

After meditating for a long while, Lu Ran suddenly tilted his head.

Faintly, he heard the sound of a key inserting into a lock.

"Hmm?" Lu Ran immediately rose and walked out of the small bedroom.

The distant door opened, and a tall figure draped in a raincoat burst into view.

"Jiang Ruyi?" Lu Ran stepped forward quickly. "Aren't you coming tomorrow?"

Having returned home, Jiangjiang Ruyi had clearly adjusted her state.

Smiling brightly, she lifted the insulated food container in her hand: "You haven't eaten dinner yet, have you?"

"Mother taught me how to make braised pork ribs; do you want some?"

Lu Ran gazed at her captivating smile; he felt as though the living room lights had grown significantly brighter.

Whether because she had rushed or because the wind and rain outside were heavy, some raindrops had landed on her face, leaving streaks of wetness.

"If you don't want to eat, then I'm leaving?"

Seeing Lu Ran remain silent for a long moment, Jiangjiang Ruyi pretended to be unhappy as she spoke.

Lu Lan immediately stepped forward, fetched a pair of slippers from the shoe rack, knelt on the floor, and helped her remove her boots:

"I do."

Three hundred chapters!

ヽ(°▽°)ノ Let's celebrate~

Thanks to the great meng pharcyde for the 100,000 reward! Boss, you're generous! Thanks for the support!

Wishing the boss family happiness, a fulfilling life, eternal longevity, and daily profits of a bushel of gold! Hooray~

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(End of chapter)