Chapter 322: A Bead of No Worries

Jiangjiang Ruyi worked very hard.

For the next few days, as soon as the sky began to brighten at dawn, she would go to learn the arts.

Her training ground was located near the Lady Luo Sister Xian Pavilion.

Lu Ran had gone to watch several times; Cheng Li had indeed put in the effort, explaining everything starting from the most fundamental basics.

Jiangjiang Ruyi possessed extraordinary talent and learned quickly, yet Cheng Li's teaching standards were extremely strict.

As a result, the lessons had become exceptionally dull and tedious.

Jiangjiang Ruyi was very patient, repeating the same few movements over and over again without ever growing weary of them.

Lu Ran had even seen her, during the night hours, carefully organizing her notes.

Every single word Grandpa Cheng Li spoke, every explanation of every move and form, she had recorded entirely in her little notebook.

She said that even the most fundamental things contained Master Cheng's insights and understanding of swordsmanship.

Mm... truly worthy of being a top scholar.

It is worth mentioning that in just these short few days, Jiangjiang Ruyi's world-shaking elegance had considerably diminished.

Although she still remained transcendent and otherworldly, at least she no longer made people feel deeply ashamed and inferior down to their very bones.

Lu Ran had once asked her how she managed to do it.

Jiangjiang Ruyi smiled gently, a hint of pride in her eyes as she looked Lu Ran up and down:

"You don't need anyone to teach you; you have already comprehended it."

Lu Ran was a bit bewildered.

What have I comprehended?

I'm not good at studying; a top scholar shouldn't trick me...

It was not until twilight, when Lu Ran saw her silently gazing at the lingering glow of the setting sun, the evening clouds reflected in her pupils, that...

Lu Ran finally understood what she meant.

Xianshan indeed possessed a kind of magic capable of bringing peace and tranquility to one's state of mind.

The method of concealing one's brilliance within...

... was hidden right within this heaven and earth.

As long as you possessed sufficient wisdom roots, you didn't even need to actively strive to comprehend it.

The green mountains and Erhai Lake, the setting sun and evening clouds, including every flower and leaf within Immortal Mountain, would naturally influence you subtly and aid in transforming your state of mind.

Time arrived at the thirteenth day of the lunar month.

On this day, Jiangjiang Ruyi rarely threw a small temper tantrum.

In the early morning, inside the Lady Luo Sister Xian Pavilion.

Cheng Li looked at the back figure standing quietly beside the pavilion pillar; several times he wanted to speak, but in the end, he said nothing.

"Heh heh."

After hesitating for a long time, Cheng Li couldn't help but shake his head and smile.

It had been nearly a week since he began taking on disciples and giving lessons.

Regarding this disciple's temperament and nature, Cheng Li had also come to understand quite a bit.

She was diligent and humble, showing great respect toward him as her master.

Yet on this day, when Cheng Li arrived, Jiangjiang Ruyi stood there gazing at Erhai Lake, motionless.

The swordsmanship class naturally had not yet begun.

The aura emanating from her also allowed Cheng Li to perceive that her mood was very bad.

"Grandpa Cheng Li." Suddenly, a young man's voice came from behind.

Cheng Li turned his head to look and saw Lu Ran draped in white robes.

He immediately cupped his fists and bowed, saying with a smile: "Young Friend Lu."

Jiangjiang Ruyi had clearly heard this term, yet she did not turn around.

Lu Ran showed an apologetic expression, cupping his fists and bowing: "I must depart today; do you think today's lesson could be..."

"No problem, no problem," Cheng Li said with a laugh as he left.

"Master," Jiangjiang Ruyi suddenly turned her head, a hint of apology in her eyes, "This disciple is not in good condition today."

"It's fine, it's fine," Cheng Li said, still smiling, casually waving his hand before drifting away.

After the old man left, Lu Ran came up behind Jiangjiang Ruyi.

Jiangjiang Ruyi continued to gaze at Erhai Lake in the distance.

Lu Ran gently brushed the tips of her hair with one hand and smiled, saying:

"You've got a bit of the aura of the lady of Xianshan, huh?"

Jiangjiang Ruyi: "..."

Detestable fellow!

He had booked a flight ticket to return, to protect Rain Alley City, and to participate in "The Prodigies."

Yet he intended to leave her here!

Standing behind her, Lu Ran spoke softly: "Your swordsmanship lessons have just begun; you must focus your mind without distraction."

"Do not worry about me."

"When I was in the River Realm, I could already slay a River Realm Demon Lord, let alone now."

"It is merely the night of the fifteenth; it cannot harm me."

Actually, Lu Ran acting this way had another layer of intention.

He hoped that Xianshan could continue to help Jiangjiang Ruyi conceal her brilliance.

At this moment, she,

remained dazzlingly brilliant.

Back in the River Realm, her appearance in "Lu Lu Tianjiao" alone was enough to make the world gasp in awe.

Now, she had not only advanced to the Jiang Jing realm but had also received the blessing of a god.

The current Jiangjiang Ruyi and her former self were simply not beings of the same caliber.

The influence of "Lu Lu Tianjiao" was far too great; if she were to appear again, it would surely cause quite a stir in Great Xia.

It would be one thing if ordinary people saw her, but if it caught the attention of the god, Master Yu Fu—

better to avoid trouble than to invite it.

She could certainly live normally, train, and fight, but it was truly unsuitable for her to appear in "Lu Lu Tianjiao" again.

In fact, Lu Ran had discussed with Lord Xiang Xianyang whether Jiangjiang Ruyi should first switch allegiance to the Xianyangyi Sect.

However, various factors led Lu Ran to abandon this idea.

First, Lord Xiang Xianyang had told Lu Ran to keep a low profile and make no noise.

Second, there was Jiangjiang Ruyi herself; her nature was set in stone, and having been protected by Yu Fu Shen Fa for so long, there was no reason for her to betray them.

This also involved a certain principle:

the higher one cultivates, the greater the demand on one's state of mind, and the more one must hold fast to one's original heart.

If, under various pressures, you act against your inner self, this matter may very well trouble you for a lifetime, becoming an obstacle on your path of growth.

Lu Ran naturally did not want such a thing to happen.

He wanted to uncover the true nature of this world, allowing Jiangjiang Ruyi to withdraw from the Yufuyi Sect without the slightest worry.

Lu Ran possessed such confidence because Lord Xiang Xianyang had personally guaranteed it.

Finally, no matter how you sliced it, she was merely receiving the god's blessing here through her connection with Lu Ran.

If one were to really investigate the matter, that was all there was to it.

Lord Xiang Xianyang had also explicitly stated that Lu Ran should rest assured.

No matter what happened, he would definitely ensure Jiangjiang Ruyi's safety.

"Just cultivate here peacefully, improve your strength and realm, and achieve mastery in sword arts as soon as possible, alright?" Lu Ran whispered.

Jiangjiang Ruyi remained silent, saying nothing.

A human body that had received a blessing indeed experienced a surge in cultivation speed.

One-on-one instruction from a Sea Realm expert would inevitably cause her combat power to skyrocket.

The only problem was that she wanted to stay by his side.

In three months, Lord Xiang Xianyang would open the Divine Ruins!

Though separation was already destined, he still had to leave before that time arrived.

Lu Ran toyed with the ends of her hair: "Devote yourself to cultivation, hide your brilliance early, and return to society soon.

Next time we meet, don't stun me like this again.

Day after day like this, I really can't handle it."

Jiangjiang Ruyi turned her head away, gazing at the mirror-like Er Lake.

A faint smile subtly appeared on her face, but she immediately suppressed it.

She was still angry!

Why make a confession now?

Lu Ran: "Hmm?"

After a long while, Jiangjiang Ruyi let out a deep sigh:

"Understood, I will strive to cultivate."

Lu Ran stepped forward, wrapping one arm around the beauty's delicate body, inhaling the fragrance of her hair: "Wait for my return."

"Mm." Jiangjiang Ruyi lowered her head.

No matter what awaits you in the future, I will face it together with you.

She had already made up her mind on the night a week ago.

Apart from strength, she would consider nothing else.

Yet this detestable fellow insisted on going back alone on the fifteenth night.

Villain,

truly disrupting my Dao heart!

"Just go," Jiangjiang Ruyi said, struggling slightly.

Lu Ran held her even tighter; she struggled gently once more, then allowed him to have his way.

An old saying goes that there are four things in the human world that cannot be held down:

a pig during New Year, a startled donkey, an angry wife, and a fish on land.

It seems, however, that they aren't so hard to hold down after all~

"Let me give you something." Lu Ran lifted Jiangjiang Ruyi's arm, pushed up the sleeve of her white robe, revealing her slender, snow-white wrist.

She had always worn an exquisite bracelet; that little red bean upon it had become increasingly warm and crystalline.

Lu Ran directly untied the bracelet and took out a jade bead.

The small jade bead was warm and lustrous white, similar in size to the little red bean, and when strung onto the bracelet, matched surprisingly well.

"What is this?" Jiangjiang Ruyi raised her eyebrows slightly.

"A Peace Bead." Lu Ran strung the small jade bead on and retied the red bean bracelet for her.

"The 'peace' of 'no trouble'?"

"Yes, the Peaceful Beads." Lu Ran grasped her wrist, his palm enveloping the bracelet, "Once trouble arises, shatter it.

Even if there is trouble, it will become nothing."

Jiangjiang Ruyi's brows furrowed slightly; she vaguely sensed something.

What kind of bead could it possibly be, to make Lu Ran so confidently claim it could resolve every crisis?

A Dharma treasure?

Impossible!

No matter how powerful a Dharma treasure is, it possesses specific effects; it cannot solve every problem.

Then the remaining answer is one and only one—Xiang Xiang Xianyang!

The jade bead shatters, and a deity comes to the rescue!

Besides this, Jiangjiang Ruyi could not think of any existence worthy of the phrase "turning trouble into nothing."

Jiangjiang Ruyi's heart tightened involuntarily: "You want to..."

"Don't overthink it; I just seek peace of mind." Lu Ran immediately soothed her, his expression sincere, "I bet you can wear it for a lifetime."

Hearing this, Jiangjiang Ruyi felt slightly reassured.

"Come back with me for breakfast?" Lu Ran smiled, "My flight is this morning."

"Oh." Jiangjiang Ruyi replied softly.

Lu Ran left, taking not a single wisp of cloud with him.

By noon, when he landed in Jingcheng, Chen Chen Jingjing had driven to pick him up.

When Lu Ran traveled ordinarily, he always went alone, not troubling others.

However, a few days prior, he had spoken with Chen Chen Jingjing on the phone about wanting to train in the Jade-Faced Snake Demon Cave, thereby exposing his itinerary.

"Sister Chen Jingjing." Lu Ran walked out of the terminal building and immediately spotted that ethereal, graceful figure.

Now, compared to little Jiang Ruyi, even Chen Chen Jingjing's elegance seemed slightly lacking.

Perhaps it was because Chen Chen Jingjing had not received a deity's blessing?

"Little Lu." Chen Chen Jingjing revealed a charming smile.

The aloof disciple of the Sword One sect naturally could not remain cold before Lu Ran.

"This is too much trouble; I can just take a taxi to the high-speed rail station myself." Lu Ran approached her and said with a smile.

His hat and mask concealed most of Lu Ran's face.

Yet those eyes still easily made people lose themselves in them.

Chen Chen Jingjing's expression paused for a moment, then she smiled and nodded: "It's no trouble; I'll have lunch with you.

Also, congratulations on your advancement to the Jiang Jing realm."

The youth who was once in the River Realm has now grown into such a figure.

The divine weapon domain of that Xia Guang Dao was even more breathtaking.

Chen Chen Jingjing sighed again and again in her heart.

Thinking about it, with a mother so peerlessly brilliant, how could her son be ordinary?

It is only that little fellow Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi, day after day lacking any proper form, who knows when he will truly grow up.

"Hehe." Lu Ran chuckled and walked with her toward the parking lot.

Along the way, Lu Ran asked: "Did my mother say when she would emerge from seclusion?"

Chen Chen Jingjing shook her head: "Over at the rear mountain, they haven't allowed anyone entry for quite some time."

"Oh." Lu Ran felt somewhat helpless.

The calls he made to his mother were all answered by Chen Chen Jingjing; Her Ladyship had completely entered closed-door cultivation.

He did not know when his wedding could be held.

It was already mid-tenth month of the lunar calendar.

Three months from now, on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day of little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi's birthday, would Her Ladyship be able to participate?

He hoped to meet her once before departing.

If absolutely necessary, should he go up the mountain to find her himself?

"Regarding the Demon Cave, I have already made arrangements," Chen Chen Jingjing spoke, "This time it was quite easy.

Hearing that a great summer prodigy was coming, they welcomed it with both hands."

Lu Ran: "..."

Originally, one had to rely on connections and pull strings to beg for seven days of training; now, it seemed there were no longer so many complications.

Next time such a matter arises, he should contact the local Demon Cave military directly, rather than troubling Chen Chen Jingjing.

Chen Chen Jingjing suggested: "Why don't you spend the fifteenth here in Jingcheng? After the city defense ends, I will accompany you to train."

Lu Ran refused: "Sister Chen Jingjing, I can go by myself; you attend to your own affairs."

Not only did he need to activate the Jade-Faced Snake Yemo Yemo Xiesu and learn the purification method.

He also needed to practice various Jiang Pin Xie Fa techniques, so naturally, no one could be by his side.

Chen Chen Jingjing thought for a moment and said: "That is true; you are already in the Jiang Jing realm.

However, the intensity of the demonic invasion here in Jingcheng is greater, which would help you achieve better results."

Lu Ran still shook his head: "Jingcheng produces talents in abundance; one more like me makes no difference, one less makes no difference.

Sister, you know Deng Yuxiang City."

Chen Chen Jingjing pondered for a moment, then nodded and said nothing more.

Thanks to the bosses Autumn of Chatting, Huang Di, Reader 20240926083340018, and Walking Alone Through the River of Time for their donations!

Thanks for the support, bosses; you are generous, handsome, and invincibly tough!

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(End of Chapter)