Chapter 323: Child of Destiny?

Lu Ran's train was at one in the afternoon.

Chen Chen Jingjing had said she wanted to share a meal with him, and Lu Ran found it hard to refuse.

He hadn't expected, however, that this meal would be of such high standard.

In Jingcheng, where land was worth its weight in gold, this restaurant occupied a truly substantial area.

The decor was elegant, built around a vast courtyard that featured rockeries, small bridges, and flowing streams, making it quite refined.

Expensive.

This was Lu Ran's first thought.

Upon seeing the guests inside the restaurant, Lu Ran realized that having money alone was far from enough to dine here.

Hmm... it did match Chen Chen Jingjing's temperament.

"Autumn Water Home."

Lu Ran recalled the restaurant's plaque, thinking silently that it was a good name.

"Ms. Chen, this way," said a waiter dressed in a sharp suit, smiling broadly as he gestured and immediately led the way forward.

Chen Chen Jingjing maintained a cold expression, nodding faintly.

"Sister, a simple meal would have been fine," Lu Ran said, feeling somewhat embarrassed. "This is too extravagant."

When Chen Chen Jingjing looked at Lu Ran, it was as if ice and snow had melted; a mysterious smile appeared on her face.

Her expression left Lu Ran quite puzzled.

The two followed the waiter to a private room on the second floor and pushed the door open to enter.

Lu Ran suddenly felt a figure rush toward him:

"Brother!!!"

Lu Ran was startled and quickly reached out his hand.

"Slap!"

He immediately pressed down on the newcomer's head.

What kind of thing had darted over?

Jumping straight into someone's arms upon meeting?

Have you no shame? Isn't this my little sister?

"You!" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi struggled hard to push Lu Ran's hand away, her large eyes wide open as she glared at him angrily.

"It's Jiang Qiao Yuanxi."

"Hmph!" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi stamped her foot in anger, rubbing her forehead with one hand.

Thanks to her dear brother, her forehead had been slapped red.

"Does it hurt?" Lu Ran asked quickly, feeling secretly relieved.

Luckily, he had used his hand!

Just now, Lu Ran had nearly lifted his leg to kick the other person away.

"Cold-blooded, heartless, stinky little brother."

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi muttered under her breath, turning her head to look aside.

"My mistake, my mistake," Lu Ran said hurriedly, stepping forward to hug his sister and gently patting her back.

You have to admit—

Little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi's cheeks were puffed up in anger, looking quite amusing.

Like a little pufferfish?

Lu Ran turned his head to look at Chen Chen Jingjing.

Chen Chen Jingjing smiled apologetically: "Jiang Qiao Yuanxi heard you were transferring through Jingcheng, so..."

From within his embrace, Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi interrupted: "Don't blame Sister Chen Jingjing; I asked her to keep it from you."

It was Sister Jiang Ruyi who told me about your itinerary!

You detestable fellow; I originally wanted to give you a surprise."

"A surprise, indeed a great surprise," Lu Ran said, gently stroking the girl's back. "You've grown taller."

"No way! Liar!"

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi ultimately hugged Lu Ran, burying her face in his chest: "I measure myself every day; I'm still 168, not a bit taller."

Lu Ran felt a bit awkward.

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi lifted her head, her large eyes brimming with tears as she spoke with an aggrieved tone:

"Maybe I grew too rapidly in the past couple of years."

Lu Ran: "..."

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi suddenly said: "Brother seems to have grown taller, though."

Lu Ran smiled and nodded, gently rubbing her reddened forehead with one hand.

He had indeed grown a little taller; he didn't know whether it was due to receiving the deity's blessing or because of the change in water and soil.

Since going to Lady Luo Sister Xianshan a few months ago until now, Lu Ran had grown two or three centimeters taller.

Barefoot, he should be 182 cm now.

"Heehee~" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi's small face changed in an instant; she beamed with a smile. "It's good to be taller."

"That way, Sister Jiang Ruyi can wear high heels!"

The corners of Lu Ran's mouth twitched.

We finally meet after so long, and you just have to stab me in the heart?

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi changed her expression again, puckering her small lips: "You passed through Jingcheng; why didn't you look for me?"

Lu Ran explained, "Today is already the thirteenth day of the lunar month; city defense is about to begin."

Ever since Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi entered Jingcheng University, the intensity had been ramped up!

As one of the Great Xia's top-tier academies, Jingcheng University provided students with the finest cultivation and trial resources, keeping little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi busier than ever.

Throughout it all, the brother and sister maintained frequent contact.

Exchanging messages to report safety after the fifteenth of each month had become a habit of life.

Even during those two months Lu Ran spent in seclusion at Lady Luo Sister Xianshan, he had informed little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi in advance of his whereabouts, explaining that he could not send text messages while inside the Demon Lair.

Additionally, Lu Ran had participated in "Heavenly Pride."

Since little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi also had to stand guard over the city on the night of the fifteenth, she would always watch the recorded broadcast of Lu Ran's performance on the sixteenth day of the lunar month.

Little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi's phone calls usually came in the afternoon of the sixteenth lunar day.

She would chatter away to her brother, critiquing his performance on "Heavenly Pride."

Then, after the results for "Heavenly Pride" were released on the eighteenth lunar day, she would send Lu Ran a text message or make another call.

Although the brother and sister lived in different environments and followed different paths of growth, with their father deceased and their mother busy, they had always held each other dear.

In fact, when setting out to receive the divine blessing, Lu Ran had considered bringing little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi along.

Alas, at that time she was executing a mission inside the Demon Lair.

Moreover, little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi was currently at the fourth stage of the River Realm, while Lu Ran, possessing only a body at the Jiang Jing realm, was the one going to receive the god's blessing.

Lu Ran knew that Master Xiang Xiang Xianyang indulged him greatly.

But asking Master Xiang to look after this Lantern Festival believer and then adjust the intensity of the blessing...

... was truly difficult to bring up.

After all, Lu Ran was already being excessively presumptuous by bringing a Jiang Jing believer like Master Yu Fu along to mooch off the divine favor.

Hmm... once little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi advances to the Jiang Jing realm, and after he returns from the Divine Ruins having won the favor of the My Lord God, he could then shamelessly make the request.

"Brother! Brother?"

"Hmm?" Lu Ran snapped back to reality, offering an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I zoned out. What were you saying?"

"Wow!" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi tilted her head up, gazing into Lu Ran's eyes.

Little stars seemed ready to sparkle out of her eyes.

When Lu Ran was with little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi, his true feelings naturally surfaced, making him ever more gentle.

Thus, his eyes, which had been stained with the night sky's stars, grew even softer.

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi couldn't resist reaching out, wanting to touch Lu Ran's eyes.

Lu Ran:???

Instinctively, he closed his eyes and leaned his head back.

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi's slender jade-like finger poked right onto Lu Ran's eyelid.

The little pufferfish's cheeks puffed up again: "What are you dodging for?"

Lu Ran nearly laughed in anger: "You poke my eye, and I shouldn't dodge?"

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi pursed her lips, muttering: "I just wanted to touch them. Stingy ghost."

Lu Ran was stunned speechless!

You poke someone's eyeball, and you still act like you're in the right?

"Hehe~"

"Haha!" Laughter erupted from within the private room.

Lu Ran had detected someone in the room long ago; it was just that, to him, little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi was simply more important.

Following the sound, he turned his gaze and saw three young men and women standing there.

The tower-like burly man was the most eye-catching—Niu Niu Zhengzheng!

"Brother Ran!!"

Niu Niu Zhengzheng grinned broadly, revealing a mouthful of bright white teeth.

Lu Ran smiled too: "Gotten even stronger, huh? This time you could really fit two of me inside you."

"Hehe." Niu Niu Zhengzheng seemed not to have heard a word Lu Ran said, staring intently at him without stop.

Thinking back to when they first met, this rash fellow had even wanted to compete with Lu Ran.

But now...

His eyes were filled with nothing but worship.

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi giggled: "Big guy, you've turned into a little fanboy~"

Lu Ran looked beside Niu Niu Zhengzheng and saw a cold, beautiful woman.

Interestingly, when Lu Ran's gaze intertwined with Guan Guan Yiren's, she actually averted her eyes slightly.

Lu Ran's eyesight was too good.

So good that he could clearly see the faint blush rising on the cold beauty's face.

Lu Ran chuckled again.

Having inherited his parents' excellent genes, he was naturally born handsome and valiant; it was merely due to his youth that he appeared slightly immature.

And the Lu Ran of today was unlike what he had been in the past.

He had grown a year older, killed for a year, advanced to the Jiang Jing realm, and undergone a complete transformation.

He had even received the god's blessing, granting him an immortal bearing and jade-like bones.

Hmm... he indeed now possessed the assets to tempt the mortal world.

"Long time no see, Guan Yiren," Lu Ran said softly. "Thank you for taking care of little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi."

Guan Guan Yiren still looked at Lu Ran, except her gaze focused on his mask as she stated indifferently:

"My duty."

Since we are comrades in life and death, it is naturally my duty.

"And this one?" Lu Ran asked, looking at the young man beside him and examining him closely.

Rare indeed, to see someone even thinner than himself.

The young man looked like a bamboo pole; at first glance, one would worry he might be blown over by the wind.

But upon a second look, he was extraordinary!

The young man possessed an aura like a pine tree, with crisp short hair, eyes full of resolve and confidence, standing just over 1.8 meters tall with an upright posture.

"Lu Lu Tianjiao!" The young man stepped forward, extending a hand toward Lu Ran. "I am Wang Ling."

"Meeting you today is a fortune spanning three lifetimes!"

Lu Ran, naturally devoid of any airs, shook the other's hand.

In his arms, little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi said, "This restaurant was opened by the Skeleton family."

"Skeleton?" Lu Ran was confused.

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi leaned against Lu Ran's chest; having not seen each other for so long, she was being exceptionally clingy.

She puckered her lips at Wang Ling: "You know, the Undead, the Skeletons~"

Wang Ling: "..."

"Stop giving people nicknames," Lu Ran chided softly, patting Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi's head.

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi playfully stuck out her tongue, then buried her face back into Lu Ran's chest.

Lu Ran's expression turned strange.

Though the siblings indeed shared deep affection, surely they didn't need to hug for this long?

Lu Ran's heart sank slightly, and he asked gently, "Have you been wronged?"

"How could that be!" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi's muffled voice came from against Lu Ran's chest. "Sister Guan Yiren and the Bull-Headed Skeletons are all protecting me."

"The Sword-One believer sisters at school are also very kind to me; who would dare to trouble me?"

Lu Ran: "Uh."

That was true!

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Wanjun was the Peak Master of Startling Goose Peak, so Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi was naturally the most precious of all noble daughters.

Regardless of whether Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Wanjun had actively entrusted her care, the leaders, teachers, and others within the academy would inevitably know of the mother-daughter relationship; the news would naturally spread.

Who would dare to provoke Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi?

"Heehee~" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi broke into a smile. "Besides, I have a Lu Tianjiao big brother!

After that earth-shattering fight at Wu Lie River University, who would dare to bully me?"

Lu Ran: "..."

Anyway, as long as she hadn't been bullied, that was fine.

Lu Ran spoke up: "Alright, so many people are watching; let go now."

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi refused: "Let me hug a little longer!"

Lu Ran said helplessly, "How is it that you're getting more clingy as you grow older?"

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi whispered secretly, "Big brother is the First Lu Tianjiao; you might very well be the Child of Fortune of Great Xia!

If I stick close to you and rub against you, I might absorb some of that fortune.

Who knows, I might breakthrough immediately!"

Lu Ran was dumbfounded: "Huh?"

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi muttered softly, "That's how it's written in fantasy novels.

Let me tell you, lately before bed I've been listening to a novel..."

"Stop, stop!" Lu Ran said, torn between laughter and tears, and beckoned to everyone, "Everyone, please take a seat."

This little pufferfish was truly quirky and mischievous; she hadn't changed a bit.

While speaking, Lu Ran only just realized that Wang Ling was still standing nearby, having been ignored for quite some time.

Lu Ran felt somewhat embarrassed; he sized Wang Ling up and down before saying:

"Friend, what formidable skills you possess."

Wang Ling's eyes lit up: "These trifling skills of mine do not deserve such praise from Lu Lu Tianjiao."

Lu Ran pondered for a moment, then asked, "A believer of Spear Rotten?"

Wang Ling nodded: "Lu Lu Tianjiao has keen eyes; I am a disciple of Spear Rotten."

First-Rank Deity · Spear Saint, whose true name was Spear Rotten.

Since Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi had said "the Skeletons are protecting her too," it meant that Wang Ling had likely joined this three-person team.

Tsk, so believers of High-Rank Deities were gathering in clusters?

Come to think of it, if one weren't a top-tier player, how could one join such a team?

"Jiang Qiao Yuanxi?"

"Mm, Sister Guan Yiren?"

"Stop clinging to your brother; come sit down, we still have matters to discuss."

"Oh, right away," Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi replied softly.

She buried her small face in Lu Ran's chest and took a deep breath again, as if trying to inhale even more fortune...

It's a new month, during the double-points period; begging for monthly ticket support!

Thanks to boss blank_light for the 50,000 reward! Thanks, boss, for your continued support; you're so generous, boss!

Wishing the boss never lacks love every day, and never lacks partners for making love! Hooray~

(`) Finger heart

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(End of Chapter)