Chapter 324: Cursed Land

"Brother, you smell so good~"

Lu Ran: "."

What kind of words are those!

In his arms, Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi lifted her head, her smiling eyes curving into two crescent moons:

"It smells like Sister Jiangjiang Ruyi."

Those words made Lu Ran's face turn red.

"Go, go, go." Lu Ran pushed Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi away directly.

Is that your Sister Jiang Ruyi's scent?

That is the immortal air of Luo Sister Xianshan, the fresh fragrance of forest flowers and grass, okay?

Truth be told, it does smell good.

"Why hasn't Sister Jiang Ruyi come back?" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi asked curiously.

"You text her every day, and you ask me?" Lu Ran snorted.

Guan Guan Yiren: "Jiang Qiao Yuanxi!"

"I know, I know!" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi grabbed Lu Ran's wrist and led him to sit down.

As soon as she sat down, little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi started again, her small mouth chattering like a machine gun:

"Brother, you must try the fish pot from the Wang Ling family of the Skull King, it's so delicious!

And this perilla stir-fried chicken... never mind, let's eat the roast duck first!

I'll roll one for you~"

While speaking, Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi picked up a thin lotus leaf pancake.

Lu Ran's gaze grew even gentler as he looked at his sister, suddenly feeling as though she had grown up.

Good, she knows how to care for people now.

Before, she would only feed me rotten lettuce leaves and hamburger grease scraps.

The private room suddenly fell into silence.

Lu Ran came to his senses, his gaze sweeping over everyone: "Everyone eat, it's as if I'm the host.

Quickly, quickly, don't be polite."

"Haha!" Niu Niu Zhengzheng laughed heartily, snatching up his chopsticks and heading straight for the beef.

Guan Guan Yiren also picked up her chopsticks and symbolically picked up a slice of winter bamboo shoot.

On this side, Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi placed the cucumber strips, spread the sweet bean sauce, and finally rolled the duck meat, offering it to Lu Ran's mouth:

"Come on, ah~~~"

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi stopped speaking, her expression strange: "Brother, are you that powerful now?"

Lu Ran didn't understand: "What?"

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi: "You can eat through the mask?"

Lu Ran: "."

He immediately took off his hat and mask.

For a moment, the room fell silent again.

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi held the lotus leaf roll, her movements frozen, staring blankly at Lu Ran.

Lu Ran remained silent for a moment, then put his hat back on, pressing the brim lower.

After advancing to Jiang Jing, everyone's aura is different.

Chen Chen Jingjing, seated nearby, was undoubtedly of ethereal grace.

But compared to Lu Ran who walked out of Luo Sister Xianshan

she was indeed far inferior.

And this was the result after Lu Ran had concealed his brilliance!

Lu Ran not letting Jiangjiang Ruyi leave the mountain really had a reason.

"Delicious." Lu Ran leaned forward, took a bite of the lotus leaf roll, and spoke with his mouth full.

"Everyone, pick up your chopsticks." Chen Chen Jingjing's gaze shifted away from Lu Ran's profile, calming her mind, "Lu Ran's train is at one o'clock this afternoon."

"Ah!" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi blinked her large eyes, looking at Lu Ran.

She suddenly reached out and stuffed the remaining small half of the lotus leaf roll directly into Lu Ran's mouth.

Lu Ran: "Mmph."

"It's fine, Sister Chen Jingjing, no fear of being late." Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi said with a smile, "In a while, we'll cancel the train ticket, drive the car, and leave with Brother."

Lu Ran: "Hm?"

Actually, he had already realized that the group welcoming him back was not just for catching up.

Guan Guan Yiren just said, it seems there is something to discuss?

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi propped her cheek with one hand, tilting her head to look at Lu Ran's Bai Xi and handsome face beneath the brim:

"Brother, this time on the fifteenth, can we go with you to guard the Rain Alley?"

Lu Ran reached out and pushed her face away without any politeness.

Just now you said she had grown up,

but now she has grown into a female hooligan?

He raised his eyes to look at Guan Guan Yiren: "Is it an assignment from the school?"

Guan Guan Yiren silently lowered her head to eat the bamboo shoot slices, not looking at Lu Ran.

Wang Ling suddenly spoke: "Lu Lu Tianjiao, it is I who wants to go; my teammates are accompanying me."

Lu Ran reached out to take a pancake and began rolling up the roasted duck: "Why go to that small place?"

Though he said this, he already had some speculation in his heart.

This person, relying on little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi's connection to find him, was hoping to get on "The Prodigies," wasn't he?

To gain some fame as a photographer?

The influence of "The Prodigies" was vast enough to build momentum for anyone.

For these college students in their period of growth and development, the benefits "The Prodigies" could bring were undoubtedly enormous.

For instance, enhancing one's influence within the school and society, gaining the attention of Jingcheng University, being valued by sects, and so on.

Every single one of these things could become an aid for personal development and soaring success.

Wang Ling glanced at Guan Guan Yiren; seeing her nod slightly, he opened his mouth to speak:

"This coming fifteenth day, Rain Alley City might not be peaceful."

Lu Ran's motion of rolling the duck meat paused ever so slightly, then resumed as normal: "The night of the fifteenth in Rain Alley City has rarely been peaceful."

Guan Guan Yiren suddenly spoke: "Speak plainly."

Wang Ling pondered for a moment, then said: "Prodigy Lu, an elder on my side has been invited to Rain Alley City to hold the line."

Hearing this, Chen Chen Jingjing's face turned Grim.

Lu Ran also frowned slightly.

Damn it!

Was Rain Alley truly a cursed land?

On the fifteenth day of the day after tomorrow, Rain Alley City would even need powerful experts from outside to station themselves there?

Lu Ran still remembered last September fifteenth, when he had inadvertently seen a Wu Sheng believer flying across the sky.

As a result, that very night, a Demon Lord descended upon the city.

And it was none other than Sea Realm · Yin Hua Dan!

Wang Ling continued: "This uncle of mine is a believer of the Rotten Spear, just like you, both at the Jiang Jing realm."

Hearing this, Lu Ran instead felt a sense of relief in his heart.

It seemed it wouldn't be a Sea Realm Demon Lord descending after all?

"Here." Lu Ran finished rolling the lotus leaf pancake and offered it toward Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi's small mouth.

"It really is for me!"

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi was overjoyed; she took a big bite with an "Ah-woo."

Her little cheeks puffed out full of food.

Even without being angry, she could pass for a pufferfish~

Wang Ling said: "Prodigy Lu, as you know, the powerful experts dispatched to various towns and cities are mostly sent with a specific target in mind."

Lu Ran finally turned his head to look at Wang Ling: "You mean the Evil Spear Emperor is coming?"

Back when the Demon Evil · Yin Hua Dan attacked, why was the human expert stationed in Rain Alley a believer of the Wu Sheng?

Because the Wu Sheng faction and the Yin Hua Dan clan were mortal enemies!

As for why the human race had prepared in advance, whether the news came from somewhere or was derived through methods like deduction or divination, that was another matter entirely.

Similarly,

the Rotten Spear faction and the Demon Evil · Evil Spear Emperor clan were also mortal enemies.

Therefore, Wang Ling had this saying of "shooting the arrow at the target."

If a human believer slays their mortal enemy, they can claim a reward from their own deity!

The more enemies you kill, the more you can win the favor of my lord deity.

Not to mention such immense blessings as "Divine Bestowal."

Even if Wang Ling could merely hold his battle merits and have the opportunity to exchange a single sentence with the deity, leaving an impression on the elder Rotten Spear, that would be excellent.

"Wang Ling," Guan Guan Yiren reminded softly.

At this moment, Wang Ling's face froze under Lu Ran's question.

More accurately, it was frozen under Lu Ran's gaze.

Lu Ran smiled apologetically and pressed down the brim of his cap.

"Six or seven times out of ten," Wang Ling quickly adjusted his state and said in a deep voice.

"Six or seven times out of ten." Lu Ran let out a heavy sigh.

The mortal enemy of a First-Rank God was no joke.

The power of the Demon Evil · Evil Spear Emperor was beyond doubt.

Once again, Lu Ran fell into his old habit, not wanting to involve Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi in danger.

Just like last time when going to the Night Charm Demon Cave for training, Lu Ran really wanted to send little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi back.

Lu Ran opened his mouth to speak: "Rain Alley is very small; its various facilities and believer configurations are incomplete and cannot compare to Jingcheng.

Reconnaissance, medical care, logistical supply, and everything else...

In short, if you go there to execute your mission, you must adapt well."

Guan Guan Yiren spoke softly, rarely saying such a long sentence: "Our team has already been decided; this fifteenth day, we will guard Rain Alley City.

Since you have always been stationed in Rain Alley, we just wanted to tell you."

Beside the young girl, Niu Niu Zhengzheng, who had been gobbling down food, abruptly stopped his movements: "What's wrong? Why kick me?"

Guan Guan Yiren: "."

Niu Niu Zhengzheng wasn't too stupid; he immediately realized: "Brother Ran, Wang Ling is our teammate!

He obtained this news by chance; we must seize this opportunity, and our team must help him."

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi nodded in strong agreement.

She believed that if the roles were reversed, her three teammates would also do their utmost.

Lu Ran looked at his sister; though helpless, he indeed had nothing to say:

"Fine, I'll accompany you."

"Haha! Done!" Niu Niu Zhengzheng roared with laughter, his voice rasping like a broken gong, "Doesn't this make us invincible?"

Guan Guan Yiren pressed a hand to her forehead.

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi said, "By the way, Brother, you are a Named River Estuary Realm expert; don't you have other missions?"

Lu Ran shrugged: "I'm participating in 'The Prodigies'; I can't stay cooped up on the top floor of the Wu Lie Building forever.

Besides, if you're returning to Rain Alley, how could I not stay right by your side?"

"Heehee~" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi broke into a joyful smile, "Brother is the best to me!"

Lu Ran snorted.

Best again?

Wasn't I stupid and cold-blooded before?

"Let's get the harsh words out first." Lu Ran swept his gaze across the crowd, "Undertaking missions with me is equivalent to entering 'The Prodigies.'

Every single one of your shots will be dissected, examined frame by frame by the people.

'The Prodigies' can amplify your strengths, but it will also infinitely amplify your flaws."

Wang Ling immediately spoke up: "Rest assured, Prodigy Lu, we know!

We are also loyal viewers of 'The Prodigies' and have indeed been repeatedly studying your combat techniques."

Niu Niu Zhengzheng grinned widely, completely unconcerned: "We get to undertake missions with Brother Ran again, haha!"

Wang Ling looked at his teammates; one after another, they raised their cups: "That Prodigy Lu is willing to lead our squad in handling this special incident means our lives and safety will be greatly secured.

Great kindness needs no words of thanks; the future is long!"

Lu Ran likewise raised his cup: "No need for such courtesy; you are Little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi's comrades, so naturally, you are my comrades as well.

That Rain Alley City has an additional powerful squad to guard it is something I should thank you for."

Wang Ling looked at the Great Xia's number one prodigy, who was both transcendent and unusually humble, and couldn't help but feel deeply moved.

Setting aside all other factors, here was a Named River Estuary Realm expert engaging in amiable conversation with him.

For a moment, the respect in Wang Ling's heart manifested on his face from the inside out.

He used tea in place of wine, drained a full cup, and felt immensely fortunate in his heart.

It was not in vain that his family had exerted such effort to connect him with this squad.

Guan Guan Yiren, Niu Niu Zhengzheng, Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi—

The family backgrounds of these three were each more terrifying than the last.

Only Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi lacked the notion of a "great clan," her family consisting of merely three members.

Yet the other two,

one was the Hongfeng Peak Master of the Liangye Sword Art faction.

The other was the number one prodigy who shook the entire Great Xia with his might!

With teammates like these, just try dealing with them!

As long as I don't act foolishly, how could those dozen or so useless nobodies ever lay a finger on the future position of clan head?

At the start of the month, begging brothers and cuties for monthly ticket support!

Thanks to reader 20220724130403486 for the 10,000-point reward! Boss is generous, tough, and invincibly handsome!

Thanks to bosses Li Taibai, wg23fc, Hanbao Ge, and others for their rewards; thanks to everyone for your continued support!

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(End of Chapter)