Chapter 337: Those Flowers

The phone vibrated for a full minute before finally stopping.

Moments later, it began buzzing again.

Lu Ran tried his best to compose his thoughts, but ultimately picked up the phone, glanced at the screen, and answered the call:

"Sister Sister Xian'er."

"Young Master!"

From the other end of the line came a sweet voice.

Sickeningly sweet.

Ever since the trial in Rouge Village, the title "Young Master" had stuck.

It was clear that Si Si Xianxian was somewhat excited: "Young Master was truly amazing last night! It made me so happy!"

Lu Ran: "."

Immersed in her emotions, Si Si Xianxian spoke rapidly: "That scene where you forcefully mounted the Big Black Gun was absolutely explosive!

Damn! You split the giant gun right open, from head to tail, cleaving it into two seas of fire!

It blew my mind so hard that I smashed my computer!"

Sister Sister Xian'er was just as always.

Her voice was sweet,

and her little mouth was even sweeter.

Lu Ran leaned back against his chair: "Did Auntie scold you?"

If anyone else said they had smashed their computer, it might be an exaggeration.

But when those words came from the mouth of Divine Lie Tian's Divine Lie Tian Lietian Daniu, they were most likely true.

"Uh." Si Si Xianxian clearly stumbled, her voice dropping significantly, "Why bring her up? Let's talk about us."

"Us?"

"Yes, yes!" Si Si Xianxian's voice became even sweeter, "Where does Young Master plan to take me to play this month?"

Lu Ran fell silent.

He suddenly realized a problem: on this path of upward climbing, he would break many people's hearts.

Jiangjiang Ruyi, Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi.

And now there was Sister Sister Xian'er as well.

"I..."

"Where? Where?" Si Si Xianxian asked, full of anticipation.

"My sect has a mission; I'm very busy and can't accompany you."

Si Si Xianxian's tone changed instantly, her voice turning low: "So when you said yesterday that you'd call me today, you were just brushing me off to stop me from making a fuss."

Lu Ran explained, "I wasn't brushing you off; I wanted to have a proper talk with you today..."

"Mn, sorry to disturb you." Si Si Xianxian replied indifferently, hanging up before Lu Ran could finish.

"Mm, sorry to disturb you." Without Si Si Xianxian replied indifferently, and before Lu Ran could finish speaking, she hung up the phone.

Listening to the busy signal, Lu Ran grimaced.

Actually, he had arranged a place for Sister Sister Xian'er to go.

It was just that this girl's temper was too impatient and impulsive; could she hang up so decisively?

Well, this was for the best.

It gave him a chance to speak with Jiangjiang Ruyi first.

Lu Ran was indeed very busy and truly could not accompany Si Si Xianxian.

This month, he needed to go to the Jade-Faced Snake Demon Cave to capture souls and seize spirits, equipped with purification methods.

Since Lu Ran still needed to practice Xie Fa, he could not bring anyone along with him.

Furthermore, Lu Ran still had to visit various demon caves to cultivate his Yemo Yemo Xiesu to Zhijiang Jing.

The Black Lantern, Lie Hun Mo...

When these evil spirits were at Zhijiang Jing, there were no Xie Fa available to learn.

Only after cultivating the Yemo Yemo Xiesu to Zhijiang Jing could their original Xie Fa advance to Zhijiang Pin.

Take, for example, the Mo Zhi Xie Fa of Lie Hun Mo.

Currently, Lu Ran was still using the River-Rank Power of Soul-Splitting.

Within three months, Lu Ran needed to adjust his combat strength to its absolute peak; only then might he pass the trial.

Lu Ran looked at his phone and made another call.

Unexpectedly, it was answered almost immediately: "Young Master?"

Lu Ran paused, lowering his phone to check the screen.

He hadn't dialed the wrong number.

He had called Jiangjiang Ruyi.

From the receiver came Jiangjiang Ruyi's teasing voice again: "Young Master, why aren't you speaking?"

Lu Ran suddenly understood; yesterday, Jiang Si and the other had spoken on the phone.

Presumably, Si Si Xianxian had happily said something, leading to Jiangjiang Ruyi's teasing today.

Lu Ran rubbed his forehead, feeling quite out of sorts.

These two girls had voices worlds apart; why had he mistaken one for the other?

Sister Sister Xian'er was a sweet girl.

Sister Sister Xian'er is a sweet girl.

Her appearance, voice, and smile.

Except for her violent heart, every part of her was sweet.

Jiangjiang Ruyi, on the other hand, was an unmistakably cool and mature beauty.

Her looks, temperament, figure, and of course, her vocal tone.

However, she possessed a very warm heart, which made her entire persona gentle and soft.

Only when she remained silent and lost in thought did her outward appearance and temperament overshadow her true nature, making her appear cold and distant.

"Lu Ran, what's wrong?"

This time, a trace of concern laced Jiangjiang Ruyi's voice.

"Oh." Lu Ran snapped back to reality. "I just told little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi that I'm going to challenge the Divine Ruins."

Jiangjiang Ruyi fell silent for a moment, then said softly, "Did she throw a little tantrum?"

Lu Ran replied, "She probably cried."

Jiangjiang Ruyi said gently, "Shall I help you coax her?"

"No need for that; I'll handle it myself." Lu Ran lowered his head and chuckled.

She was still just as gentle.

One could truly feel it from just a few words.

Jiangjiang Ruyi said, "Go quickly, then get a good night's sleep. Call me again after you wake up."

Lu Ran suddenly said, "I want to ask Sister Sister Xian to go to Lady Luo Sister Xian's Mountain to find you."

Jiangjiang Ruyi naturally understood the reason behind this and did not ponder for long: "That's fine."

"Living is indeed quite painful for her."

"She has no friends, and no one around to talk to."

"Wherever she goes, she meets only malicious gazes, so she can only stay at home most of the time."

Speaking thus, Jiangjiang Ruyi added, "Sister Sister Xian has advanced to the fifth stage of the River Realm. If she comes to Lady Luo Sister Xian's Mountain, she might gain some insights and advance to the Jiang Jing."

Lu Ran, however, said, "For a believer of Divine Lie Tian to advance to the Jiang Jing is hardly a good thing."

Jiangjiang Ruyi fell silent.

Indeed, it was not a good thing.

From the moment Si Si Xianxian became a disciple under Divine Lie Tian, she had embarked on a path of self-destruction.

The higher one's strength and realm, the more severely one is influenced by the deity.

Extreme emotions will ultimately bring about disastrous consequences.

Once Si Si Xianxian advances to the Jiang Jing, it will mean she has taken a giant step toward death.

Jiangjiang Ruyi, being a disciple of Master Yu Fu, was not affected by particularly extreme emotions.

But after advancing to the Jiang Jing, she had also clearly noticed changes in her own state of mind.

Her disposition had become somewhat cold.

This change was so profound that even if she wanted to actively correct it, it would be very difficult.

From this, it was evident that changes in mindset and disposition would surely worsen Si Si Xianxian's condition, making her future path fraught with thorns.

Lu Ran said, "I think the environment at Lady Luo Sister Xian's Mountain might help her calm her mind."

Jiangjiang Ruyi nodded gently. "I will try to guide her."

Whether it would succeed or not, no one could say for sure.

Jiangjiang Ruyi could only do her best.

At the very least, being able to accompany Sister Sister Xian and walk with her for a segment of her life's journey...

... would mean their meeting was not in vain.

Lu Ran said, "Alright, then I'll give Sister Sister Xian a call."

"You..."

"Hmm?"

"When will you come to see me?" Jiangjiang Ruyi asked in a low voice.

As soon as she spoke, Jiangjiang Ruyi regretted it.

She had clearly told him before not to have any worries and to go out and explore the world.

She had clearly made up her mind to focus solely on strength.

Lu Ran laughed. "Today is the sixteenth day of the lunar month; it's the third day since we parted."

Jiangjiang Ruyi lifted her face into a smile, her voice turning gentle once more: "Alright, go quickly and coax your little sister. I should continue my class now."

"Grandpa Cheng Li has been waiting for quite some time."

Lu Ran responded directly, his words clear: "The nineteenth day of the lunar month."

Jiangjiang Ruyi's beautiful eyes lit up. "Hmm?"

Lu Ran smiled. "Sister Sister Xian is alone; she cannot travel far by herself."

Jiangjiang Ruyi composed herself and said softly, "Very well, bring her over then. Be careful on the road."

Lu Ran suddenly said, "Jiang Ruyi, Jiang Ruyi, follow my heart's desire."

"Before hanging up, give me a kiss!"

"Go away." Jiangjiang Ruyi's cheeks flushed red; she lightly cursed at Lu Ran and hung up the phone.

Lu Ran put down his phone and sank into deep thought.

Thinking back, when Jiangjiang Ruyi and Si Si Xianxian had similar levels of strength, Jiangjiang Ruyi could still keep Sister Sister Xian completely under control.

Not to mention that Jiangjiang Ruyi has now reached the Jiang Jing.

Over there, Grandpa Cheng is still holding the fort, and furthermore, they are right beneath the god's feet; naturally, Si Si Xianxian cannot stir up any waves.

The environment of Xianshan,

might actually be beneficial to Si Si Xianxian's body and mind?

Undoubtedly, Lu Ran wants to recruit Sister Sister Xian'er as a believer of the Ran Sect.

Hopefully, Xianshan can delay her progress toward self-destruction.

Lu Ran held his phone and called Si Si Xianxian.

Unexpectedly, the other party did not answer.

Lu Ran called again; after waiting several dozen seconds, the call finally connected.

Yet the other party said nothing.

Faintly, Lu Ran could still hear her disordered breathing.

Was she crying?

It was hard to imagine that someone so fierce could have such a fragile side.

Lu Ran: "Are you angry?"

Si Si Xianxian sat on the small bed in her bedroom, a hint of mist in her eyes as she gazed at the sky outside the window, and said in a cold voice:

"Why are you still calling?"

"Do you want to go to Xianshan to play?" Lu Ran's voice was extremely gentle.

It sounded so detestable.

Si Si Xianxian's heart pounded!

She wanted to say something, yet the joy in her heart was once again occupied by grievance.

The moment she thought that Lu Ran's words yesterday were merely meant to perfunctorily brush her off and get rid of her, Si Si Xianxian felt unbearably distressed.

This old lady has a temper too, you know!

If it were anyone else, this Immortal would have slapped them across the face already!

Only you dare to be arrogant because you are favored.

The words already on Si Si Xianxian's lips turned cold and hard:

"I'm not going!"

As if he hadn't heard, Lu Ran smiled and said: "Jiangjiang Shaonainai is cultivating alone over there; she lacks a maid beside her to serve tea and water."

Si Si Xianxian clenched her phone tightly and squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth:

"Lu! Ran!!"

Facts prove: one must indeed beat one's younger brother while he is still young.

When we first met, why didn't I just slap him to death?

Now it's too late; I can no longer beat him.

Lu Ran said softly: "The scenery over there is beautiful, peaceful and harmonious; it will be helpful to you."

Hearing this, Si Si Xianxian's angry expression gradually softened.

Lu Ran continued: "The people there are all warm-hearted, kind, and gentle.

I guarantee that every face you see will be full of goodwill."

The palm holding the phone in Si Si Xianxian's hand trembled slightly, and a warmth rose in her heart.

A warmth unlike anything before.

She had endured countless cold stares and grown accustomed to expressions of disgust.

She had also grown accustomed to figures avoiding her as if she were plague, fleeing in terror.

Since becoming a god-reverer, only a few short years had passed, yet it felt so long, so very long.

So long that she had already forgotten what the normal world looked like.

The girl lowered her head, her shoulder-length hair falling in disarray, and whispered: "For how many days?"

"If Jiangjiang Shaonainai isn't leaving, why is the maid in such a rush?"

The moment Lu Ran finished speaking, he abruptly tilted his head and pulled the phone away.

From the receiver came a voice bursting with rage: "Are you asking to be slapped?"

Immediately after, another voice, that of a middle-aged woman, came through, very stern: "Si Si Xianxian! What are you shouting about?

Isn't smashing the computer enough? Do you also intend to flip the roof off?"

Si Si Xianxian's eyebrows shot up: "I—"

Lu Ran suddenly spoke: "Baa~"

Si Si Xianxian's words halted, and her body went stiff.

Divine methods cannot pass through a receiver to affect someone a thousand li away.

Otherwise, if Lu Ran had been bleating endlessly in "Tian Jiao," the people of Great Xia would have exploded in outrage long ago.

However, this ineffective divine method worked wonders on Si Si Xianxian.

Like an instinctive reaction, Si Si Xianxian fell silent.

"I'll speak to Auntie Si," that detestable voice came from the receiver again.

Si Si Xianxian pursed her lips, handed the phone to her mother, and said irritably: "Here! Lu Ran!"

Si Si Caiqin immediately walked into the room, picked up the phone, transformed her angry countenance into a smile, and said affectionately:

"Little Lu, why aren't you resting yet? Did Si Xianxian disturb you again?"

Lu Ran's voice was gentle: "No, Auntie Si, I have something to tell you..."

After a long while, Lu Ran finally finished explaining everything and hung up the phone.

Holding his phone, he tapped lightly on the desk, his thoughts drifting far away.

Sister Sister Xian'er,

give me a little more time.

I will strive to pull you out of this sea of bitterness.

Lost in thought, Lu Ran lowered his head and smiled; Wang Quan's words lingered in his ears, fitting the moment perfectly.

Don't die.

Thanks to Smile-kun, the Great Dreamer, for the 10,000-point reward! Honored by your generous love; thank you, boss, for walking this path with me!

Thanks to bosses Qiu Ying, Yin Cha Yin Cha, Da Mao 0922, and Happy Little Bambi for your tips! You bosses are magnificent; thank you for your support!

(`) Finger heart

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(End of Chapter)