Chapter 74: Romantic Old Tales

Beside the van, two small squads made each other's acquaintance.

"This is my brother Lu Ran; just call him Brother," Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi introduced.

"Just Lu Ran is fine," Lu Ran said, extending his hand in a friendly gesture.

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi was indeed a year younger, but her teammates were all Lu Ran's age.

"Calling him Brother is no problem either!" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi looked at Lu Ran. "In all my life, I've never seen anyone with an earlier birthday than yours."

That was actually the truth.

Lu and Jiang Qiao were biological siblings with only a one-year age gap.

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi's birthday fell on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month; could Lu Ran's birthday possibly be any earlier?

"Niu Niu Zhengzheng." The tall giant extended his large hand, his voice booming from his chest. "Zheng as in 'iron-boned and unyielding'."

Lu Ran looked up at the burly man, his eyes full of envy.

This physical talent was truly explosive!

Look at those muscles, that massive build; was this what a seventeen-year-old student should have?

Even Deng Yutang, standing beside Niu Niu Zhengzheng, looked like a little brother.

"Brother Ran? You're too thin; you need to eat more," Niu Niu Zhengzheng said with a smile, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi immediately said, "Niu Tou has a straightforward nature; he means exactly what he says, so don't overthink it."

Lu Ran looked at Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi in surprise. "Niu Tou?"

"Yes, just look at his appearance; he looks fierce and terrifying," Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi said, looking up at Niu Niu Zhengzheng. "When we first met, he nearly scared me to tears."

"Hehe." Niu Niu Zhengzheng scratched his head awkwardly.

Although he looked a bit fierce, Lu Ran felt this big guy was simple-minded and quite cute.

"This older sister is named Guan Guan Yiren." Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi linked arms with the girl beside her. "She is a devotee of Lord Liangye Jian Yi!"

Liangye Jian Yi?

Everyone turned their gaze toward the girl.

The deity ranked first in the first row of the Great Xia pantheon?

Number One in the Heavens·Lord Liangye Jian Yi?!

Jiangjiang Ruyi felt a slight flutter in her heart as she carefully examined the long-haired girl.

Indeed, the disciple chosen by Lord Liangye Jian Yi was exactly this type.

Guan Guan Yiren was slightly taller than Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi, with above-average features and excellent temperament.

She nodded politely to the few of them, yet anyone could feel that unapproachable distance emanating from her.

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi said, "Brother, the commander position in our squad was originally meant for Sister Guan Yiren."

Lu Ran asked, "Then how did it end up with you?"

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi grinned, tilting her head to rest on Guan Guan Yiren's shoulder. "Ever since she became a disciple under Liangye Jian Yi, she's become less and less talkative~"

The crowd: "."

Guan Guan Yiren rarely showed a hint of a smile as she curled her finger and gently tapped Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi on the head.

"I love talking," Niu Niu Zhengzheng suddenly spoke, looking at his two teammates.

"Shh." Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi held up a finger, signaling Niu Niu Zhengzheng to be quiet.

Niu Niu Zhengzheng looked at Lu Ran and shrugged. "They two don't want to listen to me talk."

Lu Ran's expression was quite remarkable; holding back laughter was hard work.

After all, they had just met, and bursting into loud laughter didn't seem very polite.

"Brother, which deity are you a devotee of?" Deng Yutang asked.

Niu Niu Zhengzheng replied, "Western Wasteland."

Once again, the air fell silent.

Second-Rank Deity·Western Wasteland?

One of the Four War Heroes·Western Wasteland Axe?

What the hell kind of team is this?

A First-Rank Deity Liangye Jian Yi devotee, a Second-Rank Deity Western Wasteland devotee, and a Third-Rank Deity Lantern devotee?

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi, who possessed high aptitude, actually worshipped the deity ranked at the very bottom?

As expected of the young masters and ladies of Jingcheng—hmm, perhaps it shouldn't be put that way.

It should be said that Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi was well cared for under her mother's knee, allowing her to join such a squad.

Niu Niu Zhengzheng clearly noticed the expressions on their faces and couldn't help but snort. "You think I'm lying to you?"

As he spoke, he waved his large hand, energy surging in his palm as if about to summon a great axe.

"Stop!" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi immediately halted him.

As if by conditioned reflex, the energy in Niu Niu Zhengzheng's palm dissipated.

In other words, he waved his large hand, and then nothing happened.

Awkward!

"By the way," Lu Ran also acted as if nothing had happened. "Where is your other teammate? Why haven't we seen them?"

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi lowered her head, fiddling with Guan Guan Yiren's Bai Xi jade fingers. "Our squad has only three people."

Lu Ran: "Huh?"

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi raised her eyelids and gave a playful smile. "We couldn't find a suitable one for a long time, but later we realized that three people are enough!"

Niu Niu Zhengzheng suddenly said, "I want a male teammate so we can eat meat and drink wine together."

Lu Ran raised his eyes to look at the burly man.

Niu Niu Zhengzheng shrugged again: "The two of them don't like it."

Lu Ran: "."

"Oh my~ three people are enough for the squad; you're worth two of anyone else!" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi said.

Niu Niu Zhengzheng flashed a mouthful of white teeth again, chuckling: "Makes sense!"

"Come, let me introduce you to a brother!" Lu Ran pushed Deng Yutang forward, "Straightforward, brave, a real man!"

Niu Niu Zhengzheng looked Deng Yutang up and down, picking faults: "A bit short; you'll need to eat more in the future!"

Deng Yutang:???

This young master is at least 185 cm tall, and you call me short?

Do others even get to live?

Does Tian Tian even get to live?

Niu Niu Zhengzheng placed a hand on Deng Yutang's shoulder: "Which deity are you a devotee of?"

Deng Yutang said nothing, casually pointing at the red scarf wrapped around his head.

"Ho?" Niu Niu Zhengzheng's eyes lit up, "A disciple of my lord Red Scarf? Joining the Red Scarf faction is what I want most!

But on the Day of Revering the Gods, my lord West Desolate arrived first and took me away."

Visibly, his interest shot straight up!

Jiangjiang Ruyi suggested: "Let's get in the vehicle; we can chat on the way."

"Alright, let's go." Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi, brimming with energy, said, "In a bit, inside the vehicle, we'll settle on a tactic and fight until the sky and earth turn dark!"

The group of seven quickly boarded the van.

The driver looked at this group of young people with eyes full of envy; he had heard every word of their conversation just now.

"Stow the weapons properly; don't let them get bumped or knocked." The driver stepped on the accelerator and headed out of the city.

Sitting in the back row next to Jiangjiang Ruyi, Lu Ran whispered: "It's actually quite good not to become a disciple under Liangye Jian Yi's sect."

"Hmm?" Jiangjiang Ruyi looked somewhat puzzled.

Lu Ran lowered his voice: "Look at that Guan Guan Yiren; she doesn't say a single word, so aloof, like an ice sculpture."

Jiangjiang Ruyi whispered: "Don't speak of others like that."

Lu Ran continued: "How nice it is to be gentle and soft! What would you do if you accidentally became a disciple under Liangye Jian Yi's sect?"

"Shoo." Jiangjiang Ruyi laughed and spat lightly at Lu Ran.

Was this supposed to be comfort?

But I became a devotee of Master Yu Fu, who is also very cold and stern.

In the end, it still comes down to the devotees guarding their original hearts.

Jiangjiang Ruyi gazed softly at Lu Ran, thinking to herself: Just as you have done; do not let the gods distort your nature.

In the front row, Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi curiously turned her head back, looking at Lu Ran and Jiangjiang Ruyi.

Her eyes were lively; the more she looked, the more interesting she found them.

Something's off!

There's a problem with these two!

"What are you looking at?" Lu Ran suddenly spoke.

"Looking at Sister Jiang Ruyi, of course; isn't she so beautiful?" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi said with a smile.

Jiangjiang Ruyi smiled and waved her hand.

As long as it didn't involve Lu Ran, she was always this poised and generous.

Lu Ran raised his eyebrows slightly: "Not very old, yet your taste is quite good?"

Jiangjiang Ruyi immediately elbowed Lu Ran.

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi's eyes sparkled brightly, her gaze sweeping back and forth between the two of them.

Indeed, there is a problem!

No, I must help my stupid brother vet this properly.

That Black Ice Sword of Mother's absolutely cannot be given away so easily!

Forty minutes later, the van drove into a military camp in the northern suburbs of Jinmen.

From far away, Lu Ran saw the sculpture of the god, my lord Liangye Jian Yi.

One had to admit, Liangye Jian Yi was truly formidable, and her sphere of protection was truly vast.

Liangye Jian Yi's main divine statue stood in Jingcheng, while her divine statue avatar had extended all the way over here to Jinmen.

After passing through layers of inspection, the vehicle entered the camp's parking lot, and the group disembarked in single file.

Guan Guan Yiren, who had been silent the whole way, knelt down before the sculpture of the god, my lord Liangye Jian Yi, immediately after getting out of the vehicle.

She pressed her palms together, her cold expression turning incredibly respectful, bowing her head to silently pray for something.

The others did not kneel, but most bowed slightly to show respect.

Lu Ran seemed completely out of place; after admiring the demeanor of my lord Liangye Jian Yi for a moment, he went to the trunk to retrieve his blade.

He was not a devotee of Liangye Jian Yi, so it was improper for him to pay reverence.

Mainly, my lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang was unique, always accompanying Lu Ran, and having such a domineering temperament.

Lu Ran did not want his own god to misunderstand anything.

To speak a blasphemous words:

The Liangye Jian Yi divine statue within the God and Demon Sculpture Garden possessed far more style and grandeur than this Liangye Jian Yi avatar statue!

If he really wanted to study it in detail, Lu Ran could just enter the garden while sleeping.

"Oh?" While retrieving weapons from the trunk, Lu Ran spotted a familiar Black Ice Sword.

The jet-black, ice-cold blade, the golden hilt, the familiar golden sword tassel.

Lu Ran naturally recognized his mother's personal sword; it seemed she had handed her weapon over to Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi to use.

"Do you still remember the name of that sword?" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi came to Lu Ran's side.

"I remember," Lu Ran picked up the Black Ice Sword. "Cool Night."

"Shall I tell you a little secret?" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi's eyes curved into a smile, resembling beautiful crescent moons.

"What?"

"The names Xia Guang Dao and Cool Night Sword were given to each other by Father and Mother."

Lu Ran raised his eyebrows slightly; this was the first time he had heard this story.

Quite romantic?

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi said, "Mother specifically asked me to bring the sword.

She said that after the trial ends, you should take the Cool Night Sword back to Rain Alley City."

"Why?" Lu Ran asked, somewhat puzzled.

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi hooked her arm through Lu Ran's: "She said she wants you to hang the Cool Night Sword together with Xia Guang Dao."

Lu Ran fell silent, making no sound.

He wanted to say it was a waste; this was a divine weapon made of Black Ice material, a sure-fire demon-slaying artifact!

But since this was a matter between his parents, he felt it inappropriate to say anything.

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi suddenly lowered her voice, looking mysterious:

"Mother also said that if one day, Brother plans to give the Cool Night Sword to some girl,

you must notify her in advance, as Mother wants to meet her personally."

Lu Ran: "."

If I remember correctly, I'm only seventeen this year?

Hmm... indeed, it's coming soon.

In this special era where everyone reveres the gods, the Great Xia Kingdom encourages people to marry and have children.

One year after a young person becomes a believer, that is, on their eighteenth birthday when they reach adulthood, they can obtain a marriage certificate and hold a wedding banquet.

A hint of teasing gleamed in Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi's eyes: "What do you say? My cold-blooded Brother, has your heart ever fluttered for anyone?"

Lu Ran lifted both swords: "Talk less, let's go kill an ox!"

The brother and sister departed, chatting and laughing.

Meanwhile, to the side of the vehicle, Jiangjiang Ruyi stood quietly, gazing at their retreating figures.

Going live at midnight tonight; I earnestly request everyone to cast one guaranteed monthly vote.

After going live, there will be bonus chapters; I will write a specific announcement regarding the launch shortly.

(End of Chapter)