Chapter 883: Come With Me

"Hold it." Lu Ran pushed the pearl forward.

He Qifeng's expression was complex, still motionless, only staring into Lu Ran's eyes: "You're giving it to me?"

"What do you mean 'giving it'? Isn't this just returning what's rightfully yours?"

"Heh." He Qifeng suddenly laughed.

"What?" Lu Ran looked puzzled.

He Qifeng finally picked up the Wind Barrier Pearl, examining the long-lost artifact, and softly sighed: "I never thought I'd hear words like that here."

Returning what's rightfully yours?

Perhaps in the mortal world, that might still be possible.

But in Holy Spirit Mountain?

Nothing belongs to you by right!

Or rather, nothing belongs to you at all.

Whether it's divine weapons and artifacts, or clothes and shoes—even your life, your very self—none of it belongs to you.

In this cruel world, the strong hold dominion over everything.

"You should establish a bond with the spirit of the artifact quickly," Lu Ran said casually. "I thought you'd already formed a spiritual connection with the Wind Barrier Pearl—I was counting on it to track you down."

But apparently, the Wind Barrier Pearl hasn't even acknowledged you yet?"

"Has your Infernal Phoenix Gourd acknowledged you?" He Qifeng, ever competitive, couldn't bring herself to say anything soft.

Even after Lu Ran had just returned the artifact to her.

Lu Ran simply raised his hand.

The wide straw cloak rippled, and the exquisitely carved Infernal Phoenix Gourd landed in his palm.

The golden phoenix pattern glowed brightly, dazzlingly.

Lu Ran looked at the warrior nun and gave his familiar half-smile.

He Qifeng: "..."

She pouted, glaring resentfully at the obedient Infernal Phoenix Gourd; after a moment of searching for flaws and finding none, she simply shot Lu Ran a glare.

The mighty warrior nun, usually so dignified, now wore such a petulant little expression.

It genuinely amused Lu Ran.

He Qifeng lowered her head, fiddling with the crystal-clear pearl, falling silent for a long while before whispering softly:

"Thank you."

Seeing her awkward little demeanor, Lu Ran couldn't resist playing along.

"Huh? What was that?" He leaned close, feigning he hadn't heard.

He Qifeng burst out laughing, raising a finger and lightly tapping the brim of his conical hat: "You little brat, you really do deserve a good beating, don't you?"

Lu Ran rolled his eyes.

Since they met, this girl had mentioned "deserving a beating" three times out of every sentence.

As if you could even beat me!

He Qifeng composed herself, her expression turning serious as she looked Lu Ran straight in the eye: "You truly are the First Prodigy of the Great Xia. I acknowledge you."

"Oh?" Lu Ran was genuinely surprised.

Even the warrior nun could admit defeat?

How novel.

He Qifeng seemed to have crossed some inner threshold, slowly smiling.

Her smile grew even brighter, truly infectious: "It's good that Holy Spirit Mountain hasn't tainted you."

The Wind Barrier Pearl was a precious artifact, unconnected to any spirit—effectively ownerless.

It was Lu Ran's spoils of war; he could have easily kept it for himself.

So why go through all the trouble to find me and return it?

"What about you?" Lu Ran suddenly asked.

"Me?"

"Have you been colluding with these people, these factions here?" Lu Ran asked playfully.

He Qifeng pretended to think deeply, then shrugged as Lu Ran had done: "Not too bad~"

The young warrior monk devotees watching them laugh and chat from afar were practically burning with rage.

Lu Ran frowned slightly and turned to look.

As sharp as he was, he'd sensed something was off.

The two elder warrior monk devotees looked curious, their gazes scrutinizing—normal enough.

The Zhu brothers were excited, eyes full of admiration—also normal.

Only the young warrior monk devotee's gaze seemed strange.

"Who is he?" Lu Ran asked.

"Yin Tianlong," He Qifeng's smile vanished, her voice stern.

The young warrior monk snapped to attention, standing rigidly.

He Qifeng gave no quarter: "Get out! Go stand guard somewhere else."

"Yes." Yin Tianlong bowed his head and slunk off into the depths of the forest.

Lu Ran watched this, muttering quietly: "He Tangzhu is really strict."

He Qifeng looked exasperated: "Such a grand name—Yin Tianlong—but his head's full of love and romance, daydreaming useless nonsense!"

Lu Ran: "..."

He Qifeng snorted: "Look where you are, look at your situation—still wasting time on romance? Hopeless."

Lu Ran finally understood. He chuckled: "He's young. Wanting love is natural."

"Heh~" He Qifeng turned to Lu Ran, smiling again. "Almost forgot—you're a love-struck fool too."

Lu Ran:???

What kind of thing is that to say!

He Qifeng's smile widened: "What? Did I say something wrong?"

Lu Ran's face darkened: "I'm deeply devoted, okay!"

"Mm-hmm, deeply devoted," He Qifeng nodded cheerfully. "The whole world knows how deeply devoted you are! On your first day of school, you flew into a rage for your beloved!"

You beat up our warrior monk devotees until they were crawling all over the ground."

Lu Ran's dark face flushed red: "He kept insisting on escorting my fiancée home, harassing her with his superior strength—was I supposed to let him?"

"Exactly! Lord Lu did the right thing!" He Qifeng nodded enthusiastically, like soothing a child.

Lu Ran was so furious his teeth itched—he wanted to draw his blade and stab her in the kidneys!

"Hahahaha!" He Qifeng burst into loud laughter at Lu Ran's expression.

Bold, free-spirited, radiant.

No wonder that guy named Tianlong fell for such a spirited woman!

"Let's go!" He Qifeng threw an arm around Lu Ran's shoulder. "We're like old friends meeting in a foreign land—come back with me to Wuji Peak, and we'll talk properly!"

But Lu Ran stood his ground: "I've seen many sects—they're rarely friendly."

He Qifeng immediately said: "Don't worry! With me here, no one will dare touch you."

Lu Ran still didn't move, thinking how to phrase his invitation.

Seeing this, He Qifeng paused, then said: "I'd planned to tell you this later, but now's fine too."

"You heard what I said—I'm a Tangzhu."

"Mm." Lu Ran nodded.

"I'm young, with little seniority, and only at the fourth level of the Jiang Realm," He Qifeng looked at him. "Logically, I shouldn't have been given the position of Tangzhu."

"Why then?"

"Because of the Prodigy title," He Qifeng said bluntly.

"Oh?" Lu Ran raised an eyebrow.

He Qifeng turned and looked toward the Zhu brothers: "Their arrival gave me a wake-up call."

Lu Ran's heart stirred—he already guessed what she was about to say.

He Qifeng continued: "Within the Holy Spirit Mountain realm, people are born hostile toward each other—there's zero trust."

"But as a Great Xia Prodigy, I have a huge advantage."

"Any human devotees entering this realm will have heard of my name."

Lu Ran thought: So that's it.

He Qifeng placed both hands on Lu Ran's shoulders, turning him to face her, locking eyes with him: "We are the heroes the Great Xia has raised—we are golden brands!"

"This immeasurable influence can establish a foundation of connection."

"That's the rarest thing in the Holy Spirit Mountain realm!"

Lu Ran whispered: "Trust."

"Exactly!" He Qifeng nodded firmly, her eyes burning brighter. "Brother Lu, we can use our influence to accomplish something great!"

"Exactly!" He Qifeng nodded vigorously, his eyes burning with even greater passion. "Brother Lu, we can use our influence to accomplish something great!"

"At the very least, we can reduce the killing among our own people."

At the very least, we can reduce the killing among our own people!

Before Lu Ran could speak, He Qi continued: "Lu brother, you arrived here before me—you've already seen how cruel this world is!"

You're the number one prodigy of Great Xia; your influence far surpasses mine!"

Come with me—let's build something great together, what do you say?"

As He Qi spoke these words, she glowed with radiance!

Her voice rang strong and clear, each word striking his ears.

Her eyes burned with fierce ambition and grand resolve.

Lu Ran was deeply moved!

But his mind went numb.

He Qi, you absolute piece of work.

Everything you just said—that's all my own damn words!

I traveled thousands of miles just to recruit you, and now you're trying to drag me away with you?"

No wonder you look down on love-struck fools!

So this is a career-driven woman, huh?

Seeing Lu Ran silent, He Qi paused a moment, then turned to the others and ordered: "All of you, disperse and stand guard—keep your distance."

"Yes!"

"Yes." The two Wu Seng followers and two Biwu followers responded in unison, scattering outward.

Only Yu Changsheng remained where he stood.

He Qi glanced at him but said nothing.

She turned back to Lu Ran: "What I'm about to say may sound blasphemous, but you've surely realized by now what the relationship truly is between the gods and demons and our human race."

Lu Ran suddenly changed the subject: "Does Wu Jifeng support your cause, which is why they gave you the position of Hall Master?"

He Qi nodded lightly.

Lu Ran was slightly surprised: "I thought Wu Jifeng would be like the other sects."

He Qi spoke frankly: "It used to be.

Two years ago, the former Wu Jifeng peak master ascended to heaven, and after the new master took over, he changed the sect's core principles.

Now, our Wu Jifeng faction strives to avoid conflict and never initiates harm against others."

Hearing this, Lu Ran recalled the two guards he'd met during his previous visit to Wu Jifeng.

Throughout, those two had never obstructed or harassed him in any way.

He Qi's expression turned solemn: "Ever since I revealed the matter of the 'Prodigy,' Master Tu took great notice of me.

Later, I shared some of my ideas with him privately—and that's how I became Hall Master."

Lu Ran opened his mouth: "I—"

"Snap!"

He Qi gripped Lu Ran's shoulders firmly with both hands, her slender fingers clamping down as if afraid he'd slip away.

She said in a low tone: "Originally, when that Wind Barrier Jewel was stolen, I was furious.

But now I see—it was fate!"

Lu Ran: "..."

In He Qi's dark eyes burned deep hope: "Heaven itself could no longer bear the gods' and demons' atrocities—so it sent you to me through this very jewel.

Come with me, Lu Ran!"

Thank you to Guǐwǔ Shì, Èhuài le de Xiǎoxióngmāo, Xià Muxiaolan, and Yóu'ěr Xǐpǔ for their generous tips! Thank you, patrons, for your support!

(`) Sending hearts!

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(End of Chapter)