Chapter 956: Long Time No See

Jiang Ruyi regressed a stage.

From Jiang Realm Stage Four, she dropped to Jiang Realm Stage Three.

Is it just one stage down?

Lu Ran did not think so; after all, before tearing up the contract, Jiang Ruyi had already reached the bottleneck of her cultivation and was ready to ascend to Jiang Realm Stage Five.

By that calculation, she dropped two stages.

Lu Ran was heartbroken.

Not just because of the damage to her cultivation realm, but also because of her frail, injured appearance.

That night, Doctor Lu, Doctor Yu, and Jing Hong, the mental therapist, stayed by Jiang Ruyi’s side the entire time.

It was essentially a three-way consultation.

When dawn began to break, the patient’s condition finally improved.

Doctor Lu transformed into the Master of the False Gods and appeared alongside the False Gods within the garden.

“Huh~”

A vast shadow expanded from within Lu Ran’s body.

Jiang Ruyi, seated on the ground, looked terrible, her face pale.

She slowly lifted her eyelids and saw a familiar shadow behind and above Lu Ran.

False God · Yu Fu!

One day, this False God will become a True God.

Jiang Ruyi pressed her thin lips together; Lu Ran had told her everything.

She knew she would continuously merge with this stone statue, inherit all of its essence, until she surpassed it and completely replaced this False God statue.

Then,

Yu Fu,

I once revered you, worshipped you, and offered you devout devotion.

Even while residing in the Xiangyang Sect’s territory—Luoxian Mountain—I specifically found you a house at the mountain’s base and erected a shrine, descending daily to kneel and pray before you.

The world believes gods are saviors.

I felt gratitude, and I never dared to slacken in my worship.

Yet, I was nothing but livestock.

The fifteenth night was a scheme orchestrated by gods and demons together.

Generation after generation of humans are livestock, Gongnimenshenmoyongshengyongshi 、 Dakuaiduoyi .

Yu Fu,

You truly disgust me.

Wait for me.

“Ready?” Lu Ran asked softly.

Jiang Ruyi’s gaze was icy; she said nothing, but clasped Lu Ran’s hands in both of hers and pressed them against her forehead.

She slowly closed her eyes, carefully feeling the warmth of his palms.

That warm palm finally brought a trace of warmth to her frozen heart.

“Huh~”

The shadow leaned down, its hand overlapping with Lu Ran’s.

Jiang Ruyi’s body trembled slightly.

The contract is sealed!

Another False God took shape beneath Lu Ran’s palm.

The False God’s shadow quietly dissolved, vanishing without a trace.

Jiang Ruyi still held Lu Ran’s hand, lowering it slightly to rest against her cheek, gently rubbing it left and right.

Yu Changsheng: “.”

He silently turned his head, pretending not to look.

Jing Hong observed this tender scene, smiling with a faint “auntie’s smile.”

My two children in the mortal world must have married by now.

I wonder what their spouses are like.

Jing Hong didn’t expect their partners to be divine figures like Lu Menzhu or Jiang Gezhu.

She only hoped their love would be as deep as the Master’s and Lady’s.

“Wu~~~”

Jing Hong blew the Soul-Soothing Horn again, calming the hearts of all beings.

“Go.” As the low horn faded, Jiang Ruyi’s quiet voice echoed from within the stone chamber.

Yu Changsheng immediately bowed, said nothing, and hurried away with Jing Hong.

They left in a hurry—fast!

Watching their hurried retreat, Lu Ran was speechless.

I’m your Master, you know!

You don’t even look at me, and Jiang Gezhu gives one order—you two just leave?

“Lu Ran?”

“Oh.” Lu Ran snapped back to attention, sitting beside the girl and channeling the Caged Fire into her, “Feeling better?”

Jiang Ruyi leaned against him, her body slumping into his arms: “Don’t be sad. It won’t be long before I return to Jiang Realm Stage Four.”

“Mm-hmm.” Lu Ran gently smoothed her jet-black hair.

Jiang Meiren clearly had no taste for lying.

If she said she could, Lu Ran believed her.

“Heh.” Jiang Ruyi exhaled deeply, feeling the path ahead clearer than ever before.

In the past, she had occasionally thrown a tantrum, demanding Lu Ran carry her step by step up the stone stairs to the summit of Luoxian Mountain.

Deep within her Dao heart, she had already built a temple.

The only one worshipped inside was always one person.

Now, her inner obsession and reality had perfectly aligned!

As Jiang Ruyi had expected, after tearing the contract, she experienced no mental confusion or emotional instability.

On the contrary, her inner state had grown even more stable.

“Hm?” Jiang Ruyi suddenly opened her eyes.

Before her floated a delicate treasure gourd.

“Huh~” The Crimson Phoenix Gourd swayed gently, as if greeting her.

“Hello, little Chifeng,” Jiang Ruyi leaned against Lu Ran’s shoulder, smiling warmly.

“Lii~”

The phoenix pattern shimmered.

Little Chifeng flapped its exquisite wings and flew out.

Jiang Ruyi raised her hand, letting Little Chifeng land on her palm.

But the next moment, her expression turned apologetic: “I’ll miss you too.”

Lu Ran didn’t know what they were saying, but he could guess.

He couldn’t help smiling inwardly.

Little Chifeng is so small—you could just lie to her!

As he thought this, Lu Ran felt something unusual beside his hand.

A cold sword hilt gently pried at his fingers, slipping into his palm.

Liangye Sword?

A voice echoed in his mind: “Did you miss me?”

Lu Ran immediately nodded: “I did. I missed you terribly.”

Liangye Sword’s voice was as cold and clear as Jiang Ruyi’s, yet it carried a faint trace of resentment:

“Liar.”

Lu Ran: “.”

Stunned silent.

Lu Ran gripped the hilt tightly and quickly changed the subject: “By the way, have you unlocked your Divine Weapon Domain yet?”

“No.”

A single, cold word—very much like how Jiang Ruyi spoke to outsiders.

Lu Ran’s voice softened: “Still haven’t decided on your path?”

Liangye Sword: “I decided long ago.”

“Then why—”

“I was blocked. Some mysterious force forbids me from delving deeper along this path.”

“Oh?” Lu Ran frowned slightly. “Where is it? Can you sense it?”

Liangye Sword: “Not in the mortal realm. Not in the Mountain Realm.”

Lu Ran placed Liangye Sword flat on his knees, his fingers tracing the cold blade: “Jiye Dao was also blocked at the crossroad.”

“Don’t lose heart—we’ll find each other eventually.”

“I believe you,” Liangye Sword replied.

That voice, identical to Jiang Ruyi’s, made Lu Ran momentarily dazed.

“Hum~” Liangye Sword suddenly trembled slightly.

Lu Ran frowned, then realized his hand had stopped moving.

He smiled and brushed his fingertip along the blade again.

Interestingly, the Chi Feng Wen gourd beside him nestled into the mistress’s lap like a child seeking affection.

The stone chamber fell silent.

One sword. One gourd.

Two figures quietly leaning against each other.

In the days that followed, Jiang Ruyi led the main force to rest within the cave.

Lu Ran continuously rearranged his troops, leading small squads on multiple expeditions.

With the intelligence provided by Elder Peng, he easily located the territory occupied by the Evil Dog Clan and eliminated many of them.

Lu Ran did not rush or overreach—he avoided striking at the Evil Dog Clan’s stronghold.

This might slow the mission’s progress, but it ensured far greater safety.

This was precisely what Jiang Ruyi had repeatedly warned him about; Lu Ran naturally did not want to worry her.

After five full days, Lu Ran finally completed the mission.

Thanks to thorough preparation, the operation was perilous but without major incident; Lu Ran promptly recalled his team and avoided prolonged combat.

Wanjian Mountain was extraordinarily dangerous!

Tianhuang Mountain stood here as well.

With Ruan Men’s current strength, they had no Zige to challenge such a major sect—the sooner they left, the sooner they could rest easy.

Moreover, Lu Ran did not find the distance daunting.

Once he ascended to the Sea Realm, he could activate the Sea-grade technique: Mirror Flower, Moon Reflection—capable of teleporting three thousand kilometers in a single use!

At that point, Lu Ran could traverse the continent at will.

Wanjian Mountain?

He could come and go as he pleased!

Thus, the members of Ruan Men began their journey home.

On the twenty-ninth day of the eighth lunar month, those stationed at Yunhai Cliff received good news from Bai Yanhui.

Bai Lao said: “Something good will happen today.”

Such words clashed utterly with the tone of Shengling Mountain!

Si Xianxian immediately sensed something, repeatedly sending Lu Ran voice-call requests until she received the reply she wanted.

As the Mad Immortal Guardian spread the word, everyone on the cliff grew excited.

Especially Xun Yifei!

He hadn’t seen his wife in nearly a month; his children had been searching for their mother for a full month, crying and fussing every day.

Wonderful!

Mom’s finally back—Dad’s saved!

Now he could finally prove to the children that Mom didn’t abandon them—even though, well, she’d indeed run off with someone else, she still loved them.

“Huh~”

A full-length mirror opened on the western forest path of Yunhai Cliff—the only route into the cliff.

“Sss!” The hissing of the Yemo Clan echoed far and wide.

“I!” Lu Ran stepped out first from the mirror, waving his hand toward the approaching Yemo.

The Yemo halted mid-air.

Those emerging from the mirror, witnessing this, couldn’t help but gasp in awe.

In the past few days, those who had never left Wanjian Mountain found everything astonishing.

When they saw the rolling mountains and lush forests, they nearly leapt up cheering.

When they saw the endless expanse of blue ocean, they were utterly speechless!

In just a few days, they had traveled from a desert choked with yellow sand to a coastal forest of azure seas and clear skies.

Was this merely two extremes?

It was two entirely different worlds!

“Lord, you’ve returned,” a tall figure teleported beside Lu Ran and bowed respectfully.

Lu Ran looked at Yan Shuangzi and said, “You’ve worked hard during this time.”

“Hey! You’re finally back—” A joyful voice rang out from afar, then abruptly cut off.

Si Xianxian slowed her steps, staring fixedly at the white-robed woman beside Lu Ran.

Jiang Ruyi smiled, gazing at her lifelong best friend from the mortal world.

“Oh my god,” Si Xianxian’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Jiang Ruyi’s eyes remained gentle, just as always.

Merely standing there, she pulled Si Xianxian back to the mortal realm, back to the tranquil peace of Luoxian Mountain.

Si Xianxian’s nose tingled, her eyes reddened, and she rushed forward: “Ruyi—”

“Oh,” Jiang Ruyi stepped back slightly, steadied herself, then embraced the girl who flung herself into her arms.

“How did you end up in this hellhole?!” Si Xianxian quickly loosened her grip and scanned Jiang Ruyi from head to toe. “Are you hurt? Did anyone chase you?”

She was projecting her own fears.

Jiang Ruyi already knew from Lu Ran what Si Xianxian had endured after entering the mountain.

That was why she was so frantic, so terrified.

Suffering was inevitable upon entering Shengling Mountain.

Fortunately, we both met the one who ended our suffering.

Jiang Ruyi gently reached out, brushing her fingertips across Si Xianxian’s cheek, wiping away her tears:

“It’s been so long, Xian’er.”

(End of Chapter)