Chapter 981: The Crow

“Everyone, return to rest and conserve your strength!” Lu Ran ordered. “Tomorrow morning, we’ll set out under the pretense of gathering Sacred Spirit Qi to hunt the Dong Ting squad!”

“Yes!”

“Yes.” The others responded in unison and rose to leave.

He Yingcai: “.”

Shouldn’t you be saying these things behind my back?

Do you really see me as one of you?

As the soldiers departed, the hall was left with only Lu Ran, Jiang Ruyi, and He Yingcai.

“What do you think of this plan, Island Master He?” Lu Ran asked.

He Yingcai’s thoughts were complex, and she did not respond immediately.

According to the Thousand Boats Alliance’s strategy, they’d still prefer the Fire Gate members to remain stationed on the island without launching any offensive moves.

Everything should focus on defense, waiting until the Heavenly Realm experts emerge from their seclusion—then all problems will resolve themselves.

The problem is.

Would the Thundering Peak sect really let you have your way?

He Yingcai was no self-deceiver; she wholeheartedly agreed with Fire Gate’s decision.

“Sister doesn’t quite agree?”

“How could I dare?” He Yingcai snapped back to attention, her gaze drifting softly toward Lu Ran.

In this lawless Sacred Spirit Mountain Realm, all rules and standards are dictated by the will of the strong.

Take Wu Jifeng, for example.

One word from the Peak Master turned a completely corrupt mountain into a neutral faction.

Lu Ran is likewise a being at the top of the food chain.

He is the maker of rules!

From the sect’s core purpose, to the conduct of its members, to strategic and tactical thinking—

Whatever he says, becomes law.

“Don’t say that,” Lu Ran laughed, waving his hand. “Sister is a Sea Realm island master! One look from you, and I’m trembling.”

He Yingcai smiled silently and took a sip of tea.

Lu Ran added: “You know as well as I do—this is about Thundering Peak’s survival. The Thousand Boats Alliance will eventually face a joint assault by eighteen Sea Realm experts.”

What we’re doing is to weaken the enemy and increase our chances of victory.”

He Yingcai offered no agreement or opposition, only smiled at Lu Ran, then rose. “I’ll return now. Younger siblings, rest early.”

“What do you think of Fire Gate?” Lu Ran asked out of nowhere.

He Yingcai’s heart jolted.

As sharp as she was, she had already sensed that Lu Ran was interested in her.

Before, he’d hinted at encouraging her to take a step forward and find a partner.

This time, during the Fire Gate meeting, she was the only one kept behind. He spoke strategy openly before her—clearly, he wasn’t afraid she’d leak it. From another angle, it was also a test.

Now, he was asking her opinion of Fire Gate again.

“High combat power, soldiers deeply loyal, highly disciplined, extremely united,” He Yingcai pondered a moment, listing many strengths.

Lu Ran felt delight swell inside him.

He Yingcai expected Lu Ran to say more.

But instead, the Fire Gate Master merely smiled and nodded: “Thank you.”

He Yingcai: ?

Aren’t you going to take the next step?

She had prepared herself to receive Lu Ran’s olive branch—and all she got was a thank you.

“Island Master He, rest early,” Lu Ran said again.

He Yingcai remained silent, unmoving.

The maker of rules before her, unusually cautious on this matter.

Was this a form of respect?

Holding back words, testing gently—was he afraid of putting her in an awkward position?

He Yingcai stood still for a long while, then asked: “Everyone knows He Qifeng’s ambitions. Lu younger brother, you haven’t told me your own goal yet.”

Lu Ran raised an eyebrow, meeting her gaze.

He Yingcai guessed: "Just like you always have—traveling far and wide, alleviating suffering, and purifying the morals of the Sacred Spirit Mountains?"

“Heh.” Lu Ran laughed.

Your vision is too narrow, Island Master He.

I don’t intend to purify just this Sacred Spirit Mountain.

I intend to purify all of Daya. All of the mortal realm.

Every place ruled by gods and demons together.

Even the gods and demons themselves.

He Yingcai frowned: “Why are you laughing?”

Lu Ran: “If we survive this crisis, I’ll tell you, Sister.”

“Mm, good! Younger brother, don’t break your word,” He Yingcai smiled and nodded, then floated away.

The room fell silent.

Lu Ran sipped tea quietly. After a long while, he sent a mental message: 【Evil Shadow.】

【Master.】 Yan Shuangzi responded instantly.

【Go to the Tian Luan Sect’s Mingyue Island. Visit He Qifeng. She brought four Witch Crow followers—ask her to lend me two.】

【Yes!】

【Also, find a Green Lotus follower on the island and have them escort you. Don’t cause misunderstandings on their territory.】

【Yes.】

“Shall we rest too?” Jiang Ruyi whispered beside him.

Outside, slanting wind and fine rain. Inside, torchlight flickered.

The dancing flames illuminated Jiang Xianzi’s alluring face—normally radiant, she now looked weary.

For over ten days, everyone had been on the move without proper rest.

Lu Ran’s voice was gentle: “You go sleep first. I’m waiting for two people.”

Jiang Ruyi was surprised but didn’t ask.

In the empty room, she leaned slightly, wrapping her arm around his, whispering:

“I’ll keep you company.”

“You should sleep first,” Lu Ran urged.

But the Immortal Lady didn’t move. Instead, she rested her head on his shoulder and closed her beautiful eyes.

Lu Ran watched her silently, gradually lost in thought.

After a long while, a knock came at the door. Jiang Ruyi jolted awake and sat up straight.

Lu Ran: “Enter.”

Two middle-aged men in black nightclothes entered.

Seeing their clothes intact, Lu Ran knew they’d been treated well under He Qifeng’s command.

“Lord Lu.”

“Lord Lu, what are your orders?”

After closing the door, they hurried to the center of the hall, knelt respectfully, and bowed their heads.

Even in the Purple Forbidden City, hierarchy was strictly observed.

In this primal world, everyone seemed to have slipped back into ancient times.

“What did your Hall Master say?” Lu Ran asked.

One of the men replied: “City Master He instructed us to serve you.”

Lu Ran chuckled and shook his head—He Qifeng was truly generous!

No questions asked, just lent the men—and no demands attached.

Lu Ran didn’t hesitate: “I need you two to thoroughly search the forests near Yan Yu Lake tonight. Look for any Thundering Peak squads.”

“Come back here at dawn to report to me.”

“Yes!” The black-clad men replied immediately.

Lu Ran added: “Use your invisibility! If you find enemies, don’t get too close—just determine their approximate location.”

“Above all, prioritize your own safety!”

“Yes.”

“Yes!” The two men departed.

“Thank goodness the slave population of Thundering Peak has no Witch Crow followers,” Jiang Ruyi sighed, watching them go. “Otherwise, they could spy on us silently.”

“It’s hard to forcibly enslave Witch Crow followers, isn’t it?” Lu Ran wrapped one arm around Jiang Xianzi’s back and slid the other under her knees, lifting her up.

Just the ability to fly alone would make most “masters” despair.

Not to mention the Witch Crow sect’s ultimate trump card—invisibility.

Lu Ran embraced the warm, soft body and walked toward the bedroom: “Such followers must either be won over with benefits, or truly subdued.”

Otherwise, even if you coerce them into submission, once freed, they’ll never return.”

Jiang Ruyi deeply agreed and added: “The main problem is there are simply too few Wu Ya followers.”

She was absolutely right.

After traveling far and wide for so long, Lu Ran had encountered only five Wu Ya followers total—one was the Wu Ya disciple who had teamed up with the Shi siblings and once spied on Cloud Sea Cliff.

The remaining four were the four Wu Ya disciples brought by He Qifeng.

Is the deity Wu Ya sending too few followers into the Sacred Spirit Mountain?

Or are Wu Ya disciples hiding somewhere in the corners of Sacred Spirit Mountain, clustering together to survive?

Logically, the deity’s purpose is to continually cast powerful, gifted humans into the Sacred Spirit Mountain, to prevent them from disrupting the human world’s balance.

If so, then disciples of the eighth- and ninth-rank deities—Wu Ya included—seem unfit to enter the mountain?

Taking the Xian Yang sect as an example, shouldn’t the mountain contain only Lu Ran, Deng Yu, and one missing old man named Cheng, with no other Xian Yang followers?

In contrast, disciples of the fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-rank deities have become the followers of weak deities!

These followers are indeed the primary victims of slavery.

Jing Hong, the slave of Sword Peak; Bai Yanhui, the slave of Tian Tu Mountain; even Xiong Xiong, destined to be enslaved by Tian Huang Mountain—all are disciples of fourth- to sixth-rank deities!

The slave populations of Jing Ting Mountain and the citizens of the Forbidden City largely fit this identity!

Hmph~

It seems I’ve uncovered a pattern!

Lu Ran nodded inwardly.

Disciples of eighth-, ninth-, and seventh-rank deities are rare treasures in the Sacred Spirit Mountain!

If I’m weak enough,

even the deities won’t bother to torment me?

But if weak deity disciples don’t come to collect Sacred Spirit Qi, won’t the weak deities grow weaker and weaker?

A vicious cycle?!

Lu Ran furrowed his brow, sinking into deep thought.

“What are you thinking about, so absorbed?” Jiang Ruyi asked curiously.

“Hmm?” Lu Ran gazed at his fiancée’s slightly drowsy, languid expression—utterly alluring.

He couldn’t help lowering his head and kissing her lush lips.

“Mmm~” Jiang Ruyi pouted, cupping his face with her hands and gently pulling away. “We’re in someone else’s home. We have a mission tomorrow morning.”

Lu Ran pouted. “Can’t I even kiss you? I didn’t say I wanted to do anything else.”

Jiang Ruyi’s face instantly flushed bright red.

You bad thing!

Don’t I know you?

Jiang Ruyi pressed her lips together, her rosy cheeks tinged with shy anger as she glared stubbornly at Lu Ran.

“My bad, my bad,” Lu Ran quickly apologized.

Jiang Ruyi leaned forward, gently pressing her forehead against his. “Get some sleep.”

“Mm.”

The night passed in silence.

The next day, the sky remained overcast, drizzling steadily.

“Pū pū pū~”

Amid the drizzle, the sound of flapping wings drew nearer—two invisible birds had flown into the secluded forest courtyard.

Just minutes later, Lu Ran released two crows.

His eyes brimmed with murderous intent as he led the members of Ran Sect, charging out of Qinghedao with fierce momentum.

Happy Lunar New Year, everyone~

(End of Chapter)