Chapter 34: Someone Provokes

Shi Ran suddenly started coughing, and Mei Ruoxue was spouting nonsense!

When bringing up others' gossip, Mei Ruoxue returned to normal, her eyes bright: "Honestly, Master is like an iceberg; when you hug him, aren't you cold?"

No way! Ling Xiao may look cold on the outside, but he has a heart hotter than anyone's! When you hug him, it's warm and cozy....

Suddenly realizing what she was thinking, Shi Ran panicked inside, looked up at Mei Ruoxue's smiling face, and instantly sobered: "No, no, no, the male lead belongs to the harem, the second male lead is everyone's, she doesn't deserve him!"

Shi Ran sighed: "What are you saying, senior sister? I... I don't have much time left; Master's feelings for me are merely teacher-student, but he truly cares for you. When you were poisoned by the demon woman, Master was so worried he even went to the Underworld to retrieve your soul. When you couldn't move the goods, he held you.... Master's feelings for you are also...."

"Alright, you're not allowed to say that!" Mei Ruoxue's heart jumped, she turned and fled, "you dead girl, everything gets turned onto me, just keep your mouth shut!"

Shi Ran watched Mei Ruoxue flee in disgrace, finally satisfied, wanting to gossip about her—hah, dream on!

Doing great, Shi Ran baby!

The next day, the weather was fine and sunny, perfect for training.

Speaking of training, in Shi Ran's understanding it was just everyone sparring and done, but unexpectedly it was a team mission to exterminate demons in Flood Dragon Lake Village.

Whoever hunts more minor demons with higher rank wins; no one knows who came up with this method—it doesn't hurt anyone's face and clearly observes disciples' cultivation and adaptability, truly a good method.

Shi Ran just couldn't get interested; this Flood Dragon Lake Village was mentioned in the original book, the winner is undoubtedly Gu Yusheng, a paper character who disappeared early in this chapter—why bother joining the fun?

"Junior Sister!" the bored Luo Changfeng came to find Shi Ran: "Come out and look, this cloud boat is different, soaring above the cloud sea with a broad view; hurry up, you'll make progress in slander, and even get one with Master!"

Is she a hero? Whatever you want, you get! "Senior brother, do you want to hear what you're saying?"

Luo Changfeng gave a hehe laugh; Master's cold stare he wouldn't dare face, but Shi Ran is different—she followed Master into the Underworld to collect umbrella demons and didn't even freeze to death, which is quite impressive.

"Come out and have a look—wasn't it enviable on the ground? Come on, come on, take a look, it's worth it!" Luo Changfeng dragged her out without hesitation.

On the deck were only a few disciples of the Heaven Void Sect; the senior sisters and brothers said they were seasick, hiding in their own small compartments, snoring loudly.

Shi Ran originally wanted to sleep too, but it's all Luo Changfeng's fault for dragging her out; yet this morning breeze actually cleared her muddled mind a bit.

Shi Ran followed Luo Changfeng onto the deck, standing against the wind, sunlight showering down, white cranes accompanying, the cloud boat gliding smoothly, gently stirring up layer after layer of ripples in the cloud sea.

Shi Ran took a deep breath, why not give it a try? Such a fine cloud boat—other sects have them too; they couldn't fall behind, right?

"Look, that's a giant fish!"

Luo Changfeng pointed it out to Shi Ran; ahead in the cloud sea, a pink giant fish leapt out of the cloud sea, sending up clouds of spray, then flew off toward the morning sun.

"In the North Sea there is a fish, its name is the giant fish! Folks, who understands? This giant fish is practically growing on her heart! Shi Ran was happily watching when suddenly a cold snort came from beside her: 'Hmph! Country bumpkin!'"

Shi Ran and Luo Changfeng turned back; standing behind them was a tall, slim figure, apparently a Heaven Void Sect disciple, called... Lei Zhi Gao!

Shi Ran and Luo Changfeng meant no trouble; they tacitly followed the giant fish's silhouette to the other side of the deck, and Luo Changfeng didn't forget to continue his ideological work on Shi Ran: "Junior Sister, look, we should still have a cloud boat, huh—just this dog-eyed looking down on people..."

"Who are you calling dog-eyed looking down on people!" Unexpectedly, the one called Lei Zhi Gao came running after them, neck ramrod straight, pointing at Luo Changfeng: "I heard everything, who are you scolding?"

Caught badmouthing behind his back, Luo Changfeng was a bit embarrassed, he rubbed his nose, trying to make a big thing small, a small thing smaller: "Junior Brother, hear me out..."

"Who wants to hear you talk!"

"It's you I'm scolding!" Shi Ran rushed out from behind Luo Changfeng, her loud voice drawing sideways glances: "These days all kinds of people exist, but I've never seen someone who loves to scold before!"

"You!" Lei Zhi Gao glared, eyes wide, pointing at Shi Ran: "If you've got the guts, say it again!"

"You want me to say it, so I will? Who are you anyway!" Shi Ran laughed, her brows and eyes relaxed in the sunlight, looking quite lovely: "Maybe you've been bullied a lot in the Heaven Void Sect, came here to find a feeling, I tell you, dream on!"

Lei Zhi Gao tensed up, his whole body stiff like a drawn bowstring: "You, you!"

Does this person only know how to say one word when arguing? Shi Ran rolled her eyes: "What 'you you'! I have a name, could you show a little courtesy? At least you're a Heaven Void Sect disciple—can't you finish a sentence?"

Lei Zhi Gao took a deep breath, about to lash out, other Heaven Void Sect disciples hurriedly held him back; a plump disciple reprimanded: "This junior sister, how can your conduct be so improper...."

Luo Changfeng wanted to interject: "You say..."

But Shi Ran grabbed him and pulled him behind her: "This senior brother, may I ask where your 'improper conduct' starts? I and my senior brother were enjoying the scenery when Lei senior brother suddenly called us country bumpkins—is that what you call proper conduct? If so, I'd like to ask your senior sister, is this how the Heaven Void Sect teaches everyone?"

Luo Changfeng clung to Shi Ran's back, chest pounding—this is what it feels like to be protected, damn it's wonderful!

That plump disciple was dazed by Shi Ran's few words—this junior sister is too formidable; he only said a sentence, yet it got dragged into sect affairs, waa waa waa!

Three Heaven Void Sect brothers from the entourage gathered around; two of them had a crush on Shi Ran, so for a moment they didn't know whether to help their own kin or their love interest, staying silent; the third was just slow to react, still mentally replaying the conversation to figure out who was at fault.

Shi Ran snorted coldly: "What, no more to say? Do you also think this Lei senior brother has lost virtue—eavesdropping on others' talk is bad enough, but you even go 'dog! eye! look! down! on! people!'"

Lei Zhi Gao rolled his eyes in anger: "You you you!! How can she openly call him a dog!"

Luo Changfeng was also stunned, never expecting Shi Ran to openly retort like that! Truly impressive!

"What's all the arguing about!"

Wei Yuzhu and Gu Yusheng appeared side by side, her face still showing undisguised delight; when her gaze shifted to Shi Ran's face it carried a hint of mockery: "Junior Sister, this is also your first time on a cloud boat, right? Even if the scenery is charming, you should watch your health—your senior sister is suffering from seasickness! Why are you here arguing with everyone?"

Shi Ran glanced at Lei Zhi Gao then at Wei Yuzhu, she said: "How come someone shows up just to pick a fight? Turns out the source is here!"

She clapped her hands and smiled: "My senior sister isn't seasick; she just can't stand some people's pretentiousness. Senior Sister Wei, if you truly care about my senior sister, just show up less in front of her!"