Over the next few days, Lu Ran and the others continued their training.

They also visited Li Rouyin at Youhuang Crossing, bringing her sliced bamboo shoots and such.

Hmm... and incidentally feasting on various exclusive pastries at her place.

It really hit the spot~

What puzzled Hao Tian was that under Lu Ran's persuasion, Li Rouyin did start eating properly.

And Lu Ran's method of persuasion was quite consistent; he only ever said one thing: I'm going to fight you for the food!

What's the difference between that and teasing a three-year-old?

But Li Rouyin totally fell for it!

Every time Lu Ran threatened, she'd obediently eat her meals, which quite frankly surprised everyone.

Disbelieving, Hao Tian even tried threatening his sister, saying he'd compete with her for the food.

All he got was a cold glance from Li Rouyin.

Her unfocused, empty gaze sent chills across Hao Tian's scalp!

Still not convinced, Hao Tian ventured out of Demon Cave·Bamboo Sea to the city and bought a lot of cooked food.

Once again, it proved: Lu Ran was really something else!

Even though Li Rouyin didn't eat much, she did eat, and that attitude was clear.

This time, Hao Tian had to concede.

He could only console himself that since his sister and Lu Ran were similar, both strange in their own ways, she might be more willing to listen to him.

Huh... that must be it.

As days passed, approaching the tenth, Lu Ran and his team began to hastily complete their assignments.

Their situation was like having played madly for 30 days of vacation, then frantically finishing homework the night before school resumed!

An old saying goes:

A pen, a lamp, a night, a miracle!

Lu Ran and his companions performed a miracle.

In just three days, they completed over 20 days of homework.

With two capable assistants!

One was a Copper Armor Guard!

Yes, Chang Ying chopped bamboo while crazily pulling draws.

As soon as the cooldown ended, she'd go for a five-treasures draw.

Drawing other signs wasn't a loss either; if it were attack or defense signs, they could also help delay the bamboo.

Once the summoning sign appeared, things really took off!

The imposing Copper Armor Guard was indeed an excellent hand for tough tasks!

Lu Ran and his team tied up the cut Evil Bamboo in bundles and loaded them onto the Copper Armor Guard.

At Chang Ying's command, she and the guard rushed out, heading straight for the nearest Bamboo Village.

Since the Copper Armor Guard could only last for 5 minutes, master and servant had to run like mad...

Of course, each Bamboo Village had military soldiers guarding it.

A Ling Sign believer rushing towards Bamboo Village with a heroic guard at the speed of a hundred-meter sprint sure entertained the soldiers.

Lu Ran's squad had another helper—Hao Tian!

Brother Hao was indeed a good brother.

To thank Lu Ran, Hao Tian volunteered to help the team complete their experiential assignments.

An East Thunder believer, like the finest rider in the world!

The moment Hao Tian lowered his head, no one could catch up.

Even if Lu Ran activated Divine Technique·Immortal Hoof, he could only sigh in envy.

An East Thunder believer was really like "a trail of sparks with lightning"!

Crashing into Bamboo Village with a crackling sound...

What's that? Our assignments won't be completed?

Joking,

my team has The Flash...

Until the morning of the tenth, Lu Ran and his companions, escorted by Hao Tian, walked out of the scenic Demon Cave.

"Brother Lu, don't you want to stay a few more days? Isn't your school supposed to give you a vacation?"

Under the lanterns and inside the military barracks, Hao Tian looked at Lu Ran, somewhat reluctant.

By now, Hao Tian's mixed feelings had been suppressed.

He just hoped that Lu Ran would stay a few more days so that his sister would eat more.

"I have a mission on the fifteenth, I've told you several times," Lu Ran said helplessly.

Hao Tian could only nod, his heart also feeling a bit helpless.

The trio of Deng Yu, Tian Tian, and Chang Ying had no missions; after all, Rain Alley City had experienced something special on the last fifteenth.

Nevertheless, they chose to return to Rain Alley City, unwilling to lounge about in the Bamboo Sea.

Their families were in Rain Alley.

Even though there was a Divine Shrine Divine Sculpture to protect their parents at home,

they still hoped to be by their family's side on that dangerous and frightening fifteenth night.

"Here, let me teach you a trick," Lu Ran said. "Have you heard of the Tree Shadow Witch story?"

"Evil Demon·Tree Shadow Witch?" Hao Tian was a bit puzzled. "What's with that clan?"

Lu Ran: "When I was little and cried at night, my family would say:

If you don't go to sleep, the Tree Shadow Witch will come and get you!"

Hao Tian nodded: "I see."

Lu Ran lowered his voice: "Next time when you persuade your sister to eat, just tell her, if you don't eat nicely, I'll let Lu Ran come and fight you for it."

Hao Tian was speechless; if it were someone else saying that, he would have kicked them.

But the problem was that it was Lu Ran saying it!

Indeed, in front of Lu Ran, Li Rouyin acted quite like a three-year-old child.

"Use it sparingly," Lu Ran patted Hao Tian on the shoulder, "Just in case one day it annoys your sister too much, you'll have to face the consequences yourself."

Hao Tian shivered involuntarily.

He seemed to have envisioned his sister staring at him with hollow eyes...

Winter, the eleventh morning.

A train traveling from a small town in Jiangnan cut through the ice and snow of the north, arriving at a small city wrapped in silver frost.

"Wrapped in silver frost" sounds quite beautiful.

Unfortunately, this is Rain Alley City.

Even though the city was dressed in vast white snow, the gray, oppressive sky made it feel claustrophobic.

"Hmm~" Lu Ran stepped off the train and onto the platform.

He exhaled wisps of white mist, feeling the cold of the north.

"We're home." Tian Tian followed Lu Ran off the train, her little face looking up at the gray sky.

Faintly, snowflakes were floating down.

It was unclear whether it was actually snowing or if the cold wind was blowing accumulated snow.

The trip to Qiantang River·Bamboo Sea was like a beautiful but brief dream.

Now, having woken from the big dream, everyone was back to reality.

None of them, especially Lu Ran, felt any regret.

To him, only this small city gave him a sense of belonging.

Even his mother's city of Beijing, where he had lived for three years, still felt like he was a guest.

"Buzz~ Buzz…"

Lu Ran snapped back to reality and pulled out his phone from his pocket.

Seeing who was calling, he wasn't surprised; today was the eleventh of the lunar month, so it seemed a new city-defense task was being assigned.

Lu Ran answered the phone: "Uncle Sun, good morning."

"Actually answered the phone?" The voice of Captain Fang, Sun Zhengfang, came through the phone, "Heard the school arranged a nice place for you guys.

Did you come out of the Bamboo Sea?"

Lu Ran laughed: "Yes, I'm already home."

Sun Zhengfang asked: "Now that you're back, do you still want to join us for the task on the fifteenth?"

"Of course!" Lu Ran nodded without hesitation.

He had promised Lord Immortal Goat that he couldn't slack off on every fifteenth.

"Let's go." Chang Ying patted Lu Ran on the shoulder, leading him out of the station with the crowd.

"Okay." Sun Zhengfang anticipated Lu Ran's response and continued, "Your performance was very good during the last two nights of the fifteenth.

You helped us out in critical moments and killed many Barbaric Women during the Night of Ghosts, contributing greatly.

After discussing it in a meeting, the department decided to commend you."

"Oh?" Lu Ran perked up, his full attention on the phone, not even looking where he was going.

Chang Ying led Lu Ran forward like a "Black Armor Guard," and no one else could even touch him...

Sun Zhengfang: "The department already sent a letter to your school, awarding you 30 believer points."

"Only 30 points?" Lu Ran said with a laugh.

Sun Zhengfang: "Hang on, there's more.

To commend your outstanding contribution, the department specially approved a budget to make an exception this time and update your Black Luminous Stone Blade."

Lu Ran: "Ah?"

While he had indeed dreamed of upgrading his weapon, that was a thing of the past.

At this point, how could Lu Ran bear to give up his Silent Night Blade?

Sun Zhengfang seemed to understand Lu Ran's reaction, saying: "Got attached to it?"

Lu Ran honestly replied: "Uncle Sun knows, I've already named it Silent Night.

I'm never changing this blade in my lifetime."

"I mentioned it to the department too, but we still have to follow the procedures," Sun Zhengfang said immediately, "Since that's the case, should we change the reward to Divine Power Pearls?"

"Sure!" Lu Ran responded crisply.

Who would complain about having more Divine Power?

As Lu Ran continued to level up, he became a "kaleidoscope of techniques," naturally needing stronger endurance.

"Then we'll meet on the fifteenth of the lunar month, wait for the message," Sun Zhengfang reminded him again, "Prepare well in the next few days."

Lu Ran's heart tightened: "Did you guys predict something again?"

"Not at all," Sun Zhengfang reassured, "I'm just giving you some advice; otherwise, what's the point of me being the captain?"

Lu Ran: "..."

It wasn't odd for Lu Ran to react this way, considering that Rain Alley City had experienced three special incidents in a row.

At this point, the entire city was on edge, everyone as nervous as startled birds.

As Lu Ran hung up the phone, Deng Yutang asked, "Brother Lu, what's this 30 points?"

Lu Ran replied: "Last fifteenth, didn't I join the patrol team for combat?"

"Oh, you should." Deng Yutang's eyes filled with envy, believing it was well-deserved for Lu Ran.

Just talking about that brief, blurry video in the grade group chat, showing Lu Ran charging at the Barbaric Woman, got Deng Yutang's blood pumping.

The style Lu Ran showed in just a few seconds was enough for everyone to admire!

And to silence all doubts and deter all mischief.

While talking, everyone walked out of the exit and once again stood under a familiar eave.

"Wait here, the driver will be here soon." Deng Yutang looked at the familiar scene and couldn't help but sigh.

"Don't get discouraged." Tian Tian, sensitive as always, quietly comforted him.

Deng Yutang shook his head: "I just suddenly remembered, that rainy night before, we were also standing here.

Brother Lu inspired me with a bowl of 'chicken blood,' saying we'd overturn this world together."

Chang Ying looked curiously at them; she wasn't part of the team that night.

Deng Yutang: "Now, Brother Lu is already on the path to overturning the world, and I'm a bit slow."

Lu Ran raised his hand and patted Deng Yutang heavily on the shoulder: "Deng Yutang, a fervent believer of the Red Scarf, doesn't need much motivation, right?"

Upon hearing this, Deng Yutang nodded.

Lu Ran changed the subject: "Or maybe, you should also address me as 'Ran God' in your heart?

That way, you might accept it better."

Deng Yutang laughed: "I did call you that during last month's morning class, but you told me to change it back."

"My point is, address me in your heart," Lu Ran straightforwardly stated his own scheming plan, "plant a seed first.

Once it takes root, everything will naturally fall into place."

Deng Yutang frowned slightly, understanding what Lu Ran meant.

But he always felt that Lu Ran was implying something more...

...

Another chapter at 22:00.

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