"Hehe~," Qiao Wanjun couldn't help but laugh wryly.

She looked at her calm and composed children and couldn't help but feel sentimental.

If it had been the fifteenth day of the first lunar month last year, facing such a situation, both of them would have turned pale with fear in their hearts.

Would they have been joking around like they were now?

Indeed, they had both grown up...

With a casual wave of her hand, a sword shadow flashed by.

In an instant, the sword shadow transformed into a floating silhouette, standing in front of the dining room window.

Divine Technique·Sword Dance Clear Shadow!

The moment that figure appeared, a hand was already pressed against the window, and a flying sword, passing through the barrier of the window from outside, vanished in a flash.

"Crack!"

That was the sound of the Night Charm Robe shattering.

"Sss!"

That was the sound of the blade piercing flesh, the flying sword penetrating the head of the Night Charm.

As smooth and decisive as clouds flowing through the sky!

With just a casual flick of her wrist, Qiao Wanjun had pinned Lu Ran to his chair, even his complexion had stiffened.

He hadn't seen clearly!

Keep in mind, Lu Ran had always had his Evil Technique·Evil Recognition activated.

Under such conditions, Lu Ran had failed to keep up with Qiao Wanjun's speed!

The Lu Ran of the past, being an ordinary person, only had a vague concept of his mother's strength.

But now, having stepped into the River Realm, Lu Ran's understanding of Qiao Wanjun's strength had become even more vague.

This...?

Qiao Yuansi leaned over, hugged Qiao Wanjun's arm, and said, "It's really the safest by mother's side!"

"Let's cut the cake," Qiao Wanjun said softly.

Like every fifteenth day of the first month before, she simply did the same.

But this time, her two children reacted completely differently.

Little Yuanxi still didn't feel much, only thinking that it was quite ordinary for her mother to eliminate Evil Demons with a wave of her hand.

But for Lu Ran...

"What's wrong?" Qiao Wanjun asked Lu Ran gently.

"Ah, nothing, nothing," Lu Ran immediately came back to his senses and stood up, "I'll turn on the lights."

A smile crept onto Qiao Wanjun's face as she watched Lu Ran's retreating figure.

Even though both children had reached the River Realm·First Rank, it was evident that the son was much, much stronger than the daughter.

"Hum!"

Lu Ran's hand touched the room light switch, his action once again frozen.

His brain suddenly buzzed!

This was?

Lu Ran had a thought; his sculpture... had it advanced in rank?

He was both shocked and delighted as he immediately examined his own spiritual world.

Indeed!

Inside the God Demon Sculpture Garden, that one Night Charm Evil Sculpture was trembling wildly.

Mother, I praise you!

After slaughtering for so long in the Demon Cave, the Night Charm Evil Sculpture hadn't budged.

Who would have thought that with mother's move, she directly advanced the Night Charm Evil Sculpture to the River Realm?

"Ranran?" In the dining room, came Qiao Wanjun's gentle call.

"Ah!" Lu Ran quickly turned on the dining room lights.

Suppressing his excitement, he dared not pay attention to the Night Charm Evil Sculpture anymore and briskly returned to the dining room.

Qiao Wanjun, noticing her son's unusual state, misunderstood.

She softly said, "Don't be disheartened, your strength is shallow now, but it will improve."

Since returning to Beijing, this was the second time Qiao Wanjun had said "Don't be disheartened."

The last time was on Jinghong Peak when she held the Dawn Blade, forcibly wielding it.

"Okay," Lu Ran didn't explain much, just nodding repeatedly.

Qiao Yuansi teased with a giggle, "Brother, I know you're fast in a fight, swoosh swoosh~

But aren't you a bit overconfident?"

Lu Ran: "..."

Qiao Yuansi ran a finger through the cream on the cake, smearing a bit on Lu Ran's cheek, and laughed,

"A mere River Realm, and you want to see mom's moves clearly?"

In fact, it was Little Yuanxi who wished most to see her mother's moves clearly.

Because from childhood to adulthood, Little Yuanxi had been punished quite often...

Lu Ran laughed, "What, should I be like you, just waiting without reacting?"

"Eiya, stop making yourself miserable for no reason," Qiao Yuansi huffed, tilting her little face up, "Do you still remember that New Year's Eve?

When Mom spanked me, I didn't even dodge~"

Lu Ran looked bemused, "Are you proud of that?"

Qiao Wanjun suddenly reached out.

"Eh?" Qiao Yuansi was startled and quickly covered her head.

Qiao Wanjun just took out a tissue and shook it towards Lu Ran.

Qiao Yuansi: "..."

"Ha ha!" Lu Ran laughed as he took the tissue and wiped the cream from his cheek.

"Eiya~ Mom!" Qiao Yuansi stamped her feet and protested, "Am I really your daughter?"

Qiao Wanjun: "If you were half as obedient as your brother, you wouldn't have been spanked so much."

Qiao Yuansi pouted, and as soon as Lu Ran had cleaned his cheek, her naughty little hand couldn't resist smearing it again.

Lu Ran: "..."

"Hehe~" Seeing Lu Ran's speechless look, Little Yuanxi cheered up again.

Yet, just as she laughed out loud, she realized something and quickly restrained her laughter, cautiously sneaking a glance at the mother.

Clearly, there was a reason why some people were always being punished.

However, on this special day, Qiao Wanjun was quite indulgent towards her daughter.

Seeing that her mother said nothing, Qiao Yuansi brightened up again.

"Rumble rumble!"

Suddenly, a loud explosion thundered from outside the window.

Lu Ran glanced outside subconsciously, then turned his attention back to the birthday feast.

The family of three chatted and laughed, spending another warm fifteenth of the first month, just like in past years.

In the city, roaring explosions and howling sounds rose and fell.

Against this special backdrop, the brightly lit home felt even warmer.

This unique memory, Lu Ran would never forget for the rest of his life.

Even now, as a River Realm Believer with the capability of self-protection,

Lu Ran still craved this warm, comforting feeling.

Little Yuanxi felt the same.

It seemed like she accidentally revealed her birthday wish.

It was late into the night, long after the family of three had finished their meal and stayed up together in the living room.

Lu Ran and Qiao Yuansi sat on the floor next to the coffee table, playing Monopoly.

Qiao Wanjun sat quietly on the sofa, watching the news on TV, occasionally glancing at her children playing below her knees.

As another round of the game ended, Little Yuanxi, having won, grew tired.

She climbed onto the sofa and snuggled into her mother's arms.

Little Yuanxi fell asleep quickly and sweetly.

In her dream, the young girl murmured in a faint voice, wishing her mother and brother would always be by her side.

Qiao Wanjun cradled her daughter and gently patted her back.

In this moment, Qiao Wanjun was no longer the cold and powerful disciple of Sword One, but a tender and loving mother.

Lu Ran watched his sister asleep in their mother's embrace, and after a while, he silently lowered his head, fidgeting with the dice in his hand.

On the fifteenth of the first month, the sweeter the moment, the harder the farewell.

...

On the nineteenth of the first month, under Qiao Yuansi's reluctant farewell, Lu Ran boarded the train home.

There were only 5 days until the school term started; that was the reason Lu Ran gave.

No matter how much Little Yuanxi didn't want him to go, Lu Ran still had to attend classes, and she was about to start school herself, needing to train and grow with her team.

Just an hour's train journey.

From heaven to hell.

From the thriving metropolitan city to the cold and desolate Rain Alley City.

As Lu Ran stepped out of the station, he couldn't help but inhale deeply.

Yes, the scent of home.

"Young man, where to?" A taxi pulled up in front of Lu Ran, the driver eagerly asked.

"West River, Rain Alley Home."

"Flat rate, hop in!"

"Let's go."

If Rain Alley City had any virtue, it was that it was basically a flat rate wherever you went, and there was never any traffic on the roads.

Soon, Lu Ran returned to the old and familiar house.

As he opened the door, a small figure was squatting at the doorstep, curiously looking up at the newcomer.

"Did you miss me?" Lu Ran crouched down, smiling as he offered his palm.

"Meow~" The small calico cat agilely leaped, avoiding someone's hand.

"Meow." Lu Ran still smiled, facing a face that was becoming more heroic with the days, yet uttered a demonic low whisper.

"Meow~" The little calico cat gave a whining cry and hurriedly ran back.

The little creature, wanting to play tricks again, was scooped up into Lu Ran's embrace as he stepped into the house.

The home was a bit messy, but still presentable.

His gaze swept across the feeding corner in the living room; the calico cat mustn't have been starved.

From now on, it was even less likely to starve.

Clutching the cat, Lu Ran bowed before the small shrine, then headed straight for the bathroom.

Together with the cat, after a refreshing wash, Lu Ran wrapped the calico in a large towel and returned to the shrine.

"Lord Immortal Goat, on the fifteenth, the Night Charm Evil Sculpture already rose to the River Realm."

"Hm." After a month, Lu Ran once again heard Lord Immortal Goat's voice transmission.

When he was living in Beijing, at his mother's place, Lu Ran had tried to contact Lord Immortal Goat from his room.

But there had been no response.

Lu Ran continued, "Can I now create an Evil Demon?"

"Follow Me." After the voice fell, Lu Ran's mind went blank.

His consciousness was dragged into the spiritual world and brought to the Evil Demon Sculpture Garden.

Before Lu Ran, there was a layer of stony, black veil.

He was standing in the palm of the Night Charm!

"It's really huge," Lu Ran looked downwards.

Days before, when Lu Ran checked the Sculpture Garden, he had noticed this issue.

When the Evil Sculpture advanced through the Mist Realm, Stream Realm, and River Realm, each upgrade seemed minor.

But upon reaching the River Realm, the Evil Sculpture underwent a transformation!

Its scale was magnificent, and due to the mist scattered between heaven and earth, Lu Ran couldn't even fully see Night Charm's upper body, let alone the ground.

"Creating Evil Demons is not the goal; the goal is to control them," a deep voice came from behind.

Lu Ran turned his head to see the flickering Black Fire Sheep Head.

Those Dead Sheep Eyes were still as horrifying, emanating a deathlike stillness.

Black Fire Sheep Head: "Connect with the Night Charm Stone Sculpture, and learn the method of creation."

"Huh~"

Thick mist lines radiated from the stony veil, falling into the stone sculpture's palm, enveloping the tiny Human Clan within.

Lu Ran closed his eyes tightly, keenly feeling everything.

After an unknown amount of time, Black Fire Sheep Head suddenly said, "Tell me, how would you create an Evil Demon."

Lu Ran spoke solemnly, "Craft its body with Divine Power, shape its soul with Origin Energy."

The Black Fire Sheep Head's voice was hoarse, "Why does this servant obey you?"

Lu Ran frowned slightly, "Its soul originates from 'energy,' from the Evil Sculpture in my spiritual world.

The Evil Demon servant belongs to the Evil Sculpture; naturally, it belongs to me.

But that's not enough..."

Lu Ran pondered, "When shaping the soul of an Evil Demon, I must instill the concept of obedience, emphasizing the master-servant relationship."

Black Fire Sheep Head: "You are teachable.

Come, shape your first Evil Demon Servant in front of the shrine; I will protect you."

"Yes!" In the small bedroom, Lu Ran suddenly opened his eyes.

"Meow~" The towel in his embrace squirmed as the little calico poked its head out.

Lu Ran bowed slightly, pressing lightly on the calico's head:

"Be good, I'll create you a big sister to take care of you."

"Huh~"

Mists started to spread from Lu Ran's palms...

...

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