Lunar January 19, on the train to Beijing.

Lu Jiang's trio sat in a row, with Si Xianxian naturally taking the window seat, sandwiched between a couple, for fear she might cause trouble.

Unaware of their concerns, Si Xianxian was brimming with excitement, chattering nonstop.

"A bunch of dogs that can't stand to see others do well, I'll curse at them one by one!"

"You didn't see how those people were slandering Lu Ran..."

"Speaking of which, you two really did well, haha, awesome! I've got more confidence when I curse now!"

Jiang Ruyi felt somewhat helpless and gently patted Si Xianxian, whispering,

"Keep your voice down, don't let others hear."

Si Xianxian looked at the two masked and hatted individuals and said, "Ah, no need to be so cautious.

You're all disguised like this, who's going to recognize you!"

Hearing this, Lu Ran pulled his hat down even lower.

Jiang Ruyi continued to advise, "When you meet Lu Ran's mother later, you must be careful not to be too presumptuous."

"Don't worry~" Si Xianxian snuggled comfortably against Jiang Ruyi, her head tilted and resting on the girl's shoulder.

She had finally found a friendship she cherished greatly.

Moreover, this little couple could even take her around to cause mischief.

Si Xianxian had made up her mind that here with Lu Jiang, even if she felt deeply wronged, she would endure and never upset them.

Hmm...that's quite humble of me.

"Comfortable?" Lu Ran's gaze moved from Jiang Ruyi to Si Xianxian.

The fierce heavenly girl seemed like a boss, legs crossed, leaning against Jiang Ruyi, treating the girl like a backrest.

She wore black leather boots, the tips of which kept pointing up, utterly relaxed.

Si Xianxian slightly tilted her head, her beautiful eyes looking at Lu Ran with a hint of playfulness, "What, jealous?"

Lu Ran stayed silent, likewise tilted his head, resting it on Jiang Ruyi's other shoulder.

Jiang Ruyi: "..."

"Hmm?" Si Xianxian sat up straight, looked them up and down, and clicked her tongue in admiration, "You two really do match well."

Sister Xian'er's voice was loud, and her gaze quite bold.

Jiang Ruyi's cheeks slightly blushed, and she gave Si Xianxian a stern look.

"Ha ha ha ha~" Si Xianxian's laughter was as unrestrained as ever, also attracting the attention of other passengers in the carriage.

Suddenly, Lu Ran blurted out, "I think you don't want to go out anymore."

Si Xianxian's smile stiffened, she snorted, and turned her head to look out the window.

Lu Ran closed his eyes, inhaling the faint scent of jasmine, feeling a wave of drowsiness wash over him.

He had been cultivating all of last night and hadn't slept a wink.

Unfortunately, Rain Alley City was less than an hour's train ride from Beijing.

Lu Ran had not enjoyed long, barely drifting into sleep, when he was awakened.

But truthfully, it wasn't very comfortable.

Jiang Ruyi was slender, and there wasn't much cushioning; resting his head on her shoulder felt rather uncomfortable.

Hmm...maybe a lap pillow next time?

Lu Ran thought secretly to himself, clutching his wrapped weapon, and followed the stream of people off the train.

The trio directly took a taxi to Immortal Scenic Garden.

As the vehicle neared their destination, Lu Ran once again saw the towering Sword One Divine Statue against the blue sky and white clouds.

Whenever people saw this massive statue of the divine being, they couldn't help but feel reverence.

Besides gazing from afar, Lu Ran's mind was also lively.

Perhaps, one day in the future, others would look at him in the same way?

As the vehicle stopped at the entrance to the residential complex, the trio alighted.

"Your family is so rich?" Si Xianxian, carrying a huge hammer, looked up at the imposing entrance of Immortal Scenic Garden.

In this season of blossoming spring, the community was lush with trees and fragrant with flowers and birds.

Compared to the dilapidated neighborhood in Rain Alley City where Lu Ran lived, this place was practically heaven!

Not to mention, this place offered direct access to Saint Sword One himself.

"My mom has money," Lu Ran shrugged his shoulders, "After my parents divorced, I stayed with my dad."

Si Xianxian sized Lu Ran up with a look reserved for fools.

Lu Ran: "What's up?"

Si Xianxian: "Mom divorced dad, not you. She didn't cut off the mother-son relationship."

Lu Ran's expression turned odd, and he scratched his head: "That's true."

Si Xianxian rolled her eyes, thinking this guy was beyond help.

Jiang Ruyi, with her more intricate thoughts and better understanding of Lu Ran, could see the real sentiment behind his seemingly illogical statement.

Going by their high school years together, although Lu Ran was never short of necessities, he didn't carry the air of a "second-generation" affluent child.

"Let's go," urged Lu Ran.

His mother must have informed the security beforehand; once Lu Ran stated his purpose, a security guard accompanied them into the complex.

"Wow~" Si Xianxian looked around in amazement, clicking her tongue in wonder all the way, "I always thought... uh, that you lived a rather strapped life."

Jiang Ruyi gently patted Si Xianxian's shoulder, again advising, "When you meet Auntie later, watch what you say."

"Got it, got it," Si Xianxian waved her hands impatiently, "Annoying... ahem."

The fierce heavenly big sister inadvertently revealed her true nature but quickly realized her mistake.

She quickly looped her arm through Jiang Ruyi's, smiling amiably in an attempt to appear well-behaved.

Jiang Ruyi smiled helplessly and, led by the security guard, entered a building and swiped an access card for the elevator.

When the group arrived on the fifteenth floor and stepped out of the elevator, they saw a door of a distant apartment wide open.

A tall figure in a flowing white dress stood quietly at the doorway, hands behind her back.

For a moment, both Jiang Ruyi and Si Xianxian were stunned.

Lu Ran's mother looked quite young, which in itself wasn't that unusual.

But the ethereal grace and unrivaled charm she exuded made them feel utterly inferior.

"Mom," Lu Ran quickly stepped forward.

Si Xianxian was taken aback.

Mom?

How could you call her that so casually?

If you said this was a mortal incarnation of Divine·Sword One, I'd believe it!

Such a celestial being, and you dare call her Mom?

Aren't you a bit shameless...

"Ranran's here," Qiao Wanjun's stern expression melted away into a gentle smile.

From the deep winter to the vibrant spring,

Qiao Wanjun merely changed her expression and altered the seasons.

It wasn't an illusion but a real effect.

A powerful Believer's influence over their surroundings is substantial.

"Mom, this is Jiang Ruyi, and the one with the hammer, that's Si Xianxian," Lu Ran introduced, "I've told you about them before."

"Auntie, greetings."

"Ah, Auntie, hello," Jiang Ruyi and Si Xianxian promptly greeted.

Qiao Wanjun glanced lightly at the two girls: "I hear you're a Fierce Heavenly believer."

"Yes, yes," Si Xianxian nodded repeatedly, trying to appear docile and amiable.

This was quite a disgrace to the Fierce Heavenly Sect.

Qiao Wanjun looked at her son and chuckled lightly: "You do have your ways."

Lu Ran grinned sheepishly: "It's all hard-won! You don't know how irritable this girl can get..."

Si Xianxian's face darkened, but she didn't dare react.

Qiao Wanjun, naturally noticing the Fierce Heavenly believer's restraint, mentally applauded her effort.

Moments later, she turned her attention to Jiang Ruyi.

The young girl had her head bowed slightly, her eyes cast down, adopting a respectful and compliant demeanor.

Qiao Wanjun's gaze then settled on the sword hilt peeking out from behind the girl's shoulder.

"Hum~"

The Cold Night Sword seemed to sense something and floated forward volitionally.

Lu Ran stepped aside as the Cold Night Sword turned around its blade, extending the hilt toward Qiao Wanjun's lowered hands.

The cold hilt gently nudged the woman's fingers, as if seeking her approval.

Seeing that Qiao Wanjun was not averse, the hilt then nestled into her palm.

Such a scene left Lu Ran dumbstruck!

Divine Weapons are known to recognize only one master.

But the Cold Night Sword's cautious, even somewhat humble manner, seemed unbelievable to Lu Ran.

What... what's happening?

"It's been a long time, old friend."

Qiao Wanjun's voice was soft as she extended two slender fingers, gently caressing the cold blade.

"Hum!"

The Cold Night Sword trembled continuously, communicating something unknown to Qiao Wanjun.

The trio stood respectfully at the doorway, not daring to interrupt.

After a while, Qiao Wanjun finally spoke: "I need to leave soon."

Lu Ran: "Ah?"

Qiao Wanjun turned and walked back inside, saying lightly, "Jiang Ruyi."

"Auntie," Jiang Ruyi looked up at her.

"Come."

"Oh, yes." Jiang Ruyi hurried into the house, removed her shoes, and, not even pausing to put on slippers, followed quickly.

It seemed that they were heading for the balcony.

As Qiao Wanjun departed, Si Xianxian let out a big sigh of relief.

Lu Ran sneered: "Didn't know you could be so well-behaved."

Hearing this, Si Xianxian grew slightly infuriated, glaring fiercely at Lu Ran.

Lu Ran asked curiously: "That scared of her, are you?"

"Who, who's scared?" Si Xianxian puffed out her chest, "That was respect!"

"Oh," Lu Ran suddenly looked enlightened and walked into the house, "I thought it was more about bullying the weak and fearing the strong."

Si Xianxian: ???

She clenched her hammer tightly, her breathing growing more rapid, her chest heaving intensely.

"Hey! No, no, no!" realizing things were turning sour, Lu Ran quickly added, "Don't get mad!

I was just joking, not making fun of you."

"Hmm~" Si Xianxian swayed slightly, resting a hand on her forehead.

Meanwhile, on the outdoor balcony on the south side of the house.

"Sit," Qiao Wanjun motioned towards a wooden chair by a small table.

Jiang Ruyi remained standing, quite restrained.

Her gaze passed over the peerless beauty in front of her, just catching a glimpse of the towering Sword One Divine Statue in the distance.

The overlapping silhouettes of a person and a divine being created a peculiar tableau.

Qiao Wanjun didn't insist any further.

She gently released her grip, and the Cold Night Sword slowly floated up, its translucent black ice material shimmering oddly under the sunlight.

Qiao Wanjun watched the Divine Weapon, speaking softly, "She's chosen him."

Jiang Ruyi, somewhat flustered, lowered her head, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red.

No one knew how this Divine Weapon was made, not even Lu Ran understood the mystery.

But Jiang Ruyi was clear on one thing, Qiao Wanjun knew everything.

Moreover, the path to the Cold Night Sword becoming a Divine Weapon was laid out by Qiao Wanjun herself.

From a certain perspective, the Cold Night Sword's master was not Jiang Ruyi.

It was the girl whom Lu Ran had chosen, the girl to whom he had given the sword.

More importantly, if Lu Ran's sincere feelings were ever betrayed, the Cold Night Sword could not become a Divine Weapon.

Qiao Wanjun looked at the young girl's shy demeanor and smiled faintly:

"Ever wondered about the domain of the Cold Night Sword's Divine Weapon?"

Jiang Ruyi respectfully responded, "Please enlighten me, senior."

"Senior?"

"Ah, Auntie."

Qiao Wanjun slightly raised an eyebrow, "Auntie?"

Jiang Ruyi bowed her head even lower, her cheeks as red as a tempting peach.

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