Chapter 182: Immortal Scenery Garden

Chapter 182: Immortal Scenery Garden

Upon arriving at Emperor Gazing Village, Lu Ran and Qiao Yuansi hailed a taxi and returned to their home, also located in the northern part of the city.

This residential community had a pleasant name—Immortal Scenery Garden.

Indeed, the community was serene and elegant, but the so-called "immortal scenery" did not refer to these mundane sights.

Instead, being here meant you could truly catch a glimpse of the divine countenance of the deity, Sword One!

Like the deity of Northern Wind, beneath Sword One's feet, there was also an ancient and charming city.

The city had a domineering name, known as Sword Heaven Citadel.

Sword Heaven Citadel was located to the east of the Immortal Scenery Garden community.

It is worth mentioning that those who resided in the Immortal Scenery Garden community were mostly disciples of Sword One or relatives of his followers.

Therefore, every morning, figures would appear on the balconies of each household in the community.

People would gaze towards the east and bow reverently towards the towering figure beneath the rising sun.

Hmm. It was a unique landscape born out of special geographical conditions.

In the past, Lu Ran had also gazed at the Sword Heaven Citadel with his mother at her request, offering prayers and worship.

Despite Sword One's sect not accepting male disciples, it didn't stop his mother from having fantasies.

"Ah~"

In room 1501 of a residential building in the southeast part of the community, Qiao Yuansi let out a strange sound.

She stretched lazily, feeling relaxed: "Finally home!"

Lu Ran surveyed the interior decoration, finding it unchanged from his memories.

Compared to his father, his mother's living conditions were far better.

In Rain Alley City, the old and dilapidated house where the father and son lived was small and shabby.

Now, take a look at his mother's residence!

A flat of over 160 square meters, with four bedrooms, one living room, and two balconies, it was well-lit and airy, and one could even see the divine statue from the balcony.

It was simply too good!

It was evident that since his parents' divorce and his mother's return to the capital, her standard of living had improved significantly.

Xiao Yuansi had once mentioned that when they first returned to the capital, their lives were not affluent.

But through hard work and as Qiao Wanjun's contributions to the Sword One Sect grew, she received what she deserved.

Eventually, she brought Xiao Yuansi to live in this special, high-end community.

This also indicated, from another perspective, how nostalgic and ambitious Lu Ran was.

It should be known that after his father's passing, Lu Ran was taken in by his mother, and they lived together for three years.

During those three years, Lu Ran had, of course, experienced everything this place had to offer.

As the saying goes, it's difficult to go from luxury to frugality.

Yet, Lu Ran stubbornly left, departing from such a comfortable life.

He returned to his hometown, where rain and gloom prevailed, and moved into the childhood "old, broken, and small" house.

Thinking of this, Lu Ran's expression became somewhat peculiar.

Before he left, although his mother was very powerful, she didn't seem to hold a significant position within the sect.

This time, due to a coincidence, Lu Ran was fortunate to visit Swift Peak.

Based on the reactions of numerous Sword One disciples, his mother's status seemed quite high?

Did this imply that in the years after he left, his mother had risen rapidly and achieved great success?

"Oh no."

Lu Ran slapped his forehead.

Have I become a burden?

No, it's not just me!

Lu Ran thought of his deceased father.

Both of us, aren't we burdens?

After all, before their parents' divorce, Mom always followed Dad, living together in the "old, broken, and small" house.

"What's wrong?" Qiao Yuansi curiously looked at her brother.

"It's nothing," Lu Ran waved his hand.

He hoped that his mother had accumulated her strength and then soared to greater heights.

If her career had indeed stagnated due to taking care of him, Lu Ran would feel truly guilty.

Hmm. It's most likely not the case.

After all, when Lu Ran lived here, his mother was also very busy.

Thinking of this, Lu Ran breathed a sigh of relief.

"Brother! Brother?" Qiao Yuansi extended her small hand and waved it in front of Lu Ran's face, "Why are you daydreaming?"

Lu Ran casually replied, "It's been too long since I've been back."

"I've already cleaned your room in advance!" Qiao Yuansi smiled at Lu Ran, expecting some praise.

"Thank you." Lu Ran patted Xiao Yuansi's head and, familiar with the place, headed towards the bedroom on the southeast side.

"Oh, brother!" Qiao Yuansi reminded him, "Don't forget to pay respects to the deity."

"Mhm." Lu Ran nodded.

He went to his mother's bedroom and Xiao Yuansi's bedroom, respectively, and bowed to the divine statues of Sword One and Flower Lantern.

Recalling the previous New Year's Eve, when Lu Ran was not yet a follower, he was still brought by his mother to kneel before the small divine statue of Sword One.

Now, Lu Ran stood firmly.

He didn't stay long in their bedrooms, and after saying "excuse the disturbance," he left.

Upon returning to his small bedroom, Lu Ran noticed a doll on the bed.

It was a cartoon doll in the shape of a hamburger.

Obviously, Xiao Yuansi had placed it there, seemingly to remind him of something.

"Heh." Lu Ran couldn't help but shake his head and smile.

In the following days, Lu Ran took Xiao Yuansi to eat hamburgers every noon.

He was almost getting tired of it, but Xiao Yuansi became happier each day.

According to her theory, she wasn't eating food but reliving memories.

It was the warmth her brother secretly brought her when she was tired and hungry after being forced to kneel by her mother in the middle of the night.

Goodness!

Xiao Yuansi, not yet 17 years old, had already started reminiscing.

However, Lu Ran had no right to criticize his younger sister, as he was also someone who often indulged in memories.

During these days at home, Lu Ran accompanied Xiao Yuansi in watching dramas, shopping, and buying various snacks for the New Year.

Hmm. It was essentially buying all sorts of snacks.

Life seemed to return to how it was before, which was exactly what Qiao Yuansi had longed for.

The only difference was that even when watching TV, Lu Ran's body was always surrounded by a lingering mist.

Not to mention that the Eastern side of Immortal Scenery Garden was the Sword Heaven Capital, but even at home, there were two small divine statues.

The cultivation environment was, of course, excellent.

This also caused Xiao Yuansi's dissatisfaction, saying that her brother had changed and was no longer wholeheartedly accompanying her.

After all, as you watched TV, just when you were fully immersed, suddenly a wisp of mist would drift before your eyes, which was really distracting.

Soon, the time came to the Lunar Twenty-Fifth.

On this morning, Lu Ran woke up early to tidy up the house in preparation for his mother's return.

Just as he was wiping the coffee table in the living room, he suddenly felt a surge of energy.

"Hmm?" Lu Ran turned his head towards the northwest, where his sister's bedroom was located.

Lu Ran couldn't help but feel delighted!

Was Xiao Yuansi about to advance? She was at Stream Realm, Fifth Stage, and could break through at any moment.

Or perhaps, the Divine Being, Lantern, was in a good mood and had blessed his disciples?

"Yohoo~!" Xiao Yuansi's cheer could be heard from inside the room.

Immediately, the bedroom door was flung open.

Xiao Yuansi, wearing a pink nightgown and barefooted, ran out with a joyful expression, "Brother!"

Lu Ran looked at his sister, enveloped in immortal mist, and asked, "Are you about to advance?"

"Haha!" Xiao Yuansi was ecstatic, taking two steps at a time as she rushed into Lu Ran's embrace.

Lu Ran hurriedly stood up to catch the human cannonball, preventing himself from being knocked to the ground.

"Today is Lunar Twenty-Fifth!" Xiao Yuansi was thrilled, her face slightly flushed, "Just now, when I was worshipping the Divine Being, Lantern, I made a special wish.

I wished for Mom, Brother, and me to be together forever.

Then, I began my advancement!"

Lu Ran was completely dumbfounded.

On the one hand, he felt warm inside, grateful to have such a cute and affectionate sister.

On the other hand,

Is this how you treat an advancement?

"Yohoo~" Xiao Yuansi was so happy she couldn't contain herself, wildly popping open a bottle of champagne.

Perhaps because she was about to advance to the River Realm, she was a bit too excited. Her small mouth moved close to Lu Ran's face, giving him a firm kiss:

"Mua~"

"You..." Lu Ran looked at the girl with a mix of annoyance and amusement.

If it were anyone else experiencing a spiritual enlightenment, they would surely grasp the opportunity tightly, striving to make the most of it.

But you, instead of advancing at the shrine, you come out to celebrate?

"Stop celebrating and focus on your advancement!" Lu Ran's expression turned serious, his words carrying a sense of gravity, "If you miss this opportunity, who knows how long you'll have to wait for the next one!"

"I just wanted to share my joy with you!" Xiao Yuansi retorted, then, giggling, she darted off towards the bedroom like a puff of smoke.

She seemed to transform into a soccer player, performing a celebration after scoring a goal—a sliding kneel.

A "plop" was heard.

Before Xiao Yuansi even reached the bedroom, she knelt down and slid towards the shrine.

During her sliding kneel, she clasped her hands together, and as her figure came to a stop before the shrine, she instantly entered a state of prayer, bowing her head.

It was so smooth~

Lu Ran watched, stunned!

To be honest, it was no wonder Xiao Yuansi was often scolded by her mother; just look at that move.

Lu Ran shook his head helplessly, tiptoeing to his sister's room, and gently closed the door.

"Click~"

As the bedroom door closed, the security door on the other side opened.

Lu Ran quickly went over and saw his mother.

"Mom, Xiao Yuansi is advancing," Lu Ran said softly, bending down to get slippers for his mother.

"Oh?" Qiao Wanjun looked down at Lu Ran, allowing her son to change her shoes, and joked, "It seems you should come home more often."

Lu Ran paused in his actions.

Xiao Yuansi's spiritual enlightenment seemed to have indeed been inspired by the wish for the three of them to be together forever.

Qiao Wanjun, seeing her son's silence, asked, "Has she been naughty these days?"

"No, Xiao Yuansi is doing well," Lu Ran finally responded.

"Hmm." Qiao Wanjun softly acknowledged, putting on her slippers and stepping towards the house, "I'll go freshen up.

Later, you can accompany me to Sword Heaven Citadel."

"Mom, I..." Lu Ran hesitated.

"What?" Qiao Wanjun stopped in her tracks, turning to look at Lu Ran.

Lu Ran: "I think I should stay home and accompany Xiao Yuansi."

Qiao Wanjun: "She needs quiet, not company."

Lu Ran thought for a moment, then said, "I'm now a Sacred Sheep Follower, so it's not appropriate for me to go to other divine beings' main cities."

After the experience in Boreas City, Lu Ran didn't want to cause trouble for his mother.

For the sake of his family, Lu Ran could certainly clasp his hands together and bow in reverence.

But the current Lu Ran, influenced by the Sacred Sheep's teachings, had developed a slight deviation in his devotion to divine beings, and if he could avoid seeing the divine being in person, he preferred not to.

Qiao Wanjun's beautiful eyes fixed on Lu Ran, speaking softly, "Is that so?"

Those eyes seemed to see right through Lu Ran's soul.

Lu Ran fell silent, averting his gaze.

Qiao Wanjun slowly approached, placing a hand on Lu Ran's cheek, lifting his face, and looking into his eyes:

"Tomorrow is the first day of the new year, and there's a festival in the city. You don't want to accompany me like you did last year?"

Lu Ran: "..."

After a while, Qiao Wanjun sighed softly, "It seems you've realized the problem.

That's why, when you were at the altar, you offered a worship to the Demon Papier-Mache Figure."

Lu Ran's heart tightened.

Since June of this year, mother and son had never openly discussed this issue.

After the worship, in phone calls, his mother never mentioned the demon, only soothing Lu Ran gently.

"So..." Qiao Wanjun's palm remained gentle, her thumb caressing Lu Ran's cheek, "You can only worship one divine being, the Sacred Sheep."

"Mom, I..."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end