Chapter 209: The Kiss

Chapter 209: The Kiss

The living room was enveloped in silence.

The lynx flower cat lazily sprawled on the armrest of the sofa, its tail dangling outside, swaying gently as it leisurely enjoyed the afternoon.

"Meow?"

Little Fox Flower suddenly perked up her nose, sensing a hint of meat aroma.

She climbed up and followed the scent, quietly approaching the kitchen door, curiously gazing at the figure by the kitchen counter.

On the electric stove, a small sand pot was emitting steam, its lid gently rattling.

The girl opened the lid of the sand pot and used a spoon to skim off the foam floating on the soup.

"Meow~" The lynx flower cat approached.

It was unclear if it was because it had become familiar with the girl or if it found her sufficiently gentle.

Little Fox Flower began climbing up her long legs.

"Hmm?" Jiang Ruyi looked down and noticed the little mischief-maker by her leg.

She smiled but didn't pay much attention to Little Fox Flower, continuing to carefully skim the foam off the soup.

Little Fox Flower climbed and scrambled until she reached Jiang Ruyi's shoulder, causing Jiang Ruyi to turn down the heat and re-cover the sand pot.

"Meow~" The lynx flower cat meowed in discontent.

"Hungry?" Jiang Ruyi patted the little furry head. "In a bit?"

Jiang Ruyi suddenly felt something and took a step towards the kitchen door.

The increasingly intense energy fluctuations indicated a fact.

Lu Ran had succeeded? Had he finally entered the advancement mode?

Jiang Ruyi stood at the kitchen door, gazing towards the small bedroom.

The divine energy within the room was extremely dense! Through the gap under the bedroom door, wisps of white mist were spreading outwards.

It was like dry ice being sprayed on a stage.

"Meow~" Little Fox Flower rubbed against the girl's cheek, meowing in protest.

However, Jiang Ruyi seemed unaware.

She stood still for a long time before returning to the kitchen, her light and quick footsteps revealing her good mood.

At the same time, inside the small bedroom.

Where there had once been magic crystals scattered on the floor, it was now empty.

Lu Ran still sat on the ground, and the energy fluctuations around him were particularly intense.

In his hand, he held a Jiang Grade magic crystal the size of half a palm.

This Jiang Grade magic crystal had already given Lu Ran the desired result even before he absorbed it.

"Hmm," Lu Ran trembled slightly, suppressing the joy in his heart, and drew out a long nasal sound.

Comfortable~

The mist that surged from the heavens and earth was continuously absorbed by Lu Ran and then compressed into streams of water.

"Crack."

Lu Ran opened his palm, and the Jiang Grade magic crystal fell to the ground, fearing that he might accidentally absorb it.

He decided to keep it. Since all the other magic crystals had been absorbed, leaving just this one at home wouldn't cause a significant energy fluctuation, so it should be fine.

He could use it later or save it to assist Little Ruyi when she advanced.

Lu Ran gradually immersed himself in a wonderful world.

He guided the streams of water within his body, circulating and expanding his meridians with each cycle.

The human body, made of flesh and blood, was constantly nourished and transformed by divine energy.

In the kitchen, by the kitchen counter.

Jiang Ruyi held a spoon and scooped a small amount of soup, taking a shallow sip.

"Meow~" Little Fox Flower was anxious, but being held in the girl's embrace, she could only struggle in vain, unable to escape.

Jiang Ruyi nodded in satisfaction, sticking out her tongue to lick her thin lips.

Although the taste was a bit different, it was still good? In fact, even if she brought mutton to the door, it wouldn't be a big deal.

The Divine Ram wasn't cultivated into a god based on its 'sheep' nature, so it didn't have any special feelings towards the sheep species.

However, after much consideration, Jiang Ruyi still changed the ingredients.

After all, it wouldn't sound good to say that she visited a Divine Ram believer and cooked mutton soup for them.

"Meow~ Meow meow meow~"

Little Fox Flower was indeed a bit clever. Seeing that she couldn't escape no matter what, she started to act coquettish.

She kept whining in the girl's embrace, sticking and rubbing against her.

"Okay, okay." Jiang Ruyi seemed to be the type who was soft-hearted towards gentleness. She couldn't resist the little one's persistence.

She scooped out a piece of beef from the sand pot, put it in a bowl, and carried Little Fox Flower back to the dining table.

The beef and goji berry soup simmered on the stove over a gentle flame. At the table, the girl smiled and played with Little Fox Flower.

As night fell, Rain Alley City was once again shrouded in rain.

Inside the small bedroom, the long-awaited advancement finally bore fruit.

"Huff!"

A gust of wind stirred, causing the furniture in the room to shift.

Lu Ran suddenly opened his eyes wide, his eyes still swirling with brilliance, captivating the heart.

River Realm, Second Stage!

Just one stage away!

With just one more small advancement, Lu Ran's combat power would undergo a qualitative breakthrough!

Whether it was the Night Mirage's evil art, Night Mirage Shadow, or the Evil Dog Clan's evil art, Evil Shadow Flash, they were all suitable for the River Realm, Third Stage.

At the very least, Lu Ran was confident that with the ability to teleport, he would definitely be stronger than a dog!

"Haha!" Lu Ran quickly got up, opened the bedroom door, and strode out.

The living room was brightly lit, and a figure was just stepping out of the kitchen, looking towards him.

"Success!" Lu Ran exclaimed, "Second Stage!"

Jiang Ruyi watched Lu Ran's excited expression and said, "Congratulations!"

As Jiang Ruyi opened her mouth to offer her congratulations, she was suddenly embraced by someone.

Lu Ran was overjoyed and, with the soft and fragrant beauty in his arms, he lifted the girl and spun her around in place.

Jiang Ruyi's face turned slightly red, sharing in this joy.

She wrapped her arms around Lu Ran, slightly lowering her head, her face buried in his neck.

"It smells so good," Lu Ran said as he put Jiang Ruyi down, suddenly speaking up.

"Yes, the soup is almost... um," Jiang Ruyi's eyes widened in surprise.

This was because Lu Ran suddenly leaned forward and lightly kissed her thin lips.

A sneak attack~

In an instant, Jiang Ruyi's already slightly flushed cheeks turned bright red.

"Hmm," Lu Ran nodded silently.

The sneak attack was successful~

Jiang Ruyi retreated two steps in confusion, her face flushed with embarrassment, taken aback by this sudden turn of events.

"Let me see what delicious food you've made?"

Lu Ran immediately headed towards the kitchen.

Jiang Ruyi: ???

This person, why did he kiss and then run off?

"Whoa!" Lu Ran lifted the lid of the sand pot, watching the slowly simmering beef and goji berry soup, and casually picked up Little Fox Flower, holding her close to his chest.

This little thing, it's not afraid of the heat at all?

It's also really greedy. As soon as I lifted the lid, your little head rushed into the pot?

"Ruyi! Ruyi?" Lu Ran called out as he ladled the soup.

"I, I'm going back first." Jiang Ruyi's voice came from the living room.

"Huh?" Lu Ran quickly stepped out of the kitchen, "It's raining outside, I'll send you back later."

"It's late, I'm leaving now." Jiang Ruyi's eyes shifted slightly, already wearing her leather boots.

Lu Ran hesitated for a moment before saying, "I just want to be proactive and bold."

"What?"

"I think the Deng siblings' ideas are quite right. They spend money lavishly and buy whatever they like."

As Lu Ran spoke, he took a step forward, "After all, this world is so dangerous, you never know when people might disappear."

Of course, Lu Ran's actions were based on the premise that he had confirmed and felt her intentions.

At the same time, Lu Ran was also following his own heart.

Over the past two years, everything had been integrated into the little details.

Since this was the case, Lu Ran naturally wanted to take the initiative.

Just like last year, when Lu Ran was standing in the schoolyard as punishment, he used the team formation as an excuse and shouted out his desire to be together.

After becoming a believer, the two faced the battlefield directly, and the danger increased.

In the past few days, the scene of their confrontation with the Jiang Jing Evil Dog was still fresh in their minds.

Why wait any longer?

"Tsk tsk tsk, crow's mouth," Jiang Ruyi frowned slightly, a little dissatisfied.

Lu Ran held her hand, swaying it from side to side as he had done in school.

He didn't know if this action was a request or a test to see if he could wield this divine weapon.

Lu Ran said, "You've been cooking this soup for so long, let's drink it together.

Later, I'll send you back."

Jiang Ruyi, feeling both shy and annoyed, looked at Lu Ran and was eventually led back into the house by him.

"Shoes."

"It's fine, I'll wipe them later."

"I'll just change my shoes, what's there to be afraid of? I'm not going to run away." Jiang Ruyi said, feeling both amused and annoyed.

"You were just about to run away, weren't you?" Lu Ran muttered.

Jiang Ruyi: "."

It's all because of your sneak attack!

As Jiang Ruyi thought about it, her face flushed again, as if it were on fire.

Jiang Ruyi asked herself, she had always been open and generous in her interactions with others.

But in front of a certain person...

The two returned to the kitchen, and Lu Ran heartily enjoyed the soup.

Little Ruyi's cooking skills were truly exceptional!

Steaming hot, with just the right amount of saltiness.

No need for rice, just drink it straight from the bowl.

Lu Ran was thoroughly satisfied with the soup.

There was nothing more refreshing than drinking a bowl of beef and goji berry soup after a smooth advancement.

However, Jiang Ruyi only took a few sips before putting down her spoon.

She leaned her elbow on the dining table and rested her cheek on her palm, quietly watching Lu Ran gulp down the soup.

"You should eat something too," Lu Ran mumbled.

"Mhm." Jiang Ruyi snapped out of her thoughts, her emotions stabilizing, "The Yunshan City Divine Citizen Bureau called me, they agreed to let me join the patrol team."

"Good." Lu Ran mumbled, "With this, you won't have to worry about not having enough points anymore.

The various colleges will definitely recognize your potential."

Jiang Ruyi smiled gently and looked at Lu Ran, "Don't always think about me, think about yourself too.

I read the Tianjiao issue from the 15th of the first lunar month, there were 5 people who scored over 140 points.

And even more who scored over 130 points."

"It depends on luck," Lu Ran said casually.

After the Fifteenth Night, Tianjiao will assign scores based on the performance of the participating students.

The full score is 150 points.

The 5 students Jiang Ruyi mentioned who scored over 140 points all encountered special events without exception.

Four of them encountered the Ghost Night Walk, and one student encountered the Demon Lord's descent.

It was clear that the frequency of special events in Daxia was indeed increasing.

If this trend continued, these so-called special events might become the norm.

"But people say that Yuxiang City is a cursed city," Lu Ran finished the last mouthful of soup in his bowl.

Based on Yuxiang City's past experiences, the intensity and level of Lu Ran's "exam" would definitely not be low.

In truth, Lu Ran's heart was conflicted; he didn't want Yuxiang City to face more storms, but... well, let's just hope there are no special events.

He believed that he could find a way to make the two of them shine.

Just as he believed that he could keep Little Ruyi by his side and walk a long, long way together.

"Everything will go smoothly, like before," Jiang Ruyi said softly.

Like before?

Lu Ran's gaze swept across the kitchen counter, feeling the warmth that hadn't been present in the kitchen for a long time, and looked at the rising steam from the pot.

Jiang Ruyi extended her hand, "Let me serve you some more?"

"I'll do it myself." Lu Ran held the bowl and walked towards the kitchen counter, "Can we discuss something?"

"What?"

"From now on, before every major battle, will you make this soup for me?"

Jiang Ruyi pretended to think for a moment, "It depends on your performance."

Lu Ran carefully ladled the soup, afraid of spilling even a drop, and a smile appeared on his face:

"Mhm, okay."

The night rain outside the window pattered softly.

The warm home glowed with a cozy light.

Like before.

Like many years ago.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end