Chapter 233: Half a Year's Return

Chapter 233: Half a Year's Return

Over the next two days, Lu Ran and his group diligently trained and gained experience.

Jiang and Si, having learned from their encounter with the Crimson Paper Figure, continued to absorb its knowledge. Lu Ran, on the other hand, secretly consumed the wraiths of the Crimson Paper Figures.

It must be said that this training trip truly broadened Lu Ran's horizons.

Especially after encountering the River Realm's Crimson Paper Figure, Lu Ran's mind became even more active.

The evil techniques of the Crimson Paper Clan were simply mind-blowing.

Whether it was the incredibly defensive Grand Red Palanquin or the formidable Shadow Bearers, they all captivated Lu Ran.

Once he mastered these techniques, going out would be a whole new level of impressive.

Additionally, the Crimson Paper Figures after ascending to the River Realm were completely transformed!

They remained devoted brides, but also exuded the aura of an empress with an air of nobility!

Lu Ran couldn't help but feel delighted at the thought of one day possessing such a Crimson Paper Figure himself.

His elated expression, however, startled Si Xianxian, who wondered if Lu Ran had been affected by some evil influence.

Lu Ran was determined to work harder and obtain more wraiths of the Crimson Paper Figures.

Unfortunately, this small abandoned village attracted only a limited number of Crimson Paper Figures.

What's more, the military only granted Lu Ran seven days of training time.

As soon as the allotted time was up, the Li brothers teleported the group back to Stone City and personally escorted them out of the demon abyss.

They didn't even allow Lu Ran an extra second.

Lu Ran felt terrible.

He, a Great Xia Tyrant, was treated with such disdain.

On the afternoon of the same day they were driven out, Lu Ran and his group followed Chen Jingjing and boarded a plane back to the capital.

As soon as they landed, Lu Ran called his mother.

Perhaps his prayers worked, as the call miraculously went through.

"Ranran?" A gentle female voice answered.

Qiao Wanjun's condition was as usual, showing no signs of distress.

"Mom, I'm back in the capital. I just got off the plane," Lu Ran reported.

"Did you get what you wanted?" Qiao Wanjun asked softly.

Lu Ran was momentarily stunned.

This question...

After a moment's thought, he replied, "Yes, yes. I gained a lot of experience, and now I have more confidence when facing Crimson Paper Figures.

We also encountered a River Realm Crimson Paper Figure.

Sister Jingjing is so powerful; she sliced the evil demon with one sword!"

"Hehe." Qiao Wanjun chuckled and didn't respond further.

Lu Ran: "By the way, Mom, are you at home or still working?"

"Mom is busy and can't accompany you for the time being," Qiao Wanjun's voice carried a hint of apology.

Lu Ran immediately said, "Is Mom at Shocking Swan Peak? I want to visit you."

"No need." Unexpectedly, Qiao Wanjun's response was concise and clear.

Lu Ran was taken aback, but Qiao Wanjun's tone softened as she gently said, "Ranran, Mom is very busy right now. You should relax with your teammates.

Or if you want to visit other demon abysses, you can tell Chen Jingjing directly, and she will arrange it for you."

Lu Ran: "Mom, I want..."

"Hehe." Qiao Wanjun couldn't help but laugh and teased, "What's this? After going to Crimson Village, you've changed?

You're becoming clingy now?"

Lu Ran: "..."

Qiao Wanjun's smile faded, and she asked, "What happened?"

"Nothing, everything is fine," Lu Ran quickly assured her, explaining, "I just wanted to see you."

"If that's the case, then next time, Ranran," Qiao Wanjun said.

"Dudu...dudu..." Lu Ran wanted to say something more, but the phone already had a busy tone.

"What did Auntie say?" Jiang Ruyi asked.

Lu Ran shook his head helplessly, "She's busy and doesn't want me to visit."

Seeing this, Chen Jingjing couldn't help but sigh.

Lu Ran thought for a moment and turned to Jiang Ruyi, "What if I go to Shocking Swan Peak directly? Will she be angry?"

Jiang Ruyi: "..."

Why are you asking me about this?

"It's best to get permission first," Chen Jingjing suddenly spoke up, advising, "Don't go against Peak Lord Qiao's wishes."

The use of the word 'rebellious' was quite fitting.

It also showed the high regard Chen Jingjing held for Qiao Wanjun.

Lu Ran nodded and sighed, "Let's go home for now. We'll wait a bit."

Lu Ran's face turned awkward, and he suddenly remembered something, "I don't have the house keys."

Everyone: "..."

Being a son can be quite humiliating.

Chen Jingjing spoke up at the right moment, "Should I arrange a hotel for you?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Si Xianxian finally interjected, hurriedly saying, "Staying at a hotel is better. Lu Ran's home has a deity, so let's not disturb them."

"Yes, that's right," Lu Ran nodded.

The group of four went to the parking lot, retrieved the car they had parked there earlier, and quickly drove away from the airport.

Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi didn't visit their mothers, but the one who benefited the most was undoubtedly Si Xianxian.

Jiang Ruyi kept her promise and accompanied Si Xianxian for three days of sightseeing in the capital, including the night market that Xian'er had been longing for.

Lu Ran was very cooperative, trying not to let his troubles affect Si Xianxian's enthusiasm.

On the 29th of the lunar month, Lu Ran tried calling his mother again.

Qiao Wanjun once again refused her son's visit, only reminding him to balance work and rest.

Lu Ran could only settle for comforting his mother over the phone, attempting to ease her worries a little.

Qiao Wanjun was a bit surprised but also pleased, as Lu Ran could sense her voice becoming even gentler.

Even so, she didn't chat with Lu Ran for long and hung up quickly.

It was evident that she was genuinely busy.

Perhaps she was busy praying and making offerings, not daring to waste too much time?

Who knows.

Lu Ran held his phone, silently bowing his head, as a rebellious thought arose in his mind.

If he had enough strength, he could ask Deity Sword One face-to-face.

At least she knew the specific reason for her mother's distress, which was also the subject of public criticism.

Ah.

Strength, strength.

As he thought about it, Lu Ran couldn't help but laugh at himself.

He had personally witnessed the power of Sword One's follower, Chen Jingjing.

Even the sect's followers were so formidable; how powerful would the Sword Saint himself be?

When would he be qualified to face the Deity directly?

It was truly a dream within a dream.

Lu Ran's strength had indeed been growing, but as he encountered more and more, he only felt increasingly insignificant.

With a heart full of complex emotions, on the first day of the third lunar month, Lu Ran, along with two teammates, boarded the return train.

But after just an hour's journey, Jiang and Lu arrived home.

They bid farewell to Scarlet Sun at the platform, seeing her off with reluctance, before finally leaving the station.

Thus, a mysterious couple appeared on the streets of Rain Alley City.

They wore hats and masks, covering themselves tightly, as if unwilling to be seen, yet they strolled on the streets, a contradiction in themselves.

"Have you called Auntie Si?" Jiang Ruyi asked softly.

"Yeah, I called her. Auntie is going to the platform to pick up Xian'er," Lu Ran said casually, gazing into the distance.

Today, Rain Alley City was unusually clear.

The sky was blue, the clouds were white, and the spring breeze was gentle.

Unfortunately, Lu Ran wasn't in the mood to appreciate it.

Jiang Ruyi lowered her eyelashes, silently following Lu Ran.

Lu Ran didn't know how to comfort his mother, and Jiang Ruyi didn't know how to comfort him either.

Until they reached the entrance of the Rain Alley Home Community, Jiang Ruyi stopped and said, "Go back and rest well."

"Let's go, I'll send you home and then come back," Lu Ran had no intention of going in.

But Jiang Ruyi shook her head, "Go back.

Perhaps, meditating in front of the shrine will calm and stabilize your mind."

Lu Ran fell silent.

He said he didn't want his troubles to disturb others.

But with Jiang Ruyi caring so much about him, how could she not sense Lu Ran's unusual behavior these past few days? Even the reluctant Scarlet Sun probably didn't dare to throw a tantrum and stick around because of Lu Ran's mood.

Four white jade talismans slowly floated around Jiang Ruyi:

"Tomorrow, I'll cook soup for you, how about that?"

"Great!" Lu Ran nodded immediately.

Jiang Ruyi wore a mask, covering her face, but it couldn't hide her sparkling eyes filled with laughter:

"Dream on."

Lu Ran: ?

He watched as the girl drifted away, and he couldn't help but smile and shake his head, turning to enter the community.

"Meow?"

When Lu Ran opened the door, on the coffee table in the living room, the little tortoiseshell cat tilted her head, her eyes full of confusion.

Lu Ran usually went out for more than twenty days, and this time he had indeed returned early.

"Did you miss me?" Lu Ran waved at the little cat as he headed towards the small bedroom.

After staying in the capital for a few days, Lu Ran naturally didn't have any aggressive aura.

The little tortoiseshell cat, rarely coming close, was merciful enough to let someone pet her.

But Lu Ran betrayed the little cat's trust, picking her up and turning towards the bathroom.

The poor little cat was washed, shaking her head in confusion.

Until Lu Ran wrapped her in a large bath towel and walked out of the bathroom, the little cat was still muttering curses.

"Immortal Sheep, Sir."

Lu Ran rolled the bath towel and wrapped the cat, tossing her onto the small bed.

He spoke as he approached the shrine, clasping his hands together: "Disciple can activate the Crimson Paper Person sculpture.

But I don't know how far the evil sculpture can be cultivated."

"Om!"

Lu Ran's brain went blank, and his body swayed.

He only felt darkness before his eyes as he entered the spiritual world, standing before a massive sculpture.

The evil sculpture of the Crimson Paper Person!

Even as a sculpture, the Crimson Paper Person's beauty remained undiminished, her pale paper-like complexion now even more enchanting.

"Om~"

The evil sculpture was immediately activated, vibrating with an 'Om' sound.

Lu Ran looked up, watching as the Crimson Paper Person statue grew larger, obviously advancing in rank.

Mist Realm, Stream Realm, River Realm!

Lu Ran's mood improved significantly, and this evil sculpture could reach the River Realm?

Could it continue? Could it reach the second stage of the River Realm? Hmm, okay, I'm thinking too much.

"Not enough," a deep, hoarse voice came from behind Lu Ran.

Lu Ran turned his head and saw the black fire flickering around the sheep's head, and the lifeless horizontal pupils.

He understood the Divine Lord's meaning.

The Paper Sculpture Spell of the Crimson Paper Clan was a River Realm third-stage technique.

With the evil sculpture's current strength, Lu Ran couldn't learn it yet.

"The military only gave me seven days of training and wouldn't let me go to the next village," Lu Ran argued.

"You still need to work hard and quickly cultivate this clan's evil sculpture," the black fire sheep's head left a message, its figure gradually dissipating.

Lu Ran pouted, "What if, on the 15th of this month, the Crimson Paper Person has a Ghost Night?"

His words abruptly stopped, and he slapped his own mouth.

Pfft, jinx!

Lu Ran turned around and looked up at the evil sculpture of the Crimson Paper Person.

First, let's learn all the techniques I should learn.

This time, let's do it this way, and next month, I'll directly ask Sister Jingjing to arrange for three Crimson Paper Person Demon Caves.

After finishing here in seven days, I'll go straight to the next one, then the one after that! I won't believe it

I must summon this bride!

Thank you, boss Gzc, for the reward of over 20,000! Thank you for your continued support!

Boss, you're so generous, wishing you longevity and peace for many years! Woohoo~

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end