Chapter 29: Yuanxi
Chapter 29: Yuanxi
"Buzz..."
The phone on the bedside vibrated incessantly, waking up the sleeping person.
Lu Ran rubbed his eyes, his hand groping around the pillow until he finally picked up the phone and mumbled, "Hello?"
"Brother!" A sweet voice came from the other end.
"Who is it?" Lu Ran sat up, feeling a headache coming on.
Why did he feel more tired the more he slept?
"It's your silly brother!"
The voice on the other end turned slightly annoyed, "I called you brother, who else could I be?"
"Yuanxi, it's you." Lu Ran patted his forehead, "I'm still half-asleep."
Qiao Yuanxi, Lu Ran's younger sister by a year, took their mother's surname, Qiao Wanjun.
Despite their parents' divorce, the siblings had been living apart since childhood, but this hadn't affected their relationship.
When Lu Ran was 13, their mother brought him back to the capital, and the siblings lived under the same roof for three years, maintaining a close bond.
"You've been sleeping all day, and you're still not awake?" Yuanxi whispered, "I'm already awake."
Lu Ran was indeed groggy. He turned his head towards the window and saw that night had fallen, and the heavy rain hadn't stopped.
What an eerie situation!
Lu Ran furrowed his brows as a familiar feeling welled up in his heart.
Did I forget something important again?
Why did I say 'again'?
Oh yes, after the Evil Dog Village assessment, I went home and slept. The next morning, I also felt like I had forgotten something.
What was it?
"Brother?"
"Yeah, I'm here." Lu Ran scratched his head in frustration.
"It's so boring. Every 15th day of the lunar month feels like being detained." Yuanxi complained, "And the detention lasts for several days."
Lu Ran couldn't help but chuckle.
He could relate to that feeling.
Even though Lu Ran had become a follower, he still had to stay at home during the 16th to 18th, unable to go anywhere.
There might still be demons roaming the city.
The authorities also needed to clean up and restore the devastated city.
"What are you laughing at?" Yuanxi's tone changed, concern in her voice, "Did you get injured last night?"
"Injured?" Lu Ran followed the principle of only sharing good news, "Your brother here is going crazy!
I'm like a god~"
"Don't swear!"
"Hey, you're telling me off now?"
Yuanxi's voice turned soft, "My phone is on speaker, and mom is listening beside me."
Lu Ran: "..."
"Hehe~" Yuanxi suddenly giggled, "Silly, I was just kidding!"
Lu Ran: "???"
Wow!
Usually, I'm the one causing trouble, but today I've met my match.
Yuanxi: "When are you coming to play with me? I want to eat a burger."
Lu Ran sighed, "You can buy it yourself, why do I have to get it for you?"
Yuanxi whispered, "It's a pity to throw away the lettuce."
Lu Ran: "..."
Do you hear yourself? Is that even human speech?
For three whole years, how many burgers have we eaten together, and how many lettuce leaves have I eaten for you?
You're treating me like a sheep, aren't you?
Don't say it, no, don't say it!
Yuanxi: "Come on, when are you coming to play with me?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Ran felt a bit hesitant.
The 15th-day city defense task was indeed the end-of-term examination for Grade 11. Starting today, Lu Ran was on summer vacation.
However, the problem was that the first summer vacation after becoming a follower came with a heavy task for the trainees.
Before the start of Grade 12, Lu Ran only had about a month to upgrade the school-rewarded equipment.
The equipment included:
1. The Divine Energy Orb rewarded by the school after the beginner assessment (Evil Dog Village assessment).
2. The weapon rewarded by the school after the first city defense task for beginners.
For example, if you ranked tenth in the Evil Dog Village assessment, you would receive the Mist-grade Divine Energy Orb as a school reward.
During this summer vacation, you could slay demons in the Demon Cavern, collect 100 Mist Realm Demon Crystals, and submit them to the military.
Once the conditions were met, the military would upgrade your Mist-grade Divine Energy Orb to a higher-tier Stream-grade Divine Energy Orb.
It's important to emphasize that:
Trainees operate in squads, so it's not necessary for each individual to submit 100 Mist Realm Demon Crystals. A squad of four only needs to collectively submit a total of 100.
Given this, why did Lu Ran consider this task challenging?
The school had rewarded him with the best equipment, which was originally a Stream-grade Divine Energy Orb!
Therefore, for Lu Ran and his squad to upgrade their equipment, collecting 100 Mist Realm Demon Crystals wouldn't be sufficient.
They would need to collect 100 Stream Realm Demon Crystals!
Or, according to the conversion rate, they would need to collect 1,000 Mist Realm Demon Crystals!
The task was undoubtedly difficult.
But Lu Ran was determined to give it a try! After all, the rewards for this task were immense!
If Lu Ran succeeded in exchanging the Stream-grade Divine Energy Orb for a River-grade one, he wouldn't have to worry about endurance for any school-issued tasks throughout his entire high school life!
Two words: Takeoff~
"Brother doesn't like me anymore." Yuanxi's voice turned soft after a long silence.
"No, no." Lu Ran explained, "It's just that I've become a follower, and I need to train in the Demon Cavern."
Yuanxi suggested, "Let's go together?"
"Don't be silly!" Lu Ran rarely sounded serious, "The Demon Cavern isn't a place to play around.
In his current state, Lu Ran was incapable of protecting his younger sister. Even if he had exceptional abilities, the military would never allow an ordinary person to enter the demon's lair.
Qiao Yuanxi said, "I need to train and gain experience too!"
Lu Ran almost laughed in exasperation, "What kind of training do you need? Courage training?"
"Hmph," Qiao Yuanxi pouted, "Who isn't a believer?"
"What do you mean by that? Are you a believer?"
"Yes, I am."
"You... you're a believer?" Lu Ran was taken aback.
"My foolish brother," Qiao Yuanxi muttered, her tone resembling Lu Ran's, "I've been a believer for fifteen days, and you didn't even know."
The first thing I said on the phone was that I had woken up, and you didn't seem to notice at all.
I didn't sleep last night either; I went to participate in the city defense task!"
Lu Ran was shocked, "You're only sixteen, and you're in your first year of high school. You don't even qualify for the divine worship ceremony. What kind of believer are you?"
Qiao Yuanxi whispered, "After the divine worship ceremony ended, I sneaked to the shrine before it was completely dismantled and gave it a try."
"Huh?" Lu Ran was taken aback.
She sneaked to the shrine before it was fully dismantled? And just gave it a try?!
Qiao Yuanxi was indeed a bit mischievous, but Lu Ran never expected her to be this playful.
Qiao Yuanxi looked quite troubled, "Oh my, I succeeded without even trying. The teachers and classmates were all stunned. I'm the only believer in the entire first-year class, haha!"
"Huh??" Lu Ran was even more surprised.
"Hehe," Qiao Yuanxi laughed heartily, finally revealing the secret she had been keeping for half a month.
In truth, Qiao Yuanxi still had a sliver of hope that her brother would discover it on his own.
Lu Ran's mind was indeed buzzing.
I begged and pleaded on the shrine, but none of the deities paid me any attention.
You sneaked and tried, and you succeeded?
"Wait," Lu Ran said irritably, "Are you lying to me again?"
"I'm not lying. I specifically told Mom not to tell you, just to see when you would notice." Qiao Yuanxi sighed.
This girl has always had a flair for drama, "It's been so long, and you don't seem to care about me at all.
My foolish and cold-hearted brother," she teased.
Lu Ran asked directly, "What kind of believer are you?"
"I'm a believer of a third-rank deity, and she's a very beautiful deity!" Qiao Yuanxi smiled, "Take a guess?"
Lu Ran's interest was piqued, "Lord Yufu?"
"Not the deity my father believes in," Qiao Yuanxi's expression was odd. Could Lord Yufu be described as 'beautiful'? Lord Yufu is clearly a male deity!
"Then who is it?" Lu Ran was curious.
Qiao Yuanxi's eyes sparkled, "Will you come to the capital to visit me? If you come, I'll tell you."
Lu Ran thought for a moment and decided, "I'll come to see you right after my team and I complete our summer vacation task."
"Then it's settled!" Qiao Yuanxi quickly hung up the phone, fearing Lu Ran might change his mind.
"Incredible," Lu Ran put down his phone, filled with awe.
Could a sixteen-year-old become a deity's believer? Usually, one had to be seventeen or eighteen, as deities had specific requirements for their believers' physical and mental strength.
Well, her birthday is indeed a big deal.
The reason she's named 'Yuanxi' is that she was born on the Lantern Festival.
So, although Qiao Yuanxi is sixteen, she is physically and mentally prepared? I'm not sure about her mental state, but physically, she has indeed grown into a graceful young lady.
When we met during the Chinese New Year, Qiao Yuanxi was already around 1.68 meters tall.
These details are understandable, but the critical issue is, Qiao Yuanxi sneaked to the shrine and succeeded?
Half a month ago, when Lu Ran participated in the divine worship ceremony, he noticed something unusual.
This year, the probability of students becoming believers had significantly increased compared to previous years.
So, was Qiao Yuanxi also a beneficiary of this deity expansion?
"A third-rank deity believer," Lu Ran muttered, "Yuanxi, this is amazing?"
You're almost catching up with me!
After all, no matter how powerful you are, you're still a deity.
You haven't stepped out of the deity circle.
But me,
I invited the Paper Doll. Hmm? Lu Ran suddenly frowned, and the mention of the Paper Doll triggered a vague memory.
Paper Doll?
Paper Doll?!
Lu Ran tapped his forehead in frustration, not knowing how long it had been, but suddenly, his body trembled.
Like a startled cat, his fur stood on end!
I remember now!
In my dream, there was a charming and seductive Paper Doll and a stunning statue of a Paper Doll.
There was also a terrifying sheep's head burning with black flames.
No,
My dream wasn't just that!
I also dreamed of an Evil Dog statue and a Bloodplague Dog statue.
Lu Ran abruptly turned his head, gazing at the divine shrine, and looking at the white jade statue of the Divine Sheep.
The white jade sheep's face still wore a kind smile.
With its hind hooves on the ground and its front hooves clasped in a respectful gesture, it exuded friendliness and humility.
It stood quietly, maintaining this kind and loving demeanor from start to finish.
But at that moment, Lu Ran felt a chill run down his spine!
(End of Chapter)
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