Chapter 343: Sword

Chapter 343: Sword

At the Immortal Scenic Garden, the Qiao Mansion.

Chen Jingjing took out the key and helped Lu Ran open the door to his home.

Lu Ran smiled and shook his head.

Even though it was his own home, he needed an outsider to open the door for him.

"I'll wait for you, no need to rush." Chen Jingjing said softly.

"I'll be right out." Lu Ran quickly changed his shoes and walked into the living room.

The Radiant Blade and Night Silence Sword expanded the fabric, flying it up to prevent the petals from falling.

Lu Ran also sheathed his Eight Directions Saber into the scabbard on his back.

He stood in the living room, his gaze shifting back and forth between his mother's bedroom and study.

Lu Ran hesitated for a moment but eventually chose the study.

His mother's study.

The forbidden area of the house.

Even the little shrine and the Sword One Divine Statue were placed in Wanjun Qiao's bedroom, not in the study.

Lu Ran had lived in this house for three years.

And this study, he had only entered once.

One night, Lu Ran had brought a cup of hot milk and stood outside his mother's study door.

At that time, his father had just passed away, and his mother had recently brought Lu Ran home.

He wanted to take the opportunity to get closer to his mother.

Lu Ran couldn't deny that he had a hint of trying to please her.

Perhaps, a mother and son shouldn't have such an attitude towards each other.

But Lu Ran hadn't seen his mother in a long time.

After his father's sacrifice, the boy's world had collapsed.

In a daze, Wanjun Qiao appeared before him, gently took his hand, and brought him back to the capital.

That night, that cup of hot milk was eventually brought into the study.

Wanjun Qiao allowed Lu Ran to enter the room.

But as he left, Wanjun Qiao whispered to her son, asking him not to disturb her in the study again.

Lu Ran would never forget the feeling in his heart when he heard those words.

He bowed his head and silently left, gently closing the door behind him.

His mother seemed to realize something as well.

But she didn't come out, and that night, she didn't even leave the study.

After that night, she became even gentler towards Lu Ran.

Xiao Yuansi had once complained, saying that her mother only liked her brother and was kind only to him, not loving her at all.

A few days later, Xiao Yuansi's tantrums became so severe that her mother punished her to kneel for an entire day.

It was also on that night,

Qiao Yuansi received a sneaked hamburger from her guilt-ridden brother.

In any case,

Since Lu Ran delivered the hot milk, he had never stepped foot in the study again.

"Huff"

Lu Ran took a deep breath, standing at the study door, and hesitated again.

Should he go in?

It's fine not to go in; he could place the flowers in the living room, on the balcony, or even in his mother's bedroom.

But Lu Ran wanted to enter.

He needed to reconcile with his younger self.

The insecure, sensitive, and cautious version of himself.

His mother wasn't unfeeling; on the contrary, she loved him very much.

But at that time, Lu Ran had just arrived, and she hadn't found a suitable way to interact with him yet.

"Knock knock knock~"

Lu Ran gently knocked on the study door and said softly,

"Excuse the disturbance."

After waiting for a moment, there was no response from inside the room, so Lu Ran carried the flower pot and walked in.

The study was not small, and it was very plain.

So plain that there wasn't even a single green plant.

Instead of a desk and computer, there was a writing desk.

On the desk were writing brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone, probably left out in a hurry when his mother had left home the last time.

There were many books on the bookshelf, and a large calligraphy scroll hung on the wall.

Sword.

On the vertically hanging scroll, there was only one large character.

The stroke of the sword, the hook of silver, and the iron brush.

In Lu Ran's eyes, it wasn't just a calligraphy character but a word formed by countless sharp swords.

Between the horizontal and vertical strokes, the dots and slashes, there seemed to be an interplay of sword edges.

Lu Ran didn't know who had written this character.

His memory of everything in the room was vague, as he had only been there once.

And this time, when Lu Ran saw this character again, he froze at the door.

The feeling was very mysterious.

It was as if...

There was a sentence written on the paper that had never changed.

When Lu Ran was young and ignorant, he could recognize every character in the sentence.

After he started school, he could understand the meaning of the sentence.

And when he entered society and endured countless trials, reading the sentence again, he could deeply comprehend the hidden metaphor behind it.

Was this 'Sword' character written by his mother? So fierce and unyielding, with a strong and proud spirit!

Was she wronged?

Was she resisting something?

"Buzz~"

"Buzz!"

Suddenly, a vibration of weapons sounded from the right.

Lu Ran turned to look.

Two divine swords hung on the wall, suddenly flying down.

These were a pair of divine weapons! Their cold light was piercing, and their edges were exposed! They buzzed, seemingly expressing their dissatisfaction and displeasure at Lu Ran's prolonged presence.

"Buzz!"

"Buzz!"

The Radiant Blade and Night Silence Sword vibrated simultaneously!

The two blades swiftly flew into the study, blocking the two divine swords.

The Radiant Blade shone brilliantly.

The Night Silence Sword exuded a menacing aura! Facing each other, the divine weapons protected their master! Accompanied by the crisp 'ding ding' sound, the blades and swords intertwined.

"Stop!" Lu Ran shouted sternly.

Before opening the door, Lu Ran had knocked and said, "Excuse the disturbance," specifically addressing the two swords in the room.

The previous Lu Ran had been completely unaware of everything.

It wasn't until the last time he returned home for the New Year that Lu Ran realized:

There were divine weapons in his mother's study!

Of course, Lu Ran hadn't entered the study at that time either.

It was the Radiant Blade and the Rebirth Coin that informed Lu Ran of the presence of a similar energy in that room, which had always been closed.

"I am the son of your master."

As Lu Ran spoke, he gestured for his divine weapons to retreat.

The twin blades slowly dissipated their force, retreating but still blocking in front of Lu Ran.

"I'll put down the flower and leave immediately."

Lu Ran held the flowerpot and approached the desk, where a pair of swords glared at him.

He picked up the flowerpot and placed the Hanging Silk Jasmine in the corner of the desk.

Unintentionally, he noticed an unfinished calligraphy on the desk, only half a sentence:

"Do Not Speak of Women as Inferior Beings."

Lu Ran's eyebrows furrowed.

He wasn't reading a poem, nor was he interpreting its meaning.

Instead, he observed the brushstrokes, each stroke like a sword, expressing a subtle sorrow and indignation.

Sorrow and indignation?

"Buzz!" The green blade trembled again, as if reminding Lu Ran to leave.

Lu Ran turned to look at the Divine Armament, his expression calm as water, and said softly, "That's enough."

Another sword suddenly pressed against the trembling green blade, moving it back half an inch.

Lu Ran turned to look at the Hanging Silk Jasmine, his face softening slightly.

This peculiar flower from the Demon Den had delicate branches and petals.

Yet, its vitality was incredibly resilient!

It didn't even need light or water.

The Hanging Silk Jasmine quietly absorbed energy from the heavens and earth, replenishing itself and releasing excess energy.

This was what the soldiers from the Demon Den had told Lu Ran.

Initially, Lu Ran had thought this flower produced its own energy.

Turns out, it was just a transporter of nature's energy.

Regardless, its beauty, fragrance, and rarity were all genuine.

The faint jasmine scent also reminded Lu Ran of Jiang Ruyi.

After meeting his mother, he would mention it to her.

This way, every time his mother entered the study, seeing the beautiful Hanging Silk Jasmine and smelling its sweet fragrance, she would also think of Jiang Ruyi.

Over time, his mother's impression of Jiang Ruyi would improve, wouldn't it?

Lu Ran exited the study and gently closed the door.

He took out his phone, thinking of the unfinished poem on the desk, and immediately started searching.

After a few seconds, Lu Ran raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Do Not Speak of Women as Inferior Beings, Nightly Dragon Sword Echoes on the Wall."

Lu Ran silently stared for a while, then breathed a deep sigh of relief.

"Little Lu?" At the door, Chen Jingjing called out softly.

"Ah, Sister, let's go," Lu Ran quickly walked towards the door.

Chen Jingjing: "Just now?"

Lu Ran shook his head: "It's nothing."

Chen Jingjing faintly heard the sound of clashing swords and Lu Ran's command.

Out of trust in Lu Ran, she didn't enter.

Additionally, this was Wanjun Qiao's residence, and without the peak master's explicit permission, Chen Jingjing couldn't intrude.

"Do you want to eat something first?" Chen Jingjing led Lu Ran towards the elevator.

"Is Sister Jingjing hungry now?" Lu Ran was quite surprised.

Chen Jingjing shook her head: "Rarely. The last time was when we ate at Autumn Water Residence."

Lu Ran: ". . ."

Forget it, let's focus on the important matters.

The two drove away from the Immortal Scenic Garden, heading straight for Swift Crane Peak.

Along the way, Lu Ran sent a message to Qiao Yuansi on WeChat, worried that she might not find him when she returned home.

But Qiao Yuansi didn't reply, probably busy at school.

As the sun gradually set, Chen Jingjing and Lu Ran arrived at the foot of Swift Crane Peak.

As a man, Lu Ran didn't dare to climb the Sword One Sect's Spirit Mountain without permission.

He handed the Radiant Blade to Chen Jingjing and waited at the foot of the mountain.

Hopefully, the Radiant Blade would protect Sister Jingjing.

Speaking of which, the Divine Armament in the study should belong to Mother.

Through it, Lu Ran could directly contact Wanjun Qiao.

However, judging by the attitudes of the two swords, Lu Ran didn't want to force the issue.

Moreover, in Lu Ran's opinion, coming to the foot of the mountain to seek an audience should increase his chances of success?

Soon, Lu Ran breathed a sigh of relief.

The Radiant Blade brought good news; Mother agreed to see him!

Hmm, that's good.

Setting aside their mother-son relationship, he was still the First Pride of Great Xia.

What if Peak Master Qiao refused to see him?

Would I lose face?

Soon after, Lu Ran saw Chen Jingjing, her face filled with joy, rapidly flying down.

She led Lu Ran, circling halfway around the mountain, and then flew straight up.

"Little Lu."

Halfway up the mountain, Chen Jingjing suddenly spoke.

"Hmm?" Lu Ran looked down, seeing Chen Jingjing hovering with her sword.

"I won't go up. Peak Master Qiao wants you to go alone."

"Thank you, Sister Jingjing."

"Young Master, please don't be so polite in the future." Chen Jingjing smiled and waved, slowly descending.

Lu Ran: ". . ."

He gripped the Night Silence Sword and flew straight up, heading towards the peak of the mountain behind Swift Crane Peak.

In the afterglow of the setting sun,

The peak was covered in white snow.

A stunning figure suddenly appeared in Lu Ran's sight.

She wore a golden and white flowing dress, exuding ancient elegance. As the mountain breeze blew, her skirt danced lightly alongside her jet-black hair.

The setting sun added a warm hue to her face.

But it was only a temporary remedy.

Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes like deep and dark pools.

It wasn't until Wanjun Qiao also looked at him that Lu Ran noticed a subtle warmth in those profound and cold eyes.

"I thought you'd forgotten me."

Wanjun Qiao stood with her hands behind her back, speaking softly.

"Huh?" Lu Ran gripped his sword, suspended outside the cliff.

Wanjun Qiao smiled softly: "What did you promise Mom last time?"

Lu Ran suddenly remembered that Wanjun Qiao had asked him if he would come to see her if she secluded herself here.

The Lu Ran at that time had readily agreed.

"Hehe."

Suddenly, Lu Ran laughed.

Looking at the woman before him with gentle eyebrows.

I was worried about being turned away, afraid you'd chase me away.

But,

You were waiting for me.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end