Chapter 345: Branded?

Chapter 345: Branded?

Nighttime in the Immortal Scenic Garden, Qiao Mansion.

The room was pitch-black, with no lights on.

After his bath, Lu Ran, wearing pajamas and a towel on his head, sat on the sofa in a daze.

On Swift Crane Peak, the words of Mother reverberated in his ears:

"Never lose yourself."

It was a warning.

She indirectly informed Lu Ran that this world was different from what he had seen and imagined.

From Wanjun Qiao's perspective, her words might have caused a huge stir in Lu Ran's heart.

However, Lu Ran had already prepared himself mentally.

After all, Lord Immortal Ram had clearly told Lu Ran that challenging the Divine Ruins and venturing into another realm would come with immense risks.

Moreover, going there would allow Lu Ran to understand the true nature of the world.

Wanjun Qiao was evidently unaware that Deity Immortal Ram was different from other deities.

Ever since Lu Ran revered the deity, Lord Immortal Ram had often instilled certain ideas in him.

For instance:

Deities?

Pfft, they're just a bunch of rocks.

Another example:

Everything of the human race's followers does not belong to themselves.

Their entire lives, their thoughts and beliefs, even their souls after death, all exist to serve the deities.

These heretical statements and subversive concepts had always influenced Lu Ran.

Even the deities fervently revered by people were viewed by Lu Ran with a different attitude.

What else could Lu Ran not accept?

From start to finish, Lu Ran had never been an ordinary follower!

However,

There was indeed one thing that left Lu Ran utterly shocked!

It was when Wanjun Qiao uttered the words "Never lose yourself." Her action!

She gently hugged Lu Ran, her lips close to his ear, and whispered these words.

Each word resonated in his ears.

At that moment, Lu Ran was stunned!

Hmm. Well, at this moment, Lu Ran was also sitting on the sofa in a daze, still in a state of shock.

Lu Ran held immense reverence for Mother.

Even without her stern expression, and even if she was smiling while admonishing him, Lu Ran would listen attentively.

Lu Ran had never expected this!

She actually leaned in and whispered into his ear, pouring words into his mind.

Just like chanting a spell.

At this moment, the words "Never lose yourself" still echoed in Lu Ran's mind!

"Bro?"

"Ah, I'm scared!" Lu Ran was startled and quickly moved away.

He turned his head but saw Yuansi Qiao standing in front of the sofa, looking at him curiously.

The lights in the house were already on, but Lu Ran didn't know when they had been turned on.

"What's wrong with you?" Yuansi Qiao asked with concern, "I've been calling you for a while, but you didn't respond."

"Ah," Lu Ran raised his hand and wiped his head with the towel.

Yuansi Qiao looked at her dazed brother, her worries deepening.

She couldn't be bothered with her playfulness and sat down next to Lu Ran, hugging his arm, and whispered:

"Bro, did you have a breakup?"

Lu Ran: ". "

Yuansi Qiao widened her eyes: "Ruyi Sister doesn't want us anymore?"

Lu Ran rolled his eyes.

Yuansi Qiao's face turned anxious: "Did you guys argue?

She likes someone else?

Did you... cheat on her?"

Lu Ran: ???

What kind of nonsense is this!

He turned to look at Yuansi Qiao and pushed her away: "It has nothing to do with Ruyi."

"Then what's wrong with you?" Yuansi Qiao was very concerned.

"I..." Lu Ran opened his mouth.

How can I explain this?

Can I say that I was hypnotized by Mom?

That's not right either!

Sigh.

Indeed, she's a formidable figure who can destroy the world!

With just a simple sentence, she managed to stun me.

In the future, who knows how long I'll remain stunned. Wait!

Did she foresee that something would happen to me in the future and left a message in my mind in advance? It's possible!

It's something she's capable of doing.

Due to Wanjun Qiao's cold temperament, the love she had shown her children over the years had never been fervent.

In the three years Lu Ran had lived here, it often took him a long time to react to some of the things she did or said.

Perhaps there were some acts of care that Lu Ran had never noticed until now.

Additionally, today's hug was also one of the reasons that left Lu Ran stunned.

The last time they hugged was when Lu Ran was five years old.

In any case, the scene that unfolded on Swift Crane Peak today had left a deep impression on Lu Ran.

"Why are you spacing out again?" Yuansi Qiao held Lu Ran's arm and shook it back and forth, "Bro, don't scare me like that!"

"If it's really not working out, just break up. Sister will find you another girlfriend!"

"You're the First Pride of Great Xia, and you're lacking a girlfriend?"

"What do you think of Yi Ren?"

"Bro~~~"

Lu Ran was speechless.

He turned to look at Yuansi Qiao and said helplessly: "Is there anything else on your mind besides dating?"

Yuansi Qiao's face showed doubt: "You're really not heartbroken?"

Lu Ran replied irritably: "Why should I be heartbroken?"

Yuansi Qiao muttered: "When Wang Ling had a breakup, you looked exactly like this!

You were so lost and disheveled, like a drowning... Cough, so what's your reason?"

Lu Ran: "I went to see Mom."

Yuansi Qiao's face changed, and she grabbed Lu Ran's wrist anxiously: "What happened to Mom?"

Lu Ran: "She's doing well. She's currently cultivating on Swift Crane Peak, and I went to visit her.

She gave me a lecture on life and ideals, and I'm still digesting it."

Yuansi Qiao relaxed, but then her eyebrows furrowed: "You went to see Mom?"

"Yeah."

"You went to see her behind my back?"

"What are you talking about! Hey, hey?"

Yuansi Qiao grabbed a pillow from the sofa, her face flushed with anger: "Stinky brother, why didn't you take me with you, hmm?

"You're crazy!" Lu Ran also picked up a pillow.

"Ah! You dare to fight back? You... brother! Big brother~ I'm sorry!"

"Who's the stinky little brother?"

"Big brother~ good brother! Waa~ you're bullying me, waa~~~"

"Speak! Open your mic! Come on!" At this moment, Si Xianxian's soul seemed to possess her.

"I am, I am! I'm the stinky little sister."

Lu Ran threw down the pillow and released Qiao Yuansi's hands, which were pinned behind his back.

Qiao Yuansi hurriedly ran away, pointing at Lu Ran, so angry that she couldn't speak for a long time.

Finally, she stomped her foot in frustration and turned away angrily.

Lu Ran looked at the adorable little pufferfish and suddenly said, "Let's go eat burgers later, okay?"

Qiao Yuansi subconsciously stopped in her tracks.

After staying in the capital for a few days, Lu Ran reunited with Qiao Yuansi's squad and they all headed towards Rain Alley City.

He participated in the Pride Celestial event every even-numbered month.

Therefore, on November 15th, Lu Ran and his team did not wear cameras.

This time, Lu Ran and the capital squad still guarded the plaza area.

The good news was that Rain Alley City did not experience any special incidents that night.

The bad news was that even without special incidents, the intensity of the demons invading the mortal realm had increased significantly.

This world

was becoming increasingly turbulent.

Until the 16th day of the lunar calendar, when the sky's edge turned white, Lu Ran looked at the devastated Rain Alley City with a heavy heart.

Rain Alley,

I'm about to leave.

What will you do?

Lu Ran sighed deeply, his mind filled with thoughts.

"Lu Ran."

"Hmm?" Lu Ran turned to look at Guan Yiren.

After a night of battle, she still looked as pure as fresh snow in her white clothes.

Compared to the previous month, this proud female disciple of the Sword One Sect had finally regained her former brilliance.

Guan Yiren wanted to say something but stopped.

Lu Ran instinctively lowered his hat brim and then pulled his mask up a bit, "Speak."

Guan Yiren hesitated for a moment but finally spoke, "Your state seems a bit off, have you noticed?"

"Yes, Brother Ran," Wang Ling, who was standing nearby, immediately agreed, "Do you have something bothering you?"

Guan Yiren must have made a big decision to "ungratefully" give guidance to the Great Xia's first pride:

"During the breaks in the battle, you occasionally zone out."

Lu Ran didn't explain but nodded humbly, "Thank you for the reminder, I'll be more careful in the future."

Qiao Yuansi pouted, "My brother was scolded by my mom!

What you see now is already the better version of him!

That night on the 15th, he was like a soulless person.

I even thought he had a breakup!"

Niu Zhengzheng came running with his hoarse voice, "What's the matter? Did Brother Ran have a breakup?"

Lu Ran: "."

"Slap!"

Niu Zhengzheng was excited, clapping his hands hard, "Haha! This is a great opportunity!"

Lu Ran: ?

Wang Ling quickly punched Niu Zhengzheng, "Brother Ran didn't break up, don't talk nonsense!"

Niu Zhengzheng was taken aback and laughed awkwardly, "Hehe~"

Lu Ran gave him a strange look, "How are you? I've been meaning to ask, did that girl contact you?"

Since the day had already dawned and the battle was long over, Lu Ran also removed his mask.

Niu Zhengzheng grinned, "We added each other last month, and our chats are going well.

Our two squads even made plans to train together this month!"

Lu Ran actually learned about this from Qiao Yuansi.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have brought it up.

In fact, Lu Ran was also aware that they had added each other on WeChat.

On the 18th of last month, after he sent his contact card to Chang Ying, she kept sending messages.

First, it was an emoji of drooling,

then "Whoa, whoa", "My hero", and the like.

It was clear that the wild girl was quite satisfied.

There was a little incident:

After Lu Ran told Chang Ying many things, she suddenly stopped replying, and after waiting for a long time, Lu Ran couldn't help but ask what she was doing.

Chang Ying replied, "Haha~ I just went to get some chopsticks."

Lu Ran couldn't help but smile.

"Hehe." Niu Zhengzheng seemed to remember something and smiled, "The first time I saw her photo, I was so shocked!

This dark-skinned girl is both beautiful and wild, it's so rare, haha!"

Lu Ran also laughed, "Chang Ying has a great personality, very straightforward, even though her talent is a bit lacking."

"What's there to be afraid of!" Niu Zhengzheng patted his chest, "I'll protect her!"

Lu Ran was a bit surprised.

He wanted to make up for Chang Ying's shortcomings, say some nice things, and reduce the sense of distance caused by the talent gap between them.

After all, in Lu Ran's eyes, Chang Ying would not follow the Deity Spirit Oracle for life.

She would eventually switch to the Flame Gate, and Lu Ran would also arrange for the Deity's blessing.

Unexpectedly, Niu Zhengzheng had directly expressed his intentions?

"Yo~" Qiao Yuansi laughed as she looked at Niu Zhengzheng, "Niu Head is so manly~!"

Niu Zhengzheng's face turned red, and he scratched his head.

Qiao Yuansi's face was full of gossip, "Tell me, what do you two usually chat about?"

Niu Zhengzheng's face turned even redder, "Ran, Brother Ran."

Lu Ran: "Huh?"

"Pfft~ Haha!"

Qiao Yuansi couldn't stop laughing, "You're friends with Sister Yingying, why are you talking about my brother?"

Niu Zhengzheng grinned, "Yingying really admires Brother Ran."

Lu Ran sighed helplessly, "But you can't just talk about me."

Niu Zhengzheng looked righteous, "The key is, I also admire you!

Yingying and I have a lot in common!"

"Pfft~" Guan Yiren, who had been silently standing by, finally couldn't hold back her laughter.

Lu Ran was completely dumbfounded.

No!

You two, don't keep chatting like this, it's as if you're both dating me.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end