Chapter 349: A Letter from the North Wind

Chapter 349: A Letter from the North Wind

On the 13th day of the lunar month, at the capital's international airport.

As soon as Lu Ran exited the arrival hall, he was greeted by a familiar figure who rushed into his embrace.

"Oh!"

He took a step back and looked down at the young girl in his arms.

Qiao Yuansi wore a mask and a white knitted hat with a cute pompom on top.

After all, she had also appeared on Pride Celestial.

And because she was Lu Ran's younger sister, she had become an internet sensation.

"Brother~"

The girl tilted her head up, her eyes curved in a smile, like two beautiful crescent moons.

Lu Ran smiled as well, gently squeezing the pompom on her hat, "Why do you become more clingy the older you get?"

Qiao Yuansi pouted, slightly wrinkling her nose in defiance, "Hmph!"

You jerk!

If you promise not to challenge the Divine Ruins and not leave me...

I won't talk to you for a year!

Well, maybe just a month.

A year is too long.

Qiao Yuansi thought to herself, not voicing her thoughts.

Under Qiao Wanjun's upbringing, Qiao Yuansi had learned a lesson from a young age:

Some things can be obtained through appropriate cuteness.

But for some matters,

No amount of crying or tantrums will help.

If you overdo it, you'll have to apologize for your mistakes and deal with the sadness on your own.

"Where are they?" Lu Ran asked softly, suddenly feeling Qiao Yuansi's arms tighten around him.

"They're waiting in the car. The four of us standing together would be too eye-catching," Qiao Yuansi whispered.

Lu Ran was a bit puzzled, unsure why his sister's mood had suddenly sunk.

In the pickup area, countless eyes secretly sized up the pair.

Although the siblings had disguised themselves, their features still revealed a handsome young man and a charming young girl.

"Let's go." Lu Ran patted Qiao Yuansi on the back.

Unintentionally, his voice became gentler.

"Hmm." Qiao Yuansi grabbed Lu Ran's shirt with her small hand, not moving.

"Let's go?"

"Carry me."

"Don't be silly, we'll draw too much attention."

"I don't care~" Qiao Yuansi was surprisingly stubborn.

Lu Ran was a bit helpless and came up with a compromise, "Will you let me carry you on my back?"

Qiao Yuansi shook her head, "No, I want to be carried."

Lu Ran: "..."

He lowered his head, only to see Qiao Yuansi tilting her pretty face up, not avoiding his gaze, her eyes filled with stubbornness.

Lu Ran seemed to realize something.

He really wanted to say, "I'll come back," or "I won't die."

But these comforting words didn't even convince Lu Ran himself.

"Fine." Lu Ran bent down, one hand around her back, the other through her legs.

"Hehe~" Qiao Yuansi was delighted.

It was her favorite princess carry.

Sure enough, those who are favored have nothing to fear.

Qiao Yuansi buried her face in Lu Ran's chest, rubbing against him like a little cat.

Lu Ran sighed, "You're wearing a hat and a mask to avoid attention, and now everyone's staring at us."

Qiao Yuansi muttered, "Why care about others?"

Lu Ran: "Hmph, aren't you concerned about attracting attention now?"

"Shh!" Qiao Yuansi bumped her head, using the pompom on her hat to nudge Lu Ran's face, "Don't talk."

Let me savor this moment and store it in my memory.

When Lu Ran arrived at the G-Wagon under Qiao Yuansi's guidance, Wang Ling and the others were a bit surprised.

"Brother Lu Ran!"

"What's wrong, Brother Lu Ran? Did Yuansi sprain her ankle?"

Hearing their concerned questions, Lu Ran humphed, "No sprain, just being willful."

Guan Yiren: "..."

Niu Zhengzheng scratched his head.

Wang Ling reacted for a moment, then burst into laughter, "Being willful is only useful if someone indulges you, haha!"

"Shut up, you skeleton!" Qiao Yuansi was a bit embarrassed.

Wang Ling chuckled and opened the car door for Qiao Yuansi.

Lu Ran leaned into the car, placing Qiao Yuansi in the middle of the back seat, and joked, "Satisfied?"

"Hmph." Qiao Yuansi waved her hand, "Step aside."

Lu Ran: "..."

On the other side, Guan Yiren had just gotten into the car and couldn't help but suppress a smile at Lu Ran's predicament.

Lu Ran placed his weapon in the trunk, and the group quickly got into the car and drove away from the airport, heading towards Rain Alley.

Qiao Yuansi remained quiet, leaning against Guan Yiren.

Until the car entered the highway, Wang Ling spoke up, "Brother Lu Ran."

"What's up?"

"On the 15th day of the last lunar month, Rain Alley City might not be very peaceful."

"Did you get someone to calculate it?" Lu Ran looked out the window at the snowy scenery, feeling a chill in his heart.

Wang Ling: "My family asked someone to calculate it. Also, Guan Yiren's family sent a message, and their information is always accurate."

Lu Ran silently nodded.

Niu Zhengzheng suddenly said, "Look on the bright side, Brother Lu Ran might get a high score! You can compete for the First Pride Celestial position!"

Guan Yiren's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she quietly glanced at Lu Ran.

Although Lu Ran didn't react much, she softly added, "We can only find solace in this."

Lu Ran suddenly asked, "You knew about this and still jumped into the fire?"

Wang Ling smiled, "It's always been Peng Beihai and Feng Chaoyang.

Rain Alley City isn't a fire pit.

It's the exam site for people like us!"

"Good!" Niu Zhengzheng nodded vigorously, "Your ambition is admirable.

You'll reach the River Realm sooner or later!"

Lu Ran nodded in agreement, "Rather than waiting for the right moment, let's do it tonight."

Qiao Yuansi finally joined in, "Yes, yes, yes! Prepare, and we'll ascend tonight!"

Wang Ling laughed, "I believe it now!"

The atmosphere in the car improved, but before they could chat for long, a phone call interrupted them.

Lu Ran took out his buzzing phone and looked at the screen, his expression turning solemn.

No one needed to read his emotions; they were as heavy as dark clouds, instantly enveloping everyone's hearts.

After a moment of silence, Lu Ran answered the call, "Sister."

A hoarse voice came from the other end, "The third day of the New Year, Northwind City."

Lu Ran ignored the content and asked with concern, "What's wrong with your voice? Didn't you rest well?"

Deng Yuxiang's voice was soft, almost hoarse, "Are you coming?"

Lu Ran replied in a low voice, "I'll definitely be there."

"Tu tu tu..."

Lu Ran listened to the busy tone and silently put down his phone.

Qiao Yuansi broke free from Guan Yiren's embrace and cautiously approached, "Brother, what's wrong?"

After a moment of silence, Lu Ran spoke softly, "You know that my Tianjiao nomination was given by a sister."

Qiao Yuansi nodded, "I know, you mentioned that she advanced to the River Realm, right?"

"Yeah, she's been in Northwind City."

Lu Ran briefly explained Deng Yuxiang's situation, and as his words fell, the car fell silent.

Regarding the competition for the Divine Armament Field, no one could offer any comforting words.

Just like at the airport, when Lu Ran faced Xiao Yuansi, he didn't have the ability or the qualification to say that he would definitely return.

That he wouldn't die.

After a while, Qiao Yuansi spoke softly, "I'll go with you."

"Okay," Lu Ran agreed quietly.

Wang Ling asked, "Can I come too?"

Guan Yiren said softly, "I also want to see Northwind City, I've never been there."

Qiao Yuansi refused, "No need! Your family is so big, and the New Year is the busiest time. You can't even finish visiting all the elders."

"By the way, Yuansi, this year for the New Year, come back to Falling Immortal Mountain with me."

"Falling Immortal Mountain? Great, is Sister Ruyi also there?"

"Yeah."

Hearing their conversation, Guan Yiren turned to look out the window, her eyes dark and unclear.

At dusk, snowflakes fell in the Rain Alley.

The small town was covered in silver, looking clean and serene.

In the cold wind, an off-road vehicle stopped in front of an old residential building.

The siblings retrieved their luggage, bid farewell to their teammates, and entered their familiar home.

"Brother, let's go build a snowman later!" Qiao Yuansi said excitedly.

Lu Ran untied Xiao Yuansi's shoelaces as he responded, "Sure, let's do it after dinner.

You go and pack, organize your luggage."

Mentioning luggage, Qiao Yuansi remembered something, "Oh, I also brought you a gift!"

"A gift?"

"Yeah." Qiao Yuansi changed into slippers, opened her suitcase right there, and took out a sword sheath.

It was a wooden sword sheath, completely black with golden patterns as adornments.

Overall, it looked identical to the two sword sheaths given by her mother.

At the end of the sheath, below the golden pattern, there was also a gold-stamped square character—'Desolation'.

'Desolation' of the 'Eight Directions Destruction'?

"Do you like it?" Qiao Yuansi asked, offering it like a treasure.

"Did your squad give it to you?"

"Of course, I gave it to you myself!" Qiao Yuansi said with dissatisfaction, "Your 'Eight Directions Destruction' sword sheath looks so shabby.

Despite my thoughtful gesture, you're giving the credit to others."

"Thank you, I really like it." Lu Ran took the sword sheath with a smile.

"Hmph, I'm not giving it to you anymore."

"Now that it's in my hands, do you still want to take it back?"

"You thief!" Qiao Yuansi said, but seeing Lu Ran's fond expression, a smile tugged at her lips.

"Go and pack your luggage quickly." Lu Ran urged, taking the sword sheath and heading to the small bedroom.

He removed the three swords from his back and placed them one by one on the wooden rack on the wall.

When it was the 'Eight Directions Saber's turn, he fitted it with the new sword sheath before putting it away.

Lu Ran took a step back, looking at the three identical swords, a good omen.

He hoped that 'Eight Directions Destruction' would also follow in the footsteps of 'Radiant Blade' and 'Night Silence Sword', quickly gathering a blade spirit.

After pausing for a moment, Lu Ran closed the door and then went to the little shrine. He clasped his hands together:

"Lord Sheep, when we were in Falling Immortal Mountain, there were others around, so I haven't had a chance to communicate with you."

"Ever since Crimson Paper Demon Statue advanced to the River Realm, during my nearly two months of training, I've been trying to combine Crimson Paper Sorcery: Paper Binding with our sect's divine technique: Substitute Body."

"But..."

"You must have realized that I haven't been successful."

Lu Ran fell silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Can these two techniques truly be combined?"

Within the shrine, the Divine Ram Statue remained silent.

Amidst the endless silence, Lu Ran's emotions surged.

This matter could be big or small.

Small,

it could be that Lu Ran's abilities were insufficient, or his comprehension was lacking.

Or perhaps the divine arts and demon arts of the River Realm were still inadequate to support their combination, a hardware deficiency.

On a larger scale, it would be quite subversive.

If the two techniques couldn't be combined at all, it would also imply that Lord Sheep's concept was wrong.

Could a deity

also have moments of unclear cognition and theoretical errors?

Was this possible?

A low, hoarse voice quietly imprinted itself in his mind:

"Are you questioning me?"

Lu Ran fell silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Perhaps my understanding and application of the techniques are still not profound enough.

I'll continue to strive to comprehend them."

"Hmph." Lord Sheep let out a cold laugh.

Then, silence.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end