Chapter 380: Not a Joke

Chapter 380: Not a Joke

Jiang Ruyi finally succeeded in advancing, and it was on the night of the fifth day of the first lunar month.

That night, the gentle breeze blew, and the stars twinkled.

"Huff!"

A gust of wind suddenly stirred within the Luoxian Pavilion, breaking the original tranquility.

Lu Ran sat on a long chair inside the pavilion, covering his face with one hand, and peering through the gaps between his fingers at the immortal girl in the center of the pavilion.

Her sleeves fluttered, and her long hair danced in the wind.

And that noble and aloof demeanor that made others feel ashamed.

A line of poetry popped into his mind:

Floating like a celestial being, ascending to immortality.

Lu Ran was well-behaved, sitting quietly, waiting for his girlfriend to adjust her state.

Of course, if she were to stand in the pavilion for another night, Lu Ran would accompany her.

If you're going to admit your mistake, you have to do it with the right attitude.

Lu Ran could stand at attention even in Northwind City, let alone in front of his fiancee?

After an unknown amount of time, just as Lu Ran's thoughts began to wander, Jiang Xianzi slowly opened her eyes and turned to look at him.

Lu Ran immediately snapped back to attention, and their eyes met.

"What are you thinking about?" Jiang Xianzi asked softly.

Lu Ran's face turned slightly unnatural, and he shook his head.

Even though they were close, at this moment, Lu Ran felt that his answer might offend her.

"Hmm?" Jiang Ruyi persisted.

Lu Ran looked at the aloof immortal girl, hesitated for a moment, and finally gritted his teeth and stomped his foot:

"You."

Jiang Ruyi gave Lu Ran a reproachful glance: "You're so smooth-tongued."

She took a few steps forward, came to the side of the pavilion's pillar, and gazed into the distance.

With her back to Lu Ran, the corners of her lips curved slightly.

Hmm, that's the answer I like.

The bright moon hung in the sky, and the stars shone brilliantly.

Under the night sky, Erhai Lake shimmered with ripples, a sight to behold.

"I'm standing right beside you, do you still need to think?" Her soft voice, carried by the evening breeze, reached Lu Ran's ears.

"Oh, then I won't think about it."

Lu Ran leaned back, resting against the pavilion's pillar, gazing at her graceful silhouette.

Jiang Xianzi's eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Even the gentle evening breeze turned a little chilly.

"I want to!" Lu Ran said decisively.

Women are indeed strange creatures.

Who's going to be reasonable?

Jiang Xianzi: "..."

Having a high level of strength had its drawbacks; it made it difficult for her to hide her emotions.

Especially now, as she had just advanced, and during this special period, her connection with the heavens was still quite strong.

This also caused the atmosphere in the pavilion to fluctuate with her emotions.

"I'm one small rank higher than you now." Jiang Xianzi said softly.

"I'm almost there too." Lu Ran's face looked strange, and he added, "Almost, almost."

"Hehe~" Jiang Ruyi couldn't help but chuckle.

Her laughter made the evening breeze feel lighter.

Lu Ran's deliberate imitation of her tone reminded her of that crimson-scarved young master.

"I'm really close." Lu Ran said seriously.

"These past few days, I've been neglecting Yutang and the others. Tomorrow, let's take them out for a while."

"They left the mountain yesterday." Lu Ran replied, "Dahu Mengyan is going to repair the Zhanye Saber, and Deng Shao and Mani went with her."

Jiang Xianzi nodded slightly, leaning against the pillar, her shoulder resting against it, and chewing on a word:

"Dahu Mengyan"

Lu Ran advised: "Don't be angry with her. She doesn't know what I'm going to do, and she's unaware of everything."

"She's going to keep her promise, and she's even proud to go to her death."

"It's me interfering with her fate, it's me messing up the situation."

Jiang Xianzi remained silent, not responding.

Lu Ran said: "In the future, she'll be a powerful ally and our most loyal comrade."

Jiang Xianzi simply responded with a light "Hmm."

Lu Ran thought for a moment, then changed the subject: "This month, on the 15th, my mom will take a night off to go home and celebrate Xiao Yuansi's birthday.

Do you want to come back to the capital with me?"

Jiang Xianzi nodded lightly: "Okay."

Lu Ran took the opportunity to say: "Before going home, I need to make a trip to the Qiantang River and visit the Bamboo Sea."

Jiang Xianzi was quite surprised: "The Bamboo Sea?"

"To meet an old friend. Do you want to come?"

"When?"

"These past few days. How about the day after tomorrow?"

Jiang Xianzi said softly: "The day after tomorrow is the seventh, your birthday."

"I'm not..." Lu Ran paused, his heart stirring slightly, "Are you going to celebrate my birthday?"

"Every time, you celebrate with Xiao Yuansi." Jiang Ruyi's tone didn't reveal any specific emotions.

Lu Ran smiled: "Your boyfriend, you want to take care of him, right?"

Jiang Ruyi finally spared a glance at Lu Ran.

She turned to look at him, and under the moonlight, she saw Lu Ran's radiant smile.

It stood out against the night, exuding a strong sense of influence.

Both were powerful beings of the River Realm, and both had received blessings from deities.

Lu Ran's influence on the environment and atmosphere was indeed remarkable, but he had always been very restrained.

The evening breeze caressed his face, and his shirt collar fluttered gently in the wind.

At this moment, Jiang Ruyi felt like she had returned to her high school days in midsummer.

She saw that young man standing by the window.

The bright sunshine, the clean shirt and face, and those clear eyes.

Jiang Ruyi suddenly understood what Lu Ran had meant when he said "I miss you."

After all this time, he truly hadn't changed.

Jiang Ruyi turned away and stopped looking at Lu Ran.

In that instant, the clear sky was gone, and she was back in the Luoxian Pavilion under the night sky.

She calmed her mind and asked softly: "What birthday present do you want?"

Lu Ran leaned his head against the pillar, thinking seriously for a moment: "Accompany me to the Bamboo Sea for a stroll."

"Change it. I was going to accompany you anyway."

"Then... stay with me in the Bamboo Sea for a few more days?"

Jiang Ruyi smiled and turned around, her hands clasped in front of her, and her body leaned against the pillar:

"There's nothing else you want?

"I have everything now." Lu Ran reached out his hand towards her.

Jiang Ruyi smiled wryly, looking at Lu Ran with a helpless expression.

What a shameless statement.

Or perhaps, was he so easily satisfied?

Lu Ran stubbornly waved his hand, and soon, the soft and fragrant Wen Yang was in his embrace.

He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of her hair.

Under the moonlight at Luoxian Pavilion, peace and tranquility returned to Falling Immortal Mountain, accompanied by the chirping of insects, enhancing its serene atmosphere.

In his embrace, the high and mighty Jiang Xianzi gradually shed her cold and aloof exterior.

No longer the formidable figure of the mortal world,

She reverted to a gentle and charming young girl.

After a long while, Lu Ran picked her up horizontally and carried her towards their residence in Falling Immortal Mountain.

Jiang Ruyi's face grew redder and redder, as if she knew he had some mischievous thoughts.

A night of passionate love.

The stars and moon shifted in the sky.

The next day, Lu Ran and the others booked their tickets.

Ci Xianxian's choice once again surprised Lu Ran. She actually wanted to stay in the mountain.

It seemed that she had completely immersed herself in this idyllic paradise, unable to extricate herself.

If it were a few months ago, Lu Ran would still worry that no one was watching over Xian'er, fearing that she might cause trouble.

But now, things were different.

Jiang Ruyi also made it clear that Xian'er could take care of herself, so Lu Ran didn't insist anymore.

On the seventh day, at noon, Lu Ran, Jiang Qiao, and Qiao Yuansi arrived at Qiantang River Province, Angji City.

The three, fully geared up, met the tall youth, Hao Tian, who had come to pick them up at the airport arrival hall.

"Shh!"

Lu Ran approached, and before Hao Tian could react, he issued a silent command.

"Huh?" Hao Tian finally understood.

The young man wearing a fisherman's hat and a mask was Lu Ran's long-lost brother.

Hao Tian was about to shake hands, but Lu Ran directly hugged him, patting his back vigorously.

"Brother Hao! Long time no see!" Lu Ran laughed, "Sorry for troubling you to pick us up."

"It's nothing, no trouble at all." Hao Tian was flattered and quickly responded.

Behind them, Qiao Yuansi held Jiang Ruyi's arm, curiously observing this young man.

Hao Tian's eyes shone with spirit, his tall and straight posture exuded a majestic aura, befitting a martial artist.

Qiao Yuansi nodded in agreement.

Indeed, as a disciple of the Second-Rank God, Dong Ting, he was an extraordinary talent.

However, compared to my brother, he's far behind~

Lu Ran briefly introduced both parties.

Whether it was Jiang Ruyi or Qiao Yuansi, they had both appeared on 'Heavenly Pride', so Hao Tian naturally knew them and repeatedly expressed his admiration.

On the way to the parking lot, Hao Tian couldn't help but exclaim, "The last time we met, I remember Lu Ran was at the Brook Realm, Fourth Stage?"

"I think so." Lu Ran smiled and nodded, "Thinking about it now, it was such a youthful time."

Hao Tian couldn't help but laugh, "Lu Ran is still youthful, and it's only been a year."

When mentioning time, Hao Tian's eyes were filled with admiration, and his heart was filled with emotion, "In just one year, Lu Ran has advanced to the River Realm, truly impressive."

Lu Ran glanced at Hao Tian and said, "Brother Hao isn't bad either, you're at the First Stage of the River Realm, right?"

Hao Tian rarely regained some confidence, although he was older than Lu Ran, the River Realm was the River Realm, and he had already transcended the realm of ordinary mortals.

He had every reason to be proud.

But that Jiang Ruyi...

Hao Tian felt that perhaps his judgment was flawed due to his own shortcomings.

Why did he always feel that Lu Ran's girlfriend had a higher cultivation level than Lu Ran himself?

Hao Tian shook his head, completely dismissing this unrealistic thought.

Hao Tian drove, carrying the three of them towards the western suburbs of Angji City.

Lu Ran sat in the passenger seat, casually asking, "How's your sister lately?"

"Don't mention it." Hao Tian sighed, his face filled with helplessness, "Ever since Rouyin advanced to the River Realm, she doesn't even need to eat.

Her temperament is becoming harder to get along with."

The last two times I visited her, she refused to see anyone, and I stood outside Bamboo Grove Crossing without even catching a glimpse of her."

Lu Ran smiled, "You're quite a humble big brother."

Suddenly, a small hand reached from the back seat and tugged at Lu Ran's ear.

"Eh?" Lu Ran winced and leaned his head back.

Qiao Yuansi pinched Lu Ran's earlobe, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "How come I didn't know you have another sister?

I thought you and Ruyi were on a vacation, but it turns out you came to see your sister?"

Lu Ran: "..."

Jiang Ruyi smiled as she watched this scene, not stopping them.

Lu Ran quickly explained, "She's Brother Hao's sister, not mine, we're just friends."

Qiao Yuansi remained sour, "Why are you looking for her? Did you come all this way just for her?"

Lu Ran rolled up his sleeve, revealing the ancient coin on his wrist.

Qiao Yuansi asked in confusion, "What's this?"

Lu Ran replied, "This is a gift from Lady Li Rouyin, bestowed by the deity she reveres."

Hao Tian suppressed his laughter. The term 'lady' was already being used?

He had thought that after a year of not seeing each other, Lu Ran would have grown into a famous Great Xia Tianjiao, and his temperament would have become even more domineering.

Who would have thought!

Lu Ran is also being tamed by his sister!

Hao Tian deeply empathized.

Lu Ran silently acknowledged his fault, speaking half-truths, "With the Night of the Fifteenth approaching, I wanted to bless this artifact fragment and enhance my combat power before embarking on a major endeavor."

"I see." Qiao Yuansi loosened her grip on his ear, "Never mind, it's my fault for blaming you!"

Her soft little hand gently rubbed Lu Ran's earlobe, and she whispered, "Does it hurt?"

Initially, Hao Tian's face was full of mischief.

But not anymore.

No!

Hitting, scolding, throwing a tantrum, cold violence... Why don't you direct it towards your brother?

Why are you apologizing, showing concern, and rubbing ears instead?

Hao Tian's mental state was a bit explosive.

Am I supposed to empathize with you?

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end