Chapter 381: The Little Beggar

Chapter 381: The Little Beggar

Outside the seventh bamboo fortress in the Demon Cavern Bamboo Sea.

A group of people walked along the bamboo path.

Xiao Yuansi was in high spirits, her steps lively, holding a spicy duck wing in her hand.

As she ate, she sucked in the cool air with a "Sihah," and her little face turned red from the spice.

"We're almost there," Lu Ran gestured towards a distant fork in the road.

There was a signboard that read: Private Manor, No Trespassing.

"Wow!" Qiao Yuansi exclaimed, "Sister Rouyin is so rich, sis!"

The Demon Cavern Bamboo Sea was a well-known vacation spot in Great Xia.

Renting a private courtyard here was already expensive, yet Li Rouyin had her own residence?

Lu Ran patted Xiao Yuansi's head, "Be mindful of your address, Ms. Li Rouyin is older than me."

"Oh," Qiao Yuansi sucked on her fingertips, "Brother, get me another duck wing."

Lu Ran looked at the bamboo basket in Hao Tian's hand.

Hao Tian: "..."

Qiao Yuansi had a greedy little mouth, and Lu Ran had a guilty hand.

Hao Tian had a heart that dared not speak.

Indeed, the delicious food was bought by Lu Ran on the way here, and he bought quite a lot.

But he couldn't stop Xiao Yuansi from eating!

Along the way, her little mouth never stopped. It was only after Jiang Ruyi spoke softly that Xiao Yuansi reluctantly gave up.

A few minutes later, when they saw the Bamboo Grove Ferry, Qiao Yuansi was dumbfounded!

Was this the mansion of a noble?

Jiang Ruyi gazed at the plaque above the mansion's entrance.

Connecting it to what Lu Ran had said about Wang Quan's abilities and the artifact fragment given to Lu Ran by the deity, Jiang Ruyi couldn't help but marvel.

The word 'ferry' was truly divinely inspired.

A mysterious deity with unique abilities had only one follower.

Would this one-of-a-kind Li Rouyin be on Lu Ran's recruitment list?

Regarding Deng Yuxiang, Jiang Ruyi had already sorted out her thoughts.

Lu Ran had a grand vision, and on the long journey, he would naturally need many like-minded and powerful comrades.

"Dong dong dong~"

Hao Tian knocked on the mansion door and then quietly waited.

The mansion was silent, only the sound of the wind rustling through the bamboo forest could be heard.

Lu Ran said, "Is it possible that she can't hear?"

Hao Tian shook his head, "Maybe she can't hear, but she must know."

Lu Ran was a bit puzzled, "Does Wang Quan have a technique to enhance hearing?"

Hao Tian spoke honestly, "I'm not sure about that, but as long as it's within the range of the Bamboo Grove Ferry, she knows everything."

Lu Ran looked at the mansion door, "Was this door closed the last time I came?"

Hao Tian's face was a bit embarrassed, "Maybe I've come too often, and she's annoyed."

Lu Ran came to the mansion door and placed his hand on it, "We're here to visit, pushing the door open like this is impolite, right?"

The mansion door suddenly opened.

Qiao Yuansi burst out laughing and quickly covered her mouth.

Lu Ran looked at the group, "It's the wind."

Hao Tian: "..."

Qiao Yuansi was full of curiosity, peeking into the mansion.

In the center of the courtyard stood a cluster of evil bamboo, and on both sides were beautifully constructed side houses.

"This?" Hao Tian stood outside the door, hesitant.

"Brother Hao!" Lu Ran put his arm around Hao Tian's shoulder, "There's an old saying in Great Xia: Now that we're here."

Qiao Yuansi giggled, "And another one, it's the New Year~"

Hao Tian smiled helplessly.

His rudeness was genuine, and his longing for his sister was also real. So, taking advantage of Lu Ran's visit, he took a step forward, and the others followed.

Circling around the cluster of evil bamboo in the center of the courtyard, Hao Tian paused. At the second-floor window of the main house ahead, a beautiful figure stood.

Her skin was snow-white, and her features were exquisite.

She wore a long black dress with traditional elegance, her long hair tied back with a simple wooden hairpin.

She stood quietly by the window, her demeanor unique, like a classical beauty from a painting.

The only imperfection was her eyes, which lacked focus and spirit.

Not a trace of human emotion!

She was naturally born to be a sword cultivator!

Unfortunately, Sword Cultivator Jian Xiu couldn't recruit this cold and indifferent human girl.

"Ruyin."

Hao Tian forced himself to call out.

Qiao Yuansi had already forgotten how many times she was surprised.

Ever since seeing the woman in the black dress, Qiao Yuansi had been immersed in her unique demeanor and charm.

Could there really be someone in this world who could compare to Sister Ruyi?

Joking, seeing his sister's silence, Hao Tian forced himself to continue, "It's the New Year, and we haven't seen each other in a long time."

Li Rouyin finally spoke, ignoring Hao Tian, and said two words:

"Lu Ran."

"Ah?" Lu Ran immediately waved his hand, "Happy New Year."

Li Rouyin's words were like a cold spring, freezing everyone to the bone:

"Trespassing the Bamboo Grove Ferry, do you know your crime?"

"Mm." Qiao Yuansi shivered from the cold and hid behind Jiang Ruyi.

"I say the door was blown open by the wind, believe me. Er, never mind." Lu Ran said awkwardly, "It's been over a year, I'm here to offer incense to Wang Quan and to wish you a Happy New Year."

Li Rouyin looked down at Lu Ran with empty eyes, "Offering incense? Wishing the New Year?

Do you really think I don't know why you're here?"

Lu Ran's face turned serious, "I'm not sure how you see me, but I must clarify!

Your thoughts are likely correct."

Li Rouyin: "???"

"Pft!" Qiao Yuansi quickly covered her mouth.

The sudden twist almost twisted Hao Tian's waist.

Lu Ran asked for permission, "Let me go in and offer incense to the Spring of Forgetfulness?"

Li Rouyin couldn't help but laugh at his audacity.

That damn guy!

Relying on the favor of the deity, he was simply lawless!

The last time, when the Spring of Forgetfulness wanted to give Lu Ran a sweet date, Li Rouyin had hoped that Lu Ran would have some sense.

But look what happened!

Lu Ran specifically chose a valuable one, the copper coin string of the Night Demon Clan!

Li Rouyin's heart was bleeding.

Each of the illusory copper coins on that red string contained a soul that she had painstakingly captured.

And this time, Lu Ran was here again, probably to take advantage of her hospitality.

She bit her lower lip, feeling like she should just send him away.

But Li Rouyin hesitated.

After all, the Spring of Forgetfulness had expressed a desire for her to get along with Lu Ran.

Hao Tian stared blankly at the window.

When had he ever seen his cold-as-ice sister with such a rich expression?

Jiang Ruyi's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she looked at Lu Ran with a suspicious expression.

What had he done to make this Spring of Forgetfulness believer so angry and conflicted?

Lu Ran bowed and said, "Please, just let me offer incense to the Spring of Forgetfulness."

Li Rouyin's slender hand rested on the window frame, and she said, "You..."

She uttered a single word, leaving the rest unspoken.

After a brief pause, Li Rouyin smiled again.

A helpless smile.

Lu Ran asked, "What's wrong?"

After a long silence, Li Rouyin's voice returned to its previous coldness, "Get up here."

Jiang Ruyi: "..."

Qiao Yuansi: "..."

Lu Ran was overjoyed, but he didn't let it show!

He approached Jiang Ruyi, took his fiancee's delicate hand, and kissed the back of her hand, asking, "Can I go up and take a look?"

Jiang Ruyi smiled and glared at Lu Ran, "Go ahead."

"I'll be right back!" Lu Ran turned and left immediately.

On his way, Hao Tian handed him a bamboo basket with familiarity.

Lu Ran took it and strode towards the main room.

Once again, he climbed up to the second floor and saw the woman sitting at the bamboo table by the window.

"You've changed quite a bit," Lu Ran remarked.

"Really?" Li Rouyin held a bamboo cup in her slender hand, playing with it lightly to calm her emotions.

When the deity's voice transmission reached her, she knew that she was going to have to bleed again.

Since she couldn't resist, she decided to face it with a smile.

"Your condition has improved a lot," Lu Ran said as he placed the bamboo basket containing spicy duck necks on the table.

Li Rouyin had already advanced to the River Realm, and she only needed to absorb the energy between heaven and earth to sustain her life.

As a result, despite her dislike for eating, her weight had actually increased.

However, compared to a normal woman, she was still on the thinner side, with slender arms and legs.

"Oh," Li Rouyin glanced at Lu Ran.

Although she was blind, her beautiful eyes were slightly narrowed.

The more Li Rouyin looked at Lu Ran, the more surprised she became, "You haven't wasted this year at all."

Lu Ran humbly replied, "Not bad! You're not bad either; your aura is incredible."

Just now, Li Rouyin's words had made Qiao Yuansi shiver.

Others might not know, but Lu Ran understood that it wasn't because of Li Rouyin's cold aura or icy words, but rather a chilling aura from another dimension!

"Want to eat something?" Lu Ran took out a plate and placed it in front of Li Rouyin.

"Why did you suddenly decide to visit me?" Li Rouyin ignored the spicy duck wings.

Lu Ran sighed inwardly, thinking that advancing to the River Realm had indeed made a difference.

Originally, beneath Li Rouyin's elegant and indifferent exterior, there was a playful and quirky heart.

But now, it seemed to have disappeared.

Lu Ran lamented the loss of her playful side and said, "In a few days, the Divine Sheep will open a divine ruin for me.

I want to get my condition to its peak before the challenge."

"Divine ruin?"

"Yes, a divine ruin."

Li Rouyin seemed deep in thought, possibly communicating with the deity.

After waiting for a while, Lu Ran cautiously said,

"So, I thought I'd come and try my luck, see if I can eat something good."

Li Rouyin's lips curved slightly, and her tone became playful, "Weren't you just saying that you came to offer incense and greet the New Year?"

"Huh?" Lu Ran was taken aback.

Did this girl still have a heart?

Li Rouyin's expression turned displeased, "What's with that reaction?"

Lu Ran shrugged, "I thought that with your strength and constant company of wraiths, you had lost touch with human emotions."

Li Rouyin pouted, "Say it, what good food do you want to eat?"

This expression finally reminded Lu Ran of her lively and playful self from a year ago in the Hall of Rebirth.

He cautiously asked, "Do you have the Savage Nuba?"

Li Rouyin's expression stiffened.

The Savage Nuba, the mortal enemy of the Second-Rank God, the Western Desolation Ax.

Their wraiths were just as precious as those of the Night Demon!

Over the past year, with the increasing intensity of demonic invasions and frequent special events, Li Rouyin did indeed have a copper coin string of the Savage Nuba.

"Little Rouyin?" Lu Ran used the nickname from a year ago, trying to summon their rare friendship.

"Yes, brother," Li Rouyin responded with the nickname from a year ago, one that Lu Ran disliked.

Lu Ran was overjoyed!

A beggar couldn't afford to be picky, so he pushed the duck wings forward, "Eat, eat, it's spicy, your favorite."

Li Rouyin finally stopped refusing and reached out to pick up a duck wing.

As she was about to put the wingtip into her mouth, Lu Ran, with a thick skin, whispered, "Besides the Savage Nuba, do you have the Puppet Shadow?"

"Bang!"

The sudden sound of a table being slapped startled those downstairs.

Soon after, they heard a biting voice from upstairs:

"Lu Ran!!!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end