"Uh..."

Lu Ran groggily opened his eyes and looked around blankly.

Is this the Stone City inn?

Seeing the familiar room, he relaxed and slowly sat up.

"Ugh." Lu Ran rubbed his head, recalling everything.

Had he lured the River Realm Evil Dog into the flames and then been dragged into quicksand, buried alive?

"Hmm?" Lu Ran suddenly noticed that he was wearing camouflage shorts and a T-shirt and seemed to have been cleaned up.

"Click~"

The bathroom door suddenly opened, and a beautiful figure walked in.

Lu Ran looked up and saw a charming, fair face, still showing a hint of surprise.

"You're awake," Jiang Ruyi said hurriedly, approaching with a wet towel.

"Ah." Lu Ran stared dumbly at the girl in the white dress, a thought uncontrollably rising in his mind.

It seemed Jiang Ruyi must have been in the room the whole time, taking care of him.

So this clean set of clothes and my washed body...

"Still feeling dizzy?" Jiang Ruyi asked the dazed Lu Ran, sighing softly, "Sister Xian'er's attack was too fierce.

My Quicksand Talisman wasn't fast enough; if I could have pulled you underground sooner, you could have suffered less."

"Mm." Lu Ran looked somewhat uncomfortable.

People might not believe it, but Lu Ran was blushing for the first time ever!

Jiang Ruyi sat by the bed, her expression filled with concern: "How do you feel now?

The military doctor said you're okay and just need a good sleep."

"I'm fine," Lu Ran promptly nodded, asking, "What time is it now?"

"You've been asleep for a full day; it's dinner time now, are you hungry?"

"Not really." Lu Ran took the wet towel from the girl and wiped his face.

Jiang Ruyi suggested, "Let's call Sister Xian'er, and go have something to eat."

"Okay." Lu Ran got out of bed and couldn't help but ask, "Were you staying in this room?"

Jiang Ruyi replied, "No, Yutang took care of you at night."

Lu Ran felt a bit uneasy inside: "Then my clothes?"

Jiang Ruyi, not sure why Lu Ran asked, answered honestly, "A soldier checked your wounds and helped you change them."

Lu Ran: "..."

Crap!

All that affection wasted.

So, it was the soldiers who washed my body?

Jiang Ruyi saw a hint of disappointment on Lu Ran's face and after a pause, seemed to realize something.

"I'll go call Sister Xian'er." Jiang Ruyi glared at Lu Ran teasingly and headed for the door.

"Wait for me." Lu Ran hurriedly wiped his face with the towel and quickly followed her.

Si Xianxian's room was next door; Jiang Ruyi went straight in while Lu Ran stopped at the door.

Moments later, Si Xianxian leaned on Jiang Ruyi, her steps unsteady as she walked out.

Seeing this, Lu Ran chuckled: "Tired, huh?"

Si Xianxian weakly glared at Lu Ran. Her sweet voice usually filled the air, but this time she was too lazy to even speak.

Clearly, the Fierce Heavenly Divine Skill·Fiery Fire Sky Leader took a lot out of her.

One use of the skill required several days to recover.

However, the power of this skill was truly terrifying, especially in boosting the output of the Fierce Heavenly Divine Skill!

Lu Ran's River Grade Evil Technique·Night Charm Robe and River Grade General Divine Skill·Water Flow Armor were shattered to bits by Si Xianxian in an instant!

Jiang Ruyi smiled at the girl beside her, "This time, we owe our lives to Sister Xian'er."

"Still..." Si Xianxian held Jiang Ruyi's arm, resting her cheek on the girl's shoulder with difficulty speaking, "still... Ruyi is better.

Not like some people, who are... heartless."

Lu Ran blurted out, "Stop talking in this state."

Si Xianxian's eyebrows shot up: "I will... I will speak!"

Jiang Ruyi raised her hand, patting Si Xianxian on the head: "Ignore him."

Si Xianxian closed her eyes, her cheeks rubbing against Jiang Ruyi's shoulder, seemingly enjoying the affection.

The usually domineering Lie Tian Girl, always faced the world with her raging hammer.

Si Xianxian rarely placed herself in a vulnerable position to enjoy others' gentle comforts.

Jiang Ruyi, sensing this moment, couldn't help but chuckle silently.

She almost thought the girl clinging to her was the meek and adorable Tian Tian.

Thinking of this, Jiang Ruyi spoke up, "By the way, Lu Ran."

"Mm?"

"Tian Tian has advanced to River Realm."

"Advanced?" Lu Ran was firstly startled, then joy rose in his heart, "Finally! When did it happen, today while I was asleep?"

"Mm." Jiang Ruyi sighed lightly, reflecting, "It was yesterday.

Seeing our miserable state and hearing about what we went through, she went into advancement mode."

"I see." Lu Ran also felt somewhat emotional. What a pleasant surprise.

Had their brush with death stimulated Tian Tian?

While they talked, the trio arrived at the ground floor dining hall.

The dining hall was full of patrons, but discipline was maintained. Everyone, whether eating or conversing, did so quietly.

Jiang Ruyi supported Si Xianxian to a seat, leaving Lu Ran to handle the food serving.

However, before he finished serving the meals, three excited figures burst into the dining hall.

"Sister Ruyi!"

"Brother Lu!" The voices completely disrupted the quiet atmosphere of the dining hall.

The staff, however, did not intervene.

Anyone could sense the genuine joy from the three youths.

In fact, this scene was common in Stone City.

There were always Believers who got separated from their teams and trainees who were seriously injured.

Stone City, standing staunchly in the Demon Cave, served as the Human Clan's stronghold and a place for scattered people to have joyful reunions.

The staff naturally wouldn't rob them of this joy, watching the scene unfold with smiles.

"Too awesome, Brother Lu?" Deng Yutang approached excitedly, slinging an arm around Lu Ran's shoulder and shaking him vigorously.

"Aye, you're spilling it!" Lu Ran, holding his plate, urged quickly.

"You dared to confront a River Realm Evil Dog?!" Deng Yutang grew more excited.

As soon as he spoke, the patrons watching quietly around the dining hall were stunned!

The staff knew the details of Lu Ran's team's ordeal, but other trainees did not!

Suddenly, the room was filled with diverse expressions, all quite spectacular.

What had they just heard?

A River Realm Evil Dog?

"Not too bad." Lu Ran curled his lips, "A River Realm Evil Dog is just a bit taller and longer than a River Grade one.

That's all."

Everyone: ???

Deng Yutang widened his eyes: "Just that?"

"Go easy, don't spill the food." Lu Ran, holding a serving spoon, scooped another spoonful of rice.

His plate wasn't full yet.

All set then~

"Just that?!" Deng Yutang was overly excited, slapping Lu Ran on the back, "That was a River Realm Evil Dog with Evil Shadow Flash!"

"Ssst..."

"Ah??"

Throughout the dining hall, there were gasps of disbelief.

Many exchanged looks, finding it incredible.

Lu Ran didn't know it, but such expressions had also appeared on the faces of Team Leader Zhou Tian and his teammate.

It was after the battle ended when the two soldiers lay on the battlefield, unable to speak as they looked at the aftermath.

The terrifying River Realm Evil Dog had once made people despair, feeling as though their end was near.

After the battle, it lay bleeding profusely on the wild, breathless.

Si Xianxian, standing proudly like a goddess of war, dispersed the flames.

Jiang Ruyi, anxious and alone, dove into surging quicksand to rescue the unconscious Lu Ran...

Others could hardly imagine how this scene had shocked Zhou Tian.

A River Realm Evil Dog!

And one that possessed a core Evil Technique!

Zhou Tian and his teammate had been prepared to sacrifice themselves.

Even then, with their lives on the line, they had no idea if Lu Ran and others could make it out alive.

Zhou Tian and his team certainly never expected that this battle would not require any sacrifices.

Three trainees from River Realm, stages one to three, executed astonishing teamwork.

Lu Ran, facing death unflinchingly and using himself as bait, had employed incredible skills to utterly destroy that powerful Evil Dog...

What defines a Heavenly Pride?

What does it mean to be "peerless in the rain-soaked alley"?

This battle had given Zhou Tian a perfect answer.

"It was indeed tough," Lu Ran holding his tray, finally said something sensible.

Even he admitted it was "tough," one could imagine just how dangerous the River Realm Evil Dog was and the immense pressure it had put on Lu Ran.

"Take this over for me," Lu Ran asked, not waiting for Deng Yutang to speak again, and handed over the tray.

Deng Yutang clearly had a lot more to say but was stumped by Lu Ran.

Under Lu Ran's urging, Deng Yutang reluctantly played waiter, carrying the tray over to serve Jiang Ruyi.

With several trips back and forth, Lu Ran finally returned to the dining table.

Lu Ran, looking at the obedient Tian Tian, said with a smile, "Congratulations."

Tian Tian revealed a sweet smile, but it quickly vanished as she slightly bowed her head and said softly,

"If I had advanced earlier, I could have helped Master and Sister Ruyi."

The girl's self-reproaching look was heart-wrenching and also moved Jiang Ruyi.

After all, not just anyone had the courage to face a River Realm Evil Dog.

Jiang Ruyi felt she understood Tian Tian quite well and didn't think the girl was merely saying nice words or lying.

Moreover, from the timing of Tian Tian's advancement, one could deduce some clues about her true feelings.

"Why Master and Sister Ruyi?" Lu Ran suddenly asked.

"Hmm?" Tian Tian looked puzzled at Lu Ran.

Jiang Ruyi was touched, but Lu Ran had disrupted the mood.

"Hehe~" Si Xianxian laughed weakly, "Shouldn't it be Master and Mistress, right?"

Tian Tian opened her mouth wide, only to see Jiang Ruyi's face slightly blushing.

The strong and composed Sister Ruyi, ever elegant and detached, her power only intensified her "deification" in Tian Tian's eyes.

So, Jiang Ruyi's bashful appearance now was indeed captivating for Tian Tian!

"Nonsense, such an old-fashioned title," Jiang Ruyi muttered, pushing Si Xianxian away with discontent.

Si Xianxian, like a puddle of mud, sloppily leaned to the other side.

"Be careful." Jiang Ruyi immediately pulled her back, letting her lean against herself.

"Heh," Si Xianxian, head resting on Jiang Ruyi's shoulder, smiled wildly at Lu Ran, teasing, "What are you grinning at?

Think you've got it all figured out? Look,

can anyone not easily manipulate such a softhearted girl?"

Jiang Ruyi: ???

Lu Ran: "..."

...

A new month—brothers, I seek your support with monthly tickets~

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