Gao Wu: Oh no! Young Master Zhen is a cultivator!

Lin Ran thought for a moment and quickly responded: "Here's what you'll do: send her a telepathic message and tell her that what she just heard was your inner voice."

"That way, you can communicate with her using telepathy from now on. As for speaking, it's best not to reveal it for now, so as not to make her overthink."

Tu Shan Wushuang thought to herself, "You're really cunning."

"Just do as I say." Lin Ran said calmly.

Tu Shan Wushuang had no choice but to obey, and softly transmitted her voice to Chu Xining: "It's me, it's me speaking."

"Is it really you? But I didn't see you speak." Chu Xining picked up the little fox and examined it carefully.

Lin Ran feigned ignorance: "Are you talking to the little fox?"

"Didn't you hear me, Brother Lin Ran?" Chu Xining looked at Lin Ran with a sincere expression.

"No."

"That's strange, am I hallucinating?" Chu Xining murmured softly.

Tu Shan Wushuang continued to transmit her voice: "You're right, it was me transmitting my voice to you."

"You're actually that amazing?" Chu Xining looked incredulous.

"My ancestors were from the Tu Shan clan!" A hint of pride flashed in Tu Shan Wu's eyes.

Chu Xining's eyes brightened slightly: "So you have such a powerful background!"

"Of course, I am destined to become a nine-tailed celestial fox!"

"That's amazing!"

Chu Xining immediately looked up at Lin Ran and said earnestly, "Brother Lin Ran, Xiao Wushuang said it's a descendant of the Tushan clan and will become a nine-tailed celestial fox in the future!"

"The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox is an ancient demon, with strength comparable to a celestial being," Lin Ran said solemnly.

Chu Xining's eyes were firm: "I will also work hard in my cultivation, and I can't be worse than Xiao Wushuang."

"Yes, with your talent, you'll definitely be very powerful in the future!" Lin Ran nodded in agreement.

The two chatted for a long time inside the cave, enjoying the gentle breeze and the sea of ​​flowers.

The entire isolated grotto is filled with spiritual energy, the plants and trees are full of vitality, the lake water is as clear as a mirror, and everywhere exudes peace and tranquility.

Several hours later, the two emerged from the Nine Heavens Cave.

With a slight thought, Lin Ran caused the entrance to the cave to slowly close and disappear into the void.

The mountains and forests are serene and quiet, with a gentle evening breeze and the fresh scent of grass and trees wafting through the air.

Lin Ran lifted Chu Xining into his arms, and the air beneath his feet rose, allowing him to rise steadily into the air.

Riding the wind at breakneck speed, his movements were light and swift, and in the blink of an eye, he crossed the mountains and forests and returned to the city.

Lin Ran landed near the Chu family villa and escorted Chu Xining to the door.

Upon seeing her daughter return, Shen Rujun stepped forward to greet her, her eyes sparkling with smiles and her expression warm.

"You're back just in time. Dinner is ready. Xiao Ran, why don't you stay and have dinner with us?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Auntie, but I have some things to attend to, so I won't stay any longer today," Lin Ran politely declined.

Upon hearing this, Shen Rujun did not try to persuade her to stay any longer, and nodded gently: "Then take care on your journey, and come visit me often when you have time."

"Okay, I'll visit you again in a couple of days." Lin Ran nodded in agreement and turned to leave.

He swayed and leaped into the air, speeding towards the Lin family's location.

On the way back, the phone screen suddenly lit up, and a message from Liu Hanyan popped up.

Lin Ran raised his hand, tapped the screen, and glanced at it.

"The Secret Realm Protection Organization wants to invite Mr. Chen to join them. They promise to give Mr. Chen a high-ranking position and hope that Mr. Chen can continue to take action and wipe out some powerful families. If it is convenient, they would like to have a meeting with you in person."

His gaze darkened slightly, and his fingertips tapped rapidly on the screen: "Reply to them that I'm busy right now, but we can discuss it in detail later."

After sending the message, Lin Ran pondered for a moment, then pulled up his contact list and dialed Zhuo Yihang's contact number.

After a brief busy tone, the communication was quickly reconnected.

Zhuo Yihang replied respectfully, "Master."

"Do you know about the Secret Realm Protection Organization?" Lin Ran asked directly.

"I know," Zhuo Yihang replied readily. "This organization has some anti-human characteristics. Even we assassins don't really like dealing with them."

Lin Ran raised an eyebrow and gave the order directly: "Find a way to infiltrate. I'll notify you if there are any missions in the future."

"Yes, sir." Zhuo Yihang replied respectfully and solemnly.

After a brief pause, he spoke again: "The commission I received from the dark web last time..."

"Keep it for yourself, consider it part of the activity budget," Lin Ran replied casually.

He now holds hundreds of billions in funds, and a mere few billion in commissions are no longer a concern for him.

The resources that can truly stir up the martial arts world and influence the game between all parties have never been worldly money.

Moreover, if a situation cannot be resolved with hundreds of billions of yuan, then a few billion more will be of no use.

"Thank you, Master!" Zhuo Yihang said sincerely.

"Do your job well, and if you can satisfy me, even greater opportunities await you!"

"Your subordinate will certainly not let you down!" Zhuo Yihang replied firmly, his conviction unwavering.

The call ended, but Lin Ran didn't stop walking; he went straight into the hall of the Lin family villa.

At a glance, Zhao Yanran was seen sitting upright on one side of the sofa, chatting and laughing quietly with Song Yishu, the atmosphere relaxed and comfortable.

Lin Ran walked slowly into the living room and, seeing this scene, casually asked, "What brings you here?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yanran turned her head, feigning helplessness: "Young Master Lin, I'm homeless now!"

"What do you mean?" Lin Ran walked over and sat down casually.

"My father has recently been targeted by the Zhou family, and had no choice but to announce that I am being expelled from the family. I've come here to seek refuge with Young Master Lin!"

A cold glint flashed in Lin Ran's eyes: "The Zhou family really knows how to act tough. Perhaps I should go and warn them again!"

His current public identity is that of a martial artist at the Tongxuan Realm, and he is already among the top in Xinhai.

Even if it doesn't pose a threat to the prominent families in the capital, it's more than enough to warn the Zhou family branch in Xinhai.

Zhao Yanran frowned slightly, adopting a weak and vulnerable posture: "Is Young Master Lin unwilling to take me in?"

"Wouldn't it be better if I warned the Zhou family for you?" Lin Ran retorted.

Zhao Yanran feigned weakness: "Our Zhao family is a small and insignificant family. How can we withstand the infighting between your two great families? Now that my father has expelled me from the family, it is already the best solution."

With the Jiang family protecting the Lin family, the Zhou family is indeed not something they can control for the time being.

However, the Zhao family was only a second-rate family in Xinhai, and even in the face of the Zhou family's branch, they had no power to resist.

Of course, this is on the premise that the Lin family does not interfere.

After the engagement banquet, the Zhao family had completely sided with the Lin family, leaving them with no room for maneuver.

While the Zhou family's pressure was intimidating, it was not enough to make the Zhao family voluntarily sever ties.

The whole thing seemed deliberate and completely illogical.

Therefore, there is only one truth.

Lin Ran looked at her quietly, a hint of scrutiny in his eyes: "This decision to be expelled from the family, was it your own?"

"Even now that things have come to this, Young Master Lin still refuses to take me in?" Zhao Yanran deliberately avoided his scrutinizing gaze and did not answer directly.

Lin Ran's expression was frank: "I helped you back then simply because I didn't want you to lose your right to choose. After all, you've helped me a lot before, and I couldn't just sit idly by."

"My choice is Young Master Lin." Zhao Yanran's gaze was firm, and her tone was sincere.

"I already have a fiancée."

"I don't care, otherwise I wouldn't have come this far!"

Lin Ran glanced at Song Yishu beside him.

But Song Yishu was smiling, watching quietly, looking like she was leisurely enjoying the show.

Lin Ran looked slightly embarrassed and got up to walk towards the study: "Come with me for a moment."

"Aunt Song..." Zhao Yanran looked at Song Yishu.

Seeing this, Song Yishu quickly waved her hand: "Go, go."

Zhao Yanran immediately got up and followed Lin Ran into the study.

Click!

The door closed gently, shutting out all outside sounds and sights, and the space was quiet for a moment.

Lin Ran walked to a chair, sat down casually, and turned to look at Zhao Yanran: "I can't give you any promises. Are you sure you want to go down this dark path?"