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

This situation was within Lin Ran's expectations.

After the battle, Chen Changsheng disappeared without a trace, and Lin Ran deliberately spread rumors that Miyamoto Kojiro had killed Chen Changsheng and Chenlong.

Even though Miyamoto Kojiro insisted that Chenlong died at the hands of Chen Changsheng, he could not provide any concrete evidence.

Chen Changsheng has completely disappeared, and the Secret Realm Protection Organization cannot target a dead man, so they can only target Miyamoto Kojiro.

However, since Miyamoto Kojiro was a martial saint, they couldn't directly confront him, and so the Sakura Kingdom descended into chaos.

"That's right, it's really outrageous!" Lin Ran said with a sneer. "However, as a citizen of China, I think some things should be viewed with a dialectical perspective."

Lin Hongbo shook his head and laughed, "What more is there to argue? If we let them continue like this, it's questionable whether Japan can even survive."

"It can't be that bad, can it?" Lin Ran pondered for a moment: "After all, Japan has a Martial Saint in charge. No matter how much the Secret Realm Protection Organization tries, they can't do anything to the Martial Saint."

"Of course..." He changed the subject, "If Japan is really destroyed, we might have to thank the Secret Realm Protection Organization."

Lin Hongbo shook his head with a wry smile: "You really do have a wildly unpredictable way of thinking."

"I call this 'hating evil as if it were my enemy'!"

As Lin Ran stepped out of the study, he saw Song Yishu still sitting on the sofa, her eyes red-rimmed.

Lin Zhiwan and Lin Zhixia accompanied her on either side, while Lin Zhiyao sat quietly beside her, a rare occurrence.

Lin Ran walked over and squatted down in front of Song Yishu: "Mom, don't be sad."

Song Yishu raised her head, her voice hoarse: "I am... the child I raised for eighteen years, who suddenly turned out to be gone..."

Previously, Song Yishu had also disliked Lin Haozhe because he helped the Wang family harm Lin Ran.

Months passed, and the hatred gradually faded, only to discover that Lin Haozhe had turned into a monster.

The feeling of losing a son suddenly overwhelmed me, just like when I lost my biological son years ago.

Fortunately, her biological son is still by her side, which allows her to face the truth with strength.

"Xiao Ran, promise Mom you'll protect yourself from now on." Song Yishu grasped his hand, her voice pleading, "Mom absolutely can't face something like this again!"

"Don't worry, I'm tough."

Lin Zhiyao, standing to the side, curled her lip and said, "Good people don't live long, but troublemakers..."

Lin Ran turned to look at her: "Think it through before you speak."

"Fine, I won't say!"

"I'm not that domineering," Lin Ran said, shrugging. "Everyone, please feel free to speak your mind."

"I don't believe you." Lin Zhiyao muttered.

Seeing Lin Zhiyao and Lin Ran bickering, Song Yishu's attention was diverted, and her mood finally eased a little.

She shook her head: "You two bicker the moment you meet, like you're sworn enemies."

"He's the one who's bullying people!" Lin Zhiyao pointed at Lin Ran.

"How did I bully you?"

"You're just relying on your higher cultivation level!"

"Then why isn't your cultivation level as high as mine?" Lin Ran asked seriously. "Is it because you don't like cultivating?"

"Ugh...you're driving me crazy!" Lin Zhiyao jumped up from the sofa.

Song Yishu said helplessly, "Alright, Xiao Ran, stop making her angry."

"I think this can improve Zhiyao's mental fortitude." Lin Zhiwan closed the document in her hand, her tone indifferent.

Lin Zhixia nodded in agreement: "That makes sense."

"You're all bullying me!" Lin Zhiyao said, looking aggrieved.

"Since someone has to be bullied anyway, why can't it be you?" Lin Ran said casually.

Why does someone have to be bullied?

"If everyone were the same, wouldn't life be incredibly boring?"

Lin Zhiyao's eyes widened: "What kind of twisted logic is this?"

"A person's sense of superiority comes from comparison." Lin Ran held up one finger: "Therefore, most people's happiness stems from the suffering of others."

Lin Zhiwan said thoughtfully, "That statement does have a lot of philosophical significance."

"Actually, it's not entirely like that." Lin Zhixia's expression was complicated. "Sometimes, you can find happiness in helping others."

"Aren't those who need help the ones who are currently suffering?" Lin Ran shrugged.

"So the source of happiness is still the suffering of others. It's just that some happiness is about relieving others of their suffering, while some happiness is about creating suffering for others."

"You've got a whole set of stories to tell," Lin Zhiyao pouted. "Are you planning to take the postgraduate entrance exam?"

"Sorry, I'm a martial arts student, I'm not taking the postgraduate entrance exam."

"Nonsense! You're clearly a cultivator, trying to fool me!"

Since the appearance of the Nascent Soul Realm cultivator from the Qingxuan Sect in Xinhai, the existence of cultivators is no longer a secret.

Based on Lin Ran's various actions, coupled with his ability to conjure soldiers from beans, Lin Zhiyao naturally learned Lin Ran's true identity.

"You know too much." Lin Ran narrowed his eyes.

Lin Zhiyao put her hands on her hips: "Are you planning to kill me to silence me?"

"Forget it." Lin Ran waved his hand. "With your IQ, you can't cause any trouble."

"Whom do you look down on?"

"What, you're upset that I didn't kill him to silence him?"

"I...I..." Lin Zhiyao turned to Song Yishu: "Mom, look at him, he's bullying me again!"

After being teased like this, Song Yishu finally showed a helpless smile.

The deceased are gone, but life must go on for the living.

The next morning, Lin Ran went to the Special Affairs Bureau first.

Bai Ruolin was processing documents in her office when she saw him push the door open and enter. She was slightly taken aback, but quickly regained her composure.

"I thought you had already ascended to the immortal realm."

"No, that won't do. If I ascend to heaven, I'll definitely take my wives with me."

Upon hearing this, Bai Ruolin rolled her eyes: "You're really greedy."

Lin Ran said seriously, "Without a spirit of ambition, how can one ascend the path to immortality?"

"Is this the same thing?"

"Pretty much, they're all pretty much the same."

Bai Ruolin shook her head and didn't argue further: "Is the matter finished?"

"Not yet." Lin Ran shrugged. "I just couldn't bear the longing for you, so I had to come back to see you all temporarily."

"Do you think I believe you?"

The two had a simple lunch at a restaurant near the Special Affairs Bureau. Lin Ran occasionally gave Bai Ruolin some pointers on cultivation techniques, and Bai Ruolin listened attentively.

As she was leaving, Bai Ruolin stood at the restaurant entrance, a gentle breeze blowing her stray hairs across her face.

Come back soon.

"Um."

Lin Ran ascended into the sky on his sword and made another trip to Xinhai Martial Arts Academy.

Chu Xining was already waiting at the door, with Tu Shan Wushuang following at her feet.

The little fox saw Lin Ran from afar, its emerald green eyes filled with resentment.

Seeing this, Lin Ran paused, then remembered.

He had promised Tushan Wushuang that he would reward it with a Vermilion Fruit after it protected Chu Xining.

Later, he got busy and forgot about it.

"Brother Lin Ran!"

Chu Xining ran over and buried her face in his chest, nuzzling against him.

"Come on, I'll take you somewhere."

Lin Ran opened the Nine Heavens Cave and led Chu Xining and Tu Shan Wushuang inside.

The cave was filled with spiritual energy, and the sea of ​​flowers swayed gently in the wind. The herb garden was full of various spiritual flowers.

Chu Xining took a deep breath, her brows and eyes relaxing.

"It smells so good."

Tu Shan Wushuang jumped down from her arms, ran around in the flower bushes, returned to Lin Ran's feet, and looked up at him.

"Squeak!"

Lin Ran looked down at it.

"Okay, okay."

He led Chu Xining through the sea of ​​flowers to the mutated fruit tree.

The fruit tree had grown taller than before, with gnarled branches and crimson leaves, but it only bore a few empty blossoms and no fruit.

"Give me some fruit."

Lin Ran patted the tree trunk.

It's a pity the mutated fruit tree can't talk, otherwise I would definitely ask Lin Ran if he wanted to hear what I was saying.

"If you're of any use, I'll only have you as firewood!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the entire fruit tree began to tremble violently.

The leaves trembled violently, and the branches creaked, as if something had grabbed their necks tightly.

All the petals withered rapidly, and spiritual energy gathered wildly at the stem of one of the flowers.