Chapter 104: Take Me Away!

Inside the small teahouse, Wang Ran’s tone was icy, his gaze filled with deadly intent. The moment his words left his lips, the air around seemed to freeze.

The young master of the Yao family was shaken to his core, unsure why this elder brother before him suddenly erupted in anger. He failed to catch any flaws in Wang Ran’s words and, after a moment of stunned silence, his expression grew sorrowful.

“Cousin… she is currently under house arrest in the Lu family’s ancestral hall. According to the Lu family’s rules, a bride must remain in the ancestral hall for three days. Only after receiving the blessings of all the Lu ancestors’ spirits will she be officially married into the family.”

“Where is this ancestral hall?” Wang Ran asked again, his face hardening.

“About three hundred miles west of the city, there’s a large stronghold. But it’s guarded by a Foundation Establishment Grand Master and dozens of elite Lu disciples…” The Yao youth’s words were cut off as Wang Ran suddenly vanished like a gust of wind, leaving the rest of his sentence caught in his throat.

Never before had Wang Ran been this furious. He felt a fire raging within him, burning wildly, desperate to be unleashed.

As a transmigrator, Wang Ran felt no real belonging in this new world. Only after meeting Zhao Xiaobai, Junior Sister, Senior Sister Yao, and Xu Ke did he experience the warmth of life’s small blessings, and he regarded them all as family.

They were the most precious people in his heart; their safety mattered more than anything else—more than any chance at cultivation or eternal enlightenment. Without friends or family, even if one ascended to immortality and looked down upon the universe, what would it matter? It would only leave behind eternal loneliness.

Under the astonished gazes of countless cultivators in Dongji City, Wang Ran’s figure flashed like streaming light. Riding his flying sword, he sped across the sky toward the western outskirts of the city.

The Lu family ancestral hall was situated three hundred miles west, housing the spirit tablets of generations of Lu ancestors and serving as their burial ground. It resembled a royal mausoleum, grand in scale but architecturally distinct—more like a fortress perched atop a mountain.

From a distance, it was easy to recognize. With Wang Ran’s speed, he soon arrived and gazed across to see a majestic stronghold standing proudly atop the mountain peak, the Lu family banner fluttering boldly in the wind.

As he neared the place where Senior Sister Yao was confined, his anger strangely subsided. His eyes flickered as he glanced toward a nearby patrolling Lu disciple.

Without knowing the full situation, recklessly charging in would be foolish. With his intellect, Wang Ran would never make such a mistake.

Like a phantom, he struck swiftly, and the Lu disciple was instantly enveloped by a fierce wind, vanishing without a trace.

Not far from the stronghold, hidden among the trees, the disciple looked at the white-clad young man in terror. The young man held a centipede-like creature upside down, waving it before the disciple’s eyes.

This demon beast was known to Wang Ran—a deadly poison beast at the peak of Qi Condensation. Though not powerful in cultivation, its venom was lethally potent. Usually used as a catalyst in medicine, combined with other herbs, it was excellent for healing wounds. But taken directly, it could fell even a Foundation Establishment Grand Master, causing unbearable pain. Especially eaten raw, it was one of the cruelest punishments in the mortal world.

“Answer me now. If you dare to lie, you know the consequences,” the young man warned sternly. The venomous creature brushed against the disciple’s lips, causing him to wet himself in fear and nod repeatedly.

Wang Ran pondered for a moment before asking, “Where exactly is Miss Yao held?”

The disciple’s expression changed immediately, wariness flashing in his eyes. Seeing Wang Ran frown and bring the venomous creature closer to his mouth, he quickly weakened and gave up resistance.

“I’ll tell you! She’s in the deepest hall inside the stronghold…” The disciple hurriedly revealed everything, even drawing a map on the ground for clarity.

Wang Ran asked several more questions, all of which the disciple answered truthfully. When he was satisfied, Wang Ran struck him with a palm and knocked him unconscious.

Standing still to contemplate, Wang Ran then pulled out a concealed robe and, with a thought, transformed completely to resemble the knocked-out Lu disciple.

Adjusting his new identity, Wang Ran emerged from the forest and calmly made his way toward the Lu stronghold.

As he approached, several Lu disciples guarding the entrance nodded in greeting, noticing nothing unusual.

Once inside, he soon came upon a magnificent hall. But instead of rushing in, Wang Ran took out a token and raised it high in the air.

Immediately, multicolored beams of spiritual energy swept over him. When the process ended, Wang Ran stepped forward.

This was the Lu family ancestral hall’s protective formation, of a very high grade. Without the token, even a Foundation Establishment Grand Master would be incinerated instantly.

Inside the hall, Wang Ran headed straight to one particular room. At first, the other Lu disciples paid him no mind. But as he neared, two guards frowned and confronted him.

“What are you doing? Don’t you know you’re not allowed here?”

One Lu disciple scowled, about to scold him. But before he could utter a full word, Wang Ran suddenly looked up, coldness flashing in his eyes. With a wave of his palm, he moved so swiftly that the two disciples never had time to react before their vision darkened and they died instantly.

Even before reaching the door, Wang Ran had sensed a familiar aura inside—it was Yao Jianjia. He could no longer restrain himself.

Once he found Senior Sister Yao, this insignificant Lu ancestral hall was nothing more than a palm’s sweep away from destruction.

With a creak, he pushed open the door, his heart pounding faster.

By the bedside sat a woman dressed in a bride’s red gown, her head adorned with jade dragon and phoenix hairpins. She sat quietly, her demeanor serene and graceful.

Her aura was as gentle as jade, her gaze cold and distant. With a flutter of her eyelashes, she exuded a noble aloofness that made anyone feel she was a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.

But at this moment, her hands and feet were shackled in heavy chains, marring her beauty.

Hearing the noise at the door, the exquisite woman lifted her head slightly, looking at the Lu disciple who had entered. The disciple’s expression was filled with sorrow as he transformed into another young man’s form.

“Senior Sister…” The white-clad youth stepped forward. Seeing the shackles, a surge of anger exploded within him.

The stunning woman was equally stunned, as if unable to believe it. Her voice trembled as she spoke, “Xiao Ran?”

“These reckless bastards have some nerve!” Wang Ran’s expression darkened. Spiritual energy burst forth, shattering every shackle binding Yao Jianjia.

“Xiao Ran, why are you here?” Yao Jianjia’s voice was anxious. “There are Foundation Establishment Grand Masters guarding this place—you must leave quickly!”

“Leave?” Wang Ran smiled faintly upon hearing her concern. A fierce aura suddenly erupted from him. “Senior Sister, don’t be afraid. To be honest, this trivial Lu family is nothing to me.”

“Just say the word, and even if the outside world were a mountain of blades and sea of fire, I could take you away.”

Hearing these words of supreme confidence, Yao Jianjia realized that in just half a year apart, her junior brother had truly grown.

Perhaps caught up in the infectious certainty radiating from Wang Ran, a faint smile curved her lips.

“All right, then take me away.”