Chapter 124: 124 Chapter Rain God Goes Out (2nd update)
Translator: 549690339
“Retreat!” Yu Ran’s voice rang out.
The relieved butler quickly stepped aside.
Afterward, Yu Ran approached and looked at Xue An.
“Hey, I just saved you; don’t I even get a thank you?”
Xue An raised an eyebrow, “Saved me?”
“Yes! If it weren’t for me, would those ruffians have left so easily?”
A playful smile appeared on Xue An’s face, “Then tell me… how should I thank you?”
Yu Ran was caught off guard by the question.
The reason she stopped Xue An was because she found him mysterious, and his barbecuing skills had astounded her, almost as if he were a Heavenly Being.
As for how to thank her…
Yu Ran looked down and saw the delicate Xue Xiang and Xue Nian, her eyes lighting up.
“Such beautiful little girls. Let’s do this: tomorrow is the day the Rain God goes out. We still need two Flower Fairies, so let these two girls be the Flower Fairies.”
Xue An frowned.
Flower Fairies? The Rain God’s outing?
What are those?
At this point, Ma Cheng, who had come along, quietly explained, “Mr. Xue, tomorrow marks the official start of the Rain God Festival. A statue will be taken out from the Rain God Temple and paraded around the city. It’s the grandest festival of Lingnan every year.”
“And Flower Fairies refer to the various little Immortals who accompany the Rain God’s statue. They are all played by children, who in Lingnan, tend to come from either rich or noble families, because there’s a rumor that if children take on this role, they will have increased fortune and longevity.”
Xue An nodded, having not yet spoken.
Yu Ran had already squatted down, saying with a smile, “Such pretty sisters. I’ll take you out to play tomorrow, and you’ll get to wear lots of beautiful clothes. How does that sound?”
The natural instinct of children is to play, so upon hearing Yu Ran’s words, the two little girls looked at Xue An with hopeful eyes.
Xue An slightly started, then reluctantly nodded.
It’s settled then.
With three days still left until the seven-day deadline, it might be nice to accompany the children for some fun.
“Then it’s agreed, see you tomorrow at the Rain God Temple. Don’t be late!” Yu Ran said with a happy smile.
After Xue An left.
The senior butler approached with a grave expression.
“Miss, that man is extraordinary! Should we inform the Family Head?”
Yu Ran frowned and said impatiently, “He’s nothing more than a man with decent barbecue skills, and maybe some martial arts at most. Should I also tell my father about this?”
“But…”
Yu Ran waved a hand dismissively, “Besides, he even has two daughters with him. Are you suggesting there’s an assassin who carries out missions with his daughters? Don’t mention this matter again.”
Yu Ran paused and then glanced coldly at the butler, “Understood?”
The butler was startled, then quickly lowered his head, “Understood!”
In the Yu Family, and indeed throughout Lingnan, no one dared to provoke Miss Yu.
As the only daughter of the current Family Head, Yu Lang, she was naturally treasured and doted on fiercely.
The senior butler was well aware of this fact and thus remained respectfully silent.
At that moment, Yu Ran picked up the last skewer from the mountain of skewers, and bit into it fiercely.
Hmph, no one has ever dared to ignore me like this; you’re the first! I must let you know the might of Miss Yu of the Yu Family!
After Xue An returned to his residence.
Ma Cheng said, “Mr. Xue, that woman today was most likely from the Yu Family!”
Xue An nodded, “It’s obvious.”
“Then you…”
Xue An smiled faintly, “My target is the Sword Immortal of the Yu Family, not her, and besides, there are still three days until the seven-day deadline!”
“Three days from now, I will visit and see for myself just how remarkable this Yu Family of Lingnan that has dominated for decades really is!” Xue An said, a glint of cold killing intent flashing in his eyes.
The next day.
The official start of the Rain God Festival.
When Xue An, accompanied by his daughter, arrived in front of the Rain God Temple, the place was already swarming with people, with believers burning incense and offering their prayers everywhere.
Xue An walked into the main hall and saw that it was filled with swirling incense smoke. High above, a statue with the face of a woman was receiving the worship of tens of thousands.
Legend had it that during the Song dynasty, Lingnan suffered from a three-year drought that threatened all life, and it was this woman who resolutely offered her blood to the heavens, ultimately bringing down the rain and saving the people from fire and flood.
Afterward, people spontaneously created a statue of her and built a temple, and the incense has burned continuously to this day.
However, as soon as Xue An looked up, the entire main hall suddenly trembled slightly.
Xue An smiled, giving a slight nod to the statue, then turned and left.
He knew that the thousands of years of worship from the people had imbued the Rain God with a soul of its own.
His mere presence had startled the Rain God considerably.
Just coming out, Yu Ran greeted him with a beaming smile.
“I was just about to look for you. Here, girls, you’ll be wearing clothes like these, do they look nice?”
Yu Ran was holding two sets of brand new clothing, exquisitely made.
Xue Xiang and Xue Nian were very happy.
“They’re pretty!”
“If they’re pretty, then change into them! We’re going to go out for a tour soon!” Yu Ran said with a grin.
She was very fond of the two young girls and led them to a quiet room to change.
When they came out, many people were stunned.
They looked like real little Heavenly Beings.
Several priestesses were also astonished and then excitedly said, “Such spiritually elegant young girls!”
At this point, Yu Ran said to Xue An, “What do you think? It’s lively, isn’t it? This is the liveliest day in Lingnan.”
Xue An smiled faintly, noncommittally replying, “It’s alright, I guess!”
Yu Ran was inwardly gnashing her teeth with irritation—she had gone out of her way to strike up a conversation, yet he was responding so indifferently?
“Later, we’ll also go onto the flower carriage and follow the statue through the city,” Yu Ran said somewhat excitedly.
Although she participated in the annual Rain God Festival every year.
This year she felt especially joyful.
But just at that moment, a surprised voice called out.
“Sister Yu Ran? You’re here too!”
Accompanying the voice, a young man briskly approached.
Upon seeing him, Yu Ran frowned, her expression turning cold, “Zhang Xiulun, how many times have I told you not to call me sister!”
Zhang Xiulun chuckled, “By age and relation, you are indeed my younger sister! You know, our two families have been close friends for generations. Eh! Who might this be…”
Zhang Xiulun took notice of Xue An standing to the side, a flash of surprise in his eyes.
Before Xue An could speak, Yu Ran quickly interjected, “This is a friend I recently made!”
A friend?
Zhang Xiulun’s gaze towards Xue An darkened gradually.
In Lingnan, the Yu Family was the undisputed leader, and after them, it was their Zhang Family.
Zhang Xiulun, as the youngest legitimate son of the Zhang Family, was of the same age as Yu Ran.
Since they were children, the Zhang Family had hoped Zhang Xiulun would marry Yu Ran.
And Zhang Xiulun had harbored the same desire.
Unfortunately, Yu Ran had never looked favorably upon him.
Today, knowing that Yu Ran would definitely come to the Rain God Temple, Zhang Xiulun had also arrived early, hoping to spend more time with her.
But the appearance of Xue An had greatly irked Zhang Xiulun.