What?
Lu Ran was utterly bewildered.
He had just come to say hello, how did it turn into a rescue mission?
And saving the Qin family?
“What happened to the Qin family? And Yaoyao? Is she hurt?” Lu Ran asked instinctively.
But as soon as the question left his mouth, Lu Ran realized he had made a basic factual error.
After the global datafication, there was no such thing as unhealed old injuries. Even severe fractures would mend as long as one’s HP was restored.
This was also why high-level combatants rarely died from falls—their health pools were simply too massive!
As long as HP didn’t hit zero, recovery was possible!
It was one of the nicer perks of the post-global-datafication world.
“It’s a Qin family matter, a mistake I made in the past. Yaoyao shouldn’t have to bear the consequences. I originally planned to take Yaoyao and the family away from Blackfire City, but… just a slight delay, and Yaoyao was captured,” Qin Lie sighed wearily.
Lu Ran was greatly surprised.
He asked, “Is the opposing force very powerful? As the Grand Steward of the Blackfire City branch of the Heavenly Dao Alliance, they still dared to move against the Qin family? Doesn’t the Heavenly Dao Alliance intervene?”
Qin Lie’s face was full of awkwardness. “That’s why I said it’s a Qin family affair, a trouble of our own making. By reason or by sentiment, the Heavenly Dao Alliance has no obligation to step in. Now, with the national war imminent, I don’t want the Alliance to expend significant effort and resources on my account.”
At this point,
if he weren’t truly desperate, Qin Lie wouldn’t have come to Lu Ran.
“I see. How is Yaoyao now?” Lu Ran asked.
“Her communications are restricted, but she’s alive. The specifics… I don’t know them either,” Qin Lie said, his face etched with worry.
“Understood. Do you know where they are?” Lu Ran inquired.
“Yes, yes. At Southern Range Mountain. The Four Directions Stronghold’s guild stronghold is located there,” Qin Lie hurriedly replied.
“Good. Take me there!” Lu Ran said urgently.
In this world, he didn’t have many friends.
Qin Wuyao counted as one.
Ye Hongyi, Liu Xinxin, Lei Tai, Yu Qingcang—these people were more like older brothers and sisters to him.
He appreciated their care, but when it came to close friends, Qin Wuyao was one of the very few, if not the only one.
That very night,
Lu Ran and Qin Lie used a teleportation array to head for the Southern Range Mountain in the northwest.
The Southern Range Mountain area was a medium-level monster zone.
The wild monsters roaming here were mostly around levels 30 to 40.
It was through Qin Lie that Lu Ran learned about guild strongholds.
A guild stronghold was a special entity.
Different from towns, it was something a guild leader had the authority to establish.
Most guilds attached themselves to major cities.
It was convenient, fast, and safe.
Some guilds, however, chose scenic spots in the wilderness to set up camp.
The Four Directions Stronghold was one such guild.
The Four Directions Stronghold wasn’t a top-ranked guild, but that was in comparison to the Four Great Guilds.
Beneath the Four Great Guilds, its influence was actually quite substantial.
Lu Ran didn’t know what grudge existed between Qin Lie and the Four Directions Stronghold, nor was he there to resolve it. His goal was simple: safely retrieve Qin Wuyao.
And the current Lu Ran had the capability to do just that!
Within a valley of the Southern Range Mountain lay the stronghold of the Four Directions Stronghold.
“Wild monsters don’t respawn inside a guild stronghold?” Lu Ran asked curiously, looking at the distant stronghold.
“No. For a guild to establish a stronghold in the wilderness, there are some stringent conditions. The chosen location needs data support. After clearing the area of monsters, the guild stronghold can be established. Once established, the stronghold attains the status of a secondary city—it can set up shields, defenses, etc. Monsters no longer respawn inside,” Qin Lie explained.
It was similar to major cities.
No wild monsters respawned within any major city.
“But guild strongholds don’t have Dungeon Halls, right? So inconvenient. Yet these guilds insist on setting up in the wilderness. It’s strange,” Lu Ran muttered.
“It doesn’t really matter, because guild strongholds have teleportation arrays usable by members, connecting to various major cities,” Qin Lie said.
Qin Lie was quite knowledgeable about these matters.
He answered all of Lu Ran’s questions without reservation.
“I see. Let’s go, we’re heading over,” Lu Ran said with a nod.
“Wait… just… just like that?” Qin Lie was startled.
This was too reckless!
They were going for a rescue, but to just march over openly for a confrontation… this approach felt a bit off, didn’t it?
Qin Lie knew about Lu Ran’s Talents.
But he was completely unaware of the new Talents Lu Ran had unlocked later or Lu Ran’s current capabilities.
So worried about his daughter Qin Wuyao,
he didn’t even know that the Elven Wings belonged to Lu Ran, nor did he care to know. He was unaware that Lu Ran could summon the entire elven race at will!
He didn’t know Lu Ran currently carried an army of 200,000 undead with him!
He didn’t know a Titan Serpent was coiled around Lu Ran’s wrist!
And he certainly didn’t know that the Dark Elf Queen, Si Luoluo, was also within that space of Lu Ran’s!
That was a level 100 Dark Elf Queen!
“Yes, just like that. I’ll handle it,” Lu Ran affirmed with a nod.
Having said that, Lu Ran took the lead and started walking.
But just then,
his communicator buzzed with a message.
Lu Ran glanced at it; it was from Liu Xinxin.
He smacked his forehead. “How awkward, I forgot to let Xinxin-jie and the others know.”
Liu Xinxin: “Where did you run off to so early in the morning? Thought you went to the academy, but you’re not there either. Where are you?”
Lu Ran quickly summarized the situation.
After explaining, he hesitated, considering whether to ask Liu Xinxin and the others for help.
After all,
dealing with the Four Great Guilds would be simpler.
If he handled it himself, as a nobody, he’d have to rely on his fists.
And if a fight broke out, it wouldn’t just be a matter of a few deaths.
He hadn’t even fully understood the grudge between Qin Lie and the Four Directions Stronghold yet. Rashly killing people for the Qin family’s sake didn’t seem worth it.
But while Lu Ran was still hesitating,
a new message from Liu Xinxin arrived: “Go check out the situation first. Don’t rush into a fight. Stabilize the situation, just ensure Qin Wuyao’s safety. I’ll be there soon!”
Lu Ran was taken aback.
Before he could reply,
a message from Ye Hongyi came through: “What the heck is this ‘Four Directions Stronghold’? Little brother, you run into trouble and don’t tell your sister? Wait there, I’m coming to tear down their guild stronghold!”
Uh…
Lu Ran’s mouth twitched.
Even Lei Tai sent a message.
A simple line: “The Guardian Army is on its way!”
Back at Lu Ran’s residence,
Ye Hongyi, Liu Xinxin, and Lei Tai exchanged glances.
“It’s rare for Lu Ran to encounter trouble. We must resolve it with full force,” Lei Tai said solemnly.
“And the scene… must be grand!” Ye Hongyi added, raising an eyebrow.
Liu Xinxin looked at her communicator,
then at Ye Hongyi and Lei Tai.
She then sent a message to Yu Qingcang: “Lu Ran has run into trouble. What does your Heavenly Dao Alliance have to say?”
Upon receiving the message, Yu Qingcang immediately set aside everything he was doing.
After clarifying the details of the situation,
he said firmly, “Qin Lie is a member of our Heavenly Dao Alliance. Now Lu Ran is involved too. This Four Directions Stronghold… what kind of outfit is that? We must go see!”
