"Eh? Who's this? Brother Xu Ran, you change women faster than you change clothes." Xiao Mei and Hu Jia both noticed a new face beside Xu Ran.
But over these past few days, they had gradually become accustomed to it.
After all, starting with Hu Jia, Xu Ran suddenly had an unusual relationship with Zi Yan, and they also knew that Xu Ran's relationship with Tutor Ruolin was very intimate. So even if Xu Ran brought home an unfamiliar beautiful woman at any time, they would take it in stride. Anyway, hadn't there been many already?
"Ah, you've misunderstood, I don't have that kind of relationship with Lord Xu Ran." Han Yue felt a case of goosebumps from the way the women looked at her, terrified they might tear her apart. Even though they had just entered the Inner Court, she dared not regard them as just any classmates. Xiao Mei had a Dou Zun-level battle Puppet, and the others probably had some shocking things on them as well.
"Senior Han Yue came to invite us to join an organization she created... Moon Spirit. Brother Xu Ran just agreed, and now we're part of Moon Spirit too," Xun Er said thoughtfully, helping Xu Ran out of the awkward situation.
However, she didn't really care inside.
Even if there were no unspeakable secrets between Xu Ran and Han Yue right now, it was only a matter of time before such a relationship developed.
She knew Xu Ran too well. If Xu Ran had no interest in Moon Spirit at all, he simply wouldn't have agreed to join, let alone let Han Yue hear so much. Xu Ran clearly did not regard Han Yue as an outsider.
Having been with Xu Ran for a long time, she had a keen sense of him. Whether Xu Ran was happy or displeased, she could clearly feel it with her sensitive mind.
"From now on, we'll be members of Moon Spirit. We just arrived at the Inner Court, and there's still a lot we're unfamiliar with," Xiao Yu said politely. Even now, with Xu Ran's help, she had gained significant power, yet she never considered it her own and still maintained her previous modesty.
"You juniors are already no weaker than me, and it's just a matter of time before you all surpass me. I should be asking you to shed some light on Moon Spirit. With your power, even without me, soon those big groups in the Inner Court will come looking for you," Han Yue said, somewhat embarrassed. Once Xun Er and the others joined Moon Spirit, she would no longer be the strongest there, and might even be left far behind in the future.
However, although she had investigated their power before, she only knew that they were Dou Spirits and hadn't expected that their power was already no less than hers. If she had known earlier, she might have felt too embarrassed to approach them.
"We wouldn't join those people's forces. Actually, we just listen to Brother Xu Ran. In fact, if Brother Xu Ran didn't join a force, we wouldn't either. Wherever Brother Xu Ran goes, we go. Moon Spirit is an organization formed by girls, hehe, I bet Brother Xu Ran is thrilled."
"'Brother Xu Ran' this, 'Brother Xu Ran' that, you say it so sweetly," Hu Jia, unable to forget that she had lost to Xiao Mei, said resentfully. The only reason her power fell slightly short was that Xiao Mei had those profound Dou Techniques taught to her by Xu Ran. If she had those, she could even defeat Xiao Yu.
"Hu Jia, are you still looking for a rematch with me? I have a Puppet now, and I'm not afraid of you at all. Be careful I summon my Puppet to beat you up. You'd probably be scared out of your wits just seeing it. Though Brother Xu Ran doesn't let me use the Puppet on others, you're an exception," Xiao Mei replied, not willing to back down in her spat with Hu Jia.
"You!" Hu Jia was taken aback, suddenly realizing that Xiao Mei, with a mighty Puppet at her disposal, was not to be trifled with.
"Xu Ran, look at her, always bullying people."
"I'm staying out of your grudges. Settle your own matters," Xu Ran definitely didn't want to get involved in a war between two women, maybe even having to pick sides in the end—just the thought was a hassle.
Moreover, Xu Ran had now come up with many good ideas.
"Hmph. Such an unromantic guy, I was even thinking of looking you up to hang out tonight," grumbled Hu Jia under her breath, while at the same time wondering how to get her hands on some good Dou Techniques from Xu Ran.
Just having Dou Techniques wasn't enough.
Xiao Mei's "Cultivation Level" was only at Dou Spirit and she wasn't a very formidable genius, yet she could cultivate Earth-Level Dou Techniques to such an extent. This must have been Xu Ran's doing. In terms of understanding and comprehending Dou Techniques, there probably was no one on the Continent who could match Xu Ran.
"Xiao Mei, Hu Jia, stop bickering. We haven't had a proper chance to explore since we entered the Inner Court, and now with Moon Spirit joining us, there are lots of things to take care of."
"Yay, let's go out and have fun. Now that we've joined Moon Spirit, do we also get clothes representing our power? I wonder if they look good," Xun Er's words dissolved the quarrel between Hu Jia and Xiao Mei, and all the girls started fantasizing about their lives after entering the Inner Court.
"Miss Xun Er, Miss Xiao Yu, thank you," expressed Han Yue gratefully to Xun Er and Xiao Yu. Although she was now the Sect Leader of Moon Spirit, she felt invisible in the presence of these people.
"Senior Han Yue, don't be so formal. Sooner or later, we're going to be one family. Don't mind their rowdiness; they're actually really easy to get along with. From now on, you can just call us Yu Er and Xun Er," said Xiao Yu, who had already considered Han Yue one of their own. After all, it was good to be friends with family.
"Oh, oh."
Han Yue was perplexed by Xiao Yu's words. What did she mean by 'one family'? Could it be that they thought...
...
Watching Xun Er and the others leave with Han Yue, Xu Ran yawned, his figure flickered and vanished on the spot, leaving behind a group of bewildered Canaan Academy inner court disciples.
Where did he go? How did he suddenly disappear?
This caused many who had taken the opportunity of their idols leaving to step forward to trouble Xu Ran to shiver in fear, a deep chill overtaking them. It was fortunate they hadn't acted; otherwise, they would have been courting death.
From then on, Xu Ran also became a legend that circulated within Canaan Academy. And Xu Ran's strength remained a mystery within the Inner Court.
About the identities of Xun Er and the others, as well as their relationship with Xu Ran, and the fact that Xu Ran had quickly gained Han Yue's favor upon entering the Inner Court, the people there exclaimed that the wolf had come.
And the various minor powers within the Inner Court were also stirred by the news. Every year's newcomers were highly prized—especially those who were geniuses.