Chapter 920 - 356: Your Harem Is My Harem!
Jiang Ran touched her flushed face, pretending to fix her hair as she lowered her head. But she might have not done her hair herself for too long, appearing slightly awkward.
Fan Wubing did not intend to tease her into blushing, so he seated her in front of the dressing mirror and leisurely helped her with her hair.
He tried to ease the subtle atmosphere with a conversation,
"Speaking of which, is that People-Relinquishing Ear your magical ability?"
"Yes. It’s because of it that I feel destined to be connected with you."
"Where did you get it from?"
Jiang Ran said, "When I knocked on the Immortal Dynasty Gate, I received it. It’s the ability that allowed me to hear the silent voices hidden in the shadows. At that time, I felt all living beings across the world were weeping, and everything was wailing. I just lacked the ability to understand it. Later, through it, I heard more voices unknown to others. I felt that it came to me, certainly hoping I would do something."
"So, you’re not just doing it to atone for your sins?"
Jiang Ran smiled,
"Although I feel I’ve made mistakes, I didn’t really wallow in self-pity. In fact, before meeting you, I never thought I’d have to sacrifice myself, just refusing to fail a second time. After meeting you, you truly changed me. I gradually became fearful, unwilling to face reality because I didn’t want to lose the peaceful days with you."
"So that’s why you started a cold war with me."
Jiang Ran felt a bit embarrassed, "I wanted to calm myself down. But with you by my side, I could never calm down, and couldn’t align myself with my identity as the Slaughter Demon Lord. So I drove you away. I thought this way, I could regain control. But in the end, I still lost to you."
Fan Wubing braided a three-strand plait for Jiang Ran that sharply contrasted her demeanor,
"You must be too lonely."
"Yes." Jiang Ran admitted, "What truly made me decide to sacrifice myself was An An."
"An An?"
"You might really underestimate how deep that child’s feelings for you are." Jiang Ran said, "Before taking her Anger Demon Dao, I asked her, to what extent she was willing to go for you? Without hesitation, she answered she’d give everything. And she truly did; when I killed her, she not only didn’t resist but even felt immense happiness. She thought she was dying for you."
Fan Wubing held his forehead, "She must not have known the severity of things."
Jiang Ran laughed, "If you’re going to say it like that, I must feel unworthy for An An. She’s actually very smart, realizing early on that something bad was going to happen. But when the bad thing truly came, she didn’t have a shred of hesitation."
She turned to look at Fan Wubing, "Was An An really not some lover of yours from a past life?"
"Really not." Fan Wubing suddenly felt a bit unsure, "It’s possible, who knows."
In terms of timing, he still hadn’t reclaimed his experiences on the Path of Eternity and Everlasting Mountain. This would have to wait until they entered the Great Thousand Worlds to be clarified.
Jiang Ran looked at Fan Wubing in the mirror,
"You really have many lovers, and each one loves you more profoundly than the last. I’m starting to lose some confidence. Besides lovers, there’re countless admirers too, all potential rivals."
Fan Wubing said helplessly,
"Just don’t talk about these things."
Jiang Ran smiled, "Don’t find it uninteresting, this kind of topic never gets old. Should I praise you instead?"
"Praise me for what?"
"Praise your ability, loving so many women, yet keeping them all."
Fan Wubing touched his nose, feeling a bit elated, "Really? I guess I’m quite impressive then."
Jiang Ran smiled and said,
"You can love multiple women, after all, most men are like this; your skill is in being able to have them all. But don’t fall into loving one after another, being swayed by lust like a pig ruled by desires. I can’t stand you bringing some woman casually to meet me and introducing her. Xiaojiu probably wouldn’t want that to happen either."
She smiled insincerely!
Fan Wubing shivered.
He knew that if he messed around outside, he’d surely have his legs broken by his senior sister and be locked up without being allowed to go anywhere.
These seemingly gentle and magnanimous women were not to be underestimated; they had control over him. In contrast, the women like Baili Yao Yue and Qingyao, who seemed strong-willed and rebellious, not only didn’t restrain him but wished to have fun with him.
People truly are the source of chaos and disorder!
After some thinking, Gu Lan was different; gentle, magnanimous, and non-restrictive.
Practically a dream lover.
"Gu Lan is the best in the world!" Fan Wubing daydreamed.
"Speaking of which, what secrets does that People-Relinquishing Ear hold?" Jiang Ran asked.
Fan Wubing thought for a moment and shook his head,
"I don’t know either, just that it represents the power of desire."
"Desire... This reminds me of the dilemma Du Changge constructed for Guan Xin during a test, that those who desire shall not reach. And Guan Xin’s answer was to transform desire into hope. Make the desire to reach become a hope to transcend oneself."
"Hope..."
Fan Wubing fell into thought.
...
After taking care of Jiang Ran’s health, Fan Wubing temporarily bid her farewell and headed to Baili Yao Yue’s place.
When he saw Baili Yao Yue, she was reclining on a pine tree, idly playing with the flute Fan Wubing gave her.
"Have you started living a hermit life?" Fan Wubing asked, standing under the pine tree and looking up.
Baili Yao Yue turned her head to look at him, smiled,
"Aren’t you going to spend more time with her? She has gone through such a cruel ordeal."
Fan Wubing shook his head and said,
"Her inner strength surpasses what we can imagine."
"Indeed, otherwise she wouldn’t have made such a choice." Baili Yao Yue lay down, resting her chin on her hand, her long hair hanging down from both sides, "If it were me, I’d probably try every way to survive. Sacrificing oneself for others is certainly touching, but living, isn’t that the best outcome?"