Meeting the Parents?! Boarding the Ship

Ye Xinglan put the train ticket she had just bought into her pocket, pulled her small silver suitcase, and walked past Lu Guan toward the ticket gate.

Lu Guan followed behind, amused.

"Ye Xinglan, going to the Star Luo Continent isn't a picnic. We're just drifting on the sea, who knows what kind of Sea Soul Beast we might encounter. Why are you following me?"

Ye Xinglan didn't stop walking; only after passing through the ticket gate did she turn her head. "I still haven't figured out your method of exerting force in these past three months."

"Wherever you go, I'll go, until I understand."

Lu Guan gave a thumbs up. "Impressive. Don't blame me if you get seasick."

Sword cultivators don't get seasick.

The two boarded the Soul Guidance Train one after the other.

Lu Guan leaned back in his chair, put his hands behind his head, and closed his eyes to rest.

The Soul Guidance Train sped along, traversing plains and mountains.

As evening approached, the train slowly pulled into Skysea City Station.

The distinctive salty smell of the sea breeze seeped in through the cracks in the car windows.

Stepping out of the station, Lu Guan stretched and was greeted by the familiar, bustling atmosphere of the streets.

Ye Xinglan followed half a step behind him, dragging her suitcase, looking around.

Lu Guan turned into a lane paved with bluestone slabs, familiar with the area.

Ye Xinglan didn't ask any further questions, assuming it was just a related outpost.

At the end of the alley is an ordinary little courtyard covered with ivy.

Lu Guan stepped forward, didn't knock, but pushed open the half-closed courtyard gate and shouted inside.

"Dad! Mom! I'm home!"

Ye Xinglan was about to step over the threshold, stopped with her right foot. She turned to look at Lu Guan, "Weren't you going to the Star Luo Continent?!"

Lu Guan looked at her, puzzled, and nodded. "Yes, we're setting sail from Skysea City Skysea City, and my home is there, so of course I have to go home first."

Ye Xinglan's head buzzed.

So why did she follow me all the way here to meet my parents?

The door opened with a click.

Wearing an apron and holding a spatula, Xu Ran hurriedly ran out, followed by Lu Beixuan carrying a water bottle.

"Xiao Guan? Why are you back at this hour? You didn't even call ahead!"

Xu Ran smiled radiantly and stepped forward to greet him. Just as she was about to reach out and pat Lu Guan's shoulder, her gaze passed over her son's arm and landed on the blonde girl at the door.

A person I've never met before.

People (new!)

Xu Ran paused, turned her head, and exchanged glances with Lu Beixuan.

My own brat, so young, and already a bit of a flirt!

"Cough!"

Xu Ran cleared her throat, speaking with great enthusiasm.

"Oh my, this must be Xiao Guan's friend! Come in, come in, it's windy outside!"

Xu Ran grabbed Ye Xinglan's free hand; it felt warm to the touch.

Ye Xinglan was tense all over, and didn't even know where to put her hands and feet.

"Hello, Auntie... My name is Ye Xinglan."

"Xinglan, what a beautiful name, and so handsome!"

Xu Ran pulled her into the house, then glared at Lu Guan, "What are you still standing there for? Help the girl carry her suitcase! Don't you have any manners?"

"No need, no need, I can do it myself!"

Ye Xinglan quickly snatched the box, but Xu Ran half-pushed and half-pulled her onto the sofa in the living room.

Lu Beixuan, holding a teacup in one hand and a spatula in the other, came over with a grin, pulled out a pile of fruit platters and snacks from under the coffee table, and pushed them all in front of Ye Xinglan.

"Xinglan, right? Don't be shy, make yourself at home here. Have some fruit."

"Thank you, Uncle..."

Ye Xinglan sat upright with her knees together, her hands pressed firmly on her knees, her back straighter than when she was receiving instruction at the Sea God’s Pavilion.

She glared at Lu Guan out of the corner of her eye.

It's all that bastard's fault! Why didn't he tell me he was going back to his hometown sooner!

"Mom and Dad, Na'er and I are going to the Star Luo Continent in a few days. It will probably be a few months, and we might not be able to contact each other."

"Star Luo Continent?" The two were slightly surprised, after all, it was separated by a sea, and Sea Soul Beast were rampant, so most people on the Douluo Continent had never been to the Star Luo Continent.

"Wow, my son is so amazing." Lu Beixuan couldn't help but exclaim.

Xu Ran glared at him.

Only Lu Guan and Ye Xinglan remained in the living room.

Ye Xinglan breathed a sigh of relief, grabbed a cushion from the table, and threw it at Lu Guan.

"You did this on purpose!"

Lu Guan reached out and caught the cushion, placing it behind his back.

"I'm not taking the blame for this. You insisted on buying tickets for the same train at the station; I didn't force you to come."

Ye Xinglan gritted her teeth, unable to utter a single word in rebuttal.

The next five days were indeed awkward for Ye Xinglan.

Lu Guan's parents were far too enthusiastic.

Dinner was always a feast of meat and fish, and the bowl was never empty. Xu Ran kept piling meat into her bowl, saying that the girl was too thin and needed to eat more.

Having always been a solitary and aloof sword fanatic at the Shrek Academy, Ye Xinglan was no match for the onslaught of an elder.

Every time she sat down to eat, she was so embarrassed that she would dig her toes into the ground, but she was too embarrassed to refuse, so she could only eat in silence.

In just five days, her cheeks visibly became rounder.

The morning of the fifth day.

Skysea City Port Terminal.

The massive ocean-going guided vessel is docked at its berth.

Lu Guan carried a simple bag and stood side by side with Ye Xinglan at the boarding gate.

Ye Xinglan touched her slightly tight collar and breathed a sigh of relief, finally free from the overly loving concern of Lu Guan's parents.

"Brother Lu Guan, over here!"

Not far away, Gu Yue, who had changed into a set of simple trousers, stood at the edge of the deck and waved to the two of them.

Beside her, Na'er leaned on the railing with both hands. When she saw Ye Xinglan next to Lu Guan, her brows furrowed instantly.

Why do I have these little tagalongs everywhere I go?!

Lu Guan led Ye Xinglan up the gangway onto the deck.

Na'er immediately ran over, grabbed Lu Guan's arm, tossed her head, and glanced at Ye Xinglan sideways.

"Brother, why did she come along too?"

Ye Xinglan, holding the Stargod Sword, stared back at him expressionlessly.

"I bought a ticket and boarded the ship; what's it to you?"

"You!"

Na'er puffed out her cheeks, about to explode, when the cabin door on the inner side of the deck opened, Leng Yaozhu, dressed in an elegant long dress, stepped out.

"Alright, stop fooling around."

Leng Yaozhu glanced at Ye Xinglan.

As a high-ranking member of the Spirit Pagoda, she had already heard about the fact that the Shrek Academy's Inner Court seed had taken a long leave to stay by Lu Guan's side.

Shrek had spoken to her about this, including about boarding the ship, just two days prior.

This was a minor matter, Leng Yaozhu only gave Shrek some face.

Ye Xinglan bowed slightly to Leng Yaozhu, "Greetings, Commander Heavenly Phoenix."

Leng Yaozhu waved, and Ye Xinglan left to go to the front desk to take the room key.

Put your luggage down first, then come out and keep an eye on Lu Guan later!

After seeing Ye Xinglan off, Leng Yaozhu turned around, looked at Lu Guan, and suddenly leaned closer, raising her hand to straighten his slightly folded collar.

"This journey across the sea to the Star Luo Continent is long and the underwater situation is complex, so don't wander off once you're on the ship."