Baiyun City is a second-tier city in Lianjiang Province, only 60 kilometers away from the provincial capital Lianjiang.
Ren Suo went to the train station and chose to take the high-speed train back to Lianjiang East Railway Station. The journey only took half an hour and the ticket was only 45 yuan - there were no seats. It was almost New Year's Eve, so he was lucky to still have a standing seat.
When it was time to check the tickets, he went down to the lane and waited. The high-speed train had not arrived yet, and the lane was empty. Ren Suo subconsciously stayed away from the lane without guardrails - if someone squeezed him down, even if the high-speed train would slow down when it arrived, even if he was a third-level monk who was proficient in "gauze clothes", Ren Suo was sure that he would be crushed into a paper man like a mosquito.
Of course, Ren Suo would definitely have enough time to use movement spells like "Ghost Sprint" to leave, but Ren Suo's principle was to never stand under a dangerous wall. He would not take risks if he could avoid them, and would not get beaten if he could avoid getting beaten.
But principles are meant to be broken.
The high-speed train arrived at the station. After the people inside came out, Ren Suo quickly entered the carriage and found a seat near the door to lean against, waiting for the train to start.
At this moment, he suddenly felt a little uneasy.
Just now, Ren Suo left home in one go and took a bus to the train station. He didn't think too much about it. Now that he was standing on the bus without moving, it allowed him to calm down and think about what would happen next.
The train slowly started to move. Ren Suo turned his head to look at the scenery outside the window. The ambiguous night gradually swallowed up the last trace of light blue in the sky. As he got closer and closer to Lianjiang River, Ren Suo felt like a student who had not done his winter vacation homework and was discovered by the teacher, and was now on his way to the teacher's office.
Knowing that a violent storm was about to occur, Ren Suo was of course nervous.
Honestly speaking, Qiao Muyi didn't even want to answer the phone right now, so Ren Suo had no idea what she would do if he approached her directly.
Whether he was beaten up or simply turned away by her, Ren Suo would feel very uncomfortable.
His network of relationships is very small and narrow, because he knew very early on that life is a train where some people get on and some get off, and there are no eternal friends. Even the best of friends will drift apart due to work, life, and love - this is human nature, but Ren Suo finds it difficult to accept, especially after he went through elementary school, junior high school, high school, and college, and all his classmates and friends became strangers in the circle of friends whose real names he might not even remember.
So he was too lazy to invest in feelings and just played games obediently. After all, games are really more fun than singing karaoke or playing ball.
Ren Suo didn't know when his "destined to be alone" mentality changed. It might have been when he obtained the "Bond System" - from then on, his attitude towards friends with whom he had bonds slowly changed.
Ren Suo believed in the Small World Game Console so much that he subconsciously believed that the bond system was the best guarantee for their relationship.
Ren Suo certainly didn't want to use the bond system to control and influence them. He didn't have such ambition and courage. He just felt that because of the existence of the "bond", they would at least not... become strangers again.
Ren Suo doesn't want to share his happiness or sorrow with his friends, but he is not a person who likes loneliness. He just doesn't like disappointment.
This group of acquaintances who "can see the progress bar and level" completely solved Ren Suo's worries.
The 'bond relationship' is two-way. As long as the bottom line and principles are not involved, Ren Suo and they will not alienate each other - of course, the premise is that Ren Suo must reach a corresponding bond relationship with them. He must 'once had' in order to 'last forever'.
The winter solstice feast that consumed all of Ren Suo's "Clear Spring Flowing Sound"'s available summoning time actually meant that Ren Suo was also affected by the "Bonding System".
Otherwise, according to his previous personality, he would at most summon the cook to cook for his family.
The 'bond system' only gave him a reason to treat others, for example, they would practice faster after eating the food cooked by the cook, and not only would their bond abilities be enhanced, but it would also help him more in real life and work, and so on... What really drove Ren Suo to act was his own will.
They hold a very important place in his heart.
Well, except for Zhao Huo. Actually, Ren Suo treated that meal as a last meal for Zhao Huo before his execution. Now it seems... it is the last meal for both of them.
So Ren Suo knew exactly how he felt: If Qiao Muyi distanced herself from him and hated him because of this, he would be so upset that he would want to play games all night for ten consecutive days and nights, then sleep for ten consecutive days and nights, and then let his clone give him massages for ten consecutive days and nights...
Of course, Ren Suo also knew that with his eloquence, and his inability to lie or flatter, the possibility of repairing this relationship was extremely low.
In fact, Ren Suo had also thought that it would be better to just ignore it and let the two sides slowly become distant.
After all, he had no solution, and he couldn't give any results to the problems of Dong Chengling and Gu Yueyan. So just letting Qiao Muyi leave was actually a solution.
The result would be the same whether he went or not, so why should he go and suffer the consequences?
But this idea was shattered by Ren Suo himself after he tossed and turned in bed with a pillow in his arms for a few minutes - because he thought it was too stupid.
What are you doing? Do you think you are the male lead in a 7 o'clock family drama about misery? Do nothing, just wait for the plot to advance on its own, and then regret it years later when the willows on the bank are covered with morning breeze and the waning moon shines?
When Ren Suo was a kid watching TV series with his mom, what he hated most was the 'silly male protagonist who doesn't even chase after his wife'. He swore that he would never become such a person... Of course, at that time Ren Suo didn't think he had the chance to become such a person, nor did he think such a thing would happen in reality. It can only be said that the world is really mysterious, and the screenwriter who wrote that kind of sad TV series must be a bad guy who has multiple relationships at the same time.
Rather than going through countless sleepless nights of tossing and turning and constant regret in the future, Ren Suo chose to face tonight's storm head-on.
What am I afraid of? Will she, Master Mu, beat me to death?
Will she beat me to death?
Will she beat me to death?
…
Ren Suo pondered for a moment, then silently equipped the "Magician's Feather of Immortality from Standing Still".
Because he used the super derivative ability "Flash" of "So Close, So Far Away" on the Dark Side of the Moon, and now "So Close, So Far Away" is still on cooldown, his only way to teleport is this teleportation feather.
No, I'm still a little scared.
Ren Suo chose to go to the bathroom to relax, but he had only taken two steps when he was stopped by a high school student wearing a backpack, glasses and school uniform: "Please, are you Brother Ren Suo, the 'Holy Fist Lotus Seed'?"
Ren Suo was confused. What the hell? Holy Fist Lotus Seed?
"I am indeed Ren Suo, but I am not some Holy Fist Lotus Seed..."
"It's really Ren Suo!" The student shouted excitedly, "Ren Suo, the Holy Fist Lotus Seed, ranked 39th on the Third Level Combat Strength List!"
"What?"
The people nearby immediately became noisy.
"Is there a monk from the monk list here?!"
"It looks like it really is Ren Suo! He's so handsome in the video!"
"That's right." Ren Suo immediately restrained his expression and looked around calmly: "I am Ren Suo. Thank you all for your support, but sir, why do you call me Holy Fist Lotus Seed...?"
Amid the sound of camera calls and flashes, Ren Suo finally understood what was happening—it turned out that the complete version of the battle power rankings had been released.
Previously, Gu Wenyi and his team came to Tianlian Academy to evaluate the combat power of the third-level cultivators in order to formulate the Xuan Kingdom combat power list. The power of official public opinion was so huge that during the month when Ren Suo was in a coma, the combat power list was completely publicized after it was completed, and instantly became a hot topic in Xuan Kingdom.
Moreover, the combat power list is not just a list of names. Every person on the list has a corresponding combat video, allowing all ordinary people to understand how powerful these people on the list are!
However, the one hundred strong men on the list all belong to the Xuan Kingdom’s military and countermeasures system, and they stand on the side of the majority of the people. Also, due to economic development and the guidance of public opinion, the patriotic enthusiasm of the people is high, and these one hundred state-certified monks are naturally sought after by the people.
Ren Suo smiled reservedly like a star, and pushed his way through the crowd step by step toward the toilet.
However, the high school student who recognized Ren Suo was really enthusiastic. He held Ren Suo and kept asking, "Mr. Ren, how can I become a cultivator? I think I was admitted to Tianlian College!"
Ren Suo, who wanted to go to the toilet, was pestered and had no choice but to answer: "If you do your winter vacation homework well and get good grades, you may be able to pass the exam."
The high school student was stuck for a moment, and then asked: "I heard that you are very good at healing magic, Mr. Ren, can you treat the acne on my face?"
"If you work hard and finish your winter vacation homework quickly, and go to bed early and get up early, you can solve the problem."
The high school student was not giving up: "Mr. Ren, you are so amazing, can you write me a letter of recommendation? I really want to go to Tianlian College to become a monk."
"If you have finished your winter vacation homework now, then I will consider it."
The high school student wanted to say something, but in the end he could only let go sadly.
Ren Suo, in turn, patted his shoulder in fear and comforted him, "Do you understand the importance of winter vacation homework? You should finish it as soon as the vacation starts. Now that I don't have to do winter vacation homework, I realize how precious and important it is. Don't regret it later."
Feeling that he had done another good deed, Ren Suo walked into the toilet contentedly, closed the toilet lid and sat down - there was no other way, there were too many people outside, and compared to going out and being harassed by those strangers, Ren Suo would rather be a toilet bully who occupied the toilet without taking a shit.
终于可以独处的任索，拿出手机连上高铁的wifi，上网查排行榜的信息。
任索有点奇怪，按理说，足足有一百人上榜，任索也只是排名第39，应该不怎么引人注目才对啊。大家顶多关注前十名，他一个39，有什么值得被人关注的？
但是任索打开排行榜一看，顿时明白为什么了。
排行榜除了性别、名字、排名和实力简述外，还有当前职位。
例如任索就是：「第39名，任索，男，擅长治疗、移动与近战格斗等超凡能力，天莲学院在职治疗修士」。
在一整列都是‘对策战斗修士’、‘学院法术教官’、‘军队战斗修士’的职位里，任索这个‘治疗修士’的职位真的是超级吸睛。
任索在网页上搜索‘任索’这个名字，然后出现一堆‘最强奶妈’、‘圣拳奶妈诚不我欺’、‘每个医生都是人体解剖专家’等等令人哭笑不得的讨论。
他的外号也不少，什么‘战斧奶’‘强拳奶爸’等等，而最多人认可的外号是‘圣拳莲子’。
圣拳指的是他的战斗技艺，而莲子是中药材名字，非常有益，而任索又是任职于莲江，所以称他为莲子。
任索对这个外号还算满意，只是莲子这味药材多用于煲汤，总感觉意头不太好……
任索看了看他的战斗视频，官方剪辑技术不错，将他暴打古月轩的英姿尽数展现出来。
在视频里，古月轩就像是个还没睡醒的萌新一样，虽然能砍出40米长的刀痕，但却被高级玩家任索用王八拳打得连连败退。
这视频让任索振奋起来——没错，我也很强的！任索，强硬点，不要怂！
然后任索看了看其他人的排名。
于匡图——第10名，人称‘南离炽魂’。
白忌——第9名，人称‘水晶殿主’。
乔木依——第4名，人称‘灾变魔女’。
“……跟木公子的事，不能叫怂。”
浏览新闻的时候，任索才看见‘任奈瑟更新视频’的消息，打开弹幕视频APP，发现本周播放量第一的视频就是《月咏者》的分析视频——要知道《月咏者》已经播放一个月了，但它的分析解说依然火爆！
打开视频，任索瞄了一下时间，一共24分钟。
足足打了七天的封神之战，被任奈瑟浓缩在这24分钟里面。任索匆匆浏览一遍，发现基本都是每一枚银月之晶的争夺情况，主视角在其他月神使徒上。
所以当露娜一出场，弹幕都是这样的：
「月之暗面，你们的皇帝来了！」
「你们都被她吊打了十几次了，怎么还没学乖啊。」
「寄望人类能一直保持理智，确实是一种奢望。」
「不忍心看下去了。」
「女神万岁！」
「我从出生开始就单推露娜女神了！」
而到了露娜与怪物月神的激战，画面里忽然出现一个旁白，用的是露娜的声音，简述了杀戮月神的阴谋，弹幕风格顿时一变：
「这也太阴了吧，幸好有女神，不然我们现在的梦境就要被这个外星人统治了。」
「被外星人统治，和被这么个蓝发杀马特统治有什么不同？说不定前者还人人平等呢。」
「果然天上不会掉馅饼，只会掉陷阱和杠精。」
视频的结局，自然是露娜邀月九重天，化为纯洁月神结束。
整个视频里，都没出现任索和古月言的任何身影，毕竟他们两个一直都没参与战斗。
哪怕是水晶大教堂的那场战斗，也是直接从露娜穿着婚纱大战其他使徒开始，弹幕里虽然有人刷「新郎是谁？」、「我不能隐瞒下去了，对就是我」、「女神居然变成人妻了」、「那不是更好吗」等等，但这个小插曲很快就过去了。
看完这个视频，动车也到站了。
任索走出火车站，想了一下，打电话给黎丹，要乔木依的家庭地址。
黎丹为他的苏醒恭喜一声，然后很干脆利落地给了乔木依的地址，什么都没问，但提了一下“乔副局这个月心情都很不好，好几个被她抓到的超凡罪犯都被她打了个半死”。
任索默默准备好「魔王归来·毁灭阴影」，随时用来强化「纱衣」的防御力。
乔木依住在地铁站附近的小区，任索如果能活着出来，就可以直接搭地铁回天莲学院。
他可没对妈妈妹妹说谎，他是真的要回来拿点东西——拿小世界游戏机。
因为过年的原因，他起码得在家待十几天，现在又是二月份了，任索自然要将小世界游戏机拿回家玩这个月的免费游戏。
他错过了一月份的免费游戏已经很亏了，二月份的游戏他怎么也不能错过。
当然，前提是……
要活下来。
到达乔木依居住的小区时，天色已经彻底暗下来了。
乔木依的小区物业很专业，任索想进去还得刷门禁卡或者通知住户。不过任索对此自有妙招——等其他人来，然后装作忘带门禁卡，自然而然地走进去。
幸好任索出门的时候收拾了一下自己，看起来还算是人模人样，保安看了他一眼就移开视线了。
任索站在乔木衣家的门口，连续深吸好几口气，但手指虚放在门铃上怎么都按不下去。
犹豫踌躇了好几分钟，当任索终于要闭上眼，敲响地狱的丧钟时，忽然听见后面传来一个熟悉的声音：“你有这么害怕吗？”
任索被吓了一跳，刹那间背过身贴紧大门，看见一个活生生的穿着便服的乔木依，正提着便利店袋子站在他后面。
任索瞬间移开视线往旁边的白墙，像风扇一样战术摇头：“我，我没害怕。”
“我在你后面看了你好几分钟了。”乔木依拿出钥匙，示意任索滚开让她开门。
任索一脸尴尬，迅速转移话题：“你刚从外面回来？但你搭电梯吗？我怎么没听到电梯的声音？”
乔木依住9楼，这栋楼也有电梯，而电梯开门时有很大声的提示音。按理说，在她搭电梯上来的时候，任索会听到的啊。
“我没搭电梯，走上来的。”乔木依云淡风轻地扭开防盗门。
“哦……运动吗？”任索尬聊。
“不，我在保安那里知道你来了，所以特意走楼梯上来。”乔木依瞥了他一眼，“看到精彩的一幕，也没浪费我爬了九层楼梯。”
虽然乔木依好像是在取笑任索，但她一点都没笑，嘴角动都没动。
“哇，我这么出名了吗，连保安都认识我？”任索继续尬聊。
乔木依抖了抖钥匙，开第二道木门：“不，入口保安亭的监视器有人脸识别功能，我将你的脸输进去了，保安一看到是你就会通知我。”
任索有些惊讶：“你知道我今天会来？”
“我希望你有一天会来。”乔木依打开第二道木门，走进去后忽然声音慵懒起来：“小~索~”
“是！”任索一个激灵，马上应了一声。
然后乔木依用一个很微妙的表情看了他一眼，这时候一只胖橘猫从屋里屁颠屁颠地跑过来，凑到乔木依脚边蹭来蹭去。
乔木依在玄关换上拖鞋，抱起胖橘猫摸了摸：“小~索~，认识一下小索。小索，认识一下小索。”
任索指着乔木依怀里的橘猫，难以置信地问道：“它也叫小索？”
“……你有什么意见？”乔木依瞥了他一眼。
“没有。”
“没有就好，小索比你乖多了。”乔木依摸了摸橘猫的脑袋，说道：“特别是绝育之后，它不会乱叫，尿尿也没那么臭，撒娇也恰到为止，也不会抱着玩具**……鞋柜里有备用拖鞋。”
乔木依说完就抱着橘猫进去了，任索啥都不敢说——对啊，除了死亡之外，还有绝育这个选项啊。
换好拖鞋进去，任索发现乔木依不见了，客厅里只剩下那只橘猫。
任索的「猫之进化」终于有用了一次，他勾了勾手指，橘猫就跳到他大腿上。他暗暗问道：“你家主人生不生气啊。”
“喵~”
“那，有，有多生气……？”
“喵喵~”
“这么生气啊……真是委屈你了。”任索怜悯地抚摸橘猫的背，橘猫一脸复杂地点点头。
这时候乔木依从卧室里出来，坐到沙发上，将一个热气腾腾的便当从袋子里拿出来。
“那个，木公子，我们是不是要聊一下？”任索抱着橘猫，鼓起勇气问道。
乔木依想了想，点点头：“对，我们是要聊一下。”
然后她看着任索，认真问道：
“你是不是想死？”