Chapter 243: Ambush

Chapter 243: Ambush

The rain poured throughout the night.

Amidst the constant drizzle, Lu Ran had been fighting all night long.

The dangers he faced were countless, but they were not worth mentioning.

Because on this rainy night in Rain Alley City, there were no wandering demons and no demon king incarnation.

This cursed city finally allowed its residents to breathe a sigh of relief.

Even though Lu Ran had encountered countless battles and participated in numerous rescue missions, no matter how perilous they were, this night still gave Lu Ran a false sense of calm.

He accompanied the small Rain Alley City through the midnight hours, fighting until dawn.

Suddenly, he recalled the most dangerous moment of the night—the battle between the squad and the Jade-faced Serpent at the beginning of the night.

"The last round."

Lu Ran spoke softly and once again arrived at the dilapidated overpass outside Xihe Park.

The sky had already brightened, and the small city was peaceful.

Lu Ran looked up at the towering Wuli Tower amidst the hazy rain mist.

Jiang Ruyi's heart stirred, and she asked, "After the Heavenly Talents, did Deng Yuxiang contact you?"

"I saw her once," Lu Ran replied truthfully.

"You saw her?" Jiang Ruyi was a bit surprised, turning to look at Lu Ran's profile, her eyes filled with curiosity.

Last night, when Jiang Ruyi told Lu Ran not to think about the Demon Serpent Face, it was just a joke.

But at this moment, the girl seemed to be genuinely jealous.

"It was a coincidence," Lu Ran scratched his head, but his hand reached for the hood of his raincoat, "That night, after I sent you home, I wanted to visit my father.

And then, I met her on the terrace."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ruyi's expression became even more peculiar.

Even with his slow reaction, Lu Ran noticed the anomaly.

He quickly explained, "By chance, she had a sudden enlightenment and advanced on that very terrace.

So, she often goes there to consolidate her mental state."

"Oh," Jiang Ruyi said softly.

Lu Ran raised his left hand and released the Radiant Light Saber.

The saber flew up on its own, spinning in the air before precisely sheathing itself on Lu Ran's right shoulder.

Lu Ran's free hand then held the girl's icy hand.

Behind them, Sun Zhengfang was startled for a moment, then shook his head and smiled, pretending not to have seen anything.

"We're on a mission," Jiang Ruyi whispered, trying to pull her hand away from Lu Ran's palm, but she couldn't break free.

Lu Ran: "Yuxiang left for Northwind City."

"Oh? She's not in Wuli Tower?"

Lu Ran organized his thoughts and explained the situation.

Deng Yuxiang's journey of "You die, or I die" for her advancement made Jiang Ruyi frown deeply.

As Lu Ran finished his story, Jiang Ruyi also sighed, "Alas."

Divine Weapons were the dream of all mortals.

The Divine Weapon Realm was the ultimate resource in this world.

However, resources were limited, and with someone ascending to the throne, others would inevitably be pulled down.

Moreover, as a challenger, Deng Yuxiang had an innate disadvantage—her divine weapon lacked a realm.

Thinking of Deng Yuxiang's eventual fate, Jiang Ruyi's heart grew heavier.

Last month, when she visited the capital, Xu Qiao Wanjun had personally guided her, revealing the potential Divine Weapon Realm of the Cool Night Sword.

Could realms overlap?

In that case, would she have to compete with her seniors? Even worse, even if she didn't try to take it, the other party might not give up.

It was always better to catch a thief in a thousand days than to guard against one for a thousand days.

Once the Cool Night Sword learned who had blocked its path to godhood, the other party would also know who was secretly watching and harboring covetous intentions.

A confrontation would be inevitable.

Hopefully, the Divine Weapon Realm of the Cool Night Sword would not overlap with any other divine weapon.

To be honest, this was a bit idealistic.

Assuming one didn't hold out hope, the best outcome would be for the other party's divine weapon to be in the hands of humans.

If that divine weapon were in the hands of a deity or a demon... Whether the deity would shatter your weapon and how they would deal with you would depend on which deity it was and their temperament.

As for demons, that would be the worst-case scenario.

Your divine weapon would provide a precise coordinate for the demons.

From then on, you would become a disaster star.

The city you lived in might suffer the ravages of demons at any time.

"Before she left, Yuxiang asked me to protect this city," Lu Ran said, gazing at the peaceful city streets.

Suddenly, he felt his hand being squeezed tightly.

It was usually him holding her hand, and it was rare for the girl to take the initiative.

"What's wrong?" Lu Ran asked with concern.

Jiang Ruyi lowered her head and remained silent. She always felt that cultivating a divine weapon's realm was still a distant dream.

But the situation didn't seem to be like that.

From the time Deng Yuxiang obtained the divine weapon to the moment the Nightslayer Blade understood its realm, it was no more than half a year.

Jiang Ruyi didn't think Lu Ran was much worse than Deng Yuxiang.

The Radiant Light Saber was already a divine weapon, and its growth path was extremely clear.

The Night Silence Blade was also rapidly improving!

Just last night, after Lu Ran had defeated the enemy, he had excitedly raised the Night Silence Blade, watching it tremble continuously.

Everyone understood the principle of 'guilt by association'.

No one knew what the two of them were waiting for.

This question was unanswerable.

Regardless of what it was, the two of them would face it together.

At least Jiang Ruyi knew that she would always be by Lu Ran's side.

As she thought about this, the girl's hand tightened even more.

Strength, strength..." Ruyi?" Lu Ran stopped walking and faced the girl, asking, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Jiang Ruyi quickly adjusted her state and changed the topic, "I feel like I've reached the bottleneck of the lower rank."

"Oh?" Lu Ran's face lit up, "River Realm?"

Jiang Ruyi nodded slightly.

Lu Ran hurriedly asked, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Jiang Ruyi smiled, "I only felt it last night, just before midnight."

"Amazing!" Lu Ran was excited and wrapped his arms around the girl's slender waist. "Let's go to my place later."

The sudden action made Jiang Ruyi's expression a little unnatural.

She tilted her head back slightly and whispered, "What are we going to do at your place?"

Lu Ran assumed a mysterious expression, "I'll show you a big treasure~"

"Cough, cough!" From behind, Sun Zhengfang's coughing was heard.

Jiang Ruyi's face turned red, and she quickly pushed Lu Ran away.

Lu Ran, on the other hand, looked uncomfortable and turned to look at Sun Zhengfang.

Sun Zhengfang laughed, "What are you looking at? Keep patrolling!"

Holding hands was fine since it was already daybreak, and there weren't any demons around.

I could turn a blind eye to that, Uncle Sun.

But you stopped and blocked the bridge, and even hugged her? Uncle Sun might have experienced it, but your brother Long must be heartbroken!

Lu Ran continued patrolling ahead, while Sun Zhengfang, in the middle of the team, smiled and glanced back.

Wei Long: ...

The four continued walking, and when they reached the Rain Alley Home Community, Lu Ran turned to the captain, "Uncle Sun."

Sun Zhengfang waved his hand, "Go back and rest well."

Lu Ran held Jiang Ruyi's hand, "No, Uncle Sun, you and Brother Wei wait for us for a bit, okay?

I'll go home with Jiang Ruyi and be right back."

Sun Zhengfang: ???

Wei Long: ...

Jiang Ruyi was curious, unsure what treasure Lu Ran was talking about.

The next moment, she was pulled by Lu Ran, and they ran towards the community.

Sun Zhengfang and Wei Long looked at each other, neither saying a word.

Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi rushed to the house and quickly opened the door.

"Stay here and don't move."

Lu Ran took off his shoes and headed straight for the small bedroom.

He walked towards the small shrine, clasped his hands in prayer, and then squatted down. He searched in the cabinet below the shrine and found a demon crystal the size of half a palm.

Jiang Rank: Evil Dog Demon Crystal!

Lu Ran weighed the large demon crystal, quickly returned to the door, and handed over the treasure, "Here!"

"What's this?" Jiang Ruyi felt that this demon crystal was a bit unusual.

Lu Ran explained, "Last time I advanced, I absorbed the demon crystal in my backpack and succeeded.

I kept this demon crystal, and it's just in time to help you advance!"

As he spoke, Lu Ran had already stuffed the Jiang Rank demon crystal into the girl's embrace.

Jiang Ruyi's heart warmed, and she didn't refuse Lu Ran's kindness.

For both of them, successfully breaking through and advancing, strengthening their abilities, was the best response to each other.

Lu Ran quickly put on his shoes, "Let's go, I'll walk you home."

"Don't bother, just stay at home." Jiang Ruyi refused, "If you walk me home, you'll have to patrol a big circle again."

"It's fine." Lu Ran finished putting on his shoes and stood up, "I..."

Lu Ran slightly widened his eyes.

In his line of sight, Jiang Ruyi's exquisite and fair complexion suddenly leaned forward.

Her thin lips gently pressed against his.

Of course, Lu Ran reacted! With the Evil Dog Spell's Evil Sensitivity, he was as alert as a small dog.

But

Who would hide from such a good thing~ As far as he remembered, this was Jiang Ruyi's first initiative.

"Listen." Jiang Ruyi's expression was a little flustered, and she lowered her head and whispered, "Rest at home, the team will send me back."

Lu Ran pursed his lips and chuckled, "A sneak attack?"

Jiang Ruyi glared at Lu Ran and turned to leave, closing the door behind her.

She leaned against the security door, thinking about her bold move.

The more she recalled, the more her face flushed with embarrassment.

Lu Ran knew she hadn't left.

Not only was he as quick as a small dog, but his nose and ears were as sharp as a dog's.

His nose caught the scent of blood and a faint jasmine fragrance.

By his ear, there was a light, slightly hurried breathing.

After more than ten seconds, the girl outside finally took a step and left.

Lu Ran then hummed a tune as he walked towards the bathroom:

"The rain falls all night, like the beautiful chapters fluttering in a book, huh?"

Seems like he sang the wrong lyrics.

Hmm, doesn't matter! "And your cheeks are like ripe tomatoes in the field~"

Before Lu Ran could finish his song, Jiang Ruyi had already reached the community gate.

"I told Lu Ran that I hit a bottleneck in my advancement, and he gave me a demon crystal."

Jiang Ruyi proactively explained, opening her palm to show the demon crystal to the two men.

"Wow!" Sun Zhengfang exclaimed, "The grade of this demon crystal is not low, huh?"

Without Lu Ran by her side, Jiang Ruyi returned to her usual poised self.

She smiled and nodded, "Previously, our squad went to the buffer zone of the Evil Dog Village.

A Jiang Rank Evil Dog sneaked in, and Lu Ran led us to kill it."

Sun Zhengfang's expression froze, "A Jiang Rank Evil Dog's demon crystal?"

He paused for a long time, then confirmed, "Since it could sneak into the buffer zone, this Evil Dog must have Evil Shadow Flash, right?"

Under their gaze, Jiang Ruyi nodded again.

"Good boy!" Sun Zhengfang slapped his forehead, his expression full of surprise.

He thought he knew Lu Ran well, as they executed missions together every month.

But upon hearing this news, Sun Zhengfang was still shocked! A Jiang Rank Evil Dog with teleportation abilities? For a patrol team like theirs, not being wiped out was already a blessing.

But that Evil Dog was killed by Lu Ran?

Lu Ran was a River Realm follower, and the Divine Technique: Divine Ram was at most River Grade, so it shouldn't be effective against Jiang Rank demons, right?

Sun Zhengfang turned to Wei Long, "So, not only can Lu withstand the Wandering Demons, but he can also handle the Demon King Incarnation?"

Wei Long: ...

What did the captain mean by that? Don't be impulsive.

Lu Ran might be able to do it, but we probably can't...

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(End of Chapter)

Chapter end