Chapter 27: The Toy Doll
Chapter 27: The Toy Doll
The welcome ceremony was brief.
After all, the night was still perilous, and the night was long.
With a gentle reminder from Jiang Ruyi, Deng Yutang put aside his celebratory thoughts, and Lu Ran also approached the team leader, Zhang Feng.
"You're back," Zhang Feng said, sizing up Lu Ran.
From his tattered raincoat, one could tell the intensity of the battle Lu Ran had endured.
"Brother Zhang," Lu Ran nodded.
Zhang Feng extended his hand and placed it on Lu Ran's shoulder, "I failed to protect you."
"It was an accident," Lu Ran immediately replied, "Brother Zhang, you shouldn't blame yourself."
Ever since embarking on the path of a follower, danger had become a constant companion.
Logically, having a River Realm, Tier 2 Moon Gazer in the team should have been sufficient to protect them.
After all, there were many other Moon Gazer teams stationed nearby.
But no one had anticipated that within a short span, three River Realm demons would appear consecutively at the fourth gate of the gymnasium.
This was an extremely abnormal probability!
Zhang Feng fell silent, shaking his head with a wry smile, "You're quite nonchalant."
Lu Ran whispered, "I'm just pretending."
Zhang Feng: "..."
Zhang Feng was speechless, while Deng Yutang's expression was peculiar.
It felt like he had witnessed this scene before.
"Let's return to the team," Zhang Feng said softly, gesturing towards the fourth gate.
"Brother Lu," Deng Yutang clasped Lu Ran's shoulder and took a step towards the stairs, "Tell us about your experience just now."
Tian Tian followed closely behind Jiang Ruyi, her big eyes filled with curiosity as she watched Lu Ran's back.
"It's just that I was taken away by the Paper Doll, and the Moon Gazers came to rescue me," Lu Ran turned to Deng Yutang, "By the way, your sister is my lifesaver!"
"What?" Deng Yutang was surprised, "My sister?"
Lu Ran nodded emphatically, "Your sister is truly fierce, even fiercer than the Paper Doll!
With a single slash of her blade, she cut down the Paper Doll, it was like a ruthless flower-crushing move."
Zhang Feng, eavesdropping nearby, couldn't help but raise a big question mark in his mind.
What kind of description was this?
It sounded like you were feeling sorry for the Paper Doll.
"Really?" Deng Yutang's eyes sparkled with pride.
Lu Ran grinned, "The last time I sparred with your sister, she casually summoned a Wind Blade. Tonight, I learned that your sister's weapon is a Great Saber?
Wow, it's over 2.5 meters long!
With one slash, it could split a horse in half, how could the Paper Doll withstand that?"
Lu Ran shared his gratitude and admiration for the Great Nightmare with his teammates.
Then, he vividly recounted his experience of being abducted.
When he mentioned the Paper Doll summoning the tiny Paper Doll, Zhang Feng couldn't help but ask, "Demonic Technique: Paper Doll?"
"Yes," Lu Ran confirmed again.
Zhang Feng's expression grew solemn.
This demonic technique was a skill that the Paper Doll clan acquired when they reached Tier 3 in the River Realm.
In other words, the Paper Doll that appeared out of nowhere was even more powerful than Zhang Feng!
The strength of one's realm not only determined the type of magic one could cultivate.
Each small rank advancement also brought about a certain degree of improvement in various attributes of the lifeform.
If the Paper Doll had appeared behind Zhang Feng and abducted him instead, Zhang Feng doubted if he could have done better than Lu Ran.
After all, the result was clear:
Lu Ran had survived and returned to his post unscathed!
"After the Paper Doll crushed the Thousand Bones Follower into a meatball, it shattered the Bone Wall," Lu Ran continued his story, leaving the others in awe and fear.
Deng Yutang listened with rapt attention.
As Lu Ran reached the climax of his story, Zhang Feng couldn't help but exclaim, "This time, you don't have to worry about your score."
Lu Ran immediately asked, "Will our team's score also improve?"
Zhang Feng nodded, "After you left, the team's performance was excellent. The adjustment in mentality and the change in tactics were commendable."
As Zhang Feng spoke, his expression became peculiar as he looked at Lu Ran.
Ever since Lu Ran's departure, the frequency of demon appearances seemed to have returned to normal.
There were no more River Realm demons in sight.
It was truly bizarre!
Could it be that everything was indeed related to this kid?
"Brother Zhang, you misunderstood," Lu Ran explained, "I meant that I assisted the Moon Gazers in defeating the Paper Doll."
Lu Ran spoke with conviction, "It's not fair to give me the credit alone. I'm the team's wild position!
I should be the one floating outside, earning points for the entire team. That's our team's tactic!"
Zhang Feng: "..."
This kid's mouth, you're making me want to be your teammate!
You can even earn points while lying down? So, was your abduction by the Paper Doll also part of your team's plan?
The three teammates, witnessing Lu Ran's determination, were momentarily speechless.
Deng Yutang clenched his fist, knowing they had to try harder.
He was genuinely delighted by Lu Ran's exceptional performance.
At the same time, Deng Yutang also realized that his contributions to the team were still far from enough!
He had never thought of being a burden, but after two evaluations, a cold reality was laid out before him:
Jiang Ruyi was the team's pillar of strength.
Lu Ran, on the other hand, was the team's driving force, like a robust sheep's leg!
He knew he had to work harder, much harder.
"Huff!"
Just as Deng Yutang was silently motivating himself, Zhang Feng beside him suddenly tensed up and turned his head sharply towards the east side.
Energy surged, and a demon took shape.
To everyone's surprise, it was their old rival—the Evil Dog!
"Preliminary assessment, a Mist Realm Tier 4 Demon," Zhang Feng quickly concluded, and in a deep voice, he commanded, "Go!"
As he spoke, his heart was roaring: Yes, this is how it should be!
Mist Realm and Stream Realm demons should be the main force invading Rain Alley City on the night of the fifteenth.
Instead, three River Realm demons appeared in a group, directly trampling on everyone's faces and showing off their might!
"Woof!"
The black evil dog immediately spotted the group and opened its blood-red maw.
In front of Jiang Ruyi, a surge of energy suddenly appeared.
Four sharp canine teeth rapidly materialized, seemingly ready to bite the human girl.
Demonic Technique: Evil Fangs!
The demonic technique that everyone hadn't seen within the Evil Dog Village was finally witnessed that night!
"Sister Ruyi!"
Tian Tian extended her small hands, holding up a petal shield and blocking the attack.
Jiang Ruyi remained eerily calm, taking only a half-step back. Her fingertips flickered with electric sparks, crackling with energy.
Her thin lips parted slightly as she commanded, and finally, Lu Ran returned to the right path.
"Ssss!"
Lu Ran didn't hesitate; he darted out, choosing to move sideways.
In the heavy rain, a faint sheep's bleat echoed, like a crying baby, sending chills down their spines:
"Baa~~~"
"Huh?" The evil dog abruptly turned its head, its gaze following Lu Ran's dashing direction.
The four evil dog teeth that appeared out of thin air bit down hard on Tian Tian's petal shield, but that was the end of it.
Because the big black dog's attention was drawn away by a little fat sheep.
At the same time, Jiang Ruyi threw out a lightning shackling talisman!
A white jade slab materialized out of thin air, carrying a lightning serpent, and it brushed past Deng Yutang, who was also charging forward, straight towards the evil dog.
"Clap!"
Electric sparks flashed, and currents overflowed.
The Tier 4 Mist Realm evil dog was pinned down by Jiang Ruyi.
Jade Talisman followers were indeed late-game powerhouses, but that didn't mean they were weak in the early game!
Living beings of the same realm, whether human followers or demons, would not willingly oppose Jiang Ruyi.
Because she could control them to death!
This wasn't an exaggeration; Jiang Meiren's record was easily verifiable:
Not long ago, the group had already fought a Tier 4 Mist Realm Bloodplague Dog.
Under her control, that Bloodplague Dog could only tremble and open its mouth.
Its limbs were completely immobilized!
And the evil dog before them was even more pathetic than the previous Bloodplague Dog, unable to even open its mouth.
"Wretched beast!" Deng Yutang followed closely behind, thrusting his gun lance.
Killing these flesh-and-blood demons was much easier than killing Mist Shadow people.
The gun lance pierced the dog's head, but Deng Yutang didn't stop; he rapidly stabbed and slashed repeatedly.
Since someone's return, everything had returned to normal.
Although the team members were of lower realms, they managed to defeat the Tier 4 Mist Realm evil dog with just one encounter.
Zhang Feng witnessed this performance and silently gave them extra points in his heart.
"Come back."
Jiang Ruyi suddenly spoke, her gentle voice floating into the layers of rain.
"Huh?" Deng Yutang turned to look.
However, Jiang Ruyi didn't even glance at Deng Yutang.
Awkward!
Lu Ran, who had been moving independently in the rain, also felt a bit embarrassed.
Under the gaze of those beautiful eyes, he lowered his head and headed towards Gate Number 4.
Who would've thought that Jiang Meiren's voice would reach him again: "Use Divine Hoof."
Lu Ran: "..."
Not even allowed to walk back?
He had to use a divine technique to move?
"Lu Ran?"
"Oh."
Mist enveloped Lu Ran's calves, and a pair of sheep's legs materialized, allowing him to dash back to Gate Number 4.
"Tsk~" Lu Ran looked at the girl in front of him and teased, "Can't bear to be apart from me for a moment?"
"Who can't bear to be apart from you?"
Jiang Ruyi turned her head and looked at him, her face slightly flushed. "I just want you to be careful and not get carried away again."
Lu Ran: "..."
In your eyes,
Am I some kind of toy doll?
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(End of Chapter)
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