Chapter 44: The Yellow Raincoat
Chapter 44: The Yellow Raincoat
The sleek sedan sped out of the Rain Alley Home Community, racing through the rain.
"What's wrong?" Deng Yuxiang asked, glancing at Lu Ran in the passenger seat as she drove.
Lu Ran's face was solemn, deep in thought.
"Nothing much," Lu Ran replied, coming back to his senses and running his hand through his rain-soaked hair.
"Nothing much?" Deng Yuxiang smiled, "You look like you've lost your soul, only remembering to bring your blade but forgetting your raincoat?"
Lu Ran felt a bit embarrassed at her words.
Earlier, at home, the words of the Divine Sheep had truly startled him.
Lost in his thoughts, he had even forgotten how he got into the car.
"Don't worry," Deng Yuxiang's voice was unusually gentle, "I'm here."
Lu Ran's expression was one of surprise as he looked at the domineering heiress behind the wheel.
They had known each other for over a month, and this was the first time he had heard Nightmare speak so softly.
"The night of the 15th of July is indeed unusual, but you really don't need to feel too much pressure," Deng Yuxiang said.
"If I can't even protect you, then you should die too."
"Huh?" Lu Ran was taken aback.
Deng Yuxiang shrugged, "At least you won't die in vain."
Lu Ran was speechless.
I was just praising you for being gentle, and this is what I get?
Lu Ran had experienced Nightmare's comforting skills many times before.
But every time, Deng Yuxiang managed to say something even more astonishing.
"You..." Lu Ran sighed, thinking to himself, she always manages to surprise me.
"What's wrong with me?" Deng Yuxiang glanced at Lu Ran.
"You're beautiful," Lu Ran turned to look out the window, watching the street scenes recede in the rain.
The weather forecast predicted rain for the next few days.
This Mid-Autumn Night, they would likely not see the moon again.
The luxury sedan sped along, soon reaching a desolate area and entering the Wu Lie Riverbank Community.
As the car came to a stop, Deng Yuxiang said, "I have a spare raincoat in the trunk. Wait, I'll get it for you."
Before Lu Ran could react, she had already opened the door and stepped out.
Lu Ran was truly bewildered.
Had Nightmare changed her personality?
She was being too nice, wasn't she?
"Click."
The passenger door suddenly opened, and Deng Yuxiang held out a yellow raincoat, "Put it on."
"Thank you," Lu Ran reached out to take the yellow raincoat, a thought crossing his mind.
Could Nightmare be... me?
Lu Ran and Deng Yuxiang were of similar height, and the raincoat was already quite large, so it fit him well.
As Lu Ran stepped out of the car, Deng Yuxiang suddenly reached out and straightened his collar.
This gentle gesture made Lu Ran feel extremely uncomfortable.
Deng Yuxiang frowned slightly, her expression displeased, "What's that look on your face?"
"Sis," Lu Ran was at a loss for words, "Don't do that, it's like I won't see tomorrow's sun.
Please change back, I can't take it."
Deng Yuxiang smiled and glared at Lu Ran, then raised her hand and lightly tapped the brim of the raincoat's hood, "Stop talking nonsense!"
Lu Ran breathed a deep sigh of relief.
Ah, that's better~
"Follow me!" Deng Yuxiang turned and walked away.
Lu Ran quickly grabbed the Radiance Blade from the back seat and followed her.
The two made their way to the central building in the community and climbed up to the rooftop.
On the dilapidated rooftop, their three teammates were present, but Lu Ran still hadn't seen the mysterious Captain Ge Bin.
"Report!" Deng Yuxiang shouted.
Sun Zhengfang looked at the two "little yellow men" and pointed to the hallway, "Go and put on your gear. In half an hour, we'll patrol the area again."
"Yes!"
"Yes," Lu Ran and Deng Yuxiang turned and entered the hallway, where they picked up their equipment, including invisible earpieces and headlamps, from a dilapidated wooden table.
Behind the table, there was another large slashing saber leaning against the wall.
It was Deng Yuxiang's weapon, seemingly made of ordinary steel, but Lu Ran knew it was an incredibly expensive Heavenstar steel!
The blade was astonishingly long, with a handle alone measuring 70-80 centimeters.
The blade itself was nearly 2 meters long!
At this length, the blade didn't appear wide but rather thin and elongated.
It had double-edged blades, resembling both a sword and a knife, like an ancient cavalry heavy weapon, yet Deng Yuxiang used it as a close-quarters combat weapon.
"Interested?" Deng Yuxiang donned her equipment and noticed Lu Ran's gaze.
Lu Ran silently nodded.
Today's Deng Yuxiang was indeed very indulgent towards Lu Ran: "Take it and play with it on the rooftop."
"What's its name?" Lu Ran didn't hesitate and took a step forward, gripping the divine weapon with both hands.
"Nightfall Blade."
"So fierce?" Lu Ran raised his hand and gently caressed the cold blade.
While others had weapons with names like "Demon Slayer," you've named yours after the night itself? Although the Nightfall Blade was spotlessly clean, Lu Ran could still detect a faint hint of bloodthirst.
No one knew how many lives this blade had taken in Deng Yuxiang's hands.
"Is it that fierce?" Deng Yuxiang casually replied.
"Of course. Hmm?" Lu Ran's fingertips trembled slightly, and he quickly retracted his hand.
Witnessing this, a faint smile appeared on Deng Yuxiang's face.
"This Nightfall Blade..." Lu Ran's eyes lit up, and he turned to Deng Yuxiang, "Does it have a blade spirit?"
Just now, when Lu Ran's fingertips brushed the blade, he had clearly sensed a murderous intent.
This dangerous feeling made Lu Ran's temples throb.
"The Nightfall Blade and I are both just one step away from success."
Speaking of this, Deng Yuxiang's smile gradually faded, and a hint of disappointment rose in her heart.
She was at the fifth stage of the River Realm, just one step away from the "Great Power" in the eyes of the world.
Her Nightfall Blade was also just one step away from becoming a spirit.
However, this goal, which seemed so close, remained unfulfilled for both the blade and its owner.
"If we cut down the night tonight, maybe we'll succeed!" Lu Ran offered comfort.
Deng Yuxiang didn't respond, neither confirming nor denying.
Suddenly, Lu Ran reached out and lightly tapped the blade of the Nightfall Blade.
A crisp sound rang out.
Lu Ran looked at the silent woman: "You heard it too; even Nightfall thinks so."
"Hehe." Deng Yuxiang couldn't help but chuckle, "Where did you learn this self-amusement trick?"
The Great Nightmare was very considerate and didn't mention that Lu Ran was just fooling himself.
"Lifestyle."
The brief two-word response left Deng Yuxiang stunned.
Lu Ran, holding the Nightfall Blade, made his way to the rooftop.
To be more precise, it was the lifestyle of a young man living alone.
On the rooftop, the Wei brothers saw Lu Ran appear with a large blade, and their hearts couldn't help but stir with anticipation.
However, after Lu Ran started swinging the blade, both brothers' faces turned peculiar.
He was swinging it all wrong!
Where had Lu Ran ever handled such a "heavy weapon"? He only felt his head was heavy and his feet were light, making it extremely difficult to wield!
Lu Ran keenly realized just how terrifying the power of the Great Nightmare was!
In the end, it was Deng Yuxiang who rescued Lu Ran, taking the Nightfall Blade back into her hands.
It wasn't that she was stingy; she was mainly afraid that the Nightfall Blade would be unhappy.
Deng Yuxiang truly hadn't expected that Lu Ran, who had always performed so brilliantly, would show hesitation and practice such an abstract set of sword techniques.
He stumbled and staggered, his body twisting awkwardly, like a lame man beating a date tree.
Deng Yuxiang became furious, wanting to kick his good leg.
The daylight hours slipped by.
Lu Ran followed the Moon Gazers team, going through the motions as they patrolled their jurisdiction, circle after circle.
As night fell, Rain Alley City sank into silence.
Lu Ran stood at an empty crossroads, standing under a street lamp.
The dim yellow light complemented the color of his raincoat.
In front of him,
There were some shops on both sides of the street: an auto repair shop, a hardware store, a closed supermarket, and a lit pharmacy.
Behind the shops were rows of residential buildings, and when he looked up, he could see the warm lights shining from each household.
Behind him,
There was a long-abandoned piece of barren land and a dark, silent, abandoned residential community.
The crossroads were indeed lit by street lamps.
But the figure standing in the rain seemed to be standing on the line between light and darkness.
The rain,
Grew heavier and heavier.
As if foreshadowing something.
(End of Chapter)
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