Chapter 50: Stormy Night in the Old City
Chapter 50: Stormy Night in the Old City
The intense battle raged on without respite.
It was only after midnight, when Lu Ran clearly felt that the number of demons invading the world began to gradually decrease.
He no longer had to rush around as he did before.
"Chang Ying's prediction was spot on," Lu Ran muttered as he stood before the large pharmacy, gazing at the evil dogs that lay dead at the entrance.
Three hours had passed, and everything seemed to be going smoothly without any major incidents.
Lu Ran continued to capture souls, nourishing various demonic sculptures.
He even had the illusion that after this night, he would be able to activate many demonic sculptures!
Behind him, Wei Hu heard the boy's words and couldn't help but shake his head inwardly.
Wei Hu had always been skeptical of spirit sign followers, especially since Lu Ran's classmate was of a low rank.
However, Wei Hu didn't show any signs of disagreement or say anything discouraging.
Setting aside the fortune-telling, the "good fortune" sign was a positive psychological suggestion for Lu Ran.
"Little Lu, absorb it," Sun Zhengfang ordered.
"Yes!" Lu Ran didn't hesitate. He knelt on one knee, took off the divine energy orb from around his neck, and pressed it towards the evil dog.
He was certain that he could now cast the evil perception spell.
In other words, Lu Ran had gained the ability to output remotely! He couldn't wait to try it out after returning.
"Wei Ge, what time is it?" Lu Ran asked.
"2:28 a.m."
"Isn't it almost dawn?" Lu Ran's voice carried a hint of excitement.
"Don't let your guard down until daybreak," Sun Zhengfang instructed.
"Yes!" Lu Ran wouldn't dare argue with the examiner.
Thinking of the team's leader, Lu Ran couldn't help but ask, "Has Captain Ge not come yet?"
"You should pray that Captain Ge doesn't show up," Deng Yuxiang's voice came from above.
"Huh?" Lu Ran looked up.
Deng Yuxiang stood on the pharmacy signboard, tilting her head to look down at Lu Ran. "Captain Ge is a Riverine Realm believer and is considered a powerful figure in the eyes of the public.
His responsibility is not just patrolling but guarding the entire Rain Alley City.
If you see him in action, it means the demons invading the city are beyond the River Realm."
"Oh," Lu Ran nodded.
Upon reflection, the demons they encountered this night were all between the Mist Realm and the River Realm.
Indeed, they hadn't encountered any demons above the Riverine Realm.
From this perspective, a small county town had its advantages—at least the target was small.
Despite this, the demons invading the city this night were overall quite formidable, far surpassing those in other months!
Lu Ran had firsthand experience of this.
In just this one night, he had followed his team and slain over twenty River Realm demons!
"Huh?" Lu Ran was suddenly tapped on the head.
Although Deng Yuxiang stood on the pharmacy signboard, the long Nightfall Blade in her hand could easily touch the ground.
She gently tapped Lu Ran's head with the blade, "Tonight, not only have you not seen Captain Ge, but it seems you haven't encountered the Paper Doll Clan either?"
Lu Ran: "..."
So what if I haven't seen them?
Why are you tapping my head?
"Hmm?" Deng Yuxiang raised her eyebrows slightly, her expression searching for an answer.
Lu Ran: "The Paper Doll Clan is so rare, isn't it normal that I haven't encountered them?"
"Is that so?" Deng Yuxiang's eyes held a hint of amusement.
Sun Zhengfang also smiled, "Little Lu, you don't know that before the mission, we all prepared ourselves mentally."
Lu Ran: "What?"
Wei Hu stood protectively behind Lu Ran, his voice grave, "We prepared for the worst-case scenario!
Based on your performance at the Shrine and your experience on the 15th night, we believe that tonight, we might encounter a very powerful Paper Doll."
Lu Ran pouted, "So, you mean I attracted the Paper Doll?"
Deng Yuxiang: "Do you dare say you didn't attract them?"
Lu Ran hummed, "Actions speak louder than words! She didn't show up, didn't she? I really wanted to meet her, though."
As he finished speaking, he noticed that everyone around him had peculiar expressions.
Lu Ran wanted to meet the Paper Doll because he had a demonic sculpture garden in his mind, and he wanted to capture souls.
But no one else knew about this!
A normal person would never wish to encounter the Paper Doll Clan.
Do you want to die sooner?
"Slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue," Lu Ran quickly tried to explain.
Of course, he hoped that tonight, he could capture enough souls of the Paper Doll Clan so that when he advanced in rank, he could directly activate the demonic sculpture.
Unfortunately, the heavens didn't grant his wish.
The 15th night of the lunar month was indeed not a day for forming good relationships.
Speaking of activating demonic sculptures, Lu Ran truly had the potential to be a scoundrel!
This night, he had encountered many demons and captured numerous souls.
He loved every one of them—take the Demon Talisman Doll as an example!
The evil perception spell of the Demon Talisman Clan was quite similar to the divine technique of the Jade Talisman Clan, so how could Lu Ran not like it?
Jade Talisman Lord is so high and mighty, huh, looking down on me?
Fine,
I'll just slam on the brakes and turn around to play with the Ghost Talisman~
You have the Jade Talisman with Flame Explosion, and I have the Ghost Talisman with Blood Explosion!
You can control thunder and lightning, and I can make thunder and lightning too.
It's just that you draw talismans on white jade, and I draw them on black paper.
What are you pretending to be?
"Ah," Lu Ran sighed.
Having an overly powerful deity as one's deity is not necessarily a good thing.
They actually built me a Demon Sculpture Garden? Where's the justice in that! Countless demons and countless evil arts, the choices are too many!
What should I activate, for goodness' sake?
"Is it ready yet?" Sun Zhengfang urged.
"It's ready," Lu Ran came back to his senses, and the dog corpse had been completely absorbed, leaving not even a single hair.
Only a sparkling demon crystal remained, falling to the ground.
Lu Ran picked up the demon crystal and handed it to Wei Long behind him.
"Let's go!"
At Sun Zhengfang's command, the rest of the team followed closely behind.
The sky gradually brightened.
As the night faded, the rain lessened slightly.
The patrol team's demeanor was undoubtedly solemn.
But at this moment, the team members couldn't help but feel relieved.
The most challenging Midsummer Night had barely passed.
The Paper Doll had not appeared. Hmm, could it all be a misunderstanding?
Last time, on the 15th of the lunar month, the Paper Doll had appeared precisely behind Lu Ran. Could it really have been a coincidence?
"What time is it?" Lu Ran asked.
Once again, Lu Ran arrived at the crossroads and saw the deep blade marks on the asphalt road.
That was Deng Yuxiang's masterpiece.
Her powerful Nightfall Blade had cut through everything in her path.
Even the earth had been torn open by her, leaving a shocking sight.
"It's 4:58," Wei Long replied, his tone unusually relaxed.
The Wei brothers were the most exhausted, at least mentally!
The brothers had been Lu Ran's bodyguards for the entire night, and it was nerve-wracking.
Under normal circumstances, a Mist Realm student should be the slacker in the team, quietly following the group without making a sound.
But Lu Ran's role was too significant!
Instead of being quiet, he was quite loud.
Lu Ran was going all out!
His guardians, the Wei brothers, had a hard time expressing their struggles.
"It's almost 5 o'clock," Lu Ran said, exhausted yet unable to hide his excitement, and he quickened his pace.
Wei Long and Wei Hu hurried to keep up, not leaving Lu Ran's side.
The so-called mental exhaustion had its reasons.
"Sister," Lu Ran said, bringing the Wei brothers with him to Deng Yuxiang's back.
"What is it?" The Great Nightmare held the Nightfall Blade, and with its tip, she once again traced the deep blade marks on the ground.
That scene was like reopening a person's wound!
"Do you have your phone?" Lu Ran looked at the scarred asphalt road and said softly, "I want to let my family know I'm safe."
Deng Yuxiang turned to look at Sun Zhengfang, and seeing Sun Zhengfang's slight nod, she took out her phone.
"Thank you."
In the slanting wind and drizzle, Lu Ran uncovered his raincoat to protect his phone and dialed a number.
After a few seconds, the call connected.
A cold voice came through the line: "Who's this?"
Lu Ran had never heard the voice of the Great Sword Deity, so he didn't know what she sounded like.
But in his mind, the cold female voice on the phone should represent the Great Sword Deity.
Lu Ran spoke softly, "Mom."
"Ranan," the woman's voice immediately softened, as if she were a different person, "Are you tired?"
"I'm fine, the Moon Gazers are taking good care of me," Lu Ran said, following the team as they moved forward, his gaze sweeping over his teammates.
He suddenly remembered something and continued, "By the way, we also rescued a stray cat, and I plan to adopt it."
"Okay, if you want to keep it, then keep it. When you get home, rest well."
The mother's voice was gentle, accompanied by the patter of rain around them, making Lu Ran feel like falling asleep right there.
"You haven't given me an answer yet," Lu Ran said, lowering his head to look at the slender Radiance Blade in his hand.
Qiao Wanjun smiled, "Your father and I have disagreements on many issues.
But when it comes to you, our views are very much aligned."
"Hmm," Lu Ran said, a smile appearing on his face. He lifted his head and gazed into the distance towards the Wuli Riverbank.
The sky was hazy, and the fine rain obscured the view.
Lu Ran had a slight hallucination.
On the rooftop of that abandoned residential building, he seemed to see a familiar figure, also looking at him from afar.
The old acquaintance seemed like a wind-blown rain, swaying day and night in the old city.
Thanks to several bosses for their rewards: Liu Xi, Arun, Jiang Zhu Yuqiao, and Mi Jiu Tou Hao Yang! Thanks for your support, bosses!
(End of Chapter)
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